These Dining Experiences in Wisconsin Serve Up the Fun

Everyone knows Wisconsin is famous for fantastic supper clubs and delicious sausage spots. So once you’ve got your favorite classic Wisconsin staples on lock, it’s time to try something unexpected. Head out to one of these eateries around the state for a unique, groundbreaking or downright quirky dining experience. 

Braise Greenhouse

For a private dining experience like no other, reserve the Greenhouse at Braise in Milwaukee. You and a selection of up to 11 others will be led up to the rooftop, where you will enter a rustic greenhouse space, with fabric draped along the walls and planters hanging like chandeliers. Order family style from a limited version of Braise’s seasonally driven American menu, or plan a custom dinner package to pre-order for your guests. Return in winter, when you can also book a rooftop igloo outfitted with twinkling lights for an outdoor chilly weather dining option.

Grateful Shed 

Traveling with the family? Score points with kids of all ages with a visit to this hip Wisconsin Dells dining hub. Grab carne asada tacos, boneless chicken wings and more from one of several food trucks in this roomy food court. Then find a seat at a booth inside a converted 1970s VW bus, an old car or the giant Greyhound bus suspended over the bar. The colorful decor also includes vintage signs and a bar made of VHS tapes. Challenge the kids to a game of giant Jenga or Connect 4 on the massive patio, which feels like a backyard party, with live music, a pool table and a firepit.

Manila Resto

As you walk into Oshkosh’s Manila Resto, the scent of traditional Filipino spices tickles your nose. A first-generation Filipino American, owner Marlo Ambas has dedicated himself to sharing the joy that permeates Filipino culture through a welcoming atmosphere and made-from-scratch Filipino cuisine with a modern twist and inspiration from other Asian cultures. For a new take on family-style dining, call in advance to order a Boodle. Traditionally served as a symbol of brotherhood in the military, a collection of entrées — such as chicken adobo, pork sisig and more — are presented over a bed of rice on banana leaves. So, gather up your crew, dig in and savor every delicious morsel. 

Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik 

If your kids love petting zoos, watch their eyes light up with excitement at Al Johnson’s in Sister Bay, the Door County restaurant with goats on the roof. Al’s specializes in Swedish pancakes, but the stars of the show will always be the rooftop goats that spend summers grazing on the restaurant’s grass roof. Don’t miss the lead-up event to grazing season, the Roofing of the Goats parade. The goats and restaurant staff parade down Bay Shore Drive, ending at the restaurant. Costumes are encouraged, and be sure to buy the kids Goat Drop Stickers — they can stick them anywhere along the parade route, and if a goat poops on it, they are entered in a drawing for prizes after the parade.

Tom’s Burned Down Café

If you and your friends enjoy seeking out hidden treasure, take a stroll through La Pointe on Madeline Island and keep an eye out for what appears to be an odd junkyard with a tented structure. Find it, and you’ve discovered Tom’s Burned Down Café, one of the most unusual dining experiences in Wisconsin. The bar lives up to its name — it was built from reclaimed parts of a previous establishment on the spot that burned down in 1992. Now, it’s a collection of open-air decks, bars and repurposed odds and ends. While the beer list and pizza menu may be short, the unique atmosphere provides plenty to drink in. Stop by an ATM on the way, as Tom’s is cash-only. 

Copper Crow Distillery 

Visiting Up North? Let those famous Gitche Gumee winds lead you straight toward Copper Crow, a distillery that bottles the essence of Lake Superior with locally sourced vodka, rum and gin near Bayfield. A great spot to gather with friends, Copper Crow is the first Native American–owned distillery in the country, run by Linda and Curt Basina, who are from the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa. Clink your tasting glasses or generously garnished Bloody Marys together and drink in the landscape from the roomy patio. 

Don’s TV & Repair

If you need to get your television fixed, it’s best not to head to Don’s TV & Repair. But, if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind night out with friends, step into this cleverly designed Milwaukee storefront to discover a 90s-themed speakeasy serving reimagined TV dinners, local-favorite Fruity Pebble pancakes and boozy milkshakes. Not in the mood for a milkshake? The Mandalorian Mule, served in a tiki-style vintage arcade case, or the Crock-Pot Old Fashioned, arriving in the crock of a slow-cooker, are also excellent picks. You’ll have to book a “service appointment” on the website and know the password to get in — speakeasy style.