Unearth The Voyage
Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and if you love cheese, this state is your paradise. From squeaky fresh curds to gooey grilled sandwiches, Wisconsin restaurants serve up cheese in ways that will make your taste buds dance. Whether you’re visiting Madison, Milwaukee, or small towns in between, these spots offer the ultimate cheese experience that no dairy fan should miss.
1. The Old Fashioned – Madison
Located right on Capitol Square, this Madison favorite has earned its reputation as one of the state’s top cheese destinations. Travel experts and food critics consistently rank their beer-battered white cheddar curds among Wisconsin’s absolute best, praising the light batter and incredible squeak that signals perfect freshness.
Beyond curds, the menu celebrates Wisconsin’s dairy heritage with creamy beer cheese soup, cheese-topped burgers, and classic bratwurst. Pair your meal with a local craft beer for the full experience.
Start with an order of curds served with house-made sauces like paprika or tiger sauce. Then move on to a juicy burger and wash it all down with a Wisconsin brew. This spot perfectly captures what makes the state’s cheese culture so special and beloved.
2. Mars Cheese Castle – Kenosha
You can’t miss this castle-shaped landmark sitting right off Interstate 94 in Kenosha. Mars Cheese Castle combines a massive cheese shop, bakery, full bar, and deli all under one roof, making it a true cheese lover’s paradise.
Inside, you’ll find hundreds of Wisconsin cheeses available for sampling, including fresh squeaky curds and regional specialties you won’t find anywhere else. The sit-down deli area serves hot grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese-heavy subs, and snacks that pair beautifully with Wisconsin beer.
Order a custom cheese board or a melty grilled cheese to enjoy on-site, then stock up on bags of fresh curds for your journey. Whether you’re passing through or making a special trip, this unique destination delivers an unforgettable cheese shopping and dining experience all in one convenient stop.
3. Lakefront Brewery – Milwaukee
This riverside Milwaukee brewery has become legendary not just for its beer tours, but for serving some of the city’s most celebrated cheese curds. Food writers across the state praise these classic beer-battered beauties for their perfect gooey texture and crispy golden coating.
Half-pound portions arrive hot and fresh, served with creamy garlic ranch for dipping. What makes Lakefront extra special is their rotating Curd of the Month program, featuring creative flavors like birthday-cake curds for their anniversary and special releases for National Cheese Curd Day.
Take the popular brewery tour first to work up your appetite and learn about Milwaukee’s brewing history. Then settle into the beer hall with an order of regular curds plus whatever wild monthly flavor they’re featuring. It’s the perfect combination of Milwaukee’s two greatest contributions to American food culture.
4. Camino – Milwaukee
Milwaukee locals know that Walker’s Point neighborhood hides some serious cheese treasures, and Camino tops many lists. This craft-beer bar proudly claims to serve the city’s best curds, and after one bite, you’ll understand why people believe it.
They source their curds from Clock Shadow Creamery and hand-bread each one in a light, crispy breadcrumb crust that sets them apart from typical beer-battered versions. Served with unique dipping options like Russian dressing or spicy giardiniera aioli, these curds offer a flavor experience you won’t find elsewhere.
The pub menu goes all-in on cheese with beer-cheese-smothered fries, loaded sandwiches, and creative specials. Order the famous curds alongside a local draft beer, and if you’re still hungry, add their IPA fries drowned in house-made beer cheese sauce for the ultimate indulgent meal.
5. West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe – West Allis & Milwaukee
What began as a simple cheese shop has grown into a beloved cafe and deli with locations in West Allis and Milwaukee’s Public Market. This family-owned business brands itself as your one-stop destination for artisan cheese, quality meats, and delicious sit-down dining all in one convenient place.
The cafe menu features hearty breakfast plates, loaded grilled cheese sandwiches, and comforting Wisconsin classics that showcase local dairy. Meanwhile, the shop side offers an impressive selection of Wisconsin cheeses ranging from fresh curds to aged cheddars and specialty varieties.
Order a melty grilled cheese sandwich or a breakfast plate featuring local cheese, then browse the retail section for curds and aged cheddar to take home. It’s the perfect setup for anyone who wants to enjoy a great meal while also stocking up on Wisconsin’s finest dairy products for later.
6. Craftsman Table & Tap – Middleton
Middleton’s neighborhood favorite has built a serious reputation around its award-winning cheese curds. Both the restaurant and recent travel features consistently highlight these curds as the star attraction that keeps locals and visitors coming back for more.
Craftsman uses premium Carr Valley curds and coats them in a flavorful ale batter that delivers the perfect crunch-to-gooey-cheese ratio. The cozy pub atmosphere makes it feel like your favorite local hangout, complete with an excellent craft-beer list featuring Wisconsin breweries.
Order their famous curds as soon as you sit down, then pair them with a Wisconsin beer flight to sample several local brews. The combination of top-notch curds, quality beer, and welcoming neighborhood vibe makes this the ideal suburban Madison cheese stop. It’s proof that you don’t need to be downtown to find outstanding Wisconsin dairy.
7. Tipsy Cow – Madison
Travel guides and local families consistently call Tipsy Cow one of Madison’s quirkiest bars, where the cheese curds have achieved near-legendary status. Online reviews literally title their curd experiences as best in Wisconsin, and that’s saying something in a state obsessed with this dairy delicacy.
Generous baskets arrive piping hot, with that perfect squeaky texture inside a golden crispy coating. They pair beautifully with juicy burgers and the extensive selection of local beers on tap.
The lively downtown location right off Capitol Square makes it easy to combine with other cheese stops like The Old Fashioned or Graze for a mini curd crawl through Madison. Order the classic burger and curds combo for a satisfying meal that represents everything great about Wisconsin bar food. This is the kind of place where locals bring out-of-town guests to show off what makes Madison’s food scene so fun and delicious.
8. Graze – Madison
Overlooking Wisconsin’s beautiful Capitol building, Graze brings a farm-to-table approach to classic cheese curds. This gastropub has earned mentions on TasteAtlas and countless local roundups for elevating curds from bar snack to something fancy yet still wonderfully comforting.
Their house-made curds appear repeatedly in best-of lists, with reviews praising them as wonderful examples of what happens when quality ingredients meet skilled preparation. The creative comfort-food menu features Wisconsin cheese throughout, and the craft cocktail program rivals anything you’ll find in bigger cities.
Order the curds first, then add a Graze burger for a satisfying meal. Request a table by the big windows for stunning Capitol views while you eat. The combination of elevated food, beautiful setting, and serious attention to Wisconsin’s dairy heritage makes this spot perfect for both special occasions and casual cheese adventures around Madison’s downtown area.
9. Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. – Madison Area
This local brewpub mini-chain operates several Madison-area locations, each serving their signature Old Glory Cheese Curds as a menu headliner. These aren’t your average curds: over half a pound of Ellsworth curds get battered in American pale ale and served with zesty Hatch chili crema for a southwestern kick.
Beyond the classic curd platter, Great Dane features curds in creative ways, including loaded poutine that transforms this Canadian dish into a Wisconsin masterpiece. The full lineup of craft beers brewed in-house provides perfect pairing options.
Order the Old Glory Cheese Curds for your table to share as an appetizer. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the curd-topped poutine to experience these squeaky bites in a completely different style. The combination of house-brewed beer and generous curd portions makes any Great Dane location a solid choice for satisfying your cheese cravings.
10. Decatur Dairy – Brodhead
South-central Wisconsin’s Decatur Dairy operates as both a working creamery and a cheese-focused cafe, offering a true farm-to-table experience. Their fresh curds have claimed top honors at the World Champion Cheese Contest in both 2022 and 2024, proving that small-town Wisconsin still produces world-class dairy products.
The cafe serves made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches with creative names like the Three Mouseketeer and On Wisconsin, each oozing with their award-winning cheeses. A picnic area lets you enjoy your meal right beside the creamery where your cheese was made just hours earlier.
Order one of their famous grilled-cheese sandwiches plus a bag of warm, squeaky-fresh curds straight from the production line. This is as close as you can get to eating cheese right from the source. The authentic creamery experience combined with championship-winning cheese makes Decatur Dairy a must-visit for serious cheese enthusiasts.
11. Mullins Cheese – Knowlton (near Mosinee)
Right off Interstate 39, this family-run cheese factory appears on countless curd maps and road-trip guides as the perfect highway stop for fresh cheese. Mullins operates both a retail shop stocked with Wisconsin specialties and a small snack bar serving fried curds and simple hot items.
The real treasure here is the factory-fresh curds, often still warm and squeaking from recent production. You can buy bags of plain squeaky curds or order them fried from the counter for immediate eating.
The selection extends beyond curds to include block cheeses in various flavors, regional specialties, and everything you need to stock a cooler for a Wisconsin road trip. Grab warm curds to munch on immediately, then fill your cooler with flavored curds and aged cheeses for later. It’s the ideal quick stop that gives you both instant gratification and provisions for the rest of your journey through America’s Dairyland.
12. Renard’s Cheese & Melt Bistro – Sturgeon Bay (Door County)
Door County’s Renard’s represents four generations of cheesemaking expertise, with their artisan cheese shop connected directly to Melt Bistro. This setup gives visitors the best of both worlds: a place to eat cheese-centric meals and a shop to buy their handcrafted products.
Fresh curds arrive from the factory each morning and are marketed as an essential Door County snack that no visitor should miss. Melt Bistro builds its menu around these house-made cheeses, featuring cheese-loaded flatbreads, creative grilled sandwiches, and breakfast items that showcase their dairy craftsmanship.
Order a melty grilled cheese or flatbread from Melt Bistro for lunch, then stock up on curds and aged cheeses from the shop to take back to your Door County cabin or rental. The combination of fresh-from-the-factory curds and chef-prepared cheese dishes makes Renard’s a highlight of any Door County food tour.
13. Lake City Social – Wisconsin Dells
Located right on Wisconsin Dells Parkway, Lake City Social serves casual family-friendly food with a serious cheese focus. Travel outlets have highlighted their golden cheese curds and especially their cheese-curd cheeseburger that locals claim might be the best burger in the entire state.
The Loaded Curd Burger takes cheese obsession to new heights: deep-fried curds piled on top of a beef patty, then drowned in white-cheddar cheese sauce, topped with bacon, and finished with everything seasoning, all served on a soft pretzel bun. It’s gloriously over-the-top in the best possible way.
After a long day at the waterparks, this is exactly the kind of comfort food your family will crave. Order the Loaded Curd Burger to experience one of the Dells’ most indulgent cheese creations, and pair it with something from their strong Wisconsin beer list. It’s proof that the Dells offers more than just tourist attractions.
14. Braywood – Eagle River
Up north in Eagle River, Braywood combines lakeside views with some of the best cheese curds in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region. What sets their curds apart is the batter: they use New Glarus Spotted Cow beer, giving these bites a distinctly Wisconsin flavor that regional food writers repeatedly praise.
The result is curds with serious crunch on the outside and perfectly gooey cheese inside, all enjoyed with views of the water. The classic Northwoods atmosphere features burgers, fresh salads, live music on weekends, and a dockside setting that makes you feel like you’re truly up north.
Order a generous basket of their beer-battered curds and grab a drink to enjoy on the patio at sunset. The combination of quality cheese, beautiful lakeside setting, and relaxed Up North Wisconsin vibe makes Braywood the perfect spot to unwind after a day of fishing, boating, or exploring Eagle River’s natural beauty.
15. Culver’s – Statewide
Ending with a chain might seem unusual, but Culver’s is a Wisconsin original that has made quality cheese curds accessible across the entire state. The company exclusively sources fresh yellow and white Wisconsin cheddar from LaGrander’s Hillside Dairy in Stanley, ensuring consistent quality at every location.
Their golden-fried curds deliver a gooey center wrapped in buttery crunch, and they’re available at dozens of locations throughout Wisconsin and beyond. Culver’s takes cheese seriously, running seasonal promotions like Curdtoberfest and even creating the CurderBurger, which stacks extra cheese and curds on top of their signature ButterBurger.
Order a ButterBurger with a side of cheese curds for the fast-food version of the Wisconsin cheese dream. While local cheese shops and brewpubs offer unique experiences, Culver’s proves that you can find quality Wisconsin curds even when you’re in a hurry or traveling through small towns without specialty cheese spots.
