Here Are Tonight’s Specials

When it comes to food, many of us are creatures of habit. We have favorites we couldn’t bear to see switched off the menu at our favorite haunts. Restaurant owners in Wisconsin Dells get that, thank goodness. They know a classic will always be just that, a classic, and their mantra might be: Why mess with a good thing? So here’s an homage to the ultimate multi-course dine-around.

For starters, let’s sample a favorite appetizer, the cheese spread at Ishnala. This restaurant is perched on a plot of land overlooking Mirror Lake that was once ceremonial grounds for the Winnebago Indians and later a trading post. The salads and rolls are the perfect next course. Ishnala is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, so plan accordingly. For soup, the loaded potato soup at the High Rock Café downtown is one of those instant classics worth a stop unto itself. And the view from this second-story restaurant lets you see all the comings and goings while you simply relax with an incredible bowl of homemade goodness. Ask about their soup du jour too.

The side dish to order, hands down, is the "fully loaded mashed potatoes" at the Kaminski Bros. Chophouse 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 so 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 downtown. 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 sons Mike and Mark use 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 white cheddar cheese curds too. Monk’s has two locations now - the original downtown bar and grill, and an expansive new restaurant at the Wilderness Resort.

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.

View all Wisconsin Dells Restaurants.