This weekend’s big game is the ultimate border battle for me — I was born in Green Bay and most of my family lives there.
Like a good Wisconsin girl, my allegiance remains with the Packers even though I’ve lived in Minnesota far longer than the 18 years I spent in the land of cheese.
I’ll be at the game this weekend, and I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of purple in the stands — there always is. Let’s face it, Lambeau Field is a mecca for football: If you’re a fan, you really should go at least once. (My grandfather was an original season ticket holder, and our family still has those excellent seats.)
Because I’m there so often, I thought I’d give readers who are headed to Green Bay some ideas about where to eat. My list is mostly spots off the beaten path, but also my favorite eatery near the stadium.
For those attending the game, enjoy the ultimate football experience, and Go Pack Go!
Union Hotel
The dining room at Union Hotel in De Pere, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
This historic hotel and restaurant in downtown De Pere dates to the late 1800s, and though it’s been updated over the years, it definitely feels like stepping back in time to walk into the dining room. I especially love the red-and-pink landscape wallpaper and red carpeting.
The eatery is a proper supper club, offering a relish tray, salad and potato or vegetable with each entree. If you haven’t been to a Wisconsin supper club before, by all means make a reservation, but go early to have a drink in the cozy bar before you’re seated.
Spinach and hot bacon salad at Union Hotel in De Pere, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
This brings up something out-of-towners should know. Eastern Wisconsin is known for its own version of an old-fashioned, and ordering one is a bit of a puzzle. First, you choose your booze: Whiskey, bourbon or brandy (specify the brand if you wish). Then, your wash: Sweet (usually white soda), sour (sour soda or sour mix added), press (a mix of seltzer and white soda), or my preference, seltzer, which makes for a less-sweet, dangerously refreshing drink. I also like mine with olives instead of cherries, because it’s like a free snack! So my old-fashioned order is as follows: Canadian Club old-fashioned, seltzer, with olives. Order it like that, and they’ll think you’re a local!
The meat- and fish-heavy menu here is all fabulous, and quite affordable, especially if you’re used to big-city prices. The portions are also generous, which is honestly the standard in this neck of the woods. If you’ve never had sweet-sour-smoky hot bacon salad dressing, I highly recommend upgrading to the spinach and hot bacon salad. It brought back all the memories of special occasions at home growing up, when my mom would shake up her version of the dressing in a quart-sized mason jar.
Union Hotel & Restaurant: 200 N. Broadway, De Pere, Wis.; 920-336-6131; unionhoteldepere.com
Iron Duck
The gluten-free cheese curds at Iron Duck in Green Bay, Wis., are delicious. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
If you’re looking for more contemporary dining options, this restaurant, composed of train boxcars stuck together, is one of my favorites.
Locally sourced meats, cheeses and produce (they even use stuff from their own on-site garden) are front and center on their menu. Since several of my family members are gluten-free, the fact that they have a separate fryer for their fabulous gluten-free cheese curds and other options makes it especially appealing. And their craft cocktails are as good as any I’ve had in the Twin Cities. I especially love their clarified Post Modern Margarita, which they sell in convenient to-go bottles if you need to impress your tailgating buddies.
We like to make a meal of the appetizers here, but the entrees, including one of my favorite steak cuts, the hard-to-find teres major, which is tender, beefy and a very generous portion, are delicious, too.
I’ve also heard their breakfast burritos are out of this world, but I haven’t had the chance to try one yet. If you do, let me know if it’s worth an early morning trek.
Iron Duck: 2525 Velp Ave., Green Bay; 920-510-4550; ironduckrestaurant.com
Hinterland
The pulled pork sandwich at Hinterland in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
Located within the stadium complex, Hinterland is a brewery serving excellent craft beers (including my sister’s favorite gluten-free beer, Saving Gracie), but also pizzas, sandwiches and entrees.
My sister loves the gluten-free fish sandwich or fish fry, which has a shatter-crisp beer batter, made possible by the aforementioned beer. I recently tried the pulled pork sandwich, which was decent, but I regretted my decision when I saw the wood-fired pizzas coming out of the kitchen.
Hinterland is enormous, so even though it’s in the shadow of Lambeau Field, it’s usually possible to at least find a place to stand and drink a beer (or cocktail, because Wisconsin doesn’t have our weird liquor laws surrounding what a brewery can serve) or grab a bite.
Hinterland: 1001 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay; 920-438-8050; hinterlandbeer.com
Kropp’s Supper Club
If a super old-school supper club and a short drive through the beautiful Wisconsin countryside sounds fun, Kropp’s is your place.
The building, with its white front porch and half-circle flag buntings, was built in 1904 and still looks like it would be at home on a dirt road made for horse and carriage traffic.
Like many of the most traditional supper clubs, you are given your menu when you walk through the door. You are expected to order a drink at the bar, where you’ll order from your server. That server will retrieve you from the bar and lead you to your table when your food is ready, and not before. It’s a way to turn tables faster and ensure that everyone gets a drink or two — kind of an ingenious business model, but one that is fading.
The menu includes the usual suspects — steak, chops and fish — but also excellent fried chicken, all supplied from Maplewood Meats, which is near my parents’ house and was Aaron Rodgers’ favorite butcher shop when he lived in Green Bay.
Kropp’s is open only Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, so keep that in mind before you make the trek.
Kropp’s Supper Club: 4570 Shawano Ave., Green Bay; 920-865-7331; kroppssupperclub.com
Kroll’s East
You’ll see the giant sign for Kroll’s West near the stadium, and the massive lines to get in for these delicious butter burgers, served on hard rolls.
But one of Green Bay’s best-kept secrets (at least to outsiders) is Kroll’s East, which is about five miles away, and, coincidentally, walking distance from my grandparents’ old house. It’s the original, opened in 1935, and still looks exactly the way it did when I was a kid. It’s still family-owned, too.
There’s a dining room and a bar, which is where I prefer to eat. The dining room consists of two rows of hard, wood booths.
I can’t really tell you about much on the sizeable beyond the fabulous cheeseburger, crisp, house-made onion rings and Midwestern chili (you can order it on spaghetti if you’re one of those weirdos), but you should definitely have all three. And wash it down with a beer or a Wisconsin old fashioned.
Also, the single cheeseburger (which is plenty for people with a normal appetite) is just $5.05.
Kroll’s East: 1658 Main St., Green Bay; 920-468-4422; krollseast.com
The Pancake Place
A blueberry and pecan pancake at The Pancake Place in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
Fans of Al’s Breakfast should definitely make a stop here — the buttermilk pancakes are superb, and one is definitely enough to keep you full until dinner.
I like mine with blueberries and pecans, with a side of bacon or sausage to balance out the sweet. They serve them with real maple syrup and a generous scoop of whipped butter.
The stuffed hashbrowns — options include benedict, gyro, chili cheese and more — are also excellent. Fair warning that a full order can feed a family of four. Thankfully, they offer a half order. If I were there with my sweetie, I’d order a half order and a pancake and split them both.
Also, the parking lot will look busy, and there might be a line, but they move people quickly, so don’t let that deter you.
The Pancake Place: 143 South Military Ave., Green Bay; 920-499-2221; eatpancakeplace.com
Redwood Inn
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from here, because as soon as my fish fry arrives, I dive in with abandon.
But suffice it to say, if you’re in town for Friday fish fry and are looking for the real deal, this is your place. Order the lightly breaded perch and thank me later. And I know this is starting to sound like a theme, but the old-fashioneds are good here, too.
It’s also not a secret, so if you want to beat the crowds, get there early, and by that I mean 4 p.m. I’ve also had luck getting there after the first rush, around 7:30 p.m. or so.
Redwood Inn: 3230 Main St., Green Bay; 920-863-6315
River’s Bend
A perch fish fry at River’s Bend in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
My parents live close to this steakhouse, so it is the place I visit most in Green Bay.
It’s named for the spectacular view of the river, especially from the four-season porch windows. When you make a reservation, you can ask to sit in that room.
The menu is sizable, but I usually stick to one of three items: Tender New York Strip with sauteed mushrooms, lemon butter Norwegian salmon or the perch fish fry if we’re there on a Friday. Like at any fancy Midwestern joint, your meal comes with a trip to the salad bar and a starchy side — my favorite is the twice-baked potato.
And guess what I order to drink? If you’re not an old-fashioned person, they do have a good wine list and a few specialty cocktails as well.
River’s Bend: 792 Riverview Drive, Green Bay; 920-544-986; riversbendgb.com
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