The Institute Saloon — Where Good Times Are Mandatory and Memory Is Optional
If you find yourself near The Institute Saloon and wonder whether you should step inside — do it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. This place doesn’t invite you in so much as it dares you to keep up.
First off, the barkeep — absolutely glorious. Bold, commanding, the kind of woman who could pour your beer, win an arm-wrestling match, and settle an old family feud, all before last call. She ran the bar like a ship’s captain steering straight into the storm — and we were happy to be along for the ride.
We drank beer. We threw darts. We laughed harder than we should’ve at things we probably shouldn’t have. Somewhere in the blur, a handmade pizza materialized — a work of culinary patience that took a while, but oh was it worth it. It didn’t last long that night, but what was left made for a cold breakfast of champions (and a midnight snack of legends).
There’s also a pool table. Scratch that — the pool table. Enormous, like they built the whole damn bar around it and dared the town to sink the 8-ball. Did we play? Who knows. Did we win? Probably not. Did it matter? Absolutely not.
Go there if you dare. Great food, great beer, and a guaranteed great time. Just don’t expect to remember all of it — and that’s half the charm.
Sco pickmn
Love this place! Great pizza!
Door County Horse Trails Association
It's one of our favorite places to eat!
Gregory Meyer
Old school WI tavern with good bar food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese, Buckets of Broasted Chicken to Go, Comb
Sue & Joe Jarosh
Vegetarian options: Excellent pizza!
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza
Jean Lamberty
This place is great, people there are fantastic. Went for lunch with family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: dbl Cheeseburger, Quesadillas, Chili
Michael Nielson
Great pizza and superb beer!
Chris Peske
Stopped in for a food and the Packer game. The food is fairly priced and absolutely delicious. Get the broasted chicken, you won’t be disappointed. Beer was served in frosted mugs, which really hit the spot. Definitely will be back.
Matthew Gilbert
Fair prices, no frills. Hard to beat. They also have the best bar tender north of the bay.
This is a quaint little old bar. The crowd is respectful and the service is on par with what you would expect from a small family owned bar the owner will serve you drinks or cook you food some times he has bar tenders helping some times they dont but either way if you understand its a family owned bar and a local hang out for the folks around the area you will have a good time. There is a back room to sit and have a small restaurant experience, i have brought my 6 yr old and 2 yr old daughters to dine with me and my wife it was a really welcoming environment felt warm hearted and safe every one even the customers were super friendly and polite. I go here often with the family with no issues.
Kid-friendliness: It's a bar and restaurant with alcohol served but is family friendly to patrons and the customers are more mild mannered folks in a calm environment
The Institute Saloon — Where Good Times Are Mandatory and Memory Is Optional
If you find yourself near The Institute Saloon and wonder whether you should step inside — do it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. This place doesn’t invite you in so much as it dares you to keep up.
First off, the barkeep — absolutely glorious. Bold, commanding, the kind of woman who could pour your beer, win an arm-wrestling match, and settle an old family feud, all before last call. She ran the bar like a ship’s captain steering straight into the storm — and we were happy to be along for the ride.
We drank beer. We threw darts. We laughed harder than we should’ve at things we probably shouldn’t have. Somewhere in the blur, a handmade pizza materialized — a work of culinary patience that took a while, but oh was it worth it. It didn’t last long that night, but what was left made for a cold breakfast of champions (and a midnight snack of legends).
There’s also a pool table. Scratch that — the pool table. Enormous, like they built the whole damn bar around it and dared the town to sink the 8-ball. Did we play? Who knows. Did we win? Probably not. Did it matter? Absolutely not.
Go there if you dare. Great food, great beer, and a guaranteed great time. Just don’t expect to remember all of it — and that’s half the charm.
Love this place! Great pizza!
It's one of our favorite places to eat!
Old school WI tavern with good bar food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese, Buckets of Broasted Chicken to Go, Comb
Vegetarian options: Excellent pizza!
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza
This place is great, people there are fantastic. Went for lunch with family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: dbl Cheeseburger, Quesadillas, Chili
Great pizza and superb beer!
Stopped in for a food and the Packer game. The food is fairly priced and absolutely delicious. Get the broasted chicken, you won’t be disappointed. Beer was served in frosted mugs, which really hit the spot. Definitely will be back.
Fair prices, no frills. Hard to beat. They also have the best bar tender north of the bay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza
Excellent food! Pizza definite 5 star!
Parking: easy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza, Wings, Perch Sandwich, Sandwich, Homemade French Fries
Restaurantji Recommends
This is a quaint little old bar. The crowd is respectful and the service is on par with what you would expect from a small family owned bar the owner will serve you drinks or cook you food some times he has bar tenders helping some times they dont but either way if you understand its a family owned bar and a local hang out for the folks around the area you will have a good time. There is a back room to sit and have a small restaurant experience, i have brought my 6 yr old and 2 yr old daughters to dine with me and my wife it was a really welcoming environment felt warm hearted and safe every one even the customers were super friendly and polite. I go here often with the family with no issues.
Kid-friendliness: It's a bar and restaurant with alcohol served but is family friendly to patrons and the customers are more mild mannered folks in a calm environment
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: dbl Cheeseburger, Homemade Pizza
You have to come to experience it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza
Always look forward to a great meal here once or twice a year. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent fish fry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent bar food, like amazing. It took a little while for the food, but it was busy, and it was worth the wait!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Pizza
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