Best of La Crosse County 2015: Food & Drink

Restaurants in La Crosse have come a long way from pub grub (though of course we still have plenty of great options in those departments if that’s what you’re after). The area offers more options in ethnic, family, and fine dining every year, and now we have gastropubs, farm-to-table fare, and even a couple of food trucks. Oh, and bars? We still have a few of those. Here are your favorites in just about every food and drink category you can think of. Congrats to all the big winners.

Bar: Overall

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 27.3%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 23.9%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 21.9%

Brewery / Brewpub

  1. Pearl Street Brewery – 75.6%
  2. City Brewery – 15.8%
  3. Turtle Stack Brewery – 8.2%

College Bar

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 32.5%
  2. Brother’s Bar & Grill – 17.7%
  3. Eagle’s Nest – 17.6%

Dance Club

  1. Coconut Joe’s – 32.9%
  2. Concordia Ballroom – 18.6%
  3. Sawtooth Sam’s – 17.1%

Downtown Bar

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 27.4%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 25.6%
  3. Del’s Bar – 18.4%

Neighborhood Tavern

  1. Recovery Room – 22.6%
  2. Bluffside Tavern – 21.5%
  3. Eagle’s Nest – 21.4%

Rural Bar

  1. Red Pines Bar & Grill – 28.7%
  2. Leo & Leona’s – 26.3%
  3. Alpine Inn – 25.2%

Sports Bar

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 38.1%
  2. Features Sports Bar & Grill – 22.1%
  3. Buffalo Wild Wings – 16.0%

Wine Bar

  1. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 39.1%
  2. Wine Guyz – 26.0%
  3. JavaVino – 20.9%

Beer Garden

  1. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 38.8%
  2. Stolpa’s Stein Haus – 34.9%
  3. River Rats Bar & Grill – 18.1%

Pub Trivia

  1. Howie’s on La Crosse – 27.2%
  2. Nutbush City Limits – 17.9%
  3. Flipside Pub & Grill – 17.8%

Cocktails

  1. The Starlite Lounge – 46.1%
  2. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 16.0%
  3. Digger’s Sting – 14.6%

Bloody Mary

  1. Del’s Bar – 49.3%
  2. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 15.0%
  3. Ardie’s Restaurant / Flipside Pub & Grill – 14.1%

Bottled Beer Selection

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 60.4%
  2. Golden Tap – 13.6%
  3. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 12.4%

Tap Beer Selection

  1. Bodega Brew Pub – 37.8%
  2. Golden Tap – 20.2%
  3. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 11.8%

Happy Hour

  1. The Starlite Lounge – 36.2%
  2. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 19.0%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 15.8%

Bartender

  1. Alicia Stoltz Gorski, Bodega Brew Pub – 29.0%
  2. Eric “Guido” Lemon, John’s Bar – 22.3%
  3. Pete Mohm, Snuffy’s – 16.2%

Restaurant: Overall

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 20.9%
  2. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blues Lounge – 19.9%
  3. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 18.7%

BBQ

  1. Big Boar Barbecue – 34.7%
  2. Famous Dave’s – 22.4%
  3. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 19.5%

Chinese

  1. Hunan Chinese Restaurant – 30.4%
  2. China Star – 25.8%
  3. China Buffet – 16.8%

Ethnic

  1. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 33.9%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 22.9%
  3. Hmong’s Golden Eggrolls – 22.4%

Italian

  1. Kate’s on State – 24.1%
  2. Ciatti’s Italian Grill – 23.8%
  3. Angelini’s Pizzeria & Ristorante – 22.2%

Japanese / Sushi

  1. Bamboo House – 30.5%
  2. Shogun Sushi & Hibachi – 30.1%
  3. Sushi Pirate – 25.6%

Mediterranean / Middle Eastern

  1. Gracie’s Gyros & Wraps – 64.4%
  2. Golden Tap – 34.0%
  3. Big Mama’s Gyros (write-in) – 0.01%

Mexican / Southwestern

  1. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 38.8%
  2. Fiesta Mexicana – 22.3%
  3. Tequila Mexican Restaurant – 16.2%

Pizza: Dine-In

  1. Kate’s Pizza Amore – 22.2%
  2. Big Al’s – 20.9%
  3. Edward0’s Ristorante di Pizza – 16.3%

Pizza: Delivery / Take-Out

  1. Pizza King – 22.0%
  2. Papa Murphy’s – 21.6%
  3. Pizza Corral – 19.2%

Vegetarian-Friendly

  1. People’s Food Co-op – 46.6%
  2. Hackberry’s Bistro – 19.8%
  3. The Root Note – 13.1%

Restaurant Chain

  1. Culver’s – 39.3%
  2. Texas Roadhouse – 23.3%
  3. Olive Garden – 13.1%

New Restaurant

  1. Old Crow – 32.7%
  2. The Breakfast Club & Pub – 17.4%
  3. The Mint – 16.4%

Romantic Dinner

  1. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 30.5%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 21.1%
  3. Digger’s Sting – 15.9%

Supper Club

  1. Digger’s Sting – 33.2%
  2. Schmidty’s Bar & Grill – 20.4%
  3. Drugan’s Castle Mound – 16.8%

Upscale Dining

  1. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 35.3%
  2. Freighthouse Restaurant – 24.1%
  3. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 16.9%

Caterer

  1. Pogy’s Catering – 29.4%
  2. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 21.3%
  3. Premier Catering – 16.1%

Chef / Cook

  1. Chris Roderique, Piggy’s Restaurant & Blue Lounge – 34.6%
  2. John Temp, Freighthouse Restaurant – 25.0%
  3. Jake Mclees, Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 17.1%

Waiter / Waitress

  1. Kayla Connor, Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 20.5%
  2. Mark Wuensch, Freighthouse Restaurant – 19.3%
  3. Billy Poehling, Freighthouse Restaurant – 19.1%

Bakery

  1. Linda’s Bakery – 51.1%
  2. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 19.6%
  3. International Bake Shoppe – 10.3%

Breakfast

  1. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 28.6%
  2. Rosie’s Cafe – 19.6%
  3. Marge’s on Rose – 16.9%

Brunch

  1. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 45.0%
  2. Drugan’s Castle Mound – 16.7%
  3. Hackberry’s Bistro – 14.1%

Burger

  1. Burger Fusion – 23.9%
  2. Howie’s on La Crosse – 21.1%
  3. Culver’s – 18.5%

Cheese Curds

  1. Edwardo’s Ristorante di Pizza – 29.3%
  2. Dublin Square Irish Pub & Eatery – 17.4%
  3. Pettibone Boat Club – 16.1%

Fish Fry

  1. Syl’s Place – 20.0%
  2. Hungry Peddler – 17.7%
  3. Red Pines Bar & Grill – 16.9%

Sandwich / Wrap

  1. Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwiches – 27.9%
  2. Lindy’s Subs & Salads – 26.1%
  3. Fat Sam’s Main Street Bistro – 20.2%

Seafood

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 26.6%
  2. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 22.0%
  3. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 19.3%

Soup

  1. Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwiches – 34.1%
  2. Panera Bread – 22.2%
  3. Piggy’s Restaurant & Blues Lounge – 14.3%

Steak

  1. Freighthouse Restaurant – 31.6%
  2. Digger’s Sting – 23.9%
  3. Texas Roadhouse – 20.4%

Tacos

  1. Manny’s Mexican Cocina – 28.5%
  2. Fiesta Mexicana – 23.0%
  3. Iguana’s Mexican Street Cafe – 17.6%

Wings

  1. Buffalo Wild Wings – 30.3%
  2. The Sports Nut – 17.9%
  3. Howie’s on La Crosse – 14.8%

Dessert

  1. The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Coffee House – 63.3%
  2. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 11.8%
  3. Freighthouse Restaurant – 8.1%

Ambience

  1. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 30.5%
  2. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant – 28.6%
  3. Freighthouse Restaurant – 16.4%

Outdoor Dining

  1. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 32.4%
  2. Huck Finn’s on the Water – 23.8%
  3. Pettibone Boat Club – 18.8%

View

  1. Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern – 30.2%
  2. Grandad Bluff (with a picnic) – 28.5%
  3. Pettibone Boat Club – 16.5%

Coffee / Tea Shop

  1. JavaVino – 21.03%
  2. Moka – 21.01%
  3. The Root Note – 14.3%

Candy / Ice Cream Shop

  1. The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Coffee House – 47.2%
  2. The Sweet Shop – 24.0%
  3. Ranison Ice Cream & Candy – 19.6%

Grocery Store

  1. Festival Foods – 47.3%
  2. Woodman’s – 26.3%
  3. People’s Food Co-op – 17.6%