Mulligan’s Restaurant & Pub - Rhinelander, WI

A mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action. The practice is also sometimes referred to as a "do over."

Since this restaurant is located in the Northwoods County Club in Rhinelander it was only fitting that we take a mulligan on our first visit.  Step up and get tee’d off with me on the second visit.

It’s Friday night and time for cocktails and fish.  The Little Marinara and I flip the coin and decide to give Mulligan’s another try.  We arrive and receive  a friendly greeting from the hostess.  We tell her we are going to the bar for a cocktail and to hold a table for us – no problem.  I order my usual Martini and Marilyn decides on an Old Fashioned.  I can immediately tell from the vacant look in the bartenders eyes that this is going to be difficult.  She asks me if I want a lemon or lime twist and I tell her lemon, what I get is a big chunk of lemon in my drink, which is served on the rocks.  Umh – I asked for it straight-up – OK she answers and pours it in a water glass, dumps some vermouth on it and plops in the lemon chunk.  Wow – this place is class.  Well never to be deterred in the face of stupidity I ask her if she has any Straight-up Martini Glasses (they are hanging on the rack above my head).  “You mean these she crokes, most men don’t like these girlie glasses”.  My eyes wandered over the crowd and I decided she was probably correct, however, I sucked up my manhood and asked for the glass.  At this point it was time for a table.

As we look over the menu it is apparent that their main strength is sandwiches for golfers or people who happen to be hungry and not too picky.  Friday evening they have the traditional Fish Fry with the following:  Fish Fry:  three pieces of Beer Battered or Lightly Breaded Haddock with Fries or Potato Pancakes $10.95.  All you can eat Haddock, Beer Battered, Lightly Breaded, or Broiled with Fries or Potato Pancakes $11.95.  The true creativity of the chef is founding the next entrée that is the Sampler Platter; this consists of one piece of Beer Battered, one piece of Lightly Breaded and one piece of Broiled Haddock for $12.95.  Additionally you can get Clam Chowder or a Salad. 

Our waitress tells us that the Beer Batter is very heavy so we both opt for the Lightly Breaded Haddock, we both order Clam Chowder and Fries and additionally I order some of the Potato Pancakes.  Our waitress asks if we want another round of drinks, the Little Marinara still has a full drink on the table and she tells our waitress that this is the worst drink she has ever had.  The waitress says nothing; she just leaves.  This sucks because now I am with an unhappy girl with a drink that also sucks.  The Chowder arrives and it looks good. Lots of clams but it has a kind odd taste, like uncooked flour.  The fish arrives and as you can see by the photo it is just average as are the freezer fries.  This is all pre-breaded Sysco type food.  Now for the Potato Pancakes; they are a step in the right direction.  Good consistency and good flavor, out of the jar applesauce but then that’s to be expected.  Total for dinner and two poorly made cocktails is $35.  Way too expensive for the product received.  No more ‘do overs’ for this place.

The Big Ragu gives this a 2 Outa 5

Buckshots Saloon - Eagle River, WI

The Little Marinara and I received an email from Don in Rhinelander telling us that the best Fish Fry in the area could be found at Buckshots Saloon in Eagle River, WI.  Since it was a nice Saturday in Fall we decided to go for a drive and ended up at Buckshots for lunch and the Badger Game (Go Big Red).  My first impression was; how do they move a lot of people through here on a Friday evening?  The bar is fairly large but the dining room has three 4 tops and one 6 top.  They must have a long wait for tables, of course in the Summer there is outside dining on a covered deck.  We looked over the menu and decided to have a Burger and Patty Melt with Ho-Made Chips and Frys.  Our waitress is trying to take an order but I am busy contemplating the Ho-Made part of the menu.  Were they made from scratch - this is where my sick mind starts to work overtime.  Since I couldn't let it go I decided to ask the expert in these matters, our waitress.  I ordered the Ho-Made Chips and Frys and she told me that only the Chips were Home made.  The Little Marinara pointed out that the menu clearly stated Ho-Made Chips and Frys.  Our waitress looked at us like we were nuts and I decided it was time to go to the mens room...no Ho's there.

Despite all the BS about Ho's , the Chips and Frys were very good and hand-cut.  Marilyn's Burger was juicy and huge and my Patty Melt was hot, juicy and flavorful.  Best of all the Badgers pulled it out in the end and beat the Golden Gophers.  God I am glad I didn't go to MN - who the hell wants to be called a Gopher almost as bad as a Buckeye.

Buckshots is a bit of a drive but we will be back for the Fish Fry some Friday evening.

Rhinelander Cafe & Pub

Our usual focus is on the WI Fish Fry, however, those of you who enjoy the ‘fry’ and the cocktails that accompany the tradition know there is a fact of life to be delt with.  In the morning after a good night out you need to feed the furnace, and what better place than the Rhinelander Café & Pub.

The RC&P has the best breakfast in town and I say that for several reasons.  First the English Muffin Toast; not only is it tasty - they still butter toast the ‘old fashioned’ way…they use a brush and paint on the clarified butter.  (Honey dial 911 cuz the arteries are startin to close.)  The Little Marinara loves this, her pet peeve is when she gets toast and it only has a meager dollop of butter.  We are true Wisconsinites when it comes to butter; don’t insult us with your margarine or oleo crap.  Second: are the breakfast entrees.  I always have the Corned Beef Hash with Poached Eggs and an order of Hashbrowns with fried Onions.  It seems that I have only found two places that can poach an egg, here and the Eagles Nest in Wausau.  (At most places the poached eggs look and task like golf balls) Of course the plate is garnished with fruit, which I promptly remove from the plate least it attempts to make me healthy.  Marilyn always orders Eggs with a slab of Ham and Hashbrowns, she also eats the fruit..someone has to!

The décor is right out of the mid seventies, dark furniture and carpeting that has throw back colors, dark paneling on the wall and some pictures that are always for sale.  Most of the waitresses in the morning have been there since day one; they are tired but friendly.

We have been there for lunch several time and always found the sandwiches to be of a generous size but slightly expensive, we have never had dinner there. 

The Little Marinara and I have always worked on the theory that you dine on the strengths of the establishment and for us this is a breakfast only place.

Big Ragu gives this place a breakfast rating of 4.5 Outa 5

Wausau Elks Club - Wausau WI

Even though we have moved to the Northwoods, the Little Marinara and I still maintain our Membership in the Wausau Elks Club.  Why?  Well I can still smoke a cigar inside (at least for a few more months), we like the people and on some Friday’s in Fall we bowl in a couples league.  Actually Marilyn bowls, I throw the ball and hope it doesn’t flop in another lane or bounce around the floor and whack someone.

Anyway it is Friday and time for cocktails and a Fish Fry.  This club has two bars, the Member’s bar where you can smoke and the upper bar for those who like to complain about those who smoke.  We head down to the Member’s bar where I can smoke a cigar and still listen to people complain about it, however, I usually have someone stop by and tell me how much they enjoy the smell of a good cigar.  Since we haven’t been around as much we find out we have a new bartender so it is back to teaching someone how to make a decent Martini.  This is a On-the-Rocks crowd so there is a learning curve and for whatever reason they haven’t invested in the proper barware to do this correctly.  Our good friend and Republican Tammy pops in with a fresh tan from some country I can’t pronounce and we beat the crap out of Health Care for a while.  We really do miss this place.

Our table is called and my cigar is not done so we have our bartender call the hostess to give us another 15 minutes.  Two minutes later the hostess calls our table again, (need some work on this skill-set) it is not busy so we don’t worry and I finish my stogie.

We arrive at out table and a few minutes later our friend Jim Carlson arrives at the table next to us.  He is alone so we ask him to join us.  Nancy takes our order and we are off to the salad bar.  The food at the Elks Club is usually good, the atmosphere is dated and the dining room needs a facelift.  On Friday evenings they have a large salad bar with the usual items, token pasta salad and cole slaw. The salad bar is good but boring, it never changes.  I believe this is in part due to the fact that the cook is not real creative.  Additionally, there are always two types of soup of which one is a clam chowder (always excellent) and warm rolls with garlic butter.  I will give this kitchen crew credit, they make good soup. 

I order the Perch with Homefries and the Little Marinara orders the Poor Mans Lobster with Hashbrowns.  The Marinara loves the Hashbrowns that they serve and I have to agree they are some of the best out there.  My Perch as usual is very good, light breading and flavorful, Marilyn has more than she can eat and takes home her usual box–o-fish.  She still enjoys the Milwaukee tradition of a shore lunch for breakfast.

We go down to bowl only to find out that our opposing team is not there, I am sure they heard the Big Ragu was bowling and decided to forgo the contest (it was safer for them).

I always tell people that the Wausau Elks Club is the best deal in town – and it is.

The Big Ragu gives this Fish Fry a 4 Outa 5

Saxe's - Delafield, WI

Just off Hwy 18 and about ½ mile to the West of Hwy 83 tucked in the Kettle Moraine hills you will find Saxe’s Restaurant.  The owners are Tom and Lynn Saxe who were once in the movie theater business but sold 1985 and opened this restaurant.  I was in town for a few days and met my good friend and Masonic Brother Joe Harker for a late dinner meeting.  I have enjoyed lunch at Saxe’s many times and also a good Fish Fry on a Friday evening, but that is a tale for another story.

This was the middle of the week and owner Tom Saxe was behind the bar and Tony was working the tables.  Saxe’s went smoke free recently so the Big Ragu had to forgo his cigar.  Fortunately they did not go alcohol free.  Tom mixed a Martini for us and we were good to go for the evening.

The specials this evening were steak – several different ways, Diane, Sicilian or a NY with Garlic Mashed Potatoes.  I went for the NY and Joe tried the Chicken and Dumplings, Joe just got back from a 4-day golf outing with the boys and wanted to let his arteries flush out.  Tony brought us a hot loaf of bread and a Cilantro infused Olive Oil for dipping.  The side salad was fresh and crisp as it should be.

 Service was very good; Tony had a sense of humor and was very attentive and professional.  I liked the presentation of the food; my NY came with Onion Strings, Two large Shrimp and Garlic Mashed Potatoes.  The steak was small but properly cooked to a medium rare, which is hard on a thin piece of meat.  My only complaint was that the potatoes were cool on the inside and warm on the outside (bad nuke job).  I wasn’t really interested in potatoes and only wanted a taste so I didn’t say anything.  Joe said his Chicken and Dumplings were great, it was presented well and of a generous portion.

Most of you know that I am not a desert person, however, Tony did the age-old restaurant tactic of showing me a sample of the special deserts for the evening.  I am usually a sucker for this.  I gave in and had the Flan with a cup of coffee.  Flan is a type of baked custard with a caramelized sugar base and can be dressed up with sauces, fresh fruit or in this case both.  Think of it as a Crème Broulee on steroids.  Just look at the photo and drool– it melted in my mouth.

It was a good evening and I will be back with the Little Marinara.

This Big Ragu gives this a 4 Outa 5

Potato Pancakes

I have been searching for the best Potato Pancake in WI. Years ago I got hooked on the Potato Pancakes at Hesser's Supper Club in Oshkosh, WI. These things were so good they were like a side of crack for your Fish Fry.

My search continues. Please help out the Big Ragu and leave a comment below with the name and location of the restaurant you feel has the best Potato Pancakes in WI. I will check it out and review the results later in the year.

Bootleggers Lodge Supper Club - Tomahawk, WI

Wisconsin Northwood’s restaurants are seduced by the lore of prohibition mobsters, if one were to believe all the stories floating around you would think that Al Capone and John Dillinger spent more time north of the Cheddar Curtain than in Chicago. And so it goes with Bootleggers. In the 20’s (of course) this was known as Phils’ Resort, the usual suspects were rumored to have used this place as their hideout. It all makes for a good story line and is sure to suck-in the tourists from south of the border.

As is the usual case we picked this restaurant with a flip of the coin The Little Marinara and I picked up Dave & Donna our neighbors from down the lake and headed out for a new adventure. For 7:00 pm on a Friday evening it is relatively slow. We check in with hostess and are told it will be a 15 minute wait for a table. We tell her we needed a little more time and wander off to find the bar which to my amazement is huge, hell I thought I was in Serb Hall in Milwaukee. They don’t have a cocktail waitress and the bartenders look kind of old so the girls go out on the deck and Dave and I pick up the drinks. We pulled up a chair to get a view of Lake Nokomis (I think this is an old Indian word for ‘water gone paleface’) or at least what was once the lake, there was more lake bottom than water. I am glad I don’t pay property tax on this beauty.

Within a half an hour the hostess calls our table and we are seated in the dining room by a door to the bar. This corner is so warm the girls think menopause is starting over again. Fortunately, for Dave and myself there are no mood swings. As I look around, the first thing that grabs my eye is that there are not any dead animals hanging from the walls, which is odd for a Northern WI restaurant, however, there are plenty of pictures of Flappers – you know gun molls – easy women of the 20’s, whatever, there are a lot of them.

Our waitress is right on top of things and gives us a rundown of the menu. We all (at least three of us) decide on some form of a Fish Fry, Dave has the traditional fry, The Little Marinara has Poor Mans Lobster, I have Perch, and Donna has (cough, cough) the Chicken Cordon Bleu. Bootleggers also offer Potato Pancakes so I add that to the order in addition to the normal sides. As some of you know I have been searching, almost lusting, for good Potato Pancakes for years. With the order taken our waitress announces she will be back with crackers and cheese – this is after all Wisconsin; real cheese and butter, no Oleo. Most of you probably don’t remember Oleo but the Marianna and I still remember our parents smuggling the stuff across the border into WI and then adding the yellow coloring to make it look like butter. To this day I don’t know why they did that – must be the thrill of bringing illegal food products into WI. Anyway the waitress returns with a basket of crackers and a 1oz portion control cup of some type of cheese spread. This is perhaps the funniest thing I have seen in months, talk about a lack of class. She also brings some warm rye rolls, which are out of this world; slather them down with butter then reserve a room at the hospital bubba. Dave and I have another Ketel One and in a short time our food arrives. Across the board we all agree that it is a average Fish Fry, although the portions are large they are short on flavor. At first I am disappointed that I only receive two Potato Pancakes but after I bite into them I see why only two. They are dense with a slight sweetness and served with a side of applesauce, (in another portion cup) I still haven’t decided if I like them, they were so dense I could only eat one. My major disappointment was the abundance of portion control cups, reminded me of Culvers.

Dinner for 4 with a couple of drinks and a tip was $100. I will put this on my list of places to revisit for a second opinion. Bootleggers is located at 2001 Indian Pine Point Rd., Tomahawk, WI

The Big Ragu gives this a 3.25 outa 5

Fish Scraps - Tidbits from Milwaukee

The Little Marinara and I were enjoying a few cocktails and a great view of the lake last evening and we started discussing Fish Frys in Milwaukee. The end result was a decision to put together some snapshots of several places. Please add your comments and additions to the list.

American Serb Hall – South Side - 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. For some reason this place is always listed as the best Fish Fry in Milwaukee. Don’t believe it. It is however, probably the biggest in Milwaukee. Serb Hall claims they serve between 1,500-2,000 dinners on a Friday evening and I can believe it. The place is a huge barn and the customers are treated like cattle. If you believe that fish are shaped like a hockey puck then this is your place.


Turner Hall – Now Known as Historic Turner Hall Downtown - 1034 North 4th Street, Milwaukee. Turner Hall also claims to have the best Fish Fry in Milwaukee. Once again a myth, save your money.


The Packing House
-South Side-900 E. Layton Ave. This is always a good choice, great cocktail lounge, good Fish Fry with all the necessary side dishes, and always busy on Friday evenings. If you are in a hurry they have a drive-thru window to get a fish fry to go.


Saz's State House –West Side- 5539 W. State St. The little Marinara and I have been here many times and have not been disappointed. Saz’s of course is known for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, but their Fish Fries are wonderful. Get it fried or baked but make sure you add an order of Onion Rings.


The Butler Inn –North West - 12400 W. Hampton Ave. The place has been around forever, and so has their food, the Fish Fry is average.


The Open Hearth Restaurant -
2930 N. 117th St., Wauwatosa. The Open Hearth has been in business for at least 25 years. Their fish fry includes: fresh Walleye Pike, Lake Perch and Haddock, all battered or broiled. Always good and always busy.


The Schwabenhof
- 14750 W. Silver Spring Dr. The Schwabenhof offers a Fish Fry on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Sides include choice of German Potato Salad, Potato Pancakes, French fries or Baked Potato, Cole Slaw and Homemade Tartar Sauce (the best). They offer the traditional Fish Fry (Cod) as well as Lake Perch, and Walleye Pike. For those of you who don’t like a WI Fish Fry (go back to IL) you can always get Fried Chicken and Ribs.


George Webbs – All around town. 
I like Webb’s you can get just about anything at any time including a the traditional Perch Fish Fry with French Fries, Cole Slaw and Rye Bread. Sometimes this is the perfect Friday Fish Fry at 1:00 am. The sweet sounds of the Bagpipes may be from Don Hensiak.

Henkels Town Pump - Rhinelander, WI

Why would you want to eat at a place called the town pump? The Little Marinara and I have been asking ourselves that question for years. We go by this joint all the time; it is only a ½ mile from our house. I am guessing it is the curb appeal or lack of, that has kept us away or is it the name. Now I know why they call it the town pump. Years ago when I was the Little Ragu this place had two gas pumps and was a local gin mill. It was also in the Town of Woodboro, hence town pump – or maybe it was because they pumped booze into the old geezers who hung out at the bar.

Oh well, it is Friday and raining, no it is a huge downpour so the Little Marinara and I decide we do not want to drive too far. We look at each other and decide Town Pump after all. If it looks too bad on the inside we can just leave. Three minutes later we are walking in the front door soaking wet, heads turn to look at us and I am waiting for the usual they must be from Mars attitude. To our surprise everyone is friendly asks how we are and comment on how bad the rain is. We find a place at the bar and Marilyn orders an Old Fashioned and I have my Martini. I am guessing it is better to have it on the rocks and forgo the straight-up option. The drinks are great I am smoking a good cigar and my edge is wearing off. As I look around, the place is full of old lumberjack tools; saws and big things that can take your arm off. There is also a non-smoking as well as a smoking dining room. One end of the bar is a 60” flat screen, not bad for a Town Pump. My eyes focus on a jar behind the bar labeled ‘Lake Slime” and over the jar is a sign indicating a contest between Squash Lake and Crescent Lake, order a drink, name your lake and a ticket goes into a pot, on Labor day the lake with the most tickets wins a pizza party. This stuff is gruesome it looks like someone put some frogs in a blender and then added some yogurt to give it body. I’ll pass on the pizza party. So lets eat!

We get a table in the no smoking section, and look over the menu. The Fish Fry here is pan-fried not deep-fried. We both order the standard Fish Fry. As we gaze over the other tables we see someone having Homemade Potato Chips. They look great so we order some and were not disappointed. Dinner is served and the Fries are also homemade, there is a side of slaw that was average and then something different – fry bread. I can tell I am going to need an extra dose of some simvastatin tonight. The fish was fantastic, light, flakey and full of flavor. Marilyn also said the same about hers. I’ll be back I want to see how the lake slime jar is doing.

I guess I am pumped about the Town Pump. Henkel's Town Pump is located West of Rhinelander at 7161 US Highway 8.

The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5

The Hide-A-Way - Harshaw, WI

“Rat-A-Tat-Tat Please Come Back” this slogan along with bullet holes is found on the T-shirts of all the employees. The Hide-A-Way Resort was built in 1938 as a gangsters ‘funhouse’. I am not really sure what that means but that is how the owners advertise the place. I can tell you this much, the gangsters must have felt very safe because I tried to find the joint last week (see the Silver Birch review) and tried again this week. This time I took the car with the GPS. As we left the house I smiled at the Little Marinara and told her no problamo we will find it this time. 18 miles later the Bitch in the Box told me that trip guidance was no longer available. We are on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere and I am having a bad feeling that I am again screwed. We are driving down some road and all of a sudden see a sign for the Hide-A-Way, I am thinking that I might take credit for my great navigational skills but decide that I don’t want a smack upside the head so I leave it rest. Smart move – for once.

We park in a field adjacent to the restaurant and it appears that the place is packed. This is a good sign, they probably have decent food. The immediate downside is the climb up the stairs to get to the bar and restaurant, but we make it and luck out and find two spots at the bar. They let me smoke a cigar and have an idea how to make a Martini. We register for a table with Bob and two drinks and an hour and a half later we are told our table is ready. We are hungry and looking forward to food. Our waitress comes over and brings us one (1) glass of water; we never get an answer as to why only one and we never get another glass of water. I can only surmise that since they are busy, water glasses must be a rare commodity, on the other hand maybe they only have 20 glasses and this is normal. Oh well, Marilyn orders the Blue Gill with Hashbrowns ($11.00) and I order the Fish Fry which happens to be all you can eat ($9.00). 40 minutes later I flag down our waitress to find out the status of the food, she tell us not too much longer, I ask her for some bread or crackers she willingly complies and returns with a small loaf of bread and some butter. Another 30 minutes elapses and I again ask her for an update on the food, I am told that since the Little Marinara ordered Hashbrowns the food takes longer to prepare – I am not sure if I should laugh or be pissed-off or both – I choose both. A minute or two later the food appears; now I have to try and not let my attitude cloud my judgment of the food. To my great relief I did not need to worry; the food was average on its own and did not need help from my less that stellar attitude. Marilyn received three pieces of Blue Gill, warm Cole Slaw and Hashbrown that had a very odd aftertaste; they were probably infused with other delectable delights on the hottop prior to serving. I receive two pieces of bland Cod, Deep Fried Freezer Fries and warm Cole Slaw. Our waitress asked if I wanted more fish and just out of curiosity to see how long it would lake I ordered one more piece – 15 minutes later it arrives – I asked for the check at the same time to make sure we would get out on the same evening. A table next to us asked to have the food boxed as they were tired of waiting. Our neighbors from the lake were also there and the following day I asked how long they waited and it was over an hour from the time they were seated.

So much for spending an evening at the gangsters ‘funhouse’, it would probably be more fun to drive a nail into my head than go through that ordeal again. Since I have had a few Martinis the Little Marinara drives home, she makes two turns and has us back at the house in 15 minutes – so much for my internal compass and the GPS.

The Big Ragu gives this a 2 Outa 5. “Rat-A-Tat-Tat I won’t be back”

Silver Birch Supper Club - Tomahawk, WI

I’m a guy, I don’t need directions or a map, I drive by my internal compass. Well at least I do most of the time! Since we moved to Northern WI I have found out that most roads do not go from point A to B, we have a lot of lakes in between that I am sure God put there just to screw with me.

It was just a 15-mile ride to the restaurant selection of the evening, The Little Marinara and I picked up our friends Dave and Joanne for a Friday evening of Martinis and Fish. We get to the first corner and Dave says turn right, but no I know a better way that will come out closer to where we need to be and besides it a more scenic drive, I told Marilyn to look for Sheep Ranch road and we will turn right – umh – seems that the road was behind us, guess I should have followed Dave’s advice and turned right, but no problem I know another short cut, 30 miles later I decide to turn on a road I am sure will get us where we need to go. The farther I go the narrower the road gets. The only thing we see is a fox walking along the side of the road. I open the window and hear the soft strains of banjo music lofting through the air. I know I am screwed, give up and turn the car around.

The question is now where do we eat? Dave has a great idea. It seems there is a place down the road he almost purchased 20 years ago called the Silver Birch. It sounds good to me and we are off. It is now hours after we left the house and the Little Marinara is giving me the evil eye as she is hungry – I turn to look at her and all I see is a deer. It looks like the critter is going to come through the door and I am going 55mph, I do a small swerve to the left and as I look in my rearview I see the deer going down butt first and the car behind me trying to avoid him which he did. So lets review, can’t find the first restaurant, saw a fox, almost hit a deer and I am still getting the evil eye. I follow Dave’s directions and we now end up at a dead end- the evil eye is throbbing and I need a Martini. We duck down the next road and there rising like a phoenix from the lake is the Silver Birch and it is packed. I drop everyone off at the door and have to drive two blocks away to park. As I walk to the door a guy in the front row drives away – just my luck – oh well if it were not for bad luck this evening I wouldn’t have any at all.

I slide inside and the place has a nice bar overlooking a small lake, it is done in the traditional knotty pine and has a lot of crafty things suspended from the ceiling. I am guessing a woman owns this place because there are no dead animals hanging from the walls. Of course I am correct. We meet our hostess Chris and she is turned out in a great ensemble complete with hat. Dave knows her and we collectively determine that she is still hot. The girls are already at the bar with drinks – for themselves – not us, however the evil eye has mellowed some. Dave and I order Martinis and we get these wonderful huge drinks – life has just gotten better. Two drinks and an hour later our table is ready. The Little Marinara and Joanne order Poor Mans Lobster with Hash Brown and Dave and I order the Fish Fry. Our waitress starts us off with hot garlic breadsticks that melt in your mouth. The fish is served and prepared to perfection. Sides included were French fries, Hashbrowns, Cole Slaw and an interesting take on tarter sauce. Ours was lightly infused with chipotle which made for a great combination.

The fish was priced right for what we received $8.95 for the Fish Fry and $9.95 for the Poor Mans Lobster. I did note that some of the other menu items seemed a bit high for the area, but then if it the food is good, price should not be the deciding issue. The Silver Birch is located on W6009 Taylor Lane outside of Tomahawk, WI. The Big Ragu gives this a 4 Outa 5.

Budreau's Backwater Supper Club & Lounge - Rhinelander, WI

Sometimes finding a place to eat is as easy as throwing a dart; in our case it was find a phonebook, open to restaurants and throw a dart; where it lands is where you eat. It’s very scientific and takes all the decision making out of the process. So we are off to Budreau’s Backwater Supper Club and Lounge. The word backwater conjures up all sorts of images of swamps, everglades, and the creature from the black lagoon in this case it is pretty much on target. The bar has a gorgeous view of a swamp; I am hoping the food is better than the view. This place definitely has an AARP clientele, the upside is tonight the Little Marinara and I are among the youngest in the place. Anyway we slide into a nice corner spot at the bar, Marilyn orders a Vodka and Cranberry and I order my usual Martini, I ask for it up and the bartenders says ‘you want that on the rocks’ – umh – no – up as in no ice. I get a drink that is about 50/50 Vodka and Vermouth, the bartender is a bit put-out when I explain that my drink has the flavor and odor of paint thinner, he whines but mixes it again. I ask if I can smoke a cigar and am told no problem – the evening is getting better. Some friends join us and we have another cocktail and decide to order, about that time the bartender comes back and tells me I have to put out my cigar because some geezer in the other room is complaining to the owner about the smell, (the owner doesn’t say anything to me he sends the bartender. Someone needs to grow a pair). Anyway the cigar is almost done so I don’t complain, at least not too much and we go into eat.

They have a small limited salad bar with the customary pasta, salad, dressings, veggies and slaw. The place is not busy but it takes a long time for the food to come up, by the time the food arrives there is only one other table in the dining room and it is not even 7:45 PM. The fish finely arrives; we ordered the Friday Fish Fry but mine looks like large fish McNuggets with commercial fries and portion controlled tarter sauce to make matters worse it has absolutely no flavor whatsoever. The Little Marinara has nothing to say – bad sign. Worse yet is the waitress thinks this is the way a fish fry is supposed to be.

So let’s recap: Cocktails – don’t waste you money drink beer, Food – don’t’ waste your money drink beer, Cigars – go somewhere else.

The Big Ragu gives this a 2 outa 5 – somewhere there is a trucker that will like this.

True's Tic-Toc Club - Wausau, WI

I have always subscribed to the theory that you go to certain restaurants for specific items. Once again the theory has proven to be true; case in point Treu’s Tic–Toc Club at 1201 West Thomas Street in Wausau, WI. This is a great local watering hole and they serve some of the best burgers, fries and onion rings in town. The minute I walk in the door my arteries start to throb in anticipation of how I will again abuse my body. A few years ago they (Treu’s) decided to upscale the joint, add some flat screens and a no-smoking section and gasp expand the menu. They should have expanded some cooking skills also.

The Little Marinara and I are in town today so we decide to try a fish fry at the Tic-Toc. We get there at 11:30 am and the place is packed, we see two seats at the bar and slide in before someone else gets them. I feel the gentle claws of a female scratching my back and it turns out that our good friend (and one of the best waitresses in town) Brenda is now working here. This is a huge plus for the Tic-Toc and us. I order the perch with fries and potato salad; Marilyn orders the haddock with fries and German potato salad. The Little Marinara is miffed, she gets two pieces of fish and the Big Ragu gets 4 (That’s why I am the Big Ragu). The fish, cole slaw and potato salad are almost average. The breading on my fish has a pasty consistency. Well it turns out they put the fish on top of the fries, remember what I said about my arteries – the fries are greasy, but then that’s why they are good. Anyway the fish have soaked up all the grease from the fries kind of like an expensive paper towel.

Bottom line- a great bar for burgers, fries, and onion rings; skip the fish. I feel like Brett Farve today – I am conflicted and cannot make a decision - at least on the Big Ragu’s rating

Pitlik's - Sugar Camp

In 1928 Charles Comiskey, yes that's correct, Comiskey of the Chicago White Sox Fame sold some waterfront and land to the Pitlik family. This resort and supper club is now operated by the 5th generation of the Pitlik's. The lounge and restaurant have a wonderful view overlooking Sand Lake. When you walk into the lounge the sign over the fire place states "Cast your troubles away", or perhaps you just want to drink them away. The bar/lounge is full of high polished wood with a few fish and deer heads on the wall. It is for the most part a very inviting setting and it was getting me in the mood - for a Friday Fish Fry that is. The Little Marnaria ordered her Vodka and Cranberry and I of course requested my Martini. I got the thumbs up on my cigar and Friday evening was off to a great start. Finding a good Martini in Rhinelander is not an easy task, but here we were just two steps from the edge of nowhere and I was wrapping my lips around an icy glass filled with the silver nectar of the gods. Sometimes it is really good to be me. Our bartender Steve is a transplant from Buffalo NY who confessed he was in love with the area and would never return to the East Coast...wait a few winters my friend. Marilyn noticed that there were purse hooks under the bar a nice touch for the ladies, or for those of you studs who carry a man-purse. We arrived about 5:00 pm and by 5:45 the place was almost full, the hostess held a table for us by the window and we sat down to order.

The Friday Fish Fry menu has several great selections. Deep fried or baked cod for $10.99, blue gill or walleye for $15.99 or the 'Over the Limit' (that's an upscale supersize) serving for $18.99. They also have some great appetizers such as fried dill pickles for $3.99, sweet potato fries for $4.99, duck strips for $6.99 and my favorite a crawfish basket for $6.99. There are not a lot of places in Northern WI serving mudbugs, but I found one..

Our waitress came for the order at 6:10 pm and we did not see her again until 6:40 pm, no water, no bread, and no drink order. In all fairness she looked like she was struggling with her tables earlier in the evening. Marilyn and I both ordered the cod, she was baked (this could be the source of some humor that could get me in deep trouble) and I was deep fried (umh possible college humor) - why change at this stage of my life. My plate contained three pieces of hot lightly breaded flakey cod. Cole slaw some pasta salad and waffle fries. I normally do not care for waffle fries because they are usually dry, these however were very good. The cole slaw and pasta salad did not do so well, unfortunately neither of them had any flavor, they were just bland.

Pitlik's is located at 4833 Sand Beach Road, Eagle River, WI which is really West of Sugar Camp. All in all it was a good evening and the Big Ragu give this place a 3 outa 5.

Circle K - Rhinelander, WI

Have you ever been to a place that when you walked inside people stopped talking and just looked at you?  I found one.  The Circle K has a kind of sterile environment - no log siding and no animal parts on the walls; there is however, an ATM and a pool table.  The ATM must be for the pull tabs.  There was a blue haze over the bar and no objection to my smoking a cigar, but this is about where the fun ended.   The Little Marinara ordered a beer and I ordered my usual Martini - wrong move - there was a discussion on the other end of the bar as to what was in a Martini.  The bartender came back and asked me if it was with the "white stuff or the red stuff" - I ordered a Miller to save us both some pain.

We both decided to order the Fish Fry which turned out to be some breaded deep fried cod with a few fries  a plastic cup of cole slaw and a piece of rye bread.  This place is why people stay home to eat.  The Big Ragu gives this a 2 outa 5

The Fireside - Rhinelander, WI

I admit it I like the Fireside. There must be some kind of affinity I have with the obligatory Northwood’s décor there aren’t any dead animals hanging on the walls but there is a great view over Town Line lake.  I also like the personal touch, if you have been there once or twice Margo the Hostess/Owner, will call you by your first name. Most of the wait staff has been working here for over ten years and they know their customers and how to make them feel wanted.  How many times have you been to a place where you are just another bag of bones walking in the door?  The major plus is this is one of the few places that can make a Martini the way I like it – chilled straight-up glass, shaken, and a twist done the correct way, the Little Marinara can get a good Cosmo – the weekend starts off good.

What I really like is the Friday Fish Fry.  You can order from the bar then slide into your table and enjoy Friday night, as it should be, all you can eat.  The Little Marinara usually has the Tilapia, which is always good, but I can always make that at home and just as good as anywhere I can order it.  If I put in a commercial deep fryer we could also do the fish fry, but then once a week on fried food is enough.  That’s really BS, everyday would be good, but then I would need to set-up weekly appointments at Cardiovascular Associates.

Arriving at the table we find it has been set with sides of pasta salad, marble rye with ice cold WI butter, homemade tarter Sauce, cole slaw, and potato salad.  The potato salad outside of Marilyn’s is the best I have ever had – I am told that Margo makes it every week herself.  The cod has a light breading and is always hot when served.  The downside is the Fries; they aren’t bad just average.

They don’t take reservations on Friday night, but if you get there early you can get your request in for a table by the fireplace, it offers some protection from the hungry hordes of summer tourists.  The Friday night Fish Fry is $12.95 about average for most places.  The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5

Al-Gen Dinner Club - Rhinelander, WI

You have to love a place that still has the same sign on top of the building since 1954.  The Al-Gen Dinner Club has been around longer than I have been alive; in fact I remember going there with my parents and having a Shirley Temple, oops, I mean a Roy Rogers (the same thing, just substitute an olive for a cherry).  Tom shakes up a good Martini and I can still have a cigar, at least until Governor Doyle crushes this simple pleasure under his hobnail boots.  The Little Marinara orders a Vodka and Cranberry (I have her convinced that enough of these will ward off kidney stones).  We enjoy some good conversation and friendly banter with the other patrons and take in all the really cool bar décor; I especially like the miniature ‘kybo’ next to the deer head.  Chick Sale would have had a great time with this one.  By the way, Tom the bartender drives a C3 style Vette that he shows at Iola.  I feel a bond, Martini, Vette and Cigars. 

 My cigar is finished and we make our way to the table, Marilyn orders the Poor Mans’ Lobster and I have the Fish Fry – it is all you can eat for $10.95.  Our waitress starts the parade of food:  Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, French Fries, Marble Rye Bread, Hot Apple Sauce, Homemade Tartar Sauce Potato Pancakes and of course the lightly breaded deep fried Cod.  I can’t believe it, this is all for me, however, I share with the Little Marinara.  The one thing I really like is that the food is hot – you laugh – I can’t tell you how many times I have been served lukewarm fish.  Everything was very good with the exception of the Macaroni Salad, which was very salty, and the Potato Pancakes, which looked good but had an undone potato flavor.  Some day I am going to do an article on the best Potato Pancake in Wisconsin, which were served at Hesser’s Supper Club in Oshkosh, WI.

If you want a seat at the bar on a Friday evening come early, by 6:00 pm the place will be full.  Good food, good service and good price point.  Just as Friday is Fish Fry night in WI, Sunday is Chicken night and the Al-Gen has great Broasted chicken. 

The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5 on the Bubbler Scale.