What are the best restaurants for an elegant night out in the Dells area? Here are the Top 5.
There are a lot of restaurants in the Dells that cater to families with young kids. But some families have children mature enough to eat at a fine restaurant, and many adult couples spend kid-less time vacationing in the Dells too. Where are the best places to go for a fine meal for your evening out?
(If you are looking for restaurants more family friendly and a little less upscale, try these great choices.)
All the fine restaurants in the Dells cater to your typical meat-and-potatoes Midwesterner. Steak is a specialty at every restaurant on this list, followed closely by seafood. There are other options on the menu, of course, but these upscale restaurants all accent the traditional American selections. All the restaurants serve beer, wine, and cocktails, accept credit cards, and are handicap accessible. Expect to pay more for the grand food, lovely ambience and superior service at these dining establishments. Reservations are recommended. Here are the Top 5 restaurants, in no particular order.
- The Del-Bar -- Located along "The Strip" of Highway 12, the Del-Bar is in the middle of the action. This restaurant is the oldest fine dining establishment in the Dells, in operation since 1943. It has been called different names over the years, including Jimmy's and Jimmy's Del-Bar, but now it just goes by the name of The Del-Bar. The first thing you'll notice about the Del-Bar is the architecture. Designed by James Dresser, it holds to the Frank Lloyd Wright style with low ceilings giving it an intimate feel. The linear and straight-edged themes carry through from the outside design to the inside. A bar area is at the center of the restaurant, with a couple dining rooms around the edges, including one that is lined with a large window-encased wine cellar, making it very tempting to try a bottle. Menu choices include prime steaks, roast duck, lobster and king crab. Don't miss the chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Relax and enjoy the warm and efficient service.
- Field's -- Field's at the Wilderness is connected to the waterpark and golf resort on Highway 12. Another restaurant designed by James Dresser, it also has a Frank Lloyd Wright style but a grander feel. While the Del-Bar is suited for a romantic, intimate occasion, Field's soaring ceiling and oversized architecture is a place to see and be seen. Stone fireplaces and see-through columns sporting waterfalls bring the earthy elements into the dining room. Field's features the only woodburning oven in the Dells and an exhibition kitchen. Selections from the wine list are served in their special "Riedel" stemware. Entrees range from prime rib to lamb chops to salmon to vegetarian fettuccine. Although the restaurant is upscale, being part of a resort means there is no dress code, so you can be relaxed or suited up for the evening. And an order from their children's menu includes the candy mountain ice cream cake.
- Wally's House of Embers -- Another long-time institution in the Dells, the House of Embers was begun by a married couple, Wally and Barbara Obois, in 1959. Their sons now run the restaurant and continue some of the original traditions, such as Barbara's sweet rolls in the dinner roll basket. Located just a block from the Del-Bar, House of Embers features a number of dining room choices, from the bright and airy Veranda Room, to the Tiffany Room with its colored-glass light fixtures and stone fireplace, to the darker and more manly Ben Franklin room, with curtains between the seating. And don't forget the small private dining rooms, such as the romantic Omar Sharif room, where hundreds of couples have gotten engaged, and the Bogie room, a tribute to Humphrey Bogart and his movies. The House of Embers is famous for its ribs, but you can also find a range of items, from veal to tilapia to pizza. The children's menu has been thoughtfully separated into two different age groups, splitting the size and price for the youngest diners.
- The Ishnala Supper Club -- A little off the beaten path, take a winding road through Mirror Lake State Park to arrive at this restaurant right on the lake. Although you are tucked safely indoors away from the elements, you will feel in nature with the local flagstones, view of the lake through the windows, and giant pines growing right through the dining room ceiling. The menu repeats the traditional American fare of prime rib, lobster tail and the catch of the day, among other choices. Take the menu home with you by purchasing an Ishnala cookbook. Take the time to stroll the grounds in this idyllic setting.
- Copper Oak Steakhouse -- Another restaurant off the beaten path requires you to drive a little south on Highway 12 to the Ho-Chunk Casino. Will yourself past the one-armed bandits to get to the lovely dining room. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a large oak tree made of copper topped by a dark blue ceiling representing the sky. Steak, seafood, and chicken are all found on the menu.
The copyright of the article Fine Dining in Wisconsin Dells in Wisconsin Travel is owned by Kelly Whitt. Permission to republish Fine Dining in Wisconsin Dells in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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