Dick and Carol Skare and family have been running the restaurant since 1977, and try to meld the best of Door County products with a fresh menu.

The rebuilt restaurant (2009) is better than ever, and includes not only the main dining room on the first floor, but a second story wine bar as well. The wine bar is a great spot while waiting for dinner, before or after a show, or just to stop enjoy; enjoy some wine and appetizers anytime they are open in the wine bar!

And there is outdoor seating for both the wine bar and the dining room as well! This is a family-type restaurant, and is a very nice place for breakfast  - and The Cookery announced in 2012 they will seve breakfast everyday!  We are thrilled!  Lunches and dinenrs (also everyday during peak season) are fabulous. The recipes are tried and true in the kitchen of their very own home. Dick and Carol were honeymooning in Door County over thirty years ago when they were introduced to this restaurant and they’ve been at it ever since, creating a wonderful menu and atmosphere that welcomes locals and travelers too.

We eat at the Cookery often, and most recently had the new roast pork sandwich – a taste-tester’s delight, with sliced herb-seasoned roast pork, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, Wasabi Soy Aioli, with Monterey Jack cheese.  Served on a Ciabatta roll with fries, this was outstanding.  Others in our party tried the gumbo soup, chicken Caesar salad, and perch sandwich – all were very good.

In addition, we have dined here several more times for dinner (both inside and out), which included appetizers of crostini with artichoke, olive, and caper tapenade, smashed chickpea, house made cherry chutney, cream cheese, and green onion -  superb;   eggplant fries (loved them) and bacon wrapped dates - delicious!

Our entrees included:

• Grilled wild salmon grilled wild salmon,  Excellent.  Served with veggies and homemade sweet potato salad.   This was a delicious dish, prepared to perfection, and a nice combination flavors of the soy/garlic marinade with the sweetness of the mustard shallot vinaigrette.
• Broiled whitefish, which came perfectly done, basted with homemade pesto, covered in roasted red sweet peppers.  One of our favorites!
• We also tried Otto's grilled pork chop, and roasted chicken.  Literally, everything we had, we enjoyed - which is why we come back over and over again to The Cookery!

There are additional meat entrees as well as special vegetarian entrees, and specials every night.

So, keep reading – they have an extensive menu, over 30 years of experience, and a great location.

Get a window table (or outdoor table) if you can, so you can look at the road, the people and the town. We love the casual ambiance, friendly staff, and always good food. It can get crowded, so get there at slightly off hours to beat some of the crowds - but the wait is worth it. And don't forget the upstairs wine bar!

Breakfast/Brunch
The breakfast/brunch menu will keep you busy, with delicious omelets, cherry or apple pancakes (get the cherry - wonderful!), granola, and sides like baking powder biscuits with fresh, homemade jams ( to die for!), a large variety of breakfast sandwiches, eggs and lots more.  And in 2012 - breakfast everyday!

LUNCH
For lunch, enjoy a grilled salmon or chicken sandwich or a pesto garlic burger.  Or choose a Door County Cherry and Apple salad, of a bistro or tossed salad.   Lots of choices - you will find something you like, and you will like it!  The selection is huge, from fish to meat, and fresh salads.  Their soups are awesome -  whatever you do, get a bowl of their whitefish chowder - this is really, really good!  You will love it, as we have many, many times!

DINNER
We already highlighted some of the choices we have had on the dinner menu.  There is something for every taste. In addition to the regular menu, there are Served after daily specials like Sunday beer and burger nights, or meatloaf Mondays. You'll get something special, no matter what night it is, and these are in addition to the regular menu items.

Beer and wine can accompany your dinner.  Lunch items are also available for dinner, so if you want, get a salad, and skip all the other dressings - go right for the Vidalia onion!

The wine bar upstairs is a great place to relax before dinner, after dinner or even before or after a show.  A nice selection of wines, in a very comfortable, well appointed loft that looks down onto the restaurant in the center.  We have enjoyed appetizers and wine here several times.  Very pleasant.

If you like sweets, this is one place to be. They make their bakery from scratch - go right to the cherry crisp - it is out of this world! Get a cherry crisp - make it ala mode and it's even better! Hopefully they will not have run out when you have a craving for a piece!  You can even get some cherry crisp to go. We know people who stop here on their way home just to pick up some cherry crisp.   Other dessert items include cherry pie, tollhouse pie, carrot cake, a fabulous bread pudding and more!

You can purchase homemade Cookery items like Cherry applesauce, Cherry Chutney, and more - in the restaurant or online!

The place gets crowded - if people are waiting outside when you are thinking of going, you might want to prepare yourself for a long wait. Again, grab an earlier dinner, or late lunch to avoid some of the crowds, like we do. Or wait in the wine bar, relax and enjoy!

We keep coming back, so go dine at The Cookery- and you will too!

And please tell Courtney, Carol, Dick and the staff that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!