We’ve tried our fair share of dinner spots in all the various villages in northern Door County. We have enjoyed them all, but a few places stand out and keep us coming back for more every time we visit. A few of these are perfect for a nice date night out, and some are just for the atmosphere. Here are our top Door County Dinner recommendations!
Top Deck
We recently wrote up our full review of Top Deck which will have more details on the food and full experience. This is our top choice when we’re looking for a date night in Door County. If you can arrive before 5 to get a drink during happy hour, that’s the perfect way to start. The bar is set up perfectly to sit and enjoy the drink while looking over the bay. If it’s nice, ask for a plastic cup and take the drink to the patio. When it’s time to eat, the menu has plenty of delicious options, and the view from each table is perfect. We’ve never had poor service and always leave happy.
They offer carry-out, which we have taken advantage of when we have our toddler. We were able to place our order, enjoy a drink outside, and let him run around while we waited.
Fireside
We visited the Fireside when they were initially in Ellison Bay, and they continue to deliver in their new location in Egg Harbor. Everything we’ve tried has been delicious, with a family favorite being the door county ribs. Located right on the main street in Egg Harbor, it’s not hard to miss the Fireside. We’ve had some great times enjoying a pre-dinner drink at the beer garden at One Barrel and then heading over to the Fireside for dinner. If it’s nice, they do have a number of tables available for outside dining. The dining room is also very nice with great servers always around.
Fireside also offers carry-out, but the order needs to be placed during non-peak times. What worked best for us was to order around 4:30 and pick up at five before the dinner rush.
Wild Tomato
The Wild Tomato sure has grown since its start in Fish Creek, and for a good reason. Their wood-fired pizza is delicious. The variety of specials or build-your-own offers plenty of options for the whole family to pick from. We really enjoy the monthly specials (donation creations), as they have some amazing options. One of our favorites had blue cheese, bbq, and pork, and we always hope that it comes back when we’re in town. When that’s not available, the green and gold is always a favorite, with the cheese curds right on the pizza. Don’t forget to order a side of the ranch, as it’s perfect for dipping the crust in at the end of the slice.
During peak season, there can be a considerable wait at both locations, even for carry-out. This is one of the most popular spots in Door County. We prefer the Sister Bay location as it’s right off the beach. Both offer outdoor seating and have space indoors. The beer selection is always solid, with great beers on tap or in a can. When carrying out, they offer beer to go if you need a few for at home or set up for a picnic by the beach.
One of our favorite times to eat Wild Tomato is waiting for the movie to start at the drive-in. We place our order and then head over to the drive-in. Don’t forget the napkins and plates!
Boathouse by the Bay
We’ve spent a ton of time in Door County, and only recently did we finally try the Boathouse on the Bay. During 2021 on a trip in early may when restaurants were still closed, this was one of the options close to our house in Sister Bay. So keep this in mind if you are visiting off-season, as not everything is open. Our go-to dish is fried shrimp. Their shrimp are huge and remind me of eating down in Florida. They have a perfect amount of light breading coating these monsters. Fries are the main option, but if you’re feeling it, we suggest upgrading to the regular mac n cheese as your side. The seating here has great views if you get a table on the lower level patio, but the best ones are upstairs overlooking Sister Bay. Parking can be tough right outside, but there is plenty of parking in the marina lots behind the restaurant.
They also offer carry-out, but only during non-peak hours. Be sure to call ahead (we suggest around 4pm) to confirm.
Chop
Chop is a special restaurant for us as we found it during our honeymoon. Their original location was tucked behind the Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay, and it was a very intimate meal. Since then, they have built a huge building right across the street from the beach (now next to the huge hotel). They’ve got plenty of seating indoors and then have tables outside in front and on the second-floor patio. They take reservations, and we’d highly recommend this during the busy season.
Get there early and grab a drink at the bar. They make a unique old fashion where they smoke the glass before mixing the rest of the drink, and it gives it a great flavor. Once seated, they have some reasonably priced bottles of wine to enjoy with your meal. If you’re able to stop in on a Monday, they run a Surf and Turf special, and we highly recommend the scallops with the bacon jam.
Others
Of course, there are plenty of other dinner stops in Door County, and no, we have not hit them all. These are a few others that we’ve tried and liked or have heard are good and just haven’t gotten to try yet.
- Old Post Office (we enjoyed their fish boil)
- Jamaican Door
- Caseys BBQ
- Loft in Fish Creek
- Wickman House
