Menominee and Marinette Restaurants

SCHLOEGEL'S BAYVIEW RESTAURANT
(906) 863-7888

Casual and family-oriented, Schloegel's is a local institution, a gathering place for service clubs, a kaffe klatsch, a big after-church crowd, and the first stop for many summer visitors heading north. (It's pronounced "SHLAY-gulls.") Window-walls right on Green Bay put customers in touch with the beauty of the water, birds, sky, and weather. Other draws are fresh local whitefish, and an in-house bakery with breads, rolls, and pies (made with fresh fruit in season, around $2.50/slice). These are also for sale at the bakery counter. Breakfast is served any time, except that specials are over at 11 a.m.
Schloegel's has a big menu with changing daily specials for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The idea is to stay with comfort foods infused with trends and optional bolder flavors and sauces — say, fresh whitefish with Key West seasonings; or ancho chili sauce on the best-selling Reuben; wraps and rollups, and fresh fruit salads with vinaigrettes. Still, traditional items like a wurst dinner with German potato salad and sweet-and-sour red cabbage will likely be around forever.
Schloegel's iis especially known for its Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and grilled ham (around $6.50 at breakfast); locally famous raisin bread (often shipped as a gift; search "Schloegel's Bayview" online);good New England clam chowder; potato pancakes, and liver and onions. Schloegel's soup and sandwich menu is offered any time. Lunches are mostly $5 to $8, dinners generally $8 to $12. Dinner includes salad, roll, appropriate starch, and vegetable. Prices go up ever so slowly; ribeye steak tops the menu at around $16. Special diets are accommodated by request. No smoking.
The asphalt path and benches along the bay behind the restaurant are open to all.

On the north side of Menominee at 2720 10th St./U.S. 41 on Green Bay, just south of the AmericInn and Econo Lodge. Open daily year-round except Christmas and Thanksgiving, Mon-Sat 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Central Time, to 8:30 in summer. Wheelchair-accessible. Children's menu. No alcohol.

THAI CUISINE
(906) 863-6188

This modest, friendly little Thai-Chinese place has a big takeout business, and 13 tables for eating in. From-scratch cooking with fresh vegetables wins praise from some discriminating cooks. The chef and co-owner is Thai herself. Fans of Thai food should order it hot here, otherwise it comes mild, geared to local tastes. Thai classics like lemongrass soup are available, and hot and sour soup, too. Pad Thai (rice noodes with sprouts and shrimp) is a favorite. Chinese stir-fries have long been an element in Thai cooking; here customers can have mixed vegetable stir fries with a choice of meat. (Chicken would be about $7.) Meat-and-potatoes types will probably be happy with dishes like garlic beef or shish-kebob or steak and jumbo shrimp. There's lots for vegetarians. Typical price of a dish is $6 to $7.50 at lunch and $8 to $10 at dinner.

462 10th Ave. just west of downtown Menominee, a block or so east of where U.S. 41 turns near the Interstate Bridge. Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Central Time. Closes for vacation 7-10 days in late fall or winter. Wheelchair-accessible. No alcohol.

SERVING SPOON CAFE
(906) 863-7770

European bistros were the inspiration for this very popular café and espresso bar in Menominee's downtown historic waterfront district. Its front porch and deck overlook the park and marina. The original owners, two former Lutheran ministers, have moved on. Today's owner, Tammy Nelson, has made even more of their format of fresh, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee drinks, and desserts in a congenial, smoke-free meeting place. Vegetarians can eat well here; so can hamburger eaters. No deep-fried fare, however.
    The signature item is a portobello mushroom sandwich with sundried tomato pesto on a sundried tomato focaccia roll ($7). Another favorite, especially in summer, is chicken salad with almonds and dried cranberries on a croissant ($6 with blue chips) or as a salad with muffin ($7). A breakfast standout is a Greek omelet with fresh spinach and toast (around $6).

1821 First St. in downtown Menominee. (906) 863-7770. Open daily except holidays, year-round, from 7 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. Sat & Sun. Closes at 3 p.m. Sun & Mon. Other days open evenings to 8, to 9 in summer. Wheelchair-accessible. No alcohol.

THE LANDING
(906) 863-8034

The Landing is the perfect combination of reliably excellent food food and a great setting. It’s in a historic building in downtown Menominee. Big windows overlook the harbor, the lighthouse, and an island. Ron Berg is the second-generation owner-chef. Specialties include a thick New York strip steak with garlic-bourbon sauce ($22) and many kinds of seafood. The menu features steak, chicken, veal, and seafood, often prepared the continental way, but a vegetarian could also be quite happy here, too. Childen’s menu available. Most dinners are from $12 to $22. No smoking in dining room. Reservations recommended, especially in summer.

Downtown Menominee at 450 First St. Open Mon-Thurs 5-9 Central Time, Fri & Sat to 10, Sun 5-8. Wheelchair-accessible. Family-friendly. Full bar with extensive wine list.

LAUERMAN HOUSE BAKERY AND COFFEE SHOPPE/LAUERMAN HOUSE B&B
(715) 732-7800

In early 2005 Jean Moore-Mallory, proprietor of the M&M Victorian Inn, purchased the Lauerman House B&B for multiple use as a retail bakery, lunch spot, banquet facility, and an overnight inn. It's on Riverside Avenue, a street of impressive homes overlooking the Menominee River – close to downtown and good for walking. The house, dating from 1910, is a grand affair, with two-story columns. Coffee-drinkers can cozy up to the fireplace in the parlor and enjoy delicious croissants, tartes and other pastries, cookies, and such – prepared the French way, with few short cuts. Starbucks is the coffee of choice here. This is the third location for Jean's bakery, which retails the same soup-salad-sandwich format. No smoking on the premises.
    Rooms at the inn are air-conditioned, with TV and internet access. Weekend rates are from $70 for a small room to $165 for a suite. Weekdays are less. B&B guests might want to inquire about banquets taking place during their stay.

1975 Riverside Avenue, about 2 blocks west of downtown between Hattie Court and Hattie Street. Restaurant hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call to confirm. Not wheelchair-accessible. Well-behaved children welcome. Handicap access: at least 5 steps in front. Call.

MICKEY-LU'S BAR-B-Q
(715) 735-7721

Mickey-Lu's has achieved cult status by sticking to the basics with distinctive quality ingredients and by not changing much since the late 1930s. Mickey and Lu (for Lucille) Brodzinski built this small place a couple years after they first opened their diner. Hamburgers and bratwurst are grilled over a bed of charcoal in full view, prepared with showmanship, put in a sliced hard roll with a pat of butter, and briefly toasted on the grill.
Everyone looks happy to be here: owner Chuck Finnessy, who works some shifts himself; his teenage cooks and wait staff; famiies dropping in for a quick bite; a group of high schoolers crowded into booths, chatting and laughing long after their food has been devoured. They all seem to appreciatee it that this is a special place in the age of heavily promoted fast-food franchises that are just a few blocks away out by the mall.
When the father of Chuck's stepfather bought Mickey-Lu's in 1959, he added a few things, including bratwurst and the jukebox with 45 rpm records. (It still works!) Bratwurst required sharp mustard, which has become a favorite condiment for the hamburgers, too. For the morning crowd, there's coffee and sweetrolls, or a fried egg or ham or cheese sandwich, or an order of ham and eggs with toast.
Prices seem to be from another era, too: currently $1.60 for a burger, $1.80 for a brat, $2.30 for an old-fashioned malt made with hard ice cream. Staying open late makes Mickey-Lu's even more of a gathering spot.
For the ultimate Mickey-Lu's appreciation, Google "Mickey'Lu's" and
"Marinette, Wisconsin." It's mentioned on several blogs. the "jdlr.com" one has outstanding photos and a menu.

1710 Marinette Ave./U.S. 41 at south side of residential area. Look for neon sign. Open Tues-Sun 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at least, to 12:30 on weekends and in summer. Handicap access: tight quarters and restrooms. Call ahead for carryout.

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