Traveling can often make us work up an appetite. This is a good thing since we love showing you unique locally-owned spots to dine. Our trip from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin took a little longer than we expected. By the time we arrived for our lunch, we were famished. That was okay because the dining destination we had planned serves up hearty dishes for hungry visitors. As we arrived at Boat House Pub & Eatery, we were ready for our first taste of Kenosha. With an itinerary packed full of exploring, we knew we were in for a couple of exciting days.
We want to thank Visit Kenosha and Boat House Pub for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.
Making New Friends
When we visit a new city, we enjoy meeting some of the staff from the Visitors Bureau. On this trip, we were able to meet up with Meredith and Laura from Visit Kenosha. These two ladies would fill us in on all of the great sights we would be found throughout the city. We had arranged to meet for lunch on a weekday since it would mean the restaurant wouldn’t be crowded. Our seating allowed views of the nearby marina, which helped put us into a maritime mood. While Crystal chatted with our new friends, I wandered the restaurant checking out the nautical decor. By the time I returned to our table, it was obvious that I was holding up our lunch. The ladies had ordered a starter of Ocean Waves, which are fried ribbons of potato, served with Ranch Dressing.
Getting Her Greens
Time to get down to meal selection. As we nibbled on our first taste of Kenosha cuisine, we pored over the menu. With four people at the table, it offered a chance to showcase more dishes than we would normally feature. Crystal took this opportunity to select from the greenery portion of the menu. The Chicken & Fruit Salad is a colorful plate filled with pineapple, mandarin oranges, and cranberries. These are piled on a bed of mixed greens and topped with a sliced, crispy chicken breast. It was definitely the first of many picture-perfect dishes to arrive at our table.
Nautical Nibbles
Meredith went for the Yacht Club, which is the Boat House version of a Club Sandwich. Smoked turkey and hickory smoked bacon are the stars of the dish. Toss on some Wisconsin Cheddar and you get some tang mixed into the flavors. (We would be finding a lot of Wisconsin cheese on this trip.) All of this is piled on a Ciabatta roll, which makes for a delightful presentation. A side order of crispy french fries rounded out her meal.
Aye, Aye Admiral
We love it when we visit a restaurant that finds interesting ways to present classic dishes. Over the years, we have sampled many steak sandwiches, with too many being unimpressive. The Boat House kicks theirs up a notch with beautiful presentation. Laura chose Admiral Steak Sandwich, which is built on a pretzel roll. Tender tips of filet are mixed with sauteed mushrooms and grilled onions. Another nod to the french fries made me think they must be a delightful side choice. Our first taste of Kenosha was turning out to be quite a success.
Go Big or Go Home
Who could come to the shore of Lake Michigan and not try some local cuisine? It looked like it was up to me to sample some of the fruits of the fisherman, so I went for it all. Walk the Plank is a chance to sample plenty of Michigan classics all in one meal. The star of the show is Parmesan Crusted Walleye served on a wood plank. These filets were light and flaky, just as I had imagined. My meal was accompanied by potato cakes, which are a dish that we don’t find in Kansas very often. A bowl of the house Cole slaw added extra color and flavor. There was even a small dish of their applesauce to sweeten the deal. By the time I finished, there was no question that my hunger had been squashed.
Our First Taste of Kenosha
With a couple of days of dining and exploring ahead of us, Boat House Pub made a good start. Our first taste of Kenosha had certainly whet our appetites to see more of what this lakeside city had to offer. We said our goodbyes to Meredith and Laura and started off on our way. With daylight burning, we wanted to make sure we made the most of every minute. We were sure that there would be plenty of other delectable meals awaiting us during our visit. Our hope is that we can spark your desire to sample some of the interesting eateries that are found all over North America.
