The joys of dining al fresco

Dining al Fresco

Outdoor options abound for summer-loving diners

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

One of the most pleasurable summer activities is having a great meal while dining outdoors on a beautiful day.

In the southern Wisconsin area, there are many opportunities to dine al fresco where one can enjoy the ambience of the beautiful scenery with a lakefront view or a quiet sequestered patio.

This year being outdoors and enjoying time with friends and family has a special meaning. After several months of social isolation, while trying to control the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is looking for some safe and enjoyable social interaction.

If you are ready to journey out and enjoy a tasty meal with family or friends, while soaking up the summer sunshine, here are a few of Spirit magazine’s favorite places for outdoor dining. MARS RESORT W4098 S. Shore Drive Lake Geneva, WI • 262-245-5689

Located on the south shore of Lake Como, Mars Resort has been a favorite place for great food, unique drinks and a beautiful lake view. Inside dining is in the traditional Wisconsin supper club fashion. Known for their special Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, which were so popular in the supper club era, many diners begin with a cocktail reminiscent of the past.

Inside a panoramic view of the lake can be enjoyed, as there are windows on three sides of the building. A huge rectangular bar looks out onto the lake and local pianist Will Ulrich entertains diners on Fridays at the separate piano bar.

From Thursday to Sunday, diners are often asked if they would enjoy an afterdinner cruise on the lake. If there are 10 people interested they will be given a ride on the Mars Resort 45-foot Pontoon boat – a relaxing way to end the evening and enjoy the beauty of the lake.

The outside dining area is where the true beach feeling is enjoyed by visitors. With three decks of seating on three sides of the building, there is a marvelous view of the water and sunsets.

The front outside deck just holds four tables. Here the full Mars Resort menu is served. The other two decks are the more casual beachfront style, offering a special beach menu. There are several choices offered on this menu.

“The favorite always seems to be the ribs,” shared owner Scott Pohl. “The grilled jumbo shrimp are another popular choice. Each basket is served with chips and cole slaw.”

Outside seating is first-come, first-served. According to Pohl, if you see an empty table, it is yours, no reservations needed.

Weekends feature live music with a variety of local musicians entertaining the diners on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. They play a variety of calming and relaxing types of music.

The Mars Resort Pontoon is also available as a rental for private parties. The boat, which holds up to 30 guests, can be rented for $295 for one hour or $495 for two hours. An ala carte menu serving pasta, shrimp or other items can be arranged on the boat for an additional fee. Or one can just order a beverage bar to enjoy on the cruise.

Tables have been placed to encourage social distancing and both chairs and tables are sanitized between use.

Mars resort is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

To really enjoy the beach feeling at Mars Resort, consider a ride on the 45-foot pontoon boat for a complete view of Lake Como.

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LOOK OUT EATERY Lake Lawn Resort 2400 Geneva Street Delavan • 262-728-7950

Located at Lake Lawn Resort, the Look Out Eatery provides both indoor and outdoor seating along the shore of Delavan Lake. With two miles of shoreline owned by the resort, the outdoor seating of Look Out Eatery offers a fantastic unobstructed view of the lake.

Arrive at Look Out Eatery by automobile or by boat. Parking for autos is available in the resort’s parking lots or boat over and leave your boat at the dock.

The Look Out is open daily starting at 8 a.m. They serve breakfast until 11 a.m. At 11 they begin serving lunch and dinner fare and continue until 10 p.m. seven days of the week.

Breakfast selections include such items as apple crisp French toast, custom omelets, and pancakes although items may change on a daily basis.

The lunch and dinner menu is traditional pub food with true to Wisconsin roots. Fried

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Charcoal Grill in Burlington offers these tables outside with a beautiful view of the Riverwalk and the White River. Enjoy a relaxing time with a friend in the beautiful outdoors enjoying a tasty meal; In addition to a covered pavilion, there are open seating tables where diners can enjoy lunch at the Whistle Stop in Elkhorn; Diners at the Look Out Eatery at Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan, have a choice of enjoying eating outdoors or remaining inside. Safety precautions including thorough cleaning of tables and servers wearing masks are carried out throughout the resort.

cheese curds, chef style Buffalo wings and the traditional Friday fish fry are among the popular items. Traditional hamburgers along with Reuben sandwiches and Chimichangas add a variety of choices for the diner.

More traditional dinner items such as ribeye steaks and St. Louis style ribs also grace the menu. Something is available for all palates.

Like the rest of the Lake Lawn Resort, the Look Out Eatery follows recommended cleaning and safety precautions to protect against COVID-19. Tables are spaced and cleaned with disinfectants. Masks and gloves are worn by all servers. Whether one comes for the food or the view, the combination will make for a perfect, relaxing time.

THE WATERFRONT ON BROWN’S LAKE 31100 Weiler Road Burlington • 262-763-9989

On the shore of Brown’s Lake in Burlington, the Waterfront Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor dining at its best during this summer season. The Waterfront has been present on the shore of Brown’s Lake for the past 20 years with both indoor and outdoor seating.

In summertime, the outside seating is the favorite of many diners. Capable of handling about 130 diners in normal times, the number now is much less due to social distancing.

“We have spread out the tables for safer distancing and are doing more sanitizing to keep germ free,” said Tanya Peterson, manager. “Our servers wear masks.”

The restaurant typically offers two different menus during the year, a winter and a summer menu although some items seem to remain on the menu all year round. These include the pizzas, hamburgers, and a large variety of appetizers. Their fried chicken, a year round favorite, is available Tuesdays and Sundays and of course there is a Friday fish fry.

Whether enjoying a salad, sandwich, or one of the full dinners, there is bound to be

a choice on their menu that will please your taste buds.

The Waterfront on Browns Lake is known for live music out on the patio from Memorial Day through Labor Day. They offer a variety of music including rock, jazz, blues and swing and many others. Jeff Trudell, That Sax Guy, Collins County and The Fourcast are but a few of the bands scheduled at this time. Visit the website – thewaterfrontbrownslake.com – to view the complete schedule.

Music is played on the stage overlooking the patio on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 5-9 p.m. and Sundays from 3-7 p.m. THE CHARCOAL GRILL AND ROTISSERIE 580 Milwaukee Avenue Burlington • 262-767-0000

The Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie is located in downtown Burlington along the Riverwalk with a great view of the White River. The restaurant offers seating indoors as well as outdoors.

The restaurant from the outside resembles the old Burlington train station. Inside, the restaurant is decorated with memorabilia from the days when America traveled by train. Some photos have been provided by the Burlington Historical Society.

The outdoor seating provides a view of the Riverwalk along with the view and relaxing sound of the White River as it flows by. The patio, according to manager, Steve Meyer, seats 50 to 60 patrons.

“All our foods are wood grilled,” replied Meyer when asked about the types of foods on the menu.

The menu is large and provides a wide variety of choices. Among the choices that are popular are the Wisconsin favorites, walleye fingers, jumbo cheese curds both in Spotted Cow beer batter. Other items such as the soft pretzel bites are served with a Spotted Cow cheese sauce as a dip.

The grilled steaks, ribs, and the rotisserie chicken are favorites for dinner. While the various sandwiches and wood-fire pizzas are enjoyed at all times.

To protect customers, the Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie has spaced out tables in the outdoor space and use disinfecting cleaners. All employees wear masks.

The Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie is open daily from 12 to 8 p.m. WILSON’S WHISTLE STOP 406 S. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn • 262-723-2919

Wilson’s is a name synonymous with highquality meats. From the pork raised on the Wilson farms to the sausages made in house and high quality steaks available for purchase here, shoppers are always pleased with what they purchase. Many of the meats are cut to order for the customer.

A few years ago, Wilson’s began providing a special treat for customers when they opened to serve outdoor lunches for shoppers during the summer. They began to grill a variety of their brats, hamburgers and ribs so that shoppers could stop for lunch. The outdoor space across from the Meat Market was converted into this summertime outdoor casual dining area.

They had plans to this year increase their lunch fare with the addition of a small inside restaurant and increased menu offerings. The pandemic caused a slight delay in their opening but Wilson’s Whistle Stop has now made its appearance.

“We have increased our lunch menu to include our butterfly pork chops, beef brisket and ribs cooked on our outdoor grills along with the traditional bratwursts, and hamburgers,” said Justin Corman of Wilson’s Farm Meats. “Add our potato salad or smoked macaroni and cheese for a great combination. A variety of side salads are also available. Don’t forget to save room for a piece of one of our delicious pies.”

They also serve beer, wine, Pepsi products, and flavored bottled iced tea.

Meals are ordered at the counter and then enjoyed at tables outdoors. They can seat up to 100 guests during normal times but due to the pandemic and the need for distancing, they now serve about 50 to 60 patrons at a time. They continuously sanitize all touchable surfaces with disinfectant, and maintain a 6-foot distancing between customers. All staff wear masks.

For those coming to lunch on Saturday between noon and 3 p.m., live music from local bands will perform while they eat.

Current plans are for the Whistle Stop to remain open year-round with limited indoor seating.

Wilson’s Whistle Stop is open on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday

One of the best places to enjoy a meal is on the patio at The Waterfront on Browns Lake in Burlington. In addition to the outdoor lake setting, the Waterfront offers live music on Tuesdays. Saturdays and Sundays.

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Located on the square in downtown East Troy, the outdoor patio of the East Troy Brewery is the place to enjoy outdoor eating on a fine summer day.

Imagine sitting outside and enjoying one of the 13 craft beers brewed on site while you visit with friends. Add some appetizers, hot honey BBQ wings, baked Brie and smoked raspberry jam, or BBQ nachos. Or share one of their unique pizzas, such as the white truffle pear pizza.

Their pub menu with a twist includes a variety of offerings in the “Texas eclectic style” of the chef. In addition to these and other unique appetizers, they also serve a variety of lunch sandwiches and salads.

“We have had some outdoor entertainment for customers to enjoy and hope to be able to add more in the future,” said John Turner, manager.

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