A Taste of Wisconsin: Experience a Door County Fish Boil

What if your date night plans included sitting around a giant pot atop an open flame to watch fish boil? Sound crazy? Not in Door County, Wisconsin, where the fish boil is a longstanding tradition that draws tons of people.

A few years ago I attended the bachelorette party of a college bestie in Door County where I was sucked into the fish boil trance…and I don’t even like fish!

While nothing can replace the live experience, I’ll share the history of the Door County tradition, what to know before attending, and what to expect during a fish boil. 

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History of the Fish Boil

Originally a late 1800s Scandinavian tradition, the fish boil came to Door County as an affordable way to feed the area’s large number of immigrant workers.

The meal is quite simple really – just water, salt, onions, potatoes, and fresh whitefish – but it’s very filling and nutritious. 

Around 1961, the fish boil reemerged as tourist tradition, starting at The Viking (now closed), followed by The White Gull. The latter is still a very popular spot to enjoy a Door County fish boil.

How Much Does a Fish Boil Cost

Depending on the restaurant, fish boil prices range from $25-$30 per adult. 

What to Wear

I love Door County because you can dress as formal or as casual as you want, and the same goes for the fish boils. Some couples enjoying a date night are more dressed up, while others coming from a day at the beach are much more casual. 

I wore jeans, a black shirt, and sandals, which I’d consider somewhere in the middle between a tad dressed up and casual. On one hand, you sit around a fire with embers flying everywhere, and on the other hand, you enjoy a rather expensive dinner in a beautiful waterfront location.

The Fish Boil Experience

Please note this specific experience is from the fish boil at The Old Post Office Restaurant located at The Edgewater in Ephraim. 

Fish Boil Reservations

I highly recommend calling ahead to make a reservation for your fish boil, particularly during the busy summer season. When you call to make your reservation, you will specify the number in your party, indoor or outdoor seating, and your meal preference. 

For those like me who don’t love fish, you may be able to choose an alternative meal option when making your reservation. I opted for the half chicken dinner at the Old Post Office Restaurant instead. I also made sure to confirm that the fish boil itself is gluten free (it is – just water, salt, onions, potatoes, and white fish) and that no gluten would be served alongside the fish.

The Fish Boil

Sam and I arrived at the restaurant about 40 minutes prior to our dinner time. The host recommended we arrive 30 minutes early to partake in the fish boil, and we allotted an additional 10 minutes to find parking and to grab a drink at the outdoor bar. 

If you want a front row seat to the fish boil, arrive even earlier. You DO NOT want to miss this. Honestly, the food is delicious, but in my opinion, the fish boil experience is why you pay the high price. You can get a good fish dish in many Wisconsin restaurants, but this experience is unique to Door County. 

Once you arrive, you head to the outdoor hostess who checks in your party and provides your table number for dinner. That way, you can head right to your seat after the fish boil is complete. If the weather is nice, most people reserve an outdoor spot since The Old Post Office is directly across from the bay. 

However, indoor seating also provides marvelous waterfront views from large floor-to-wall windows. Sam and I sat inside at table 18 and had fantastic views of the water and sunset.

For the fish boil, over 100 dinner guests gather around a giant pot over a large fire in preparation for the experience. Benches surround the pot along with additional fold-up chairs for additional seating. Arrive early if you want a bench seat. 

The boilmaster arrives about 15 minutes before your assigned dinner time to cook the whitefish and tell the history of the fish boil. This is truly a huge part of the experience and makes your dinner so much tastier. 

While the boilmaster talks, he adds logs to the fire, shows you the whitefish, and pours kerosene to heat up the water. I’ll warn you that the coolest part of the boil is when he pours the kerosene. A giant fireball erupts over the kettle (and this happens twice!). However, it can also get very hot and could terrify young kiddos. 

I was shocked to learn that the day prior to our fish boil, fishermen caught over 3,000 pounds of whitefish- talk about some fresh fish!

The Dinner

After the boilmaster cooks the first round of whitefish, dinner guests head to the main building of the restaurant and find their assigned table for dinner. Sam and I opted to sit inside, not knowing what kind of weather to expect at 7:45pm. Since we were one of just a few to select inside tables, we had a great window-side spot with a gorgeous view of the lake and sunset. 

Conclusion

As you’re planning your annual trip to Door County, make sure a traditional fish boil is on the itinerary. Having only attended the fish boil at The Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim, I cannot say which is the best fish boil in Door County. I guess I’ll have to try them all!