Pros: Really cute little cafe. Skillet was good. Bacon was good. Can of Coke was good. Cons: Apparently out of everything, French toast is made w raisin loaf - not good and not what I ordered. Monte cristo was not a monte cristo - just no. read more

Permanently closed. Sad as this was a great restaurant. Unfortunately infrastructure in historic structures eventually have to be replaced and there is simply no ROI. read more

Just a little non descript cafe off the road. Not fancy. Not big. But the food and service was the best !! It is small inside. So you may have to wait. And please do. You won't regret it. The waitress was working the whole room and was just the friendliest person. She was pleasant and cheerful and made it look like she really was having fun even though she was working her butt off. Start off with a made from scratch cinnamon roll. They are warm and yeasty and delicious. Unless your son scrapes off all the icing on the one you are supposed to be sharing. Hubby got the Italian breakfast. It was good. Lotta food !! It didn't last long enough for a photo. You can get lunch any time which made my BLT loving teen happy. I barely got a photo before she inhaled her food. I got a skillet that was so good. And the toast...homemade and delicious !! Like I said you may have to wait. Food is made when you order but ooooh it is so delicious it is worth it read more

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New owners took over last December. It's not bad, but it's not the same. The Biscuits and Gravy used to be made with the biscuits toasted on the griddle. Not anymore . And they used to be more generous with the gravy, The biscuits seemed dense, and not as fluffy as before. The corned beef and roast beef hash are the same recipe, but they used to get them crispy. Not anymore. Orders used to be served in the order they were put in. Not anymore. The coffee is actually better, and the service is still prompt and impeccable. Nobody laughs in the kitchen, nor have we seen any pearls. It's just that I'm not feeling the love from the kitchen like I used to. read more

I've driven by the Northern Cafe for years -- but I never really considered stopping in for breakfast until my wife's uncle told me how much he enjoys his breakfasts there while he is visiting from Colorado every summer. So I decided to give it a try. On the one hand -- there is nothing remarkable about the Northern Cafe. It is a small breakfast and lunch joint not unlike thousands of similar places around the country. The food is pretty darn good but it is far from what you would call "up scale" or "fine cuisine". On the other hand, the Northern Cafe, their food, and the service, is a throw back to a time and place years ago where you could always find a really decent home cooked breakfast or lunch, served by a friendly waitress at a "mom & pop" diner along major US highways (I.e. before the advent of the interstate system and chain restaurants). Die-hard foodies will find the food a mixed bag -- I know I did. For example, their roast beef hash and eggs was OK but I wasn't thrilled with the hash which was more of a mixture of hash-browned potato shreds mixed with some finely chopped roast beef, fried crispy on the flat top. Still the flavors were pretty good and it went well with a couple of perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs, toast and coffee. All in all -- a decent but average meal. Some reviewers rave about their cinnamon rolls. I found the flavor fine, sweet but not cloyingly so, and the taste went well with my coffee, but the roll was actually a bit dry and pasty. I doubt I will order it again -- except maybe to see if the one I got was an anomaly (and then I will amend my review). On another visit I ordered their sausage gravy biscuit platter -- a half portion of biscuits and gravy, fried potatoes and two eggs (any style). Again the eggs were cooked perfectly. The fried potatoes, sliced as thin as potato chips, were excellent. And the sausage gravy over home made biscuits was probably the best I've eaten (except when I make my own at home). If you like sunny side up eggs, they make a great topping on the biscuits and gravy -- the runny yolk adds an exquisit richness to the plate. It will fill you up and satisfy your hunger until dinner. I give this dish five stars. I'll definitely be frequenting the Northern Cafe and trying some of their other specialties, or scarfing down my favorites. BTW -- If you drink decaf coffee -- be forewarned, the Northern Cafe does not brew a pot of decaf until someone orders it. Regular customers who like decaf call ahead so it is ready when they arrive! read more

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This is one of our favorite snowmobile destinations for breakfast, right on the trail. We stopped in Sunday morning for some of our favorites - biscuits with sausage gravy and French toast. They also had an eggs Benedict special as well as several other specials that day. Everything is homemade including the bread. We are never disappointed here and never go away hungry! read more

Northern Motel & Cafe - Have ordered biscuits with sausage gravy with two basted eggs on top - Hotels Near Me - Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin

Great service and food! Everything was fresh and delicious. They even bake their own breads! Server was extremely friendly. Will definitely visit again! read more

At the beginning of 2022 new owners started running Northern. They bought the recipes along with the business. The food is good but not quite the same. Still a good breakfast place but IMO they are still learning the finesse involved in recreating some of the dishes and the bread and biscuits. read more

New owners recently. My eggs were done perfectly, and they still use homemade bread for toast. My friend's chocolate chip pancake was underdone and didn't have many chocolate chips. The corned beef hash is still worth bragging about. read more

YUM, yet another stellar breakfast establishment in the wilds of the North Woods. This was my first visit so I have not had the pleasure prior to the new ownership. I wanted the monster Italian sausage, but they were out of it. The old adage "The early Bird Gets the Worm" applies at this establishment. I arrived after 11 and they were out of corned beef hash, the dish mentioned, and wheat toast. It was a busy Saturday, so I understand. I'm just letting you know. So instead I had the Kielbasa sausage with two eggs, roast beef hash, and white toast. The hash and hash brows are really buttery and delicious; however, I'm not sure if it's worth an extra three dollars to have bits of meat in your hash browns whether it's roast beef or corned beef. Meat is expensive though so I do understand. It's nice that a half order of hash can be ordered and with roast beef as well. I don't like corned beef. read more

This is a cozy little place for a hardy, tasteful and reasonably priced breakfast. The waitress was friendly and efficient. I recommend the blueberry pancake. It is a very large pancake and the blueberries are fresh . You won't leave hungry. They serve the pancake syrup warm. I appreciate that. Give them a try.. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. read more

This hidden gem is easy to miss if you're driving too fast on the highway. Simply put, it is coffee shop dining at its best. Friendly waitresses shout out orders to the cooks while locals catch up on last night's news. We arrived too late in the morning so they were already sold out of their cinnamon rolls - a mistake we will never make again. We had buttermilk pancakes with homemade maple syrup which wasn't too sweet or thick - exactly as nature intended. The bacon was thick and delicious. Although my pot roast hash wasn't salted enough and the coffee was a bit too earthy for my taste, this spot gets five stars because overall the ambiance made up for any minor issues with the meal. I overheard the waitress tell a counter diner that another diner had picked up his tab. This is pure Americana. read more

I love this place! We go for breakfast EVERY morning! Their biscuits are something I dream about nom nom nom

Best biscuits and gravy EVER! Get there early or they'll sell out. You can buy loaves of bread as well, just order early in the week for pick up before you head home, if on vacation. The restaurant is small but well worth the wait!! The waitstaff and cooks are top-notch and very friendly. This place is a must-visit!!! I wish we had Northern Cafe in our hometown. read more

Corn beef hash is amazing and they have the best eggs I've ever had! How do they do it? I have no idea but it really is that damn good! It can be busy but I don't mind a wait when I go there because it's always delicious! Oh they bake their own breads too !! read more

One of my favorite local cafes. Open for breakfast & lunch, closed Wednesdays. Everyone receives a welcome greeting upon entering, and coffee is usually served just as soon as you sit down. Tables tend to fill up quickly on weekends, so take that into consideration when you choose what time to go. They have one cook and a smaller grill, so you might need to be patient while preceeding customers get their food first. Overall wait has never been too long no matter what day we've stopped for breakfast. Their pancakes are pretty big, so unless you're a lumberjack or something I'd recommend sticking with just one. Solid menu selection, but nothing super crative. Good snowmobile stop if you need something to warm you up. read more

This cafe was a much needed quaint experience. We arrived and sat outside with our two littles. The waitress, Nicole, came out and was upbeat and welcoming. She made us feel safe and gave great recommendations. Their homemade bread is delicious...simply wow! Their corned beef hash hit the spot. Very good! And the boys loved their chocolate chip pancakes with real maple syrup. Aside from the wonderful food, Nicole made our experience the most enjoyable. We are from Texas and thrive on service that is friendly and welcoming. We definitely will go back! read more

A wonderful find. Great biscuits & gravy. The stuffed French toast and bacon are also delicious. The cafe is small so expect to wait and large parties will be split up. The building is a bit run down but in a quirky way it adds to the ambience. The wait staff is attentive and fun. Overall it's worth the wait for a hearty inexpensive breakfast. read more

The room was clean and comfortable. The owners were very accommodating. Yes, the room was "basic" but it you need a place to sleep and take care of business in the area, this is a perfect place to stay. An added bonus is the first class cafe that is part of the motel. read more

A friend and I had breakfast here this morning. We got the last inside table. There are only 8 and I think 4 stools at a counter. This is a cozy little place with knotty pine walls; it's been here quite awhile. Anywho, I ordered the homemade corned beef hash (they also have roast beef hash) with 2 eggs and the made onsite raisin bread. It was sooo good! With coffee, my bill came to $7.65 plus tip. This is not a place to come on a weekend morning and expect to be in and out in 30 minutes. You just may wait that long for your food, but it was worth the wait. Bring a paper or an interesting companion! read more

I've been eating here since the end of 2011. They make their own breads, their own SAUSAGE, their own GRAVY...they use whole eggs in their omelettes instead of EGG WASH like other places (Tula's, Cafe Holiday). The service and friendliness of the owners and staff members is outstanding, the food is excellent but I wish they didn't close for vacations for as long as they do. Top quality food, truly from-scratch cooking and baking...can't beat that, especially up here in the Northwoods where most establishments just use crap SYSCO product, drop and fry and claim it all as their "own homecooking". Not the case at The Northern Cafe!!! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Gordon Ramsay would love this place. Authentic local fare...simple menu, fresh ingredients, prepared and served up by friendly people who are passionate about quality. Homemade breads, soups, corned beef hash...the stuffed french toast and the blueberry pancakes are incredible. Be prepared to wait on weekends. read more

Simple little homestyle cafe. Not too fancy. Service was friendly and attentive. Their food was good. Had the biscuits and gravy which were rich, creamy, and kinda meaty. Their eggs were cooked well and thieir pancakes are fantastic. Only bummer is that a side of bacon is $3.00 for three pieces. Now it's pretty good bacon, but cmon really? Nice little northwoods place. read more

If you are looking for an affordable clean no frills motel with an excellent cafe a short walk away this is your place! We have stayed here for our last couple fishing trips to the Vilas county area and will continue to do so. Great staff, excellent food, and a good bed to rest up after a day on the water! read more

We've been coming here for a few years now to have their amazing breakfast. Recently, our experience with the food has not been the same in recent visits. We all ordered entrees with hash browns and were disappointed to find that they had changed. I believe they used to serve shredded white russet potato type hash browns and they've recently switched to shredded red potatoes, making for a more greasy and less crispy hash brown. The texture and flavor has completely changed and I can only assume it was a different type of potato. It made our dishes that we ordered (3 skillets and a side order) incredibly greasy and unappetizing. It took away from the flavor of the rest of the meal. The friendly and quick service is always great but since they've changed the ingredients they use, we may think again about coming back. read more

You definitely know you are in the Northwoods at this restaurant! It's small with knotty pine interior walls with the exterior in great need of a fresh coat of paint and some TLC! The waitress is friendly and efficient but with us being the only occupied table, this attention would or should be expected! The soup was a tasty Italian vegetable with sausage. Soup or one of the restaurant's desserts comes with the deluxe sandwiches. The patty melt was cooked as requested with cheese and onion and came on toasted white bread. The fries which accompanied it were very soggy, probably too long in the fryer. The other sandwiches were equally tasty if not overly remarkable. This is a hole in the wall where you will not be overly impressed but not disappointed either. read more

Awesome breakfast and friendly folks! It is well worth the wait !! Small restaurant . Love it will definitely go back !

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Pecan pancakes are very good. Also good is the raspberry stuffed French Toast.

This cafe is a well kept secret of the area. The food is tasty and service is good. I had the homemade Italian sausage which was excellent but pricy read more

Used to go here all the time...then they had a change in wait staff...slow service and server apparently was trying to be funny but ended up insulting us Don't have to spend our money and be insulted . Won't be returning. read more