Wow, so glad we went! From the delicious food, through the great service, all accompanied by a spectacular sunset, it was an awesome evening. Ben was our server and was impeccable. He had great suggestions and paced our courses well. We started with the wedge salad which was way better than the traditional wedge salad of bygone days. Everything was so fresh and the bacon was delicious. Baby lamb chops were cooked perfectly. And the sauce was yummy. Shrimp and grits were good. Halibut with lemon risotto was great too. We split everything so we'd get to taste it all. And we topped off the meal with a slice of their carrot cake. Moist cake with excellent cream cheese frosting elevated by a caramel swirl and birthday message! read more

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Wow - blown away by this place. First of all, came in off the street - the hostess was so sweet and was able to seat us right away despite having a larger group. We were seated with a nice view and our waitress was so so nice, she told us all the specials and talked us into some oyster shots - which were surprisingly outstanding. The drink I got was using a pea infused vodka which was unusually refreshing and I mean, look at that presentation For the food, whitefish dip was also unusually good. The best thing was the steak with potatoes and carrots. The other star of the show was the sweet potato. I had high hopes for the pasta but unfortunately was a little let down , I liked other things more than this entree. Overall, I was to come back to this place I liked it so much. Ambiance, food and service all on point. read more

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We had exceptional and attentive service from Hunter. The decor and view is second to none here in Door. The food was exceptional, beautifully plated. We had the seasonal salad, whitefish and carrot cake. All top shelf. Hands down our favorite meal. 5 stars all the way! read more

The Waterfront is now closed for the season. Expected reopening late April, 2026. The Waterfront has been one of the premiere restaurants in Door County for many years now. The locale on the shorefront near a yacht club is endlessly interesting with boats moving in and out of the harbor along with the sun setting across the bay makes for priceless views guaranteed to create wonderful memories. The bar led by the owner's daughter, Kendall, makes wonderful drinks and the wine list is more than adequate. The menu is not extensive, but there is a little bit of everything and all of it is very well prepared. Especially appreciated are the delicious small plate items for those of us who cannot eat as much as we used to. Kris Johnson, the wife of the legendary J.J., has built and presided over this classic dining spot for at least two decades now. Like all of us, the heavy duties of running the day to day operations are wearing her out. I don't blame her, but being off for the winter will surely get her ready for another wonderful season. I love this place and so does my son and his family. Somewhat pricey but not out of line and well worth it. read more

Good, service excellent.Alaskan halibut, cast iron chicken, shrimp grits all served to perfection. Great service! read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Alaskan halibut - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

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Been going to this restaurant since it opened. Great food, terrific service and wine list. Continues to be one of the very best restaurants in Door County. Creative menu. Terrific views and sunsets! Great outdoor space to carry out and enjoy a cocktail. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - View from our table! - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Amazing food, atmosphere, staff, and view. We requested a last minute reservation on one of the businesses weekends of the year in Sister Bay and they were able to accommodate. We loved everything about Waterfront and we look forward to visiting again soon! read more

This has become my favorite restaurant in Door County. The entire experience is superb: gorgeous location; engaging staff; excellent food and bar service. And, they have their own parking lot directly across the street. I only give 5 ratings to places that provide life changing experiences but these folks are very close! read more

Probably the best dinner my wife and I have ever had in Door County. Beautiful dinning room with lots of windows overlooking the marina and bay. With some very nice outdoor seating. (Make your reservation time just prior to sunset. So you can take in the beautiful views.) Highly recommend our server Benjamin. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Local Whitefish and Halibut. - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

The view here is absolutely stunning! The food is good and the service was very nice. The crowd here is a bit on the older side, which isn't bad but notable. I'm not a fish eater but had the pappardelle as that was noted to be a special... the sauce was lacking and the pasta was overcooked. read more

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I ate in the bar as the restaurant was full and I didn't have a reservation. The service was fantastic from the busy bartenders. I highly recommend this great restaurant! Be sure to have a reservation and you may want a windows seat as this restaurant is on the waterfront. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Fantastic steak with root vegetables - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

The waitress was very nice and food was delicious. But will not be going here again due to the extremely rude hostess. Who seemed to go out of her way to be condescending and try embarrass me. read more

We've been here several times in the last couple of years and everything has been fabulous! My husband has had some of the best oysters here and we've enjoyed all of the entrees we've tried. JJ and Kristi really have a gem here! read more

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Food, ambiance, wait staff all excellent. Would highly recommend. We were seated promptly and Hunter offered us several suggestions on both food and beverage. read more

Waterfront Restaurant in Sister Bay. is, in my opinion, the undisputed finest fine dining restaurant in Door County, WI. It has an elegant waterfront location and all the calm ambience needed for an evening out. The bar is superb, the food is spectacular, and the staff is welcoming and friendly. read more

Spectacular ambience and great views. The Wait staff and owners were amazing. Tony, our server from Turkey, was a nice young man. We highly recommend the whitefish and salmon. Cesar salad was one of the best we've ever had as well. Highly recommend! read more

Waterfront Restaurant - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

A reservation is a must even on a weeknight in mid-October. We got seated promptly in their lovely dining room. Earlier in the summer I am guessing the outside deck and the view would be an added attraction. I had seen on their website that they had a Mai Tai so I ordered that but they did not have it since it was a "summer drink". Very disappointing and a bit strange. We started with the lobster bisque - it was unbelievably rich and delicious. I wish the bowl was bigger but that may have not been good for my health! My wife ordered the crab cakes, which was a small plate, which she really enjoyed. I got the small plate smoked salmon which was tasty. The potato chips as a side was a bit odd but good. I took the bait and got the maple creme brûlée with a side of candied bacon for dessert. It was pretty darn good. Overall we had a great experience and a great meal. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Martini - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

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Exceeded Expectations for food taste and presentation. Leafy Lemon salad was fluffy delicious with a light lemon coating and finely shaved parmesan. We coulda shoulda eaten a bucket full off this. Shrimp cocktail Vera Cruz, plump marinated shrimp in a gazpacho was divine. We followed with the chicken liver pate. This was tasty but a little too soft for our taste though we ate it all - deliciously paired with cornichons and blueberry compote (not at all sweet). Full but greedy we added the lamb chops, again a little underdone for us. We Brits like to see a bit of char on our chops. Pablo added fries, they were just OK. Really full now, we staggered home and had ice cream twixes an hour later. Manhattan and Sazerac were OK, nothing special but again we have these at home most nights and are taste buds are tuned for room temp drinks and a thick layer of absinthe on the Sazzy rim. We had the best table i n the house center stage for sunset which was nice. Service was end of season professional but please dont try and make conversation with me as I am done and need a break. read more

This was one of the best meals I've ever eaten, hands down. Our experience here was the best of Door County and we will absolutely be back. Our server, Terry, was great and helpful in navigating the menu. The ambience is a little nicer than the casual Wisconsin vibe, which made for a great more formal dining experience. We had the lobster bisque and while it is probably 25% butter, it is the most phenomenal soup I've ever consumed. It is worth the hype on Yelp, order it. We also had the Thai Crab Salad, the Shrimp & Grits and split the Halibut dish, which was incredible -- best fish I've ever had. Wow this place is amazing and it only added to our vacation. Eat here! read more

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This spot is in a great location on the water. Bar seating is casual and great service. Good recommendations, friendly and fast. Bolognese could've been a little better but the Mussels were clean and tasty, Moscow mule was refreshing. read more

Food is excellent, delicious craft cocktails, view is outstanding and a helpful, knowledgeable staff in the house. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Bolognese Pappardelle and halibut - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

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The staff was very kind. We found this restaurant and loved the online menu so we decided to give it a try. The owner and his wife were very kind. The staff was able to list all of the specials, what drinks go best with what dishes, and took note of my allergies. Breathtaking views. White table restaurant recommend dressing accordingly. The best flourless dessert I have ever had! Celiac friendly! read more

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My dining experience here blew me out of the water. Absolutely wonderful and attentive waitstaff, and the food was phenomenal. The best was the broiled white fish. It had the most amazing flavor and was a very size-able portion for the price. Fried fish was also very good. The beef sandwiches were ok but stick to the fish if you decide to eat here. I'll be back without a doubt read more

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An annual college reunion of friends from the East Coast brought us to the Waterfront restaurant for dinner. Everyone and everything was excellent. Upon entry, we were warmly greeted by owner. Table was ready as scheduled with fresh flowers in center. Pace of meal was great. Plenty of time to enjoy drinks and appetizers before entrees served. Very experienced and friendly waiter who knew the menu well. Before paying, we were allowed to leave the table to watch the lovely sunset and then return. All food selections were the expected temperature and nicely presented. I really enjoyed the whitefish! Don't miss the carrot cake to top it off. The noise level was low even though most tables were filled. As Wisconsinites, we wanted to impress our East Coast friends. The Waterfront certainly did! read more

We were visiting the area and took a chance on getting a table. Glad we did! Service was excellent, with very helpful comments. The view is outstanding. The only criticism Is there were only two choices for dessert! But the carrot cake.... WOW. Glad we stopped. On the list to visit again. read more

If you are up in Door County, definitely give this gem a try! We got there about 6:30 on a Wednesday night and got a table by the windows, right on the water. A little on the pricey side but worth it! I had the tenderloin steak sliders, cooked to perfection with a smooth horseradish sauce. Hubby had the walleye fish and chips and said it was the best he ever tasted. Super friendly staff read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Walleye fish and chips - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

The Waterfont is in the quiet area of Sister Bay away from the crowds. It has a beautiful interior with a bank of windows facing the water. We had a lovely view of the water and the marina. Our waitress, Keely, was attentive and friendly. My husband ordered the roasted pork shank which was served with cheddar garlic polenta and a chorizo stuffed poblano. The shank was moist and fork-tender. The polenta was outstanding while the stuffed pepper wasn't anything special. I ordered the whitefish. The breading, which was described as a panko breading, was heavy and dense. It was served with two smashed roasted red potatoes and a few stalks of broccolini. We will definitely return next time we visit DC. I look forward to trying something else on the menu, but I bet my husband will order the pork shank again, if it is available. read more

Waterfront Restaurant was one of my favorite restaurants during the time we visited in Door County. The staff were great, everyone was wearing masks, and our waitress had some great recommendations for what to choose on the menu. We started with the Salmon Dip and it was wonderfully smoky and served with veggies and crispy bread. For the main course I had the halibut and my husband had the lamb. My halibut was perfectly cooked, juicy and full of flavor. The sauces and risotto that was served with it were equally as delicious. For dessert we split the carrot cake and although I didn't really care for it served warm, it was still very good. Waterfront is a perfect date spot and views are beautiful. Definitely make reservations as this place can get very busy. read more

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Beautiful views and a warm, welcoming staff! The grilled whitefish was light and flavorful with vegetables grilled to perfection. The fish and chips, which were very lightly breaded, were delicious and non-greasy. The smoked salmon dip was good but could use a bit more seasoning. All four of us agreed this was a great experience (including a perfect sunset!) and we will definitely be back! read more

Don't wear a hat! If you have too much money this is the place for you! If your over 65 this place is for you! If you like slow service this place is for you!!!! But the food is good! The hostess in the front is not very friendly! She definitely needs to get......... you know! This is a great place. But the lady in front has a fake "nice" attitude! I'll never come back! There are so many other places to go to! read more

The Waterfront is the quintessential Door County restaurant! It simply can't be beat for warmth, quality, scenery, service or food quality. Everything is so well-executed and has been done with such care by the same family for decades. It has been our family favorite for special dinners, cocktails on the patio, and desserts at sunset. Chris, Jesse, and family - and the entire staff are fabulous. This is a Door County gem! And truly one of our favorite dining spots anywhere on the planet. We can't wait to come back! read more

Glad to see the restaurant return to full dinner menu. Had the halibut and ceviche shrimp were excellent. Good wine list

Wanted to try this place based on other reviews and recommendations. After a day of touring around Door County (probably not looking our best), we arrived just as they opened, as we didn't have a reservation, so we thought it was our best shot at being seated. Our server Jason was awesome and just as he greeted us and was chatting up the menu, the hostess (pretty sure an owner) came over to me and said "I don't have many rules, but I don't allow caps." I was wearing a baseball cap and didn't realize I was in such a high-end restaurant, so I removed it. Our server was mortified by her behavior and apologized a few times during our meal. We probably would have walked, but we were hungry. Actually, not a big deal if that truly was "her rule," but the rule wasn't enforced for her group of pals dining in the bar, and a woman in the dining room (see photos), so she either needs to be consistent or realize she is in Door County and skip the formality for hungry tourists. As for the food, the Mediterranean Olive Mix appetizer was really good, although 10 olives for $6 is a little steep. The Bolognese Pappardelle was basic, while the Shrimp and Grits were very good, and Steak Sliders were excellent, with the garlic aioli sauce being a standout. While Jason did his best to save the day, the owner soured our experience so we won't be coming back. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Hat violation! - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

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Best food and wine list in Door County. You won't regret visiting this place. The view is also fantastic.

My new go to favorite fine dining restaurant in Door County. Definitely worth your time and money. Great service. But.......they need to teach "Hospitality" to the hostess. No warm friendly greeting, high level of arrogance, and simply a bad first impression. Otherwise a 5 star review. read more

Pretty awesome food next to the marina in Sister Bay. Drinks were stiff but blended out like we like. Will return and update the review. read more

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It's a lovely restaurant. Very friendly service. We had calamari and halibut and both were well prepared. Nice wine and cocktail selection. The view is beautiful. We will be back! read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Fried Calamari and Halibut - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Went on a Wednesday since I was curious about the Wednesday night tapas which are only served at the bar on Wednesdays. I went pretty earlier in the night which was lucky since the bar spots seemed to fill quickly. Ordered the pretty paloma cocktail which was a yummy pink mix of hibiscus and grapefruit flavors. Also went with the fried green tomato and the pea gremolata special for the tapas and boy oh boy they came out looking like true works of art. The colors were so vibrant and the flavor equaled the looks. Probs one of my top 5 fav bites to eat at a restaurant. Come here for food to please your eyes and your tummy! read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Pea gremolota tapas special and the fried green tomato w/ pimiento cheese - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Great restaurant with great service. The food and drinks were all wonderful. Will definitely go back in summer for a sunset dinner. read more

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Fantastic food. Peel and eat shrimp and salmon were phenomenal. Caught a gorgeous sunset and some incredible live reggae. Life is good. read more

Waterfront Restaurant - Patio sunset - New American Near Me - Sister Bay, Wisconsin