This Buzzy Wisconsin Restaurant Does One Dish Really, Really Well

Wisconsinites are serious about cheese. That's the first thing you need to know. Another thing to note is that Renard's Artisan Cheese is not a traditional restaurant. This cheese shop in Sturgeon Bay does, however, include Melt Bistro, where they're always serving comfort foods on overdrive. Think of your grandmother's grilled cheese if it had a higher calling. That's the name of the game here. Because you might be able to get a sandwich at all kinds of places in Door County or anywhere else, but Renard's has made them one of its specialties.

As someone who will never turn down a spinach and artichoke dip, I had to try Renard's sandwich version. Slathered with garlic aioli on sourdough, the sandwich was stuffed to the brim with spinach, artichokes, and provolone cheese. Gooey and so satisfying on a cold day, I was instantly smitten. Paired with the cheese shop's fried cheese curds and even more garlic aioli, they're lucky I ever left. This imaginative menu incorporates cheese into its comfy sandwiches in unique ways, able to turn something as simple as a tuna melt into an experience.

Being in Door County, you're also likely to find cherries incorporated into some of the dishes. Whether a sandwich is smothered in cherry preserves or jam is used on the inside of the bread, there's a good chance of a sweet and salty sandwich in your future. If I had all day, I'd happily order one of everything on the menu to see the range of ways the shop utilizes its artisan cheeses in sandwiches, soups, and salads—all while sipping on one of their infused lemonades, of course. The blueberry lavender is heavenly.

Melt Bistro also serves breakfast all day. So if you're strolling in around noon after sleeping in during your visit to the peninsula (or elsewhere in Sturgeon Bay), you haven't missed your chance to snag a bacon burrito or a veggie bagel. And no judgment if that order includes cheese curds—they are my favorite part of any truly cheesy meal.

Don't think your time at Renard's should begin and end at the bistro, though. After all, this is still a bona fide cheese shop in the state known for cheese. You can't leave without at least shopping around for some dairy goodies on your way out. This family-owned spot is four generations deep in the cheese business, and you know what they say about cheese—it only gets better with age.

Need some help planning your trip to Door County? Or would you like to see why taking a scenic road trip through the county is one of my favorite adventures? You can use the Only In Your State AI travel planner to get started on your Dairy State hijinks.

Amanda visited Renard's during a press trip with Destination Door County; however, all opinions shared here are their own.