Restaurants in Ashwaubenon

Sometimes, the seats seem to vibrate at Pearly Gates Bar and Grill. Maybe it’s because of the bikes revving outside, or perhaps stomachs are the culprit, rattling chairs as they clamor for grilled-to-order steaks, beer-battered fish, and build-your-own pizzas. Either way, this neighborhood bar buzzes with activity seven days a week, hosting bands, Packer parties, and another Wisconsin tradition: the meat raffle. The taps funnel more than a century of history into each mug, recalling times when breweries dotted Lake Michigan’s shores and the scent of hops powered Model Ts. In addition to flaunting community pride, the bar salutes the nation’s troops with a collection of American flags and yearly fundraisers for Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 224 and Desert Veterans of Wisconsin.

Soon after John Issac immigrated to the United States from Lithuania, he opened a small restaurant whose simple, one-word sign conveyed all patrons needed to know—there was chili. As John's recipe caught on, he earned the moniker Chili John, and today—nearly a century since John first dipped his ladle into the American melting pot—chefs still cook up his time-honored blend of beans, spaghetti, and four varying levels of spiciness. At the Green Bay restaurant that bears his name, John's legacy tops everything from hot dogs to burritos, complementing a full menu of Tex-Mex and homestyle favorites that includes Cajun-steak subs and quarter-pound cookies.

In 1892, a grand Victorian hotel hosted traveling gentlemen in luxurious $1-a-night rooms supplied with fine liquor and cigars. The proprietor’s sons, prominent Milwaukee businessmen, brought 20th-century celebrities such as Liberace to the hotel for evening performances; today, the piano he played is still displayed in the building’s grand lower level.

The carefully restored building now also houses Koehring's Grand Central House, which is both a restaurant and a bed and breakfast. Bartenders pour signature ice-cream drinks from behind a replica of the original front desk as diners eat butter-grilled steaks and seafood beneath elegant chandeliers. Despite the changes, antique dishes and photographs hang throughout the entire restaurant, and ghost hunters claim that the eatery is still overbooked with the spirits of the unquiet dead.

Tony Roma opened his first rib joint in 1972, a venture that became wildly successful after Dallas Cowboys owner Clint Murchison, Jr. tasted the ribs and slaw and declared them the best he'd ever had. With his financial know-how and weighty pocket book, he helped Tony Roma's grow into the international brand it is today. Franchises have spread across the States like a wave of barbecue sauce, seeping over borders and staining the shirtfronts of thousands of satisfied diners.

Today, chefs still diligently emulate Tony's original ribs recipes, grilling up signature steaks and fresh-caught seafood combos enhanced with sides and garnishes of seasonal ingredients. In addition to the restaurant's signature meaty entrees, the staff whips up oven-baked desserts such as the golden-apple tarts and redskin potatoes hand- mashed by distinguished martial artists.

Only after slow-roasting leaves them piping hot and full of their natural juices do the prime ribs at Marty’s Place earn their titles of Queen and King. The respectively 16- and 26-ounce steaks headline a rich menu that unites surf, turf, and Italian food. The lengthy selection includes lobster tail, Alaskan king crab legs, baked lasagna, barbecue ribs, and Italian stuffed tenderloin, filled with mozzarella cheese that melts before you can read the fortune written on it.

At Mario’s place, owners Mario and Cindy infuse home-cooked meals with traditional Mexican flavors and a generous helping of hospitality. To kick off dinner, guests can toast the day’s triumphs with one of 30 margarita options or a plate of nachos brimming with meat, tomatoes, and sour cream. Cooks pair steamed cornhusks with shredded meat to form tamales as tender as a teardrop’s first love poem. Tacos may be customized with hard or soft shells and hearty fillings such as beef, chicken, or beans. Vegetarian entrees teem with potatoes and onions, and desserts such as churros and fried ice cream swathe sweet flavors in crisp textures.