Hungry Peddler

Had a great breakfast! Staff was very friendly and we enjoyed the whole vibe. We will definitely…read morebe making another visit on our next trip to La Crosse! Andy - Franklin, WI

So happy I decided to stop into this cute little restaurant while I was out on the road…read more To start a disclaimer!! THEY ONLY TAKE CASH. They do have a ATM inside for a 2$ fee which was a tad annoying but it is what it is. After coming in I was quickly sat by a very friendly waitress and she quickly took my order. The food came out pretty quick and it was delicious.. the bacon was probably some of the best restaurant bacon I've ever had, the 6 oz steak was well seasoned and tasted great. Their homemade/sliced potatoes were yummy and crispy. Overall I'd give this place a 5/5 with the only gripe being the cash / atm. I'll be back for sure if I'm in the area!

Breakfast!!!

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Christmas in August!

Buzzard Billy's

4.3(504 reviews)

2.5 mi

I think my seafood chicken au gratin was my BEST meal of my vacation. Husband and I are road…read moretripping to Green Bay to tour Lambeau, and we stopped here for the night/dinner. I absolutely devoured my food. Husband got the burnt ends burger (can't remember the exact name of the dish) and he says it was perfect. Our waitress was perfect. Even our table was in a perfect spot! I'm sure I'll return to La Crosse someday and we ARE eating here again.

We were staying the night in LaCrosse and did a yelp search of kid friendly restaurants and Buzzard…read moreBilly's came up with awesome reviews so my granddaughters and myself went to try it out and the reviews were so right. I had a half portion of the blackened chicken alfredeaux and it was so good, it had a good amount of seasoning but wasn't spicy which was great. My granddaughter had the kids homemade penne and cheese and she loved it the cheese sauce was great so cheesy. My other granddaughter had garlic Parmesan boneless wings and she said they were one of the best she had the sauce had a good amount of taste. We sat outside which was nice because it was loud inside and our service was great, very attentive. Great place that I would definitely recommend to anyone in town.

The BAR

BBQ burger and onion rings

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Inside photo

The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern

4.4(383 reviews)

•$$$

The Waterfront is truly a very special restaurant. We were in the area and were so in love with how…read morebeautiful it was along the Mississippi River walking path that we dropped by here for an early dinner. We were so fortunate that they were able to seat us on the outdoor patio facing the water. This restaurant isn't just great for the views--the food and drinks here were phenomenal as well. Our appetizers of beer-battered cheese curds and mussels were so flavorful and hit the spot. We also loved our fish tacos and linguini with scallops (I absolutely loved the crushed red pepper that came with it too!). Our food all paired nicely with their extensive cocktail/drinks menu, which included many different breweries and distilleries. This is one of those restaurants you'll remember visiting forever--definitely come visit if you can!

You definitely pay for the view!…read more We split a crab cake and cheese curd appetizer. Both were very good. Because the crab cake had such great flavor, I did not use the herb sauce it comes with. Same thing with the cheese curds! Yummy all by themselves! While we waited for our table, we got some great pictures in the lobby with the flowers! Come here, relax, and enjoy the view! Most sincerely!

Artisan Cheese Plate

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Happy hour.

Howie's on La Crosse

4.1(114 reviews)

Bbq smoked wings…read more Come here on Wednesday! Great service, good vibes, got the game on.

We were in town and went here for Friday fish fry during Lent. It was loud, and the bar atmosphere…read morecompetes with the restaurant atmosphere, but it was busy and between Friday fish and NCAA basketball, the servers were hopping. The food was fantastic. The beers were cold. The staff were attentive and friendly. Even though it gives bar-in-a-college-town, there were also plenty of families having a night out, as well. It also looks like they have a patio or outdoor seating in nicer months.

Interior

Breakfast burger

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Schmidty's Bar & Restaurant

3.7(49 reviews)

1.1 mi

This is a La Crosse icon. Its casual ambiance is perfect for many occasions. The food is good -…read morefresh and tasty. The service is also very fast & friendly.

we ate there last night. Their salad bar is very good. The salmon and cod were basic and good…read more However, the chicken Parmesan pasta was barely edible.. The chicken was dry and had a thin coating of Parmesan and the were chicken broth with a few raw tomatoes strewn in. Very disappointing.

Prime Rib Philly and Fries

Guinness. Mmmmmm

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Main Dining Room

JavaVino

4.4(104 reviews)

1.2 mi

Really loved the vibe of this place. We went her for breakfast, it felt like it would be pretty…read morehoppin' at night. Good naming with both breakfast and dinner themes. The service was good and all of that. The food was also fine. The waffle with berries and lemon looked amazing. The flavors were good, though I felt that the waffle itself needed to be a bit more substantial. Then we had a veggie burger which it's awesome that they do a custom burger pattie and not just one of those standard plant-bases fake meats. It was decent. I would have preferred fries instead of chips, but that wasn't an option. Oh, the latte was pretty good. You get a pretty huge cup for $5. Maybe next time I'll have to check out the evening vibe. Good stop before hitting the road.

Great place to come for brunch when visiting the La Crosse area. Delicious specialty coffee drinks…read moreand smoothies. There is also a drive through. I recommend the garden omelet. It is also a very family friendly place with a play area for little ones. The place is busy, so service takes a little while. Overall, a great brunch spot.

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Restore Public House

4.5(52 reviews)

2.2 mi

Do yourself a favor and enjoy! The sirloin was amazing. Save room for dessert. The staff was…read moreamazing!

What a great dining experience. Had an appetizer and 2 entrees and all were excellent. Such a nice…read morealternative from the same old thing at other restaurants. Atmosphere was very nice with plenty of options on seating. Outdoor patio looks great for a warm summer evening. So glad we found this place!

Restore Public Hours serves brunch only on Sundays (from 9:00AM - 2:00PM)

Bloody Mary and French press coffee for Sunday brunch

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Fried Chicken, Cheddar Grits, and Smothered Greens

The Crow

3.7(276 reviews)

3rd time visiting The Crow and I'm finally getting around to reviewing it! We appreciate that you…read morecan customize burgers to be vegetarian with Beyond patties. Wing Wednesday is nice too with the option for cauliflower wings & such a variety of sauces. Their fry mixture of all types is unique and fun. Also have enjoyed their outdoor seating option as compared to the sometimes noisy inside. Service has always been good, though we try to go at times that are less busy.

Delicious sweet spicy boneless wings for happy hour with mixed fries! Great weekly special price…read moreand great service

Inside decor

Cauliflower Wings

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Fork And Fable

3.8(69 reviews)

1.4 mi

OMG amazing. Our server was so nice (Wisconsin nice ) and was quick to offer recommendations when…read moreasked. She recommended the angry bird pizza and she was right! The right amount of savory vs creamy with great crust. And you cannot go wrong with cheese curds. The place overall was inviting and so comfortable.

We were really excited about the unique menu, but I'd say we were let down…read more Service was a bit frantic from the beginning, even starting with the host who seemed quite confused. We ended up sitting at the bar instead and our poor bartender was way too busy, while many of her colleagues were chatting, moving really slowly, etc. despite her asking them for help at least 4 times while we were there. Also, someone else helped us with our drinks, and he told us that they don't do samples of tap beers? I've never seen that before but that was incredibly lame, so we didn't get beer. The food was good, but it didn't blow us away. We enjoyed the gig pizza but it was super heavy, actually too much cheese and bedding to freshen it up. Cheese curds were super good ones, though the chimichurri way practically invisible in the aioli and needed much more. We'd give it another shot, but would be cautious in doing so.

Bloody Mary and chaser

Short ribs. Very hearty, and filling! Good flavor, reminds you of something close to home.

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Menu

The Breakfast Club and Pub

3.6(205 reviews)

I think a 3.5 star would have been what I would give if I could give a half star. First off, we…read morewalked in and got the last table. They were busy as it was a state wrestling weekend. Service was a bit slow and our kids kept asking when the food would get there. I had to keep reminding them they were busy. They stayed busy playing the free pacman game in the back. Love that it was free. The restaurant itself has so much more potential with the 80s vibe than what they had. It was a bit rundown but overall fun to tell my kids about. They had some where's Waldo prints in each booth and some 80s trivia cards. The food itself was average. Nothing spectacular but decent. I had the pancakes with the yogurt. Kids had waffles and bacon.

So here I am again two years later and this restaurant has turned the tables on me. We were a party…read moreof seven and we ordered an abundance of food. All the dishes came out at the same time. It was delicious from the French toast to the steak and eggs to the burgers, and boneless chicken wings. They have a full bar and we ordered a Bloody Mary and it was accompanied by a beer chaser and it hit the spot. We ordered hot chocolate for the kids and I took a sip surprisingly it was delicious so I ordered one for myself. This small quaint restaurant was setting a new standard for delectable delicious dishes and our wait staff was friendly and attentive. You can forget ambience because the restaurant has no character but what it lacked in character it made up for it 100x over in the service and the food!!! So overall this place was amazing compared to my experience two years ago. The icing on the cake is 4 adults and 3 children ate for under 100.00 bucks! In a world of big companies and corporate greed support this small business your palate will thank you!

French toast with berries and bacon bits

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Menu front

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Stacey S.

17

2

0

5 years ago

So glad a SKANK bar such as MIRAGE has taken over Hungry Peddler. They refuse to take reservations! Kevin fit us in for a graduation dinner a moments notice. I tried to make reservations for 11 two weeks in advance and was refused! read more

Helen W.

0

5

0

2 years ago

Food and service was very good. Got in right away no waiting . Got service right away. Would recommend this place to eat

Doug I.

0

20

1

8 years ago

I've been going here for 25 years and never got a bad meal. Good service, good prices and awesome food.

Nic K.

0

5

1

5 months ago

A beautiful nostalgic dining experience. A LaCrosse staple where all the locals would tell you to go!

Jay M.

0

26

0

14 years ago

Good for a big, classic breakfast.

Hungry Peddler - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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we ate there last night. Their salad bar is very good. The salmon and cod were basic and good…read more However, the chicken Parmesan pasta was barely edible.. The chicken was dry and had a thin coating of Parmesan and the were chicken broth with a few raw tomatoes strewn in. Very disappointing.

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Osteria Emilia

4.5

(11 reviews)

Osteria Emilia in La Crosse absolutely delivered. Coming from Chicago--where we have no shortage of…read moreincredible Italian restaurants--I was genuinely impressed by the quality of everything we tasted tonight. The stuffed mushrooms were outstanding--perfectly seasoned, rich, and easily one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. The chicken Parmesan was just as impressive--crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. You can tell they really care about the experience from start to finish. Highly recommend this spot--definitely a place I'll be coming back to.

La Crosse public service announcement: if you're not eating at Osteria Emilia, you are making a…read morepretty serious life mistake. My husband and I just finished our second dinner here and once again sat there wondering how this level of food is casually happening in our small town. Start with the whipped ricotta (sweet-sour cherry jam, pistachios, mint, warm filone bread). It's the kind of dish that makes the whole table go silent except for the occasional "wow! The stuffed mushrooms with house-made giardiniera (served in a little old-school paper cup) are ridiculous. Then the meatballs. Listen carefully: these are the best meatballs we have ever had. Ever. Tender, moisty as hell, clearly packed with Parmesan or some kind of Italian wizardry. Absolutely absurd. Entrées like the Americano Bianco, chicken vodka parmesan, and the deeply comforting spaghetti alla vodka (find meatballs in this one) all deliver. We still haven't managed to catch the lasagna bolognese because it sells out every night -- apparently you need to arrive before about 6:30 if you want a fighting chance. And dessert? The banana pudding tiramisu is borderline illegal. Bonus detail: the playlist is also tippy tops -- banger after banger that has you swaying in your seat and singing along between bites. La Crosse: PLEASE support this place. Restaurants this creative and special do not show up in small towns very often. If we somehow lose this gem because people stuck with chain restaurants... I will take it personally.

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The food was great and our waitress Megan was even better! So attentive and kind. Stop in and have…read morea Bloody Mary. We will be back!

Buzzard Billy's

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I think my seafood chicken au gratin was my BEST meal of my vacation. Husband and I are road…read moretripping to Green Bay to tour Lambeau, and we stopped here for the night/dinner. I absolutely devoured my food. Husband got the burnt ends burger (can't remember the exact name of the dish) and he says it was perfect. Our waitress was perfect. Even our table was in a perfect spot! I'm sure I'll return to La Crosse someday and we ARE eating here again.

We were staying the night in LaCrosse and did a yelp search of kid friendly restaurants and Buzzard…read moreBilly's came up with awesome reviews so my granddaughters and myself went to try it out and the reviews were so right. I had a half portion of the blackened chicken alfredeaux and it was so good, it had a good amount of seasoning but wasn't spicy which was great. My granddaughter had the kids homemade penne and cheese and she loved it the cheese sauce was great so cheesy. My other granddaughter had garlic Parmesan boneless wings and she said they were one of the best she had the sauce had a good amount of taste. We sat outside which was nice because it was loud inside and our service was great, very attentive. Great place that I would definitely recommend to anyone in town.

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