The final tally was three visits in as many days. It would have been four, but our travels were taking us in a direction away from the diner on the final leg of our trip. The visits included a first visit of indulging in pie and coffee, followed by a family dinner that same evening, followed by a 5-person lunch with the in-laws the day after that.
All totaled we traversed three kinds of pie, burgers, homemade corned beef hash, a rueben, chicken fried steak, and something called a grilled mac and cheese with pulled pork sandwhich (yes…it’s all on the sandwich). Everyone enjoyed their visits, and nobody went hungry.
Any diner aficionado reading this publication probably understands that finding a real-deal diner outside of the traditional digs on the east coast is always a pleasure. Finding one by accident is pure serendipity. That was the case with us – literally stumbling upon the diner on a quick tourist jaunt through a little mid-west town. The Broadway Diner is located in Baraboo, WI within about 20 minutes of the area of Wisconsin known as the Wisconsin Dells. Baraboo is a quaint town, well worth a visit if you are in the Dells, and the centerpiece of your visit should be the Broadway.
The Broadway Diner is a fully restored 1954 Silk City built by the Patterson Vehicle Company in Patterson, NJ. It spent much of its time in Groton, CT know as the Bridge Diner, Twin Bridge Diner and finally Rosie’s Diner (not the famed one of the Bounty paper towel ads) until the property was eventually sold. Diversified Diners of Cleveland then bought the diner to restore. The current owners, Jeff and Vonnie Castree purchased it in 2011 and opened for business in late spring of 2012.
When we visited they were a mere two months in business; the diner is beautifully restored and they are doing a stellar job as a new restaurant! More than a good meal, what we really enjoyed about this place was the hospitality, and the sense of community among patrons and staff. Yet, even as tourists, we never felt like outsiders – even amid a room full of locals. We had conversations – real conversations – with at least a half dozen staff there, I’m sure. Patrons often chimed in, and the effect was, well…neighborly. All of them were undeniably proud of their place, and the comradery was the kind virtually unique to the mid-west. I guess that’s a main reason why we went back so many times – it was not just for comfort food, but for a comfortable place where people made you feel at home.
About that food – it’s comfort food done right; nuff said! That grilled mac and cheese with pulled pork sandwich (add the cole slaw for a North Carolina flare) was messy, tasty, and fun to eat. The home-made corned beef hash? A meal in itself. For me, though, the kicker was the pie. Marvelous coconut cream, about 3″ tall and enough real whipped cream to create a regional shortage. And, the pecan pie? shhh…secret ingredient – bourbon, and not a shy amount either! It would do Kentucky proud! This was not kid’s pie, and I’ve got to find a recipe for it.
You can find the Broadway Diner at 304 Broadway in the heart of Baraboo.
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