The Wisconsin Restaurant With Beer Brewing Roots That Dates Back To The 1840s

You might say Wisconsin’s oldest restaurant was born from a glass of beer. The Red Circle Inn & Bistro has been around as long as Wisconsin has been a state and like so much in Wisconsin, its roots are connected to the beer industry. This restaurant is warm, welcoming, and delicious, and a must-visit if you like seeing out unique and special dining spots. Here’s why you should make plans to dine at the Red Circle Inn.

The Red Circle Inn is located in the heart of Wisconsin’s Lake Country. It’s in Nashotah, a short drive from Oconomowoc, Pewaukee and Delafield.

An early Wisconsin resident named Francis Schraudenbach first opened the restaurant as The Nashotah Hotel in 1848. In those early days, it was a stagecoach stop and in 1857 a railroad was built with a stop just south of the inn.

In 1889 Fredrick Pabst of the famous Pabst Brewery purchased the property and gave the restaurant its current name – a nod to the Pabst beer logo.

For the last 20 years, the restaurant has been owned by Martha and Norm Eckstaedt. They’ve create a wonderful French-inspired dining experience at the Red Circle. There are plenty of American offerings too!

While the restaurant was first established here more than 170 years ago, the menu is anything but dated. It serves over 30 wines by the glass, and well as a nice selection of beers and spirits. The menu includes some delectable small plates, a bistro menu and a full dinner menu. Enjoy luxurious offerings like Beef Wellington Perigourdine and Fillet Mignon served with Sauce Bordelaise.

The owners treat diners as guests and it’s a pace for celebrations large and small – on any given night you’ll find couples celebrating anniversaries and on some weekends weddings take place here.

The Red Circle Inn & Bistro is open for Dinner, Monday-Saturday. To learn more about the restaurant and see a menu, visit the Red Circle’s website. If you love dining in historic restaurants and inns, here are some more Wisconsin dining establishments that have withstood the test of time.