Food & drink in the Wisconsin Northwoods.

The Hazelhurst Pub

Northwoods bar and grill right off Highway 51 and the Bearskin Trail in Hazelhurst, established in 2008. Known for outstanding pizza, burgers, and Wisconsin cheese curds.

Shotskis

Eagle River's hottest live music venue with a 13,000 sq ft outdoor event space, covered stage, and dance floor, home of a world-record 2,455-foot shotski.

Pine Lake Lodge

Lakeside lodge with restaurant and bar overlooking Pine Lake north of Mercer, serving steaks, prime rib, and a popular Friday fish fry with cabin rentals available.

Sure-Wood Forest Bar & Grill

Bar, grill, and campground on Lake Alice near Tomahawk with 8 lakeside campsites. Serves prime rib, breakfast, and all-you-can-eat wings.

Rocky's Roadhouse

Bar and grill serving food and drinks.

Kastawayz

A bar on 5th Avenue in Antigo.

Chatterbox Bar

Pine & Pour Coffee Company

Coffee shop on Wall Street in Eagle River.

The Brew Station

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.

Sorella

Artfully crafted regional Italian restaurant and sister to Ciao in Wausau, featuring fresh house-made pasta, oysters, and fish flown in weekly, plus an extensive wine list.

Two Angels Family Restaurant

Home-style family restaurant in Antigo known for generous portions, humongous buttermilk pancakes, and freshly baked fruit pies. Ranked #2 restaurant in Antigo.

Sammy Jr's.

Bar on Coon Street in Rhinelander.

Lucy's Lunchbox

A beloved breakfast and lunch spot in Eagle River named after the owner's mother, serving wholesome home cooking with specialties like homemade corned beef hash and biscuits and gravy, all made to order with fresh ingredients.

Bootleggers

Waters Edge Lodge

Lodge restaurant near Crandon serving brunch and meals.

Hotel Crandon Restaurant and Bar

A Crandon institution since 1929 on the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway, serving breakfast all day, lunch, and Friday fish fry with fresh baked bread, hand-cut steaks, and ten craft beers on tap.

Stars and Stripes Pub & Grill

Tomahawk pub serving Broasted chicken, fish fry, and made-to-order pizzas in a welcoming atmosphere.

Anthony's Ristorante

Family-owned Italian restaurant in Woodruff specializing in contemporary American-Italian cuisine with hand-cut Certified Angus Beef steaks, Walleye Piccata, and Seafood Alfredo, set in a charming interior reminiscent of a historic railway depot.

Sugar 'n Spice Cheesecakes & Coffee

Central Wisconsin's premier cheesecake shop offering 150 flavors, all made from scratch with the finest ingredients. Also serves coffee and espresso drinks.

Boulder Beer Bar

Iconic Boulder Junction bar since 1948, now under Aberdeen Kitchens ownership, serving scratch-made burgers, sandwiches, pizza, wings, homemade soups, and a popular Friday fish fry with a full bar and games for all ages.

Forestry Tap & Axe

High-end taproom near Minocqua with 20 craft beers on tap, three axe-throwing lanes, gourmet pizzas, shuffleboard, pool, and big-screen TVs for game days.

Shorthorns Bar & Grill

Established 1998 bar and grill on Main Street in Tomahawk serving lunch and dinner with solid bar food, pool, darts, and a jukebox.

Aqualand Bakery

Family-owned artisan bakery in the heart of Boulder Junction, baking fresh croissants, cookies, danishes, and hearth breads daily. Their artisan breads are also delivered to grocery stores across the Northwoods.

PJ's Burger Barn

American restaurant and bar serving burgers.

Lumpy's Bar & Grill

A sports bar on Highway 45 overlooking Catfish Lake, two miles south of Eagle River, with more TVs than anywhere in town, Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib, and an extensive menu of burgers, wraps, and appetizers.

The Pinery Coffee Co.

Specialty coffee shop and roaster in downtown Wausau, roasting beans on-site. Donates a percentage of proceeds to a different local nonprofit each month.

Friendship House Family Restaurant

Old-school American eatery in a strip mall serving hearty comfort food classics all day.

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.

Nevermore on Third Bar & Grille

Gothic Victorian-themed gastropub inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, featuring gourmet sliders, shareable plates, craft cocktails, and live music in an atmospheric setting with exposed tin walls and velvet curtains.

Pub N Prime Supper Club

Traditional Northwoods supper club specializing in prime rib, fresh fish, and homemade soups, featuring a year-round heated outdoor tiki bar and a soup and salad bar.

Tilted Loon Saloon

Lakeside bar and grill on Lake Nokomis in Tomahawk, open year-round with fish fry available daily. Accessible by land or lake, with boat and snowmobile gas on-site.

Racks and Rods

Bar on County Highway C in Rhinelander.

Blue Willow Cafe

Family-style diner on the west side of Wausau serving breakfast all day, known for country fried steak, oversized pancakes, homemade pie, and huge portions in a cozy northwoods atmosphere. Open Monday through Saturday.

DJ's Northwoods Family Restaurant

Family-owned breakfast and lunch spot in Saint Germain rated #1 on TripAdvisor, known for fluffy pancakes, homemade dishes, and friendly service.

The Garage

Bar on Morning Glory Lane near Wausau.

McGregor's Blink Bonnie Supper Club

Long-standing, rustic establishment offering steaks & traditional American dishes in a cozy setting.

Homestead On 52

A historic venue eight miles east of Wausau with over 100 years of history, originally founded in 1878. Now a rustic bar and grill with a ballroom for events, weddings, and parties, serving burgers, homemade pizzas, and weekly specials including Friday fish fry.

The Jailhouse saloon

Bar and grill on Lake Creek Road near Rhinelander.

Norwood Pines Supper Club

Relaxed eatery serving hearty American fare & a Friday fish fry in a scenic setting with lake views.

Crimson Cafe

Vibrant cafe in downtown Rhinelander specializing in East Indian and Asian-inspired dishes alongside specialty coffees, boba drinks, paninis, and craft cocktails.

Tilly’s

Organic and locally sourced breakfast and lunch cafe in downtown Rhinelander, serving Ruby Coffee Roasters espresso, Rishi teas, and a scratch-made seasonal menu.

Otto's Beer & Brat Garden

German restaurant serving beer and bratwurst.

Papa Dave's Pizzeria

Cash-only pizzeria on Silver Street making fresh dough daily for hand-tossed pizzas, pizza fries, and Italian specials like gnocchi with meatballs.

Gaslight Tavern

Asian fusion restaurant in Lake Tomahawk blending Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Korean cuisines, known for Crying Tiger steak and creative appetizers. Opened 2024.

Great Escape Bar & Resort

Lakeside bar and grill on North Twin Lake in Phelps with cabin rentals, homemade pizza, broasted chicken, Friday fish fry, and snowmobile trail access in winter.

Beachcomber Lounge

Lakeside lounge at Clear Lake Inn & Resort known for one of the best fish fries in the Northwoods, served Thursdays and Fridays grilled over open flame or fried. Also features homemade pizza, shrimp and steak dinners, and specialty blender drinks.

The Heid Out Bar and Grill

Prohibition-era-inspired bar and grill in Eagle River serving classic burgers, hearty sandwiches, thin crust Chicago Tavern pizza, and craft cocktails.