This is the second time that I have been to the Driftless Cafe, but only because I have only been to Viroqua twice. And my recent experience was just as memorable as the first visit over seven years ago. The food was beautiful with lovely flowers and so flavorful. I wanted to lick the bowl but opted for asking for a spoon to get the last possible drop. The service was quick, friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and loved the hear the din of the kitchen in the background. Comfortable and cozy. I really look forward to my next visit and I hope that it doesn't take me so long to get back. read more

The Driftless Cafe - Chicken with ramp chimichurri. - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

Second visit to this restaurant, this time on New Year's eve. Spectacular meal! Special small bites were served throughout. Excellent service. As seen on PBS show Wisconsin Foodie. Reservations always needed! . read more

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If you look up the word SERENDIPITOUS on GOOGLE, or in the dictionary, this restaurant's picture should be right next to the word! I have used YELP on every vacation, whether traveling America, or in Europe. This little place is possibly the best find I have ever made. Viroqua, WI, is a small town (population 750+) in SW Wisconsin, not far from La Crosse. The menu is quite daring, but the flavors are amazing, and the presentation is picture perfect. For example, when have you EVER had White Bean and COCONUT Soup? Be honest...,NEVER! It sounds crazy, but OMG! It is spectacular. How about WILD RICE ARANCINI? We had no idea what to expect, but it was kind of like the best hush puppies you have ever had, filled with Wild Rice (kind of North Country meets the Deep South) an assortment of local vegetables, shaved so very thin, and a wonderful green salad and terrific thick toast on the side. Adventurous doesn't begin to describe this chef! Sophie was a wonderful waitress. Very kind and patient with a couple of old happily married (50 years) people. We live in Cincinnati, but my wife is from Minnesota so anything with Wild Rice is going to be on our order (we no longer have huge appetites so we share entrees, etc.). Don't leave without dessert. The chocolate chip cookies were the perfect end to a perfect meal. We were in Vernon County to take pictures of Quilt Barns and I am thinking how we can head back to the Driftless Cafe on the way back home. What a wonderful experience. Thank you all, very much!!! read more

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Lunchtime at The Driftless cafe will not disappoint. Always friendly and a relaxing place to go in Viroqua. And the food is awesome. read more

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Came back to visit family in Viroqua WI. Great small town restaurant. They have a small lunch menu with a focus on local products and ingredients. The creamy Tuscan beef was delicious. Large local salad with lemon peppercorn dressing was fresh. The Driftless Cafe double cheeseburger is a must if your a burger fan. Got a huge slice of pizza for $5.00, also very tasty. read more

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I wish there were a place on Yelp where you could write a specific criticism, without downgrading an entire place. Because I like the Driftless Cafe--for all the reasons others have shared. But we did have one item this most recent time that was ridiculous, a joke. But a pricey joke. It was tuna, scallops and a vegetable. An appetizer, but $27 (2025 price). When it came, I thought maybe the plate was a stingy portion of dipping sauce. But no. That was the entire plate. It was like two to three dime-sized portions of scallop and the same for tuna and radish. That's it. It was even suggested by our server that getting a few small plates could work in place of entrees. True, if you ordered the right ones. You should have seen the huge portion of delicious-looking $25 pork sliders at the table to our right. Or the large amount of $23 tempura-coated sweet potato fries we got next. The paltry tuna-scallop accident was like half the ingredients of a single piece of sushi. This is the emperor's new clothes, and the head chef should have been embarrassed to put it on the menu. Maybe it would have somewhat worked as part of a seven course meal? Still, if you must have such a thing on the menu, have your servers warn unsuspecting diners that it's a micro-app--costing about $1,500/pound, and say that a 9 year old could finish it in one small bite. read more

4.5? Yes, it's that good! Classic must visit Driftless legend. Great food and bar, friendly service. Popular with fishermen and everyone else. Highly recommended! read more

When you read the reviews your expectations begin to rise. When you hit the front door you are ready for a fantastic experience. We were juiced to have a great lunch. The place does not disappoint. First of all the place is cute, not too big and a couple of ambiances - open and bright or sultry with shadows. We sat on the bright side. The menu was limited. Handful of choices, certainly something for everyone. We decided to share the garden salad with fresh locally grown greens and the fish sandwich. The salad was large with several unique twists like shredded beats, carrot shavings and heirloom tomatoes. We chose two dressings - vinaigrette and blue cheese. The greens were organic, like the rest of the ingredients, and you could tell they were grown with love. The fish sandwich was a modest slab of walleye deep fried on soft bun with plenty of fixings and a side of chips. Cole slaw, dill pickle slices and a fresh tartar sauce made the composition a test for the palate. It was hard to share the sandwich, I wanted to eat it all myself. Service was excellent, prices were more than fare and the presentation was very nice. The meal had superb value. Highly recommend without any reservations. We left saying we should perhaps do an overnight in Viroqua and do a triple - dinner, lunch, dinner. That's how much we enjoyed our meal. read more

(visited 2025.05.10) soooo tasty! the duck was some of the best I've ever had. scallops were nice and soft, and for dessert, one must try the panna cotta! nice atmosphere--a more casual atmosphere with high-quality food. read more

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i haven't been to the driftless cafe in over a year because my last experience was "meh" & that place is too expensive for "meh," but after my son poo-pooed other restaurants we ended up there for lunch. i ordered the pulled pork egg rolls because i like pulled pork--i like asian style food--i was pretty excited about it. but when i got my meal (after about an hour of waiting) the dish was so gross & greasy that i had a dream about it later that night. in my dream a snooty lady was party planning & raving about these egg rolls so i interrupted her to tell her that they were the second grossest thing i had ever eaten. the first grossest being some tamales a sadistic ex-boyfriend of mine made & forced me to eat. i am sure that i could make a much better version of this dish for a fraction of the price--& make them healthier & tastier. i don't plan on giving the driftless cafe a third chance. read more

Never disappoints!! Brought some friends who are from the area but didn't know about this little treasure lol They are now on the bandwagon (as we are) for the Driftless Cafe. Such an incredible find in this little town! Fabulous evening with friends Service is always friendly and welcoming, very welcoming not in the least pretentious even though their food is on par with the best snooty places! Hahaha! Atmosphere is relaxed and unassuming then the food comes out and you're just blown away. Every time. read more

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Worth the drive! Believe me! ITS WORTH IT! Delicious locally sourced food by a James Beard chef. Lovely drive through the driftless area. And a funky vibe in Veroqua! read more

I love this place with my whole heart. The food is phenomenal, and all locally sourced from within 100 miles. This is my go to place to celebrate a great day or to lift my spirits on a bad day, they are there for it all. The menu changes daily, but there are some staples that you absolutely must try if they're on the menu at any point in time; fried green tomatoes, stuffed peppers, bolognese, street corn dip, black bean tacos, spanakopita, and any brunch offerings. The cheeseboard here doesn't get enough credit, it has introduced us to many new delicious cheeses that we otherwise wouldn't try and it has many delicious accompaniments that stand out equally to the cheese; the homemade chutneys, pickles and truffle honey are among some of my favorites. In the summer they incorporate the most delicious fruits and all that the seasonal harvest offers. Don't sleep on the dessert! Delicious huge pieces of cake from Cowboy David, or the many other offerings they have from in house. The key lime pie is divine and should never be passed on. The service is a group effort even though you typically have an assigned server, your food won't be sitting in the window because your server is taking another table's order. Your drink stays full and they come to know you by name. I've seen firsthand how the owners and employees rallied around each other through tragedies, it is an example of how we should be to one another. The cafe has a mix between an earthy and hipster vibe, but they switch up the decor on a regular basis so this review may not be the same as when you visit. The music is always on and it varies based on who is working and what they're feeling that day. The one thing that has stayed constant is the trees that have grown through the ceiling in the middle of the dining room, and I don't foresee them going away. Much of the art and photos incorporated in the decor are from or of locals that have a special tie to the cafe. As someone who frequents this place often, I love to watch newcomers sit down and view the menu with faces that may seem perplexed or unsure of the menu, but by the second bite that melts away and they are sold on the deliciousness they've just experienced. They then rave to their serves about the food. I've seen this same scene time and time again upon my visits. You too will be glad you chose the Driftless Cafe. Lunch doesn't require a reservation, but I recommend one if you plan to join for dinner. You may get lucky as a walk in and have room at the community table or be able to eat in the beer garden during the summer, but save yourself the trouble and plan ahead. It's worth it. Anytime I have visitors in town, we make sure to take them here. read more

Yup. It's as good as they say. Well worth the drive. You can tell the food is made with love. My pork dish was divine (and huge!). Service was friendly and patient. The overall vibe of this place is very casual, Which I welcome. Establishments of great food don't need to be stuffy! read more

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Passing through the area, stopped for lunch and pleasantly surprised by the Driftless Cafe! The outside is understated but as you walk in, the cafe half is a beautiful interior full of sunlight. Food is entirely sourced locally and they proudly list from who on the wall. The cute paintings on the walls are also for sale for anyone interested. There's at least one real tree inside but I believe it's just for show... Food is a delicious slice of Americana as everything is made fresh with love. You're in Wisconsin so obviously I needed something with cheese (mac and cheese). Fish and chips was served with a local twist using nearby walleye, and a simple side salad finished it off. Special shout out to the sweet potato creme brulee. Great place to recharge in the Driftless Valley if you're in the area! read more

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Seriously the best fried chicken sandwich we have ever had. The atmosphere is really fresh and lively, very comfortable. The food was outstanding, super fresh and regional. read more

Finally made it here for dinner and it exceeded all of our expectations! Service was incredible (thank you Lauren for making us feel special! She went above and beyond.) The Brussels sprouts and quesadilla (yes I said quesadilla) were to die for. But honestly, everything else as fantastic. And what a well curated and reasonably priced wine menu. We can't wait to return! read more

The food was outstanding. The best meal we've had in a while. Sorry we didn't find this place earlier in our visit, so we could have gone more than once. The service was friendly, and we felt very welcome, despite a day spent hiking and on the river. Highly recommend. Already thinking of reasons to drive back out here for a weekend, just so we can have another dinner. read more

One of the top 10 meals I've ever had (in a dedicated foodie life)! We had the tuna and spanakopita appetizers. The spanakopita was the best version of this dish I've ever had by far! I could eat that every day as the spinach was super fresh and flavorful. For main dishes, we had the duck and beef tenderloin and both were amazing. The service was outstanding and the atmosphere casual and comfortable. Feel free to dress up or not. If this wasn't a 3 Hour drive from my home, I would be here every week!!! read more

This place has unfortunately gone WAY downhill.. host put my young family in an obviously uncomfortably hot and sunlit section of the restaurant, despite numerous booths being available. burger was decent, nothing special. overpriced. too bad, used to be a gem. read more

I guess I never posted my original review. I wish I could say my current experience was better. I ordered the duck entrée, it was extremely undercooked, and I sent it back. The duck was so raw I could not even cut it with a knife and fork. It came back cooked to a crisp. Even if it was cooked well, there are too many flavors going on in one dish: spiced beets, candied nuts... every cooking cliché there is. I have a feeling that the owner has not been there for a while. The hipster diners seem to be enjoying their food, but maybe they know what to order. My husband's beef tenderloin dish was a pepper overload. The server was very understanding and helped with the bill. Maybe next time. read more

When I checked last night, there were no reservations available for lunch today. Nevertheless, I went out of my way to go to Viroqua while on a fall foliage driving trip in hopes that I might be in luck. Unbelievably, I did get in and had one of the best meals ever. I had a hard time imagining what the wild rice arancini would be. Nothing that I would have been able to imagine could have compared to this delicious entrée. It was absolutely fabulous! The accompanying salad was a perfect complement. I wish I could remember the name of my server because she was both helpful and gracious. My spirits and energy had been dragging after a couple of days of driving only to be reinvigorated by this wonderful lunch and service. Thank you! read more

This place did not miss a beat. The servers were both unobtrusive and very present. The food was top notch serving huge portions with farm fresh ingredients. Prices very reasonable for the quality and quantity. There were a couple different seating areas but we were up front near the door. The bar was not loud behind us. So many great and award winning cheeses on the plate with some fun accessories like toast and a ginger jam. My pasta was rich but not greasy, able to provide leftovers twice after I was too full to finish at the restaurant. This was a truly fantastic meal in a small town. Make a reservation! read more

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We stumbled upon this delightful little gem for lunch. The wait staff were very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere was cozy and the food was great. What a treat. read more

We drove two hours to eat here, and it was worth every bite! The dinner reservations were completely booked on Resy, but we found that if you book for one you can lock in a spot at the bar. So we made two separate bar reservations which worked out perfectly. They say that the bar is otherwise first come first served. Seating was quick as it seems they stagger the arrivals. The bar was staffed by a bartender and an extremely friendly server, so we were well taken care of and everything flowed really smoothly. One other benefit of sitting at the bar is easy tasting of the tap beers to decide which to go for. There are a lot of menus (food, drinks, beer, wine) so be ready to take it all in. Start with the croquettes. The mushrooms were packed with flavor despite being fried and breaded. We split the Pig & Fig pizza. A lovely balance of sweet and savory and creamy. Be warned that's it's quite large, so you may want to take some home. Finally we had the artic char. It was perfect grilled with a lightly crispy outside. The combination of the beet and bulgur tabouleh and the hazelnut muhamarra was to die for. Every bit was a perfect symphony of flavors. read more

The Driftless Cafe - Mushroom Croquette - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

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If you thinking of going here on the weekend be sure to make a reservation! It gets busy busy!! We stopped by for lunch on a Saturday. Since there was a 30 minute wait, we elected to get soup to-go. It appears they usually have at least two soups. The day we went it was either beef chili or lentil vegetable stew. We each chose a bowl of the lentil vegetable stew. I'm guessing the bowls-to-go were a generous 14-16 oz each. The soup was very delicious and packed with tons of veggies. There was a mild heat to the soup, but nothing major. A side of yummy fresh bread and butter accompanied the soup. Together, they made for a totally satisfying lunch. Just delicious. read more

The Driftless Cafe - Bread that comes with soup - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

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WOW! Creative fresh local dishes all year round with service like you are family. How can you go wrong? It is always worth the trip! Bravo!

Literally one of the best meals I have ever had in my life, with some of the best service. My mouth still waters thinking about the food. I had the short ribs and my partner had the steak. They were both just amazing. My only regret is not living closer so that I could go more often! read more

The Driftless Cafe served up a definite Top 5 of the Year meal, and one of the few 'fine dining' meals I feel was truly worth the money. Not necessarily something I was expecting in rural Wisconsin, a region in which I have literally cried in the produce section of multiple grocery stores, but a happy surprise. I came on a day with a special Mexican-inspired menu (in place to memorialize a friend), which might have deterred me had I known since I'm not generally the biggest fan of Mexican food, but I'm glad I didn't know, because I was incredibly impressed by: - the fatty, crispy skin of the arctic char melding with the green sprouts-y rub on it - the depth and darkness of the lamb birria's dipping oil, a kind of dusky spice that sort of lingers in the throat but never burns - the green vibrance of the shrimp aguachile and the unapologetic amount of cilantro - the mole sauce on the chicken, just... all of it. I often find mole cloying and am sick of it after three bites, but here it was too complex to get old. I could have sat here running through the spice list in my head as each part of it touched my tongue. read more

You need to find a new host. They told us there was no seating room at the bar so we went to the counter to place a take out order. Lo and behold there is seating room at the bar but we had already ordered. Also please consider only reserving half or a quarter of your tables and take walk ins. You would make so much more. read more

I've had this place bookmarked for years, and was so happy we could visit, on a recent camping trip to the area. The Driftless Cafe does farm to table, great service, and since we visited in June 2020, is providing extensive safeguards during this time. Make a reservation! At this time, they've opened up the alley for outdoor reservations, but we were very comfortable w/the safety measures they've put in place for indoor dining. Service with a smile- even behind a facemask. I really felt well-taken care of, by all who checked in on us, or put down a dish. Our meal- Strawberry compote bruschetta appetizer, with basil and balsamic vinaigrette- Amazing! And so fresh! Beef Tenderloin w/mashed potatoes and spinach- my son ordered this dish that was noted as a standard signature dish- and the Tenderloin was out of this world! Shakshuka Pizza- my dish choice, and I really enjoyed this inventive take on Shakshuka, with a tangy green sauce drizzle. Rhubarb sorbet for dessert- Tangy and sour, we loved it! Even though we barely had room for dessert. I paired my meal with a local beer from Hillsboro Brewing Co. There is seating at the bar, booth seating, and two separate dining rooms. Highly recommended whether in the area, or making it a destination trip in the lovely progressive town of Viroqua, WI. read more

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We were taking the long way back to Madison from LaCrosse and stopped in Viroqua since none of us had ever been here. It was lunch time so we checked Yelp and saw this cafe was top of the list so we pulled in. We quickly got a table and were greeted by a very friendly kilt wearing waiter (no surprise given we were in Viroqua). The service was very good. A couple of us ordered their version of a grilled cheese - it was awesome. I thought the thick bread would be too much but given the amount of pesto and perhaps butter and cheese it was a delicious gooey mess. The bread was perfect. Others were asking for a taste. A third member of the group got a slice of pizza but was sorry she did not get the grilled cheese. Prices were average. Do stop if you are hungry! read more

Stopped in on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. Greeted and seated immediately for the first time on the bar side of the restaurant. Sat at a high top, not food related but loved the detail of how the table was built into the wall. Just a minor thing but was a nice design. Anyway on to the food! My wife's is gluten sensitive and ordered the burger with a gluten free bun, she loved it and the chips were great! I went with the fried chicken sandwich and it is easily my favorite fried chicken sandwich that I've had. So tender and just enough seasoning (although I wouldn't be mad if there was a little more "heat") and the fries were fantastic as well. It's a tremendous cafe off the beaten path but whenever we travel through we will try and stop in. read more

Four guys on a motorcycle trip through Wisconsin's Driftless Area, looking for lunch. This cafe happened to be close to where we parked on the main street. What luck! Obviously popular because it was busy. Two of us ordered slices of pizza, which was excellent. One had Mac and cheese, the other a double cheeseburger. All of us had a Spotted Cow beer from New Glarus. It's only sold in Wisconsin, so it was a treat for my guests from Michigan. So, with the details above, we were a bit surprised that the bill was $93. read more

Perhaps my expectation was too high. The place was not all that I thought it would be. The place was cute and was a bit bigger than I had expected. We arrived way earlier than our reservation, but we were seated right away. The cheese platter was a hit. Pork belly with corn waffle was delicious too. The main dishes were not as great as the shared plates. My pork tenderloin was dry and risotto was not creamy at all. My husband said his steelhead trout was pretty dry too. Oishi shrimp that was served with the trout was extremely salty. What I really didn't appreciate about the place was the additional fee they tacked on called non-cash adjustment, which was about 4% of the sub-total. It's one thing if a restaurant or any business wants to offer a cash discount, but there was no disclosure about the additional fee until I saw it in the final bill. I find it a bit tacky that the price on the menu is not the true price you are expected to pay. They should have the price of the food for all on the menu but offer a discount if anyone wants to pay with cash, not the other way around. And we are not talking about a $5 sandwich shop running cash only business here. Their dinner plates were averaging ~$33 each. For 4 of us, the bill came out to over $200. I don't know about other people, but I don't carry around hundreds of dollars in my pocket on any given day. I thought this place would be a great treat, but I left the place feeling a bit underwhelmed. read more

I am going to keep this short. This is like going to church, and the sacrament is food. Prepared with all the love and creativity you'd expect during a religious experience. Chef Mary is the high priestess of comestibles. Go. Just go. You may or may not have an ecstatic experience, but you will leave a different person. read more

Heard from some locals this was the place to eat and it did not disappoint! Had a great fresh salad to start and the homemade croutons were exceptional, even for my girlfriend who doesn't usually eat them. Loved the capers in the salad to give it a little extra zing. I ordered the beef tenderloin - rare - which can be hard to do and it came out amazing. Perfect sear on the outside and amazing temp all the way through. Whipped potatoes were creamy and decadent. We come to the area for work and will definitely be back. This is a must stop! Also had great service from our waiter Joe and all the rest of the staff. I even had to step over to the kitchen and thank them for awesome food. read more

The Driftless is an institution. You must visit. The truffled steak was to die for? Other guests had a mushroom polenta which to me was a flop and she didn't like it at all. The swordfish was very tasty but too much dairy in my opinion. Other guests had the pizza, both were not good. I make better crusts using Jim Laheys overnight recipe. The true shining items here was the starters. We ordered all 3 of them and wish there were more selection. The mussels with truly the most outstanding bread I've ever had we had to ask for more! The Brussel sprouts were crunchy and super tasty. The pork was delicious. And the tasty cherry couli surtounding the flourless chocolate cake was de-lish and unexpected. The service was also chill and excellent! Ambiance was unpretentious. Music was fit for someone born in the 1970s. Overall, we loved it! Just wish they had more starter plates! read more

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This place has so many good things going for it. Righteous local burger carefully crafted with buttery beef, creamy spicy dressing and topped with what tasted like fresh organic produce. Excellent, flavorful and hearty falafel plate for a veg/vegan option. Beautiful bar and thoughtful bar menu, reasonable prices, and diversity in both the clientele and the servers. But really the photo is all you need to know about this place. Fresh dairy whipped heavily and lightly sugared, folded between bright raspberry sauce and a flaky, airy-but-toothsome crust. Outrageous. I'm actually upset as a passerby that I will never meet this pie again. Hats off to you, Driftless, for showing us what America's dairy land is all about. read more

The Driftless Cafe - Raspberry cream pie - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

I have been here just once a year for the past five years or so because it is 200 miles from where I live. I brag about it to everyone I know and I have brought family and friends to try. Unfortunately I went a few weeks ago with my sister after going on and on about this place but it was horrible! I don't know if the kitchen was having an off day but based on this last experience I won't make the trip again. I'm so sorry to say this as we have always enjoyed it before. read more