Gilligans in Chetek- bar, restaurant & lodging — Restaurant in Town of Chetek

Part of the problem here is that the rooms and restaurant can’t be reviewed separately. I haven’t been in the restaurant for years but the resort side... well I guess if you were drunk and needed a place to crash instead of getting a DWI, it would do. Upon our arrival we realized the room wasn’t clean. There was hair in the bathroom, spots on the mirror as well as the kitchen, and the sign in the kitchen that we should sterilize things before use... it said it all to me. The paper towels that had been used for the cleaning that was done were left... on the floor, in the cupboard and by the toilet. The room wasn’t expensive so we decided that maybe someone got distracted and cleaned the room ourselves. We were badly in need of the retreat and didn’t want to make a fuss. As we settled in we realized the loud live music outside our patio door wasn’t really for us so we decided we wold leave for dinner and hope it was over when we returned. We left for dinner and returned a couple hours and we’re grateful the music was over. Upon our return we realized we had forgotten a phone Charger so my husband headed to town to procure one. As i looked for a place to plug in a charger I realized the electrical outlet closest to the fireplace had no cover... it was found Broken on the top of the fireplace. 🙄 they are 1.19... come on now. I decided to get comfortable and as my husband returned he mentioned that’s was “real nice but the whole neighborhood can see through the curtains, just so ya know.” Well Chetek, there’s your show for the weekend free of charge. 😳 We sat down to play some cards and get onto our retreat and realized there was something less than desirable on the pillow sham. My husband located some pillow cases that appeared clean in the drawer and changed it out. I was hoping that giving them some grace would be ok... and then I woke up. My husband rose first in the am and I expected him to make coffee, which he did not. After I woke up and asked him he pointed out the sign in the kitchen that said none of the kitchen items were sanitized and he stated he thought it would be good to go get coffee from a local shop instead. I decided to take a quick shower before we left and as I stepped in to shower I noticed black flecks in the adjoining tub but without my glasses I didn’t realize... as the water started I realized that there were bugs... glasses procured I realized they were coming from the drain. This was the deal breaker. The front desk was closed with a note on the door. “Be back in a few minutes.” We waited 30 minutes and then packed up and left the keys on the table. We left a message for the desk to call about our experience and the two more nights charge we had already paid for. When the call came the person was not horrified about our experience. The person actually said, “well you must have gone through it with a fine toothed comb.” (I should be able to but if I had... I would have left immediately. After all isn’t a clean room a reasonable expectation?) We had stayed the night and were only asking for a refund on the two nights we were not staying and after some persuading he decided that was a good idea... I am hoping that the charge for the one nights stay, go buy some curtains, an outlet cover and retrain the cleaning staff. Again, please stay if you’re in need of a place to sober up but past that, there are many better options...

This place has been hit or miss over the years, but this year was the biggest miss yet. We were excited as the menu was finally more than just fried food, and had some exciting options. We were told we could order dinner, but it would be a 45 minute wait for the food. Fine. Waitress came to take the order, and said it would be an hour. Okay. Ordered anyways. Two in our party had ordered the all you can eat wings, and were told after about 30 minutes that they were canceling that and they were going to have to pay full price for a single order. Weird, but okay. An hour goes by, and no sign of food. After 1:15 I checked with the hostesses. They told me they would look for the food and get back to me. They came back, and said some food was ready, some wasn't. Considering we had small kids with us, I asked if we could just have the food that was ready, and we'd wait for the rest (plus I had shrimp, and wouldn't want that sitting either if it was ready). They said the server would have to do that, fine. The server comes back, and says the food will be about 5 more minutes, and offered to put a rush on it. I said, a rush won't do any good; I work in a restaurant.. food is ready when it's ready, and that we'd been very understanding for well over an hour at that point, but we really had to feed the kids. She did not offer to bring our food that was claimed to be ready out, but instead added to the wait (now over 1:20). We didn't want to risk sitting any longer, not knowing if or when our food was ever coming, especially with 3 small kids needing dinner, so we canceled our order. Really wish the server had been better at communicating (I assume they ran out of thawed chicken wings, then were waiting on frozen ones to be ready, though an explanation was never given). She should have let the two order something else, or at the very least, brought the kids' pizza out for them to eat while the adults waited for food. It was tough seeing all the tables around us order, get their food, and leave before our food was even...

A Fantastic Memorial Day Lunch at Gilligan's in Chetek!

My wife, daughter, and I had a truly delightful Memorial Day lunch at Gilligan's in Chetek, WI, and we couldn't have been more impressed. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was inviting and vibrant. The fun decor immediately caught our eye, creating a lively backdrop that felt just right for a family outing. We appreciated how comfortable and welcoming it felt, allowing us to relax and enjoy the music and ambiance without feeling out of place with our daughter.

We kicked off our meal with the alligator bites, which were a delicious and adventurous start to our lunch. For our main courses, my wife raved about her garlic Parmesan salmon, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. I opted for the classic lake perch, and it certainly didn't disappoint – fresh, flaky, and wonderfully prepared. Our daughter was happy with her quesadilla, a perfect kid-friendly option. Throughout our meal, our server was absolutely fantastic. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, following up regularly without being intrusive. Their excellent service definitely enhanced our dining experience, making us feel well-cared for.

To cap off our delicious lunch, we indulged in the key lime pie for dessert, and it was simply divine – a perfect balance of tart and sweet, and a truly satisfying end to our meal.

Overall, Gilligan's provided a memorable Memorial Day experience. The combination of delicious food, a great atmosphere, and excellent service made for a perfect family lunch. We highly recommend Gilligan's to anyone looking for a wonderful dining...