This Thanksgiving we will give thanks for the food set before us. It’ll be the same as always. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and the most amazing homemade desserts. We’re a Sicilian family that loves to eat. And we eat with gusto! We are also a family who loves to eat our way through Door County. As we reflect on a year of dining, it dawned on us that as we made our way around the peninsula’s many restaurants, we were, in essense, eating our way around the globe. From Polish pierogis to handmade pasta. From stuffed dolmas to breaded Schnitzel. Of course, we’ve been treating ourselves to some foods from a far away land since our very first visit to the county…
Swedish in Sister Bay
We have been dining at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant for decades. Several family member have worked there, too! It’s one of those places you can count on and we count on going back time and time again for those Swedish pancakes. You can’t see them under the mound of ice cream whipped cream and strawberries, but they are there! Thin and square and crepe-like. Top them with lingonberries, or ask for them to be dusted with powdered sugar, and you have a taste of Scandinavia in every bite. Many travel to Al’s for the meatballs and pickled herring. This year we tried the Pytt I Panna , a Swedish hash of meat, onions and potatoes topped with eggs. It’s served with Swedish pickled beets, full of spice and a hint of clove. So good!
Come for the food and ambiance. Stick around to spot the goats on the roof!
Italian in Ellison Bay
One of our favorite restaurants closed down recently. We so miss the cocktails and deviled eggs at Wickman House. But we were thrilled that another restaurant was moving in. Osteria Tre Tassi is a lovely, cozy space in what was orginally a lodge, and then a b & b, and most recently, high-end dining. While we miss what Wickman meant to us over the years, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal of handmade pastas (Bolognese!) that we washed down with the Italian classic cocktail, the refreshing Aperol spritz.
Two minutes away, you’ll find more Italian dishes at Della Porta. The sister restaurant to Blue Bear offers a full Italian menu that includes hearty pastas and Neapolitan style pizzas. We’ve enjoyed dining in and out and the pizzas were a hit with all members of our family.
We’ve also enjoyed the comfort of a bolognese, but also a refreshing salad topped with creamy burrata. We highly recommend the arancini (rice balls) for starters and the tiramisu for dessert. Neither of which are especially easy to make. (We know from experience!) If you’d like to stay awhile, may we suggest sipping on an a limoncello or sambuca or one of the many amaros on their digestivi menu. Buon appetito!
Mediterranean and Polish in Ephraim
The summer of 2024 gave us some of our “firsts” on the Door County food scene. We had heard good things about the Prince of Pierogi in the past, but had never been. We also learned about the new Anatolia right next door. So when we stayed in Ephraim for a few days this summer, we made a point to check them both out.
For the pierogis (polish dumplings), we picked the basics. Cheese and potato. And slow roasted pork. We’d like to go back and try the golabki cabbage rolls filled with beef, rice and onions. You could try all the polish specialties at once with a platter than includes kielbasa, pierogi, golabki and the hunter’s stew. We ordered at the walk-up window and the food was brought out to our picnic table. We were especially thrilled with the mediterranean meals from Anatolia, where kebabs are the specialty. The food was bright and flavorful. The menu includes items such as spanikopita, hummus, and falafel. A super addition to the Door County global food scene!
German in Ellison Bay
Wisconsin may be known for bratwurst. But at Hugel Haus in Ellison Bay you can do two better. How about some weisswurst and knockwurst? Attached to the Hillside Inn, literally in the middle of the hill leading into Ellison Bay, Hugel Haus is one of our favorite bars in the Peninsula. We’ve bellied up to it more than a few times. And more often than not, we’re there for a celebratory pouring of the wickedly bitter Underberg. Served in an exceptionally tall shot glass, it’s meant to promote digestion. Seems like a good idea when you’re about to dive into Bavarian pretzels and schnitzel. Or spaetzel and ghoulash. **In the middle of writing this paragraph, we were sad to learn that Hugel Haus will be closing at the end of 2024. Get there while you can! We wish the owners all the best in their future adventures. Prost!
Cajun & Creole in Egg Harbor
This next destination doesn’t take us to lands far away, but rather to the very south of the U.S. where you can explore tastes of the bayou. Start at Big Easy in the morning for deep fried, sweet and fluffy beignets, and wash it down with some chicory coffee. Takes us back to our trips to New Orleans and mornings at Cafe du Monde! At night, The Fireside offers a cajun influeced menu that includes an alligator appetizer, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and their Big Easy Jambalaya. The atmosphere is lively and the staff is super friendly. The Fireside is closed for the season, so put it onyour list for the spring!
Asian in Sturgeon Bay
While you can get your sushi fix at Lure in Sister Bay when visiting the northern part of Door County, you can find a full sushi menu of rolls, sashimi and nigiri at Crate in Sturgeon Bay.
We have eaten here a few times and have always enjoyed it. The menu also includes several different sakes to wash it all down with. And if you can’t decide… try the sake flight! While you’re in Sturgeon Bay, we hear Kinara Urban Eatery is a great spot for some take out curry. The Indian Restaurant is part of a gas station, so it is mostly known as a grab-n-go kind of spot, but our friends say the food is very good!
Get some to go on the way to your next Door County getaway with Northern Door Vacations.
