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High Rock Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
232 BroadwayWisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 254-5677
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
60 reviews for High Rock Cafe
Review Highlights
"Be sure to try the garlic tater tots."
(in 8 reviews)
"Esmeralda salad is yummy along with the Ah Hi Tuna."
(in 1 review)
"...awesome - just enough spice, creamy goat cheese - fabulous."
(in 4 reviews)
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60 reviews in English
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Review from sarah g.
Villa Park, IL
11/29/2011
Yep. 5 stars. They're that fantastic.
I'm from Chicago and so I know how food is done right. It was my first time to the Dells, and I was super annoyed by the overall kitschyness of a lot of the restaurants. All fried foods or pizza bars with a less than appealing atmosphere.
High Rock Cafe is NOT that. High Rock should open up a spot in Chicago because I know people would appreciate their SUPER friendly and informative service and their seriously hit-the-spot comfort foods.
I love sweet potatoes. And it was just my luck that their current Winter specials include the Dallas Sandwich, which is a grilled chicken sandwich with mashed sweet potato spread and chipotle aioli sauce, sweet potato fries, AND sweet potato pie!
ALL of it was good. The meat on the sandwich was succulent and not over-grilled, the veggies (spinach and tomato) were fresh, the chipotle sauce added a perfect kick, and the garlic tat or tots were heaven. Everything tasted FRESH and EXACTLY how it was described on the menu. When you order something, you know exactly what you are getting!
The sweet potato pie was also amazing. It's very small (definitely can't split it), but the dough was soft, flakey, and buttery and the sweet potato filling was just the right level of sweetness.
The staff was incredibly friendly and the atmosphere at High Rock is nice. The upper level gives you a view of the downtown stretch and there are white christmas lights hanging. It's a very cozy place. -
Review from Susie A.
12/2/2011
We have stopped here twice on our drive through Wisconsin just because it has a neat reasonably priced menu (wraps, salads, sandwiches, pasta), nice atmosphere, and terrific service.
When you walk in the door there is a full set of stairs to the second floor where you can sit overlooking the street full of gift shops. Great view! Or you can stay on the lower level and sit at the new cool zinc (I think) bar.
Atmosphere and amazing friendly service! Aren't those two things super essential to a fun dining experience?! -
Review from Bryan V.
Milwaukee, WI
11/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is one of those places where it's hard to find something bad on the menu. Everything is delicious! I stumbled upon HR while up in the Dells for work and was looking to avoid the normal tourist traps. Yelp definitely helped me on this one.
I had the braised pork belly for dinner one night and it was amazing. It's a dish that you never want to end. Dinner was so good that I had to stop in for lunch the following day. I had the soprano sandwich with the tots.. The tots are so GOOD. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try. You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Tiffany J.
Oshkosh, WI
1/28/2012
Great food and staff
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Review from Annemarie D.
Milwaukee, WI
This place is hip oasis in a tacky universe. Great ambiance. They have a very ambitious menu and there's something for everyone. I ordered the Rio Grande wrap which is chicken breast, avocado, bacon, lettuce and corn salsa. The menu also mentions ranch dressing with it. I don't know if it was already in the wrap or should have come with mine. The sandwich was just ok. I think ranch dressing would have livened it up perfectly though. I paid extra and got the tater tots as my side. They are great. Crispy tots served with Parmesan and garlic. Service was attentive and friendly. It's pricey for what you get but this is the Dells. I would go back and give them another try.
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Review from Sofia J.
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy, not tourist-trappy, well priced!
We got the Gilly Goat to start (sooo good)
Prime rib sandwich, wrap with shrimp and goat cheese, both a hit and under $10! Comes with yummy kettle chips or a $2 substitution, like a cup of soup and if your soup du jour is the Moroccan, Get That!!!! It's a gem at this place! -
Review from Jennifer M.
Arlington Heights, IL
10/16/2011
Usually I like to eat decently healthy (okay, except on vacation of course!), and try none-chain places locally wherever I'm staying. After spending a few days in the Wisconsin Dells, which is a total mecca of fried food, burgers, pizza and the like, my body was craving something without quite so much fryer oil, and perhaps some vegetables!
I found High Rock on Yelp - THANKS! We were not disappointed, as it was exactly what we were looking for.
The appetizers we had were the Gilly Goat (goat cheese with a glaze of peppers, roasted garlic, served with toasted sour dough), Potstickers (with greens and chili orange marmalade), and the Bruschetta (my Dad often gets this, everything was very fresh and flavorful). Everything was really good, and we particularly liked the marmalade with the pot stickers, a little twist from the norm that worked well.
For main courses, I had the pork belly which was well executed, with a delicious blend of seasonings with a little kick, that worked well with the sweet potato mash and vegetables. My Mom had the whiskey short ribs, again very tender, and the portion was HUGE. Having said that, she didn't have any trouble finding other takers at our table to "help" her finish! My husband and Dad both had different fish specials, one was a whole river trout, the other had skate wing, classically prepared with a beurre blanc sauce.
As if we didn't have enough food already, no one could resist ordering dessert either. Our table ended up with the pop rocks cheesecake which was massive, we failed a bit because we didn't quite have the room to finish it! Oops. In addition, we had the cupcake of the day (vanilla bean with pomegranate buttercream frosting) served with creme anglaise, and the toasted coconut pannacotta. I did think the cupcake was a little bit dry, but the flavor was good.
They do serve a good variety of wine and local beers to help wash everything down. We liked it so much that we went back the following night as well. The price point was actually very good for a meal of this quality. The service was friendly and the atmosphere casual.
Best place I ate at in the Dells by far. Great job. -
Review from Jacqui B.
Carol Stream, IL
12/12/2011
This place was AMAZING!
My boyfriend and I took a last minute trip to the Dells (from Chicago) over thanksgiving weekend just for the fun of it, and once we got there we realized the choices in restaurants were either a) fried greasy food, or b) super expensive steakhouses that didn't have very good reviews.
I came across this gem on Yelp, and after reading the great reviews, we decided to give it a shot.
It was AMAZING! Our waitress the first night, Debbie, suggested we try the Gilly Goat, and we were automatically won over. Better still, she told us where to get Gilly's sauce to make that one at home! Our food was UNBELIEVABLE! Because we loved dinner so much, we ended up eating there for lunch the next day, dinner that night, and lunch the following day. We dined there 4 times in 36 hours. By the 4th visit, they threw in a desert on the house.
My boyfriend and I are both foodies, and we have a hard time picking from such an amazing menu, so we ended up sharing a lot.
Our favorites:
Gilly Goat appetizer
Cusabi wrap
Soprano sandwich
Bacon wrapped scallops
Butternut squash ravioli (can't remember the name, and now it seems to have disappeared off the menu).
Pop rock's cheesecake
My boyfriend and I are looking forward to going back sometime in the near future. We might just make the trip to the Dells JUST to eat there! -
Review from Unyime E.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite restaurants in the Dells. They have an excellent, affordable wine list and the appetizers are done by the book. You know exactly what you're getting when you order, which allows you to order anything on the menu with no trepidation. I've been here a few times over the past couple weeks and I am always very satisfied with their specials of the day. One day I had cedar-planked salmon with grilled veggies and couscous. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and what I especially liked was the butter flavor in every bite with the crisp of the nice sear. The server also recommended an excellent pinot noir to match the dish.
Unfortunately, I never do dessert here as there is an excellent candy shop across the street with saltwater taffy and Oreo bark. Regardless, this restaurant is a welcome respite from the general gimmickry of the restaurants in Wisconsin Dells area. A nice place to take a date, as well as enjoy a normal meal with your family. Enjoy! -
Review from Jason P.
Buffalo Grove, IL
9/7/2011
I haven't written very many reviews over the years, but I had to write and say how much my family and I enjoyed our dinner at High Rock Cafe. The Dells has a lot of kitschy, blah food and this place has NONE OF THAT! The orders came out of the kitchen stylish and had our party continually saying to ourselves, "What is that dish? It looks amazing!".
As far as our meal was concerned, everyone thoroughly enjoyed everything, but my son and I shared what I would consider to be some of the best hummus (homemade, of course) that I have ever tasted. I could have eaten that all night! It even came with tomatoes and cucumbers. My only complaint is that they charged us for extra pita bread. There definitely wasn't enough on the plate for the amount of yummy hummus that they gave us (hmmm... maybe that was the plan!)
I tasted everything that my family ate (a pasta dish with pesto, a chicken wrap, and my delicious Soprano sandwich chock full of shrimp and bacon). It was truly a step WELL ABOVE the usual Dells fare. As someone who travels to WD regularly and has had trouble finding yummy, upscale (but not too pricy) food, you can bet we will travel back to High Rock Cafe very soon! -
Review from Johnnie E.
Gonzales, TX
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ate here during our recent visit to the Dells from Texas. Food was good. Our family had the ahi tuna appetizer, a pear salad, a zeplin wrap, the mac & cheese, and the wisconsin pride pasta, 2 sodas, a tea and 2 glasses wine. Everything was really good, although I would have liked a little more blue cheese in the pear salad's vinaigrette. I would eat here again, it's a little bit pricey at $75, but for the Dells, I guess comparable. I would have preferred eating at a table, but in the interest of time we chose bar seating in the front window. If nothing else, it was good for people watching. In addition, do not choose the garlic tater tots unless you do not intend to speak to anyone else for the rest of the day! They were good, but definately a breath buster!
2nd Day update: We ate here for lunch the next day with some friends. Food was still good, but the margarita's we ordered were not good and took FOREVER to arrive. Still overall was one of the better restaurants we ate at. -
Review from Nina I.
So while on vacation in Wisconsin me and my boyfriend picked this little restaurant one afternoon just by looking at it from the outside. Its theme was inspired by an actual location called "High Rock" and although I'm not very clear on the history of it I know that it had to do with the Native Americans in the area. I thought it was a great idea.
When we walked in the atmosphere was amazing and all of the employees were so nice. It felt like they WANTED to work there. Our waitress was wonderful as well. I had been looking for a blended peach bellini all over town and although they didn't have it on the menu she went out of her way to make one for me since they had a blender behind the bar.
Aside from the drinks the food was really good. It tasted fresh and homemade (as we later found out it WAS all freshly made every day).
Overall my experience was excellent and if I go back to Wisconsin any time soon I will definitly eat there again! -
Review from Phannie P.
Milwaukee, WI
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wanted me a piece of meat. Prime rib in fact.
This place came highly recommended by the B&B we stayed at, and High Rock has a pretty popular Saturday night special.
Unfortunately, our initial impression left a bad taste in our mouth for the whole meal. The hostess was high-strung and RUDE. Not only that, but when we asked if the prime rib special was still available, she snapped, "No, we're all out" and pretty much shooed us away. Didn't even bother checking with the actual kitchen staff.
We decided to ignore her rudeness and waited for an open table to grab tapas (available after 8:30pm) for dinner instead. Ended up grabbing a seat at the bar, and when we asked the bartender about prime rib, he also said, "uhhh...I think we're all out." Again - didn't check.
As it happened, prime rib WAS still available!! WTH??
In the end, I got my piece of meat. Just wished the hostess and server weren't so lazy about finding out. (How hard is it to ask?)
Low down:
-Prime rib special: good
-Duck Entree: meat was dry and wiry
-Wine martini mango: tasty
-New old fashion: orange wine instead of bourbon. Not that great.
Hopefully you'll get a different hostess. Hopefully she won't make you feel unweclomed. Hopefully you'll get a knowledgeable server.
Hopefully. -
Review from Angela H.
Plainfield, IL
8/8/2011
My mouth is watering thinking about the beer cheese soup. And the steak wrap with jalapenos and cheese.
The food isn't greasy. It has a gourmet taste to it, and is cooked to perfection. The menu has so many options. Great wine list.
This is a more elegant dining option, but still casual, for the Dells. Another nice break from greasy bar food or buffets. Probably not a great place to go with kids.
Our waitress was attentive and talkative, although we had started our bar crawl prior to visiting High Rock. So we were a bit chatty and buzzed...
Go to High Rock for dinner, skip whatever place you were thinking about because you had a coupon in that travel guide you got at your hotel! -
Review from Jay F.
6/22/2011
This place is a wonderful breath of fresh food in a sea of tourist trap restaurants. Everything we ordered was top notch in quality. The server even had a super thick WI accent - and heck, I'm originally from here!
Definitely try the garlic tater tots. Outstanding. Expect to pay $16-30 for entrees, but again, well, well worth it! -
Review from Emily K.
Racine, WI
8/2/2011
I never would have expected such a wonderful place in the Dells. We randomly stopped there on our way up North and was treated to an awesome dinner. Plenty for everyone to choose from, including a vegetarian! That never happens in Wisconsin...
Our server was great, attentive but not a pain. She recommended a nice wine too!
If you enjoy cheesecake, try the Pop Rock's cheesecake. It's weird and wonderful! -
Review from Allen A.
Livermore, CA
11/22/2011
First of all, I would like to thank all of you Yelpers for leading me to this restaurant. I totally would have missed out if I hadn't gone here.
When we first got to the restaurant, I didn't really like the mixed decor of christmas, thanksgiving, and the modern stationary decor, so we were seated upstairs.
To start off, the place has great service. Our waitress, Amy, was great! She was very attentive and talkative throughout the whole dinner. I don't think the experience would have been the same if she hadn't been in the room.
My parents ordered The Wisconsin Old Fashion as a drink. They said it was very good, however, you don't need a lot before you start to feel a little out of it.
For our first coarse, I had the Wangler Salad, which was AWESOME! This place takes things that you don't think will work out and make them work!For our entree, I had the Salmon. Perfectly cooked, awesome idea with the brie and cranberry melot sauce. For dessert, we had the chocolate cupcake. OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! The BEST Cupcake I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a place where you try to find something bad on the menu, but it you ordered every dish there, everything would be cooked perfectly!!
Next time your in Dells, come here, or you'll miss out! -
Review from Michael G.
Rockville, MD
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
After experiencing all the kitsch that the Wisconsin Dells could throw at me for over 24 hours, I didn't expect much from this place. High Rock Cafe? Surely this is just a clever name to draw in marks reminiscing about that touristy rock-and-roll restaurant. How wrong was I? High Rock is actually one of the impressive sandstone formations on the Wisconsin River in the Upper Dells. And this restaurant is an equally impressive dining facility in the midst of a touristy mecca.
The mood is supposed to evoke a western U.S. desert bohemian theme (think New Mexico). And while the Grateful Dead wafting from overhead while I'm there was pretty painful, it thankfully didn't ruin my appetite.
Which is good because the portion of my Wisconsin's Pride Pasta - a secret recipe, rich herb-filled red sauce with three fresh white cheese all over the top to celebrate Badger colors - was huge! And the cheese was something that the chefs could be prideful about as well. Each bite contained flavors that I had been waiting for through my metaphorically but not literally cheesy experience up until that point.
I did make the mistake of ordering their delicious vegetable soup of the day. I only say it was a mistake because I ended up too full to order their famous Pop Rocks Cheesecake. Or any other dessert in the desert setting. At least the server warned me to only get a cup of it and not a bowl.
In fact, the serving staff here was incredibly friendly in general. This amazed me since even in the off-season, the place was booming. Mine took time to share a story with every table she was servicing while still filling all the waters in a timely manner. It was the best of a small town diner in the best of a slightly upscale restaurant.
Now the prices for food are a bit higher than a lot of places around the Dells but for around $20, I left perfectly satisfied. And the couple of dollars extra were worth it for the views out their second story window of the sunset. Honestly, the experience was better than two Ducks tours (and a little cheaper than one). Given the choice, I'd choose High Rock over a day at a water park filled with screaming kids every time!Listed in: Run For The Borders, "Grownup" In The Dells
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Review from Tabitha D.
Milwaukee, WI
3/20/2011
What a pleasant surprise! We went here for lunch on a recommendation from our hotel and we were glad we did!
All the ingredients were soooooo fresh! They have a small menu but for the first time in a long time, I had trouble choosing what I wanted. I got their version of a french dip which was fantastic! Their coffee was a great blend as well. :)
As for the service--we could have been at a fine dining restaurant.
Next time I'm in the dells, I will make sure and return! -
Review from Michelle H.
Bolingbrook, IL
1/3/2011
In a land of all-you-can-eat buffets, and cheesy (but good-sometimes) themed restaurants, this establishment was a very welcome change. On a corner in busy Downtown Wisconsin Dells, the bottom floor of this place is mainly bar, but upstairs is the dining room. Nice decor, well spaced seating, and excellent service made for a very impressive dining experience.
Their beer and wine listings are rather extensive, but our knowledgeable waitress was able to help everyone choose. We ordered corn fritters for an appetizer, and they were warm goblets of creamy corn goodness! The presentation was rather strange, served on a bed of bean sprouts. As for my main entree. On the menu, it was called the Corn Sandwich (they had fall, corn themed items on special). It was a rare roast beef sandwich with red onions and a corn salsa served on fresh potato bread, with a side of chips. I also had the baked French onion soup. Both the sandwich and the soup were possibly the best I have ever eaten. I kid you not.
On to dessert. Cheesecake is the name of the game, and damned, does this place win! Eli's, you can go suck it, because this place has you beat! Every day, they have a special recipe cheesecake. On the night we were there, they had Root beer Float cheesecake, and Strawberry Pop Rocks cheesecake. We ordered a slice of each. While the Pop Rocks cheesecake was an interesting oral experience, the Root beer Float cheesecake was off the charts!
The prices are a bit more expensive than other places, but well worth it. This particular location has gone through many changes throughout the years I've been visiting the Dells, but I do hope this establishment has the stamina to make it through, because I am looking forward to becoming a repeat customer!Listed in: Beyond the Cheddar Curtain
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Review from j j.
Philadelphia, PA
9/22/2011
This was one of my favorites in the Dells. We placed our orders to-go and brought the food back to the room when we wanted to spend our time enjoying the amusement park or wanted to eat in our room.
I tried a couple of salads and they were all good. The steak salad was my favorite. The homemade adult mac and cheese is really delicious. The pasta was just the right texture and the sauce was smooth and creamy. And the dessert selection was very unusual, featuring things like a pomegranate cupcake or cheese with pop rocks.
The only thing I didn't understand is why they would serve homemade mac and cheese to adults and Kraft mac and cheese to kids. I had to order the adult portion in order to avoid feeding my child highly processed food. I didn't mind, because I got to enjoy it too. But it bugs me when restaurants serve cheap, processed food to children instead of the homemade stuff that is not only healthier, but tastes so much better.
This was a go-to place during our stay, that offered friendly service, a varied menu and very good food at reasonable prices. -
Review from Phoebe W.
2/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to like this place because its one of the only places open in the Dells during the off season that isn't completely over the top cheesy or wilderness themed. The service was good, but the food was downright MEH! I had the loaded potato soup which had tons of bacon (yay! how could anything with tons of bacon go wrong?) but was overly salted. Boyfriend had the filet with bacon (more bacon, my hopes were still high) mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, and veggies. I had the the salad with roasted tri-tip, black beans, corn, pico de gallo etc. Boyfriend liked his filet, but barely touched his veggies or potatoes. I supplemented my bland salad & tri-tip with bites of his overly salted veggies & mashed potatoes.
I like this idea of this place, but I think they should stop trying to be gourmet and focus on getting the simple things, such as not oversalting dishes, on the right track. -
Review from Peter S.
Deerfield, IL
7/12/2011
This is my new favorite place to eat, whenever visiting the Wisconsin Dells. I enjoy visiting the Dells, Lake Delton and Baraboo area, but I've found most restaurants to be pretty decent, to just awful. But, that's the nature of a tourist trap. High Rock Cafe seems to bust out of that rut. The menu is small, but very diverse. Everything my party ordered looked good, and was very well received. We all enjoyed the hummus very much, and were talking about it days later. My dinner - the El Cerdo Chimichanga - was incredible. It featured fresh ingredients, was well prepared, and it was able to fill even my enormous appetite. It's a small 2-story cafe, that's very nicely decorated, and has a great view of Broadway. The High Rock Cafe is now on my "must visit" list, whenever I go back to the Dells.
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Review from Amanda P.
Overland Park, KS
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Shangsi salad was awesome. The other person in my party had a chicken wrap that was also very good. This place is a must go in the Wisconsin Dells.
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Review from Dave S.
9/29/2010
Well I am busting my brains to find one shred of negativity about this place. I mean nothing is perfect but I can't find a single solitary remotely negative thing to say about this place It was that good! Let me elaborate.
The service was top notch! Our server did an outstanding job. She was very knowledgeable and really friendly. Everyone we came in contact here was very welcoming and friendly. The place is very nicely decorated with lots of window which gave a very good view of downtown Wisconsin Dells.
We started out with the corn fritters which were lightly fried with a hint of sweetness. They were delicious! I then had a loaded baked potato soup which was had a nice creamy consistency with a perfect blend of flavors. Along with their regular menu which is very extensive, they also have a seasonal menu. This menu features different items that are in season depending on when you visit. Since we came in September, the focus of the seasonal menu was on corn
I ordered the corn sandwich with chips. The sandwich was OUTSTANDING! it was thin sliced rare roast beef with a corn salsa on a multi-grain cheese encrusted bread. Kudos to the chef on this one. The flavors worked wonderfully together. For dessert we all shared a couple of the cheesecake slices; pop rocks and root beer. The pop rocks was good but not really my thing but the root beer was off the charts!
It makes me kind of sad that I live so far away from this place. I am not sure if the chef or owner is going to read my review but if you decide to open a place in Chicago, I will be outside your door waiting for you to open on opening day!Listed in: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
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Review from dan f.
12/27/2010
I've eaten at a lot of nice restaurants all over the US and this is one of the best. The flavors that came out of every course were just spectacular. And to top it off, the price is not sky-high despite the amazing quality of the food. This is definitely my top recommendation for a great meal in the Dells. They have everything from good beer list, wine list and great deserts.
The service was excellent and they keep convenient hours even in the dead of winter. -
Review from Steven D.
Milwaukee, WI
7/4/2011
Holy cow! Everything I put in my mouth at this restaurant was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend the house loaded potato soup. I had the rawhide sandwich, and it was possibly the best steak sandwich I've ever had! Highly recommended!
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Review from Patricia K.
Chicago, IL
First night in the Dells found us STARVING. But we didn't want to go the easy burger-and-fry route. We wanted something a bit more upscale. After reading the reviews, we chose High Rock Cafe.
Because we were so hungry, we got down to business and skipped the appetizers. I ordered the "Airliner" which was herbed pan seared chicken breast served over blue cheese whipped potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a savory smoked tomato buerre blanc. The combination of flavors and textures was amazing and I ate way more than my tummy should have been able to handle. I even tried a bit of Jason's turduckin - which I've never had before and now am believing is a damn shame because it was downright delicious!
One thing to note is that High Rock Cafe doesn't have a liquor license so their drinks are limited to wine and wine-based cocktails. Upon hearing that, it was an easy choice to select a carafe of their sangria. Normally, I wouldn't have paired the sangria with our entrees but it went surprisingly well. The cut fruit in our glass was not overpowering but added a little something to the overall meal.
The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly with our children and did a good job of enticing us on the specials (which one of the kids selected) answering any questions we had.Listed in: Goin' to the Dells, baby!
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Review from Alyssa H.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2010
What a wonderful surprise to stumble on this restaurant on our way out of town!
After driving around for a while and deciding that under no circumstances did we want to eat in a place with "Shanty" in its name, we decided to give High Rock a try. If you're looking for some upscale dining in The Dells, this is your place!
The service was stellar from the moment we walked in - everything was prompt, hot, and exactly as described. We started with the Gilly Goat which was awesome - just enough spice, creamy goat cheese - fabulous. The two men got steaks that were perfectly cooked, and us ladies had the Harper pasta - everything was incredible. Be sure to try the garlic tater tots. Wow!
They also offered us tastes of some of the local brews which was greatly appreciated, and our server had excellent recommendations from the menu.
For dessert I can only comment on one, and I'm sorry I don't remember the name of it - it was a lemon-poppy seed iced cake with strawberries and kiwi. Simple, but incredible. The perfect ending to a great meal!
As Chicagoans who are also happy to eat at Denny's, we were stoked to find a place where the food had a lot more thought put into it. We also got to meet the chef/owner, who was happy to chat with us for a bit.
All-in-all it's obvious they care very much about this restaurant (it's family-owned) and I can't recommend High Rock highly enough, especially if you've been eating nothing but funnel cakes for a few days. Trade up - it's worth it! -
Review from Denise G.
Westminster, MD
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very good and great service! Esmeralda salad is yummy along with the Ah Hi Tuna.
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Review from SHERESSE S.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2010
Went on a road trip with a Record company to film some upcoming music videos for some of their current artists. Stopped here after a long day of shooting we were all quite hungry. Decor was nice, the waitress was extremely friendly.
I'm knocking off two stars for a couple of reasons.
Our drinks should not have come 15 minutes after we ordered our food. We were told by the waitress she had to have them made at the bar downstairs when there was infact a bar upstairs too what's the point of that bar? Is it for looks?
Based on everything we ordered everyone agreed that none of our food was as it was described on the menu. I will defiantly say the food here is great, but they need to accurately describe it on the menu because what you get is maybe 50% close to what it is supposed to be.
We each ordered some margaritas and a glass of wine.
I would describe the drinks as $6 tasty drinks and I would swear there was no alcohol content at all.
I will maybe give this place a shot next time I'm in town, but I don't know that it would be my first choice. -
Review from Vince A.
8/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
After looking at the menu and eating the food, this place could be picked up and put in Chicago and be successful. In a space that was like a converted diner, they have created a very good place with upscale food at good prices. We were seated after a short wait on a Monday night. Had the Savannah Rolls which might have been the lowlight of the meal. Think SW Egg Rolls from TGIF. Good, but had before.
For dinner, we shared the esmerelda salad which was a SW themed salad with tri tip steak and the rasta pasta. Both dishes had excellent flavors and the right amount of food for sharing between the two. The pasta was a strong roasted red pepper vodka sauce with cavatappi pasta (which is great for this kind of dish). The salad had honey cilantro lime dressing that was hidden in some bites but came out in others to surprise you.
Service was good, not great. They were pretty busy and I wasn't expecting the waitress on top of us. Definitely a must try in the Dells. -
Review from Dallas G.
Rochester, MN
7/28/2011
If traveling to the Dells, I highly recommend this restaurant. Bring your kids too when all kids meals are 6$ or less. Adult meals are not expensive either between 10-20$ on average ... If fact only one item was over 20$ if I remember right. I had the Turducken and it was fabulous. They even make their own potato chips (and they are delicious). We had to wait a while for a table (over 30 minutes) but was well worth the wait. I will stop here again when I travel to the Dells again.
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Review from Marie B.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I would have given the cafe 5 stars, however I am given them 3 because of the service. The waitress was too busy talking to the hostess while we sat there waiting for the bill. She finally brought the bill to us, then again she began talking to the same hostess and I had to get up to check out.
Other than the service the food was good. I had the Soprano which was excellent. My hubby ordered the Blato a BLT...which they really skimmed on the avocado and it was very bland. He said it was not very good.
The Tator Tots were good. But not great...I still rate the best Tator Tots to be found at Bar Loui (Chicago Location).
So, our experience was not as good as most reviews. -
Review from Samantha L.
Arlington Heights, IL
8/6/2010 4 photos
A random walk through the downtown area of the Dell's brought us to this restaurant. We were intrigued by their late-night tapas menu, but luckily arrived too soon to take part.
A shabby exterior hides this unassuming diamond in the rough. The first floor is mainly taken up by a long bar, with many premium domestic beers on tap (including Sprecher's Root Beer, and Leinenkugels) with a few tables for diners. Upstairs contains a larger dining area - with some tables overlooking the view of the downtown Wisconsin Dells.
Our group thought we would stop in for a quick cheap burger, but our waitress notified us of their seasonal dishes for the month that revolved around the in-season fruit, the blueberry.
One of us opted for the 'Blueby Pasta': 'Chicken, pineapple, blueberry, red onion, and garlic tossed in a light cinnamon cream sauce topped with bleu cheese crumbles' for $13
The other two of us chose the BBQ Braisin Sandwich: 'Braised short rib meat with blueberry bourbon bbq sauce, pepperjack cheese, and red onion on ciabatta bread.' - $10.
Absolutely fantastic. We agreed it was some of the best food we had eaten in a long time. I would gladly go back if we were in the area again.
The only downside that we must be sure to note is the fact that the service was incredibly slow. We inquired several times over the span of two hours to see the tapas menu -which we never received, and water-refills were hard to come by. The waitresses and bartender were all very nice but the service was still a little lackluster. It got to the point that we all left cash just so that we wouldn't have to wait any longer for them to bring back our cards. -
Review from paul c.
Mauston, WI
10/19/2011
This was our 2nd trip to High Rock. I wanted to give it another try since the first was just OK. My wife and I are always looking for decent places to eat that are not chains or burger joints. The atmosphere is good and the café was clean. The hostess was pleasant and our waitress was a joy. When my food arrived, it was cold. There were only about 10 people in the place so I couldn't understand that. I did ask that they throw it in the microwave for a minute but they insisted on remaking it. I understand that but by the time I got my food back, my wife was done eating. She had a chicken sandwich that was tasty but the chicken was very tough. If I had been at home, I would have cut it up and made chicken salad with it. Not very good. My burger was good but the Garlic Tater Tots were not. I asked the waitress when I ordered them how they were and she said "wonderful". They were simply frozen Tots deep fried from a bag with garlic pressed on them and cheese. Warm they were OK, cool, they were horrible. I guess what do I expect out of Tot's right? I guess I was looking for something handmade,,,,,,,, my bad!!! Today, I am still tasting garlic, they were really strong. Eater beware.. I only ate about of them.
I will try the place again because I think the food must be good due to all the good reviews. My wife doesn't eat fried food or red meat so out options are limited around here. -
Review from Carm O.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2011
Went for lunch. Food is just ok, nothing spectacular. Fried Calamari was horrible, potato soup needed salt, the garlic tater tots that everyone raves about are simply that, tater tots with garlic, kind of embarrassed I ordered them. Ahi Tuna appetizer was fantastic. Tuna was cooked perfect and the accompanying sauces were delicious. Caesar salad with chicken was bland. Service was great. Our waitress was very attentive. I wouldn't return.
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Review from Cassandra G.
Madison, WI
6/23/2011
Every time I'm in the Dells, I make it a point to stop here. Before they added the first floor addition, it felt like a secret spot, where you could people watch from the second floor windows overlooking Broadway. Now that they've added the addition, there's plenty of room, but I still always request a seat by the window.
Definitely try the garlic tots and Pop Rocks cheesecake. The only thing I wasn't too excited about was their baked fish on Friday - small piece of fish and 90% of the plate was coleslaw. But other than that, everything I've had there was amazing. The Gilly Goat and hummus plate appetizers alone are reason enough to visit. -
Review from Julie D.
Joliet, IL
6/21/2011
We started out with the crab cakes for an appetizer and they where full of crabby goodness. The soup of the day was cream of asparagus and that was a disappointment, tasted eerily similar to campbells cream of broccoli cup o soup packets. For the main I had the Wisconsin Pride Pasta with chicken. The red sauce tasted like it was freshly made and was very hearty. For dessert we had the pop rock cheesecake which was fun and a cool idea but wasn't all the impressive. We sat upstairs which gave us a great view of downtown. Service was good as well.
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Review from Jeff K.
Wausau, WI
1/3/2009
In the Dells for a day; reviewing Yelp for ideas on place to eat other than all the chains and steak places (with little variety and uninspiring entrees) along the strip. Decided to try High Rock and were pleasantly surprised!
High Rock is in downtown Wisconsin Dells. As Mike H. states it's on the second floor. I forgot to ask if they have an elevator for disabled people to use. There are floor to ceiling windows on two sides. The decor is not fabulous but the overall ambiance is inviting.
Our appetizer was crab cakes with a lovely presentation: Excellent! Not fishy with an tangy sauce drizzled on top. Nice greens with it.
My wife had the pan fried tilapia served on a bed of vegetables (one half) and excellent, crisp cole slaw (the other half). I tried some: excellent.
I had the catch of the day: seared Wahoo with an drizzle of a tasty sauce that I can't compare with the usual tartars or sauces that I have had. It was served on a bed of tasty rice which, in turn, was on a bed of sauteed onions & peppers: excellent!
For desert my wife had Creme Brulee which I tried and was excellent. My desert was a ramekin of freshly baked chocolate cake with a small amount of gooey center. It was OK: 3 stars is all.
My wife had a good wine. They have a variety of beers but no NA beer which I prefer. I'm not sure if mixed drinks available.
The staff is very friendly and seem to enjoy their work. They cooperate with each other. They are fast and efficient.
The place was busy and come kids seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I will definitely go back when we return to the Dells.
