There are so many great restaurants to try in Door County, Wisconsin.
If you visit Door County in the winter, the restaurant options are more limited but there are still plenty of wonderful places to eat.
I’m sharing more about great places to eat in Door County that are open year-round during your visit.
Renard’s Artisan Cheese
2189 County Rd DK, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Of course, no visit to Wisconsin is complete without enjoying LOTS of cheese.
You can kick off your visit to the area in a cheese lover’s paradise at Renard’s Artisan Cheese.
You’ll have no problem finding plenty of artisan cheese options along with local Door County gourmet foods and wine.
A few of the popular items are the cherry cheddar and of course, the cheese curds.
Renard’s is currently in it’s third generation of cheesemakers.
If you want to learn more about the art of handcrafting cheese in Wisconsin, make sure that you book a factory tour at their Algoma location in advance.
Enjoy a Meal at Melt
After you stock up on cheese, enjoy a meal at Melt located inside Renard’s Cheese.
On the menu, you’ll find an assortment of soups, salads, mac and cheese, and gourmet sandwiches. The sandwich melts are of course very popular, as the cafe’s namesake.
I tried the popular Honey Truffle melt sandwich and it was WONDERFUL!
It’s made with Renard’s Terrific Trio (a rich blend of Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda), Provolone, cream cheese, and honey. The sandwich is grilled on sourdough bread infused with truffle oil.
Another menu item I highly recommend is the infused lemonade. I tried the Strawberry Basil made with strawberry, strawberry syrup, fresh basil & fresh lemon.
Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club
10640 N. Bay Shore Dr Sister Bay, WI
Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club is a family-owned and operated restaurant, bar, and bowling alley. This particular Supper Club dates back to 1964 is open for lunch and dinner.
As an out-of-towner, the concept of a Supper Club was foreign to me. I immediately wanted to know what the difference was between a Supper Club and a restaurant.
What is a Supper Club?
A Supper Club is both a social and a traditional dining experience. Supper Clubs typically start dinner at 5 and are only open for dinner. There are a few places that are the exception.
There are over 250 Supper Clubs in the state of Wisconsin. The criteria for a Supper Club can vary depending on the region. The expectation is that you will be dining for a while.
A Friday night fish fry, generous portions for dishes, and an Old Fashioned cocktail on the menu are expected to be found at Wisconsin Supper Clubs.
Even though the name sounds elite, the charm of a Supper Club is that it’s nostalgic for older guests and welcoming for new ones.
You can choose to eat and drink from the menu at the bowling alley with 6 lanes or hold out for the larger menu in the dining area.
Sister Bay Bowling and Supper Club is known for its fried lake perch, cheese curds, roasted chicken, and Old-Fashioned cocktails.
For appetizers, our table tried the fried cheese curds and the potato skins.
Of course, I had to try the fried lake perch for dinner. Now I understand why it’s so popular.
The perch is marinated and lightly fried in a vintage broaster. The broaster is partly responsible for creating the magic in your mouth.
I also really liked the way that the potatoes were cut and prepared.
Experience a Fish Boil at White Gull Inn
4225 Main St, Fish Creek, WI
Fish boils are another popular dining experience to try while you are in Door County.
Several local restaurants in the area offer fish boils year-round and reservations are highly recommended.
Before your dinner, you can observe the “master boiler” that is monitoring the Lake Michigan whitefish cooking inside the pot over the fire.
You’ll want to have your camera ready for when the master boiler throws fuel into the fire once the fish oils float to the surface of the boiling water.
Once the fish oils are boiled over the flames you can go back to your table. Your fish dinner will be coming to your table shortly.
Our table started with a nice selection of breads to choose from including blueberry and lemon.
The fish boil was the perfect way to celebrate my whitefish catch from ice fishing earlier that day.
To be transparent, I had low expectations for the taste of boiled fish.
The taste really exceeded my expectations. Salt and lemon definitely helped with the flavor of the whitefish and the potatoes. I would definitely try a fish boil again.
Dinner was topped off with a slice of fresh Door County cherry pie served ala mode.
Door County Coffee and Tea Company
5773 WI-42, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Get your caffeine fix with high-quality coffee, tea, and pastries, along with made-from-scratch breakfast menu items.
Door County Coffee and Tea Company is a premier coffee roaster using 100% Speciality Class 1 Arabica Coffee.
Patrons can even watch the production of roasting coffee in small batches from the viewing window during their visit.
There are several coffee flavors that are offered seasonally. I would stock up if you find a flavor you love. Definitely try the peppermint-flavored coffee if you see it!
For breakfast we sampled a few of their popular menu items.
The Kitchen Sink Bake is made with waffles, sausage, bacon, egg, and cheese and is served with maple syrup.
Connie’s Strata is an egg bake made with crumbled breakfast sausage, mild green chilis, and cheddar cheese. The dish is served with toast and Bea’s chopped cherry jam.
We also sampled the “Hashbrown Potato Bake” made with chunky potatoes baked with savory seasonings, cheddar cheese, and onion.
The cherry yogurt muffin is also another great option.
Let’s be honest, you’ll probably want to visit here for coffee a few times during your visit….and you might as well grab a muffin to go.
Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza and Grille
10677 N Bay Shore Dr., Sister Bay, WI
Open year-round, Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza takes pride in using high quality meats, produce, and sustainable products to create an affordable dining experience.
For an appetizer, you can’t go wrong with the fried cheese curds.
I highly recommend trying the Cherry Walnut salad before your pizza arrives.
The salad is made with mixed greens, maple roasted walnuts, dried cherries, Door County Creamery goat cheese, and a cherry vinaigrette.
The pizzas come in small and large. I ordered the “PAISANO” made with
Italian sausage, soppressata, red onions, calabrese peppers, rosemary infused garlic and pesto, over a roasted garlic and sun-dried tomato sauce.
If you are with a group I would recommend trying a few of their specialty wood-fired pizzas.
Which Restaurant in Door County Do You Want to Try First?
Now the hardest part is deciding which restaurant in Door County you want to visit next.
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This content was created from an exploratory trip with Destination Door County. All opinions are my own.
