Picking the right restaurant for an occasion is an art form. The right restaurant can kindle a romance, set a festive mood, make cherished memories, or solidify a business partnership. Here is your guide to choosing the best restaurants in Door County based on the occasion.
TGIF – Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub
Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub is one of those rare places where you can rub elbows with Sturgeon Bay shipbuilders, professional businesswomen, and vacationers from Chicago. Everybody loves Kitty O’Reilly’s, and it’s the perfect place to celebrate the beginning of the weekend. Kitty O’Reilly’s has a large and beautiful beer garden, making it a favorite restaurant over the summer months.
Website
Phone: 920-743-7441
Address: 59 E Oak St, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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Anniversary – Donny’s Glidden Lodge
Marriages are epic undertakings. “Till death we do part,” is a vow that even though the whole world change, your dedication to each other will remain the same through the decades. A restaurant to celebrate an anniversary should have a grand yet staid aura to reflect the ideals of marriage.
Donny’s Glidden Lodge provides just such a setting and is therefore the best Door County restaurant to celebrate an anniversary. Glidden Lodge is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, with large picture windows facing the waves, a setting as romantic and grand as they come. And, not much seems to have changed in the restaurant over the decades. This is a good thing. Like good marriages, good restaurants are timeless.
Website
Phone: (920) 746 9460
Address: 4670 Glidden Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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Child’s Birthday – PC Junction
Kids love PC Junction, and you will love the memories you make there for your child’s birthday. The counter at PC Junction has a model train track installed on it, and your food is delivered on the model train! The food is standard pub fare, burgers, and such. A few salads are available looking for healthier options.
Website
Phone: 920-839-2048
Address: 7898 Co Rd A, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
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Teen’s Birthday – Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria
Teens love pizza and lots of it. Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria offers a pizza buffet that will please your teenager and his friends. The food quality is what you would expect of a pizza buffet, but you won’t mind. Sonny’s has some of the best views in Door County as it overlooks the Bay of Sturgeon Bay, including the shipyard.
Website
Phone: 920-743-2300
Address: 129 N Madison Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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Adult’s Birthday – Chop
You cheated death one more year. Taunt it by eating some red meat. The best place to get a steak in Door County is Chop in Sister Bay. Get a reservation, and try to get the outdoor, upstairs seating, which offers views over the Bay of Green Bay.
Website
Phone: 920-854-2700
Address: 2345 Mill Rd, Sister Bay, WI 54234
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Date Night – Waterfront
Door County is legendary for its sunsets over the Bay of Green Bay. Despite this, surprisingly few Door County restaurants have sunset views. Waterfront in Sister Bay is an exception, and every table in the restaurant has a view of the bay, making it a perfect place for a late, romantic dinner.
As of the time of this article’s writing [May 2022], Waterfront is unable to open normally. Check their website to see if this has (hopefully) changed.
Website
Phone: (920) 854-5491
Address: 10947 WI-42, Sister Bay, WI 54234
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Girls’ Weekend – Trixie’s
A restaurant built around responsibility doesn’t sound like a good fit for a weekend designed to let loose, but hear us out. It is easier to indulge yourself when you know that the food and wine have been sustainably sourced. Trixie’s offers a unique menu and robust wine list with an emphasis on locally and sustainably sourced ingredients.
Website
Phone: (920)- 854-8008
Address: 9996 Pioneer Ln, Ephraim, WI 54211
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Brunch – White Gull Inn
White Gull Inn is a classic Door County restaurant. Set in a beautiful old building in Fish Creek’s historic district, their cherry-stuffed French toast is a favorite for brunch.
Website
Phone: 920-868-3517
Address: 4225 Main St, Fish Creek, WI 54212
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Business Lunch – Inn at Cedar Crossing
The Inn at Cedar Crossing is close to many businesses in downtown Sturgeon Bay. Their lunch menu has something for everyone, and the setting is quiet enough for a business lunch.
Website
Phone: 920-743-4200
Address: 112 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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After a Hike – Wild Tomato
With a location near Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, Wild Tomato is a perfect place to recharge after hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. Wild Tomato offers wood-fired pizza, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Wild Tomato also has a location in Sister Bay.
Website
Phone: 920-868-3095
Address: 4023 WI-42, Fish Creek, WI 54212
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Fish Fry – Mill Supper Club
Friday fish fries and supper clubs are two Wisconsin traditions that go perfectly together. Order an Old Fashioned with brandy, and you will look just like a local. The Mill Supper Club is a great place to enjoy a classic Wisconsin fish fry.
Website
Phone: 920-743-5044
Address: 4128 State Highway 42, WI-57, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
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Something Different – Parador
Door County has more to offer culinarily than most of Wisconsin, but American cuisine and pub fare dominate like the rest of the state. Sometimes a change is needed from burgers and beer. Tapas and sangria fill the bill. Parador offers a Mediterranean menu in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. The website states that 2022 is their last season, so make sure to eat at this Door County restaurant while you have the chance!
Website
Phone: 920-868-2255
Address: 7829 WI-42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
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