I wish we lived closer to this great restaurant and bakery. We stop whenever we can while traveling. We stopped last week and I ordered the soup of the day, which was carrot and pumpkin soup. To DIE FOR! I wish I could duplicate or even come close. I'm going to try! Paired that with their veggie slice of the day (pizza). Yum! For me a perfect treat. I would have given 5 stars but the placed waters on the table, so it was warm. In summer, I was surprised by this. Hostess and Server friendly but other staff members could easily thank you or acknowledge you while leaving. read more

Stellar food. The eggs Benedict were outstanding. Every component was just perfect. Service was great and comfortable. All staff wore masks. Going back any chance we get. read more

Phenomenal food. The tenderloin is the best I've ever had! Service was up to par. And the ambiance was nice.

We stopped in Viroqua to see the market. We were recommended to this place as they were offering Dine-in right now. Zero regrets, we live over two hours away and I will be returning again. The falafel plate was amazing and a perfect change when all you normally find in Wisconsin is burger places. I also appreciate that they have you wear a mask when you aren't at a table, it shows they care about their customers and the world we're living in. read more

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Kris and I agree that these 2 meals we shared were in the top 10 meals we have ever had anywhere! The menu changes daily so hard to speak if what is to come in the future. We loved the charcuterie plate, the drinks (melon wine who knew it would be so good!) the unique salads to the wonderful entrees! Please stop and hive this place a try and you will not be disappointed Service was excellent all the way around! read more

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Delicious. Friendly staff, cozy ambiance. Outstanding bartender. The tenderloin was perfectly cooked and was served over whipped potatoes with a delicious semi-sweet glaze surrounding it. Salad was huge and impeccably dressed. A bit pricey but well worth it. read more

Yum! Best food and service. Fresh and hot and fast.

Good food and service was amazing! Our server Ladi was the best. Highly recommend this if you are stopping in this area.

I suppose it would be all right if I said, ''My goodness,'' wouldn't it? Well, my goodness..... How did such a place come to be in Viroqua Wisconsin?! I've been coming to this town since I was a young child and never has there been such a fabulous restaurant! Don't get me wrong, The Viking has a dear place in my heart but still, it says small town Wisconsin all over it, which is fine! This, though, this would have a very competitive place in Chicagoland. The menu is unique: daily changing dishes depending on what's in season and who's been butchered. When it says you're getting potatoes from the Miller Farm... it means you're getting potatoes from the Miller's farm. When it says you're getting Pete or whoever's fresh pork... you got it! The chef is an artist at what he (or she?) does-- I came for dinner and had the porkchop, a meal I never order elsewhere because no one ever makes them as good as my mother. It. Was. Awesome! (don't worry Mum, I still love yours excessively) It was juicy and so flavorful and accompanied by delicious sides such as butternut squash, sweet potato, creamed spinach and a delicious side salad topped with beets. This meal cost around $24. My dinner companions, likewise, enjoyed their meals immensely. While the prices here are higher than the other local places, it is very much worth it. The Driftless Café seems to have two different dining sections. The side I sat on contained roughly a dozen tables and the bar (good local brew selection and nice wines), lighting was dimmer, and music was contemporary-- a rather cozy hip place! Bathrooms are located towards the back past the kitchen and bar and were nicely maintained. Service was first rate. I wish I had caught the name of our server, a lass in probably her twenties with dark brown hair, bold lipstick, and strong pretty facial features. She was pleasant, knew her menu well (both food and drinks), and was perfectly attentive even after we paid the bill. I hope this place does well, what a gem to be found in small town Wisconsin! read more

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My husband and I were treated to dinner last evening by our children for a late Mothers and Fathers day treat at Driftless. First, our waiter, Lottie, was probably the most kind, funny, helpful and entertaining waiter in all our times out for dinner.He actually made our experience with Driftless Cafe a total dream, The food....OUTSTANDING with each of our food entrées. We had ample time between ordering drinks and food to have wonderful conversation. We will definitely be back and will let our friends and family know that this quaint little cafe is THEE BEST ..Margo Murphy read more

Greatly expanded menu! Luke Zahm is a 5 Star Chef. The Driftless Cafe is one of the great gems of the Driftless Region. Revolving nightly menu featuring local produce, meat and dairy. Treat yourself to one of the best steaks of your life. Great service. Very knowledgeable staff. Still, by far, the best restaurant in Viroqua! read more

The Driftless Cafe - Slow night. Great food!!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

Good food and good service. It's a great environment and clean. They have an amazing menu with a lot of great choices

We stopped in for coffee, but because we'd heard the food was good we decided to eat something, we opted for the macaroni with bacon Parmesan and truffle oil. OMG! My girlfriend and I agreed this was the BEST mac and cheese we had ever had! They use as much locally sourced produce as possible and the menu changes with the seasons. If you like mac and cheese, do not order this because you'll never be satisfied with any other mac and cheese again. read more

The Driftless Cafe - Mac and cheese with bacon Parmesan and truffle oil. Delicious! - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

Fantastic food ! My husband and I drove 2.5 hours just to go to lunch here. He had discovered it by accident and wanted to come back. It was worth the drive. The menu changes but you must try the raspberry cream pie if they have it with a cup of their excellent coffee! read more

Their noon time pizzas are creative and delicious. I can get them by the the slice to go.

This may have been the finest meal we have eaten in Wisconsin. And, that is not to say Wisconsin is not a great place for food. It means that The Driftless Cafe has gone above and beyond. Doing the Farm to Table thing was commonplace when we lived in Northern California. Eating excellent food and top quality pizza was so much of a given when I lived in Italy that I once commented that one could find better food at an Italian gas station than most American restaurants (I still stand by this). However, there is some magical happening here. We had two of the appetizers: the stuffed goat cheese pasta and the brioche. Insanely good. We licked the plate clean of the pistachio pesto. Then we had a fig and goat cheese pizza. The crust was sublime. And the flavors were amazing. Wisconsin, give some sort of award to the crew who put this together. Milwaukee, send your chefs out to the Driftless area. It's the best. read more

We ordered the Italian sausage on our pizza. It was so flavorless that it ruined the whole pizza. Sorry. But I make better Italian sausage from scratch than that. I was so pumped to try your pizza. Heard good things but was soooooooo disappointed. I actually picked off all of the sausage so it wouldn't continue to ruin the pizza for next day. I'm going to add more veggies that you don't offer and reheat with my air fryer so it's not a total loss. Plus working with the Fortney Hotel, you guys need to coordinate your food and serving better. Sorry. read more

So I've been trying to come to the Driftless Cafe for a couple of years... But I often seem to be in Viroqua, WI on Mondays. They are closed on Mondays (as is much of Viroqua). Driftless Case is named after the Driftless region of South Western Wisconsin. The Cafe is sources everything they can locally and it is apparent in terms of freshness and quality. So here is the feast I embarked on: Indi Pizza Special (chipotle aioli, bacon and potato), Autumn Salad (local fresh green season is rapidly coming to a close in WI), and perhaps the best freaking cream of tomato I've ever had. The personal sized Indi Pizza had nice chew - the aioli didn't overwhelm the subtleness of the potato and or the smokiness of the bacon. The locally roasted coffee was a bonus as were the cookies I ordered to go - peanut butter and a oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chip concoction. I'm going to get into the cookies on the drive back to Madison. Yup it's true, I'm a Locavore Pig! I really hope they have the cream of tomato soup the next time I'm here. If you visit the Driftless Caffe - I hope for your sake they have the Cream of Tomato Freaking Soup on the menu and your are smart enough to order it. read more

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The Viroqua School benefit meal last night was beyond anything I ever imagined. The beef was beyond flavorful and melted in my mouth. The pork my friend had ....."Così buono". I can't wait to go back on an evening they were not so overwhelmingly busy. So many people came for the benefit. It's easy to see why. And if you left unsatisfied? I think it was your own fault....LOL *stands and claps* read more

What a great place! Came here for lunch as we are staying at a friend's cabin nearby to Viroqua and they suggested this place. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but inside in both rooms it's a great vibe, very modern. The menu was really great, so hard to pick! All the food where possible is locally sourced. We asked what they were known for and they said the burgers. So we all started with the sweet potato soup and then got burgers. 2 got the regular beef burgers where you choose your fixings and 2 of us got the lamb burger with feta and harissa. The soup was good. very rich and on a little on the sweet side, but the burgers were really really good. My lamb burger which I got with gluten free bread was cooked perfectly and the harissa they make in house wasn't too overpowering and tasted great with the feta. My husband who is a burger aficionado said for a regular non specialty burger (like your kumas etc) this was the best he's had which is a big call! The beef is grass fed and local which I think really makes a difference. Very enjoyable experience and we will def be back next time we visit. Only thing to note and they also call it out on the menu that the food takes time to come out, it did, so just don't come here in a rush. we def weren't and enjoyed having the extra to catch up... and the food was def worth the wait! read more

I am reviewer #42 and I agree with the 41 ahead of me - truly a find in an unexpected location. The beef tenderloin was "melt in your mouth" delicious. The dinner is not cheap here but it is well worth the money. The quality and presentation are equal to any "fine restaurant" in Chicago. Kudos to the proprietor and the staff for a very nice dining experience! read more

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Their food is some of the best I've ever had. I came back to vacation here in part so I could eat there again. The food is to die for, the service has always been great. This last time they even made a special dish for me because I don't eat meat and the veggie option was eggplant which doesn't agree with me. They pulled out some walleye and substituted that for the pork chop. So amazing. I'll be back for a weekend in a couple months and I'll definitely be back! read more

There are so many ways that I could begin my raving review of the Driftless Cafe... so perhaps, let's start with the fish. I always kinda hate ordering fish because I fear that it will be bland, or fish-like or just not a substantial meal. I reluctantly ordered some random fish dinner on some random night just to switch things up and was so glad that I did. So flavorful, so substantial, so not fish-like! Don't recall what type that was - just that it was amazing. Now I regularly order fish, and it's typically one I don't recognize and am told that it's like some other fish that I haven't heard of... but boldly I order and am always rewarded. Small plates are always great fun. Did I really have bacon tacos there once? Or was it just a dream? Perhaps both! If the fried chicken is on the menu - always order that! Most of the pictures on my phone are of meals I've had at the cafe. Eat here! read more

I don't live in the area, but try to always stop by the Driftless Cafe when I'm in the area. This time around, I met an old school friend to catch-up and we had a wonderful time. Our server, Samara, was on top of our refills and delightful. Our food the cod sandwich and burger, were both delicious. I've had the cod there before and it is always the perfect balance of breading and fish. The bun is light and allows the fish to shine. I highly recommend a stop by the Driftless Cafe if you are in the area! read more

I have been to the restaurant twice. Last year I ordered the large pizza and it was amazing. Braided crust, corneal on the bottom for a nice crunch, soft on the inside. It was the best pizza I had ever had. This week, I went back and the pizza dough recipe has changed. Now it's more of an average crust. It's not bad, just nothing special either. The pizza last year was definitely worth 26 dollars. But for 26 dollars now, it overpriced, and I would rather make the dough and pizza myself than get it here. read more

We recently came here with a group of six people. After hearing that the chef here was nominated for a James Beard Award and seeing all the rave reviews, my expectations were admittedly high. Unfortunately, those expectations were definitely not met. The menu was very limited. A few small plates, cheese board, charcuterie platter and four entrees. We actually ordered almost everything on the menu other than the charcuterie and a vegetarian entree. The best of the small plates we had were the Mussels. They tasted good, but the Pork Belly they were served with wasn't rendered down enough. The house made Liver Sausage was also good, but the Mustard Sauce served with it was just too strong. The Pita Bread with Yogurt, Mint and Honeycomb was so bland that we ate the Honeycomb and left most of the Pita alone. Cheese courses can be tricky. Chefs must be creative and add components that make it more than just a plate of Cheese. Our plate came with Pickled Ramps that were too sour and a Cranberry Jam that didn't enhance the Cheeses we received. Even the Bread for the table, that we were told was for "breaking", was so hard, we could barely cut it with a knife. Three of our group had the Tenderloin Steak and their consensus was that it was good but they had better one's other places. The Sea Bass was good but came with two sauces that clashed when they came together. The Pork Chop came with really good Grilled Ramps, but didn't have a sauce. Maybe one of the two on the Sea Bass was just on the wrong plate. Another thing that bothered us was the spotty service. Our server was nice, but she neglected to tell us about their beers on tap when we asked about their beer selection, forgot a spoon for our toddler's Apple Sauce and just seemed extremely rushed even though the restaurant wasn't very busy. I appreciate their effort to use local farmer's and purveyor's and that is why I am giving them Two Stars. My hope is that we just hit them on a bad night and if we make it back, Driftless Cafe will meet our expectations. They are wheelchair accessible. read more

We're heard so much about the Driftless Cafe and invited dear friends from St Paul to join us for what I was sure would be an amazing evening. I hope our experience was unusual, but it was the opposite of what we expected. After a long day of travel, we went to the restaurant about 8pm, hoping to avoid the early crowds. There were only a few people in the restaurant and the building was extremely warm. No air conditioning and only a large fan blowing from the kitchen area. Tepid water was brought to the table - perhaps that is now in fashion - but with the dining room at 80 degrees, ice would have been good. Because we knew we were having steaks the following evening we all decided on the halibut, only to be told they'd run out. So the entree options were salmon, steak, and a vegan dish - nothing that grabbed us. We had pizza. It was quite good, not the best we've had, and overall it was a disappointing dining experience. I would love to know if something went wrong that night - I'd be tempted to try again. Our server never mentioned anything was unusual so it seems the heat, the water, the running out of halibut, is par for the course. read more

We drove 30 minutes out of our way to stop here, desperate for some good organic grub. The food was outstanding! Between my boyfriend and I, we ate homemade donuts, 3 entrees total, homemade dessert, and drinks. The bill was less than $60!!! Trying to find an excuse to be back in the area... PS. The entire menu was up to par with our standards... grass fed, locally forged, organic, you name it. We are very picky when it comes to quality of food. Amazing. read more

One of the best meals I've ever had! We started with the scallops which were seared to perfection. The featured salad was delicious and the homemade croutons were standout. I had pizza for my main and my husband had the lamb. We were both pleased with the flavors and quality. For dessert we had the vanilla cheesecake with strawberry rhubarb compote- very good! The service was good and the ambiance wasn't too stuffy. I only wish I lived closer so we could frequent this establishment! read more

The best! Local, organic and seasonal. Viroqua is so lucky to have Luke and Ruthie Zahm at the helm of this very special restaurant! read more

You know those places that make you realize you are an amateur in the kitchen with each bite? The places that make you eat off your neighbors plate too? The places that allow you to remember what you ate there over a year later? This is one. read more

The Driftless Cafe - This will be my last meal if it ever comes to that. - Sandwiches Near Me - Viroqua, Wisconsin

Great dinner at the Driftless Cafe! Delicious food combinations. Had bar cocktails, which were good but took forever to get them. Then we had the crab stuffed green pepper appetizer which was fabulous- more crab than I would've expected. The pizza special for me with local pepperoni, green olives and peppers with a chili oil "sauce" - was very good and light, though I could only eat a few pieces (great reheats the next day though!). My partner had the lamb Mediterranean dish which was excellent - amazing flavor combinations with lentils, baba ghanoush, so so good! And the apple tart with locally made ice cream for dessert - was so so good too. Highly recommend! read more

My best friend Tara got married last year, and for her bachelorette party we spent a weekend in the Driftless. Viroqua was a short drive from our cabin, and I knew The Driftless Cafe was a MUST. We were blown away by the food, service, ambience, and wine. There was nothing that could have been better about our experience. We started out with some wine and a cheese plate. Our server helped us select wine based on our tastes and budget. We selected wines in the $10 and under range, and none of us were disappointed with our choices. I had a creatively crafted cocktail, which included sparkling wine and fresh raspberries. The cheese plate introduced us to a few new obsessions, including a slice of Carr Valley Bleu Cheese. I loved it so much that we stopped at Carr Valley on our way home to pick up a wedge. In-house pickled garlic scapes were also on the plate, and proved themselves so tasty that I pickled some myself this year. Other cheeses included 10 year cheddar and some fantastic goat cheese, paired with crusty bread and local jam. Drool. For our main courses, we chose pizza and pork. A couple of us enjoyed pork chops that absolutely blew us away. The pork came from a farm nearby, of course, and holds the title as the best chop I've had in my entire life. Kudos to the restaurant for serving it with a sharp knife so I could get all the way down to the bone to scrape off the most delicious pieces of meat. Tara and her sister ordered pizza, which they thoroughly enjoyed. I can't recommend this place enough. Our server was so wonderful and patient, always giving his opinion and making sincere recommendations when asked. We were much too full for dessert, and I'm still regretting it. Please support the Driftless Cafe; they are doing wonderful things by supporting local agriculture and working hard to deliver amazing food to the community. read more

My husband and I drove from La crosse to go for lunch recently. We had been once before and had a fantastic experience. This time The food was superb as usual but the service was less than stellar. Our experience got off to a rocky start as our server looked angry and sighed several times while talking with us. The server forgot our order 3 times. Never checked on us throughout the whole meal, complained about a different table to us, and then complained loudly to another customer at the bar about staffing troubles. I didn't feel like we were difficult customers either. I was really disappointed about this experience especially since our food was so good. But service can really make or break an experience and this time around mine wasn't that great. Hopefully the next time we go they will have fixed this problem. read more

Amazing food, higher priced, not a big selection to choose from. The lighting is very nice though

I knew this place existed, I just knew it had to. SW Wisconsin is so full of tree-squeezin natural food growers and eaters, I knew a town like Viroqua had to have a great little cafe to cater to types that can appreciate good cafe culture and food. I've been to a couple other options on the main drag, but always left wanting more. I finally ducked down Court St, saw the Driftless Cafe and found what I've been looking for. A cafe that serves great coffee and a variety of wonderful cafe fare, much prepared with local and/or natural ingredients. In addition, fresh baked bread is available to go. The atmosphere inside is great too- wood tables and chairs, regular live music and a couple trees even "grow" up through the floor and into the ceiling! A piece of homemade pie, a chunk of the newspaper and a cup of good coffee here is a great way to pass some time. read more

I've been here a few times now. I've brought different friends. We all love it. The food is fresh and beautiful and I've never had even an average dish yet. The atmosphere is great too--rustic, modern, fresh and clean. The staff always looks like they're having fun. I live pretty far away, but when I get to the Driftless region, this is the place to go! read more

We were here for a birthday celebration. After all the rave reviews expectations were high. Very cozy place with nice atmosphere. Service very good. We had the cheese and sausage appetizer which was very diverse and interesting with offerings from local providers. The real highlight was the house salads which were outstandingly fresh and flavorful, better than any other we've had. The steaks were very good and well prepared, but honestly not the best ever. They appeared to be grass fed and very lean. I like mine with a little more marbling. The grilled char was very well received. Desserts were light and delicate. In all, I'd come back, even with the significant drive. It's very good, but for the prices it needs to be. Another good high-end place that's at last comparable is Freddy Valentines in Spring Green. read more

I was a bit disappointed given the excellent reviews for this restaurant. My wife and I both had the Pork Shish. Tasty, but for me, the dish lacked the "wow" flavors I expected from the dish ingredients. The salted chocolate cake was great, even as a next-day snack. I would definitely return, despite a minor disappointment. read more

Absolutely delicious!! Can't wait to get back to the area so we can eat there again. Lauren, our waitress, was excellent. Fresh locally sourced ingredients. I had the tenderloin - oh my heaven! That was delicious!! Hubby had a vegetarian meal (he's not a vegetarian) with mushrooms in a creamy sauce, roasted beets, goat cheese and a few other items (can't remember the name of the dish). It was so good that he joked that he'd "go vegetarian" if he could eat like that. LOL!!! read more