Love off the rail! Used to come here all the time when I worked in the area, still just as good! I love the El and the Milk train. Both are delicious! The baked goods, coffee, and the chips are also yum!!! They have good soups as well, but sometimes don't update their website in time. read more

While driving through town, my daughter and I decided to stop in for a morning coffee. From the outside (and confirmed on the inside), this former railroad depot from 1872 looked quaint and charming. Tight for space inside and with a long line (presuming from the nearby resort and lake properties), we had a chance to look around. There is so much signage and memorabilia on the walks that makes it hard to decipher their menu and offerings. We made it simple-an iced americano and an iced coffee (they don't offer cold brew). After the 1st sip, the cozy, quaint, nostalgic feel of this place wore off and we both agreed that it was some of the worst coffee we have had in quite some time. The beans tasted over roasted leaving the cold brew tasting like cigarettes. My americano suffered the same fate and espresso pulls felt too short leaving it bitter tasting. It may be the only place in town but I would keep driving in order to find an acceptable cup 'o joe. read more

Off the Rail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

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Another great visit to OTR--a must-stop whenever we're in town. There's always a line, but the food is absolutely worth it. This time, we waited about 45 minutes after ordering, but it was a holiday weekend so we were prepared. The restaurant was bustling, the staff was working hard, and it looked like they were having fun doing it. We snagged a table outside and enjoyed the atmosphere while we waited. The Freight Train was delicious as always, and the caprese salad with chicken was fresh and flavorful. read more

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Great little spot to visit. Simple choices that are so good! Delicious coffee too. We will be back. read more

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Fantastic atmosphere inside and excellent food. I got the British Roll and my girlfriend got the Turkey chipotle special and we LOVED our sandwiches. The chips that came with them were also amazing and the coffee as well. Highly recommend- read more

Off the Rail - Turkey Chipotle sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

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Most of the experience at off the rail was good the food good the lines bad it should be called buildings off the rail lines stretch on the rail read more

Wonderful place with great food and service! The sandwiches, coffee, and breakfast are top notch!

Checked out off the rail for the first time and was very impressed with the food and service! This is a cute little cafe in Elkhart lake that has mostly sandwiches on their menu. It is a great stop for a breakfast or lunch sandwich. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to your table. The staff was very friendly and answered all the questions I had. The seating is limited so if it was super busy it would be hard to find a spot but I had no issue. The food was great cafe food! The soup was absolutely amazing and my sandwich was the perfect size and tasted great. I will be back to check out more! read more

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This place is absolutely adorable and while typically there is a wait, there wasn't one today. I felt truly magical as the woman at the front was so personable and kind. She helped me pick out the best coffee drink. My usually I order a caramel latte but today I was all about the caramel macchiato as she told me that it was even sweeter. And boy was she right. One of the best coffee orders I've ever made in my life. I will definitely be back this weekend for more. We ordered the bagel sandwich with sausage and it was able to hit the spot. We will come back for lunch and try out some more things and I'll update the review lunch recommendations. However, everything here seems to be good. The service is awesome. The people are kind and if there is a line it's well worth the wait. read more

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I do love this place, but the last couple times I've stopped, they've either forgotten something or the food was super mediocre. If you're going to charge $23 for a sandwich and a cup of soup, it should be perfect. Underseasoned soup, a thin Reuben sandwich (on sourdough?) and they couldn't remember to put my chips in the bag. Maybe I need to start drinking coffee because I don't think I'll be back in for lunch for a while. read more

Small but cute place. The food was absolutely amazing and the service excellent. I highly recommend. read more

Off the Rail - Half British rail (ham and cheese) sandwich. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

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Cute place that serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, with coffee, wine, beer and pastries. Outdoor seating and indoor seating. Popular place with great service and good coffee! read more

Off the Rail - Off the Rails - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Super cute spot with cool local owners and a group of friendly baristas. Grab a tasty coffee and don't miss the strawberry rhubarb bar. Delicious. read more

great coffee . quick and easy hot breakfast items. Cute spot with friendly staff. No wait during the off season !

Love off the rail. The corn beef sandwich was amazing. Loved the atmosphere. Excellent coffee as well.

Following other Yelp reviews we stopped for lunch before checking into the Osthoff resort. Excellent soup and sandwich combos were had by both of us. We opted for the soup of the day Pork Curry Noodle even though Baked French Onion was on the menu (which is one of my favorites). The soup was creamy and had a nice curry flavor, not too spicy, and ample pieces of pork and noodles. Excellent choice on the first snowfall of the year! The sandwich choices were the Freight Train by my wife. Turkey, Havarti, bacon and a horseradish sauce. Mine was a standard BLT and both sandwiches were BIG! Reading the reviews we were surprised there wasn't a wait the day we visited and the soup and sandwiches came within 5 minutes. There's a nice wine and beer list to choose from also! read more

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Usually I like this place but they are having issues. Their panini maker was broken today so there are no hot sandwiches and after lining up for 10mins they said it's a 35min wait for cold sandwiches. Disappointing. read more

I ate breakfast here three days in a row recently while in town for a race nearby and really loved it. Terrific breakfast sandwiches (I think we enjoyed the Trolley and the Commuter), yummy baked goods, and excellent coffee. Very cozy little spot and I would absolutely return were I in town again. read more

Parking is a little bit of a hassle because of the location, but the interior is so cool and the sandwiches were incredibly good. Great for takeout, but they also have a couple tables inside and a small patio outside. The staff were all friendly. read more

Great breakfast and lunch place in Elkhart Lake. Always busy because it's so tasty. Casual and cute. Great owners!

Excellent place to stop for a sandwich if you (1) don't mind waiting 40 mins for a cold sandwich (2) don't mind everyone staring at you because of your dark skin color Cashier recommended I order a cold vs hot sandwich to speed up the process. So I ordered a veggie sandwich. 40 mins later, yes, 40 mins..I received my sandwich, walked back to my hotel 3 blocks away. Opened my 40-minute-sandwich to find the hummus melted into the toasted bread, cold sprouts, tomatoes and cucumbers. (Blank stare x10)...sigh read more

Food is great. Workers are fun and friendly. Line is impossibly long most weekends on the morning.

So nice I had it twice! Stopped here on the way to door county for a weekend trip based on the yelp reviews. The El and the freight train were both delicious! Love the salt and pepper chips served with. All weekend long I kept drooling over the El so we stopped here again for lunch on our way back home. Equally impressed a second time! Worth a stop even if it takes an extra hour. I was impressed by how busy this place is in such a small town. They are busier than many restaurants in Chicago. 5 stars. read more

It was wonderful! We actually got coffee in the morning and then sandwiches in the afternoon for our lunch! The kids had grilled cheese and their cereal bowls. The specialty coffees were good and our sandwiches (The El and Bahnoff) were wonderful as well! Will definitely come again! read more

Looking for a place to have some lunch in Elkhart Lake, we found Off the Rail. When we walked in, the air was pretty smoky and smelled of onions which is fine but part way through my lunch the smoke was burning my eyes. They offered hot and cold sandwiches, and I ended up selecting a chicken salad sandwich with chips for $8.50. It took 15 minutes or so for our food and while we were waiting whenever a popular song came on the employees were singing fairly exuberantly. The chicken salad was good and the chips were tasty, crunchy, seasoned and oniony. There was seating for about 20 inside, but could be chaotic with people lined up to order however there was more seating outside. I took a seat at the very back which was away from the music speakers. If you're looking for a chill lunch stop on a Sunday afternoon, this may not be it but the food is good. read more

Another 5 star review ! Ate here three times in 24 hours . Enjoyed everything we ate . Great coffee, muffins , sandwiches . Super friendly and efficient staff . Would return for breakfast but they are closed on Wednesdays. read more

Off the Rail - Off the rail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

After having lunch here, I see why it gets 4.5 stars. The entire place seems like a labor of love. From the location, to the funny signs inside, to the amazingly friendly staff to the the super fresh food, nothing disappoints. I had the 'cold' train wreck and wow what a sandwich. Layers of turkey, sprouts, cheese, a little bacon and mayo make this a mother of semi-healthy eats. Tried the 7-grain bread instead of sourdough, but I'm sure the SD would be crazy good too. If you're a bit of a cookie monster, try out one of their colossal chocolate chippers. Super fresh and enough for 2-3 people. Inside and out, Off the Rail is not to be missed. Would have taken pictures, but I was too hungry. read more

My husband and I visited Elk Hart for a little get away. When we arrived we were starving and Off the Rail was open. It was a bit after 1:45 no idea they closed at 2 because they welcomed us and took our order with no fuss. The food was amazing! Good portions and the salt and pepper chips we equally delicious. I also order a cup of their cauliflower cheesy soup, it was amazing! It tasted like cheesy tomato bisque. If you're visiting and need some tasty food stop here so worth it. We will be back! Thank you for being so welcoming, the tasty food, and for the great service read more

This place is a gem! Who can resist spotted cow on draft for breakfast and lunch? The food here is solid and the fresh baked goods are all so delicious! The crew here is great and we ate here several times during our visit. read more

Very solid sandwiches. The paninis don't skimp on the cheese, that's for sure! I visited on a very crowded Labor Day weekend but the staff worked like a well-oiled machine. read more

Friendly staff, always n their A game! EXCELLENT tasting coffee and a great menu. They can do any sandwich gluten free, so that's a HUGE bonus. Do not let the weekend lines deter you, they exist for a reason. Things move fast and you will NOT be disappointed!! read more

Great coffee, sandwiches and baked goods along with friendly service. Best coffee shop in the area read more

Off the Rail - Inside seating with WiFi - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Cute little spot. It's not a traditional restaurant it reminds me of a Culver's as far as you order at the counter and take a seat for your food. The food was good. I got the special and I'm not sure what it was called but it was delicious and obviously fresh. Service and atmosphere was great' read more

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I had the pleasure of eating here while in town for a professional conference. The atmosphere is great, the staff was friendly, and the food was delicious. I also tried their soy caramel macchiato and it was amazing! I would highly recommend for a delicious breakfast or lunch and coffee read more

Friendly service. I didn't find the food to be as amazing as everyone says it is. Considering it's the only option at 7a, it's adequate. Again, the service and staff is top notch! read more

The best place in Elkhart Lake for breakfast, lunch, and conviviality! Dan and Kelley help make Elkhart Lake the special place it is with their welcoming attitudes and wonderful products. The entire team is always upbeat and cheerful -- and this is no small feat for a team that starts work most days before the sun rises. This is a great place for a terrific meal or to just while away some time with a coffee and some other locals. On busier days - such as race weekends - don't let the lines turn you away. It moves quickly, and you never know who you'll meet and get to talk to while waiting. The line is another way to enjoy Elkhart friendliness! Embrace it! read more

Wonderful thai noodle soup and "freight train" sandwich. Portions are large and service excellent. We missed our turn off and found this great spot on a cold and snowy day. The decor is very interesting with some railroad nostalgia and funny poster sayings. Stop in for a real treat. read more

What a charming place with great service from a ton of students and the sandwiches were terrific!

Absolutely delicious and the ambiance is great! My husband and I came here for breakfast on a brief trip to the area and if this was located near my home I'd be eating here all the time! read more

What an adorable little breakfast/brunch spot in Elkhart Lake! What an adorable (only) breakfast/brunch spot in Elkhart Lake! (It's cool though, the town's not that big.) --- Off the rail(s), literally: I think this place was an old train station back in the day? Anyways, now it's an adorable little cafe with affordable eats, coffee, sweets, and more. The staff is super friendly and the place seems popular. Get in line, peruse the menu, order, get a number, and park it inside or outside on the patio... they'll bring it to you! Pour your own coffee/water while you wait. Admire the kitsch and the history adorning the walls. Play one of their many board games, read the paper, play on the internet, or just take a breath and relax. There's also an adorable (albeit somewhat pricy) gift shop connected in the same building. In a nutshell: Off the Rail's great for a casual breakfast or lunch. It's within walking distance of everything, because Elkhart Lake is pretty dang tiny. (... albeit adorable.) read more

Off the Rail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

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