Wisconsin's Small Towns Deliver Big on Flavor

While Wisconsin’s bigger cities like Madison and Milwaukee offer many options for one-of-a-kind dining, you can also find restaurants serving up innovative dishes in small towns and rural areas across the state. Lush farmland gives restaurants and their top chefs access to a vast array of fresh ingredients to work with year-round. Read on to discover the unexpected (and delicious!) in Wisconsin’s small towns.

Jackson Harbor Soup - Washington Island

A visit to Door County isn’t complete without venturing out to beautiful Washington and Rock Islands off the tip of the peninsula. While on your journey, be sure to stop at Jackson Harbor Soup on Washington Island for homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and more. Whether you dine at the shop (open April through October) or take a picnic to go, you and your group will be glad you stopped at this surprising gem.

Owners Sarah & Rebecca Gibson are descendants of Danish immigrants who moved to the area in 1883. Today, popular menu items include Grammy’s Potato Soup and the “Wreck of the Iris,” a pulled pork panini named after the shipwreck in front of the restaurant.

Driftless Café – Viroqua

Vernon County, part of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, has the highest concentration of organic farms anywhere in Wisconsin - over 200! That being said, it comes as no surprise that Viroqua is the perfect location for an outstanding farm-to-table restaurant. At Driftless Café, dinner menus change daily to incorporate the freshest of the fresh local ingredients. Past menus have included dishes such as beef tenderloin with butter-whipped potato and kale with truffle oil and sourdough crust pizza with Brussels sprouts, bacon and caramelized onions.

Two of Driftless Cafe’s chefs have been nominated for “Best Chef Midwest” by the James Beard Foundation: Luke Zahm in 2017 and Mary Kastman in 2022. Stop in this small community to experience big flavors made with lots of local love.

Chef Shack – Bay City

Right off Wisconsin’s scenic Great River Road, this impressive restaurant started as a food truck serving up organic and affordable street food. Opening a permanent restaurant in Bay City allowed executive chef Lisa Carlson to truly flex her culinary muscle, pouring her heart and soul into her unique style of “country French” cuisine. Clearly, the transition paid off as Carlson also earned a nomination for “Best Chef Midwest” from the James Beard Foundation in 2017.

While the food truck can still be found at the local farmers’ market on the weekends, the permanent restaurant overlooking Lake Pepin serves an eclectic yet upscale menu using fresh ingredients from local family farms and co-ops. Stop in to try the ever-changing tasting menu, more casual bar fare and for Sunday brunch with fresh-squeezed mimosas.

Stockholm Pie and General Store - Stockholm

Also nestled in the Mississippi bluffs along the Great River Road, Stockholm Pie and General Store is a must-stop for both its food and charm. Visit for lunch with friends and family and choose from sandwiches, salads and savory pies like apple sausage quiche and homemade chicken pot pie. 

And for dessert, the options are almost endless. From lingonberry lemon to peppermint marshmallow to classics like cherry and apple, one bite and you’ll see why visitors come from all over the country to enjoy one of these sweet slices.

For more small-town culinary gems, check out these Wisconsin Restaurants Worth the Drive or view our entire dining directory!