Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Wisconsin

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Wisconsin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cafe Manna

4.9

4.9 (875)

$30 and under

Vegetarian / Vegan

Brookfield

About the restaurant

Café Manna is one of the first 100% vegetarian restaurants in Southeastern Wisconsin. We are committed to bringing you fresh, “made from scratch” delicious food. We have produce delivered daily to ensure our dishes are fresh and full flavored. Many of our ingredients are locally grown and chosen for seasonality. Additionally, we use a reverse osmosis water purification system. Café Manna was the first restaurant in Wisconsin to reach the 3-star Green Restaurant Certification level. We have been the Open Table "Diners' Choice" award winner, and also the "Best of Milwaukee" winner for best vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free restaurant. Our fresh menu features many vegan, gluten-free and raw dishes and our specials change up every 2 weeks. Visit us during the summer to enjoy patio dining, or indoors for a more intimate experience. Our friendly staff is ready to serve you!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Love Cafe Manna!!! Our service was excellent! We had the crab cake appetizer - a definite favorite! My husband had the Thai peanut cauliflower and it was delicious!!! I had the vegan fire roasted eggplant Parmesan, which was outstanding (should be considered for a spot on the regular menu) very fresh ingredients and delicious!!!!

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Thai Peanut Cauliflower

Opus at The Belfry House

4.9

4.9 (217)

$50 and over

French American

Lake Geneva

About the restaurant

Indulge in an exquisite dining experience at Opus, where the art of culinary finesse takes center stage. Immerse yourself in a world of gastronomic delight with our meticulously crafted 5-course or 7-course tasting menu.

At Opus, each plate is a canvas, expertly painted with a harmonious fusion of flavors, textures, and colors that dance on your palate. The culinary journey is a celebration of creativity and innovation, elevating your dining experience to new heights.

Primarily a dining venue, Opus is also a destination amongst many wine enthusiasts. An optional wine pairing featuring innovative and world-class wines from our award-winning wine menu is also available for each course.

Our intimate limited-seating dining room and the culinary delight it serves will surely leave you feeling transported to a small European town.

Top review

BradW

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

Incredible food — innovative … excellent service … pricey yet a unique dining experience

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Experience

5-Course Tasting Menu

Experience

7-Course Tasting Menu

Fat Belly

4.9

4.9 (56)

$31 to $50

Asian

Sister Bay

About the restaurant

Sushi, Ramen, Poke and more!
Fat Belly offers classic Asian cuisine with a twist. The only restaurant in Northern Door County that you'll find these flavors.
Come dine with us in our newly remodeled indoor or outdoor dining rooms. We offer a great selection of beer, wine and sake.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

Don’t let the name or “off the main” location and small footprint fool you. Every app and roll we tried here was on par with the best mid-west sushi and ramen restaurants. It beats many on the coasts. We had three of the four offered apps and a specialty roll. Each was balanced, distinctive and delicious. Favorites? Maybe the dim sum and Kung Fu-ngus! Fat Belly’s was a delight of clean fish, nuanced sauces and careful presentation. Pork ramen, a few deep fried specialty rolls and vegetarian options add choices for anyone that doesn’t want raw fish. We will be back. Thank you.

The Melting Pot - Appleton

4.6

4.6 (322)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Appleton

About the restaurant

Proudly serving the Appleton area for 20 years, completely remodeled with a full bar with burners, lounge tables, firewall, lover's lane and private dining rooms.
Our experience is perfect for a romantic night out or a special occasion that deserves a unique experience. Our location provides a casually elegant, intimate atmosphere. The relaxing four-course experience begins with a cheese fondue prepared table side. A fresh salad follows while your entrée pot heats up. You’ll simmer a variety of tantalizing meats, seafood and vegetables. Entrees can be cooked fondue style or one our tableside grills. Each morsel is hot, fresh and delicious and all entrées are accompanied by an array of dipping sauces to add to the flavorful fun. Chocolate fondue is the finale.
Thank you for supporting our independently owned restaurant and employees.

Top review

Dale

Dined on Aug 20, 2024

Food and dining experience was excellent as always.

Third Coast Provisions

4.6

4.6 (1332)

$50 and over

Seafood

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Third Coast Provisions is a modern American restaurant & oyster bar featuring Chef Andrew Miller's seafood driven cuisine that is inspired by Midwestern sensibility. In addition, we focus on utilizing produce and meats from local purveyors that showcase the best that Wisconsin has to offer.

Top review

Nancyvip

Dined 4 days ago

We had a wonderful dining experience at Third Coast Provisions. We were a group of 5, all were very pleased with our attentive service as well as the quality of the entrees. My husband has dinig restictions and Allergies, and the Chef made him a special entree meeting every concern and it was spectacular! The server was delighful, very attentive and fun! She made the evenoing even more special!

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4.6

4.6 (755)

$31 to $50

American

Wauwatosa

About the restaurant

VOTED BEST NEW RESTAURANT BY MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE'S READER'S CHOICE

With our appreciation for modern American cuisine and a motivation driven by locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, we invite you to share our food and admire the simplicity in culinary art. Our name, which translates to Fire+Ice, offers inspiration in all that we do.

Spend some time together, share something new, and enjoy the opportunity to connect. Eldr+Rime is about gathering at the table and sharing a meal with the people that are important in your lives.

For parties of more than six guests, please call the restaurant at (414) 867-9200.

Dinner Monday through Saturday evenings
Brunch Saturdays and Sundays 9a-2p starting
Happy Hour featuring half priced oysters offered Tuesday through Friday 4p-6p in our bar area.

Top review

Tom

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Sahara was outstanding in her table service. When we arrived, there were only a few people there and the music volume was elevated. She graciously reduced the sound so we could have a good conversation on my wife's birthday. And thanks for the birthday dessert.

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Popular dish

Ahi Tuna Tartare

Experience

Eldr+Rime Thanksgiving Day Feast

Don's TV & Repair

4.4

4.4 (1414)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Located in the back of Don’s Grocery & Liquor is the former Don’s Diner now turned speakeasy. Disguised as a TV repair shop we welcome you to come grab some drinks and TV Dinners. Serving Boozy Shakes and Retro-Cocktails. We are in the business of repairing the need for a good drink and a great burger! In our effort to keep providing enjoyable experiences we are taking necessary steps for health safety. We want to ensure the health safety of our staff and guests each night.

Reservations recommended, walk-ins are accommodated with limited seating. Call Ahead for Large Parties 7+ or join the waitlist here on OpenTable!

Top review

Patti

Dined 2 days ago

What a great place to celebrate or just a fun night out. We celebrated my mother's 87th birthday!

The Red Oak Restaurant

4.3

4.3 (978)

$30 and under

American

Kenosha

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Red Oak Restaurant, we are available for dine-in and patio seating as well as curbside pickup. If you would like to order for pickup please call 262-857-8588.

We specialize in carefully prepared local and seasonal cuisine served in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Firmly rooted in southeastern Wisconsin, The Red Oak celebrates the richness of the area by crafting dishes and drinks from locally grown produce, humanely raised animals, and locally produced artisanal cheeses, beers and spirits.

Top review

Sandra

Dined on Aug 22, 2024

We had a large group. Our service was amazing. Food was awesome.

SafeHouse

4.0

4 (651)

$30 and under

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Offering refuge to spies national and international since 1966, SafeHouse is Milwaukee's best-kept secret. This iconic, hidden restaurant & bar is a blast for agents of all ages. Spies must find the red door and pass a fun clearance test if they do not know the password required for entry. Once behind the red door, spies will find authentic espionage artifacts, pop culture references, a disappearing booth, a secret exit, and more. Enjoy a fun night out in Milwaukee, or a covert daytime mission for the family at this kid-friendly, spy hideout. SafeHouse offers venue space for agents looking to celebrate special occasions, birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and group events. Grab your fellow spies to enjoy award-winning cheese curds, solve recon duties, and learn about SafeHouse's history. Find the red door if you accept this mission, Agent!

Top review

Tom

Dined 4 days ago

The magician was mind blowing and so was the food!

The Social American Tavern

3.5

3.5 (84)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Wisconsin’s strong heritage of family-owned and small farms is reflected in The Social’s seasonal menu. We offer farm-inspired American food, prepared with local and sustainable ingredients obtained from a 200-mile radius. Traditional, rustic Wisconsin ingredients are given a modern interpretation by adding creative flavor combinations. Our mission is to serve honest, local ingredients, with informed service, in a comfortable setting.

Top review

MarciaC

Dined on May 31, 2024

We were at The Social as part of MKE downtown dining. The elote soup and the arugula salad were both very good. I was there with a party of four. We each had a different one of the entrees and we all pronounce them very good. I was surprised however that the sloppy joe sliders were actually better than the buttermilk chicken sliders. For dessert most of us had the Strawberry Shortcake and of course that was good too. Overall a very pleasant dining experience and the service was very good also.

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Experience

Happy Hour

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