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.
We’re already on the fourth anniversary of 
I’ve always appreciated generic versions of brand-name goods. For example, any of Walgreen’s “Wal-” clones, especially medicine, are the same as the original but less expensive.
