Great place to stop for drinks in Elkhart. Â Always busy in summer (expected) but nice to stop in during winter too when it is less hoping with people. Â Â
Very laid back and casual vibe. Â Absolutely love the decor. Â The old school city signs add a unique touch. Â Â
Wide wine list and beer selection. Â Plus for the generous pours. Â Staff is knowledgable and always friendly. Â
Must say I recently tried the food and was kinda disappointed. Â Cuban quesadilla starter was decent but nothing mind blowing. Â Prosciutto panini and burger for entrees were lackluster. Â Panini's toppings were off (roasted red pepper on prosciutto with basil and mozzarella? Â yuck) and burger was overcooked and dry. Â Fries were tasty though - perfectly cooked and delicious. Â
Will obviously be back but might just reserve this place for drinks only now.
No one ever likes to write a negative review, especially for a restaurant that has been exceptionally well reviewed by others. Â On the other hand, my experience was not good at Lake Street, and when I try a new spot in my travels, I often review it. Â The menu looked particularly good online, and I was looking forward to dinner after a long drive from the northern part of the state.
I was a single, and it was apparent from the moment I walked in that they weren't too happy about that. Â The one hostess had reserved a nice table in the center of the restaurant for me, however, when I got there, the other woman, either owner or manager, said she would prefer that I sit at one of the high top tables right next to the video game machines. Â OK....Very shortly thereafter the large table next to mine filled up with 15-20 people, and I was boxed in making it difficult to be served, and uncomfortable as they were right on top of me. Â Additionally, it was amazingly loud --
Regardless, I ordered the goat cheese and beet salad -- it was fair. Â It was apparnet that the mandarin oranges were canned/jarred, and just not very good. Â The dressing was not well mixed into the salad, and overall, it was an average salad.
The flank steak sandwich was extremely good ... deliciously marinated and lots of it. Â That one dish would be the only reason I would go back -- insanely good.
By this time, the large group was partially at my table, and the waitress came over to ask me if I was through and ready to pay. Â I wanted coffee and and to see the dessert menu which I told her and asked to be moved to a different table, and she did. Â By now the restaurant was full, and there were possibly three wait staff plus the hostess and owner doing waitressing duty. Â Way too few staff for the number of diners. Â After waiting 20 minutes with no sign of the dessert I ordered, I decided to leave.
Obviously, as a single, I don't expect nor need as much attention paid to me as a larger group. Â I don't want to be treated shabbily however, and I was. Â
Am going to try the Paddock Club next door tomorrow night, and will compare notes.
This place is awesome, it's got great good, great atmosphere, and great servers. However, the bartender was more than unpleasant and made our experience uncomfortable. My boyfriend and I went in for a few drinks one night and got a spot at the bar. The bartender, I believe his name was Scott, was very rude and arrogant. His unfriendly attitude was a major turnoff for this place. There are plenty of other amazing bartenders in the area that would be grateful for our business. I am hesitant to return to the bar for my night out was plagued by the bartenders poor attitude.
Review Source:let me start by saying that we go to this restaurant once a year for a friend's anniversary. they were married and had their reception there 5 years ago. since then we have had the pleasure of dining with them annually for their anniversary.
there are two sections to this restaurant: the bar side that offers sandwiches and pizza. the formal dining room is on the other side. the bar side is much louder as is to be expected (they will have a live band from time to time, so check in advance if that is not something you would like to deal with). the formal dining room is a bit quieter, but it is not hard to hear the other tables if that is what you are trying to do.
that being said, i have never had a bad dinner there. the customer service is prompt. the drinks are well poured.
we started out with apps: escargot is one of our favorites, served in a white navy bean sauce that is literally to die for (Imported snails  garlic  shallots  butter  white beans  garlic crostini). i have never seen escargot cooked this way in the past and it is a treat especially considering i am not a bean fan by any means. the other app was a truly jumbo sized shrimp served with grits and some greens (Bacon grits | creole butter | arugula & gorgonzola salad). i didn't try it, but the other three at our table all said it was excellent. the only complaint was that it was $10 for 1 shrimp ... lol
you simply have to try the Lobster Bisque soup (Lobster bisque  touch of cream  cognac lobster medallions). they added a sampler to the menu, so you can try 3 of their soups if you are unsure of your selection. but do get the Bisque selection. you will not be disappointed.
we had the NY Strip, Lg. Filet, Rabbit and Salmon dinners on this occasion. not a single complaint. everything has such a nice presentation and the steaks and salmon were cooked exactly as ordered: a nice relief since both of the steaks were ordered rare.
their desserts are excellent. if you are a choc-o-holic they have a brownie with ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce from praline pecans. if you have a more varied taste try the creme brulee. you will not be disappointed with any of their desserts.
drinks and dinner for 4 will run you about $50 a person. so it is not cheap. however, based on my experience with excellent steaks on the menu, it is a competitive choice. the cuisine does have a French flair. expect sauces on every dinner, order them on the side if you are unsure. the server will help you out with the menu if you are unfamiliar with some of the terms.
the only downside to this restaurant is that it is an hour away from Milwaukee!
Every time I come to Elkhart Lake, I make sure I visit this place. The food is very good, the prices are reasonable, and the service is great! Scotty is one of the best, hardest working, and most entertaining bartender I've ever run across. This place makes the annual trip to Elkhart Lake just that much more enjoyable.
Review Source:Went in here after a day at Road America. They tried to seat us in the fancy room in the back but we quickly relocated to the bar to avoid issues. They had a good selection of food, beer, and whiskey. I had Lou's steak sandwich which was much better then i expected. The bar area got a little wild and started cheering every time someone came in the door which was pretty entertaining. Not sure if that happens every night but it was fun. Will be sure to come back every time i am in town.
Review Source:First, let me say that there are but a few restaurants in Elkhart Lake period. This was the only one open on a Monday night. The noise level in both the bar and dining room was deafening. My husband and I could barely hear one another. I found the menu choice unappealing. My husband settled on a burger and I got the chicken sandwich. The burger was juicy but my chicken breast was dried out. We both ordered the pasta salad as a side and it was inedible which was noted by the waitress but nothing was done to correct it. FYI, a reservation here is mandatory since the area has 3 large resorts and just a few restaurants. May give it another try next time in town or NOT.
Review Source:I was here to watch specific performers at the Midwest Acoustic Music Festival which was held at the small outdoor section of the restaurant. Of course it was busy and crowded the whole time I was there because of this as well as it being the regular tourist season.
I love the town itself. Â It was tiny, pretty and felt safe. The music was excellent, drinks were easy to obtain and the atmosphere was very down to earth and homey. Â Decor was suitable to the area and mismatched, although honestly, my ratings are always going to be based on the food quality and service and will never be because they have perfectly matched silverware or tasteful wall art.
The food. It was "ok". It wasn't bad but for the price, it wasn't exceptional either. Â I had the tomato derby crostini which was alright, the grilled salmon which isn't bad either but not very impressive for the price, and brownie with ice cream which was much better than I thought it was going to be.
Overall it's an alright place to hang out for a bit and eat. Â I wouldn't mind going back if I am ever in the area again.
We just vacationed in Elkhart Lake and Lake Street Cafe has exceptional food. Everything is home made and can be altered for vegan or gluten free. The pizzas, scallops, tuna and borscht are great. The main dining area is eclectic and very lively but they also have a quiet dining room. Ask for Katie she was a great waitress and very knowledgeable.
Review Source:I stopped in here for a late lunch on a Saturday. Â It was more than half full during this between lunch and dinner time, which tells me it's a popular place. Â The menu is extensive - I finally settled on a prosciutto and gorgonzola pizza. Â Very crisp and delicious. Â They also had terrific lemonade...not that icky powdered stuff, but the real thing. Â Wait staff was very nice, not intrusive, but there several times to check on me. Â Definately worth a return visit - often!
Review Source:"Scotty" says go to the Lake Street Cafe!
My husband and I found the place on our first visit to the tiny town of Elkhart Lake in early October 2011. It was the only place open in town, which was a lightning strike of dumb luck for us. The selection of fun local beers on tap is a great start to what is destined to be a great meal. We quickly became huge fans of the Cuban quesadilla appetizer. On two subsequent visits to Elkhart Lake, we have worked our way through about a quarter of the menu. Pizzas are amazing (even for Chicago kids like us!), the sandwiches are truly built with love and fresh ingredients, and the dinner menu features a steak with Boursin cheese and a shiraz sauce that my husband dreams about. Seriously, never before have I been to a place where I had so much trouble making up my mind on what to order. So far, home run after home run on the food.
The off-season seems to still produce a large crowd on the weekends, but arrive early, stake out a spot and watch the people for some real fun.
Oh, you're probably wondering, Who Is Scotty? We think he is the greatest and most hilarious bartender in Elkhart Lake! Â After only 3 visits to the town (and more than 3 meals at the restaurant), we feel like regulars: The entire staff is fantastic, but Scotty, Matt, and Lisa staff the bar with a midwest friendliness that is both rare and genuine. Best place to eat and drink in town, guaranteed!
This review is based on Chef Jason in the kitchen.
We stopped here to see the lake and based on reviews we saw on Yelp, decided to give the Lake Street Cafe a shot for lunch - I am so glad we did!
We started with soup - I had the smoked ham and lentil and was very pleased - real smoke flavor and nicely spiced. We then had the scallop appetizer with prosciutto - perfectly executed and very tasty. We then split the Elk Loin and what a treat - again perfectly executed with wonderful rice and a beet side. Last was the creme brulee - super luxurious and again perfectly executed.
The whole dining experience was top rate - the Cafe itself frankly was not up to the food - somewhat noisy and definitely not a "white tablecloth" restaurant - I'd give the ambiance maybe 3 stars. Our server was very pleasant with a killer smile. The wine list is extensive as are the beers and vodka, if this is your thing.
I was so impressed that I asked to see the chef and as I said, Chef Jason's palate made the meal memorable. Overall worth it to go out of your way. Bravo!
We had an excellent experience here last night. Fresh ingredients, local produce, properly cooked meats. It was the most flavor we had within a twenty-mile radius. The shiraz steak was as good as the recommendations we heard. While the adults sampled the excellent beer selection, the five sub-7-year old kids colored and were content. A great meal during a vacation to Elkhart Lake.
Review Source:In town for the Super Bike race, we were actually headed to the restaurant next door (which wasn't due to open for a few hours).
We stumbled into the Lake Street Cafe and were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and the menu. Â There is such a relaxed vibe about the place from the decor to the menu items. Â We stopped in relatively early and it was pretty quiet, which was nice. Â Our server was very attentive and we waited for nothing. Â She was knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions with her personal knowledge and not 'canned' answers or with what she thought we wanted to hear.
I had been craving a grilled cheese sandwich since my arrival in Wisconsin. Â I ordered the Three Cheese Grille and it was effing awesome! Â Three cheeses (hence the name), tomato, and pesto, a personal favorite that I'd never thought as an ingredient on a grilled cheese, made this one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Â I tried the homemade sweet potato chips on the side and they were not at all what I expected. Â Usually, homemade chips are heavy, greasy, and thick but these were so light, airy and sweet. Â The meal was superb. Â It was such a twist on a classic lunch. Â
My boyfriend ordered the Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper pizza. Â It was a 9-inch pizza and it adequately served him. Â The sausage came in meatball-sized pieces on the pizza which was different. Â I had a bite of the pizza and it, too, was delicious. Â The crust was light and tasty, crisp on the edges. Â
Though I didn't partake in any alcoholic beverages on this visit, I did look over the menu and was amazed at the extensive wine and beer list. Â I think if you can't find what you're looking for here, you're not going to find it anywhere. Â Oh, and vodka lovers, you're in luck! Â I believe they have about 80 different vodkas in house. Â
If you're looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon while in Elkhart Lake, look no further than the Lake Street Cafe. Â You will thank me in the morning :)
Ambiance: Eclectic is the name of the game for this establishment and I love it! Brightly painted walls in blues and yellows. The large mural across the wall opposite the bar is engaging. It is also stocked with vintage beer signs, clocks, lamps and other promotional pieces. The retro blue bar stools were awesome, soft and cushy and could still spin well. Each of the dining tables were adorned with cute, kitschy salt and pepper shakers. I loved the look of this place. Plus, everything felt so easy going and leisurely. I could have sat here all day and watched the hours tick by.
Beverages: Incredible wine list. I was overjoyed to discover they carried one of my favorite wines. Muscat Cannelli. No one ever carries this wine. Exuberance flowed through my soul as the bartender poured me one of the most gigantic glasses of wine ever. It was perfectly chilled and hit my tongue like a symphony. Additionally, the bar boasted a huge inventory of liquors and the tap and beer list was as impressive as the wine list.
Food: Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for any addictions you may acquire as a result of reading this review and trying this restaurant for yourself. Okay? So the boyfriend gave me a bit of an insider scoop on this place. The owner used to work at the Immigrant Room up in Kohler, branched out and opened this place. So I knew right away the odds of the food being outstanding was high. I was not disappointed. The food here could rival any restaurant in a large metro market, Chicago, NY, etc.
Lobster Bisque: I am having  convulsions of rapture just thinking about this. Creamy and rich with a nice aroma of shellfish and a dollop of crème fraiche.  It was like liquid silk running down my throat. If I ever become a leprechaun I don't want a pot of gold at the end of my rainbow, I want a pot of this Bisque. Seriously, this soup alone is worth the drive.
Duck Confit Tacos: I would like to rename these Duck Enlightenment. Buddhists can't even reach this level of being. These were one of the specials. Duck Confit wrapped in soft ethereal steamed Asian style buns and served with greens ( I believe it was arugula) and a nice thick soy style dressing. Biting into these babies was like biting into a cloud.
Lobster Spring Rolls: Outside is crispy and biting into one brings on an eruption of flaky goodness. The filling had some kick from the chilies and it was flavorful with nice pieces of sweet lobster meat. The flavors and textures melded together like an impressionist painting. It came with two sauces, one tasted like a sweet and sour chili sauce that packed quite a punch. The second a sweet and thick teriyaki type sauce, that helped soothe the tongue.
Three Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Gouda, Havarti and Provolone, on their own would be spectacular, but then they go ahead and gilde the hell outta that Lilly with the addition of pesto, tomatoes, and if you desire...bacon. And we did desire. All sandwiches come with your choice of sides, homemade chips, pasta salad, fries or grilled veggies. We got the veggies, and what a great choice that was! They were smoky and drizzled with a dressing that was delish! The veggies included, carmelized onions, Portobello mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini and a skinned tomato half. The sandwich itself was magnificent. One of  the best grilled cheeses I ever had. I was so full by the end of this meal I couldn't see.
Staff: We sat at the bar and the bartender was fabulous! Friendly, well informed, able to help us with any questions we had about everything. He was perfect, rolled up sleeves, bar towel at hand, ready to help us take a load off. He was a professional, not the hacks that pass for bartenders these days that's for sure.
Pointers: Ready for this? They have a photo booth. Â Get out of town? *word*. At some point during your visit you must go and goof around in it and take pics. So much fun. We giggled our heads off mugging for the camera and have a two photo strips to remind us of our perfect experience. Not that I'll be forgetting this meal anytime soon.
Lake Street Cafe is a fantastic restaurant not to be missed if you're in the area. They have a casual side as well as more dressy side, and both menus are available at each. We ate in the casual area with the kids.
The bar area was clearly popular, decor was great and it's very comfy and kid friendly.
The food was AMAZING! My hubby ordered the flank steak sandwich with fries and loved it. The kids ordered different burgers and were all pleased. Fries were great, but on the salty side. I ordered the chipotle chicken lentil soup... Spectacular! With fresh cilantro it was the perfect combination of flavors. I also ordered the sesame crusted seared tuna... the fish was super fresh with great color.
They also have a huge selection of beers and vodka that were presented inside an "Ugly Betty" CD case!
Don't miss this gem!!!!
Lake Street Cafe offers consistently good to great food! Â Â We have been frequent diners here for years and find it a great asset to the Elkhart Lake area. Â Their salads are always fresh and tasty and they have wonderful sandwiches. Â Â They also offer an extensive dinner menu and the choices are great, too.
I would give them 5 stars, but many times on the weekend nights it gets quite crowded and loud in their casual diningroom and with the acoustics makes it rather difficult to hear others speaking to you. Â But, that said, Â it is a wonderful place to go!
Lake Street Cafe is the "Can't Miss" when visiting Elkhart Lake . From a casual lunch or dinner indoor or outside or a romantic formal dinner for two, Â this is it.
On a recent visit My wife and I enjoyed a romantic dinner in the formal dining room. My wife ordered the scallop appetizer and I ordered the escargot cassoulet. The scallops were perfectly seared and the carrot slaw was the perfect complement. The escargot is prepared in a small casserole dish with garlic and white beans. Don't be tempted to dive right in as I learned that this dish is served 'hot from the oven" !
Our server, Colleen, was very well informed about the menu and when my wife ordered the red snapper she was told that it was a little spicy. It was perfect , as was my short rib special. We split a creme brulee sampler for dessert and left very full and satisfied. My wife even complemented the bartender, Scott, on making the best cosmo she has had in her life. WE WILL BE BACK!
Great casual atmosphere. We each started with a salad which they have a lot of unique varieties to choose from. The goat cheese was particularly good. We then each had one if the wood fired pizzas. Mushroom one is highly recommended.  I finished with the creme brûlée trio which was amazing and so generous in portion size that I couldn't finish it!
Review Source:Lake Street Cafe ROCKS!!!
The best food in Wisconsin hands down. Perhaps in the midwest. The sea scallops are seared just perfectly  for a crisp yet tender consistancy. Their salads and daily specials are amazing...have yet to dissapoint after going their most every weekend last Summer with a group of six or more. The wine list...amazing. Nick, the fellow that seats you doe's a fine job accomodating your requestas as does Lynne the owner. On race weekends be sure to make reservations as the place will be packed! Go and enjoy...you will not be dissapointed.
My husband and I were looking for a good meal pre-50 mile IceAge trail run (I know - insane). Being an admitted foodie, we thought we were not going to be able to find anything good in the area. The Lake St. Cafe was a diamond in the rough! What a fantastic spot! The food was absolutely fabulous, as was the atmosphere, wait staff, and the ambiance. Chef Ramsay would have approved! Â They did so many things right - you could have casual or fine dining food in either the casual sports-bar side or the white table cloth, quiet, more formal side - no stuffiness or rules.
The food spoke for itself - we had the lobster spring rolls, the goat cheese/pecan salad, rack of lamb and the pheasant special, along with some fabulous Argentinian Malbec. The lamb was especially delicious - finger licking good! What a great place!
Lake Street Cafe really impressed me. Â Their menu was creative and extensive. Â My husband and I ordered the olive tapenade, basil and feta toasts for appetizers, which we washed down with a couple of freshly tapped beers from local small breweries. Â The tomato artichoke soup was delicious, as was the beet salad. Â The salmon sandwich my husband ordered could have used a kick to it, but the ciabatta it was served on was excellent. Â The place is large and open, letting in a large amount of natural light. Â The decor, I suppose, could be described as film kitsch. Â There's also outdoor seating if you're in the mood to dine alfresco. (Note - place is closed Sunday and not open for lunch on Mondays.)
Point off for having a beer of the month with no discount. Â (Right, it's supposed to be a dollar off of a pint, otherwise what's the point of having a beer of the month?) Â And then their 'formal' dining room was rather baffling. Â There's a small low-ceilinged area off to of the side designed in lavender, lilac prints, with odd purple acoustic triangles hung from the ceiling. Â Maybe it's for folks that are offended by bars...
What looks like a typical Wisconsin bar really surprised me the other night when it served up food that would rival some of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Â Lake Street Cafe is a bit of a study in contrasts.
Upon entering the front door, you find yourself in a large bar area pretty typical of Wisconsin, complete with a pool table, video games and every kind of Elkhart Lake memorabilia imaginable (including a giant arrow sign which intrigued me most of all). Â The long wood bar takes up the entire side of the room with tables and chairs scattered about. Â The bartenders are friendly, they have a wide variety of beer both on tap and in bottles (several regional brews) as well as a very surprising wine list.
Turns out- after asking- that this place won Wine Spectators award of Excellence for three years running. Â Who knew?
At the end of the bar is another room which is where I had my biggest surprise. Â You'll find a dining room complete with white table cloths, candles, amazing martinis and wines and food that was absolutely delicious ( and this was served to a group of 55 so no small feat to get all those plates out there!)
We started with bruschetta and baked brie encroute. Â I'm a big Brie fan so you know that these little puffs filled with brie and onion and topped with a smidge of green apple and a port wine reduction were high on my favorites list.
Next up? Â The Lake Street Salad. Â So good with baby grens, roasted red and yellow peppers tomatoes and olives all topped with a tomato basil vinaigrette.
Finally, for our entree's we had a choice of 5 or 6 things off of the menu. Â I chose the orchiette con carne. Â Can I just say that everyone at my table wanted my dinner. Â This pasta dish with Italian sausage, beef ragu, fresh basil, mozzarella, Parmesan and a touch of cream is one of the best tasting dishes I have had in a long time.
The menu carries a wide range of chicken, beef, pasta, fish and even pizza. Â There is also lighter fare of soups, salads and sandwiches. Â They also have a children's menu for those of you who might be traveling with little ones.
You have to check this place out the next time you are in Elkhart Lake. Â Surprising and delicious. Â What a great combination!
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