Going to the NFL Draft? Don't Miss Wisconsin's Favorite Foods

Diehard football fans are excited about heading to Green Bay for this year’s NFL Draft. As a Wisconsinite and Packers fan myself, I agree that experiencing Lambeau Field and the history of the franchise is pretty exhilarating. But you know what else you need to experience when you’re visiting Green Bay? Our food culture.

In between football festivities and booing the Commish, you’re going to be hungry. Wisconsin has a lot of unique and delicious foods, and you’d be remiss if you didn’t try any of them while you’re here. So when you need something to eat (and drink!) during this year’s NFL Draft in Green Bay, make sure you try some of these local specialties.

Cheese curds are little irregularly shaped nubs of cheese made by separating curds from the whey — and then eating them immediately without aging. They squeak on your teeth when they’re fresh. The way Wisconsinites prefer to eat them is battered, deep fried, and dipped in ranch. You’ll never be satisfied with the inferior mozzarella stick again.

Where to get it: Hinterland Brewery, where they’re served with buttermilk chive dressing, directly across from Lambeau next to the tubing hill. Or for old school vibes, Kroll’s West, an institution since 1936, also across the street from the stadium.

Friday nights in Wisconsin mean it’s time to get fish fry, and if you’re here for the weekend, you should too. A typical fish fry meal comes with beer-battered cod, savory potato pancakes or fries, slaw, rye bread, and tartar sauce. Many places also serve walleye, perch, or other lake fish options. You’ll find this meal everywhere, from upscale Mexican restaurants to church event halls.

Where to get it: Maricque’s, for the full Wisconsin tavern experience, where perch is the most popular option. Or drive 15 minutes from Lambeau to Redwood Inn, where you can choose from perch, shrimp, walleye, and cod.

Depending on the restaurant, butter burgers might mean anything from toasting the bun with butter (Culver’s), to plopping a half-stick of butter on top of a burger patty (Solly’s in Milwaukee). Most places are in the happy in-between, where each beef patty gets a pat of butter before the crowning bun. This is a burger-loving state, so there’s no shortage of good butter burger options.

Where to get it: Kroll’s West, right across from Lambeau, is good in a pinch. Go a little further to the Drift Inn for a better, classic rendition, or head to Al’s Hamburgers for thicker burgers and a diner experience since 1934.

Thanks to Wisconsin’s German heritage, bratwurst is a staple food, especially when it comes to anything related to football. Most brats are cooked at home, or on a tailgate grill in a bath of beer and onions, but you can still find them on many bar and restaurant menus.

Where to get it: Follow your nose to a grill, then offer a 6-pack in exchange for a couple sausages. Alternatively, get one at 1919 Kitchen and Tap inside Lambeau, or Lorelai Inn for a full German experience.

Booyah is a funny name for a comforting stew. You’ll most likely find it at church festivals, firemen’s fundraiser picnics, and similar festive, family gatherings. It’s generally made with chicken in huge kettles (usually called booyahs as well), along with vegetables and tomatoes. Eat a small cup before a meal, or it’s hearty enough to make a meal out of with some bread.

Where to get it: The obvious answer is the Booyah Shed, which serves it in four sizes, and is only a mile away from Lambeau. Or check out The Rite Place, a family restaurant where booyah is always on the soup menu.

This one isn’t a specific food, but a kind of food experience. Wisconsin supper clubs are a tradition that started as a place you spent a leisurely night with drinks, food, and entertainment. Nowadays, having an old-fashioned and an appetizer while you wait for your table in a crowded supper club is all part of the laid-back experience. The menus usually include steaks, prime rib, fish fry, and alcoholic ice cream drinks like the grasshopper. You’re likely to get a relish tray of various veggies and pickles to start, or maybe some cheese spread and crackers. It’s a retro experience that everyone loves.

Where to get it: Try River’s Bend for a fantastic view only 5 miles from Lambeau, or venture out further to Kropp’s Supper Club or Hotel Seymour, both of which are local favorites.

Kringle is a Danish pastry that’s also the official state pastry of Wisconsin. It’s most popular in Racine County, in the southeastern corner of the state, but Green Bay locals love it too. It’s a large oval or pretzel-shaped sweet treat with layers of soft dough around fillings of fruit, nuts, or cream cheese. You get it at bakeries or grocery stores, and it’s a staple at family gatherings.

Where to get it: Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe has three locations around Green Bay and is the place to get a kringle — many say it’s even the best in the state.

What goes best with a Friday fish fry? A brandy old fashioned. We make the cocktail differently here. Start with muddled orange, maraschino cherries, and bitters, add brandy, then top with sweet (lemon-lime soda), sour (usually Squirt, sometimes sour mix), or press (usually half sweet, half soda water). Sure, you can ask for bourbon or whisky, but this state singlehandedly keeps Korbel in the brandy business, so stick to the local favorite.

Where to get it: For a classic rendition, try Copper State Brewing, or Cardinal’s Crest in the Legacy Hotel for a modern, bacon-y twist. Otherwise, literally any bar in the state will serve you one.

Wisconsinites love brunch drinks, but bloody marys are king here, not mimosas. Bloodies are so well loved that you can even order them for dinner, and all but the diviest of dive bars bartenders won’t bat an eyelash at you. The drink itself is savory and spicy, and the garnish is usually over-the-top with things like bacon strips, cocktail shrimp, and fresh cheese curds. If you get a mini beer delivered with your bloody, don’t worry, that’s called a chaser, and it comes standard in most places.

Where to get it: St. Brendan’s Irish inn and pub serves its refreshing bloodies in a huge glass goblet complete with beef stick and string cheese. At RumRunners, there’s a whole build-your-own-bloody-mary buffet.

What’s a trip to Wisconsin without some beer? Craft brewers are all over the place in Green Bay, and you can bet most of them will be having NFL Draft watch parties and activities. Try Hinterland right across from Lambeau for a slightly upscale brewpub atmosphere, or Badger State Brewing Company, only a few blocks away, for its popular BRW-SKI lager and its huge outdoor space. Cocoon Brewing, a little further away, is the new kid on the block with a chill, retro atmosphere.