The Den — Restaurant in Menomonie

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Where the Cow’s Spotted, the Dice Roll Loud, and the Popcorn Is Endless

I walked into The Den for the first time with nothing but a flannel on my back, a thirst in my gut, and a polite “howdy” for the crowd out front enjoying a good ol’ drag and a chat. Instantly welcomed like I was a regular since birth. That’s the Midwest charm, baby.

Atmosphere? Think classic northern tavern with personality: Fireball signs glowing like a neon devil’s halo, a ceiling that looks like it came from a turn-of-the-century saloon, and a beer selection that proudly screams “we don’t serve IPAs here, son.” You want tap classics? They got 'em. You want liquor? Buddy, they’ve got an entire Frumie army lined up like Wisconsin was prepping for war.

Drinks? Started classy with a Captain Coke. Smooth, balanced, nostalgic. Shifted gears into four Spotted Cows, because I’m not a savage. This is Wisconsin. When in Rome, drink what the locals brewed with pride and maybe a hint of cow magic.

Vibes? Perfect mix of laid-back locals, joking and telling stories like every sentence ends in a wink. Played a round of bar dice before the bartender’s shift ended. I didn’t win, but rolled four twos, which is practically a spiritual sign around here. The bartender was cool, friendly, and even almost handed me a drink token. I wasn’t drinking beer at the time, so either he was hesitant or I just missed the token window. Either way, no hard feelings.

Entertainment? Pool was poppin’. Darts were dormant. Pull tabs were untouched... the calm before the gambling storm, I guess. I took a spin on the slot machine, got humbled quickly, and went back to sipping beers and absorbing local lore from two old-timers watching golf. Bartender put it on without hesitation. That’s hospitality.

Snacks? Pickled eggs, meat sticks, and peanuts were available for premium prices, but the real MVP? Free. Damn. Popcorn. I inhaled that stuff like it was air and I had popcorn-lung. Crunchy, warm, buttery... it hit the soul like grandma’s hug.

Parking? I lucked out. Parked right on the street across from the bar. Meters were covered, so chalk this up as temporary free parking. If there’s a secret lot out back, I didn’t see it. But I got a space, and that’s all that matters.

Final Moments? The rumblies eventually won. Popcorn can only carry a man so far. I paid my tab, tipped well, waved my goodbye to the bar family, and walked out into the Menomonie air a little more full, a little more buzzed, and a lot more at peace.

TL;DR: The Den is what every local tavern should be. Welcoming, chill, a little rowdy in the best way, and exactly the place you want to be when you need to reset your soul with a beer, some banter, and popcorn you didn’t...

I spent more afternoons and evenings than I cared to admit hanging out in this bar. The owner (at the time, Tom) was a good friend. This was from the mid 80's through the early 90's, (yes, I just dated myself.) Times were different then and 'The Den' was a gathering place for locals; we looked out for each other. We knew that no matter what was going on in our lives, when we walked in the door, we were 'family'. Tom usually had coffee on in the morning, and he was always telling jokes. He made sure that you were laughing or at least smiling before you left. He had the ability to read people, knowing when things were off... I was sad to hear of his passing; however, I know that he would be pleased knowing that it is still here and still bringing smiles to those who enter. Thank you to the current owner(s) for keeping his dream alive and for keeping the atmosphere of being a local icon for the working folks who might have dirt on their boots, sweat on their brow, and just looking for a cold beer without breaking the bank! Keep up the good work, and I look forward to stopping by the next time I'm in the area. Laughing and reminiscing while having a cold one! If those walls could talk... maybe it's best that...

My partner and I got some burgers and shakes delivered from here yesterday, and let me tell you... We are huge fans. He loved his cake batter shake, I fell in love with the strawberry cheesecake one. And the burgers? Better than I've had in a long time. 10/10 will...