Ishnala Supper Club

If you leave without trying the Strawberry Schaum Torte, shame on you. This tower of chewy confectionary clouds with centers the consistency of marshmallow goodness alternating with whipped cream and strawberries, has been on the menu for 50 years, and is divine in its simplicity. As owner Jane Wimmer pointed out, it requires just a few ingredients, but delights on many levels. Close competitors to this top dessert -- the Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Torte.

Here, we recommend Bonnie's Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie. It's a mouthful, to be sure. Named after owner's wife, here's an analysis of this Dells pie from the bottom up. The crust is made with toasted pecans, then it's filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with lemon curd, then frozen. Next it's covered with a golden crown of meringue and candied lemon zest. Obois says this pie, which is served year-round, is his personal favorite.

When you walk in this pretty little Wisconsin Dells restaurant -- it's actually housed in a converted cheese factory, thus the name -- your eyes will invariably be drawn to a rotating glass case filled with mouthwatering desserts. There are classic fudge brownies, cute cupcakes piled high with frosting, seasonal pies -- all homemade mind you. But the Princess Cake will call to you. Picture vanilla cake between layers of lemon butter-cream frosting and raspberry filling, then covered with roasted almonds. Enough said.

Other restaurants noteworthy for their desserts include Field's at the Wilderness (Bananas Foster), Kaminski Bros. Chop House (their signature KBC Brownie Sundae) and Ishnala Supper Club (pecan cinnamon rolls, which come with the meal, but are absolutely dessert-worthy).

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.

It would be easy -- and a crime -- to drive by this gem. A bit hidden in a little enclave of shops behind Mexicali Rose restaurant, the café is perched right on the river next to the Kilbourn Dam. In fact, you're so close to the water that when you dine outside, you can hear the squeals from the folks taking the jet boat ride. The food is fresh, fresh, fresh. We asked owner Mary Helland about some of the favorites on the menu and she said the pumpkin bread and the spaghetti sauce, both recipes of her mom's, top the list.

This place is perfect for a Friday fish fry in the Dells, a leisurely dinner of slow-roasted prime rib, or maybe just an appetizer basket of beer-battered cheese curds. Just don't leave without stepping out the back door for a stroll on the Downtown Dells RiverWalk that is just a few feet from the pub's outdoor dining area.

This quaint stop, just a few miles out of town, sits right on the Lower Dells of the Wisconsin River. Customers like to call it a best kept secret. Not anymore.

Located on the South Shore of beautiful Lake Delton, directly across the bay from the Tommy Bartlett Show. They are known for their wonderful al fresco dining experience and fabulously fresh fare including flatbreads, sliders and wraps.  A Wisconsin Dells locals’ favorite.

While not on the river, another restaurant with incredible water views is Ishnala Supper Club which is literally perched over pristine Mirror Lake.

Enduring. Endearing. Those were the two words that guided the research for this story on the classic Wisconsin Dells vacation. Many of the Wisconsin Dells hotels, attractions and restaurants included below have been building up a fan base for decades and across generations. Others are slightly more contemporary classics that still say “Wisconsin Dells” in a big way. Combined, they make for lots of choices for travelers who like to go classic.

A good starting point is downtown, where classic Wisconsin Dells hotel and motels right on the main street are well maintained and still very popular. There’s Fitzgerald’s Motel, where the front sign reminds you to “Smile, you’re on vacation.” Last year, Fitzgerald’s celebrated its 60th anniversary, and owner Margaret Gewont is 100% sincere when she tells you guests are more like extended family than vacationers. A peek in the guest book proves it, with the first entry reading: “Margaret is the ultimate hostess.” The list of downtown Wisconsin Dells hotels and motels is long and varied, so take your pick.

Downtown Wisconsin Dells

As long as you’re already on the main thoroughfare, keep your car parked and put on your walking shoes for a stroll up and down Broadway. You’ll pass fudge shops like Swiss Maid Fudge and Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge and likely succumb to the sweets being made behind the picture windows. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, with its quirky and fun-to-read-about displays from adventures of days gone by, is one of the many amusing Wisconsin Dells attractions on Broadway. As long as you’re downtown, go ahead and have one of those old-timey pictures taken. For souvenirs, Bailey’s Landing and Winnebago Gift Shop are both known for their wide selection of Minnetonka moccasins, a fashion statement in Wisconsin and on the runways of New York.

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.