Best of La Crosse County 2016: Food & Drink

Best of La Crosse County 2016: Food & Drink

Dining in La Crosse has come a long way from simple pub grub (though of course we still have plenty of great options in that department if it’s what you’re after). The area offers more options in ethnic, family, and fine dining every year, and now we have gastropubs, farm-to-table fare, and even a couple of food trucks. Oh, and bars? We still have a few of those. Here are your favorites in just about every food and drink category you can think of. Congrats to all the big winners.

Bar: Overall

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 27.7%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 26.2%
  3. The Old Crow – 21.0%

Brewery / Brewpub

  1. Pearl Street Brewery – 65.3%
  2. Turtle Stack Brewery – 14.5%
  3. City Brewery – 12.1%

College Bar

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 43.7%
  2. Brother’s Bar & Grill – 17.8%
  3. The Library – 15.5%

Dance Club

  1. Coconut Joe’s – 29.6%
  2. Sawtooth Sam’s – 20.9%
  3. Shooters – 16.6%

Downtown Bar

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 27.6%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 22.3%
  3. The Old Crow – 19.8%

Neighborhood Tavern

  1. Bluffside Tavern – 26.4%
  2. Recovery Room – 23.6%
  3. Arterial Bar and Grill – 23.1%

Rural Bar

  1. Red Pines Bar & Grill – 34.4%
  2. Leo & Leona’s – 27.9%
  3. Fox Hollow Golf Course & Banquet Hall – 14.4%

Sports Bar

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 45.0%
  2. Features Sports Bar & Grill – 19.0%
  3. Buffalo Wild Wings – 15.4%

Wine Bar

  1. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 35.2%
  2. JavaVino – 22.1%
  3. Wine Guyz – 21.8%

Beer Garden

  1. The Charmant Hotel – 30.0%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 24.8%
  3. Stolpa’s Stein Haus – 21.6%

Pub Trivia

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 33.6%
  2. Nutbush City Limits – 19.8%
  3. Flipside Pub & Grill – 18.0%

Karaoke

  1. All Star Lanes – 28.0%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 19.9%
  3. Brother’s Bar & Grill – 17.5%

Cocktails

  1. The Starlite Lounge – 42.5%
  2. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 16.3%
  3. Digger’s Sting – 15.7%

Bloody Mary

  1. Del’s Bar – 46.6%
  2. Ardie’s Restaurant / Flipside Pub & Grill – 14.0%
  3. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 13.8%

Bottled Beer Selection

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 55.8%
  2. Golden Tap – 14.0%
  3. The Old Crow – 10.6%

Tap Beer Selection

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 37.9%
  2. Golden Tap – 26.5%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 16.3%

Wine List

  1. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 33.0%
  2. Wine Guyz – 23.7%
  3. JavaVino – 16.5%

Happy Hour

  1. The Starlite Lounge – 37.4%
  2. Howie’s on La Crosse – 19.8%
  3. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 18.9%

Bartender

  1. Austin Clarke, Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 26.7%
  2. Eric “Guido” Lemon, John’s Bar – 22.1%
  3. Pete Mohm, Snuffy’s – 17.4%

Restaurant: Overall

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 23.3%
  2. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blues Lounge – 21.3%
  3. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 21.2%

Barbecue

  1. Big Boar Barbecue – 49.2%
  2. Famous Dave’s – 18.8%
  3. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 15.3%

Chinese

  1. China Star – 27.1%
  2. Hunan Chinese Restaurant – 26.0%
  3. Bamboo House – 16.8%

Ethnic

  1. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 32.2%
  2. Hmong’s Golden Eggrolls – 27.2%
  3. Iguana’s Mexican Street Cafe – 22.3%

Italian

  1. Ciatti’s Italian Grill – 27.3%
  2. Kate’s on State – 20.4%
  3. Kate’s Pizza Amore – 18.3%

Japanese / Sushi

  1. Shogun Sushi & Hibachi – 38.7%
  2. Sushi Pirate – 22.6%
  3. Bamboo House – 18.6%

Mediterranean / Middle Eastern

  1. Gracie’s Gyros & Wraps – 52.5%
  2. Golden Tap – 20.1%
  3. Big Mama’s Gyros – 15.2%

Mexican / Southwestern

  1. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 34.9%
  2. Fiesta Mexicana – 20.6%
  3. Iguana’s Mexican Street Cafe – 19.4%

Pizza: Dine-In

  1. Kate’s Pizza Amore – 25.6%
  2. Big Al’s – 22.9%
  3. Pizza Corral – 19.4%

Pizza: Delivery / Take-Out

  1. Papa Murphy’s – 21.9%
  2. Pizza King – 19.4%
  3. Pizza Corral – 18.9%

Vegetarian-Friendly

  1. People’s Food Co-op – 45.3%
  2. The Mint – 17.8%
  3. Hackberry’s Bistro – 17.0%

Gluten-Free

  1. Hackberry’s Bistro – 26.0%
  2. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 21.9%
  3. The Mint – 20.0%

Farm-to-Table

  1. People’s Food Co-op – 34.4%
  2. The Mint – 22.6%
  3. Apothik – 12.2%

Restaurant Chain

  1. Culver’s – 41.2%
  2. Texas Roadhouse – 23.5%
  3. Olive Garden – 12.6%

New Restaurant

  1. The Old Crow – 31.3%
  2. The Charmant Hotel – 27.6%
  3. The Breakfast Club & Pub – 20.7%

Family Dining

  1. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 30.5%
  2. Hungry Peddler – 21.1%
  3. Ardie’s Restaurant / Flipside Pub & Grill – 15.9%

Romantic Dinner

  1. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 24.6%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 20.6%
  3. The Charmant Hotel – 19.0%

Supper Club

  1. Digger’s Sting – 30.3%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 26.0%
  3. Schmidty’s Bar & Grill – 14.7%

Upscale Dining

  1. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 30.2%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 21.4%
  3. The Charmant Hotel – 19.8%

Caterer

  1. Big Boar Barbecue – 29.9%
  2. Pogy’s Catering – 26.6%
  3. Premier Catering – 13.8%

Food Truck

  1. Apothik – 29.9%
  2. Big Boar Barbecue – 26.6%
  3. The MOB Stop – 13.8%

Salad Bar

  1. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 40.8%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 26.4%
  3. Schmidty’s Bar & Grill – 13.3%

Chef / Cook

  1. Chris Roderique, Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 32.6%
  2. John Temp, Freighthouse Restaurant – 23.8%
  3. Jake Mclees, Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 15.9%

Waiter

  1. Mark Wuensch, Freighthouse Restaurant – 22.8%
  2. Billy Poehling, Freighthouse Restaurant – 21.6%
  3. Shawn Weary, Digger’s Sting – 18.8%

Host

  1. Liz Wuensch, Freighthouse Restaurant – 22.8%
  2. Laurie Beeskau, The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 21.6%
  3. Corinna Todd, Red Pines Bar & Grill – 18.8%

Bakery

  1. Linda’s Bakery – 46.6%
  2. Addiecakes – 20.8%
  3. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 14.4%

Breakfast

  1. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 23.6%
  2. Rosie’s Cafe – 23.1%
  3. Nutbush City Limits – 18.5%

Brunch

  1. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 41.3%
  2. The Charmant Hotel – 15.8%
  3. Drugan’s Castle Mound – 14.9%

Burger

  1. Burger Fusion – 33.9%
  2. Howie’s on La Crosse – 21.9%
  3. The Old Crow – 19.8%

Cheese Curds

  1. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 23.8%
  2. Pettibone Boat Club – 23.7%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 21.2%

Fish Fry

  1. Red Pines Bar & Grill – 24.3%
  2. Syl’s Place – 22.5%
  3. Houghton’s Fine Food & Cocktails – 19.8%

Sandwich / Wrap

  1. Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwiches – 33.7%
  2. Lindy’s Subs & Salads – 26.8%
  3. Jimmy John’s – 17.0%

Seafood

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 26.6%
  2. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 22.0%
  3. Red Lobster – 19.3%

Soup

  1. Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwiches – 33.4%
  2. Panera Bread – 22.9%
  3. Hungry Peddler – 14.1%

Steak

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 30.6%
  2. Digger’s Sting – 24.4%
  3. Texas Roadhouse – 20.0%

Tacos

  1. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 27.4%
  2. Iguana’s Mexican Street Cafe – 22.2%
  3. Fiesta Mexicana – 20.9%

Burrito

  1. BA Burrito Co. – 34.5%
  2. Burrachos – 19.4%
  3. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 18.2%

Tapas

  1. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 63.7%
  2. JavaVino– 7.8%
  3. Grizzly’s Grill & Saloon – 7.1%

Wings

  1. Buffalo Wild Wings – 30.8%
  2. The Sports Nut – 22.1%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 17.4%

Dessert

  1. The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Coffee House – 62.9%
  2. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 12.9%
  3. Freighthouse Restaurant – 8.8%

Ambience

  1. The Charmant Hotel – 31.1%
  2. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 23.4%
  3. Freighthouse Restaurant – 15.8%

Outdoor Dining

  1. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 35.1%
  2. Huck Finn’s on the Water – 23.5%
  3. Pettibone Boat Club – 18.9%

Pet-Friendly Restaurant

  1. Pettibone Boat Club – 31.2%
  2. Red Pines Bar & Grill – 23.6%
  3. Stolpa’s Stein Haus – 17.4%

View

  1. The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 37.2%
  2. Pettibone Boat Club – 20.6%
  3. The Charmant Hotel – 17.6%

Coffee / Tea Shop

  1. Moka – 29.2%
  2. JavaVino – 22.3%
  3. The Root Note – 17.9%

Candy / Ice Cream Shop

  1. The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Coffee House – 49.5%
  2. The Sweet Shop – 22.4%
  3. Ranison Ice Cream & Candy – 17.3%

Grocery Store

  1. Festival Foods – 46.9%
  2. Woodman’s – 26.6%
  3. People’s Food Co-op – 17.0%

Butcher Shop

  1. Holmen Meat Locker – 55.6%
  2. Festival Foods – 19.5%
  3. Timmer’s Meats (St. Joe’s Country Market) – 8.7%