ISO: Good Restaurants in Door County, WI

[breadmama]

Family vacation coming up...does anyone have any favorite, don't-miss places to recommend in Door County? Thanks in advance!

[miamadre]

The online travel section of the Chicago Tribune had some information about Door County about a year or so ago. I downloaded it but I can't remember where I put the file. If you can't find the article, let me know and I will look to see if I can find it for you.

[schuh]

Oh! The one with the goat on the roof and the fabulous thin Swedish pancakes! It's a favorite childhood memory and I hear it's still the same. Unfortunately, the name escapes me. When I think of it I'll edit this message -- but anyone in Door County can tell you what it is.

[melissadh]

I am not familiar with WI, but try www.zagats.com. (http://www.zagats.com.) It is a restraunt review site, which gives reviews of restraunts in large cities. They also have a book. Maybe you can find something near you.

[joyous]

Great thread! I'll also be in Door County this summer, biking and avoiding fish boils.

[adb]

If you read Bon Appetit, there is a blurb about Door county on pg 24 of the July issue.

Bailey has covered all of their restaurant recommendations though - Al Johnson's, The Inn at Kristopher's in Sister Bay, & White Gull Inn.

Sounds like a great place to visit - Have fun!

[doggerham]

The first thing I thougt of when I saw this post was the place with the goat on the roof -- but I see someone has already beaten me to it.

My favorite place was to go to the end of Door County, take the ferry to Washington Island and go camping away from the tourists.

Amy

[Nancy171]

Al Johnson's is a big childhood memory for me too. My Swedish great-grandparents spent part of their retirement in Door County and Al Johnson's was a fun place to go when we visited (although great-grandma's pancakes were better http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif). Have a great time.

[Bailey]

I replied to this earlier, but don't see the post so I apologize in advance if I end up with a double post. I live in Door County and have lots of favorite places to eat. My recommendations lean more toward more adult oriented places, so if there are kids, let me know and I'll post some more family oriented places. The Common House in Baileys Harbor is great. Their menu has Door County stand-bys such as whitefish, but also interesting items such as veal chop stuffed with goat cheese. Donny's Glidden Lodge in Sturgeon Bay has to have hands down the coziest dining room in the County. All stone, wood beams, low light and great water view. They tend to steaks and fish. Try the beef tenderloin with gorgonzola cheese and madeira sauce - to die for!In fact taking DH there tomorrow nite for his birthday. The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek also has a wonderful ambiance and a creative menu. Certain evenings they just have a fish boil, so check first. It's also a fabulous place for breakfast. The Inn at Kristofer's in Sister Bay has a great water view and a sophisticated menu that leans toward the gourmet, very, very good. I could go on and on. For a small peninsula we have a wealth of great places to eat. You should make advance reservations if you're going to be here during peak tourist season. I hope you enjoy your vacation! Oh, the place with the goats on the roof is Al Johnson's Swedish
Restaurant, in Sister Bay.

[This message has been edited by Bailey (edited 06-15-2001).]

[breadmama]

Thank you, thank you! Bailey, we are traveling with kids, so family recommendations are appreciated, too. Also, are there any hikes you especially enjoy? (They'd have to be Burley-accessible for the babies) Can't wait...we're going to be there before the big rush of tourists. My personal favorites are the pecan rolls at Grandma's Swedish Bakery in Ellison Bay! I'm planning to do early morning walks followed by coffee and a pecan roll...

[lorilei]

I lived in Green Bay for a while and my boyfriend and I would often jaunt up to Door County for short weekend trips. I don't remember the names of some of the places, but here's what I do remember:

Scaturo's Bakery is a little cafe on Green Bay Rd in Sturgeon Bay. It's a quaint little country cafe right off of Hwy 57. Great bakery and some really good food! Their breakfast is what I'd really recommend -- some of the best omelettes and quiches in the area http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Ordinary fare, but worth eating.

If you want to try a really quaint 1950's style bar and restaurant -- in a log cabin -- you should try the Hitching Post in Sturgeon Bay. It's simple burger and sandwich fare, but the service is usually spectacular and you'll get to hang with the "natives" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

If you're a coffee or tea fan, you'll want to visit Door County Coffee & Tea. Just the smell of the place is enough to make you walk through the door http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

If you're looking for something a bit fancier, definitely try Alexander's in the Hotel du Nord in Sister Bay. It's completely unpretentious, and the food is wonderful. (Definitely try their white chocolate raspberry cheesecake!!)

BAILEY - Maybe you can vouch for some of these places... haven't been there in a while!

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 06-14-2001).]

[Rae]

I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendations for Al Johnsons's and the White Gull Inn. I didn't get to the White Gull for breakfast this year so I might have to get a copy of their cookbook and make some of their famous cherry coffeecake. I just know that it won't be quite the same!

If you want to try a good fish boil, I would highly recommend the Square Rigger Lodge in Jacksonport. They do their fish boils overlooking Lake Michigan. If you get there early, you can get a glass of wine and walk down the beach, which has never been crowded when I've been there. They also have appetizers, so that if you are famished when you get there, you can have something to tide you over while you wait for the fish to boil. They are "family friendly" and have kids menu items if you have non-fish eaters. One entire wall of the dining room is windows and over-looks the lake. Quite stunning! It really is a great place that we go back to year after year!

[Bailey]

Lorilei, your suggestions are all still on the mark. I left Alexander's off my list only because I thought I had already gone on too long, but it has always been a favorite. Breadmama, some family oriented restaurant suggestions would include Al Johnson's of course (for the rooftop goats alone!). The Sister Bay Bowl has good supper club type food and the kids can go bowling, PC Junction in Baileys Harbor, basically burgers, but your food rides out to you on a little train and the owner calls out your "stop" like a conductor - its a hoot!
For great deli sandwiches try Johnny G's in Sister Bay. Northern Grill in Sister Bay has good sandwiches, pizza and dinner entrees and also has a little play area outside where kids can have fun while the adults talk. I also recommend a visit to the Yum Yum tree in Baileys Harbor, for excellent ice cream, fudge and all kinds of other candies. Our favorite place to hike is Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, which has all levels of trails from easy to very rugged. Please post after your vacation, I hope you really enjoy it!

[SusanMac]

Oh I wish this thread appeared earlier...I just got back from my first trip to Door County last week! (I didn't even think to ask for recommendations here...didn't know there were so many Badgers here :-)

But, sounds like we did everything right. Saw the goats, toured Wash Island, and saw the sunset in Ephraim.

I agree with the hiking in Peninsula State Park. Tons of trails there, and nice parks for the kids. Another great place for kids are the Sand Dunes near Bailey's Harbor. The coastline is beautiful, there are good hikes or you can just hang out on the beach.

[breadmama]

Okay, now I'm really excited! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Thanks again for the great ideas. You all have mentioned lots of places we didn't see on our first trip, so it will be fun to explore some more.

Can anyone help me figure out how to print this thread without getting tiny dots on the text boxes? It's really hard to read - there must be an easier way.

By the way, I can offer some great spots on the other side of Lake Michigan (due east from Door County.) The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes area is our family's favorite spot, so if any of you want info about a Northern Michigan vacation, I can return the favor! (This is also serious cherry country.) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[breadmama]

Bailey, you asked for a response after our trip...We had a wonderful time! Those pecan rolls at Grandma's Swedish Bakery were just as good as we'd remembered. We enjoyed a delicious fish boil at the White Gull Inn, and ate a lot of cherry pie and ice cream (cherry, of course!) We also took the whole gang on a pontoon boat ride around the bay at Ephraim and around the Peninsula State Park area. The kids thought it was great to be able to drive the boat! We also hiked and picnicked in the State Park. Thanks again for your travel advice, Wisconsin folks. We really appreciated the ideas.

[Bailey]

Breadmama, I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation in Door County. Sounds like you chose some of our best spots to enjoy. Thanks for letting us know how your trip went!