Wisconsin Weekend Visits-FOOD Edition

If you're planning a Wisconsin weekend getaway, you're in for a delicious ride here are five standout food destinations that will make your trip unforgettable:

1. Madison Harvey House & More

Location: Madison, WI

Madison is quietly stirring up the culinary scene, now spotlighted thanks to Top Chef's 2024 Wisconsin episodes and its thriving local restaurants.

Fun Facts:

Harvey House is housed in a historic train depot and offers elevated dinner cuisine with a nostalgic ambiance.

Nearby spots like Butterbird serve comfort fried chicken and cheese curds, and the iconic Tornado Steak House is known for its tenderloin steak sandwiches.

Top dishes:

Dry-aged ribeye, house cocktails at Harvey House

Crispy fried chicken and gooey cheese curds at Butterbird

Classic tenderloin steak sandwich at Tornado

2. Short Stack Eatery Madison

Location: Madison, WI

A beloved brunch spot that's more than just pancakes Short Stack champions inclusion and community support.

Fun Facts:

Known for its award-winning Bloody Mary's and friendly values ceremoniously named Allied Business of the Year in 2018.

Its become a popular hangout for all-day breakfast lovers.

Top dishes:

Huge fluffy pancakes with seasonal fruit

Specialty Bloody Mary with local garnishes

Creative egg dishes like chorizo\endash cheddar skillets

3. Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant Sister Bay (Door County)

Location: Sister Bay, Door County

This iconic spot in Door County is famous for two things: Swedish cuisine and goats on the roof.

Fun Facts:

The only U.S. restaurant legally allowed to trademark rooftop goats (summer grazing sessions May to October)!

A family run tradition with Nordic flair for decades.

Top dishes:

Swedish-style pan fried potato pancakes (raggmunk) with lingonberry sauce

Swedish meatballs with creamy gravy

Pickled herring platters

4. Solly's Grille Glendale (near Milwaukee)

Location: Glendale, WI

If you're on I94 headed into or out of Milwaukee, don't miss Solly's if you love burgers with a Wisconsin twist.

Fun Facts:

Credited as inventors of the butter burger, cooked and topped with butter for extra richness.

Family owned since 1936 and honored by the James Beard Foundation as an America's Classic in 2022.

Top dishes:

Signature butter burger (drenched in butter!)

Jumbo cheeseburgers with grilled onions

Classic diner sides like crinkle cut fries

5. Pizza Farms (e.g., Dancing Yarrow, Borner Farm Project, Athen's area)

Location: Various small towns across Wisconsin (e.g., Mondovi, East Troy, Cochrane)

These are not your usual pizza joints they're rustic pizza farms, where pies are made over brick, wood burning ovens with local farm ingredients.

Fun Facts:

Most farms host live music, open mic nights, and pair pizzas with local craft beers.

Popular destinations include Dancing Yarrow in Mondovi, Borner Farm Project in Prescott, and Stoney Acres Farm in Athens.

Top dishes:

Classically topped locally sourced Margherita or sausage pizzas

Dessert pizzas think fruit or smores style

Specials like organic veggie or farm fresh cheese creations

Why these spots?

They showcase Wisconsin's diverse culinary identity: from institutional burgers to Nordic charm and small-town artisanal pizza.

Each place offers memorable quirks and traditions, from rooftop goats to handcrafted farm ambiance.

Pair each meal with local attractions Madison culture, Door County scenery, and cheese, breweries, or lake views.

Enjoy your taste driven weekend getaway across the Dairy State your stomach will thank you! Also, if you have any places, you'd like us to check out, let us know!