Wisconsin Restaurants Serving Up Cozy Comfort Foods
It’s winter in Wisconsin, and when the snow is falling and the temperatures are low, it’s a great time to get together with friends and family and leave the cooking to the professionals. Here are a few delicious Wisconsin dishes — and restaurants — worth bundling up for.
Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant – Green Bay
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wood-Fired Pizza
Pizza is the original comfort food, especially when cooked in a toasty wood-fire oven like the one at Hinterland Brewery and Restaurant. Organic chicken, LaClare Creamery goat cheese, jerk barbeque sauce and an orange marmalade round out the mouth-watering flavors that make this dish perfect for frosty winter nights with friends. Enjoy by the fireplace in the beer hall with a craft beer brewed on site for the ultimate winter night out.
Weary Traveler Freehouse — Madison
Hungarian Goulash
This hearty stew is a popular dish at The Weary, as it’s called by locals. Beef tenderloin tips, Yukon potatoes, carrots, and celery combine with caraway seeds and spicy Hungarian paprika to create comfort food heaven. The recipe is also as authentic as it can get, as it’s adapted from a Hungarian grandmother. Order a bowl and spend a few hours playing board, dice or card games while the snow falls.
The Old Feed Mill Restaurant — Mazomanie
Pot Roast
You’ll find plenty of nourishing food at The Old Feed Mill, but the Pot Roast is a staple. Slow-roasted, fork-tender beef and veggies are served two ways — over homemade honey wheat bread with coleslaw for lunch, or with mashed potatoes for dinner. The restaurant’s location is especially notable: a restored 1857 grain mill.
County Clare Irish Inn & Pub — Milwaukee
Shepherd’s Pie
Warm and generous: Two words that accurately describe the waitstaff, vibe and food at the County Claire Inn & Pub. There are several nourishing standouts on the menu, one being the Inn’s famous Shepherd’s Pie. The dish — seared lamb simmered with carrots, celery, onion, and peas in a hearty broth, topped with homemade mashed potatoes and baked to a golden brown — can also be made vegetarian with delicious vegetable stew.
Cozzy Corner Southern Food — Appleton
The “Big Jess” Platter
Interested in a little Southern comfort? Owner Natasha Banks missed her mom’s cooking and social gatherings with family and friends and set out to recreate that feeling of community in her restaurant, Cozzy Corner Southern Food. The “Big Jess” platter — one of the many platters on the menu — is heaped with smoked sausage, pulled pork, coleslaw, and BBQ sauce. Additional sides like mac n’ cheese, collard greens, red beans and rice and candied yams ensures everyone leaves with a full belly.
Farm Table — Amery
Pumpkin Sage Ravioli
Pasta is always a comfort food, especially when it’s handmade with local ingredients. Farm Table stays true to its name with this delectable dish: pumpkin sage ravioli filled with pureed pumpkin and creamy quark cheese. The restaurant’s menu changes seasonally, with over 80% of their produce and proteins sourced from organic and sustainably focused farms located within 40 miles. If you want to eat local and seasonal, this is the place to go.
Lost Tuk Tuk – Ephraim
Sichuan Tofu
Tucked away in Ephraim’s Shorewood Village shops is Lost Tuk Tuk, a recently opened restaurant with a streamlined menu divided into three cozy categories: curry, rice and noodles. The dishes are all Asian-inspired and many of them have an extra kick of spice to keep you and your crew warm this winter. The savory Sichuan Tofu is made with a ginger and garlic sauce and served with rice. While the menu is on the small side, it includes vegan and gluten free options, as well as a rotating menu of bubble tea and other fun drinks.
For a comfort food favorite that's a Wisconsin specialty, check out these five restaurants with grown-up grilled cheese!
