Beyond the Supper Club: New Northwoods Restaurants Worth a Drive
Nobody's here to knock the supper club. The brandy old-fashioned, the relish tray, the prime rib on Saturday — all of it is sacred ground in the Northwoods, and it should be.
But something's been shifting in the dining scene up here over the last few years. A new wave of restaurants has been opening alongside the old guard, and they're doing things differently. Locally sourced ingredients. Scratch cocktails with house-made syrups. Menus that change with the seasons. Chefs who came up here because they wanted to cook with what the land and water actually produce, not because they wanted to retire.
The supper clubs aren't going anywhere. But if you want to see what's next for Northwoods dining, these are the places to know.
Northfork Fin & Filet — Arbor Vitae
The one that quietly raised the bar.
Northfork sits on Highway 70 between Minocqua and Eagle River, and it's become one of the most talked-about restaurants in the region without making a lot of noise about it. The menu is built around locally sourced ingredients and scratch-made everything — cocktails, desserts, sauces. The Strawberry Basil Mule and the cherry-maple Old Fashioned are worth ordering just to see what a Northwoods cocktail program looks like when someone takes it seriously.
The fish fry on Friday is outstanding — choose from perch, walleye, or cod — but this isn't a fish-fry-only kind of place. The steaks and seafood are well-executed, and the rustic dining room has the kind of warmth that makes you want to linger. Kid-friendly, too.
11084 WI-70, Arbor Vitae. Open for dinner. northforkff.com
The Boathouse — Minocqua
The one on the lake with the piano player.
The Boathouse has been on Lake Minocqua for decades, but the current version is a polished operation that takes its food and drink seriously. The fish fry regularly gets called the best in the Northwoods, and the lakeside setting — right on the water in downtown Minocqua — is hard to beat.
What sets The Boathouse apart from the pack is the full experience. Nightly piano music. A cocktail menu that goes beyond the standard supper club lineup. Seasonal specials that actually change. It's the kind of place where you can have a casual dinner at the bar or a proper night out, and both feel right.
Downtown Minocqua, on Lake Minocqua.
The Bottled Bean — Minocqua
The one that figured out what a coffee shop should become after dark.
The Bottled Bean started as a coffeehouse on Front Street in downtown Minocqua, and it still is one — good espresso, good atmosphere. But somewhere along the way it also became a craft cocktail bar with a massive beer selection, and the combination works better than it has any right to.
The Espresso Martini is the signature, but the seasonal cocktail menu is worth exploring. The vibe is relaxed and social — the kind of place where you stop in for a coffee after shopping and end up staying for a drink. They've got a solid craft beer list and a bar program that would hold its own in a much bigger city.
409 E Front St, Minocqua.
Northern Waters Distillery — Minocqua
The one making spirits from scratch.
Northern Waters is a small-batch distillery on Highway 51 south of Minocqua, producing vodka, bourbon, moonshine, and a growing list of other spirits — all made on-site. The tasting room serves cocktails made with their own product, and the quality is genuinely good. Tours run Friday and Saturday and include a complimentary cocktail (mocktails available too).
But Northern Waters has also become a low-key live music destination. Their Thursday night concert series runs through fall, winter, and spring, pairing craft cocktails with local and regional performers. It's a good room and a good sound, and the kind of place that didn't exist in the Northwoods ten years ago.
8136 US Hwy 51 S, Minocqua. (715) 356-6095.
Blue Bayou Inn — Minocqua
The one that proves fine dining works up here.
Blue Bayou Inn has been operating in the Minocqua area for years, but it belongs on this list because it represents something the Northwoods dining scene hasn't always had: proper fine dining at a reasonable price. The menu leans toward classic American and Continental cuisine, with an attention to preparation and presentation that stands apart from the casual-everything approach most lake-country restaurants take.
It's the kind of place you go for an anniversary or a birthday — or just because you want a dinner that feels a little more intentional. The service matches the food, which is consistent and well-executed.
Minocqua area.
Kickback Grill — Eagle River
The one on Duck Lake with the view.
Kickback Grill sits on Duck Lake in Eagle River, and the lakeside patio is one of the best dinner seats on that side of the Northwoods. The menu runs lunch and dinner with a solid cocktail program, and the atmosphere is casual without being careless — good food, cold drinks, a sunset over the lake.
Eagle River's dining scene has been building quietly, and Kickback is one of the places driving that. It's the kind of restaurant that makes you realize you don't have to drive to Minocqua for a good meal.
Eagle River, on Duck Lake.
Rocky Reef Brewing Company — Woodruff
The one that finally gave the Northwoods a real craft brewery.
Rocky Reef is a small-batch brewery on 1st Avenue in Woodruff, just minutes from downtown Minocqua. The taproom is family-friendly — board games, giant Jenga, a relaxed atmosphere — and the rotating tap list features handcrafted beers that change regularly. They don't serve food, but you're welcome to bring your own or order delivery.
It's a small operation, and that's part of the charm. The brewers are making what they want to make, and the results are worth seeking out. On a summer evening, the taproom fills up with a mix of locals and visitors who've figured out that this is one of the best spots in the area for a craft beer.
1101 1st Ave, Woodruff.
What's Happening Here
The supper club isn't being replaced. It's being joined. The Northwoods dining scene is bigger and more varied than it was even five years ago, and the newer places are drawing chefs and operators who see lake country as a destination, not a compromise.
If you're up for the weekend and you've already done the supper club rounds, try one of these. The brandy old-fashioned will still be there when you get back.
