Dining Up North - Rhinelander

The land of the hodag has some tasty treats for visitors!

Pork Saltimbocca at Three Coins in Rhinelander

Rhinelander - home for me and 8,234 others as of 2022 - is the Oneida county seat and the setting for the massive Hodag County Festival, which attracts 30,000 - 50,000 country music fans every year. It's also the home of the mysterious hodag, our local cryptid. And it's also a great location for munchies!

It's not as fancy as Eagle River or Minocqua. Rhinelander is a working town. We definitely have lots of tourism, but it's not quite as tourist-oriented as other places. We have a huge paper mill, and practical businesses like Wal-mart, Aldi, Kohl's, plus all your basic fast food places. We have more full-time residents; and for both us and tourists, Rhinelander is where you go to grocery shop, get your tire patched, go to the doctor, stock up on camping gear - and sure, there are great grocery stores and other businesses in the most touristy towns, but we're like the practical big brother of the Northwoods. We aren't always fancy; but we'll take care of you.

Three Coins at Holiday Acres - This is my favorite upscale place in Rhinelander. If you're used to, say, Madison steakhouse prices, you'll be delighted at the affordable goodies on this menu. I HATE mushrooms, but the Three Coins Mushroom & Brie Tart is a work of art. I love the Pork Saltimbocca, and the crème brûlée is the perfect dessert. They have lots of other options, but those are my favorites.

Mushroom brie tart at Three Coins in Rhinelander

Rhinelander Café and Pub - For a more casual supper club experience, this place is our go-to. We've never had a bad meal here. The waitstaff is friendly - they feel like family - and the food is exceptional. I love the steak gorgonzola, but my favorite dish is the alfredo pasta with tomatoes and asparagus. It comes with mushrooms, but I have them swap that nonsense out for extra asparagus! They also have great burgers and a good fish fry.

CT's Deli - I love, love, love, love this place. It's a fan favorite among locals and tourists alike. It's essentially an upscale deli with fun surprises, like a tasty little pizza on the kids' menu and candied salmon available at the counter. My pick - split between their immaculate pulled pork and the Italian beef (sans peppers and onions because I'm a wimp).

The White Stag Inn - Since we lost the Al-Gen to a tragic fire, the White Stag is probably the number one classic supper club in the area. It's a steakhouse, stripped down to the traditional 1970s-era basics: steak, potatoes, wedge salad, and rolls. Plus some seafood options. And that's it. But the steak is some of the best you'll ever have. My favorite is the steak en brochette - incredibly tender and flavorful. The salad is a quarter wedge of iceberg with a variety of house-made dressings.

The Pizza Haven - Oh, how I love this odd spot!! It seems utterly bizarre to me - a huge, sprawling 70s-era building, situated away from town, out in the woods. Yet it's always busy on weekends and Fridays, because all the locals know that it's awesome. For me - a transplant from Iowa - it's delightfully weird. The menu is mostly pizza, though they also have burgers and other options - we always get the pizza, and it's phenomenal.

This might have to be a work in progress! There are lots more excellent local places that deserve a mention - Nacho's Mexican Grill for chicken nachos; Casa Mexicana for chimichangas; Cross-Country Bar & Grill for stuffed shrimp; and places I haven't been yet, like the new Wally's on 17 and the Crimson Curry Café. I'll be back! © 2024 T.H. Figg