We’ve been going up north to the cabin my whole life. Our up north Wisconsin is the Minocqua and Lake Tomahawk area. My family has had cabins for 50+ years in Lake Tomahawk.
When it comes to finding the best restaurants in Minocqua, I know a thing or two, and I can always ask family members because odds are, they’ve eaten there.
All my aunts and uncles (on my dad’s side) have cabins within 15 minutes of Minocqua. My parents’ cabin is in Lake Tomahawk, and three of my uncles and one of my aunts are there. So yes, I know the area and haven’t just spent a few nights there.
Here are some of our favorite Minocqua restaurants and restaurants within reasonable driving distance (30 minutes).
1. Pub & Prime
Wisconsin has no shortage of fantastic supper clubs, but Pub & Prime is arguably one of the best. This restaurant, just 20 minutes east of Minocqua, has a modern dining room and outdoor terrace where you can enjoy your relaxed but upscale meal.
Start off with a bowl of classic Italian sausage soup before hitting up the custom salad bar. Do yourself a favor and order the prime rib, which is guaranteed to be one of the most succulent slices of meat you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Top it off with fries or a baked potato, and you have yourself a memorable meal.
My parents ALWAYS get their prime rib. Growing up, I grew up snowmobiling in Northern Wisconsin, and this is one of the best restaurants in Minocqua. We always parked the sleds at least once a winter. It’s easily accessible if you’re snowmobiling in Wisconsin. This is definitely a splurge meal. Expect to spend $20-50 for a main.
- Address: 8085 State Hwy 70 E, St Germain
2. McGregor’s Blink Bonnie Supper Club
Don’t let the small size or non-discrete building fool you – this is one of the best restaurants and supper clubs you’ll ever dine in! Not only is the interior décor warm, cozy, and full of interesting things to look at (where else would you find neon signs side by side with taxidermy animals?), but the food is also unbelievably tasty. You can also gaze outside your window and see deer wandering through the backyard!
Surf and Turk, a sizzling steak platter, and baked trout are just a couple of items on their extensive menu. This place can get packed on the weekends, so it’s best to come for an early dinner around 4 or 5 unless you want to end up waiting for 45 minutes for a table.
I remember coming to Blink Bonnies as a kid, having a kiddie cocktail, and watching the deer outside. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a window seat facing the backyard, where deer often roam.
- Address: 8997 WI-70, St Germain
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3. The Big Dipper
Previously named the Northern Aire, the best cheese curds can be found here! Although it’s a 30-minute drive outside of Minocqua, The Big Dipper is an excellent stop if you’re looking for hearty Wisconsin cooking. This cozy little log cabin in Park Falls sits just a stone’s throw away from Pike Lake and is normally filled with road trippers, local families, and devoted diners who have been eating here for decades.
The Big Dipper does not skimp on the food, as all their portions are huge (and definitely fair-priced). Start with the giant basket of cheese curds, which you could easily share with your entire table. Their larger-than-life burgers are also drool-worthy, and their New York Strip Sandwich is so enormous that it has to be served on two separate buns. On every last Thursday of the month, they also host a pizza buffet for those who want to satisfy their cheesy, carby cravings.
- Address: 14492 Shady Knoll Rd, Park Falls
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4. Northfork Fin & Filet
This laid-back modern restaurant has everything you could want in a Minocqua restaurant. It has a charming atmosphere, great customer service, and, of course, a huge menu with tons of delicious, mouthwatering options. If you’re looking for one of the newest restaurants worth the trip. After our first visit, we both agreed it was worth adding to the list of best restaurants in Minocqua.
Their appetizer menu is full of crispy snacks like cheese curds, duck wontons, fried calamari, and haystack onions. Meat lovers can indulge in BBQ ribs, shepherd’s pie, and seasoned pork steak, while seafood fanatics can try their almond-crusted haddock, maple-glazed salmon, or ahi tuna. Come during the weekend for their daily gourmet specials, like Friday Fish Fry and Saturday Prime Rib. It is a little on the pricey side for the area.
- Address: 11084 WI-70, Woodruff
- Full Menu Here
5. Four Seasons Supper Club
This family-run Northwoods supper club has one of the best locations in the state. Perched on the shores of Big Arbor Vitae Lake with stunning water views from every table (or the outdoor patio), you’ll be amazed at the picturesque setting as much as you will be by the food.
On the menu, you’ll find an array of traditional American dishes like baby back ribs, crispy lake perch, and roasted chicken. Make sure you try their famous potato pancakes as a side dish as well. It’s also worth stopping by on Friday for their fish fry or Saturday for their juicy prime rib, although you can still enjoy your meal any other day of the week when you have spectacular views like these.
Make sure to check the sunset time. It’s great to dine while it’s still light out. Four Seasons Supper Club is my parent’s go-to. The owners are great too.
- Address: 10338 Big Arbor Vitae Dr, Woodruff
- Full Menu Here
6. The Boathouse Minocqua
This water-view restaurant on Lake Minocqua is a great place for lunch, after-work drinks, or dinner. Cheese curds, bacon-wrapped dates, chicken wings, and calamari are just a few of the delicious items on their appetizer menu. You might also consider trying their signature Hungarian mushroom soup, which is one of the star favorites amongst locals here.
For your main, go with the blackened walleye, fried perch, or deep-fried chicken. They also have plenty of other lighter items on the menu, like their campfire Caesar and Greek salad.
- Address: 305 W Park Ave, Minocqua
7. Black Bear Bar & Grill
If you’re hunting for delicious home-cooked food in a cozy, laid-back setting, then look no further than the Black Bear Bar & Grill. These folks know how to satisfy all your stomach cravings.
Choose one of their sky-high sandwiches like the Black Bear Reuben or the Italian Beef Dip with au jus. You can also opt for one of their more traditional Wisconsin dishes like their fried cod or perch dinners, smothered BBQ ribs, or grilled shrimp skewers. However, we highly recommend their pizza, which comes oversized and extra crispy.
They also have live music often on the weekends.
- Address: 1045 WI-70, Minocqua
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8. Norwood Pines
Norwood Pines is one of Minocqua’s oldest supper clubs, which means they know a thing or two about great food. Their menu serves all the classic dishes you can expect from a supper club like BBQ ribs, seared Ahi Tuna, and Alaskan king crab legs.
However, we recommend stopping by on Friday for their traditional Northern Wisconsin Fish Fry. This all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of deep-fried cod, broiled cod, or Cajun baked cod will leave you happy and full (especially considering they come with homemade corn fritters too).
- Address: 10171 WI-70, Minocqua
- Full menu here
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9. White Stag Sugar Camp
When you dine at the White Stag Sugar Camp, you’ll be treated to simple food done right. This steak house serves high-quality meats that have been charcoal broiled to perfection. The strip steak, porterhouse, filet mignon, and rib-eye are ordered precisely to your liking and served with a baked russet potato and lettuce wedge salad.
If you aren’t in the mood for steak, you can also try one of their other menu options, like Icelandic haddock filet, catfish, or garlic roasted chicken. The chef is grilling everything right in front of your eyes in the open fire pit in the dining room, which only adds to the coziness of this delectable restaurant.
- Address: 7141 State Rd 17, Rhinelander
10. Mavericks Restaurante Mexicano
If you need a break from the steaks and fish fries in Wisconsin, then hit up Mavericks Restaurante Mexicano for a south-of-the-border-inspired meal. They serve upscale versions of your favorite Mexican dishes, like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and chimichangas. Choose from a filling of pork, chicken, beef, barbacoa, or even tequila-marinated veggies for any non-meters you’re dining with.
In addition to the mains, they serve some pretty unique side dishes. Try their Mexican street corn salad, their cowboy beans, or their Mexican coleslaw. Their tequila selection is also equally as impressive (whether you try them mixed as a Margherita or not!). This is another newcomer to the area but deserves a spot as one of the best restaurants in Minocqua. Make sure to try their cheese curds served with a jalapeno avocado crema.
- Address: 1021 1st Ave, Woodruff
- Full menu here
11. 19th Hole Sports Bar & Grill
Despite only being open on the weekends, the 19th Hole Sports Bar and Grill is a great place to start or end your night out. Besides its varied menu of pizza, hamburgers, and fried snacks, this fun joint has plenty to keep you occupied when you’re not guzzling down drinks or dining on food.
Play a round of billiards or challenge your friends to a game on one of the vintage arcade machines. You can also step outside to hit some balls on their par-three golf course! Families are also more than welcome to come and have fun too. There’s an on-site mini-golf course and an ice cream shop with more than 30 different flavors of your favorite treats.
This is also another great stop if you’re snowmobiling in Minocqua.
- Address: 9067 WI-70, St Germain, WI 54558
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12. Hoggie Doggies
This quick and easy take-out spot is a popular spot for lunch or an early dinner. Although their menu is filled with fast-food favorites, all their dishes are made with high-quality ingredients, like their signature hand-peeled and hand-cut French fries.
While the hot dogs are the inevitable start of the menu (try their Chicago-style all-beef dog with relish, pickles, and chopped onions or their Italian Beef with a side of au jus dipping sauce), they have plenty of other items to tempt your palate. If you’re craving something sweet, try one of their homemade ice creams or frozen yogurts. French vanilla cappuccino, orange dreamsicle, and pistachio are just a few of the ever-changing daily flavors they serve.
**Only open seasonally**
- Address: 8803 WI-47, Woodruff
- Full menu here
13. Jacobi’s of Hazelhurst – Closed
Jacobi’s of Hazelhurst is a great all-around restaurant for families, dinner dates, and even business meetings. Jacobi’s of Hazelhurst is one of the most beloved restaurants in Wisconsin. The cozy dining room, the excellent customer service, and the delicious home-style cooked meals are just a few of the reasons why it’s been a favorite restaurant in Minocqua amongst tourists and locals for years.
The menu is typical American fare, like zesty coconut shrimp, garlic bread, and spinach and artichoke dips for appetizers. They have an array of fresh seafood dishes and pasta (you can’t go wrong with the honey ginger grilled salmon or the chicken and scallops with artichokes and tarragon cream). However, their veal piccata, steak au poivre, and black Angus rib-eye are their most popular dishes. My go-to item is the garlic stuffed tenderloin cooked medium, YUM!
At the moment, they are currently closed (COVID and employee shortage), but keep an eye on their website for their reopening date.
- Address: 9820 Cedar Falls Rd, Hazelhurst
14. Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty – Currently Closed
Wake up and start your morning off right with a homemade breakfast served at Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty. They’re known for their all-you-can-eat Lumberjack breakfast, which comes with fresh buttermilk pancakes, sausage links, ham, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and so, so, so much more.
If that doesn’t leave you satisfied, you can also try their homemade buttermilk donuts, which are made fresh on-site each morning. These little morsels of goodness are so famous that they can even be ordered and shipped anywhere in the country. It’s one of the best breakfasts in Minocqua. It’s a great place to go with the kids.
*Dining room closed for 2023 season*
15. Marty’s Place North – Currently Closed
For a cozy supper club experience, head to Marty’s Place North, just a short drive north from Minocqua. From the moment you walk through the door, you’ll be wowed by the excellent service staff and charming interior of the dining room.
There’s something on the menu for meat lovers, vegetarians, and picky eaters alike. Start with oysters on the half-shell, Thai chicken skewers, or for more adventurous dinners, garlic butter escargot. For steak, they serve filet mignon, New York Strip, and rib-eye, while their seafood menu consists of dishes like lobster tail, broiled scallops, and lemon salmon.
Lynn
Sunday 10th of March 2024
Marty’s Place North wasn’t open last summer. It’s on the real estate market. Doubt it will be open again.
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Monday 15th of April 2024
Thank you for the update, and that is bummer to hear!