Lake Street Café

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Back-to-Basics Philosophy, Elevated

Since 1999, Lake Street Café has been the kind of place Elkhart Lake visitors return to deliberately. The philosophy is straightforward: make everything from scratch, every day. Breads, desserts, stocks — all made in-house, using fresh ingredients. That commitment to fundamentals, paired with friendly and professional service, is what sets this American restaurant apart in a small Wisconsin lakeside town.

Two Rooms, One Consistent Standard

The café runs two distinctly different dining rooms under one roof. One side is bright and casual, full of color and energy. The other is quieter — white linens, candlelight, and a more intimate atmosphere. Both share a charming detail: menus arrive tucked inside the front covers of old hardcover books, and servers use children's books to present the daily specials. It's a small touch that tends to get the table talking.

The Food

The menu spans a confident range of American cuisine without losing focus. Dinner starters include seared yellowfin tuna with soy-chili sauce and wasabi mayo, seared scallops with lemon beurre blanc and toasted pistachio, and black truffle burrata with frisée and cherry tomatoes. Entrées move through shiitake-crusted chicken breast with shallot mushroom cream, braised beef short rib with cauliflower purée, certified Angus beef tenderloin with Shiraz wine sauce, and grilled lamb chops with goat cheese aligot. The wood-fired pizza menu — nine-inch thin-crust pies including a Prosciutto & Gorgonzola with arugula and blueberries — adds a more relaxed option without feeling like an afterthought.

Lunch brings sandwiches on Sheboygan hard rolls and focaccia, a half-pound Lake Street Burger, and the Persistent Lou's Steak — chopped tenderloin with mushrooms, sautéed onions, and provolone.

The Wine List

The drinks program has earned consistent recognition: the wine list has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence continuously since 2003, with the current listing carrying the Best of Award of Excellence. By the glass, the selection moves from a Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc and Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay to an Alta Vista Malbec and Firesteed Pinot Noir, with an extensive bottle list available on request. House cocktails — a Lavender Basil Smash, Hibiscus Margarita, and Espresso Martini among them — round out the bar with the same care applied to the kitchen.

Worth the Drive

Whether you're in Elkhart Lake for Road America races, a summer on the water, or a quieter winter visit, Lake Street Café offers American cuisine that earns a reservation rather than an afterthought. Guests consistently single out the scallops, the tenderloin, and the overall warmth of the room as reasons to come back.