Chicago to Duluth, MN

I am traveling this weekend from Chicago to Duluth, MN via Chippewa Falls and Superior, WI. I was looking for any diners, restaurants or drive-ins worth visiting on the trip up or back. Any help would be appreciated!

I grew up just south of Superior and our special occasion place was always a supper club called White Birch in Solon Springs, WI. It's tiny so you have to get reservations, but it's a local favorite for steaks and the biggest salad bar in Solon (at a grand length of approx. 3 feet long). It's not very fancy, just your basic northwoods supper club, but it's probably about the only place I'd recommend up north.

White Birch Supper Club
10688 S Us Highway 53, Solon Springs, WI
(715) 378-4411

I have lots of intel around (mainly north of) Duluth, very little south of it. Here's some coverage on the shore Duluth through Grand Marais:

viewtopic.php?p=243976#p243976

That whole thread started by Kennyz is excellent.

Two places I didn't mention before, one fifteen minutes north of Duluth, one an hour east, both very special:

Wild Rice (Bayfield, WI)
http://www.wildricerestaurant.com/

"The Scenic" (New Scenic Cafe, Duluth MN)
http://www.sceniccafe.com/

Wonderful seasonal local menus with fish from the lake and herbs from adjacent gardens, young chefs, picture-window views.

I'll try to knock heads with the locals and come up with some suggestions south of Superior. We usually stop in Madison* but then go to the Twins before heading north to Duluth. Only other thing that immediately pops to mind is the Leinenkugel Brewery in Chip' Falls itself:

http://www.leinie.com/av.html

Good tours. Beers taste markedly better there than in bottles.


* favorite spots:

http://www.essen-haus.com/ (excellent German)
http://www.ellas-deli.com/ (especially great for kids)
http://www.bandungrestaurant.com/ (rare Midwest Indonesian)

Thanks for all the info. I am tempted to stop at Leinies but may not want to leave. The White Birch Supper looks liek a real possibility. I am leaving early in the morning so I have to see what time I pass through Solon. I will check to see what time they open in the afternoon.

Thanks again.

I agree with Rainy01 that the White Birch was one of the better places along Hwy 53. It was a little disappointing on my last visit about six months ago. Food was ordinary and the place just looks tired these days. They still have the salad bar (similar to the salad bar at LaVilla). Driving time from downtown Chicago to Solon Springs is about 8 hours, depending on how fast you drive. Add to that the time needed for stops. So, if you leave Chicago in the morning, you would likely be passing through Solon at the dinner hour.

Personally, I prefer Foxxy's in Spooner (about 35 miles south of Solon Springs). The food is better, the atmosphere is nicer and the view is more scenic.

Foxxy's
Elm and Miller Road
Spooner WI
715-635-2399
http://www.foxxysbarandgrill.com/ for menu and directions.

One more in the Duluth area itself is Nokomis, which just got some press in the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 95190.html
http://www.nokomisonthelake.com/

Nokomis has better views than the Scenic Cafe (mentioned above), but I prefer the food at Scenic, more accessible and Minnesota-feeling (even the dishes with an Asian flair) and slightly less expensive (though both places are a steal).

mrsm wrote:I agree with Rainy01 that the White Birch was one of the better places along Hwy 53. It was a little disappointing on my last visit about six months ago. Food was ordinary and the place just looks tired these days. They still have the salad bar (similar to the salad bar at LaVilla). Driving time from downtown Chicago to Solon Springs is about 8 hours, depending on how fast you drive. Add to that the time needed for stops. So, if you leave Chicago in the morning, you would likely be passing through Solon at the dinner hour.

Personally, I prefer Foxxy's in Spooner (about 35 miles south of Solon Springs). The food is better, the atmosphere is nicer and the view is more scenic.

Foxxy's
Elm and Miller Road
Spooner WI
715-635-2399
http://www.foxxysbarandgrill.com/ for menu and directions.

Yeah, I haven't been to the Birch recently, but it always used to be serviceable. I liked the atmosphere at Foxxy's the one time I've been there. It's a ways from Duluth (about 60+ miles). My family enjoys the food there quite a bit. I had an unfortunate food mishap there (sometimes a place has an off night...I don't think it's a reflection of them overall), but I know that's one of my grandparents' go-to places (along with the Friday night fish fry at the Spooner golf course).

While it is not directly on the route from Chicago to Duluth, should one decide to take a slight detour to Hayward WI (exit Hwy 53 in Trego and take Hwy 63 northeast to Hayward), there are two noteworthy stops:

Hayward Bakery makes whole grain artisan breads that are worth the detour. My favorites are a cranberry walnut bread and the peasant bread (a mild rye bread that reminds me of the komissbrot that used to be made at the North Star Bakery, formerly on the 4500 block of Lincoln Ave.)
10565 Main
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-2428
http://www.haywardbakery.com/

West's Dairy for their premium ice cream and fresh milk.
15848 West Second Street
Hayward, WI 54843
Tel: 715 634 2244
http://www.westshaywarddairy.com/

Return to Hwy 53 by taking Hwy 63 N to Hwy 77, then west to Minong and Hwy 53. This is a particularly scenic route when Fall colors peak in late September.

Right next door to the bakery in Hayward is some fudge. Just mentioning that in case it makes a detour worthwhile.

Jonah

For outstanding pie and pie selection go to Norske Nook.

Osseo - Restaurant & Bakery
13804-7th Street | Osseo, WI 54758
Contact: 715-597-3069 | 800-294-6665 | osseo@norskenook.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 6:00am-8pm, Sundays 8am-8pm

Directions: Osseo exit off I-94. West on Hwy 10. South on Hwy 53. Left on 7th Street.


Osseo - Coffee House & Scandinavian Gift Shop
13807-7th Street | Osseo, WI 54758
Contact: 715-597-3765 | osseo@norskenook.com

Directions: Osseo exit off I-94. West on Hwy 10. South on Hwy 53. Left on 7th Street.


Rice Lake - Restaurant & Bakery (with small gift shop)
2900 Pioneer Avenue | Rice Lake, WI 54868
Contact: 715-234-1733 | ricelake@norskenook.com
Hours: Monday - Saturday 6:00am-8:00pm Sundays 8am-8pm

Directions: Hwy "O" Exit off Hwy 53. East on Hwy O. Across from Wal-Mart.

Get Directions
Hayward - Restaurant & Bakery
Hwy. 27 South | Hayward, WI 54843
Contact: 715-634-4928 | hayward@norskenook.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00am-7:00pm, Sundays 8:00am-4:00pm

Directions: Located on Hwy 27 South, Two blocks north of "Big Muskie."


Eau Claire - Norske Nook Restaurant & Bakery / Northwoods Brewpub
3560 Oakwood Mall Drive | Eau Claire, WI 54701
Contact: 715-552-0510 | eauclaire@norskenook.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00am-9:00pm, Sundays 8:00am-8:00pm

Directions: Located less than 1/4 mile from Oakwood Mall in Eau Claire.
http://www.norskenook.com/

Resurrecting the thread for this Summer 2010.

Gonna be up in Hayward next week.

We cook at the cabin mostly but go out for dinner 3 times for the week when we're up there.

Johns Club 77, Louies Landing, the Casino on K for buffet, other places we find asking the locals once we get there.

Just in case...anyone been up there and have a must have for 2010?

Just returned from a trip up north. Heard reports from several local folks that White Birch will be closing soon, so it would be best to call first if anyone is considering a visit.

White Birch Supper Club
10688 S Us Highway 53
Solon Springs, WI
(715) 378-4411

mrsm wrote:Just returned from a trip up north. Heard reports from several local folks that White Birch will be closing soon, so it would be best to call first if anyone is considering a visit.

White Birch Supper Club
10688 S Us Highway 53
Solon Springs, WI
(715) 378-4411

I think it closed about a month ago. I ate there in the middle of March and it was one of the last weekends. It will be missed by the community.

If you drive to MN via 94 and then head north stop in Bayport MN at the Bayport BBQ. You will not regret it.

http://www.bayportbbq.com/

mrsm wrote:While it is not directly on the route from Chicago to Duluth, should one decide to take a slight detour to Hayward WI (exit Hwy 53 in Trego and take Hwy 63 northeast to Hayward), there are two noteworthy stops:

Hayward Bakery makes whole grain artisan breads that are worth the detour. My favorites are a cranberry walnut bread and the peasant bread (a mild rye bread that reminds me of the komissbrot that used to be made at the North Star Bakery, formerly on the 4500 block of Lincoln Ave.)
10565 Main
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-2428
http://www.haywardbakery.com
...

May 2017 update: it's been 2 years since the bakery changed hands. On last Tuesday morning, they only had about one third of the number of European style types of bread on the shelves. We were waited on by an indifferent clerk who yawned continuously the entire time that she waited on us. We were told that the multi-grain bread we ordered was "reduced." When I asked what that meant, she said 30% off. It was already in a plastic bag. When I inquired further, she said it was 2 or 3 days old.

The "fresh" cranberry walnut bread that we bought was dry and stale when we cut it that afternoon.

Hopefully, this was a fluke, and the bakery will improve as summer tourism picks up. But, my plan from now on is to always ask specifically for bread that was baked today.