High Rock Café

The side dish to order, hands down, is the "fully loaded mashed potatoes" at the Kaminski Bros. Chophouse, a great restaurant in Wisconsin Dells restaurant located inside the Chula Vista Resort. This mountain of potatoes, enough for four or more, is loaded with flavors. Given the taste and the portion size, you’ll be happy to take home leftovers.

For entrees, we recommend the ribs at House of Embers, the walleye at the Del-Bar, and the burgers at Monk’s Bar & Grill in Downtown Dells. Let’s start with the ribs. In 1959, Wally Obois decided his new restaurant would be famous for hickory smoked BBQ ribs. And so it came to be. Today his son Mike uses the same technique to make these deliciously tender ribs using a specially designed smoke house and a secret BBQ sauce.

Over at the Del-Bar supper club, established in 1943 as a roadside steakhouse and also owned and operated by the original family, the pan-fried walleye is to die for. The staff, some of whom have been there 20 years, will be happy to recommend just the right wine from the restaurant’s extensive wine cellar to accompany the fish. Delish.

On a more casual note, the place to go for burgers is Monk’s. Just ask any local. This place has been serving "World Famous" burgers since 1947. Choose from one of 10 types of burgers on the menu and, while you’re at it, why not ask for a side order of deep fried Wisconsin Dells white cheddar cheese curds too. Monk’s has two locations - the original downtown bar and grill, and an expansive new restaurant at the Wilderness Resort, one of our lovely Wisconsin Dells resorts.

For the sweet tooths in the crowd, this culinary adventure is just not complete without a stop at the Cheese Factory Restaurant. The building was actually a cheese factory for decades, a Wisconsin Dells landmark of sorts, before being converted into an eatery. The desserts here are made the old-fashioned way - hand-made by specific bakers who are responsible only for that particular dessert. There’s Glorious Chocolate Cake and Hazlenut Torte, but our favorite has to be the Princess Cake -- vanilla cake between layers of lemon butter-cream frosting and raspberry filling and covered with roasted almonds. Check please.

Number of Servings: 4 generous or 8 side dish-sized portions
Baking Time: 30 minutes
Baking Temperature: 350°F

 

Ingredient List:
1 ½ c. cooked wild rice
¾ c. raw oatmeal
2 large red apples
¾ c. dried cranberries
½ c. raisins
½ T. cinnamon
½ c. chopped nuts (you can use either walnuts, pecans or a mixture of the two)

2 c. milk
¼ c. brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
2 T of butter
 
Preparation:
In large bowl mix wild rice, oatmeal, thinly sliced apples (not peeled), cranberries, raisins, cinnamon and nuts.  Set aside.
 
In separate bowl mix together milk, brown sugar, salt and butter and heat in microwave oven until hot.  Mix hot ingredients into rice and fruit mixture.  Put into buttered 2 qt. casserole dish. Cover and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Take the children to see the giant Glockenspiel with a musical re-enactment of the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin every half-hour, on the hour. The legend goes that the Pied Piper rid the town of Hamelin of its rats and mice by charming them away with his flute playing. When the citizens of Hamelin refused to pay the piper the price they had agreed upon, he charmed away their children in revenge.

The German Glockenspiel with its fairy tale re-enactment is FREE making it one of the best Wisconsin Dells deals. It's located in the 400 block of Broadway, Downtown Wisconsin Dells.

Stroll the Dells RiverWalk with vistas of the Wisconsin River and its sandstone bluffs now easily accessible to the public for the first time in 75 years. This ¼-mile paved path offers Dells visitors not only a breathtaking view of the Dells' unique scenery, but sprinkles in game tables and comfortable benches along its expanse in invitation to sit a spell and take in all of Mother Nature's glory. Walk, bike or run the Dells RiverWalk, but be sure to put this special experience on your Wisconsin Dells itinerary. It's one of the most scenic Wisconsin Dells activities available and it never disappoints.

The Dells RiverWalk entrance is located at the 100 block of Broadway in downtown Wisconsin Dells. It's free and open to the public year-round.

If you can’t wait to relax over a brandy old-fashioned, munch on some Wisconsin artisan cheese before being seated, and then linger over a multi-course meal that might include yeasty rolls, crisp salad, rich soup, steak or seafood with an incredible sauce, a side of buttery baked potato or fresh asparagus, and decadent chocolate torte with aromatic coffee for dessert, then have we got the supper clubs for you.

Field’s at the Wilderness and the Del-Bar were both designed by a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, which of course adds to the ambience of these restaurants in Wisconsin Dells.  Copper Oak Steak House, House of Embers, Kaminski Bros. Chop House and Ishnala Supper Club round out the list.  For one night, don’t lament the calories.  Just enjoy!

For a seasonal menu that is beyond words, check out High Rock Café in Downtown Dells.  It recently doubled in size, which is a sure testament to its popularity with visitors and newspaper restaurant critics alike.

For vegetarian, a pleasant surprise is the Cheese Factory Restaurant.  The entrées reflect flavors of the world.  It's a great way to be introduced to this style of cuisine.  Here’s a recommendation: Try their grilled cheese, named a Top 5 in the U.S. by Rachel Ray.

While dining in Wisconsin Dells, enjoy the beautiful landscaping outside Sarento’s Restaurant a treat for the eyes, while the extensive Italian menu and specialty pizzas offered are a treat for the tummy.

The surf and turf meal on the Dells Boat Tours Sunset Dinner Cruise is prepared fresh at one of the docking spots.  Their grill masters are to be commended.

Sweet tooths should unite at CheeseCake Heaven Deli Restaurant.  The owner literally spent four years perfecting her cheesecake recipe, which now comes in 90 varieties.  Everything on the restaurant menu is homemade too – pastas, soups, sandwiches, the whole nine yards.

Enjoy your food tour of Wisconsin Dells.