Wisconsin Restaurants Serving Up Cozy Comfort Foods

It’s winter in Wisconsin, and when the snow is falling and the temperatures are low, it’s a great time to get together with friends and family and leave the cooking to the professionals. Here are a few delicious Wisconsin dishes — and restaurants — perfect for the snowy season.

Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant – Green Bay

Wood-Fired Pizza

Pizza is the original comfort food, especially when cooked in a toasty wood-fired oven like the one at Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant. Past specials have included Jamaican jerk chicken, smoked duck and the classic four- cheese. But no matter which flavors are in season, you and your group can enjoy sharing slices by the fireplace in the beer hall with a craft beer brewed on-site for the ultimate winter night out.

Weary Traveler Freehouse — Madison

Hungarian Goulash

This hearty stew is a popular dish at The Weary, as it’s called by locals. Beef tenderloin tips, Yukon potatoes, carrots and celery combine with caraway seeds and spicy Hungarian paprika to create comfort food heaven. The recipe is also as authentic as it can get, as it’s adapted from an employee’s Hungarian grandmother. Order a bowl and spend a few hours playing board, dice or card games with friends while the snow falls outside.

The Old Feed Mill Restaurant — Mazomanie

Pot Roast

You’ll find plenty of nourishing food at The Old Feed Mill, but the Pot Roast is a staple. Slow-roasted, fork-tender beef and veggies are served two ways — over homemade honey wheat bread with coleslaw for lunch, or with mashed potatoes for dinner. The restaurant’s location is especially notable: a restored 1857 grain mill in the small town just west of Madison.

County Clare Irish Inn & Pub — Milwaukee

Shepherd’s Pie

Warm and generous: Two words that accurately describe the waitstaff, vibe and food at the County Claire Inn & Pub. There are several nourishing standouts on the menu, one being the Inn’s famous Shepherd’s Pie. The dish — seared lamb simmered with carrots, celery, onion and peas in a hearty broth, topped with homemade mashed potatoes and baked to a golden brown — can also be made vegetarian with delicious vegetable stew.

Cozzy Corner Southern Food — Appleton

The “Big Jess” Platter

Interested in a little Southern comfort? Owner Natasha Banks missed her mom’s cooking and social gatherings with family and friends and set out to recreate that feeling of community in her restaurant, Cozzy Corner Southern Food. The “Big Jess” platter — one of the many platters on the menu — is heaped with smoked sausage, pulled pork, coleslaw and BBQ sauce. Additional sides like mac n’ cheese, collard greens, red beans and rice and candied yams ensure everyone leaves with a full belly.

For a comfort food favorite that's a Wisconsin specialty, check out these five restaurants with grown-up grilled cheese!