30 Best Restaurants in Wisconsin, USA

Credited with spawning the country's Slow Food movement during the 1970s and 1980s under founder Odessa Piper, L'Etoile is a farm-to-table restaurant on Capitol Square. It is also Madison's most elegant restaurant. Chef-owner Tory Miller rewrites the menu daily based on what's in season at Dane County farms. Eclectic dishes like Korean barbecued rack of lamb are prepared using classic French techniques and adopt a global spin. Begin the meal with a charcuterie board featuring head cheese, house pickles, and pork rillettes, and conclude with a build-your-own Wisconsin cheese plate.

Whether it's for the thin Swedish-style pancakes or gawking at goats grazing on the grass roof (now also possible via a webcam and screen in the restaurant), Al Johnson's is a Door County institution. Beyond breakfast, specialties include a Swedish-meatball sandwich, whitefish sandwich, pickled herring, or Pytt I Panna (Swedish roast-beef hash). Waitstaff don traditional dress so authentic you'll swear you're in Sweden. Finish the meal with a lingonberry shake. Be sure to drop into the gift shop to score Swedish souvenirs, including hand-knit sweaters.

Dine amid the historic elegance of this immaculately preserved 1885 home and get a sense of Lake Geneva's summer home heyday. But far from feeling stuffy and outdated, you'll be seated for lounge-y dining in wing-backed chairs and velvety couches for a menu of small plates (the lump crab cakes are a must); sharable fondue; sliders; charcuterie, and selections of Wisconsin artisan cheese. In addition to the restaurant, the 17,000-square-foot, 30-room Nationally Registered Historic Property serves as a luxury inn, so feel free to have that second martini or weekly changing craft beer.

Try the veal Balistreri (veal topped with eggplant and spinach), pollo carciofi (chicken served on pasta with artichoke hearts and spinach), or insalat di pollo (crunchy chicken salad) at this casual restaurant on the west side of Milwaukee.

On a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, this bistro is renowned for its French–style Sunday brunch. The daily menu includes roast duck and seasonal seafood dishes with rich and buttery sauces. The formal dining room is festooned with French impressionist paintings and curtains.

This chalet on 14 acres displays soccer memorabilia and handmade chandeliers. The menu lists continental cuisine such as steaks and hamburgers, along with such classic German fare as sauerbraten and schnitzels. Every Friday, the inn hosts live German music and a fish fry. Reservations essential Sat.

Braise Chef-owner Dave Swanson learned the ropes at acclaimed restaurants including Milwaukee's renowned Sanford. In 2012, he transferred his skills to the burgeoning Walker's Point neighborhood and repurposed a rundown building. He used its old bowling lanes as communal tables, paneled one wall with old barn siding and brought Milwaukee a farm-to-table hit. The menu changes depending on the ingredients he receives from the 400-some Wisconsin farmers he works with. Past favorites have included crispy pork belly served with creamy polenta goat cheese and sorghum syrup. For a special treat, book a spot at the last-Sunday-of-the-month suppers, featuring a local farmer's fare in three courses, served family style.

A wide cross-section gathers at this trendy spot in the Bay View neighborhood, where the menu is as eclectic as the decor. Funky art hangs on the walls, and lamps of all colors and shapes cast a dim glow over a bar made from old doors. There's a little bit of everything here, from Moroccan chicken to tuna sandwiches to East Indian pita, in addition to weekly specials. Make sure to save room for a heavenly slice of pie à la mode.

Craving a jolt of flavorful java? Take a coffee break from the usual and perk up with a cup at this local chain, housed in a historic water pumping station (you can still see the old pump). Amid lofty ceilings, exposed brick and hardwood floors, sip your lovingly crafted and poured brews, made-from-scratch pastries and simple and fresh sandwiches like pesto mozzarella, Wisconsin grilled cheese and avocado BLT. There are 11 Alterra locations throughout the Milwaukee area.

Provincial French bistro fare is served at this café in a large, renovated warehouse in Milwaukee's trendy Third Ward district, just south of downtown. The beer is specially brewed to complement the menu, which is filled with dishes like roasted mussels and thin-crust Niçoise and Alsatian pizzas.

This restaurant looks like a traditional Irish pub, with deep-green walls adorned with Gaelic sayings and a long, ornate bar. You can chow down on hearty offerings like corned beef and cabbage, pub sandwiches, and homemade soups-of-the-day. On Sunday, traditional Irish music is played in the afternoon.

Impressionist paintings hang on the walls at this chic downtown restaurant. The kitchen serves up seafood delicacies like lobster, sushi, and crab—there's even an oyster bar. You can dine inside or outside on the patio overlooking popular Water Street. The well-stocked bar here is one of the largest in the state.

Across from Cathedral Square Park, this chic but casual restaurant has frequently changing art exhibits and serves big, juicy hamburgers and pork-chop sandwiches.

This cozy little Nepalese eatery is a staple among State Street's many ethnic restaurants. Kick off the meal with a cup of dal or plate of samosas, followed by a hearty vegetarian tarkari (spicy vegetable stew) of the day. Several poultry dishes, like chicken simmered in Nepali spices or prepared barbecue-style, will satisfy meat lovers. The combination platter is a veritable culinary tour of Nepal and includes momochas (steamed vegetable dumplings packed with peanut paste), a samosa, roti, and cup of dal. Be forewarned that while the waitstaff is kind, the service is slow.

This small, cozy restaurant on the east side of town has a sushi bar and a menu of traditional Japanese fare, such as udon and sukiyaki.

Delicate decorations, from the ivory flower design on the chairs to golden wall hangings, set the stage for this restaurant's delicious pad Thai, mango curry, and volcano chicken. Patrons can peek over the wooden counter from the spacious dining room into the kitchen to watch the cooks prepare their meals.

Every night feels like Cinco de Mayo at this popular and colorful Mexican restaurant and bar in the heart of the city's Latin Quarter. La Fuente doesn't accept reservations, but the reasonably priced traditional Mexican dishes—enchiladas, quesadillas, sizzling fajitas, and the like—are worth the wait. (Warning: your food will be spicy unless you request otherwise.) Ask for a table on the fountain-filled patio if weather permits, or come during lunch for a more relaxing atmosphere.

It's named after the Mader family, not after a German mama. Diners here get the ultimate old-world experience, from the Hummels that occupy niches in the entryway to the dark-wood paneled walls. And of course, you'll dine on rich German favorites; weiner schnitzel, sauerbraten, and spaetzle reign.

As soon as the temperature permits, locals flock to the dual decks of this brew and food favorite. But no matter the weather, it's a happening spot for locally crafted beer, like Louie's Demise, a malty amber ale, and the Irish-style Sheepshead Stout. If you're staying for lunch or dinner, you'll also find flavors of this stout in the signature pot roast. Wednesday and Saturday are prime rib nights. Other options include pasta, pizza, burgers, chicken pot pie and a late-night menu of fancied-up bar food like nachos topped with beer-marinated chicken. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday runs the gamut from classic rock to jazz (cover charges typically start at $5).

Subtitled "A Place For Steaks," this downtown eatery is all about meat. Diners get to choose their steaks from a platter of cuts. Side dishes and desserts are outstanding, too. Can't get enough Mo's? Try Mo's Cucina, Mo's Irish Pub, Moceans (A Place for Seafood), or Mocha, all in the same downtown neighborhood.

The 50s-diner-meets-hipster atmosphere at Monty's Blue Plate Diner is a hit with locals, especially for all-day breakfast. For a true throwback experience grab a stool at the bar. Lunch and dinner items carry comfort-food flair, particularly Nana's chicken-noodle soup, yet vegans flock here for the BLT sandwich made with tempeh. Nonalcoholic shakes feature quirky names and ingredients, such as the Fat Elvis Shake or Burn One All the Way (a chocolate trifecta). There are also vintage ice-cream cocktails.

Just like its name suggests, this was once a post office. Today it's a popular spot for fish-boil dinners, an Upper Great Lakes tradition, particularly in Scandinavian circles. Chunks of Lake Michigan whitefish are boiled with salt and red potatoes in a large kettle. Warm butter is ladled over the fish just before serving. A theatrical demonstration of the process is hosted by boil master Earl Jones in the restaurant's backyard Monday through Saturday evenings. Slices of cherry pie end the meal on a sweet note.

Chances are you'll smell the slow-roasted rotisserie chicken before you reach this lakefront restaurant, a family-friendly institution for locals and visitors alike since 1972. Fittingly adorned with nautical décor—think ropes, netting, a mermaid, and tables topped with treasure maps—Popeye's also serves a rocking Friday-night fish fry and homemade broccoli cheddar soup. Expect a bustling crowd during the summer.

Nationally acclaimed chef Sanford D'Amato serves contemporary American cuisine in this restaurant, which occupies a remodeled grocery store on Milwaukee's east side. Popular dishes include seared sea scallop and lobster with almond cream and paprika brown butter, slow-cooked pinn-oak lamb, and sweetbread schnitznel with pea cream and lemon curd. For something different, try the seven-course surprise menu or four-course seasonal menu. Long banquettes make things cozy.

Restaurant owner Sanford Amato opened the Sanford restaurant in 1989 in his family's former grocery store. The grocery store turned restaurant is known for its delectable foods luring customers back for more, and it's no wonder, with the restaurant's sleekly inviting setting, convivial atmosphere, and artfully created dishes. The menu changes frequently, some dishes have included grilled pear and Roquefort tart with caramelized onions; grilled wild sturgeon on crab hash; and a fanciful finale of banana butterscotch toffee tart with banana rum ice cream.

Apple crumble French toast; roasted butternut squash and tofu hash; grilled Portobello sandwich with overnight-roasted tomato mayo served on ciabatta. Those are some of the favorites at this local gem, whose menu adjusts with the seasons to ensure the freshest ingredients possible, most of them locally sourced. Together with the cheerful repurposing of an auto parts building, shelves fashioned out of reclaimed wood, and a serious recycling effort, you get way more than just a meal here. You get the philosophy of owners Lori and Tom Hartz to live more lightly—and we say tastier too.

In an industrial area close to Miller Park and right off I-94, this burger joint makes good on its claim to be "Milwaukee's best burgers." Burgers are made from fresh-not-frozen certified Black Angus beef, served on a baked-locally butter roll. Owner Dave Sobelman plays up the rugged surroundings—and the building's history as one of the original Schlitz taverns—with touches like wooden Sprecher's beer barrels as tables in the cozy, flower-filled outdoor patio. Non-burger options make the grade too: grilled chicken cordon bleu, fried chicken, fish sandwiches and black bean burgers. Come in early for a bloody Mary.

Diners to this top tourist choice go for the renowned beer cheese soup made with Milwaukee-originated Sprecher's beer, and they get hooked by great 8, 9 or 10-buck lunch-combo deals, the crinkle-cut sweet potato fries, fried cheese curds and other tasty brew-worthy accompaniments. Beer-battered fish on Fridays comes with a tap beer, Old Fashioned cocktail or root beer (make ours a root beer float, please).

Occupying a corner along State Street in downtown Madison, this place specializes in fresh pasta, house-made breads, and indulgent desserts. The most romantic seats in the three-story eatery are on the lower level among stone walls and mood lighting. Pasta dishes are grouped under either red or white sauce on the menu, while heartier entrées such as pollo piccata (chicken breast sauteed in lemon-caper cream sauce) showcase true Italian cuisine. Paninis and pizzas represent lighter fare, with the build-your-own pizza a solution for fussy eaters. Don't leave without ordering a cappuccino, paired with cannoli or tiramisu.

A colorful, eclectic, all-day breakfast spot, this café fits in well with quaint, artsy Egg Harbor. Orders are served on Fiestaware plates and bowls. Art on the walls (and for sale) is just as much a morning pick-me-up as the bold coffee. Dishes straddle Midwestern and global influences, such as spicy, Bahamian-style whitefish chowder or French toast stuffed with cheeses and apricot preserves before rolled in granola. If you fall in love with the food, stop by the in-house store. Jars of cherry jam and a signature spice used on french fries are among the culinary finds.