Progress

Section 4 . Community & Leisure

Dining

PROGRESS 2013 • February 20, 2013 17 entrees. The location and name has changed over the years, but guests continue to visit Schreiner’s Restaurant for food that’s as good as Grandma (Grandma Schreiner, that is) used to make.

Important Dates in our History: 1938 Regina and Albert Schreiner open a restaurant called The Grill on North Main Street in Fond du Lac on July 13. First day sales total $65.

1940 The restaurant relocates to South Main Street, and is now called Schreiner’s Home Cooking.

Schreiner’s Restaurant

Serving Comfort Food for 75 Years Now in their 75th year of business Schreiner’s Restaurant, at the intersection of Highways 41 and 23, has never strayed from its roots. The Grill, as it was originally named, began serving comfort foods in 1938 during the great depression, and many of the recipes from those early years are still in use today. As times change, new generations of diners find comfort in different menu items, and Schreiner’s has always offered menu items to reflect changing tastes as well.

The current menu combines traditional comfort foods with the comfort foods of the current generation. Selections ranging from Grilled Pork Chops to Deep Fried Cheese Curds, from Liver and Onions to Buffalo Wings, share space on the daily menu. The restaurants’ popular Torke’ Coffee exists side-by-side with Guinness on draught or a Chocolate Martini.

While founder Regina Schreiner probably never envisioned the Quiche-of-the Day or a Beer-of-the-Month, her recipe for New England Style Clam Chowder remains a staple at the restaurant, so popular that it’s even available at breakfast.

Continuing daily features combine the comfort foods of multiple generations. These regular features include: Monday: Roast Loin of Pork Tuesday: Stewed Chicken and Dumplings

All-You-Can-Eat Wings

Kids Eat Free after 3:00 p.m.

(with adult entrée) Wednesday: Ham Loaf

All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Thursday: Spare Ribs and Sauerkraut

Burger Night Friday: Batter Fried Lake Perch

Macaroni and Cheese Saturday: Lamb Shank

Boneless Short Ribs of Beef Sunday: Butter Baked Chicken With the recent opening of Bernie’s Pub Schreiner’s has added the crowd-pleasing feature, Pub Happy Hour, and has also created a Pie Happy Hour which entices diners to visit during the afternoon to enjoy freshly baked pies in their signature hand-rolled flaky pie crusts. Multiple generations enjoy one, or both Happy Hour programs. Pub Happy Hour offers $1 off any drink from Bernie’s Pub from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Pie Happy Hour offers $1 off each slice of pie from 2:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday through Sunday.

As times change, tastes change; and yet some things remain the same. Pumpkin Pie, which is baked on a daily basis, has always been the top selling dessert at Schreiner’s.

And Hand-Breaded Haddock Fillets, a longtime entrée, is the top seller on the menu.

Each generation has its own idea of what constitutes Comfort Food, but every generation can find their own Comfort Food at Schreiner’s.

Historic photos remind guests of Schreiner’s 75 years in Fond du Lac Visitors in the lobby of Schreiner’s Restaurant can’t help but notice a 4 foot by 8 foot

collage depicting the early years of the restaurant’s existence. Grainy photos taken of The Grill, as the original restaurant was called in the 1930’s, and Schreiner’s Home Cooking, as it was called in the 1940’s, serve to remind guests that this is a restaurant with a long local history.

The Grill, at the intersection of Main and Johnson Streets, was the original location operated by Regina and Albert Schreiner. Funded by a loan from Regina’s father, when Albert lost his factory job during the Great Depression, The Grill opened its doors on July 13, 1938. Revenues from the busy first day of operation came to $65.

The success of The Grill soon prompted Albert and Regina to relocate, and Schreiner’s Home Cooking was opened at 237 South Main Street in 1940. By 1946, seating at this location had expanded to 190, and the line of customers often extended out the door and down the block. It was during these years that Regina developed many of the recipes she was known for. A trip out East inspired her to experiment with clam chowder recipes and Schreiner’s Famous New England Style Clam Chowder was born.

In 1953 Albert and Regina sold their restaurant and embarked upon retirement. Their son Bernard, who had been helping with the family enterprise, moved to Marinette WI. There Bernard and his wife, Maureen, opened Schreiner’s Restaurant, which they operated until 1968.

In 1955 Albert and Regina were lured out of retirement when a motel developer convinced them to open a restaurant to complement his motel at the intersection of Hwy 41 and Grove St. There the Schreiner’s trademark light-blue-and-white color scheme was adopted. In 1968 Bernard moved back to Fond du Lac to take over some of the duties at the restaurant. In 1971, when property became available at the intersection of Hwys 41 and 23, Bernard knew the time was right for one more relocation. The current Schreiner’s Restaurant opened on March 15, 1973. Grandma Schreiner, as Regina became known, retired in 1976.

In 1992, Bernard made the decision to retire and sell the restaurant to long-time manager Paul Cunningham who began his Schreiner’s career in 1969 as a 15-year-old busboy, and his wife Joan. The current management team consists of the Cunninghams and managers Michael Schaefer, Nathan Haupt, and Marcia Haupt. This management staff has a combined 122 years of employment at Schreiner’s.

A 2011 remodeling and redecorating project increased Schreiner’s seating capacity, created a more open concept in the coffee shop and dining room, and added an entirely new element to the Schreiner’s experience. Guests now have the option of dining in a cozy new Irish Pub, Bernie’s Pub, which serves the full Schreiner’s menu along with a separate Pub menu. While the restaurant has had a liquor license since 1973, visitors can now enjoy beverages ranging from Guinness on draught to champagne.

Today 500,000 guests per year travel from all over Wisconsin and beyond to enjoy fresh bakery products and homemade soups and

1953 Albert and Regina embark upon retirement.

Their son Bernard and his wife Maureen move to Marinette WI and open Schreiner’s Restaurant.

1955 Albert and Regina come out of retirement to open a Schreiner’s Restaurant adjacent to a motel along Hwy 41 in Fond du Lac. The trademark blue-and-white color

scheme is born.

1968 Bernard and Maureen return to Fond du Lac to help Regina with her duties here.

1973 Schreiner’s Restaurant moves to the intersection of Hwys 23 and 41, the current location.

1992 Bernard Schreiner retires and sells his restaurant to long-time Manager Paul Cunningham.

2011 Bernie’s Pub opens, providing bar seating and additional dining space with the atmosphere of an Irish pub.

100 staff members, 28 of whom have worked there for over 20 years, continue to give the professional service that has been an important part of Schreiner’s from the start.

Paul and Joan Cunningham, Michael Schaefer, and Nathan and Marcia Haupt make up the current management staff, and continue the restaurant’s tradition of involvement in, and dedication to, various community and state organizations.

The location and name has changed over the years, but after 75 years the commitment to quality food and professional service in a clean and friendly environment remains as strong as ever at Schreiner’s Restaurant.

Linstrom’s awarded for

excellence in food service Linstrom’s Catering is proud to announce that they have been awarded another five-year contract as exclusive caterer and food service provider for the University of WisconsinFond du Lac! For nearly 11 years, Linstrom’s Catering has catered successful events from collegiate and business meetings to elegant weddings and fund raising banquets to strolling dinners and hors d'oeuvres events on campus. To be awarded this contract is an honor, and speaks to the hard work and dedication to an excellent product. It also substantiates Linstrom’s as an important part of the Fond du Lac community now and for years to come.

With nearly 30 years of experience (13 in the Fond du Lac and surrounding areas), Linstrom’s has enjoyed a great relationship with their employees and their customers. Owners Dave and Heather Linstrom has been blessed to raise their family here, grow a business and make great friends, all while doing what they love to do….cater great food in a first class presentation at affordable prices.

Linstrom’s offers wonderful menus for all different events from breakfasts, to brunches, boxed lunches to lunch buffets, dinners, themed dinners and strolling station hors d'oeuvres events, either delivered and set up with a casual flair, or offered with full China set up, linen and black tie service. Linstrom’s Catering can customize to your menu style and price point.

Linstrom’s has won many awards through the years in the area, including many first place trophies for dishes at Taste of Fond du Lac, to Readers Choice Best Caterer seven separate times in the Reporter and Actions Adver-

tisers competition.

Linstrom’s has built our reputation through word of mouth, or, more accurately, by what we have prepared for the mouth.

“We like to be creative, but traditional all at the same time,” says Heather Linstrom, coowner. “We like to take traditional delicious food and present it in a new and creative way.

That is what sets us apart, that is why people call us after they have been to an event or wedding. They want that for their own party, for their son or daughter’s wedding, or as a way to impress their own clients at their corporation. It’s important to stay within their budget. We respect the price point, we know people might think that catering is expensive. It doesn’t have to be that way! We enjoy pleasing our clients and making the catering process no matter how casual or formal an enjoyable stress free experience!”

Linstrom’s also caters to the special dietary needs such as vegan, gluten free, diabetic, allergies-these are all becoming more and more prevalent in the world of food.

Heather Linstrom will be more than happy to sit down with the bride, groom and family at a tasting to come up with great ideas and answer any and all questions. With David Linstrom at the helm, Linstrom’s will also set up a corporate catering no matter how large or small with just a click of the button to their facebook page or through e-mail.

Book today for onsite events and off site catering by calling 929-0404 or e-mail fdlcater@gmail.com.

Linstrom’s Special Occasion Catering • Beautiful Weddings, Showers & Rehearsal Dinners • Creative Menus from Hors d’oeuvres to Dinners & Sweet tables • Specializing in outdoor weddings • Special room for bridal showers available!

• Full elegant black tie service, china, linens & theme weddings available • Wedding & event planners on staff at no additional cost!

• Banquet Facility “Most beautiful in Fond du Lac” seats up to 400

1st Place in all 4 categories at the Taste of FdL! “You helped make my day perfect!

My guests are still raving about the food!

And all within my budget!!”

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