Best Restaurants in La Crosse
La Crosse, a charming city nestled along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, is a culinary gem waiting to be discovered. This city is home to a diverse array of restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience that caters to a variety of palates. From upscale dining establishments serving gourmet cuisine to cozy cafes offering comfort food, La Crosse has it all. This article will guide you through the best restaurants in La Crosse, highlighting their specialties and what makes each of them stand out. Whether you're a local or a tourist, a foodie or a casual diner, you're sure to find a restaurant that will satisfy your cravings and provide a memorable dining experience.
The breakfast club & pub
4.5
(1518)
Playful eatery featuring a 1980s vibe & John Hughes movie–inspired menu for breakfast & lunch grub.
Reviews:
Totally worth the wait on a Sunday morning! It took a while to get the food once we were seated as well but it was packed so that's to be expected. Hot coffee kept us going as did '80s videos and the movie Weird Science! The food was hot and delicious very flavorful fluffy omelette and good toast. I would totally go back!
Anne Williams
Tired of the hotel breakfast fare we ventured out for something local and found this gem! Casual, ‘80’s Breakfast Club themed with friendly servers and outstanding food. The corned beef is house made and definitely worth the price.
Diane
Came here for lunch with my wife, four daughters, and youngest brother. The service was friendly and fast. We ordered a variety of dishes and they all looked and tasted great. They have a Bloody Mary special on Fridays that include free bacon and this bacon is cooked to, what I consider, perfection. Thick cut bacon. The best thing about this place? It's themed around the 1980s movies. The place is named after the movie, it has menu items based off movies, and décor of vinyl records and posters. I would highly recommend trying this place out.
Billy Xiong
We were so excited to find this unique spot. Love the John Hughes/80s theme! Our server Emily was very nice, and gave some good suggestions. I ordered a breakfast sandwich with sausage patty on a croissant, and a side of hash browns. It was all so delicious! I had a tasty cappuccino too. My sister had the Farmer Ted, and a side of French toast. It seemed like no time passed between ordering and food arriving at the table. We looked for Waldo while we waited. Photos were taken part way through eating; we were so ready to dig in!
Tammy Bayer
Our family loved finding this restaurant- food was great and atmosphere was fun.
Daniel Goldberg
214 Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
Buzzard billy's
4.6
(2882)
Casual brick-walled eatery with Cajun-Creole fare & a 1950s-style cocktail lounge upstairs.
Reviews:
Buzzard Billy’s was a great stop for lunch and is located right in downtown La Crosse! The blackened catfish was AMAZING!!! The fettuccine Alfredo was really delicious as well. I don’t know what all was in that Alfredo sauce but it was damn good! Our waitress was super nice and friendly and the food came out quick! Very nice and fun little place with a cool atmosphere!
Kayla Thonesen
The Blackened prime rib was fall apart tender with the best flavor. The bacon wrapped jalapeño shrimp was superbly done with spicy bacon jelly on the side. Blackened cat fish was good. We will be back.
Andrew
Buzzard Billy's came recommended by the bartender at Pearl Street Brewery just up the road and boy did she know what she was talking about! From the time we walked in the door to the time we walked back out the door, the experience was top notch! Service was genuine, friendly and welcoming and the food was out of this world delicious!! Hubby had the Cajun Combo with the addition of dirty rice and he was blown away by all the flavors and portions! We've been to Louisiana and didn't have food this good, these folks totally know what they're doing! I had the Ca C'est Bon (Saw-Say-Bon) and I swear it was the best meal I've ever had in my life! The Cajun catfish is phenomenal and the sauce that the fried potatoes soak in is worthy of awards! The bread is a slice of heaven, all buttery and crunchy, fresh and soft but that corn... wow... what's with that corn... so good!! There are two other locations of Buzzard Billy's, both on our travel map journey if we're ever in the area. I sure hope we get back to this location some day because I will forever crave this meal!
Cindy Pealstrom
Nice service and really nice atmosphere. I ordered the blackened shrimp salad. Its probably not the best place to go for salad, but the shrimps were very tasty. Aside from that it was a very plain salad with store-bought dressing that came in a sealed bag. Probably wouldn't order it again.
Fabi
Excellent choice for a flavorful meal. A grand menu full of Louisiana treats and burgers, full bar. Get the bread pudding. Staff is phenomenal, and atmosphere is old town cool.
Avery Stylist
222 Pearl St, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
North country steak buffet
4.6
(2711)
Casual, kid-friendly American buffet featuring steaks & burgers cooked to order, plus Sunday brunch.
Reviews:
Great service- be warned you have to stand in like while they make your entree/choice of meat. The line was ridiculous when we were there, so I filled up on what was available buffet style. My husband had a Ribeye and was happy. The line does move fairly quickly as long as there aren't tables of 12 everywhere and people ordering multiple entrees for kids, etc....then you're gonna wait. They do offer boasted chicken on the buffet and a Taco bar that you can help yourself too. Basix buffet food. Nothing blew my mind.
Raychel R
Amazing staff!!! Attentive and kind. Only place I eat while traveling across state! No judging my food choices lol on a diet :-) world class experience 10/25/23 more photos added
Tim Central Point Investigations
A very nice looking restaurant with a good choice of food. For a buffet type of restaurant the service was fundamentally sound and the staff were approachable.
Josh Welch
I recently had the pleasure of dining at this buffet restaurant, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. The steaks were truly awesome, cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The employees were attentive and courteous, which made the dining experience even more enjoyable. Their dedication to ensuring a pleasant meal was evident throughout. The variety and quality of the food options were perfect. It's an ideal place for both lunchtime and dinner, offering something to satisfy every palate. I highly recommend this restaurant for a delicious and satisfying dining experience!
Caglar Ozd
Always great to go here with family, plenty of options for food, and one of the only places that gets me a medium-rare steak when I ask for it. Very friendly staff. Try the ribs, they are amazing. EDIT: Just the fact that NCSB is very prompt in reading and replying to reviews, is a good sign to me. They take the time to go over customer feedback, and seriously care about your own experience in their restaurant!
Christopher Hartkopf
2526 Rose St, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA
Schmidty's bar & restaurant
4.4
(1073)
Burgers, steaks, a salad bar & other familiar American fare in unpretentious surrounds since 1955.
Reviews:
Honestly for the reviews on this place I would have thought of it as better food. Or appetizers we ordered deep fried pickles and poutine. Pickles tasted fishy but way better than the poutine, I believe my poutine was microwaved with the curds and the gravy was from a can. Nothing great! I ordered the bourbon street steak, all I can say is never again. Bun wasn’t even grilled I swear they microwaved it with the cheese and the fresh hoagie was nothing but, almost believe they microwaved this in a separate bowl with sauce and then brought to my soggy yet trashy roll and threw some fresh greens on top. Will I come here again… No My wife ordered some crab burger, she wasn’t impressed, they did sear her bun… impressive! Throw the microwaves out! train or get some good cooks please. At minimum learn to cook! Pictures included, wish I had a pick of delivery
Budvb
Good old fashioned's, excellent food, and good service. They have a nice soup and salad bar. But our reservation was at 7:30pm and the soup was almost gone - just broth. I had the Schmidty's seasoned rib eye. It was done perfectly and had a good char and excellent flavor. My husband and grandson had the prime rib, which was done just the way they asked, and it was very tender.
Judie Suleski
What a fantastic meal we had here. Great salad bar, the crusted chicken pasta was excellent. Really loved all the different flavors of the dish. We travel with our dog and with their outdoor seating they were very welcoming. It was very evident that the locals gather here by listening to them greet one another as they would come and go. Always a positive sign when the locals are there and the parking lot is full. When going through La Crosse it is well worth your time to get off the Interstate and eat here.
Mark Preston
Place is always packed and good meals. Would highly recommend.
Alex Mcgowan
Beautiful old fashioned supper club setting with absolutely delicious food--had the roast beef lunch buffet and I don't think I've ever had better. The Server was helpful, friendly & quick even with a table of 7 with separate checks. I will be coming back here again!
Cliffe Lawton
3119 State Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
Le chateau
4.7
(398)
French classics & imported wine presented in a historical house with warm, upscale dining rooms.
Reviews:
This is a fantastic restaurant in a historic house in La Crosse, Wisconsin, serving French cuisine. The four of us had a wonderful meal with excellent service. You can also roam the house to view the beautiful craftsmanship.
Zuege Doug
We ate in the bar separate from the dining room. Everything was really delicious. Cocktails and mocktails all rocked!
Sarah Wenzel
Excellent experience. I recommend making a reservation and coming before the reservation to enjoy drinks downstairs in the Cave. The Elk and Ribeye were excellent. The Cinderella drink was fantastic, too. The desserts are amazing, you have to try them!!!
Mai Cif
WOW! We actually had drinks at Le Cave in le cellar of Le Chateau and it was charming and magnificent! The vibe was so classic and chill like a scene from a movie! The barkeep was a gentleman and a scholar; a true professional with great mixology skills and knowledge of the history of the house. He made a scene that was already magical, that much better. Our drinks were perfectly executed and we enjoyed them so much we returned the next night to do it all over again! This time we ordered small plates and discovered that you haven't had French onion soup until you've had it made by a French Chef with a very old recipe; it was fantastic! We then ventured upstairs to discover the magnificent architecture and fantastical interior design elements. The house is worth a visit just to see it; both the exterior and the interior. We will be returning as soon as possible!
Tony Lillie
I was very disappointed in my meal after having high expectations. My scallops were rubbery and gritty on a bed of pasta that had the consistency of wallpaper paste. The creme brulee was burnt tasting and overcooked. I've had this dessert before and know how it should look and taste. My son's roasted duck had a putrid smell to it and was a real turn off to him. I overheard people at the next table complaining about their food and even had a manager come to their table. However, our waiter was very nice and attentive and the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. I hope this was a fluke, but I don't plan on finding out since I'll not be returning to dine there again.
Claudia Herman
410 Cass St, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
La crosse family restaurant
4.3
(2317)
Down-home destination for comfort classics including ribs & gyros, with all-day breakfast.
Reviews:
There's nothing bad to say about this spot. My food was delicious, brought to me in record time and the service was impeccable. I ordered the Greek Omelette with sides of rye, fresh fruit and hash browns, and a coffee. Everything in this picture only cost me 13 bucks and change! This spot is so on point on every level, I will definitely be back!
Eris Knox
Wow! When you drive across this great nation, you want to stop somewhere that reflects our greatness! This place certainly comes close. It is not for the frills and pizzazz but for the simplicity. I think this is that place. Seeing JPII when I entered made me know I was in a good place. We got a table quickly, but it was a Monday night. Our waitress was polite and helpful. The specials were great. I had the beef stroganoff for my Monday special. The salad that came along with it was pretty large for a salad. It was super fresh too. I ordered a small stroganoff which confused me because it was more than I could eat. Portions are priced right. Stroganoff was amazing. All in all, I would suggest this place to everyone. It's simply what makes a great restaurant. Thanks for the meal and memory!
Jason Champagne
I stopped for lunch at 12:30 pm on a Tuesday and the place was almost full. You could tell there were a lot of regulars that were there, and I could see why. The menu is large, the staff is friendly and prompt. I was seated right away, and I placed my order for a French dip with fries. My lunch was served quickly, considering how busy the place was, approx. 5 mins’. The beef was tender, and the bread was fantastic. I really didn’t care for the Au jus, but the sandwich really didn’t need it, it was tender and juicy. The French fries were the battered type, they were crispy and good. Overall, I would eat here again, it was good value for the money.
Dennis Errichiello
Very good home cooked typed of food. Different options for different tastes. Pleasant staff and atmosphere. The rest rooms need a bit of an upgrade. A nice American style family atmosphere wher eou will leave with a full belly! I had the tuna sandwhich croissant which I couldn't even take a pic of before I bit into as it was so good.
S. C.
Great servings, better prices and best value. A little closer to home value and atmosphere.
Albert Rohland
2120 Rose St, La Crosse, WI 54603, USA
The freighthouse restaurant
4.6
(1673)
Steak & seafood plus wine served in a historic freight house with a bar & live music.
Reviews:
Some hits and some misses. Steak and dessert were good. Artichoke was cold in the middle but thankfully the server removed it from the bill without being asked. Also, I personally would have removed a bit more of the asparagus stem base.
Matthew Muir
We had a table of 8 and everyone, including our vegetarian, was very happy with their meals. We ate upstairs which is why I took the atmosphere down a notch but the food was still worth it! The salad bar and bread were great. I had Prime Rib which was truly fabulous. It was my son's birthday so he had a choice of desserts to take home. Highly recommend! They don't take reservations for less than a table of 10 so arrive early or you most likely will have a wait.
Julie Ferrari Beyer
The Freight house in La Crosse is an outstanding place to go for a nice dinner. The steak and seafood is wonderful and the prime rib was huge. Food was excellent. The salad bar was decent, could use more choices. Our server was Seiara and she was spectacular and there was live music that we enjoyed after dinner with drinks. Highly recommend and looking forward to our next visit.
Kevin Dean
Loved this place! They make the correct cosmo! NICE people, great food. Lots of food. Salad bar is next to the chefs.
Jenny Pulvermacher
Was in town for business and stopped by for dinner. Very busy for a Wednesday night, but very attentive service nonetheless. I got the prime rib with shrimp, and a side of asparagus with hollandaise. The prime rib was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. Asparagus was steamed, but cooked well, and tasted great with the hollandaise. My only minor issue was the the grilled shrimp were significantly overcooked, but this isn't a seafood spot primarily. Overall, I would still recommend Freighthouse, and I'll certainly be back.
Palmer Horst
107 Vine St, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA