If you’re driving from Lake Delton toward Wisconsin Dells, following Hwy 12 as it curves to the right, you’ll likely miss Boomtown Saloon, which is just a block beyond that turn. If you want surprisingly good bar food, keep going straight next time.

With far more bar seating than table seating, plus live music, a pool table, darts and pull tabs, it’s definitely more “saloon” than restaurant. However, a two-page menu had many items that exceeded my expectations.

For example, I absolutely loved the Memphis sliders ($7 for four). It’s diced, seasoned chicken with BBQ sauce, pickles and non-creamy cole slaw inside Hawaiian rolls. You’ll encounter lots of different flavors combined with crunchy and tender textures.

Meanwhile, the Nashville hot chicken ($12 for two, $17 for five) was not at all spicy, but it was still delicious fried chicken. Very crispy skin + moist chicken = satisfying (except for the missing heat). You also will find chicken and waffles ($9) and various fried fish on this portion of the menu.

On my next visit, I’m going to get the Sriracha Bourbon Burger ($12), which is topped with spicy cheese curds and a Sriracha-bourbon sauce. For sides, you may choose between sidewinder fries and Boomtown Hush Puppies ($6 as an appetizer). The latter are really deep-fried cornbread balls. Though quite dry, they were helped a bit by the accompanying butter-syrup cup.

My only disappointment was the southwest chicken wrap ($10). Boomtown puts excellent twists on the menu items, but this wrap was pretty standard, though the jalapeno ranch sauce enhanced the flavor.

Boomtown Saloon is open every day for lunch and dinner.