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    Mars Cheese Castle

    3.8 (937 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Cheese sampler
    Su E. G.

    Great place to stop by for lunch, drinks, or cheese curds! Plenty of high chairs, booster seats, cheese options, and things to look around. Cheese curds were fried to order and are super crispy. Crown, crayons, balloons available for toddlers and for adults with kids hearts!

    Mars Cheese Castle
    Frank F.

    Visited Mars Cheese Castle while travelling through Wisconsin. Let's give credit where credit is due -- this is better than your average highway rest stop. Is it a bit of a tourist trap? Sure. But then again, so is Buc-ee's, and people flock to those. Mars Cheese Castle has its place: a convenient spot to take a washroom break, stretch your legs, and browse for some Wisconsin goodies. Would I go out of my way to stop here? No. But it worked perfectly for us on this trip, and sometimes that's exactly what you need when you're on the road. Overall, a worthwhile highway stop if you're passing by -- just don't make it the destination. Saluti.

    Emily B.

    We had no idea what to expect when we saw the cheese castle off the side of the highway. When we walked in, we were greeted by a woman in a princess gown and all given crowns and balloons. It was so exciting! We had baked goods samples and cheese samples. They had a deli, bakery, cafe, gift shop and mini market in the castle. We had such a great time!

    World's best cheese curds
    Michelle G.

    We were coming back from a trip to Wisconsin and I'd heard of the Mars Cheese Castle a few times now, so we decided to stop on our way back to Chicago. I loved the stop because it looks like a castle outside and they have cheese samples inside (also bakery samples, which were also yummy). I wasn't planning on buying anything but I wanted to try the world's best cheese curds and I was skeptical, but honestly as a non-cheese curd expert, I could see this place potentially being the world's best cheese curds. They were so good and better than cheese curds we had in Madison. I would stop by again if I was passing through just for these. Also the store has fun cute silly cheese merch.

    John F.

    Located on the Wisc- Illinois boarder this definitely qualifies as a tourist trap... but a pretty good one! Of course when you come to Wisconsin you are going to want to find some cheese. Why wouldn't you pick a place that is shaped like a castle? This place does a great job of having it all... above and beyond cheese! A restaurant/bar, a snack counter, ice cream, candy, bakery, liquor section, tee shirts and all types of local foods from other Wisconsin business. And FREE SAMPLES! I've been here many times because it's a great place to pull over and take a break and shop for some cool foods while on my way home from a trip to Illinois or other places south of me. Pro tip: find the bakery products in the frozen section from the Elegant Farmer, everything they make is great.

    Shavie J.

    Loved it!! Literally a "must" for all cheese lovers It looks like a castle from the outside but the inside is a cheese haven!!! There's a tavern, a quick eats restaurant, gift shop, bakery, snacks, and LOTS of CHEESE The guy at the cheese counter was AMAZING!! He talked about everything from aging to flavor, he literally could've sold me a cow because I spent about $30 on cheese that day Everyone enjoyed their meal because a grilled cheese at the cheese castle just hit different...lol! My teens and young adult went with the burger and fries, which they also enjoyed. This was literally a quick trip from Chicago and I'd definitely do it again but I'd make sure to bring a cooler and lots of ice packs (which they have available for purchase).

    Grilled Cheese and German Potato Salad
    Jesica V.

    Is there anything not great about The Mars Cheese Castle? If you're looking for cheese and/or beer and you've just arrived in the great state of Wisconsin, this is the place! Great for souvenirs, alcoholic beverages and....drum roll...the best grilled cheese sandwich known to me. Wow. Perfectly toasted. Perfectly buttered. And stuffed with the stretchiest, most delicious cheddar I could imagine. It is the platonic ideal of a grilled cheese and this is essentially a Grilled Cheese Mecca!

    The Irish Reuben is incredible.
    Fred M.

    Wow - Mars Cheese Castle's Irish Reuben is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had! I've been coming to Mars Cheese Castle for years, and it never disappoints. But yesterday was the first time I ever ordered the Irish Reuben. My wife and I were trying to decide what to have, when Louis (our favorite bartender) gave us the details on the Irish Reuben. This is not a traditional Reuben (there is no Sauerkraut or Thousand Island Dressing). The Corned Beef is baked in brown sugar consommé, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and Guinness Stout. It is served with Guinness Braised Cabbage, Caramelized Onions, and Swiss Cheese. It is incredible. This is on my Mt. Rushmore of sandwiches. It is that good. It is a seasonal sandwich that is only available around St. Paddy's Day...so get it while you can. Thanks Louis!

    Tim T.

    Great spot that has a wide variety of cheese and local items. The cheese curds from the restaurant were amazing! It is a bit touristy- but it's worth the stop.

    Exterior
    Joe S.

    So many questions? The cheese part is obvious (how many types of cheese can I sneak into this review?) ...But why Mars? Moon would make more sense since it has holes like swiss cheese. And why a Castle? Is it all of the cream colored brick? Maybe a cottage makes more sense. Whatever the reason, it's worth a stop if you're in the area, but not worth a special trip, if you ask me. It's a cheese store, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a beer/liquor store. I'm sure there's something to cheer you up if you're feeling blue (like the bar). As far as the restaurant goes, they say they have the best cheese curds and I disagree. They were good but not the best I've had. Probably not even in my top 5. The Kings Ransom sandwich was gouda but nothing out of this world. Everything was edible, just not the GOAT of cheesy goodness. I was hungry, so I decided to Edam anyway. Prices aren't bad, either. They had some local beers (Spotted Cow seems to be popular), but not sure if the hops are gruyere or some other part of the country. They even had some whiskeys as well. And don't forget samples (of cheese, not alcohol). In the "deli" area, there were some freebies. This is nacho average rest stop, but it does have easy off, easy on to the highway. And some grassy areas to walk your chihuahua.

    Exterior
    Santino C.

    Mars Cheese Castle boasts an extensive inventory of delectable items, making it challenging to depart without a cart brimming with delectable treats. During my recent visit, I indulged in an ice cream cone and departed with a bag brimming with cheese curds and pastries from the bakery. Mars Cheese Castle consistently provides an enjoyable experience.

    Sartori Sharp Cheddar
    Andi M.

    Impromptu stop while in Wisconsin. I've been coming here for years. My favorite place for cheese. Such a huge variety. I always try something different. That's what's to cool about Mars. They always have different samples of cheese to try. Or if not already available, they will give you a slice you are wanting to taste. Today's purchase was Smoked Mozzarella, Bellavitano Cheese, Sartori Sharp Cheddar, Havarti, and the all time famous WI String Cheese. Yummy Such a cool spot. It also has a deli and a bar- restaurant. A nice selection of WI specialty beers and sodas too. A must check out spot, right off interstate. Definitely a 10 out of 10!

    David M.

    We stopped in here on our way home from a fantastic bestie weekend getaway. Although I've passed this cheese capital many times in my travels, this was my first time stopping here. It is a huge venue with a lot of options of cheeses to choose between - and ever so much more. From meats, crackers/munchies, or ice cream to clothes, magnets, and kitchen gadgets - you will be guaranteed to leave with a new item. They had some sampling of cheeses which was really nice. I loved the horseradish spread cheese. It was slightly on sale so that was nice, but I noticed that cheese spread expired in under two months. Knowing that, this seems like a place you may want to double check expiration dates on. There was a few items I passed on, but next time I travel through town, I'm sure I'll stop again for another item. Before we left, we tried the onion rings and cheese curds. They were tasty, but definitely nothing too memorable for me.

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    Ask the Community - Mars Cheese Castle

    Is there still a medical office in this building?

    I've toured the building and back of the house areas with a manager - I didn't see a medical room. Maybe but unlikely.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Mars Cheese Castle

    The bloody mary's are the best around and i sometimes drive over on the weekends from Milwaukee just to drink them.

    Mentioned in 87 reviews

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