Southern Wisconsin can be a wonderful and diverse place to eat. Known as “America’s Dairyland”, we are famous for cheese as well as other dairy products such as cheese curds and frozen custard, but some of our more notable foods include bratwursts, butter burgers, fish fry’s, the official state pastry, Kringle, and of course the ubiquitous Supper Club.
Wisconsin is home to 58 Master Cheesemakers, all qualified through an extensive process set by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and the only program of it’s kind outside of Europe. We are the home of Colby, Brick and Blue Marble Jack cheeses, and the only producer of Limburger cheese in the U.S. Cheese Mongers near Serenity include Hill Valley Cheese Shop and Cheese Bar, 510 Broad St. in Lake Geneva; The Cheese Box, 801 S. Wells St. in Lake Geneva; and Highfield Farm Creamery, W4848 State Line Rd in Walworth.
The Supper Club is a fairly unique institution in Wisconsin and notorious for having a history stemming from Prohibition times, in fact some of our neighboring Supper Clubs claim to have had mobster ties or been born of brothels, but no matter, today they all serve fine meals in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.
What follows is a list of some of my favorite places to eat near Serenity in Williams Bay.
Cafe Calamari
In my opinion, Cafe Calamari is the best establishment in Williams Bay, whether you are looking for a romantic evening out, or just a great meal with your crew. It is Italian cuisine with a terrific view of the Bay, and a very nice bar. From chicken and steak to seafood and pasta, their food is delicious, the service is what you’d expect from a fine dining restaurant, and the atmosphere is first class. And after your meal, in my opinion, forgo the draw of the delightful sounding deserts and instead enjoy their sweet lemonciello!
Cafe Calamari is just down the street from us toward the lake: take a left on Geneva St. They are open everyday from 5PM until 9, and 10 on the weekends.
10 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay
262-245-9665
Daddy Maxwell’s Diner
I’m happy to say that Daddy Maxwell’s Diner is back in business and serving up delicious diner fare for breakfast and lunch! The unique Igloo shaped diner is open everyday except Tuesday from 6am until 2pm. The fare is classic diner food from pancakes and griddle favorites to omelettes and typical egg dishes for breakfast and classic sandwiches and burgers for lunch.
No reservations necessary as it is just a walk in diner, Daddy Maxwell’s is located just down the street from us at 150 Elkhorn Rd in Williams Bay. You can’t miss the unique domed roof.
Pier 290
Pier 290 boasts being the only waterfront restaurant in Lake Geneva. In fact, they have their own lakefront beach where you can sit with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand. You can dine with a view of the lake from their dining room, front deck or covered canopies (and in the winter months, from heated igloos).
Pier 290 serves American Cuisine and has live entertainment most nights. They have an extensive menu, a dinner and concert series, even a Lake Life store. They are right in town at 1 Liechty Drive in Williams Bay. Call 262-245-2100 for reservations.
Holi Cannolli
Holi Cannoli is quite possibly the best Italian restaurant in the area. It is a family owned gourmet Italian restaurant with a very comfortable atmosphere, and a menu of deserts that make my mouth water just thinking about it. By far, my favorite item on the menu is the chicken parmesan, but you have to order it with vodka sauce (normally it would come with marinara). Check out the review on their website www.holicannoli.com
This place should not be an after thought: The dishes are plentiful so you might want to think about not eating much during the day before you go to Holi Cannoli, especially because you will likely want to sample the desert menu!
Holi Cannoli is located at N7065 US Highway 12, in Elkhorn, just a few minute drive up 67 from Serenity. They have a full bar with an extensive collection of nice wine, and they are open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
It’s a popular place and you may need reservations (262) 742-2500
Magpie’s Den and Pen
A cute and comfortable rustic bar with lots of windows and outdoor seating (they have heated domes in winter) in downtown Lake Geneva. They serve a full line of draft and canned beer as well as specialty cocktails (their warm winter cocktails are exceptional), and a food menu that looks more like fine bistro than local bar: you’ll find the requisite Smash Burger as well as a Buffalo Shrimp Po’ Boy and Portabella Sandwich, and an interesting array of appetizers from charcuterie to hummus and homemade chili.
Magpie’s is closed on Tuesday and opens every other day at 11am.
642 W Main St, in Lake Geneva
(262) 249-2302
You shouldn’t be in a hurry for food at Magpie’s but it is worth the wait. They also have bar games like Bingo on some nights.
https://magpieslg.com/
Flat Iron Tap
I have to admit, I am a huge fan of Flat Iron Tap in Lake Geneva. This is a very small place underneath a Tattoo parlor that looks like a dive bar but they offer more than a hundred beers and wines and serve some serious food. They don’t serve spirits, but without a doubt, they do have the best Cheese Curds in southern Wisconsin, and their hamburgers are flat-out delicious! The most surprising find for me has been the fried Brussels sprouts with a honey garlic soy glaze. Did I say the place looks like a dive bar? You can’t tell a book by it’s cover!
Tucked away on a side street in Downtown Lake Geneva, 150 Center Street. 262-812-4064, which is moot because they don’t take reservations.
Sopra Bistro
Sopra is an American Bistro in Downtown Lake Geneva but couldn’t be further from your typical lake restaurant. The atmosphere is continental and the food is Italian-American with a global influence and some bold twists. It’s a great place for that romantic dinner or festive evening with friends and family.
Chef and Owner Simon Cumming has a pedigree of working in high end restaurants and mixes that experience with his knowledge of nature and the outdoors to create seasonal menus that I think are perfectly suited to Lake Geneva. He uses local flavors to create unique, rustic dishes with a nod to fine dining.
Sopra is open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5pm. Call 262-249-0800 for reservations.
724 West Main St., Lake Geneva
Simple Cafe
This place should really be called Simply Delicious. Farm fresh ingredients sourced locally combined with the idea of “changing the world one bite a t time” (their motto), and you have the makings of an eatery that simply has to be on your list of places to try.
Simple Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch every day until 3, except Wednesday, and they serve all of the breakfast fare you love as well as some interesting twists like Roast Turkey and Brussels Sprouts Hash, Zaatar Tofu Scramble, and Pumpkin Pancakes. Personally I truly love their Simple Granola. For lunch they have a couple sandwiches, great burgers and a Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese sandwich that comes on their in-house baked multi-grain bread!
And when you have finished your meal don’t forget to go right next door where their Simple Bakery sells all kinds of baked goodies as well as their fresh delicious bread! The bakery is open everyday until 4 (3:00 on Saturday and Sunday).
525 Broad Street, Lake Geneva
262-248-3556
Olympic Family Restaurant
A Lake Geneva staple for more than 60 years, Olympic Family Restaurant has a large menu offering everything from all your favorite breakfast items to steaks and burgers, pasta, homemade pizza’s, and fresh salads. The food is good and moderately priced. I’ve always had great service there and the atmosphere in this quaint restaurant is pure hometown diner.
The bottom line is, this is a great place for a quick bite before or after your daily excursion with family and friends.
Open everyday from 7:30am
748 W. Main Street, Lake Geneva
262-248-6541
Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn
Take a quick trip through the forest just past the famous Yerkes Observatory, around George Williams College, snake past some of the nicest homes on this side of Lake Geneva and in no time you arrive in Fontana, on the western shore of the lake. And right on the shore is a building that has been there since the late 1800’s, and since the 1950’s has been known as Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn. The place is big, inviting and it feels like you are always greeted by a friendly staff at the bar.
Along with a fun atmosphere and a full bar, Chuck’s offers great bar grub from salads to burgers and sandwiches, Italian beef’s, bratwurst, and lobster rolls as well as pizza’s. But I have to admit, the best feature of Chuck’s has to be the outstanding view of the lake, just steps from their front door.
Chuck’s is open everyday from 11 until around 2am.
352 Lake Street, Fontana
262-275-3222
Mars Resort
The nearest supper club to Serenity just happens to be, in my opinion, the one with the best food and, coincidently, a killer Old Fashioned. As a bonus, the Mars Resort also just happens to be right on the shore of Lake Como with it’s own beach and pier.
In typical Wisconsin style, Mars offers a fish fry on Wednesday and Friday, and their Wild Caught Walleye is the best I’ve had. Their specialty is the BBQ Ribs, and like all Supper Clubs, you can get steaks, fried chicken, duck or seafood. While you are enjoying the great food, there is also live music on the weekends at their piano bar, and live bands during the summer on their beach.
Mars is by far one of the more fun Clubs you can go to, but it does get crowded so you may want to go early as they do not take reservations. They are open 7 days a week from 11am, 9am on Sunday.
W4098 S Shore Drive, Lake Geneva • 262-245-5689
Sweet Aroma Ristorante
Sweet Aroma is a classic Italian Restaurant in a cozy, warm atmosphere. The food is incredible! I think their meatballs are possibly the best I have tasted. And Sunday they offer a family feast with 6 courses. The service, the atmosphere, and the food are reasons to take the drive out to Delavan for a nice dinner.
Sweet ARoma is open Wednesday though Sundat at 5pm and they are located at W7404 Cty Rd X in Delavan. You’ll need a reservation, so call them at 262-728-6878
Hunt Club Steakhouse
This is fine dining at it’s best in Lake Geneva, so if you are in the mood to impress, celebrating a special occasion, or just want to sink your teeth into one the choicest cuts of steak around, this is the place.
The Hunt Club is housed in the former mansion of plumbing magnate Richard Crane and sits on the Geneva National Golf Course overlooking Lake Como. The dining area is spread out, and they offer a separate private dining room for an even more intimate setting.
The food here is incredible. Every steak, aged a minimum of 28 days, is at the top one percent of choice and prime and is personally inspected before being allowed into the restaurant. The Hunt Club is known for their careful pairing of food and wine, in fact they host monthly five-course meals matched with meticulously selected wines. The menu also offers chicken, pork, seafood as well as vegetarian selections.
The Hunt Club is open everyday from 4:30 and reservations are recommended.
555 Hunt Club Court, Lake Geneva
262-245-7200
Duck Inn Supper Club
The Duck Inn is one of those notorious Supper Clubs that has it’s origins as a Speakeasy. In the 1990’s it was restored into a traditional supper club with a large dining room added on. It’s a little out of the way, in the middle of nowhere, but the atmosphere is delightful, and the food is good, especially the duck dishes.
It is best to have a reservation at the Duck Inn, but I have dropped in and gotten a table pretty quickly. One thing I would suggest; for a more memorable experience, call ahead and ask for preferred seating in a booth in the bar area which is more quaint and intimate. The dining room is big, with a nice fireplace, but it can be a bit loud.
The Duck Inn is closed on Tuesday, open most days at 4pm and noon on Sunday.
N6214 WI-89 in Delavan • 608-883-6988
