Today we are highlighting some of the most unique and must-try restaurants in the Midwest. We hope you enjoy learning more about them, and please consider stopping in if you are passing through. Tell them Project Buy Local sent you.
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik
Sister Bay, Wisconsin
Al Johnson’s is an authentic Swedish family owned restaurant where you can find goats grazing the sod roof. It’s quite a sight, and it’s made this place one of the most famous restaurants in Door County. Inside the casual, carpeted dining room, young ladies in Scandinavian garb dish out limpa bread and Swedish meatballs. The menu consists of a variety of Swedish fare, from pancakes with lingonberries to Swedish meatballs, whitefish, sandwiches, salads, and a variety of hot and cold plates.
To learn more, visit their website here.
Breitbach’s Country Dining
Balltown, Iowa
Opened in 1852 by federal permit issued from President Millard Fillmore, Breitbach’s is Iowa’s oldest food and drinking establishment. Jacob Breitbach, great-great grandfather of the present owner, purchased the business in 1862, and through six generations, the Breitbach family has been in ownership ever since.
To learn more, visit their website here.
The School House Cafe
McGregor, Minnesota
In 1981, a story was started in the little town of McGregor. The Nistler Family had fallen in love with a landmark, a 100 year homestead. What could be done with this run-down house? Brenda and her husband LeRoy renovated it and it became the Country House.
This House, with its 13 rooms, offers Country and Victorian decor and crafts to all its visitors. It was mostly loved by women and when Brenda notice the men getting antsy, she decided to add the Ice Cream Room to keep them occupied. To her surprise, the men decided they wanted to shop too! So, Grandpa’s Up North Cabin and Garden Shed were added. Soon the Tea Room was a buzz serving up hot coffee, tea, goodies, and soup in a bread bowl with cheesecake.
Then an amazing thing happened. The very house where Brenda was born was given to her. “What shall we do with it?”, she wondered. This small house became the home of Grandma Millie’s Antique Shop.
Soon the Tea Room was getting to small for all the customers who enjoyed eating while they visited. So, a replica of a one room school house was built and it became the School House Cafe. This quaint Cafe is decorated with plenty of unique memrobilia.
You can enjoy many different things; breakfast, lunch, soup, salad, coffee or espresso with the absolute best rolls, bread, pies, cookies and cakes. With the option to dine either inside, outside or drive-thru, this truly is a dining destination for all!
To learn more, visit their website here.
Old Bank Restaurant & Bar
Le Roy, Illinois
Located in the heart of Le Roy, Illinois, Old Bank Restaurant & Bar makes farm-to-table dining more familiar and affordable, featuring burgers, sandwiches, chicken, salads, stir fry and other classic midwestern restaurant foods made from scratch with ingredients sourced in large part from our own nearby farm. We are committed to creating a healthy and prosperous future by nourishing and preserving our community’s people, land and history.
To learn more, visit their website here.
Which ones are your favorites? Did we miss any? Send us an email at support@projectbuylocal.org.