If you’re looking for a great local eats scene, head to one of the many Kenosha restaurants! When Tyler and I were preparing for our visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin recently, I would never have guessed that we would have found a community with such a great food scene! We’re certainly not “foodies” and we don’t eat high class dishes, but we do enjoy a delicious meal! What we found at the Kenosha restaurants was delightful and wonderful! Check them out!
Thank you to the Kenosha Convention & Visitors Bureau for hosting us during our visit. All thoughts and opinions are authentic and 100% our own. For more details, please see Disclosure Tab.
La Fogata: Mexican Grill
When you’re looking for great Mexican food that is made fresh in house, head to La Fogata. It’s at the top of great restaurants in Kenosha! The chips are fresh, the salsa home-made and yummy, and the cheese dip smooth and creamy! The menu has a large variety of lunches, platters, and appetizers! You’ll find health conscious meals and ones that fit those with food allergies.
While on our visit, I selected the Mahi Mahi Lettuce Tacos and loved them! The mahi mahi tasted fresh and was well season and grilled, but the best part was the mango salsa. Finely diced onions, tomatoes, and mango were combined to perfection and added a freshness and sweetness to help balance the heat of the rub on the fish! All together, it was delightful! In addition the rice was flavorful while being light and fluffy! Overall, you can’t go wrong with a trip to La Fogata
Slip 56: Bar & Restaurant
Not only is Slip 56 located in the historic downtown district of Kenosha, which means it’s in walking to distance to so much, but it’s modern and yet rustic decor is inviting. This smaller eatery is quaint and filled with friendly servers. The menu ranges from sandwiches to pasta to pinsa, which is what I selected and am still raving about!
Pinsa
A pinsa is a roman-style pizza in which the dough is made with a mixture of wheat, soy, rice, and sourdough. It’s 80% water and is made with a technique that allows the crust to be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It also has less calories, less fat, and less gluten than traditional pizza, so it’s easier to digest. There are 6 different variations of the pinsa on the menu. I selected the Caprese.
Fresh tomatoes, arcadian greens, fresh basil, shaved Parmesan, mozzarella, balsamic and olive oil glaze
I was actually debating between two different pinsas and this is the one the waitress recommended and she was not wrong! The crust is amazing, the ingredients that it’s topped with beyond flavorful and fresh! I never missed the meat at all! I couldn’t finish it all, but that does not take away from how light this pinsa actually was and how absolutely delicious!
T selected the fish and chips and it was golden brown goodness without being fishy!
Petrifying Springs Biergarten
When you’re ready to finish your night, head to Petrifying Springs Bierengarten. While it’s not a restaurant in Kenosha, it’s a must-stop! It’s location is on the outskirts of town, but the relaxed atmosphere and the selections of beverages on tap are worth the drive! This unique setting (in a park) is a fun place to get together with friends or just people watch! Head to the counter and select your drink of choice. You’ll be paying a deposit on each glass to ensure they get their glasses back, but it’s an easy process and the people are super friendly and helpful to those that are new!
There’s a variety of seating, hot food to choose from, and snacks! The night we were there, they were showing a family friendly movie on the lawn that was free for anyone!
One note: When trying to find the Bierengarten, don’t follow the GPS directions. They will take you to the middle of nowhere near the golf course! Enter the park at the main entrance and you’ll see it from the road! 😉 Also note that they only take cash as payment!
The Daily Dose Cafe
When you’re looking for a unique spot to grab a delicious lunch, head to The Daily Dose Cafe. Located in what appears to be an old gas station, this local spot that seats about 25 is not only a coffee shop, but also a lunch hub. Hot sandwiches, breakfast items, salads, soups, and a many vegetarian options fill this menu! Unique twists on common sandwiches are popular here. T selected a classic turkey sandwich and added a side of their homemade American fries, which he really enjoyed!
I selected the Ham Pear-Fection! This hot panini full of sliced ham with roasted pears, Gorgonzola cheese, and topped with a spring mix and a honey walnut dressing was absolute pear-fection! Everything was balanced and the combination of sweet roasted pears and the dressing balanced out the smokiness of the ham and combined with the creaminess of the cheese! I added a side of their roasted sweet potatoes.
The Garage: Sports & Burger Bar
Located in a historic bar in Kenosha, you’ll find the Garage. Across the street used to be an AMC factory and this bar was the locals favorites over their lunch break! Fast forward several years and this bar and tavern has been renovated to modern rustic standards and making stuffed burgers with a twist. A unique feature of this joint is their ordering system. Each patron fills out their own menu and gives it to the waiter. You get to select your sides, toppings, etc right at the table, right on your own menu!
Pepper Jack Cheese Curds
One can’t go to Wisconsin and not have cheese curds and since T’s favorite cheese is pepper-jack, we decided to snag a basket of their pepper jack squares! These battered and deep fried pepper jack cheese cubes were served with a pineapple ranch and were absolute perfection! These aren’t cheese curds like we Iowans are used to, but they are super creamy and not greasy!
Their claim to fame is their “Major Damage” or stuffed burgers. You can select from one of their signature burgers or build your own! Each burger is made with 6 ounces of certified Angus beef and it’s very obvious when you bite into one! You can taste the quality.
It was hard to decide between their signature creations, but I settled on the Taco Truck and fell in love instantly! This pepper-jack cheese stuffed burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, and crushed Doritos. After taking one bite into this burger, I proclaimed to T that I was now putting nacho cheese sauce and crushed Doritos on all my burgers! Juicy, cooked to perfection, and full of flavor, this was quite possibly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had! The fries weren’t too shabby either! One note: The Garage only takes cash, so make sure to stop at an ATM first!
Mason’s Eatery & Pub
When you’re heading out of town, stop on the outskirts at Mason’s Eatery & Pub for breakfast. This incredibly clean and friendly restaurant starts serving breakfast at 8AM on Sundays, which is perfect for a stop before heading home! Their breakfast menu is full of skillets, breakfast burritos, omelets, frittatas, french toast, pancakes, and more!
My personal recommendation is the Uncle Sam Skillet. It is chocked full of ham, bacon, sausage (I omitted), and American cheese on top of a pile of hash browns and topped with a friend egg, it was DELICIOUS! It also comes with toast or a pancake! For $10, this meal was a steal! It was flavorful, fresh tasting, and so big I couldn’t come close to finishing it!
Another thing I loved was the option to add a fresh fruit bowl, which I did and the cantaloupe and grapes were wonderful! T built his own breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast and we were both full until supper!
Restaurants in Kenosha, WI
Kenosha has a hopping restaurant scene! Each block of their downtown area has at least one if not more restaurants in it! Small, local joints are what’s making this destination stand out in the food scene! Whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, something unique, or a good burger, you’ll find it at one of the many restaurants in Kenosha!
Pin It For Later:
Favorite Restaurants
Check out more of our favorite restaurants in the Midwest!
Danna’s Bar-B-Que & Burger Shop: Branson, MO
The Anchor Inn: Clear Lake, IA
The Princess Grill & Pizzeria: Iowa Falls, IA
Love this list! I just enrolled at UW-Parkside this year so I’ll have to stop by for a bite at these places now that I’m in Kenosha more often!
Fantastic! Kenosha is definitely jam-packed with awesome places to eat! Can’t wait to ear your favorite!
How awesome! Yes, you’ll have to check some out for sure! So many great places!!
That’s right…one can not come to WI without eating cheese curds! Everything looks so good! I’ve never heard of pinsa before, and can’t wait to try it.
I had never heard of a pinsa either, but I want more now!!
We frequent Kenosha and haven’t been to these places. Will have to check them out! By the way, are all these kid-friendly?
They are fantastic! I would say “yes” depending on the age of your kids, but will admit I only remember seeing younger kids in LaFogata and Daily Dose!
Being from Kenosha, WI then moving to Las Vegas for 6 yrs definitely made me miss all the awesome food in Kenosha. Ron’s place has awesome burgers and known for over 30+ (or something like that) flavors of Long Island Iced Teas. Super yum.
Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, my 1st job. All I can say is Cheese Ravioli and pizza.
Renzo’s. Equally awesome.
But Tenuta’s Deli (& my 2nd job) is like nothing else you can find anywhere – at least that I’ve seen. So many awesome finds. Pasta salads in the deli. Desserts like homemade canoli or amaretti cookies from a Chicago bakery. Divine.
If u go in summer months, they’ll be grilling out. I prefer brats but Italian sausage bombers r most popular. But go inside to deli & order a meatball bomber or Italian beef bomber. Get the eggplant giardinara on it & mozz or provolone cheese. Can’t go wrong or find anything better.
Moving back to Vegas soon…the food and lakefront will be missed.
There is so many great places in Kenosha! And I agree….Tenutas Deli is the best!!!!