Wisconsin Dells’ downtown scene is quickly gaining traction with the recent addition of some hip restaurants and trendy boutique shops.
“Just walking along the strip here, we’ve got wonderful musicians and art on the street corners, and the brand new RiverWalk is really nice, along with the addition of all the stores and restaurants that are coming in,” says Tommy Haban, general manager of High Rock Cafe. “The strip had gotten kind of low to a point about 10 years ago, and now it’s really starting to bounce back, so everyone’s excited about it.”
High Rock Cafe is located in downtown Wisconsin Dells, with its upper level overlooking the corner of Broadway, a street that contains many of the emerging businesses in the area.
The modern American cuisine restaurant, which Haban refers to as “a little local secret,” makes every one of its menu items from scratch and refuses to freeze any of its ingredients.
“We feature a season’s freshest menu that changes every two months and incorporates homegrown local products,” he says. “Last week we did asparagus, now we switched over to raspberries.”
Chefs Justin Draper and Wade Bernander are the creative minds behind the varied menu, which contains enticing appetizers, sandwiches and signature pasta dishes capable of serving large groups.
High Rock Cafe does not take reservations in its main dining room, but it does have The Grotto, a side room for groups of up to 40, which is currently being renovated. Haban says the entire restaurant is also occasionally rented out for large groups.
MACS Macaroni and Cheese Shop is the newest addition on Broadway and, as the name implies, it specializes in the childhood-favorite meal.
Patrons can enjoy the Original Mac made up of American, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, or get more extravagant and order dishes like the Jalapeno Popper Mac, which contains cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella, jalapenos, bacon and cream cheese.
There are some melts on the menu for those who aren’t feeling the hearty mac and cheese vibe. Draft and bottled beer is also available for those looking to relax after a long day of work.
When not eating, downtown, visitors can explore a variety of local shops, including Alpha Beta Karma, a trendy boutique store on Broadway that specializes in women’s fashion. Its lineup of dresses, shirts, pants and stylish purses have a big-city feel and make great gifts, too.
