Food & drink in the Wisconsin Northwoods.

Animal's

Ladder 715

A unique firefighter-themed bar on Hurley's Silver Street, open Wednesday through Sunday.

Wolf's Den

Newly remodeled bar and grill inside the Great Northern Motel in Mercer with views of Lake San Domingo. Serves hand-pressed burgers, Friday fish fry, and prime rib. On snowmobile and ATV trails.

Full moon saloon

Meggie's Manitowish Waters

An Asian-influenced restaurant in a historic 1927 building on the shore of Vance Lake, serving house-made sauces and recipes inspired by the owner's travels, with a bar and cocktails. Open Thursday through Sunday evenings.

Rocky's Roadhouse

Bar and grill serving food and drinks.

Happy Daze

Moua's Callon Street Pub

A neighborhood pub on Callon Street in Wausau.

Castaways Bar & Grill

Family-friendly bar and grill on the Wisconsin River in Tomahawk, right under the bridge from Lake Mohawksin, with outdoor seating, a private event room with water views, Friday fish fry, burgers, wings, and pizza.

Uptown Cafe

Classic diner in Ironwood serving breakfast all day starting at 5 AM, known for full-plate pancakes, chicken fried steak, omelets, and Friday fish fry.

Pines Cafe

Cash-only breakfast and lunch diner in downtown Ironwood serving homemade soups, hot sandwiches, and hearty breakfast skillets daily from 7 AM to 3 PM.

Burnt Bridge Tavern

Historic log cabin tavern in Conover dating back to the 1920s Prohibition era, celebrating over 100 years of operation. Home of the "Wild Animal Floor Show" where deer and raccoons visit the picture windows, plus the signature deep-fried Bear Paw calzone.

Cold Iron Brewing

Craft brewery in downtown Ironwood brewing small-batch beers since 2017, with foosball, ping pong, shuffleboard, live music, and a dog-friendly patio. BYOF (bring your own food).

Aftershock Bar & Grill

Bar and grill on Lenard Street in Wausau with fish fry, burgers, pool, darts, bags, outdoor patio, and a banquet hall available for private events. Opens daily at 2 PM (noon on weekends).

Smokey's Restaurant and Supper Club

Relaxed fine dining supper club nestled among soaring pines, known for prime steaks, wild-caught Canadian walleye, Alaskan salmon, and piano music during dinner.

Sunset View Resort & Tavern

Resort tavern on Post Lake Drive near Elcho in the Antigo area.

Holiday Cafe

A Woodruff breakfast and lunch cafe known for homemade dishes including stuffed French toast, fish fry with fresh baked rolls, and hand-battered fish, with friendly service and reasonable prices.

Minocqua Brewing Company

Brewpub in a historic building with house beers & shareable plates, plus Sunday brunch & live music.

Winding Trail Grill & Bar

Bar and grill on County Road B in Tomahawk.

Black Forest Pub & Grille

Historic pub and grille established in 1934, designed after the beer gardens of Germany's Black Forest. Serves traditional German fare made from scratch alongside steaks, burgers, pizza, and decadent desserts.

Sand Lake Pub

Year-round pub on the snowmobile trail surrounded by three lakes, known for walleye, cod, and perch fish fry, pork loin sandwiches, and annual fishing derbies.

Banquet on a Bun

Casual sandwich shop in downtown Antigo serving Vienna Beef hot dogs, Chicago-style dogs, Italian beef, burgers, steak sandwiches, and pizza puffs. Open Tuesday through Saturday.

Back When Cafe

Farm-to-table American fare & signature martinis served in an urban-rustic space with high ceilings.

Birchwood Bar & Lodge

Family-owned rustic bar and lodge on Moen Lake in Rhinelander, famous for made-to-order 12-inch pizzas, burgers, fish fry, and cheese curds. Offers lakefront cabin rentals and live entertainment, accessible by boat.

Yukon 51

Bar on US Highway 51 in Hurley.

Birch Lake Bar & Resort

Artisan Oven

Big Daddy's

Self-described "Burger Happiness Emporium, Air Conditioned Cocktail Lounge, and Pizzeria" in downtown Rhinelander. Known for gourmet burgers (including the signature Jack Burger), made-to-order pizza, and scratch-made appetizers with full food menu until last call.

Phelps Hillside Restaurant

Year-round bar and restaurant at Phelps Hillside Resort on Lac Vieux Desert, known for prime rib and fish fry with scenic lake views.

The Glass Hat Bar

Bar on North 3rd Street in Wausau.

Era Cafe Arbor Vitae

ERA Café Arbor Vitae offers breakfast and brunch served all day, alongside handcrafted burgers, wraps, melts, and salads.

Heart of the North

A Mercer favorite for over 60 years, Heart of the North serves specialty burgers, fresh seafood, steaks, and homemade soups in a quaint old-time Northwoods atmosphere, with weekly specials including Tuesday Italian night and Friday fish fry.

Truck's Place Restaurant Antigo

Family dining destination in Antigo open daily from 6 AM, offering a diverse menu spanning breakfast, American classics, Mexican cuisine, and Italian specialties with homemade pies.

The Clubhouse Bar & Grill @ Timber Ridge

Bar and grill restaurant located at Timber Ridge.

Up North Nutrition

Nutrition and wellness center offering health-focused food and supplement products.

The Upper Block Sports Bar and Grill

Sports bar and grill on Silver Street in Hurley.

Den-O's Sports Bar

Bull Falls Brewing Co.

Craft brewery and taproom on East Thomas Street, reopened under new ownership in 2025 after the original Bull Falls Brewery (Wausau's oldest craft brewery, est. 2007) closed in 2024. Features a biergarten and traditional European-style lagers and ales.

Wise Guys Saloon

Silver Street saloon in Hurley featuring live music, food, Hurley's only mechanical bull, a dance floor, and a hidden upstairs bar echoing the town's prohibition history.

Breakfast Bear

Breakfast and lunch restaurant near Rib Mountain open daily 7 AM to 3 PM, featuring creative dishes like blueberry jalapeno jam on chicken and waffles, heirloom tomato omelets, and craft burgers with views of Rib Mountain.

Northwoods Inn

Family-owned restaurant and convenience stop on Highway 55 since 1996, with a newly remodeled dining room, Bucktails Lounge, outdoor patio, and Shell fuel station.

Baked Pizza & Sandwiches

Top-rated pizza and sandwich shop in downtown Crandon with house-made crusts and sauces, fresh veggie toppings, pasta, and handcrafted sodas.

Knotty Barrel Supper Club

A waterfront supper club overlooking Lake Minocqua, celebrating classic Wisconsin supper club traditions with craft Old Fashioneds, Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib, a salad bar, and exceptional service.

Lake Tomahawk Village Cafe & Pub

A small-town cafe on Bradley Street in Lake Tomahawk serving breakfast and lunch all day with homemade comfort food, popular Friday all-you-can-eat haddock fish fry, and acclaimed Bloody Marys.

Glass & Grain House

Husband-and-wife-run bar and bakery in Wausau offering over 100 craft beers and ciders on tap alongside a rotating menu of house-baked treats, games, and good vibes.

Erin's Pub 'N' Grub

The Shillelagh

Irish pub in Manitowish Waters serving traditional fare like corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, and world-class Reubens. Live music, Friday fish fry, and an annual Irish Fest.

Williams's Pine Gables Supper Club

Classic Wisconsin supper club in Eagle River with rustic log cabin ambiance, known for prime rib, steaks, German schnitzel specialties, and Friday fish fry. Rated 4.9 stars on OpenTable.