With a family in the restaurant business, we make it mandatory to search high & low for the best eats...check out some of my favorites, organized by town. (A work in progress...)

A word about fish fries: My mother and father raised me right. Friday is fish fry night. And it's not 'A fish fry'... it's 'My fish fry', as in, where am I going to go tonight for my fish fry? If you're in Wisconsin, and it's Friday night, you need a fish fry.

Presque Isle

Skyview Lodge
686-2928, closed Tuesdays, open at 4pm. 1 mile west of PI on Hwy W.

When I say this is a family favorite, I'm not kidding! Owned and operated by my brother Adam and his wife Danna (and my mom Peggy prior to that), I'm the lucky one to have this fantastic establishment in the family. A Presque Isle dining landmark since the early 1940's, an extensive menu offers something for everyone. Fantastic steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, broasted chicken (even those from Green Bay will agree!) and great nightly specials include Monday Mexican, Wednesday fish boil (summer only), two-for-one prime rib on Thursday, Sunday pork & chicken platters and of course the Friday night fish fry! Relax with a drink on the outside deck or for cooler nights, gather around the fieldstone fireplace. A full bar, huge menu, experienced kitchen & waitstaff, and the friendliest Presque-aliens around make this an excellent choice. On Boot Lake, there is also a sixteen-unit motel with kitchen suites. And make sure you hit their website, it's a great source for winter trail reports! www.skyviewlodge.com

Carlin Lake Lodge
686-2255, closed Monday, open at 4pm. Carlin Club Drive, off of Hwy P.

Formerly the Carlin Club, many people remember this historic establishment as a successful & booming restaurant with a full German menu. In the eighties & nineties it wore a few different "hats", and was reopened in October '02 serving what I call "Special Occasion Northwoods Fare"-- like really GOOD walleye, delicious steaks & seafood, authentic German cuisine and other delectable delights. Nightly specials include are seafood on Thursday, prime rib & lamb on Saturday, and 2-for-1 German on Sunday. One of the highlights will be your trip to the homemade salad bar; the other will be your view of quiet & serene Carlin Lake from almost every seat in the house. The atmosphere is elegant yet cozy and the bar area is a great place to unwind. Nicky & Mitch (also family, it's a really long story) are two of the most hospitable people around, and you are sure to enjoy this night. If you enjoy it too much, there is a seven-unit motel with some great lake views. For a romantic two to foursome by the fire, request table 10, and the best summer views are on the porch. If you haven't been here in a while, now is the time to re-visit this success story. Visit www.carlinlakelodge.com

Outpost Cafe
686-2193. Main St. in PI. Open every day at 7am for breakfast & lunch, call ahead for dinner hours.

A great family spot overlooking the famous Walleye Rearing Pond, you'll love the spacious, Northwoods atmosphere and tons of delicious choices at the Outpost Cafe. Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner, their recently expanded menu includes many favorites like eggs benedict, texas-style French toast, homemade soups, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, Friday fish fry & a favorite Sunday roast night. Newly added to-go fried chicken makes a great snack for on the boat, and there are daily lunch specials. A very family friendly place, you can enjoy your meal with a black bear...but don't worry, he's "stuffed" too - just like you will be after your meal! The walls are home to lots of cool memorabilia, including pictures & newspaper articles documenting the history of Presque Isle. They serve beer & wine, and you can pick up a sweet treat at the ice cream parlour on your way out the door. NOTE: Check out the good-looking group of realtors on the placemat advertising!

Aidan's favorite place to dine!

The Wilderness Inn
543-8375 Hwy W in Winchester

There are nightly specials such as Tuesday BBQ Ribs and Wednesday Steak Night at this terrific little bar & restaurant, but the major draw is definitely the Friday Fish Fry. Served the way fish fries were meant to be served, steaming hot with fries and coleslaw! With a rustic ambiance and knotty-pine interior, a stop here will provide you with an authentic 'up north' experience. A favorite local hang-out, listen closely at the bar and you may pick up a fishing tip or two. There is also an nine-unit motel popular with snowmobilers and fishermen. Seasonal storage rental is available for snowmobiles and boats. The Wilderness is open seven days a week, year-round.

PI Pub & Grill
Hwy B, at the top of the hill. 686-2522

A popular local hangout, the PI Pub & Grill recently expanded their dining room and game area. Besides local banter, the pub serves up fantastic homemade pizza's (Peggy's favorite) charbroiled burgers & sandwiches, soups, daily lunch specials, and the best chili in town. And if you're wondering where the entire town goes on Tuesday night, we're at the P.I. Pub enjoying our Wing-Dings (all-you-can-eat chicken wing baskets) and they are AWESOME. A Presque Isle tradition, my brothers and I have been dining on wing-dings since I was knee-high begging my dad for video-game quarters. Happy hour is 4pm - 5pm Mon-Fri, and the kitchen opens at 11am daily. The Pub is also a popular late night hangout, often featuring live music, tailgate parties, and hotly contested pool & ping pong.

The Presque Isle Yacht Club
Main Street, 686-2423

Another popular local hangout, the Presque Isle Yacht Club is a bar & grill now under new management. Featuring an expanded dining area, this is a great lunch stop featuring delicious & juicy burgers, pizza, appetizers, and many other menu items. A knotty-pine interior and fieldstone fireplace lend an authentic Northwoods feel to this friendly establishment, and check with them often to find out about special events such as live music, tailgate parties and special dinners including a New Years Eve prime rib dinner. Pool tables, video games & a great jukebox make this a great snowmobiling or late night stop.

Zastrow's Lynx Lake Lodge
686-2249. Hwy B in PI.

Just off of Hwy B on beautiful Lynx Lake, Zastrow's is open for breakfast and dinner, with specialties ranging from steaks to seafood. Authentic wilderness decor, rustic ambiance and a great bar area to sit and relax. You'll enjoy the fresh salad bar and nightly specials, and don't miss their buffet. Mark your calendars for the Annual Ducks Unlimited Dinner in September, this is a terrific event hosted yearly by Zastrow's. Also a full time resort, the lodge houses a small gift shop where you can pick up a sweatshirt and your Wisconsin or Michigan fishing license. Right off of the trail, this is a popular spot for snowmobilers. Owner Dave Zastrow is the current trail boss for the Sno-bunnies, and our excellent trails are due largely in part to all of his hard work.

Birch Lake Lodge
Hwy W, 686-2872

Open daily at 4pm, Birch Lake Lodge takes advantage of their beautiful lakeside setting with a large, glassed-in dining porch open seasonally. Nightly specials include a popular Mexican Night on Wednesday, in addition to other nightly specials including fish fry, prime rib, and pan-fried chicken. Enjoy backing the Packers on their big screen TV, there's a free tailgate party every Packer Sunday. Birch Lake also features live music on many weekend, call ahead for their band schedule. Ever hear a live band playing just off shore in a pontoon boat under a starry, moonlit sky? Catch this place on the right night and you will. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. www.birchlakeresort.com

Manitowish Waters

The Pine Baron's
543-8464. Hwy W in Manitowish Waters. Closed Wednesdays.

I am a girl who likes a little spoilin! One of the best special occasion restaurants in the northwoods, this is an elegant dining experience from start to finish. Be prepared to take your time, you'll want to. Nice beginnings include cranberry pate and garlic shrimp; steaks are perfectly prepared and the duck is a favorite as well as the pan-seared tuna and just about anything else you order. A new addition to the menu are Henry's BBQ ribs. Specialty coffees & elegant desserts complete the meal. Good bar & wine list, piano music on Saturdays and an impressive collection of area maps make this a favorite, especially among the ladies in our family. To try your own hand at the menu, pick up a copy of Chef Henry Sinkus' cookbook, The Northwoods Table. Catering is also available.

Michael's Parlor Restaurant & Bakery
Hwy 51, 543-2550 6am-4pm, Summer open till 9pm

My Grandma and I used to love our trips to Michael's when I was little, and now my kids love it just as much. A restaurant, bakery and ice cream parlor offering delicious breakfasts & lunches like eggs benedict, Belgian waffles, homemade soups, hot sandwiches, chicken & tuna croissants and steak sandwiches. A wonderful selection of specialty food items & treats (my kids go crazy for the candy baskets) and terrific bakery items. With lots of Cranberry Country Products in true Manitowish Waters flavor, stop at Michael's to treat yourself to something special! Open daily from 7am until 4pm. www.michaelsparlor.com

Voss's Birchwood Lodge
543-8791 Hwy 51. Call for seasonal hours.

I went to Voss's for the first time the day after my husband and I got married, and we loved it! A completely authentic Northwoods experience, unchanged over the years and in true Manitowish Waters style. Full of history yet meticulously maintained, an extensive menu provides a delicious dinner in a wonderful atmosphere. Step back in time...you'll enjoy this visit. www.vossbl.com

Little Bohemia Restaurant
Hwy 51, 543-8433

The site of a historical John Dillinger shootout (bullet holes are still there!) and beautiful views of the Manitowish Chain, a night at Little Bo is a great experience. You'll feel like you're stepping back into time! Excellent service and great food are trademarks here, and nightly specials include prime rib, bleu cheese stuffed pork chops and a peasant platter, in addition to the good old Friday night fish fry. Come by boat or car in the summer, and take in the view by requesting porch seating. Call for reservations, closed on Wednesday, also closed January - April. www.littlebohemia.net

Watch for Boulder Junction restaurants coming soon, and a 'Worth The Drive' section!