More Roadfood in Wisconsin

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Exploring Western Wisconsin

There’s just something about Wisconsin that I absolutely love but what’s funny is I cant quite pinpoint exactly what that is. My best guess is I spent some of the best years of my life at college in Madison and going back often triggers memories of those good times. But it’s more likely the natural beauty and the bar culture that really draws me in. Wisconsin isn’t winning any prettiest state in the union contests but it’s underrated and has lots of charm to it. The state touches two Great Lakes and the Mighty Mississippi winds its way along 230 miles of Wisconsin's western border. Milwaukee is very underrated as a city and Madison is one of the best college towns in the country. Add in all the delicious Roadfood (burgers, fish fry, custard etc) and it makes for a great place to escape to for a few days. Today we’re headed off to the area towards Minneapolis - about 5.5 hours from from Chicago.

Pics from Western Wisconsin 
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Dorine's Family Restaurant (Sparta)

First stop takes us to Monroe County along the LaCrosse River. Dorine’s Family Inn is found in the heart of Sparta. It’s a textbook Midwest breakfast and lunch spot serving up all the American diner classics. When I’m at a place like this with lots to choose from I like to check the google reviews to figure out what’s popular. Stuffed Hash Browns are mentioned more than 25 times and not just at Dorine’s but other breakfast spots in the area too. At Dorine's an entire section of the menu is dedicated to them. I chose the original stuffed hash browns which come with ham, mushrooms, green pepper, onion, and Swiss Cheese. Pictured below is the small version. This is Wisconsin after all.

Stuffed Hash Browns at Dorine's Family Restaurant 
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Ray's Place (Eau Claire)

Next stop was a spot long on my list. Ray’s Place has been serving drinks to the residential neighborhood in which it rests since 1949. Ray’s is a vintage Wisconsin tavern with some classic roast beef sandwiches. No they don’t look pretty but locals and visitors alike, myself included, will enthusiastically vouch for them. Roast beef debris in a thick brown gravy goes into a cheap bun with a full slice of raw onion. It also comes with a little plastic container of their made on site horseradish mustard. One bite and I was hooked on these tavern sandwiches. They also have an equally popular chipped ham sandwich which in turn produces a fantastic batch of split pea soup. Pure Wisconsin.

Roast Beef Sandwich at Ray's Place
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River Inn Bar (Chippewa Falls)

River Inn Bar is a textbook tavern down to the classic Old Style sign outside. The land where it sits has had a bar resting there in one way or the other since the 1940’s. The current owners of River Inn bought it in the early 2000’s and haven’t changed much. Locals pop in for all you eat chicken wings served Mon-Thurs but I don’t know how anyone can eat more than a few of these things. The fully intact broasted wings (flat and drum) are some of the biggest I’ve come across. I prefer smaller wings bc larger ones can be a bit tough but not these which were some of the juiciest I can recall with the meat coming right off the bone when bitten. Perfect when paired with an ice cold Spotted Cow.

Broasted Chicken Wings at River Inn Bar
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Ellsworth Creamery Coop (Ellsworth)

What’s a trip to Wisconsin without some cheese curds?!?! I feel like any cheese curds served freshly fried in a bar setting are pretty good but to reach the peak of cheese curd prowess they need to be extra fresh and battered on site - both of which are a thing at Ellsworth Creamery in Pierce County (one hour east of Minneapolis). This little area is considered the heart of Americas Dairyland with more than 180,000 pounds of cheese curds being manufactured here at Ellsworth Creamery on a daily basis. Ellsworth Cooperative was incorporated into a creamery back in 1910 with their primary product being butter. They actually didn't begin making cheese curds until 1968 but the popularity of these squeaky orange and white morsels was enough to make them the cream of the crop. Ellsworth has a bustling retail store with a selection of over 240 kinds of Wisconsin made cheese including the creamery’s own varieties. But the biggest draw is the Curd Wagon which sits outside during warmer months. Customers line up all summer long for some of the best fried cheese curds anywhere.

Fried Cheese Curds at Ellsworth Creamery
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Stockholm Pie and General Store (Stockholm)

If you’re looking for a place to eat along the upper half of the Great River Road - this is your spot! I’d heard from those in the know that the tiny town of Stockholm (pop. 78) was home to some of the best pie in the country and I love river towns so I made a plan to stop on the way north into Minnesota. I originally planned to just try a few slices of pie but that plan was quickly scratched upon arrival as the chicken pot pie was calling my name along with pretty much every other piece of pie listed on the days fresh selection. Just like sandwiches with bread, a pie can only be as good as its crust and the crust on both of the pies I tried was outstanding. The chicken pot pie had some of the best pie crust I’ve ever encountered. It was extra flaky and full of flavor while being completely dry on the bottom. The fillings were also good but it’s the crust that takes this from good to great. I also tried the Bumbleberry on rec of the lady at the register and she earned a little extra on her tip as this was the best piece of fruit pie I’ve ever had and again it was all about that crust but also the local berries that go into it. It was so good I had to take a slice of the signature Stockholm Apple Pie to-go. I also liked the town of Stockholm itself, it’s as cute and quaint of a rivertown as you’ll come across. It’s pretty busy considering just how small it is in population but it’s a popular stop on the Great River Road in big part due to its most famous resident - that pie has been featured in many food pubs over the years and comes strongly endorsed by a guy I know who's ate his weight in pie across the country.

Chicken Pot Pie at Stockholm Pie and General Store 

Bumbleberry Pie at Stockholm Pie and General Store
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Foss Fine Meats (Sparta)

Bonus Stop back where we started in Sparta. Wisconsin has the best butchers and I always like stopping in at one of them whenever I find myself in the Cheese & Dairy State. It doesn't matter where in Wisconsin you are you're never that far off from a good independent butcher. Foss Fine Meats is a great example of what I'm talking about. It's an old school, small town spot dating back to 1939. I like to check online reviews to figure out what each butcher shop does well and all reviews pointed to the natural casing hot dogs at Foss Fine Meats. Those and the ring bologna are what they're known for with the hot dogs warranting a stop whenever I find myself near this place again. I'm a natural casing Vienna Beef guy thru and thru but I have a deep appreciation for all spots cranking out natural casing wieners like those found here. They make an excellent extra peppery product. 

Hot Dogs at Foss Fine Meats
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If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Eating BIG in Minneapolis (and beyond)

Roadfood in Driftless Wisconsin

Eating BIG in Madison 

Bar Food in Wisconsin 

Friday Fish Fry in SE Wisconsin
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 See ya next time @chibbqking