11 Best Wisconsin Restaurants With Cozy Fireplaces – TravelAwaits

People are naturally drawn to logs on a fire, whether for warmth or romance. Something mesmerizing about fluttering flames and crackling logs grabs our attention plus slows us down a little. We enjoy finding a slight whiff of smoke in the hope of reliving memories of roasting golden brown marshmallows, their gooey centers clinging to the stick as they slid off. So naturally, restaurant tables closest to fireplaces are the most requested because fires conjure up and create memories.

Combine a fireplace with statewide traditions to resemble what most Wisconsinites know well: an authentic “Up North” culinary experience.

It’s safe to say that Wisconsin’s culture would have taken a different path without Prohibition. After Forbidance ended, establishments outside of city limits received state liquor licenses with the requirement that food is served. However , acquiring a liquor license within city limits proved difficult. As a result, rural taverns began serving dinners — thus the beginning of supper clubs. Supper club outings usually begin with an old fashioned and a relish tray, then move to the Friday night fish fry dipped in beer batter and served with crispy golden hashbrowns or potato pancakes.  

Many restaurants listed below are supper clubs or have similarities. In no particular order, these restaurants along with fireplaces are some of Wisconsin’s favorites.

1 . White Gull Inn

Fish Creek

Sitting on Green Bay’s shoreline in Door County , the historic White Gull Inn is known for its hair-scorching, flaming seafood boils in addition to friendly hospitality. Initially, the main building sat across the bay in Marinette, Wisconsin, as the Lumberman’s Hotel. In 1907 the hotel was dismantled, then moved over frozen Green Bay and reconstructed at its current location.  

The picturesque three-story white house presents welcoming porches that run the entire length of its front, complete with an abundance of flowers. White screen doors match the old-fashioned white wood sign in front, begging history-loving visitors to take a peek inside.  

The most appealing desk in the cafe sits next to the fireplace that will holds a softly crackling fire. Years of flames and even black smoke cigarettes lightly tint the stones up to the mantel. The dining room has a rustic setting of exposed wood ceilings and walls, period cabinetry, and doors with black hinges of which look like a blacksmith hammered them out.

What To Order At White Gull Inn

Suppose the historical value didn’t bring people. In that case, they might have heard about the White Gull Inn’s cherry-stuffed french toast featured on Good Morning America ’s Best Breakfast Challenge. Otherwise, a romantic candlelight dinner most likely includes absolute favorites such as lemon broiled whitefish fresh out of Lake Michigan, butternut squash ravioli, or a 6-ounce dark Angus beef filet covered with porcini mushroom bleu cheese butter.  

2 . The particular Freighthouse Restaurant

La Crosse

Simply put, Typically the Freighthouse Restaurant is a railroad lover’s dream. Initially built in 1880 as a freight house for the expanding Milwaukee Road railroad, now the steak and seafood restaurant consistently wins the Best of La Crosse County overall award.

Each of the four dining rooms has a cozy atmosphere for a large building, complete with an old-time bar and a fireplace. Of course , railroad memorabilia fills each room, but the lounge has the best ambiance for any romantic fire place dinner.

Things to Order At The Freighthouse Restaurant

Choose melt-in-your-mouth prime rib, a Wisconsin favorite. Specifically, a 20-ounce Engineer’s Prime Rib to get a hearty appetite. For a smaller portion, go with an 8-ounce charbroiled filet teriyaki. Seafood fans will enjoy Alaskan king crab, which is flown in fresh daily

Pro Tip: Local musicians play Friday and additionally Saturday nights.

3. The Duck Inn Dinner Club

Delevan

A glowing neon sign and a soft yellow strip of marquee lights warm the night sky, inviting guests to warm up inside This Duck Resort Supper Club . This classic Wisconsin supper golf club began during Prohibition like a speakeasy. Customers were encouraged to “duck in” for an outlawed beverage. Over the years, the name stuck, and now the most sought-after menu item is duck entrees. Inside the dining room, smooth stacked stone forms an impressive 24-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling fireplace together with extended stones holding decorative species of fowl.  

What things to Order In the Duck Hotel Supper Club

Patrons drive from nearby Lake Geneva and Janesville to enjoy Often the Duck Inn Supper Club’s elegant country dining atmosphere. Duck entrees are the most popular, especially the cashew duck breast with an apricot drizzle. After duck dishes, we suggest filet mignon and pan-fried walleye pike. Quintessential cocktails include the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, sloe gin fizz, and Harvey Wallbanger. A few fun Caribbean cocktails are Ducks on the Beach not to mention Mallard Mud Pie.

4. TJ’s Harbor Restaurant

Oshkosh

Dock your boat at TJ’s Harbor Restaurant upon Lake Winnebago, then warm-up with a table in front of the crackling fireplace. On both sides of the stacked stone fireplace, rough-milled lumber shelves hold photos and greenery while split firewood neatly stacked on the floor sits beneath them. TJ’s has a modern industrial look, with a rugged wood mantel above along with a smooth rock slab hearth below the fire giving the fireplace a home-like feel.  

What To Order At TJ’s Harbor Cafe

TJ’s is famous for slow-roasting rotisserie meats for most of their dishes. Start with Harbor Nachos (made using rotisserie chicken), pickle fries, or crab cakes having horseradish aioli.

Of course , house-battered cheese curds from Weyauwega Star Dairy are always a favorite. Order local favorites like pan-seared Campfire Walleye, sea bass, or osso bucco for dinner.

Pro Tip: Reservations are recommended.

5. Majerle’s Black River Grill

Sheboygan

Timeless advice: Go where the locals go. Majerle’s Black River Grill is that place. Located in the residential neighborhood about half a new block away from Lake The state of michigan, there’s a good chance Sheboygan visitors won’t stumble across this local favorite on their own. But Majerle’s is a traditional Wisconsin community supper club to the core, and a little quirky too.

It’s rustic on the outside — rows of dark timber logs lined up over waist-high river rock form the building’s walls, with evergreen trees serving as a surrounding backdrop associated with neon beer signs. Even the two lights attached to white-painted piping, then screwed into logs, illuminate the indication with textbook Northwoods character.

For a quirky experience, sit by a large plate glass window, preferably next to the fireside. Since the restaurant is in some sort of wooded area, hoards regarding deer come out of the forest daily to feed alongside windows. Although the food is exceptional, watching wildlife might be the primary attraction.

What you should Order In Majerle’s Black River Grill

Of course , the traditional Wisconsin Fri night species of fish fry always tops the list. However , don’t hesitate to order a good steak tenderloin sandwich on the hard roll, another Wisconsin classic, or even crispy brown broasted chicken. If you’re looking for an unique taste of Sheboygan, the Bratwurst Capital of the World, order bratwurst. The menu doesn’t explain single or perhaps double, but it’s the only way to eat brats within town limits. Choose one or two brats on a round hard roll, then add dark brown mustard and also onions. Naturally, an old fashioned goes hand in hand.

Professional Tip: Make reservations. Your family-run cafe is small but popular. Often , guests are lined up at the bar two to three people today deep.

6. Timmer’s Resort

West Bend

Timmer’s Vacation resort has a deep history dating back to the late 1800s. In 1882, Mathias as well as Margaret Timmer, married German immigrants, completed the construction of the hotel around the shores of Big Cedar River. Guests arrived at the village of Slinger by train from Milwaukee, Chicago, and St . Louis and then took a carriage to the hotel. Years later, a neighbor’s pie delivery truck smuggled beer from Chicago throughout Prohibition.

Today, much of the resort’s historical character has been renewed. For instance, the dining room’s tongue-in-groove wooden walls plus ceiling surround the two-story stone hearth with its noble but unassuming arched natural stone lintel.  

What To Order At Timmer’s Resort

Savor dinner entrees like creamy Tuscan poultry and seared sea scallops. Enjoy drinks and crab rangoon dip with these community favorites while dining alongside a roaring fire in addition to candlelit lanterns.  

Pro Suggestion: Reservations are usually recommended to ensure seating.

7. The Red-colored Oak Diner

Bristol

Thirteen miles west of Kenosha , your Lake Michigan harbor town, the Red Oak Cafe specializes in made-from-scratch cuisine using fresh neighborhood, sustainable, and even organic ingredients. Most ingredients are sourced within 100 miles, several from within some 10-mile radius of the eating place. In addition , one of our favorite award-winning cheese shops, Hook’s Cheese , supplies all of the restaurant’s cheese.

A simple but substantial dark gemstone fireplace draws attention to dancing flames through anywhere in the particular dining room. To both sides from the fireplace, oversized windows add abundant light and lovely views of nature while eating.

Editor’s note: Here’s more coming from Tom together with Kristi about Wisconsin’s best cheese stores .

What To Purchase At The Reddish Oak Bistro

The farm-to-table menu changes every two months. However , two signature items, grilled tenderloin filet and additionally roast chicken breast, always remain on the menus. In addition , well-known drinks include old fashioneds, Red Oak Mimosas, bloody Marys, not to mention bartinis.

Pro Idea: Kenosha is well known for its multi-colored restored vintage electric streetcars. Make sure to check them out.

8. House Of Embers Restaurant

Wisconsin Dells

Seated agelessly off of the Wisconsin Dells Parkway, a fabulous neon martini glass involving yesteryear illuminates the stone entrance to the House connected with Embers . Other than the key dining room, atypical seating arrangements can accommodate 2–8 people in specially themed areas for an intimate experience.

Stained glass panels in the ceiling illuminate sections of the diner and a mix of patterned stained glass lamps. Exposed architectural wood beams add personality. But the massive two-sided stacked-stone fireplace in the dining room creates the mood found in classic Wisconsin dinner clubs.

Points to Order From House Of Embers Eating venue

The food selection features traditional Wisconsin an evening meal club meals, such as meat and sea food. Still, Midwest vacationers know the House with Embers for baby back ribs. Right after experimenting with different methods within the early 1960s, the owners found the best method was smoking racks for ribs over hot charcoal embers. Thus, the new bistro name reflected this method. Now, the children own and manage the eating venue while using their parent’s conventional recipes about slow-cooking delicious baby back again ribs.

Pro Hint: Save space for homemade cinnamon rolls featured within Bon Appétit .

9. Good Thyme Restaurant

Washburn

A beautifully restored yellow two-story square farmhouse having a wrap-around porch sits prominently next to Highway 13, just north in Washburn. Inside, the Good Thyme Eating place serves their signature 14-ounce garlic-peppercorn char-crusted ribeye amid dark chocolate and also copper decor. Whether visiting the Apostle Islands or Bayfield in Northwest Wisconsin, loosen up inside by the intimate classic red brick fireplace.  

What To Purchase At Great Thyme Eaterie

Start with a Good Time Old Fashioned, the most popular drink, from the copper-covered wrap-around bar. After all, it is what you drink in Wisconsin.  

Duck wontons, herb-crusted whitefish, and braised pork shank are a few of typically the favorites from this notable eaterie known for artisan, housemade cuisine.

10. Bosch Food Tavern

Hales Corners

Fourteen miles southwest from Milwaukee, hundreds of volunteers helped pull this Bosch Food Tavern in order to its final destination in a “Tug the Tavern” event. Because of highway expansion, the over 100-year-old tavern, formerly an important Victorian-style resort with a wrap-around porch, was moved by a construction crew 23 feet. Then, locals tugged three 2-inch ropes the final 2 feet.  

Bosch owner, Rick Putlitz, experienced a severe decline in foot traffic between the move, then the COVID-19 pandemic immediately after. Most dining places would have closed from these circumstances, but Putlitz remained open. He credits the ribs.

Whatever meal you choose, make sure to eat inside the outdoorsy Up North cabin-inspired room. A refurbished handmade wood canoe hangs upside down from the roof, pointing towards the square, multi-layered stacked rock fireplace. Lightly stained tongue-in-groove wood boards encompass the whole room, from your top for the floor. Its dark brown hardwood floor looks like it’s been there for a hundred years, and maybe it has. Antique-looking signs hang on the walls, and Northwoods decor sits prominently in shelves made from small round birch trees. Square tables with dark green chairs as well as green and white checked table clothes add often the finishing touches to a fantastic Northwoods encounter without an hours-long drive.

Buying Order With Bosch Meals Tavern

Besides the tavern’s famous Saint Louis-style ribs, try barbecue. Pork is smoked with applewood and meat brisket by hickory solid wood. Since taverns and Wisconsin culture go hand-in-hand, the standard Friday night fish fry is also a local favorite. Hungry customers line up early with regard to crispy beer-battered fish filets served by using fries, tartar sauce, coleslaw, and rye bread.  

Expert Tip: Ribs are only available Saturdays after 3 p. m.

eleven. Erin’s Tight Irish Pub And Eatery

Madison

For an Emerald Isle experience, take a trip to Madison’s East side. Erin’s Snug Irish Pub has several different themed rooms regarding diverse experiences. Gaelic indicators, dark brown woodwork, tables plus chairs, in addition to European-style stonework add to it is decor. A classic Irish escapade awaits, between the red double-decker bus outside and various styles of fireplaces located throughout the restaurant.

Elements Order On Erin’s Comfortable Irish Bar And Restaurant 

Erin’s housemade corned beef takes 6–8 hours to perfect. Accordingly, your corned beef sandwich is to die intended for. Three layers of marble rye bread hold thick portions of meat, sauerkraut, and melted Swiss cheese.  

Other corned meat choices consist of an egg move named Shalaylee, O’Reilly’s Rueben or wrap, and corned beef and even cabbage.  

More traditional Irish food list items are the beef together with lamb shepherd’s pie topped with colcannon and thin strips associated with crispy carrots, Guinness stew, bangers and additionally mash, not to mention cottage pie. In addition to plenty of American food, desserts usually are exceptionally tempting.