Wandering through Wisconsin: review

Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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!!!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Wisconsin Cheese Fondue

A Wandering through Wisconsin Thanksgiving Tradition

Cheese Fondue has long been the treat of choice for the Wandering through Wisconsin team on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Stuffed with leftovers yet constantly hungry, fondue is always a welcome treat. While there are many kinds of fondue out there my family sticks with the traditional cheese fondue.

We use Bruno Miranda's recipe from the Tasty Planner Web site, though we often make a few small changes and have to double and sometimes triple the recipe depending on the company!

Please check out Bruno's recipe at Tasty Planner. But check out our notes below...

Notes on the Ingredients:

1 cup of white wine -Our favorite is the Chardonay from the Captain's Walk Winery in Green Bay, Wisconsin
1/2 Pound of fontina -We always look for the MezzaLuna Fontina from Roth Käse
1/2 Pound of Butterkase -I fell in love with Butterkase when I tried it at Paoli Cheese in Paoli, Wisconsin
2 ounces of buttermilk Blue cheese -Typically, I leave this out, as I'm not a huge Blue Cheese fan, maybe I'm missing out, but the recipe is delicious either way!

Our favorites for dipping include:

Breads:Basically whatever looks fresh at the bakery... French bread, sourdough bread, naan, focaccia, etc. We also use any leftover rolls from Thanksgiving!
Meats:Bratwursts, kielbasa, leftover turkey, any cold cuts from the deli, (ham is always a family favorite) we sometimes splurge and grill out a few steaks, and cut them up for dipping as well!
FruitsGrapes, melon, apples, pears, a lot of fruits are surprisingly tasty with the cheese fondue!
Vegetables:Steamed or raw broccoli, grilled mushrooms, blanched asparagus or snow peas, roasted brussel sprouts (usually we don't have leftovers of these from Thanksgiving, so we have to roast some more!) raw cherry tomatoes, bell peppers (red or green are our favorites), we also make mini potato pancakes out of our mashed potato leftovers and dip those too!

Fondue is a great treat for families and groups of friends alike. With so many recipes out there, it's easy to find a favorite! Whether you make fondue a Thanksgiving tradition, or add it to the list of things you want to try anytime of the year, we hope you enjoy it! Make it your own, and have fun with it!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Wisconsin Weekend Events - November 20 - 22, 2009

Tomorrow, Saturday November 21, 2009 is opening day for the White-tailed deer gun season here in Wisconsin! While that isn't news to most Wisconsinites, it is worth mentioning. Be extra cautious when driving or where hunters may be at work.

If you're not planning on being out in the woods, there are plenty of other Wisconsin activities this weekend! Don't forget the list of Wisconsin Arts and Crafts Fairs going on throughout the state, and of course, check out some of the great events we have listed this week!

Whatever your Wisconsin weekend includes, we hope you have a safe, fun and relaxing couple of days. The holidays are approaching rapidly, now is the time to rest up and prepare yourself and your family for the upcoming excitement!

Wisconsin Weekend Events

Friday November 20, 2009 -
Broadway District Lighting Ceremony in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "Enjoy watching the Broadway District glow for the holiday season. There will be live music, carolers, carriage rides, Broadway Business specials and more! Kick-off your Holiday shopping in the Broadway District."

Friday November 20, 2009 -
45th Annual Venison Feed in downtown Tomahawk, Wisconsin on West Wisconsin Avenue. "Come celebrate the opening of hunting season with this unique event! Burgers are served at 11:30 a.m. until gone. Sponsors for this event are: City of Tomahawk, Nelson's County Market, Northland Stainless, Rodeway Inn & Suites, Silver Threads Boutique, Tomahawk Bowl, Tomahawk IGA, Tomahawk Lumber Co., Tomahawk Surplus, and WJJQ Radio. For more information please call the Chamber at 715-453-5334."

Friday, November 20, 2009 -
MAM After Dark: The Future Is Now at the Milwaukee Art Museum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "MAM After Dark is a monthly art happening at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Each event offers a not-to-be-missed feature program, after-hours access to the galleries, music, food, cash bar, and more. Enjoy as you mingle with friends old and new."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Ruby Nouveau Tasting at the Wollersheim Winery in Prairie dr Sac, Wisconsin. "Taste the 2009 Ruby Nouveau wine, the first wine of the new harvest, upstairs in the winery Sugarloaf and Vineyard Rooms along with an array of specialty Wisconsin cheeses. The Ruby Nouveau is an estate-grown dry red with enticing fruit flavors and a zesty finish. It is the perfect holiday wine as it is meant to be enjoyed young and pairs well with holiday foods, such as Thanksgiving turkey."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Milwaukee's 83nd Annual Holiday Parade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Johnson Controls volunteers will be collecting your non-perishable food items along the route to benefit the Hunger Task Force's Food For Families. Please help Hunger Task Force and Johnson Controls make a difference this Holiday Season.

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Holly Jolly Light Parade in Baraboo, Wisconsin. "Celebrating with small hometown charm, the parade has captivated audiences from young to old. Families from miles around have made The Holly Jolly Light Parade a part of their holiday tradition. Grandparents, moms and dads and all the kids bundle up and line the streets of Downtown Baraboo to enjoy the glittering floats, costumed characters, and novelty units that make up the Holly Jolly Light Parade."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Every Woman Expo at the Wave Ballroom, in Appleton, Wisconsin. "A day of fun, shopping, seminars and a fashion show."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
5th Annyal Wonderful World of Women Expo at the Plymouth Arts Center, in Plymouth, Wisconsin. "Discover the art of relaxation, find your inner strength, wellness and peace. Renew your natural beauty. Try something new and have fun!"

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Christmas in the Village - ROUSE SIMMONS Day in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. "The Christmas Tree Ship, the ROUSE SIMMONS will be open for tours at the Rogers Street Museum from 2:30pm-4pm. The Christmas Tree will be lit that afternoon as carolers sing throughout the Fishing Village."

Saturday and Sunday, November 21 - 22, 2009 -
One of a Kind Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Show at the Alliant Energy Center, in Madison, Wisconsin. There will be stamping and scrapbooking classes, special events and more than 40 national vendors selling all of the products you need to the most modern stamping and scrapbooking projects.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 -
Green Bay Packers Football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Do you know of an event we've missed? Have you been to any of these events before? Will you be at one this weekend? We want to know! Email us at WanderingWisconsin@gmail.com. Find us on Twitter @wandering_wisco. Or just leave us a comment here on the blog.

Have a great Wisconsin weekend everyone!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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?

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Green Bay Packers - Wisconsin Events

Another Wisconsin weekend has come and gone! And what a beautiful one it was! This Sunday,I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the Green Bay Packers/Cincinnati Bengals football game. Though not my first Packer game, it was an amazing day!

We're big believers in tail gating, and Packer games are some of the best tail gating times around. There were only 2 of us that got tickets this week, so the food wasn't nearly as elaborate as usual, but the experience was still great!

We arrived in Green Bay around 9:30, got to the usual yard we park in (we've done both the stadium parking lot and the yards surrounding Lambeau, we're just yard people. More room, some familiarity with our hosts and other tailgaters, and we don't have to deal with the same kind of traffic as when you park in the stadium lots). We're having surprisingly warm weather for this kind of year in Wisconsin, I was roasting in my jeans and jersey! We grilled our brats as kids played football in the yard. Someone next to us had a radio going, the smell of so many grills filled the air. It was definitely an experience to savor.

Our tickets were great, we were on the 25 yard line, about 50 rows up from the Packer's bench, we could see everything. Luckily for us, the sun went behind the stadium at half time, and we were out of the heat. One huge variable about going to a Packer's game is definitely the fans sitting around you. As we aren't season ticket holders, we always ending up sitting in different sections, with different people. We lucked out this week, sitting around a genuinely nice group of people. High fives were thrown, dropped catches were analyzed, the sting of victory felt by all.

Though the Packers lost to the Bengals, the day was very much a success. If you ever have the chance to get to Lambeau for a Green Pay Packers game, I say take it. Though I typically stop looking for tickets in November, as even I'm not a huge fan of the cold and snow that Lambeau is known for. I love my Packers, I just prefer to watch them from home when it starts getting too cold out!

Have you been to Lambeau for a game? How did you like it? What other NFL stadiums have you been to? We'd love to hear about your experiences, from football to tailgating, let us know!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Wisconsin Dells Restaurants – Buffalo Phil's

Buffalo Phil's Grille
Tanger Outlet Complex
150 Gasser Rd.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Ph: 608-254-7300
Fax: 608-253-2215

Located within the Knuckleheads Family Entertainment Center, in Wisconsin Dells, Buffalo Phil's advertised an all you can eat pizza buffet that we just couldn't pass up. After spending some time playing arcade games at Knuckleheads, we were ready to eat a lot of pizza.

Walking into the restaurant, I was surprised by the décor, it was beautiful. There was wood everywhere, very country cabin, up north inspired. Definitely not what we were expecting of a restaurant located in an arcade/bowling alley. And definitely not like any other pizza buffet I had ever been to!

The salad bar included with the pizza buffet was great, lots of fresh veggies to top off your salad. There were plenty of dressing choices and side salad options as well. The soup was awful. The sign said it was a baked potato, but truthfully, it had no flavor. The rolls offered were good, though they had been sitting there for awhile, they weren't fresh.

Moving onto the actual pizza buffet… There were 2 types of pasta offered, a baked manicotti as well as spaghetti with sauce. Much like the rolls, the pasta had been sitting for awhile, and looked like something that was served at my high school cafeteria. There were only 2 kinds of pizza on the buffet when we went up, pepperoni, or cheese. Not exactly a large or diverse selection, but we went with it. The cheese pizza was ok, it was definitely much fresher than the pepperoni. Another pizza was brought out, with sausage and veggies, that was much better ((probably just because it was right out of the oven)).

The salad bar was definitely more of a draw than the pizza buffet, which is too bad. I'm sure many families playing at Knuckleheads come in for the pizza, and would probably be just as disappointed as we were.

Though I can't say anything about the regular menu, it's not some place I'll be rushing back to any time soon. Perhaps we were just there at a bad time, maybe this place actually does have a really great pizza buffet, and we just missed out. With all the great Wisconsin Dells restaurants, I won't waste any more meals at Buffalo Phil's.