Wayside Inn Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Jefferson for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Jefferson for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Jefferson for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Iddy -.

    The Wayside has been my favorite restaurant for over 15 years now. I've always lived 30 minutes or more away, but whenever we have the time, we make the drive. There is no place that I would rather go for dinner when considering all aspects of a restaurant. So, here's just a few of the reasons I love this place. The Food: I've never had a bad meal here. The menu is pretty extensive, and over 15 years, I've tried a wide range of the options. You can go for the standard pub grub, or can spend a little more and indulge in the nightly dinner specials. Favorites from the standard pub grub: the Wayside burger, the smothered chicken sandwich, and the olive burger. Favorites from the dinner specials: blackened mahi-mahi, stuffed flounder, pretty much any other fish option, and the roast duck. All dinners come with an appetizer platter (this includes warm bread, two cheese spreads, pickled herring, pickled beets, and a variety of crackers) and soup or salad. I was most recently out there for their special New Year's Eve menu. I had some stuffed flounder that melted in my mouth, and almost every one else in my group had steaks that they said were fantastic and cooked just right. Standard Specials: I like when places have standard nightly specials that I can expect. There's always something different to spice it up, but I generally know what I'm walking in to. Wednesday and Friday - amazing fish options. Saturday - prime rib. Sunday morning - amazing breakfast skillets. If you can eat the whole thing, I'm impressed. The other days have specials too, but I've been on those days in a while, and don't want to give any inaccurate info. Atmosphere: I love the old fashioned, supper club feel. Don't expect to walk into a fancy, shiny place. Don't expect to use a card. CASH ONLY. There are two dining rooms with a bar in the middle, and the rules are strict. No eating at the bar. The bar is for pre- and post-dinner drinks, which is really nice since it keeps seats more available and conversation flowing. The Staff: If you talk to the staff and go more than once, they'll start to remember you. I've never had anything but cheery and prompt service. Every once in a while you have to wait for a drink, but only when it's really busy. I've never waited due to lack of effort on the staff's part. Also, when I came home on leave from Iraq, they went above and beyond to make my favorite meal. They know I love the mahi-mahi (not a regular menu item), so they got some out of storage and made it for me even thought it wasn't on the special board that night. I always feel welcomed and appreciated as a customer. The Price: Affordable. Most pub grub is under $8. Dinners are usually $12-20 depending on what you order. My stuffed flounder meal was right around $15, but that's for the appetizer plate, soup, and the meal (fish/broccoli/potato). I'm a hardy eater, and even I couldn't finish it all. The Regulars: My family is pretty social. Over the years of going, we've gotten to know some of the locals, and they're great as well. It's nice to sit down at a bar and be be surrounded by friendly, down-to-earth locals, who aren't afraid or annoyed to pick up a conversation with you. I really can't say enough great things about this place. I recommend it to everyone I know, and bring people along whenever I can convince them. I've never had a friend leave disappointed.

    (5)
  • Steve L.

    Quick Review: A tiny bar located on the eastern edge of Jefferson. Filled with smoke and locals, but friendly and entirely enjoyable. Some of the best fish fry we've ever had, but service was spotty at best. Incredible value - we'll be back for sure! Detailed Review: A co-worker turned us on to The Wayside Inn, and after several failed attempts to coordinate a group outing, we were able to gather folks and head over to Jefferson to sample the fish fry. Now I'm angry that we didn't hit this fish fry earlier - it's top notch. The Wayside Inn isn't much to look at, but don't let that deter you from stopping by. We arrived at around 5:45pm on Friday night and the place was filled with an obviously local, older crowd. It wasn't too smokey when we arrived, but by the time we left, cigarette smoke was quickly starting to overwhelm the ventilation system... We can't wait for the statewide smoking ban. Bellied-up to the bar and placed a drink order; two beers, two mixed drinks (including one Old Fashioned). Damage: $8. Are you serious?! $8 for all four drinks? We immediately ordered a second round. :-) Tap selection is limited to just four beers, none of which are too noteworthy... Shocktop and 312 seem out of place next to the Coors Light and Leinie's. Taps are the "old school" 10-oz pour. After a few minutes of waiting, we were led to one of the dining rooms that hang off either side of the bar. Our waitress stopped by with menus, although we didn't need them - there was an extensive list of the evening's fish offerings posted on a whiteboard in the bar area. I think I counted more than 10 types of fish - from blackened sea bass to traditional beer battered cod to potato-crusted halibut... We ordered a round of cheese curds and a variety of fish plates. Side options included potato pancakes (yes!), fries, baked potato, american fries, or hash browns (with or without cheese). Fish dinners included customary coleslaw and rye bread (which was obviously homemade and included a nice dose of caraway seeds). Curds arrived in a small iron skillet with a side of ranch. While they were well prepared, they weren't any different than your standard Sysco bar-brand curds. Fish came shortly after and it was extremely excellent. We each ordered something different; here's the breakdown: Beer battered cod: three filets of incredibly delicious cod, lightly battered and fried to perfection. Batter featured a slight hint of salt, pepper, and paprika; I wished I had ordered the all you could eat option because I could've put away serious portions of this cod. Lake Perch: piled high, perfectly breaded, and wonderfully tasty. Some of the best lake perch we've ever had, bar none. I'm not sure what was more impressive: the quantity or the quality. Bluegill: you have to respect any fish fry that offers bluegill, as it's a rare treat, and the Wayside's bluegill was simply amazing. It was piled to the rafters (there were literally 18-20 pieces on the plate), served piping hot, and had such a wonderfully delicate flavor that I'm sure to dream of this bluegill for weeks and months to come. Get the bluegill - it's amazing. Baked cod: a little bit of a letdown, only because it was slathered in butter when it didn't need to be. The fish could've easily stood on its own merits - it was flaky, tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. It's a shame they had to cover it with butter. If you go for the baked option, request that they hold the butter. The potato pancakes were excellent as well, but could've used a bit more onion. Texturewise, they were ideal - easily a top three potato pancake offering. We only saw our waitress twice; drinks sat empty after the second round, water glasses went unfilled. But, the place was quickly growing busy, and we were too busy enjoying the incredible fish feast to even notice. The Wayside Inn = WIN Service = 1.5 stars (slow, absent) Food = 4.5 stars (excellent fish - all of it was stellar) Value = 4.5 stars (cod + curds = $15) MISC = 4 stars (love the old school vibe) Summary: Very few restaurants can manage to do one type of fish well. The Wayside Inn does all of their fish incredibly well. Go there, enjoy, and tell your friends. Easily a top-10 fish place. For a comprehensive review, check out geekysteve.com/fishfry

    (4)
  • Jacki H.

    Meals are always tasty, fresh, and timely. On Fridays to receive a warm mini loaf of rye bread and creamy coleslaw.

    (4)
  • Tanya V.

    Stopped in here to try it based on yelp. My chicken dinner was amazing. Okay relish tray if you like fish and hard cheese spread. Really good, warm, homemade bread is served. Soup was okay but lacked seasoning. Biggest disappointment was my husband's fish. He ordered lake perch. Portion was small. Biggest issue was that the fish tasted very fishy. Service was lacking during our visit so we didn't feel comfortable complaining about the food since we didn't want to wait longer. Cash only. May go again but wouldn't get the the fish.

    (3)
  • Gary S.

    Randomly found this place while on a long drive out in the country. It's a little bar/restaurant nestled in a beautiful rural scene. The day we were there was in early May, and everything was emerald green and the trees were just starting to blossom. It's old-school Wisconsin supper club all the way. Full of local people, whom the waitress appeared to know all of by name, it has a charming vibe. The absolute best part was the elaborate relish tray! You know you're in a supper club when you get one of those. This one was incredible, with two different cheese spreads, pickled herring, various pickled vegetables and a big basket of crackers. The rest of the meal was good, not great, but entirely serviceable and satisfying. All the other reviews mentioned this, but they definitely only take cash. I didn't know this going in, and thankfully had enough after holding out my credit card and getting a thumbs down.

    (3)
  • Richard S.

    Stopped in for the Friday fish fry based on someone's recommendation. The potato pancakes had good flavor, but I prefer the crispier textured variety. The fish had an excellent coating, but I think the cod should have been less dense. They do an odd thing for a fish fry. They serve decent bread! Most places give you something from the local chain grocer. Wayside gives a warm mini loaf of a soft caraway rye. Service was good, had to note that due to another reviewer's comments. Overall, a very average experience. I would neither avoid this place nor hurry back.

    (3)
  • Robert G.

    We go to the Wayside frequently for fish fry. Normally, it's decent -- not memorable but the best place in the area. It is slipping a bit. Ordered a brandy old-fashioned, which came with flat soda and watered down brandy. My fish was both over-cooked and rubbery, indicating way too much time out of the fryer before being served. Service was good, but they're going to need to watch the food quality.

    (3)
  • Piper C.

    Live in, or rolling through Jefferson? Gotta make the Wayside a stop for dinner. If you live in the community you'll probably recognize some familiar faces as this is a staple for those who live here and in the know. If you're from out of town and used to using plastic...holster your card and draw some cash pardner. They only except check and or cash here. The food: Great Fillet and Stuffed shrimp. The bread is also addicting because it comes out warm!! Atmosphere: If your a visitor from Cali, please remember that Wisconsin has not passed the no smoking rule in bars so shrug it off and remember the good old days. Great local people here who are about as real as it gets. Enjoy that aspect! Conclusion: Stop in and let them know your from out of town. Enjoy!

    (4)
  • Angela D.

    Sometimes, a Sunday drive takes you to places that brings back childhood memories. The Wayside Inn is a throwback to so many fun memories when eating at a restaurant was a treat and not an everyday occurrence. Memories like:The race between my brother and I, in finding the best cracker/breadstick to dip into the relish tray. My parents sitting and laughing at the bar, having an Old Fashion or Manhattan before dinner. The cool thing is, I dug through the cracker baskets for the best cracker yesterday, because I had a relish tray included free with the meal. No crazy chef charging me 9 dollars for 1/4 ounce of "artesian cheese" a table spoon of butter, and two petite rolls, for two people. Nope for free, we had a whole loaf of warmed baked bread with butter. Yes it had foil on it, but who cared, I was deep into my childhood memory of the relish tray. The relish tray consist of pickled herring, beets, pickles, cauliflower and two container of cheese spread. Yum. Over the noise of me opening Cellophane crackers, I heard the laughter of a group of people sitting at the bar before dinner, when I looked up it was a group about 8, who were, in their 70's. Dam if they were not laughing and drinking the same drinks of my parents and the Manhattan, I'm sure was mixed and not crafted. Next course, soup or salad were good but nothing special. Since I'm doing supper club flash back, I always ordered tomato juice during this part of the meal. Always the odd duck in my family. Speaking of duck, they were out of it, what were you thinking Gary, it's a supper club! As they were out of his next choice perch. Duh Friday favorite, it's Sunday. They did tried to talk him into bluegill, but he passed. Instead he went for the Wayside burger, highly recommended by our wait staff. I chose the 3 piece chicken dinner, since I just had steak the night before. Upon arrival, they gave Gary, a half order of bluegill to try, for his inconvenience. It was nicely breaded warm similar to perch, I would order it at a fish fry. His 1/3 pound hamburger (thick patty) came with bacon, Swiss Cheese that over flowed the kaiser roll. My chicken was breaded and fried perfectly, as were my sweet potato fries. The only thing off, about this adventure was the waitress. Friendly, helpful, just a bit chatty, about herself. The meal with drinks under 35 dollars. As our daughter heads to whitewater in the fall, we will be making more trips to the Wayside Inn, I can't wait to try the steak. Foodies support a family run supper club, they were the segue to today's restaurant scene.

    (4)

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Opening Hours

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Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes

Wayside Inn

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