DINNING the DELLS

During our summer in Wisconsin Dells, we sampled several of the dining establishments there. In this post, I’m going to give my review of them.

BAYSIDE BAR AND GRILL – Located in the River Bay Premier Campground, where we spent our summer work camping, this was one of our favorites. Yes, this is partly due to the convenience and our employee discount. But the food is really good. Every Friday, they feature a fish fry offering a variety of different types of fish cooked in different ways. They offer Taco Tuesdays and Build Your Own Pizza on Wednesdays. The hamburgers are among some of the best I’ve had. They offer both inside dining and patio dining. This is an affordable and delicious place to eat.

MEXICAN – Perhaps our favorite food to eat out is Mexican. Honestly, we have been spoiled here in the Rio Grande Valley because there are so many great Mexican Restaurants. But we found a few places in the Dells. We first tried the San Antonio Mexican Restaurant. Their food was good but a little pricey. Be prepared to pay a bit more everywhere in the Dells. We also tried El Taco Loco. This is a very small place with only three tables in the seating area. The food was OK. But they were going to charge me for a cup of water, which I considered unacceptable. Our favorite was Jose’s. Jose’s is a large place with traditional Mexican decor. The menu, too, is large, with many delicious selections. We always received excellent service and a great meal.

PIZZZA – Pizza Buffets are big in the Dells. We tried two different buffets, Moose Jaw Pizza and Pizza Ranch. Both were good. I would say that Moose Jaw is the best. But our favorite pizza place is the Dells Pizza Lab. The Pizza Lab is unlike any pizza place we have been to. I sort of like a Subway for pizza. You pay for your pizza by the size, not by the toppings. All the toppings are displayed, and you choose what you want on your pizza. And the pizza was great!

DINERS – I love diners, and we ate at two excellent ones in the Dells. The Broadway Diner in Baraboo is a traditional aluminum-clad diner. We had breakfast there, and it was everything I wanted in a diner. The food was great, and the atmosphere was better. It was so good I bought a T-shirt, which I almost never do. We also had breakfast at Denny’s Diner, not to be confused with the chain. Denny’s is very popular, and you will probably have to wait for a table. But it’s worth it. They are known for their cinnamon rolls, but they have a wide variety of choices, and the experience is great.

RESTAURANTS – River’s Edge Restaurant is a log restaurant on the Wisconsin River. We ate here twice. The first time we ate there, they were offering a fried fish and chicken buffet, so we gave it a try. It was a disappointment. The food was not hot or fresh. But while we were eating, we kept seeing dinners coming out of the kitchen for those ordering off the menu, which looked incredible. So, a month or so later, we decided to try it again. We both got the broasted chicken, which they are known for, and it was great. We also ate breakfast at the Log Cabin Family Restaurant in Baraboo. The atmosphere is great, and the food was good. But it was a little pricey.

SUPPER CLUBS – We first encountered Supper Clubs during our stay in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in the summer of 2022. Popular in the upper Midwest, these restaurants started in the mid-1900s and are upscale dining experiences. Cimaroli’s Is located a few miles outside of Wisconsin Dells, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. We were with a group of folks from the campground. We had dressed a little nicer. No shorts or T-shirts. We went on a Tuesday night, and the place was hopping. We actually had a short wait to get a table. The food and service were fantastic. We also enjoyed another Supper Club right in Wisconsin Dells. It was the Dell Bar. This place is even more upscale. It was fancy. These kinds of restaurants are experiences. We tried a third Supper Club. The Ishnala Supper Club in the Dells is the top-rated Supper Club in the Midwest. We waited until our last week in the Dells to go to Ishnala. We arrived at 5:15 on a Wednesday evening, and there was already a two-hour wait. Tourist season was over! We did not wait. Next summer, we will arrive before they open and be in line waiting for a table.

MY FAVORITE – Hands down, my favorite restaurant was Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese Shop. Honestly, a restaurant specializing in Macaroni and Cheese doesn’t sound that exciting. But when I took my first bite of the Philadelphia Cheese Stead Macaroni and Cheese, the earth moved. It was wonderful! Mac’s is a small chain of restaurants only in Wisconsin that started in the Dells. They offer about a dozen different macaroni and cheeses, all of which are delicious. I don’t care where you live, this place is worth the drive! Right next door, actually, there is an open doorway with Macs, is Huckleberry’s, a charming and delicious ice cream shop. It’s a great way to finish your meal.

When I think about it, I wonder if we ever ate at home!

One last word. Every year hundreds of college students from all around the world come to work in the Wisconsin Dells. As you interact with them, don’t hesitate to ask them about their home. They love telling about home.