Where do we start?! We have already shared some of our favorite breakfast cafes, lunch spots, patio places and great options for pizza. This time we are delving into Door County’s finer dining options. And there are many to choose from. The following isn’t necessarily in order of our favorite restaurants. But we will start with the best dish we had this year. And it’s a Door County signature.. whitefish!
Chives in Baileys Harbor
So many things looked good on the menu at Chives. We were there with friends of ours who live year round in Baileys Harbor and have always encouraged us to try Chives. We scored a lovely table in the window overlooking the waters of Lake Michigan. Our waiter was super knowledgeable about the menu and was the one who encouraged us to order the whitefish. It was SO GOOD! One of those dishes you remember. It was fresh, french battered and with a beurre blanc sauce. Get the whitefish. And the mussels with frites. And maybe start with oysters and some delicious wine.
Meat lovers will also find plenty of options. Try the classic Steak Frites or the DoCo Burger with bacon jam and a fried egg. The atmosphere at Chives is lovely, too. And if you aren’t lucky enough to get a table, try for a seat at the bar. And if that’s jammed up, you can sit outside and enjoy food from the Chives Food Trucks. Before we leave Baileys Harbor, we want to give a shout out to Harbor Fish Market and Grille where we have had some outstanding fish dishes, as well. Just no pictures to prove it!
LURE in Sister Bay
As the name implies, fish lovers will find much to love at Lure. Think whitefish, walleye, lobster risotto. We were first lured in with the promise of sushi, which can be tough to come by north of Sturgeon Bay. We dined at the bar and loved both the small and full plates. Our cousins recently ate there and shared pictures from the early dining menu. (Thanks Shawn and Max!) Three courses for $29.99 served 5-5:30!
CHOP in Sister Bay
Getting back to the meat lovers… Chop is a classic steakhouse, located in the heart of Sister Bay. The dining room is elegant and plush. We also enjoy sitting outside where we can see our kids playing on the lawn, or grabbing a stool in the wine bar for some cocktails and small plates. It’s a perfect date night spot. They have a great line up of craft cocktails and friendly bartenders. “The Grey Quarter” martini was lovely.
ALEXANDER’S in Fish Creek
When you ask the locals where they would go out to eat for a nice dinner, Alexander’s is usually on their list. The last time we were there, they were there in force, lining the sweeping bar and sipping cocktails. Our favorite thing to do at Alexanders, is to dine on appetizers at the bar because they are all so good. You can make a meal out of it! The clam chowder was delicious, the tempura shrimp with sweet hot mustard sauce is a must and the tuna appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth good.
Bread lovers will love “Bruce’s Crostini” filled with four different cheeses and baked until it oozes. Sometimes the baked brie topped with Al Johnson’s lingonberries is all you need for a happy hour snack with your wine. For those of you who would rather sit down for a nice meal with white tablecloths and full service, you can do that, too. See Alexander’s full menu here.
BARRINGERS in Fish Creek
Someone the other day said to us that the word “vibe” is overused. We disagree. It’s the perfect word to describe why we like Barringers. Just look at the place. It screams cool vibe! We love the indoor/outdoor bar, the fireplace, the people walking by…
We usually go for the oysters and the cocktails. If you like a dirty martini, you must try the Dirty Bleu Door. All the cocktails are interesting. For food, we love stuff off the lunch menu that’s also available for dinner. Lobster rolls and truffle fries. So much richness, but so good! Also highly recommended, as seen above, is the “simple salad” and mussels for a perfectly satisfying and delicious dinner.
FIRESIDE in Egg Harbor
Last, but not least, is the Fireside. We dined there just last week. It was our first time in their newly expanded restaurant. It’s lively and friendly and the menu is full of New Orleans flair. We skipped the starters but will be back to try the Bayou Gator. Instead, we went right for the Monterey Shrimp and Goat Cheese Grits and the Pork Belly Confit with an aged cheddar risotto cake. How could we not?! And here are a few of the other mouth-watering dishes people ordered that night…
Visit the bar if you go and ask for the Jerry. It’s the Fireside’s signature Old Fashioned!
We have more to come. The list isn’t complete without some of the fabulous dining destinations north of Sister Bay. Hugel Haus, Della Porta, Osteria Tre Tassi, Shoreline and we’re sure some others you wish we had mentioned. There’s always next time! (Stay tuned for part II.)
But didn’t this post make you hungry? So what are you waiting for? It’s time to book your Door County getaway with Northern Door Vacations. See you soon!
