Son of Skaliwags — Restaurant in Algoma

This was our first and much-anticipated visit to Son of Skaliwags in Algoma, WI, and we couldn’t have been more disappointed. Our group of four had reservations this past Saturday at 430, and we were seated promptly. Our server, Melissa, was so disengaged she failed to explain how the menu was only on the board. We assumed they were the daily specials and not the full menu. When we asked for menus, she snapped at us as if we should have known how this restaurant/bar operated. We ordered one round of drinks (4) and, shortly after that, ordered our food. We sipped our first drinks for almost 40 minutes before asking Melissa nicely for an update on our food, which was met with complete disgust and disrespect. We asked one question in 40 minutes, and she responded with, “do you see what we have to work with, do you want good quality and you aren’t the most important people here.” We were appalled at her tone and arrogance when we only wanted a timeframe to order an appetizer. We did order an appetizer, but it didn’t show up until our food arrived about 30 minutes later. Marshall brought our food out, chastised us for being mean to his staff (which was not true), and accused us of being drunk (also not true, we each had one drink). The food was way overpriced for the quality (a 60-dollar prime steak should not be rubbery). The steaks we had were not prime or quality. After this subpar meal, we had to ask Melissa three times for to-go boxes; when they arrived, Marshall arrogantly tossed them on the table. Wow! No professionalism by the owner of the establishment! We have dined at many 5-star restaurants, and this is not 5-star, and yes, it is the dive that is stated on its website! We have never encountered a server with such disrespect, a poor attitude, and a lousy work ethic. Furthermore, the owner’s behavior while protecting such a horrible employee is extremely disgruntling. Think again before...

We had a truly special experience at Son of Skaliwags while celebrating our wedding anniversary. We stopped in on a Tuesday evening and were warmly greeted and seated by Chef Kavon, who also took the time to walk us through the menu and specials. Although we’ve dined here several times before, it had been about a year and a half since our last visit, so we were really looking forward to this meal.

We started with hand-muddled Old Fashioneds crafted by Kavon himself—excellent as always—and snacked on the crispy shrimp appetizer. For dinner, I had the sea bass, and my wife enjoyed the chef’s special: blackened grouper served with a crab cake and grits. The seating arrangement offers a great view of the kitchen, and we loved watching Kavon passionately prepare not only our dishes but those for other guests as well.

The portions were sizeable, the presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were outstanding. The seafood is flown in fresh and prepared with care—truly some of the best you’ll find.

To top off an already memorable evening, we were the last guests in the restaurant when we learned that a couple from Tennessee had covered our entire bill, including gratuity. We were absolutely blown away by their kindness. If you happen to be reading this—thank you very much! Your generosity made our night incredibly special.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out Son of Skaliwags. It's a hidden gem with exceptional food, a welcoming atmosphere, and a chef who truly cares about...

This was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had EVER. What a treat to find such a gem in a very small town in Northern Wisconsin. The experience was exactly as framed - a five star dive bar. The food was excellent, especially the She Crab Bisque (best seafood bisque ever?). When I could not decide between the grouper and filet, the owner/Exec chef (Marshall) said, I got you. And what comes out but my own surf n turf (not on the menu). (Did I mention the cocktails and dessert were also very tasty?) Granted, it is still a dive bar at its heart so if you are looking for white table cloth kind of experience, this is not the place for you. But if you want to feel like you are a guest at a big dinner party where you can make friends with the host and people at the bar next to you (they also have a few tables), then this is the place for you. I will road trip to Algoma again if I ever find myself within striking distance again just so I can come back to Son of Scalawags. Go early as the place is tiny and very popular with the locals. You should also expect to spend some quality time here. Go for the experience, don’t be rushed, and be patient if they are packed as they only have a few staff. And go now before it gets “discovered” and becomes a destination...