Dining Up North - Minocqua

Only a half hour north of my beloved home, Minocqua (along with Woodruff and Arbor Vitae) is a gorgeous tourist area.

Dessert at Oakfire, which is now closed

I love Minocqua. I think it's even more beautiful than my hometown of Rhinelander. The downtown is utterly charming - sure, it's oriented at tourists, but we locals get to enjoy it year-round. The downtown is actually on an island and the drive is stunning. Oh, sorry for using a picture from a restaurant that's closed for the top pic on this post ... but hey, I like paying homage to restaurants of the past, and Oakfire was excellent.

Disclaimer: These are just a few of the area's awesome restaurants where I've personally been. There are loads more, including many I haven't visited yet, and I hope to keep updating this blog as I continue my tasting travels. :)

Norwood Pines - It doesn't get much better than this. Whether you're meeting friends for an upscale fish fry or celebrating an anniversary with a premium steak dinner, Norwood Pines always delivers. Entrees come with a complimentary appetizer tray, with tasty delicacies that rotate. Pasta, steak, seafood - everything here is flawless. It's no wonder this is one of the top rated supper clubs in the area.

Bad Bones Barbecue - I'm pretty sure it's the only barbecue place up North ... but it would still be the best. Check out the specials, because they're always awesome, but you can't go wrong with the classic pulled pork or brisket. This Arbor Vitae eatery has a unique proprietary potato salad that's out of this world and their fries are crispy and delicious. Everything on the menu is perfect, all the time. Can't recommend this place highly enough. And the view of the lake is incredible, no matter the season.

Pulled pork and fries at Bad Bones BBQ

Opening night for spring 2024 at Bad Bones BBQ

ERA Pancakes & Café - In what used to be the local Perkins, there's a new breakfast-oriented restaurant in town, and it's awesome. Fluffy pancakes the size of your plate, tasty omelets with fresh ingredients, and a kids' menu - there's something for everyone.

El Tarasco - If you're craving Mexican cuisine up North, you have several fantastic options, like Casa Mexicana in Rhinelander or Agaze Azul in Eagle River; but El Tarasco has one dish that blows them all away. The special - which always seems to be available - is the El Molcajete, a hot lava stone bowl filled with steak, chicken, shrimp, chorizo, and grilled cactus leaves. It's AWESOME. And huge. Feeds 2 people easily.

Monical's Pizza - Another Arbor Vitae classic is Monical’s Pizza, which - along with the Pizza Haven in Rhinelander - is my favorite local pizza joint. I usually hate thin crust but here, it's the golden standard, absolutely delicious.

Summer Ice Shanty - No warm-weather visit to Minocqua is complete without a stop at the Ice Shanty. They offer a wide range of delicious flavors of classic Hawaiian-style shaved ice, with optional snowcaps (sweetened condensed milk).

Italian ice with a snowcap at the Summer Ice Shanty

© 2024 T.H. Figg