If you haven’t been paying attention to the food scene in Wisconsin over the past 10 or so years, you’ve been missing out. Folks from the coasts want to think of this as flyover country and that we’re still a meat and potatoes type of place, but honestly, there’s just so much great and interesting food happening in the Dairy State these days. You don’t always have to shell out major money to get a great meal, but sometimes it’s nice to splurge, celebrate and go all out. These Wisconsin restaurants aren’t the type of place most of us can afford to dine at regularly, but if your bank account can handle it – or if you save up for it – these are the Wisconsin restaurants where the final bill will be a bit pricey, but you won’t regret spending a dime. (The following restaurants are in no particular order.)
Please note, Pisco Mar is temporarily closed.
- Chives - Suamico
Facebook/ChivesDining
Facebook/ChivesDining A frequent spot for many of our favorite football players, Chives is locally-sourced, seasonal food that’s some of the best you’ll find in the area. Located at 1749 Riverside Dr, Suamico, WI 54173.
- The Lakely at Oxbow Hotel - Eau Claire
Facebook/oxbowhotel
Facebook/oxbowhotel I basically want to hang out here all the time. It’s cozy and welcoming, has a killer outdoor patio area and the menu is interesting and delicious. Located at 516 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI 54703.
- Pisco Mar - Appleton
Facebook/PiscoMar
Facebook/PiscoMar You won’t find better preparations of seafood than what these guys do. With Peruvian flavors and a keen eye for flavor profiles, a meal here is a heck of a treat. Located at 528 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911.
- The English Inn - Fish Creek
Facebook/EnglishInnFishCcreek
Facebook/EnglishInnFishCreek This old-school supper club is serving up some of the best surf and turf in Door County. It’s a classic, but there’s a reason it’s lasted as long as it has. Located at 3713 WI-42, Fish Creek, WI 54212.
- L’Etoile - Madison
Facebook/LetoileMadison
Facebook/LetoileMadison Simply one of the most interesting, delightful and awarded restaurants in the state. Every piece of every plate complements the meal and is well thought out. It’s a pleasure to eat food this good. Located at 1 S Pinckney St #107, Madison, WI 53703.
- Ardent - Milwaukee
Facebook/Ardent
Facebook/Ardent The beef comes from the chef’s family farm, his mom knits the lap blankets and makes the chef’s aprons, and the food is delivered and described by the chef who prepared it. The tasting menu here is a full-on taste experience and absolutely worth the cost. This is fine dining that would thrive in bigger cities and we’re lucky enough to have it here. The attention to detail and focus on local producers, both on the plate and throughout the dining experience, is amazing. Located at 1751 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- The Freighthouse - LaCrosse
Facebook/Freighthouselax
Facebook/FreighthouseLAX Another Wisconsin institution, The Freighthouse delivers amazing cuts of steak and mouthwatering seafood options. Located at 107 Vine St, La Crosse, WI 54601.
- The Immigrant - Kohler
The Immigrant
The Immigrant The American Club doesn’t do anything second-rate, and the Immigrant is their signature spot. It’s warm and welcoming with inventive food and a delicious menu. Located at 419 Highland Dr, Kohler, WI 53044.
- Pig in a Fur Coat - Madison
Facebook/APiginaFurCoat
Facebook/APiginAfurCoat Pig in a Fur Coat is another state gem that’s a bit more casual but no less delicious. The menu here is constantly changing and will always surprise and delight. Located at 940 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703.
- Lake Park Bisto - Milwaukee
Facebook/LakeParkBistro
Facebook/LakeParkBistro You really wouldn’t go wrong at any of the Bartalotta group’s fine dining restaurants - Lake Park, Bacchus or Harbor House. I picked Lake Park to highlight specifically for their desserts. They make amazing fish, have wonderful, classic menus and always deliver a stellar dining experience, but it’s their desserts that put them over the top. Many a pastry chef in this town has spent time at Lake Park Bistro. The flavors are fresh and unique and everything is made to perfection. Located at 3133 E Newberry Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211.
- Trattoria Stefano - Sheboygan
Facebook/TrattoriaStefano
Facebook/Trattoria Stefano If you want the type of Italian you’d find in the old country, this is where you need to go. It’s the kind of meal where you have several different plates and leave feeling like you might need help out the door, but it’s deep on flavors and oh so worth it. Located at 522 S 8th St, Sheboygan, WI 53081.
Have you ever splurged on a meal at any of these awesome eateries? Tell us about your favorites in the comments.
Facebook/ChivesDining
A frequent spot for many of our favorite football players, Chives is locally-sourced, seasonal food that’s some of the best you’ll find in the area. Located at 1749 Riverside Dr, Suamico, WI 54173.
Facebook/oxbowhotel
I basically want to hang out here all the time. It’s cozy and welcoming, has a killer outdoor patio area and the menu is interesting and delicious. Located at 516 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI 54703.
Facebook/PiscoMar
You won’t find better preparations of seafood than what these guys do. With Peruvian flavors and a keen eye for flavor profiles, a meal here is a heck of a treat. Located at 528 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911.
Facebook/EnglishInnFishCcreek
Facebook/EnglishInnFishCreek
This old-school supper club is serving up some of the best surf and turf in Door County. It’s a classic, but there’s a reason it’s lasted as long as it has. Located at 3713 WI-42, Fish Creek, WI 54212.
Facebook/LetoileMadison
Simply one of the most interesting, delightful and awarded restaurants in the state. Every piece of every plate complements the meal and is well thought out. It’s a pleasure to eat food this good. Located at 1 S Pinckney St #107, Madison, WI 53703.
Facebook/Ardent
The beef comes from the chef’s family farm, his mom knits the lap blankets and makes the chef’s aprons, and the food is delivered and described by the chef who prepared it. The tasting menu here is a full-on taste experience and absolutely worth the cost. This is fine dining that would thrive in bigger cities and we’re lucky enough to have it here. The attention to detail and focus on local producers, both on the plate and throughout the dining experience, is amazing. Located at 1751 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Facebook/Freighthouselax
Facebook/FreighthouseLAX
Another Wisconsin institution, The Freighthouse delivers amazing cuts of steak and mouthwatering seafood options. Located at 107 Vine St, La Crosse, WI 54601.
The Immigrant
The American Club doesn’t do anything second-rate, and the Immigrant is their signature spot. It’s warm and welcoming with inventive food and a delicious menu. Located at 419 Highland Dr, Kohler, WI 53044.
Facebook/APiginaFurCoat
Facebook/APiginAfurCoat
Pig in a Fur Coat is another state gem that’s a bit more casual but no less delicious. The menu here is constantly changing and will always surprise and delight. Located at 940 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703.
Facebook/LakeParkBistro
You really wouldn’t go wrong at any of the Bartalotta group’s fine dining restaurants - Lake Park, Bacchus or Harbor House. I picked Lake Park to highlight specifically for their desserts. They make amazing fish, have wonderful, classic menus and always deliver a stellar dining experience, but it’s their desserts that put them over the top. Many a pastry chef in this town has spent time at Lake Park Bistro. The flavors are fresh and unique and everything is made to perfection. Located at 3133 E Newberry Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211.
Facebook/TrattoriaStefano
Facebook/Trattoria Stefano
If you want the type of Italian you’d find in the old country, this is where you need to go. It’s the kind of meal where you have several different plates and leave feeling like you might need help out the door, but it’s deep on flavors and oh so worth it. Located at 522 S 8th St, Sheboygan, WI 53081.
Wisconsin is packed to the brim with amazing restaurants, some of which you probably didn’t even know existed. Take a look at these 15 great eateries that you may not have heard of before.
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