Wilson’s restaurant is a Door County staple located in the village of Ephraim. We look forward to our lunch at Wilson’s every time we head to Door County. If you’re looking for a classic diner experience, Wilson’s restaurant is worth a visit. Wilson’s has been a beloved spot in Door County for over a century, and it’s not hard to see why. Wilson’s is a true gem, from the friendly staff to the delicious food and retro ambiance. This gets a 5-star for the whole experience, from the old-school diner feel to the classic food and feeling you get. We hope you find our Wilson’s Restaurant review helpful!
We took our toddler to Wilson’s for lunch on a recent summer day for our most recent visit. The weather was warm and sunny, but we opted for an indoor booth with a high chair. The patio outside can be pretty busy and a tight squeeze, so we wanted to make sure we had some space for our wild guy. Wilson’s can have a wait during the busy season, especially for the patio, which is first come, first serve. If you’ve got the time or there are open tables, we highly recommend eating on the patio. You can see the water from most of the tables, which is always a nice view of Eagle Harbor. Indoors usually isn’t a long wait to get a table if you don’t mind sitting inside.
The restaurant is on the highway, so you can’t miss it. There’s also some nice public space across the street on the water to enjoy an ice cream treat from the counter. Wilson’s restaurant does not have a dedicated parking lot, but plenty of street parking exists. Our secret is to park in the lot by the playground, which we never noticed until last year.
Service
The service at Wilson’s is always great. The servers are very attentive, and the food comes out fast. Everyone is always friendly, and the staff at the ice cream counter is always raising money for their tuition with the colleges they are attending written by the tip jar. During our last stop, our toddler interacted with some of the kitchen staff. As he looked around, he caught the guys working through the window into the kitchen. They started to play peek-a-boo and wave at him, which made his day.
They have some crayons and items to color for the little ones, but our favorite part is the Wilson’s hat. No, he did not want to wear it for more than a second, but he enjoyed seeing the pictures afterward of himself in the hat.
Food
We’ve visited Wilson’s several times over the years and settled into our favorite meal we both order when we go. We each get a root beer float and their homemade rootbeer. This is a delicious start to any meal on a nice day, and it’s suggested to pace yourself so that you have some of it left as you finish your meal for a good dessert. The root beer float comes in a frosted glass and is a few scoops of vanilla in the delicious root beer.
For our meal, we both get the patty melt with fries. There’s an extra touch to the patty melt at Wilson’s restaurant: the addition of American cheese with the usual swiss. They always deliver on quality with nicely grilled rye, patty, cheese, and fried onions. We suggest adding a little salt to the fries when they come out, and the server will leave you with ketchup and mustard.
Our toddler got the grilled cheese, a bit above the standard homemade grilled cheese. He enjoyed it with his fries but had his eyes on our root beer floats, so he always sampled those.
We have tried other dishes at Wilson’s over the years, and several others are good. The classic cheeseburger is just that, classic. It makes you feel like you’re eating in a 50’s diner with retro music, jukeboxes, and decor. Many people order nachos, which would not have come across our radar at a classic diner. The plate is always piled high and looks delicious.
Since we have the root beer floats with our lunch, we skip the ice cream for lunch. However, we have been back at night to enjoy waffle cones with ice cream. There are always tons of flavors to choose from, and the waffle cones are huge to ensure you get a large treat. It’s a nice end to a fun Door County day to grab some ice cream and wander along Eagle Harbor.
Drinks
There are no alcoholic drinks at Wilson’s, but substitute some of the homemade root beer, and you’ll be happy.
Hopefully, you find our Wilson’s Restaurant review helpful!
