Ditch the car. Get to dinner via boat on the Minocqua chain!

Motoring across the lake to eat is a novel Northwoods activity for our family.  If you’re staying at Camp Kulisha for the first time, these three Lake Tomahawk restaurants are pretty close to our place. Depending on your energy level, you could paddle to the first on this list.

Lakeside Grill (Minocqua) for sandwiches, burgers and wraps. Closest place to fill up your gas tank.

Gaslight Tavern (Lake Tomahawk) for sit-down pan-Asian food. You’ll need to tie up your boat at the town launch and walk 5 minutes.

Lake Tomahawk Village Cafe (Lake Tomahawk) for classic Northwoods fare, including fish fry. Also accessible via the town boat launch.

Want to make a day of it?

If you’d like to stay out all day, you can reach these spots by boating through Mid Lake and into Lake Minocqua via the channel. These Minocqua restaurants on the water are casual enough that you can be in your swimming gear too.

Yacht Club (Minocqua) lively newly remodeled spot for cocktails, flatbreads, entrees and periodic live music.

The Boathouse (Minocqua) Walleye bites are a favorite for our family. Upstairs dining room has more expansive menu.

The Thirsty Whale (Minocqua) is a favorite cheese curd and beer spot! If you time it, you can watch the Minocqua Bats show from the deck.

Prefer a picnic?

There are plenty of places to throw down your pontoon anchor or pull up your canoe on shore to enjoy your own treats. If you want to make a plan in advance, this helpful map of Lake Tomahawk commissioned by our lake association shows state-owned shoreline. And, here some of our own Minocqua-specific host tips on food.

Immerse yourself in Northwoods supper club traditions

For those who delight in regional culture, the Northwoods offers a bounty. Our hiking trails and paddling routes—with their mix of boreal forest, loon and eagle battles and dramatic weather are magnificent, but maybe not singular. The Northwoods supper club dining experience, however, is iconic.

Step Inside, and Back in Time

“What’s a supper club?” our guests often ask, intrigued by nostalgia that hovers around them. Each supper club exudes particular charms and personality, like a carefully curated antique mall booth. Taxidermy? Maybe. Mounted canoe? Perhaps. Stocked bar? Likely.  Expect to eat heartily. Expect to be patient—with the staff, and with the kitchen. With all that’s unpredictable, plan to settle into conversation and laugher with your loved ones.

Here’s a fun video to let you peek inside!

Supper Clubs Near Minocqua 

Each of these spots—between ten to fifty minutes drive from our property—offers good food and a distinctive ambiance.

Boathouse (Minocqua)
Norwood Pines (Minocqua)
Little Bohemia (Manitowish Waters)

Reservations are recommended during the summer, and often in the spring and fall too. How to dress, you ask? There’s never been a dress code that I could suss out. If you like to spiff up, this is your moment!

One hot tip: If you enjoy a cocktail, try one. My husband and I prefer a more alcohol-forward version of an old fashioned. If that’s you, may we suggest you ask for a Manhattan or a martini.

Craft Your Own Pickle Tray!

When we’re up north, we like to recreate the supper club experience and stay at home. With a little prep, we can whip up fresh lake fish or a Tomahawk cut of meat from nearby markets. We make our preferred version of an old fashioned. Then, there’s just the relish tray to conjure up. Some favorite recipes:

Traditional Lacto Fermented Dill Pickles, from Fermenting for Foodies
Garlicky Fermented Green Beans, from Fermenting for Foodies
Marinated Red Peppers, from Eugenia Bone’s book

Bonus: the kids have freedom to roam and play by the water.

Share Your Supper Club Tips!

Love to hear your favorite spots. And, if you’d like our thoughts on how to avoid a three-drink wait time, email stay@campkulisha.com!