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Food/Dining : Fish Creek

Whistling Swan Restaurant
4192 Main St
Fish Creek
920-868-3442

In an historic building that was built in 1887 in Marionette Wisconsin, and literally dragged across the frozen bay in 1907 to make its home in Fish Creek, the Whistling Swan Inn has recently added a fine dining restaurant!

In what was a shop on the first floor off the lobby of this magnificent B&B (read our review of the inn), the new folks who purchased the inn in 2003 have added an elegant, fine dining restaurant. And the new owners know the restaurant business, as they have a very successful restaurant in Green Bay.

We stopped in to take a peak at the restaurant to get a feel for it, prior to it opening officially for the 2004 season). The look is refined, yet comfortable – you get a sense of a graceful, sophisticated inn, while still feeling welcomed, casual and comfortable. A wood burning fireplace completes the cozy ambiance.

The Menu

The menu can change daily, but this will give you a sense of what is offered, and how meticulously the food is prepared. You might find a “Roasted corn bisque” soup, or “Grilled Tiger Shrimp over creamy BBQ sauce with a creamy polenta and sweetcorn-spinach saute" for appetizers or for your first tasting.

In the salad arena, you might find one that offers “Appleport organics, mixed green salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, goat cheese, roasted red pepper vinaigrette and balsamic syrup." Very creative flair demonstrated throughout the menu offerings.

Entrees might include some of the following items – all of which sound delightful, and look to be prepared with a genuine chef-focused creativity. Note the variant and unusual sauces – a true sign of greatness! And they have some unusual offerings as well...

Andouille encrusted snapper – mashed potatoes, julienne vegetables, chive aïoli and red hot butter sauce
Caramelized apple stuffed royal berkshire pork chop – nueske’s® smoked bacon, onion and spinach sauté, roasted potato wedges and zante currant gruyere sauce
Grilled Certified Angus Beef® flat iron steak – arugula, pomegranate and walnut salad, bleu cheese potato croquette and herb veal reduction

This just gives you an idea of the attention to detail the Whistling Swan Restaurant offers its dining guests. Creativity is such an important part of cooking and food preparation, and the Whistling Swan Restaurant appears to be “going to the head of the creativity class!” The menu is a la carte, so you can choose exactly what you. As the offerings change often, always check their website for updated menu and price information.

They also have an extended wine list that is especially chosen to match wonderfully with their menu offerings. About 20 wines are offered by the glass, and many more in full bottles from whites, pinot noirs, Italian reds like Barbera and Rosso di Montalcino, Merlots, Zins and even dessert wines. Other drinks, like their owned brewed beers, domestic beers and some imports are also available as well as soft drinks, sparkling water, coffee and teas.

What I Had!
I started off with a glass of Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon - a California 2002 vintage. It was sharp and delightful, with rich color. Served in a large, tall-stemmed wine glass, it looked inviting. The waiter was helpful in selecting a wine that would go with the main course I was ordering.

The fresh bread with rosemary, served with butter, had a crispy crust and fragrant and flavorful center. Light, pleasant music played in the background.

My "First Flavor" section was a Baby Spinach Salad with fresh orange segments, lavender goat cheese and orange and honey vinaigrette. The presentation was picture perfect - served in an oversized white bowl, the orange segments peaked out from beneath the spinach leaves, in a pinwheel formation, spinach stacked a couple of inches high with the goat cheese sprinkled atop. The flavor was light and delicate. The creamy goat cheese offered a subtle nuance of lavender, while the orange and honey vinaigrette was light and quiet - you can taste its flavor when it sat on your tongue for a second - very nice. The fresh orange segments set it off nicely.

The entree I selected was a fennel rosemary rubbed rack of venison, served atop a roasted parsnip and baby kale ragout, and with grilled asparagus and rosemary veal reduction sauce. I ordered the venison to be done medium (a gradation from grey to pink) and it came perfectly done at medium! And it looked beautiful: served in a large shallow white bowl, two good sized pieces, with bones up and crossing, sitting atop the parsnips and kale, with the asparagus along side - I could not wait to begin! And so I did.

The meat offered a subtle flavor of the fennel and rosemary - a perfect combination; the reduction sauce was superb. The grilled asparagus was done to perfection - with the right amount of crunch left. And what a wonderful marriage of flavors with the parsnips and kale! Great flavor and texture.

I was more than content, and the quality is first rate! Service was excellent, though it was not crowded at the time of our dining. See their website for pricing and additional details.

I was more than content, and the quality is first rate! Service was excellent, though it was not crowded at the time of our dining. See their website for pricing and additional details.

We wanted to make sure our users knew about this great addition to Door County dining – so we had to get the word out! So go ahead and give the Whistling Swan Restaurant a call and sit down to fine dining – in Fish Creek! And please tell them that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!