Diverse Urban Spots
Whatever you’re craving, Milwaukee has it. Lining our streets are a melting pot of restaurants, from fine dining to farm-to-table restaurants and themed pubs. Some of our dining spots, like The Diplomat, have received James Beard Award nominations in the past.
For a gourmet meal, reserve a table at Ardent, which serves caviar and flourless chocolate cake, and has a pairing menu for wine selections. If you want to experience a bit of culture on your trip, check out the Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale, a suburb of Milwaukee. The menu melds traditional German and American favorites and serves them on a patio with a view of the Milwaukee River.
For down-home, good ol’ BBQ cookin’, take the family out to Smoke Shack. Here, there’s indoor and outdoor seating with a hint of country swagger. Be sure to order the freshly smoked meats with sides of cornbread and coleslaw for the table.
Foodie Capital of Wisconsin
Madison may be known as the state's capital and home of the University of Wisconsin, but the food scene is its own destination.
This city is home to plenty of top-tier steakhouses like Rare, Tornado Club and Delaney’s Charcoal Steaks. Then there are the delicious hidden gems like the Oakcrest Tavern and those specializing in regional staples, including The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant, which serves up a delicious brat burger. For an innovative dining experience, reserve a table at L’Etoile, which uses locally sourced ingredients in everything from its appetizers to its sweets.
And every family member, even the little ones, will approve of Monty’s Blue Plate Diner with breakfast served all day, hamburgers and milkshakes — ice cream cocktails for the adults.
Smaller-City Bites
You don’t need big-city crowds to find rich, unique flavors at restaurants.
In Green Bay, eating out is an experience at Hagemeister Park, a 9,000 square-foot restaurant along the Fox River. Enjoy the lake views on the large outdoor patio featuring igloos and a heated canopy during the wintertime. Start with cheese curds as your appetizer and then choose from the comfort food selections, like gourmet burgers or sandwiches. For panoramic views of Green Bay, eat on the fifth floor at the Tavern In the Sky, where specialties include dry-rubbed wings and herb rotisserie chicken.
In Oshkosh, we suggest ordering a fire-grilled steak at Fisher’s Westward Ho. Then, satisfy that sweet tooth at Leon’s Family Custard, a drive-in from the late 1940s.
Over in Racine, dine at a James Beard-nominated spot. Hobnob may not be in a major city, but it received a major accolade as a semifinalist in the outstanding hospitality category. The supper club prides itself on its steak, seafood dishes and ice cream-infused drinks.
No matter what city you’re in or what you’re craving, Wisconsin restaurants are ready to please your palate and leave you coming back for seconds.
Fort Atkinson
