Oshkosh Restaurants - Dublin's Irish Pub

Dublin's Irish Pub
2070 W. 9th Avenue
Oshkosh, WI
(920) 385-0277

We've been to Dublin's Pub twice since it opened here in Oshkosh. Both times have been a treat. The atmosphere is wonderful, it feels small and warm and Irish. Though there are TVs for sports games, each time we have been there, there has been traditional Irish music played in the background. In the back room, there is a large fireplace, there is also a game room with darts, and a pool table. There is limited seating, but they have done a great job making the most of the space.

As far as the food goes, I was so impressed. I spent 2 months in Scotland and another 2 weeks in Ireland in college, and have always been hopeful about any new Irish restaurants that I can try. Unfortunately, I'm often disappointed. Not the case at Dublin's in Oshkosh!

Everything on the menu is under $7. The portions are the right size, not too big as often served, but plenty for a meal (I've taken a doggy bag home after both visits). With some of the traditional Irish fair offered, like Bangers and Mash and Shepards Pie, there is also a salad selection, a build your own burger option, and a variety of paninis and wraps. Dublin's offers a nice change in the Oshkosh restaurant scene.

As far as appetizers go, I've had the Irish Cheese Curds and the Banger Boats.  The Irish Cheese Curds surprised me, as they were spicy! At $4.25, they were very good, the breading had a nice kick and flavor. The cheese was melted and fresh. Overall, these were a great choice. Even better than the Irish Cheese Curds though, were the Banger Boats! These were like an Irish/Reuben version of Potato Skins for just $3.95. The order includes 3 potato halves, with cheese, sauerkraut, and Irish sausages on top. There is a sauce that reminded me of a Thousand Island dressing and mayo hybrid, with a kick. These were my favorite thing we ordered, and they are what I craved to bring us back the second time. They are different and delicious, and just writing about them now makes me crave them all over again!

Both times I've gone, I've ordered (and loved) the Fish and Chips. For $6.95, you get 3 pieces of breaded fish and a whole mess of french fries. The breading on the fish is light, but full of flavor. It has some spice to it. The fish wasn't greasy either time, though once I got to the bottom of the basket, I saw some grease down there. The fries are cut thin and taste great. I of course add plenty of malt vinegar to mine, like salt and vinegar potato chips, but better!

My partner in crime has ordered the Grilled Turkey Panini for $5,95 both visits as well. You get to choose the cheese, and it is served with lettuce and tomato. You also have the choice between the fries or a cup of soup. On the first trip, they forgot the lettuce and tomato, and on the second trip, he got a cup of Chicken Pot Pie soup instead of the fries. The soup was awesome, creamy and delicious without being too rich.

Overall, Dublin's is one of my favorite Oshkosh restaurants. The Irish atmosphere and the delicious food will keep us coming back again and again. The staff is friendly and helpful. The bar is well-stocked with a large assortment of both Irish and domestic beers. If you're a whiskey fan, you may want to try the 1780, it's a Jameson and Apple Juice cocktail that we both loved.

If you haven't checked out Dublin's Irish Pub in Oshkosh yet, you should! It's well priced and delicious. If you have to wait for a table, you should! And try the Banger Boats, I'm pretty sure you'll be glad you did!!!

Oshkosh Restaurants - Player's Pizza & Pub

Player's Pizza and Pub
556 W 5th Ave
Oshkosh, WI
(920) 303-1400

I'm always impressed with the menu at Player's in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Not that it changes often, or that it offers outlandish, crazy meals, it just offers so much. I honestly think even the pickiest of eaters would find something to order off of the Player's menu. From pizza and pasta to burgers and wraps, they offer gyros, seafood platters, lasagna, taco salads, wings, soups, quesadillas and so much more.

Every time we go to Player's, we have to get an order of Macaroni & Cheese Bites. For $4.99, you get a generous helping of deep fried triangles if battered Mac and Cheese. I've ordered these pockets of deep fried cheese and carbs at other restaurants, and I have to say Player's are my favorites.

As far as appetizers go, we always end up getting the delicious Player's Chips as well ($1.99 for a single order, $3.29 for family size). With a side of cheese, these homemade slices of deep fried potato are amazing. Some are crunchy, some are a little softer, you never know what you're going to get. They are dusted in salt and seasoning, and with that side of cheese sauce, they are pretty darn close to heaven.

Late one night, I needed wings. And I needed them delivered, because it was late and I was in no mood for driving. Who did I call? Player's of course. One small order of the Player's Hot Wings, and I was hooked. They had spice, but not too much (admittedly, I'm kind of a baby when it comes to heat). They had the buffalo flavor I love without the overpowering spice I usually hate. Definitely a good choice when you're in the mood for wings. They also offer BBQ and Honey Mustard Wings. You can get 7 wings for $4.29 or 15 wings for $7.99.

Judging from the start of this post, it's easy to see I'm an appetizer lover. However, I have in fact ordered meals from Player's as well!

The Rib-Eye Sandwich for $7.99 (add $1.00 for the grilled mushrooms/onions) is a favorite of mine. I was expecting shaved meat, but instead was pleasantly surprised with a big steak! Served on a toasted bun, I opted for the grilled onions, and was in love. I could only eat 1/2 of the sandwich, but it warmed up great the next day! I of course ordered the Player's chips as my side, it was an awesome meal.

I have been to Player's with someone who ordered the Titan Burger. From the menu: "Two patties of beef, with cheese, fried onions and our Tiger Sauce. A full pound!" Tiger Sauce is like a southwestern mayo/ranch mix in my opinion, it has a little kick. The burger was huge, and cooked exactly as it was ordered. I tried to take a bite, but made quite a mess. It tasted great though!

We've ordered pizza a few times from Player's, and though it's OK, it's far from my favorite pizza in Oshkosh. The Taco pizza has a red tomato sauce on it that just doesn't taste quite right. The Bacon Double Cheeseburger pizza was super greasy, and lacking much flavor. I do like the thin crust that both of the pizzas had, though it still had some of that soft doughiness to it, not as thin or crispy as I would normally expect from a "Thin Crust" pizza.

Overall, Player's is a great place to relax with friends, grab a bite and a drink. They have awesome daily food specials and drink specials too. Though I've never been terribly impressed with the pizza, everything else on the menu has always been awesome. This is one of my favorite places in Oshkosh to grab a drink and some appetizers with friends. It's cean, affordable, and offers a ton of options.

Oshkosh Restaurants - Brooklyn Grill

Brooklyn Grill
607 S. Main Street
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902

The Brooklyn Grill is one of my favorite Oshkosh lunch spots. The decor is a welcome break from a busy day and the food has always been good. Though I've only ever been there for lunch, I've been there multiple times, and I've always been impressed.

The Brooklyn Grill is located just south of downtown Oshkosh, just over the Main Street bridge from the Oshkosh Convention Center. This Wisconsin restaurant has a great outdoor seating area for the warmer months, and a smoke free dining area indoors as well. The decor is inspired by the 1920's, with Gangster memorabilia lining the walls. Even the place mats match, with New York history and trivia all over them.

I would call the menu upscale bar food. They've got the Chicken Wings (Parole Board Chicken Wings to be exact) and the Mozzarella Stick (also known as Nightsticks at the Brooklyn Grill). But they've also got tasty nachos and amazing soups. I ordered the "The Lucky Luciano Caesar Salad" with chicken on my first visit to the Brooklyn Grill, and was shocked by the size, it was HUGE! I love a good salad, and the menu read "Fresh Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar Dressing, topped with tomatoes, parmesan, croutons and hard boiled egg." This was as fresh and delicious as any salad I've ordered out. The chicken was hot and well cooked and seasoned, the lettuce was crisp, ann the dressing was perfect. I had forgotten to order the dressing on the side as I usually do, but unlike most Caesar Salads, it was not drenched in dressing. It was just the right amount, a little too much at the bottom, but overall I was impressed. The Caesar Salad was just under $9.00 with the chicken added, it was right around $6.50 for the vegetarian version and included the house bread, which was also a treat.

My other favorite meal at the Brooklyn Grill has to be The Underworlds Ribeye Steak Sandwich. The menu reads: "Grilled to perfection, topped with mushrooms and onions. Served on our Fresh Baked House Bread with lettuce, tomato, pickle." Maybe it's because I had spent all morning moving and cleaning, and maybe it's because I hadn't eaten anything for 18 hours before it, but this was one of the best steak sandwiches I'd ever had. It was grilled exactly as I had ordered it and the onions and mushrooms were delicious. This sandwich came with the Brooklyn Grill's homemade chips that were a perfect compliment to the meal all for $11.99.

Overall this is one of my favorite Oshkosh restaurants. The atmosphere is great, the food has always been delicious, and I love that it's smoke free. I recommend t his place to friends all the time, and haven't heard a complaint yet! I love the outdoor seating in the summer, and there is live music there as well. Check out the entertainment schedule on their Web site.

Have you eaten at the Brooklyn Grill in Oshkosh? What are your thoughts? What's your favorite thing to order?

Oshkosh Restaurants - The Roxy

The Roxy Supper Club
571 N Main St
Oshkosh, WI 54901-4908
(920) 231-1980

The Roxy has the feel of a traditional Wisconsin supper club, with a surprising menu. Going above and beyond the traditional meat and potato dishes, The Roxy offers Oshkosh restaurant patrons a little more. From pasta and seafood to their signature stir fries, the menu has some surprises.

I've been to the Roxy a handful of times, usually for lunch, but for dinner as well. While the food has been good, nothing I've ordered has ever been great. The dishes that stick out most in my mind are the stir fry, the Garlic Shrimp, and the grilled chicken sandwich.

The menu boasts about the signature stir fries, and describes them as: "A Roxy specialty. Prepared with a delicious assortment of crisp pan fried vegetables and accompanied with your choice of white or wild rice or pasta." One night I split the Combination stir fry, for $17.99. We ordered it over wild rice. When the stir fry came, I was disappointed, not only was our dish served over white rice, instead of wild rice, the "delicious assortment of pan fried vegetables" was lacking. The broccoli and peppers were mushy, and the brown sauce they were drowning it was lacking flavor. The chicken was good, however the beef was chewy. The dish didn't live up to its potential or its price.

I've also ordered the Garlic Shrimp for $14.99. The menu description read "Mounds of Gulf shrimp sautéed in sweet butter and garlic". There were plenty of shrimp on the plate, I didn't count, but it was more than I could eat. I even shared some, and I still had leftovers. I didn't box them up and take them home though. They were overcooked and tough. They were not cleaned properly, I have an issue or two with seeing my meal's digestive tract. Yes, that's right, the attempt at cleaning out the poop veins left plenty to be desired. There, I said it. The sauce was good at first, but by the end, was congealed at the bottom of the pan, looking less than appetizing. Overall, not something I'd order again.

My lunchtime staple at the Roxy is the Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich for $6.99. The chicken breast is huge and served with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a grilled bun. I often ask for a side of ranch or honey mustard to go along with it. This is a very filling meal, and I LOVE the french fries at the Roxy. They've always been good.

Overall, I can't say I've ever been all that impressed with my meals at the Roxy in Oshkosh, but I keep going back. The atmosphere is nice, the bar is great, and the waitstaff has always been a pleasure. Out of towners ask about the Roxy, it has quite the reputation for being an Oshkosh restaurant favorite. I'm not sure what I'm missing. I have heard great things about the Seafood Platter (fried everything, how could you mess that up?) and the Atlantic Salmon, though I haven't tried either of those personally. I would like to get to the Roxy for a fish fry, as it's hard to get into the place on a Friday night. I don't know what it is about the Roxy, but I'm not ready to give up on it yet. Have you been there? What are your thoughts? What should I order next time around?

Wisconsin Dells Restaurants – Baja Cantina

Baja Cantina

732 Oak Street

Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 254-1857

During a recent trip to Wisconsin Dells earlier this summer, we stumbled upon the Baja Cantina. Being a group of 6 21-27 year olds, the look of this Wisconsin Dells restaurant really won us over. The outdoor Mexican bar look only increased our hunger for all things spicy and south of the border. Our first attempt at eating Mexican that day was halted by another restaurant's lack of seating.

We seated ourselves at a long table in the corner. Though the place wasn't busy, our drink orders weren't taken, and we did not get menus. After waiting about ten minutes, we all got to thinking that maybe this was the kind of place we would place our order at the bar. So, a friend walked up to the bar, asking if that was the case. She was (rather rudely) told no, and that a server would be with us immediately. After another five minute wait, our waitress came to our table to take our drink order. Given the location, we ordered Coronas and margaritas, of course. The waitress then told us she would bring us the menus when the drinks came up. Our drinks waited a good 5 minutes on the bar before they were brought to us, without menus. At this point we were a fairly hungry bunch, having spent the morning mini golfing and shopping and all.

When the menus were finally brought to us, we were all a little shocked to discover that this was not in fact a Mexican restaurant after all. The waitress told us the specialty was the gyro platter, and the rest of the menu consisted of pretty generic bar food. Being too hungry to try to find another restaurant, we all ordered.

The mini tacos were nothing special ((we were really hoping for some Mexican food)). The burgers were good, though all of them were cooked well beyond what was ordered. The chicken strips were unbelievable. They were some of the best chicken strips I'd ever had. They weren't the processed, minced up chicken you usually get at bars, and the breading was light with great flavor. Definitely something to try if you're headed to the Baja Bar. The gyro was also very good, the tzatziki sauce was especially good.

Did I mention the margaritas were fabulous?

Though we were a little disappointed in not getting the Mexican food we were after, the atmosphere at the Baja Cantina was great. The service was really slow, so don't go there for a quick bite. We decided it would definitely be a better place to start a night out, as the drinks were tasty and reasonable. Definitely try the chicken strips though. They were that good.

Appleton Restaurants - O'Charley's

O’Charley’s Restaurant
3775 W College Ave
Appleton, WI 54914-3913
(920) 734-1456

We’ve been to the O’Charley’s Restaurant in Appleton, Wisconsin on a few occasions. Recently, we went for a Sunday lunch. We were seated immediately, and our drink order was taken.

As I said, we’ve been to the Appleton O’Charley’s a few times, and it’s mostly because of their rolls. Oh. My. Goodness. The rolls. They are amazing, best part of the meal. If nothing else, go for the rolls.

In the past, we’ve also ordered the $6.79 Southwestern Twisted Chips. They’re fried potato twists, smothered in cheese, pico de gallo, and fresh cilantro. They’re huge, and I usually order something small if we order the chips, I could make a whole meal out of them!

I ordered the $7.99 Southern Fried Chicken Tacos. They were great, the chicken was well seasoned and the pico de gallo on top of the chicken was awesome. There was also the standard lettuce and shredded cheddar on each of the tacos. O’Charley’s served the tacos with a side of “Southwestern Ranch” that I really liked. The meal also came with tortilla chips and a side of pico de gallo. The pico de gallo in the bowl with the chips was NOT the pico de gallo that was on the tacos. I didn’t like the side serving, I’m not sure what it was, but I couldn’t eat it. I ended up dipping some chips in the Southwestern Rance sauce, I did like that!  

The BF ordered the $8.99 Firecracker Burger wrap. It was good, not dry at all, with enough heat to remind you that it was in fact called the Firecracker, but not so much that you couldn’t actually enjoy it. The big cooked jalapenos in the wrap were a nice touch. The wrap came with fries, which were good. I like when you can still taste some potato amongst all the fry.

Though we typically stay away from the chain restaurants, O’Charley’s location ((right off of 41 in Appleton)) and rolls make it a Wisconsin restaurant we keep going back to. With your typical chain restaurant food and prices, it’s regularly a pretty good meal, with good service.

Two Rivers Restaurants - Machut's Supper Club

Machut’s Supper Club
Hwy 42 North
Two Rivers, WI 54241-3599
(920) 793-9432

Machut’s Supper Club in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is an old fashioned Wisconsin supper club for sure. Walking in, we were sent to a table at the bar, and given menus. Drinks were ordered, and our dinner orders were taken. We were kept at the bar for over 3o minutes, though we could see empty tables in the dining area. Once our number showed up on the digital sign, we were given a table number, and told to go find it.

Though there were 2 salads at the table (the rest of us ordered the salad bar) we had to ask two different staff members for water. We still aren’t sure who our server was, as we dealt with 3 different people while seated at the table.

The salad bar was fresh, but offered very little in terms of fresh vegetable toppings. There were more dressings than anything else. It also cost $1.95 extra to get a trip to the salad bar, when the plated dinner salads actually had more veggies on them.

Our salad plates were cleared but our entrees didn’t arrive for another 30 or so minutes. Over an hour after we’d placed an order. This is definitely not the place for a quick meal.

I ordered the $17.75 New York strip, broasted potatoes, and a side of 6 scallops. ((On the menu, there is an Add-On Favorites section with options for you to make your own combination dinner, and the sides were VERY reasonable, the side of 6 scallops was $3.95.)) My steak was cooked well, medium rare, as I ordered, but wasn’t exactly tender. The menu said it was broiled, and had good flavor, but was a bit chewy and hard to cut through. The scallops were sauteed, though they looked and tasted very much like the grilled option our table ordered as well. The broasted potatoes were nothing special, I wouldn’t order them again.

Two people in our party ordered a special, 4 Way Shrimp. This included sauteed, grilled, butterfly, and fried. The fried was by far the best, a light crunchy batter and plenty of shrimp. The sauteed and grilled looked and tasted the same, much like the scallops. Left us wondering how they were really prepared?

Both the $7.95 Tenderloin Sandwich and the $14.95 Ribeye Steak were ordered. Like the New York Strip, both steaks were a bit tough, but with good flavor. Fresh bread was a plus on the sandwich. Apparently this isn’t the place to go for steak.

The $11.95 Lake Michigan Whitefish was ordered, broiled, and looked much like the Whitefish we’d had the night before at the Water’s Edge Restaurants in Two Rivers. There was a large portion, but it was lacking flavor. A half of a pound o Sauteed Frog Legs were added from the Add-On menu for an additional $4.95.

We noticed the Machut Knee Caps for fifty cents a piece offered on the dessert menu. The waitress informed us they were doughnuts, so we ordered 3 to split around the table. These were by far the best part of the meal. Small doughnuts, like the ones you get at Asian restaurants, but covered in sugar and whipped cream. Delicious!

Overall, Machut’s offered a large menu, we failed to order anything that really impressed though. While the atmoshpere was definitely an authentic Wisconsin supper club, it lacked in the food department, and in the service department. The service was slow and very unaccomodating, one of the waitresses seemed downright rude. Perhaps for locals this is the place to go, but it wasn’t welcoming to outsiders at all. This was our first trip to Machut’s in Two Rivers, and I can’t forsee going back anytime soon, even for the Knee Caps…

Two Rivers Restaurants - Water's Edge

Lighthouse Inn/Water’s Edge Restaurant
1515 Memorial Dr
Two Rivers, WI 54241-3599
(920) 793-4524

The Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is home to the Water’s Edge Restaurant. Two Rivers has been a summer destination for my family and I since I was little. We used to camp at Point Beach State Park every summer. Recently, we have begun the annual tradition of salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. Always a treat, we have traded in the camper for a hotel, and we always stay at the Lighthouse Inn.

On Friday night, as our group was arriving at different times, we went to the bar for a drink before dinner. Though busy, the staff was very attentive, keeping our glasses full, and making polite, friendly conversation. Drinks were reasonably priced, with a large selection of beers available.

Once we were all assembled, we made our way into the restaurant, our waitress brought our water and bread immediately. With 6 people, we had many questions, and our waitress was very honest. First informing us that there were only 3 orders of one of the specials left, then letting us know that the baked haddock came out as a very small portion.

To start things off right, we ordered the appetizer Sampler Platter. From the menu: “Combination of broccoli bites, mozzarella sticks, cheese nuggets, & our homemade onion rings. Served with roasted red pepper sauce and marinara sauce … $9.95″ The broccoli bites were awesome, like deep fried bites of cheesy broccoli soup. The mozzarella sticks were good, not too much breading, plenty of stringy mozzarella cheese. The cheese nuggets were everything a Wisconsin fried cheese curd should be, though they were a bit small. The homemade onion rings were my favorite part of the platter, thin, lightly battered, and perfectly fried, not too greasy. Quite a bit of food for $9.95.

I ordered the fried cod. Not very adventurous, I know. Mom and I were splitting our two dinners, and went with one fried fish meal and the other baked. The friend cod was good, big pieces of fish, battered and fried to a golden brown. Exactly like a Wisconsin fish fry should be. The homemade tartar sauce was a great treat, and a good balance for the fish. The price of my fried cod was $9.95. It came with a salad, vegetable medley (green beans, yellow beans and carrots) and choice of potato. I went with the baked potato, very good. The vegetables were good, nothing special. Well prepared, but lacking seasoning.

The other half of my meal, the portion my Mom ordered, was the baked whitefish. From the menu: “Baked fish prepared in Chablis, butter, and lemon & served with drawn butter…$10.95″ I loved it, the fish was mild and flaky. You could taste the lemon and Chablis. The drawn butter was unnecessary, the fish was so good, but I used it anyways, as it made the fish even better. Plus, I am a huge fan of anything I get to dip in butter. Typically, I order fried over baked, but in this instance, I definitely preferred the baked whitefish to the fried cod, while others at the table preferred the fried to the baked. Just a matter of taste I guess. We ordered onion rings as her side. They were the same that we had on the appetizer platter, very good.

My dad got the Herb Crusted Salmon. From the menu: “Norwegian Salmon fillet baked in a blending of herbs & breading and topped with a cucumber dill sauce … $15.95″. He reported that the salmon was good. He would know, he typically orders salmon out wherever we are. It must have been good, by the time I was ready to taste it, there wasn’t much left!

The Summer Harvest Pasta was ordered. From the menu: “Cavatappi pasta sautéed with olive oil, squash, asparagus, red pepper pesto, sun dried & grape tomatoes (vegetable side not included)* … $13.95″ With all the veggies in the dish, the vegetable side wasn’t missed. The pasta was flavorful, and vegetables were cooked well, not mushy or overdone as can easily happen in these kinds of dishes. I love sun dried tomatoes, so this was a great dish in my opinion. New to the menu, I would guess it becomes a summertime favorite!

Another order of fried cod was ordered, and loved.

My boyfriend ordered the Broasted Chicken. From the menu: “Marinated and lightly breaded chicken broasted to a golden brown exterior with a moist and tender inside.” The $12.95 4 piece meal was ordered, as I let him know I’d be wanting to try it for sure! The chicken was awesome, I love broasted chicken, and this was no exception. The skin was crunchy and well flavored, the meat was tender and not overdone. Though a bit dry in my opinion, it was still really good. It was my second favorite meal ordered, coming in after the baked white fish of course!

Overall, the Water’s Edge restaurant at the Lighthouse Inn is a wonderful place to spend the evening. From the bar to the service to the food, it’s a great environment, with an amazing view of Lake Michigan right outside. There is outdoor seating in the bar area, and windows so big you’ll feel like your outdoors in the dining area! Always a favorite place to go, this Wisconsin restaurant didn’t disappoint, as usual.

The meal fueled a great night’s sleep and gave us the energy for the 3:30 am wake up call that was necessary for our salmon fishing adventure early Saturday morning. When in Two Rivers, check out the Lighthouse Inn and the Water’s Edge restaurant!

Oshkosh Restaurants - Ardy and Ed's Drive In

Ardy and Ed’s Drive In
2413 S Main St
Oshkosh, WI 54902-7244
(920) 231-5455

This afternoon the work bunch took a little lunchtime break over to Ardy and Ed’s. None of us had ever been to this Oshkosh restaurant, but it was such a nice day, we were looking forward to sittin outside. The waitresses wear roller skates. This amazed me, as I pictured all kinds of fun accidents I’d be having if I was trying to skate and serve food at the same time!

There were 5 of us, and we opted to sit outside at one of the tables ((with umbrellas)). The menu was on the side of the building, and next to it was the bell you rang when you were ready to order. The menu was large, with lots of sandwiches and sides. We all opted to get the baskets with our sandwiches, which came with fries ((you get ketchup or tartar sauce for your fries)) and either a side salad ((dressing choices: ranch, french, thousand island)) or coleslaw.

I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich basket with fries and a side salad. The chicken sandwich was good. I told the waitress yes I wanted mayo, but next time would definitely ask for it on the side. There was a lot. There was also a lot more bun than chicken, but I feel like that happens a lot with chicken sandwiches. The chicken was real, no minced up oversize chicken nugget or anything. The salad was lacking. It was a Styrofoam cup with ice berg lettuce chopped up. I think I would try the coleslaw next time. I also got a root beer, it was very good! Our waitress didn’t tell us until after I ordered, but the grilled chicken sandwich was the special of the day, and included the root beer ((a large)) for $6.81.

Two of the girls ordered the cheeseburger. The meat was thin, but they reported it was a good burger. Both ordered ketchup and pickles on their burgers, and both used the ketchup they got with their fries to put on the burgers. Not enough ketchup? Cheeseburger baskets are &5.09 w/o tax.

Another lunch goer ordered the perch sandwich, fries, and coleslaw instead of the salad ((smart man)). He reported that the sandwich also had too much mayo/tartar sauce on it, much like my chicken sandwich. He liked the coleslaw, definitely trying it next time. Ardy and Ed’s perch sandwich was $6.69 w/o tax.

Last but not least, one of my fellow diners ordered the Hot Beef sandwich, said it was good. Looked like a BBQ sandwich with pulled beef to me. He also got the fries and side salad. The hot beef sandwich basket is $5.59 without tax.

Overall, it was a good lunch. The waitress had no problem giving us each separate checks, and was friendly. It was definitely a fun change for lunch, and I will be back when I’m craving a little old fashioned drive-in food!

Oshkosh Restaurants – Bangkok Thai

Bangkok Thai
80 Wisconsin St
Oshkosh, WI 54901-3562
(920) 232-0120

Thai food is new to me. I just didn’t grow up eating it. What can I say? I was deprived. I recently discovered Bangkok Thai in Oshkosh, and I’m a huge fan.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been to this Oshkosh restaurant, but I can tell you what I always order. #20 with Beef. The menu describes it as string beans and ginger in a red curry sauce. I add beef and pea pods ((just ask for any other veggies you want)). The price is about $12 for the dinner portion, and I live off of it for days. At Bangkok Thai, you choose the level of spice, I usually go with mild to medium, and the medium is PLENTY hot for me. Burn the lips kind of hot, in a delicious way, of course. The BF always gets the curried fried rice, he switches up the protein he adds. It’s spicy and complex. The flavor is great, and reheats well. The price for the fried rice dishes ranges from about $9 – $12 depending on the protein you choose.

When ordering in, you get a wonderful, simple soup to start your meal. We always get spring or egg rolls as well. Delicate, well seasoned, I think they’re awesome.

I definitely have a list of other dishes I’d like to try off the menu, if only my #20 wasn’t so good. One of these days I’ll have to venture a little more into Thai food, try new dishes, and new Thai restaurants. But for now, I’m glad I found Bangkok Thai, and will continue to be a loyal customer!

Oshkosh Restaurants - The Tilted Kilt

Tilted Kilt
1051 S Washburn St
Oshkosh, WI 54904-8052
(920) 651-8844

Last Friday was my boyfriend’s birthday, and for his birthday lunch we went to the Tilted Kilt. Now, as far as Oshkosh restaurants go, the Tilted Kilt was not reeeal high on my list of places to try. Birthdays trump my list though, so away we went.

The waitresses wear plaid skirts, knee high socks, and white shirts tied above their stomachs, revealing lots of leg and stomach. Not offensive but definitely more skin than Hooters.

We ordered the Five Quid Squid as an appetizer. We had just had Calamari at Becket’s, and it was nowhere near as good at the Tilted Kilt. It had pretty good flavor, but was definitely too chewy for my liking. We had a friend with us who had never tried calamari, and he hated it. His description was deep fried rubber bands. Pretty accurate.

For my meal I ordered the Scottish Cheesesteak with regular fries (I could have had Garlic Fries, but I’m a sucker for Malt Vinegar on my French Fries). The sandwich was very good. The steak was tender, the peppers and onions were well cooked, the bread was toasted, and the Provolone cheese was melted. The fries were good too, great with the malt vinegar.

The boyfriend had the Irish Dip. It was the same as my sandwich, but without the peppers, and with Swiss cheese instead of Provolone. The Aus Jus was salty, saltier than I like, but it got the job done. He also ordered the regular fries, though he is not a malt vinegar fan.

Our friend ((the calamari hater)) ordered Maggie Mae’s Fish and Chips. The fish was overly fried, with a whole lot of batter. The first few bites yielded very little fish, and just a lot of fry. Not something I’d try again. That disappointed me, I love a good fish fry.

The bar was empty, and there weren’t very many people in the place. The largest group was a family, 3 kids and both parents. Kind of suprised me. Definitely wasn’t expecting “The Best Looking Sports Pub” be a family go-to place. To each their own though. The BF had been there once before and said it was packed with businessmen for lunch the first time he’d went. So we credited the Friday before the 4th of July as the reason it was so empty.

Overall, the Tilted Kilt seemed to have pretty good bar food, though it was a bit expensive. The bill for all three of us to eat was over $40 and we only had waters to drink. I can’t see myself becoming a regular, but I won’t refuse to go back.

Oshkosh Restaurants - Becket's

Becket's
Jackson and the Fox
1 City Center, Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 230-3333

Last night the boyfriend and I had a date night, it was a first for a looong time and I was really looking forward to it. Though it had been insanely hot out, I wanted to eat outside. After helping friends move all afternoon, I’m certain the BF wasn’t looking forward to eating out under the 90 degree sun, but he agreed.

We decided on Becket's in Oshkosh’s City Center. We hadn’t been there before, and had heard a lot of mixed reviews, mostly negative. Being stubborn however, we wanted to see for ourself.

We were seated outside immediately, under a large umbrella, by the water. Our drink orders were taken and I had a wonderful ((HUGE)) glass of house wine, and Bear got a great Southern Comfort Old Fashioned (( it too was giant)). The drinks were $4 each. That was not the Happy Hour price. Apparently you need to be at the bar or on the lawn section to take part in Happy Hour.

After seeing, and tasting the drinks, we got really brave and ordered some calamari as an appetizer. Calamari is SO hit or miss, I was a little nervous. The menu describes the calamari as – “House breaded and lightly fried, served with orange marmalade dipping sauce.” It was $7, definitely a reasonable price for calamari. It was amazing. Some of the best calamari I’ve ever had. And while we weren’t so sure about the orange marmalade dipping sauce at first, it was SO good. Definitely a recipe I will try to replicate!

For dinner I ordered the Grilled Shrimp for $15. The menu’s description – “Fire grilled shrimp, marinated and served with a warm mango chutney”. I opted for extra vegetables instead of a starch. The BF ordered one of the nightly specials, a Tuscan Ribeye I believe it was called. Obviously, not on the menu, so I can’t give Becket’s description, but I’m pretty sure it was something like “Ribeye marinated in Italian herbs and topped with a light Tuscan cream sauce”. He went with coleslaw along side his steak. The special cost $21.

My shrimp was perfectly cooked, it was delicious. I used the calamari’s orange marmalade as a dipping sauce, it was that good! The mango chutney was awful. Didn’t eat more than the first bite. The vegetable of the night was asparagus, one of my favorites, it was good, not great. I should have gotten another side instead of double asparagus. The steak was awesome, well seasoned and cooked well. I didn’t try the coleslaw, but was informed it was lacking flavor. I think coleslaw is hard though…

The service was good, attentive, but not pushy. The place was busy, especially the outdoor area on such a hot night! Overall, we were very impressed, and will definitely be going back soon. Especially for the calamari.

Wisconsin Restaurants

Wisconsin Restaurants:

• Appleton - O'Charley's
• Two Rivers - Machut's Supper Club
• Two Rivers - Water's Edge
• Oshkosh - Ardy and Ed's
• Oshkosh - Bangkok Thai
• Oshkosh - Becket's
• Oshkosh - Brooklyn Grill
• Oshkosh - Dublin's Irish Pub
• Oshkosh - Player's Pizza & Pub
  
• Oshkosh - The Roxy
• Oshkosh - The Tilted Kilt
• Wisconsin Dells - Buffalo Phil's
• Wisconsin Dells - Baja Cantina
  

Wandering through Wisconsin Site Map

Wisconsin Restaurants:

• Appleton - O'Charley's
• Two Rivers - Machut's Supper Club
• Two Rivers - Water's Edge
• Oshkosh - Ardy and Ed's
• Oshkosh - Bangkok Thai
• Oshkosh - Becket's
• Oshkosh - Brooklyn Grill
• Oshkosh - Dublin's Irish Pub
• Oshkosh - Player's Pizza & Pub
  
• Oshkosh - The Roxy
• Oshkosh - The Tilted Kilt
• Wisconsin Dells - Buffalo Phil's
• Wisconsin Dells - Baja Cantina
  

Wisconsin Calendars of Events:

• December 4 - 6, 2009
  
• November 20 - 22, 2009
  
• November 6 - 8, 2009
  
• October 16 - 19, 2009
  
• October 9 - 11, 2009
  
• October 2 - 4, 2009
  
• September 25 - 27, 2009
  
• September 18-20, 2009
  

Wisconsin Destinations:

• Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Activities:

• Two Rivers Sportfishing
  
  

Wisconsin Events:

• Dairyland Greyhound Park Closing
  
• Wisconsin Arts and Craft Fairs
  
• Oshkosh Farmers' Market
• Green Bay Packers Game
  
  

General Wandering through Wisconsin ramblings...

• Sorry!
• Blog Action Day 2oo9 - What are YOU Doing for Wisconsin?
  

Wandering Through Wisconsin Home