The Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells recently shut down two restaurants on its massive property. The first, Kahunaville–the bar near the convention center that featured a nightly bartenders’ performance–was replaced with a high-end steakhouse called Double Cut. The second, Damon’s, was replaced with the generic-sounding Wisconsin Brew Pub.
I was surprised by the announcement of Double Cut, what with Field’s nearby and Ishnala Supper Club and Del-Bar within a five-minute drive. When you walk in, you may be surprised by the complete transformation of the space, from the previous tropical theme to the dark, sophisticated lounge-steakhouse hybrid. The only thing that seemed out of place was the excessive amount of TVs in the bar area, which added an out-of character sports-bar feel to the venue.
The food and cocktail menus are impressive. Highlights for me were the succulent prime rib (12 oz. for $24, 16 oz. for $28 and 20 oz. for $32; comes with a bland puff pastry) and supremely tender filet (it’s 8 oz. for $34 on the menu, but the bill said 6 oz. for $31), neither of which required the sauces or enhancements you can tack on for a fee. I also liked the perfectly flavored lobster bisque en croute ($12), though the pastry was surprisingly flavorless (like the puff pastry). The black pepper calamari ($13) and the accompanying remoulade were average at best.
I would love to come back some time to relax in one of the lounge areas with a few cocktails, which are divided on the menu by base alcohol, such as whiskey or rum. The Vodka Gibson ($10), made with Ketel One and spicy pickled onions, was exactly what I was hoping for–stiff, with a slight hint of heat from the onions. I enjoyed the Clint Eastwood ($10)–a Manhattan made with Knob Creek–even more, and I would likely order again the Door County ($10), a brandy Old Fashioned with Door County cherries.
Overall at Wisconsin Brew Pub, which had zero renovation done to it and still looks like Damon’s as a result, you’ll find a menu full of Wisconsin-themed items. On name alone I had to order the Nueske’s bacon-wrapped potatoes and bacon-wrapped Platteville pickles ($10), but I was immensely disappointed. Although the bacon was delicious, it didn’t work well with either the potatoes nor the pickles, and even the nacho cheese dipping sauce didn’t help.
I almost asked for the Old Milwaukee beer can chicken ($36), which serves two, but instead I got the Everyday Wisconsin Fish Fry ($17), which came with three finely battered pieces of Atlantic haddock. Even better was the very sloppy and mouth-watering beer cheese Nueske’s bacon burger ($13), though I thought it should have been priced at $9.
Wisconsin Brew Pub doesn’t brew its own beer, but it, too, has an extensive cocktail menu (and beer list). I thought the Madison Mojito ($8) had too much sugar, but I did appreciate that it was made with Cane and Able rum from Old Sugar Mill. The Cow-Pie Tini ($10) was a dessert in and of itself, especially since it comes with a mini Cow Pie (candy) as a garnishment.
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See more photos in our Double Cut Flickr album and our Wisconsin Brew Pub Flickr album.
I was disappointed to see La Guanajuatence close, what with its salsa bar and delicious tacos. But just in a matter of weeks, 
Fortunately, items from the Authentic Mexican Dishes section were better prepared. I’m a fan of molcajete, which is a stone grinding bowl filled with pork, steak, chicken, shrimp and chorizo. I would rank Taqueria El Jalapeno’s version ($16.99) second to Cuco’s in Verona, mainly because the large petals of onions clumped together (which weren’t properly sliced) became filler over more meat, and the vast majority of the meat was chorizo; I would have preferred a better balance.
