Even though I have now been located in Northern Illinois for a number of years, Rice Lake, Wisconsin is perhaps one of my favorite places to stop when I have to travel through the upper Midwest. The dining opportunities there are many and one great example is The Country Inn. The Rice Lake area has always had a very comfortable small-town feel and the people there are all genuinely friendly.
Always a Full Parking Lot
Unfortunately, my stays are never long enough to sample more than the few that have become my go-to venues for dinner when I am there. Located just a few miles north of the city limits on Route SS. The Country Inn is a “locals” kind of place that seems to always have a full parking lot and waiting list for dinner inside. It’s also very much my kind of place.
The Restaurant Was All but Empty
This past Sunday was a bit different: the Packer (Playoff) game was on TV and the restaurant was all but empty. We were one of only three tables there for dinner and were seated at a table right next to the glowing heat from the gas logs in the fireplace. The warmth was a welcome change from the bitter cold outside. The temperature was close to zero and the chill from the wind was biting.
Salad Bar a Perfect Example
A full-of-many-choices salad bar is definitely a prerequisite for any place that would classify – at least for me – as a supper club. I believe Wisconsin has some of the best supper clubs in the country. The Country Inn definitely classifies and its salad bar is a perfect example. If I select something from the menu that doesn’t include it, I always ask to have it added to my dinner. Tonight was no exception.
There were plenty of warm rolls, several varieties of home-made soups, a huge bowl of fresh, bright spinach with hot bacon dressing (also home-made), and another huge bowl of crunchy Iceberg lettuce. There were at least a dozen or more “extras” for toppings and sides, along with several home-made salad dressings. One of my favs is the tuna & shells salad: always fresh and tasty! Two trips to the salad bar are always the norm for me.
Dinner Selections: Excellent
Even though the dining room was practically empty, our dinners were not rushed out to us; timing was perfect. The menu is extensive, and making a choice is always difficult when that is the case. But Lauren selected the Broiled Cod and Fried Shrimp Combo (it included the salad bar) and I ordered a Prime Rib Sandwich and fries (plus the salad bar, of course).
The large portion of cod was just a tad overcooked but still very tasty. There were three jumbo shrimp, breaded, deep-fried and tender. My prime rib sandwich consisted of a very large portion of beef on a Hoagie roll. It was a perfect medium-rare doneness and quite possibly the most tender piece of prime rib I have had in a long while. It was definitely fork cut-able with plenty of great flavor! The French fries were home-made – something that is a real rarity these days – crispy and hot and certainly made to order. Neither of us could quite finish our excellent dinners.
Memories to Keep Us Warm
Although numerous owners through the years have come and gone, The Country Inn has been in that same location, serving great food and cocktails for a long, long time. I sincerely hope they continue to do the same for many, many more years. Next time we’re in the area, we’ll be back for sure. The wind outside had not let up and the temperature was once again dropping. But the memory of a great Wisconsin Supper Club dinner was enough to keep us warm for quite a while. And a decisive Packer victory only added to the warmth. I Give Country Inn 4 Zins.
Your Table is Waiting…
Ralph Pancetta
The Country Inn is located at 2499 County Hwy SS in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. In 2020, the restaurant was renamed Kincaid’s Country Inn by the new owners, Christian and Jessica Kinkaid.
