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    The Checkerboard

    5.0 (1 review)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    8 months ago

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    Sky Harbor 2 - Cordon blue sandwich.

    Sky Harbor 2

    3.9(18 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    A giant sign on the road screams simply. "EAT" You have to look hard to see the restaurant…read morename, shared by the small roadside motel next door. Sky Harbor. "E A T" We had driven by that sign and poked fun at it several times, prior to finally giving it a try. Hadn't heard a thing about it or read any reviews before walking in to the smallish diner. Only a few tables open on a late Saturday morning. A good sign. Small town 'homestyle' diners tend to fall into two groups. The first and sadly most common is the version where the Sysco truck drops off premade everything...from the soups to the cold salads. A grumpy cook then assembles your too thin bacon and some fried eggs, or a deep fried chicken patty, into your meal. It's often transactional, uninspired and qualifies as 'dining out' in only the most literal sense of the word. Then, occasionally, you find the rare exception. Like this place. My first clue was a woman, dining alone, that we passed by as we were seated. She was enjoying a fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes that looked like the cover page of a fabulous fifties cookbook. Honestly, I read the menu with interest, but there was almost no chance that I wasn't going to order THAT. The menu is ambitious for a small kitchen, but after hearing the specials and reviewing the breakfast (all day) and lunch options, I caved to my brunch envy and ordered the Chicken dinner. I was served 4 pieces of remarkable fried chicken with a light, crispy and well seasoned breading that was clearly made by an experienced cook with real heart. A cook who, before putting a plate on the pickup, always looked at it and said with gusto, "I'd eat that". My coleslaw was homemade. The thick cut bread of my Wife's sandwich was homemade. The haystack onion rings I also succumbed to were fabulous too. All around me were patrons clearing their plates and bowls with happy faces. The two waitresses were cheerful, attentive and enthusiastic and contended with a large percentage of locals at the tables. Nearby a young kid was enjoying a root beer float with his lunch, a prize he negotiated with much pre-ordering haggling with Mom. At the next table, a local was schooling his out of town visitors as to the superstar choices on the menu. "No wrong answers", he proudly boasted. It is my opinion that having a business like this provides a soul center for small towns. Everything I saw here was beautifully executed. Nothing 'over the top' on the menu. But if you are driving buy and see the giant suggestion to " E A T " I suggest you do. I know I will again soon.

    Mediocre food at best. You can eat it. The place is in need of updating. It's like walking into a…read more1950s restaurant. The ambiance is not welcoming when you walk in, but they may have been having a bad day. Service was quick but not real friendly. Won't be back.

    Photos
    Sky Harbor 2 - Crispy chicken wrap with honey mustard.

    Crispy chicken wrap with honey mustard.

    Sky Harbor 2 - Great breakfast and amazing homemade bread.

    Great breakfast and amazing homemade bread.

    Sky Harbor 2 - Haddock

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    Haddock

    Waubee Lake Lodge - Salad bar

    Waubee Lake Lodge

    3.3(73 reviews)
    23.2 mi
    $$

    Just had the best Sunday broasted chicken dinner. we took a guest and sat on the deck. there were…read moretwo large groups but our waitress was phenomenal in keeping up with the orders. the chicken, stuffing and potatoes with gravy were so good! And the service was exceptional. it was so nice to sit outside.

    We arrived to a 45 minute wait which was fine. A busy evening is acceptable and we didn't mind the…read morewait. What wasn't acceptable was the service. After ordering 4 cheeseburgers, we waited. The restaurant began to clear out and slow down and still no food, nor a waitress to check on our table. An hour and a half later, still no food. At this point I left the table to tell a waitress we were no longer hungry and to cancel our order. the owner overheard the interaction and was very quick to tell me they had a busy night (it hadn't been busy for 45 minutes, it was 8:30pm and most diners were gone). He said that our food was hot and ready and we couldn't cancel the order (how would he know, he never left the bar), as our waitress sprinted for the kitchen. Too little too late. Not trusting that our food was actually ready or if it was that it had been sitting out for an hour, we left. Side note, we stopped in the restroom before leaving, and peeked back in. The people sitting behind us who had ordered before us, still hadn't received their food. The owner sits on a throne of lies. Awful experience. Zero stars.

    Photos
    Waubee Lake Lodge - We got here at 11, they open between 11-11:30 so we were first

    We got here at 11, they open between 11-11:30 so we were first

    Waubee Lake Lodge - Chicken sandwich

    Chicken sandwich

    Waubee Lake Lodge - Wedding at the Lodge

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    Wedding at the Lodge

    The Checkerboard - desserts - Updated August 2026

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