Sportsman's Lounge/Restaurant

This is a real old-fashioned Northwoods Resort located on Cedar Rapids river. It is about 2 miles from Route 182, down a road that winds through the forest. When we parked our car we saw a doe and her fawn. The decor is made up of family heirlooms, coin collections in frames, expertly carved wooden birds, pictures of the owners' family and friends, mounted fish and forest animals, and bar mirrors for all the name-brand beers. There's a jigsaw puzzle on a table for you to put together, if you like, while waiting for your food, a billiards table, several arcade games, a collection of Northern Wisconsin art for sale, a friendly dog, a very nice bar and two main dining rooms. One actually has booths as well as tables! Mrs. Anne Wojscieszak (pronounced "WoCHEHzik") is owner, and sometimes she is also the chef, bartender, and waitress. She has extra help when she has busy nights, especially Fridays and Saturdays, but even when business isn't hopping, she is open every other day of the week, too. Friday is fish fry, of course, and Monday is Mexican night, (Monday is a day when many other nearby restaurants are closed). I dined there on a Sunday evening and the full menu was available, even on a slow night. By full menu, I'm talking at least three cuts of steak (I remember one was a ribeye), bone-in pork chops, barbecued ribs, fried chicken, and several kinds of fish, broiled or fried. Fish is available even on days that aren't Fridays! Best of all, dinner comes with BOTH salad and soup, so you don't have to choose, and you really do get your vegetables. My salad had fresh lettuce, 3 or 4 cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, radishes, and lots of sliced cucumbers. The chicken dumpling soup had real home-made dumplings in a nice clear vegetable-filled broth. Dinner also comes with the dessert of the day. On my Sunday it was a square of chocolate cake with delicious white icing and a few blue-crystal sprinkles. For dinner that night, I ordered the fried chicken and my dinner companion ordered the ribs. Both were excellent. The chicken had a flavorful, tender and crispy crust, and the meat was melt-in- your-mouth juicy inside. The ribs were smoky and saucy and tender. Did I spy a little working smokehouse when I drove up to the parking lot? I'll have to ask the next time I go. Oh, and by the way, on the way out, I noticed a little table by the main door that was laden with boxed jigsaw puzzles. There was a sign that invited you to "Help yourself" to a free puzzle to take home.