Primal Eats — Restaurant in Town of Underhill

We are so glad we took a ride from Green Bay to Shawano to try Primal Eats. The atmosphere was absolutely fun and very friendly. We were greeted when we entered through the meat shop, where they provided an endless supply of delicious samples. They explained how things work, which is just like the great bbq places in Texas. You go to the window and order from the electronic menu which is located next to the order window. The lady taking the order was fun, she was so nice helping us to decide what to order and what size as you order by the pound or partial pound. You get a pager to let you know when the order is ready. We had a group of three couples, and each couple ordered separately, one after the other. We headed to the bar to order drinks and find a table as the tent seating was filled with people there to see the band, which limited places to eat for those of us coming for food. The band was an added bonus as you could hear them throughout the various rooms, adding to the festive vibe. We got our drinks, which was a bit awkward as you had to find a way to get to the bartender to get everything including just a glass of water. The bartender did good, and we found a place In the board room at the massive table, which was shared by many groups, which added to the festive vibe. The time to get each order varied greatly which meant the first couple was well into their meal before the last couple got their order. I’ll bet that if we had let the lady at the order counter know that we were all together we might have gotten all of our orders at the same time…something to keep in mind if you have multiple couples in your group. The meat was amazing, perfectly cooked, juicy and just the right amount of smoke flavor. The Mac and cheese was the best I’ve had in all of my travels, be sure to order some. The cornbread was really good, I didn’t see any peppered vinegar to go with it like you find at southern bbq establishments, maybe something they will provide in the future. We were not thrilled with the potatoes or coleslaw, Just not to our liking. We were so glad we took the drive, Primal Eats far exceeded our expectations as it went beyond amazing food and provided a true fun atmosphere and memorable experience. We look forward to coming back in the summer as it looks like there may be even more things to do. We picked up some meat sticks to bring home and were told that Festival sells some of their products. You have to try Primal Meats, it’s an absolute gem and receives our highest recommendation. It is simply amazing to see what they have been able to accomplish since opening just a few months ago. You will be glad you...

Kind of located in no-man’s land between Cecil, Gillett, Keshena, and Shawano – figure about a 50 minute drive from Green Bay by taking State 29 out of Green Bay, exiting into Bonduel, continuing into Cecil, and taking County R up to County VV. But well worth all the jogs in the route getting there for the food and the environment.

Besides the drive, it is a bit of a process to get your food, too. We went in winter, when you enter through the store, then walk through a dining room into a heated tent to reach the order window. (From other reviews, you might find whether the tent comes down in summer so you can access the order window directly without following a maze.) Lots of nooks and crannies to eat your meal: at tables in the store, in the dining room, or the bar located behind it, or in the tent. After ordering at the window, you pick up some plates and utensils, go to the bar for beverages, find a spot to sit, and wait for the pager to let you know your food is ready.

As first time visitors, we were advised to get the sampler platter, which for $21.95 provides three meats, and five sides. This was more than enough for two people – we had leftovers. Everything was excellent, so I will just touch on the highlights. The “German” sausage is steamed in beer, and not gritty like many typical summer sausages. The beans have a wonderful smoky flavor and are served in a thick, past-like sauce. The coleslaw is not mayonnaise-based, so it is light and the taste of the cabbage is not overpowered, but instead blended nicely with vinegar. And the cherry cobbler was fresh, with an airy, flaky pastry base. I could go on – there was a unique twist to everything we had, and everything was delicious.

The restaurant has a rustic, log-cabin décor, with lots of taxidermy on display, so there is a lot to take in as you eat. Large screen monitors run loops on the restaurant’s operations and menu choices, which is not only interesting, but give you a chance to get a good look at menu options for future visits. We don’t plan on being regulars, but do plan on making the drive from Green Bay again in the future – definitely...

We got the pesto chicken sandwich, garlic butter shrimp, and the pulled pork mac n cheese. The sandwich was pretty good overall. Chicken tasted a bit dry, but that may have just been the batch we got or my personal preference. The shrimp tasted great but I wasn't a fan of only 8 shrimp for $16. I know seafood isn't cheap and they go by weight but it was still a bit of a shock. I also wasn't too happy with having to remove the shell and devein each shrimp individually, it's the little things that make the experience great but if no one else cares then it's not a huge deal, just something I wish I would have known before ordering. The pulled pork mac n cheese was also a pretty decent choice, and this is where I think they get all the good reviews from. The pork tasted great and melted in my mouth, and the portion size was good for the price! At the end we had a cone of the vanilla ice cream, that was amazing!

Only reason for the 2 star service is because you basically have no interaction with the staff, they take your order, give you a buzzer and then hand you your food when it goes off. I get that's what they're going for so not really a complaint as it is an observation.

Atmosphere was actually pretty cool and I liked the little fire outside that you could stand by and I think you could get marshmallows from inside to roast.

Looking back we got mostly non bbq dishes AT A BBQ restaurant which is where we went wrong in hindsight but it was on the menu and we wanted to give it a try. If we go back I'll probably update this but for right now...