Thirsty Whale
453 Park St, Minocqua, WI, 54548
Thirsty Whale Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Minocqua for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minocqua for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minocqua for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
453 Park St
Minocqua, WI, 54548 - Phone (715) 356-7108
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Bri R.
The food was pretty good. Had a long drive home, so only did a few appetizers and a couple of beers. The nachos were excellent! The hostess was way less than friendly. Stood at her stand for a good minute before bothering to look up and acknowledge my friend and I standing there waiting to be seated. After looking up, and us telling her we would like to sit outside, she realized the tables on the deck near the water hadn't been cleaned. Granted they weren't even close to being busy and the table should have been cleared, she copped a huge attitude about now having to "go and clean it." As she then walked away with us wondering what the big deal was. Teamwork, anyone?! Oh well. So we sit down and wait another 5 minutes to have our drink order taken. Drinks did come fast initially, though. And there wasn't a long wait for the food, either. However, don't expect to get a timely refill (bottles were empty for 10 minutes, and we have to snag the server). Speaking of, $4 for a bottle of beer?! Yikes! All in all, the food was good. The beer was cold. The view was absolutely amazing. And to too it off, there was a ski team practicing for us to watch too. I don't know if I would return to the Thirsty Whale, but it was a decent stopping point for this trip.
(3)Jeremiah B.
Good food and atmosphere. Menu isn't extensive; food is a few notches above bar food. Good burgers. Great view of the lake. Great place for a casual lunch or dinner.
(4)M. H.
The Thirsty Whale is always a MUST on our annual trips to Minocqua. You can't beat the views of Lake Minocqua. And I've gotta say, they have the best margaritas around. It's nice and convenient to be able to pull up your boat or wave runner to the shore or pier and grab something to eat. You probably won't want to bring kids any time after 8:00 ... we came for a late dinner and there was a bachelorette party there with 'phallic-ness' all around. We've been there, too, where there are some 'creepos' later in the evening - or some drunk bar flies. Otherwise, it's an all-around great place. Great food, great views.
(4)Chase T.
On a recent first trip (for me) to Wisconsin, My girlfriend, her mom and myself stopped in at the Thirsty Whale for lunch and a couple of pints (Spotted Cow on draft)... Is it in the middle of nowhere?, "you betcha", off the beaten path?, yes, but worth finding?, most definitely. We had two or three different meals, including fish sandwiches, tacos and cheesecurds. The food was surprisingly good. Coupled with a great view of lake Minocqua and watching a bald eagle riding a column just above us, that hour was hard to beat. The wait staff was hard working and friendly. If we had this nice of a time when there was a customer lull and driving into the place, I could only imagine the experience is that much cooler docking your dingy right up against its floating patio..
(3)Julie L.
The Thirsty Whale is great when you want something deep-fried - the cheese curds and french fries are amazing. Be aware that they're always busy; we went at 2pm on a Thursday and still had to wait a good 20 minutes for outdoor seating. It's a great spot, though! The patio's on a dock over the lake (very scenic) and the breezes feel great. The thing that knocks a star off for me is the mediocre service. Nobody on staff seems to particularly care much, whether you're standing around waiting or at your table.
(4)Michael O.
We were up here last weekend for ice-golf, and because of the recent snow, played ice Frisbee instead. We had a very good time, and a lot of it had to do with this bar. I love the whale shanty outside the bar! I also love the nachos here. They had AYCE soup for the event, and for $5, it was well worth it. The place was packed for the event, along with snow-mobilers, so I can't say much to the service. Everyone working there was still very nice and friendly. We will be back for the 4th, and I can't wait to stop in.
(5)Alison W.
In with a group of friends and there was great food all the way around! I had the "Hunger Killer" sandwich and it lived up to its name.
(4)Jeff G.
Food was good, atmosphere was good, gorgeous view of the lake. Just a little to pricey for a family of four.
(4)Michael H.
Been going Up North for over a decade and this place is at the top of my list for Lunch!! Great Soups and Sandwiches and the fries are amazing. Building has been there for over 100 years and has amazing views of Lake Minocqua/Great Patio/Large Bar... Always seems very clean inside!! Bartenders are great and Spotted Cow on draft!! GTFJD
(4)Jan M.
My hubby and I stopped here for dinner while in town during the quiet season...and I do mean quiet. We were the only people in the dining room; during the summer, this place is overrun with tourists, so the quiet was kind of nice. He had the grilled chicken alfredo special with a cup of chowder; he enjoyed both. I had the grilled chicken sandwich, which was very good. Generous piece of chicken and good fries with a nice stack of dill slices. Our Spotted Cow in real glasses was a welcome addition to the meal. It was interesting to look out on a frozen lake instead of the blue waves one sees in summer. Hit the Whale when in town!
(4)Matt K.
Great place for food and drinks. We ate hear several times during our 4 night stay in the area. Very friendly staff and a comfortable atmosphere. Family friendly but great for those with no kids as well. Highly recommend the whale sandwich, blackened grouper, buffalo chicken soup and the whale burger with blue cheese! Delicious!! The drink specials were great as well!
(5)Natalie C.
Great place to drive into or boat into. Awesome views of lake minocqua. Rustic sailing decor. Small menu. Quick service
(4)Frances K.
Service is competent but slow. The food is actually quite good - we had walleye and grouper, both of which were very tasty. Clam chowder was also pretty darn good. The lakeside seating is the highlight. Good children's menu as well.
(3)Jim H.
Amazing place to have a beer and hang out. Staff is real cool and great view of the lake. We do not go to Minocqua without stopping by the Thirsty Whale.
(5)Michael E.
Ah yes, the Whale. I have fond memories of hanging out on the deck by the lake in the summer drinking a fine Miller product. We would visit my hometown and get wasted and make fun of the other drunk locals and betting each other to jump in Lake Minocqua. But, the Whale has cleaned up it's act. At least for dinner time. Seriously, some of the food here is more unique than I've seen anywhere else in Minocqua. I'm surprised this northern Wisconsin town can handle it. The Friday fish fry is delicious with amazing clam chowder and if you're lucky you can watch the Min-Aqua Bat ski show while you eat. Their cheese curds are definitely interesting, but not as good and greasy as a lot of other places in town.
(4)Jason D.
Thirsty Whale has my favorite fish fry in Minocqua. Great, long planks of fried walleye, delicious homemade soups, and a great atmosphere right on top of Lake Minocqua make for a wonderful time. They also serve delicious Capital Island Wheat beer on tap, and serve their fish on really neat fish-shaped plates. I also love the sandwiches and other entrees; great food!
(5)S S.
Turned away completely while trying to order from our boat. They were "too busy". Guess they don't want more business? We would have happily waited patiently. Maybe time to hire another server during the busy season. We headed a few yards down to yacht club and were greeted promptly despite their equally as busy atmosphere.
(1)Melissa B.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. The actual bar and service is without a doubt just average though. I would make sure you enjoy the company you are dining with and plan on drinking afterwards at a different bar if drinks are your thing. When we walked in the hostess quoted us a 45 minute wait for the patio. It was a beautiful Summer night. No big deal. We were a little annoyed after noticing she had everyone wait 45 minutes for a table on the patio as half the tables sat empty. If this is a staffing issue they need to staff properly. They should know people will sit outside on the water. The waitress was slooow. She was really nice but seriously slow. Our food took forever to come out. I was starving! All of the food was excellent once it finally came out. We started with cheese curds and (delicious) ranch and an order of coconut shrimp. Both were really good. All 4 of us ordered a different sandwich. I didn't ask anyone else for a taste so I can only speak for mine. Everyone said they were happy though. I had the blackened grouper sandwich on a roll with grilled onions and peppers and swiss cheese. Amazing! My plan was to throw some of the bread away (bad carbs) but one taste and I couldn't dare. The bread was so good! I've been dreaming about it. The prices were crazy cheap given the quality (just my opinion). My sandwich and fries only came to like $11? The drinks are another story. They are cheap, but the quality isn't there. The daiquiri was weak and the glass of wine was AWFUL. Don't order the wine here. Have water with dinner and head to a wine bar afterwards. Great dinner though overall.
(4)Shereen S.
This is a must-stop while in Minocqua. The food is good (though nothing out of the ordinary) - and there's just something about sitting on the patio outside, playing cards and having a beer in the sun that can't be beat. Bar staff is friendly and on the ball, and it's always filled with people. Fun place to spend an afternoon.
(4)Matt C.
Stopped here for lunch. Food was good, fries were great. Kids menu as well. Address is off just a bit so look up directions somewhere else.
(4)John K.
Not bad but not for me. Didn't eat but my buddy's morbidly obese girlfriend worked here.
(2)Ashley Z.
Oh Thirsty Whale, you are a hot mess. In a good way. I came here over the 4th of July weekend and things were pretty cray. It was PACKED with college kids back home for the weekend. . . and middle-aged bagpipers. . . Haha. I wasn't really paying for drinks that night but they had some decent specials available- some kind of $5 summer 'fishbowl'-like concoction served in a bucket that people were really liking. The crowd was fun and friendly and they were playing the usual Top-40 stuff from the jukebox. Things I especially liked: 1) The Whale is within walking distance from downtown Minocqua and several other bars and restaurants. 2) It is located right on Lake Minocqua which exponentially multiplies my enjoyment factor. They also have a nice deck outside where you can take your drink and chill by the water. 3) I noticed they have some fun touristy/local flavor tee shirts available for sale in MANY different styles. I'll be back. So will everyone else who was there last weekend. #partyon
(3)Andrew + Aleah D.
Our group of nine dined here last Friday. After waiting for about thirty minutes out on the deck we were seated at a picnic table out on the deck that was only able to seat maybe six comfortably. After speaking with the waitress, she offered our group to split into two and sit at two different tables. We agreed and she actually went and had the people at the table next to us move from where they were sitting so we could sit there, which I thought was pretty rude of her. Now the most important part, the food. Almost every single person hated their food. People who got french fries had cold fries (one even sent them back), people who got the fish fry, myself included, said it was the worst fish fry they've ever had, and another who got nachos said there was hardly any cheese on it. Long story short, I'd maybe consider Thirsty Whale for drinks, but never food. In fact, if you want drinks, I'd actually recommend going to the Minocqua Brewing Company. They have great food, drinks and awesome ambiance with live music some nights.
(1)Steve D.
The best way to describe this place is for the younger crowds. It can be a college bar, dive bar, or just somewhere to sit outside and drink. The food is your typical bar food which I have no problem with. People dock all the time and get stuff to go which makes it an awesome oasis. If you are looking for something more of a dine in or restaurant than I would go elsewhere. This is your bar on the beach hangout and my personal favorite place to go drinking and my go to place when I bring friends up north. The only problem is the outside is small and limited seating so you can wait a little bit.
(4)Jenn M.
Amazing cheese curds! Kids loved being able to watch the ski who at the same time and great wait staff.
(4)Amanda F.
Views of the lake are awesome, servers were friendly, food was pretty good. They have sandwiches and appetizers during the day while the kitchen is open.
(4)Sue S.
Awful experience. We waited an hour for a table, once we were seated they forgot about us. After they waited on people that came in after us. We finally had to stand up and ask for service ( as the excuse me miss did not gather any one interest) Once a waitress did come she explained that some times people fall through the cracks.. We ordered. the food was AWFUL. My spinach was slimy and rotting my partners food was made of the cheapest meat and cheese..It would have been an upgrade to get a Velveeta slice. I asked to speak with management and was told..well nobody's really in charge here today...... Sorry Thirsty Whale..that was my second and last trip!
(1)Matt K.
Terrible! I have eaten there before and it was decent but my recent visit marked a new low for me. The waitstaff was completely clueless and we waited an hour and a half because the kitchen was backed up. I've worked in a lot of restaurants and am extremely patient when it comes to things like this, but they serve burgers and sandwiches mostly, so with 10 tables in the whole place I don't understand how it can be backed up. They ran out of their signature drink and every tap beer except one. How does a bar run out of beer and liquor? Our waiter never came back to get us more drinks and when he did, he took food that people were still eating and left before we could say anything. Yeah, the view on the water is great. That's about it. Don't waste your time or $$$$
(1)Jason M.
We have come here the last couple years for lunch. The waitress was very friendly, albeit a bit forgetful. The sandwiches we all ordered were as good as to be expected at a shoreside cafe type restaurant. The only complaint was their $10 sampler platter......very small portion size on that. Atmosphere is pleasant and the view is nice. Will probably be back next year :-)
(4)Christina B.
Great spot to grab lunch in the summer! I am a total bread snob and this place knows the importance of a good bun on a sandwich! The location just cannot be beat: patio hangs out over the water so you feel like you are in a boat! Lots to look at and the patio is partially shaded. One consideration when dining on the patio: there can be a bit of a wait because the patio only offers large picnic tables. So one small group of 2 people can take up a giant table that seats 6. I would be fine with putting 2 groups of 2 at those tables to help free up some of the wait time.
(5)Claire R.
The Thirsty Whale not to be confused with Anchorman's Ron Burgundy's belief as to what San Diego stands for.. We came her twice in our 4 day trip to Minocqua, which basically says how much we enjoyed it. Things to get: Fried Cheese curds - OH my word. I had forgotten about these since I moved to New York, and now i can't get them out of my head. So Good but extremely naughty, eat with caution. Burger/Sandwich - I feel like you can't go wrong, order one, you will love it. The fried fish is great, one person in our group got a burger which they enjoyed, the french fries are yummy, I could go on and on. Caesar Salad - delicious and so fresh This restaurant is consistently good, and always busy! Thank you Thirsty Whale for giving me sweet dreams of fried cheese and fresh fish!
(5)Ab B.
Our annual trip to Minocqua always includes a dinner and/or stop at the Thirsty Whale. The fish fry is very good and my son loved the baby corn dogs. It's fun to watch the water ski show from the deck as you enjoy a drink or wait for your table. While the wait on a Friday is long in the summer (we waited almost 2 hours), we spent the time watching the ski show and the kids played in the game room. We also stopped here late Wednesday night (11pm). It was pretty dead but we got great service and spent time chatting with the bartenders and hearing local stories.
(4)Jason F.
Their on tap beer is served in plastic cups in stead glasses like they're running a fraternity. Dinner isn't available till 4:30 which is garbage because In Chicago I can get any meal at any time of the day. This place should be closed down, what a waste of time/money.
(1)Ron T.
We had a delicious Walleye Friday Fish Fry. Service was friendly and efficient. We sat out on the deck to enjoy the scenic lake view, but it became chilly after a while. My elderly in-laws were cold and our nice waitress (Barb) got us an indoor table. The walleye had a nice, light cornbread coating that wasn't greasy like so many beer battered fish fry's. Highly recommended if you want an authentic Northwoods experience.
(4)R S.
If you like having a good time while drinking great things while talking to great staff go here. If you don't, there's a pretty decent outback steakhouse right outside of town.
(5)Will O.
You can get in a lot of trouble in Wisconsin with a sack of nickels. The Thirsty Whale is the epitome of this; cheap drinks and a great diverse crowd, perfect for people watching
(5)mary b.
Great place in the summer to grab a sandwich ... they benefit from a terrific location right on the water with an outdoor deck/tables. Service is good. Don't feed the birds, they will join you at your table!
(4)Erica B.
I concur with the previous ratings. Not a suitable place to check out at night given the crowd. During the day, the food, service, and lakeside location are ideal! Sitting, literally, on the water, proves to make The Thirsty whale an excellent dining/relaxing choice for boaters, locals, and tourists alike!
(4)Chris B.
Man, I remember it from Lakland Union HS days.. I mean er... not that I ever went in there until I was 21.... anyway, on the water, food, lots of drinks... hmm what could possibly go wrong??
(4)