Sulten Belly — Restaurant in Waupaca

I just want to start off by saying the food was amazing, all of our guests raved about it. I contemplated not writing this review for that reason, but I think other people deserve to know about our experience. I had been communicating with the owners about catering our wedding from November-February of last year. When we finally met in February and gave them the details of our wedding (which they had not initially asked for) and decided on a menu, they emailed me close to a month later saying they were unsure if they could do it or not. Being that it was now almost March, I knew it would be difficult to find another caterer and practically begged them to do it. They took their time deciding and finally agreed to do it a week later. We decided on the menu and logistics and I thought everything was good to go from there.

It seemed pretty unorganized as we got closer to the wedding. When we called to discuss last minute details, they stated that it seemed like we actually had too much food and maybe we should reconsider our order--3 days before the wedding. I also (fortunately) asked what came with the hummus appetizer and they informed us they could add pita bread for $1.50/person, otherwise nothing-So, unless we paid an extra $150 they just planned on bringing us a bowl of hummus. Then one of the owners asked that we pay the gratuity and server fees in cash to save on credit card fees and so they could pay their staff (not sure why that fell on me as the customer.) I then spoke to the other owner, who said we could pay the whole thing with a check, which was followed by an email from the other owner stating that a check would not work and it needed to be cash. We were very confused as to why this was all coming up just days before the wedding. We also paid an hourly server fee and there was no server-just the two owners and our guests ended up clearing plates, which is exactly what we were trying to avoid. They charged a $350 “out-of-town” delivery fee, which I thought was pretty ridiculous considering the wedding was roughly 30 minutes outside of Waupaca. I know the owner will likely justify this as they are “a small business” and “inflation”, etc. but I would expect more professional communication from any business, regardless of size. While I am happy to pay for quality and knew that having a small business cater our wedding would likely cost more, the whole interaction left us feeling pretty disappointed. Like I said, the food was incredible but if you’re looking for a seamless experience I would...

I have tried this restaurant before, and I can only say that it keeps getting better each time. I will definitely return in 2025. The chef always surprises with the daily specials; he takes creative risks and achieves very interesting combinations. Discreetly and conveniently located on Main Street in Waupaca, it is 100% recommended. Last, but not least: Amanda is awesome!

Update, 05/03/2025

Hone; honed; honing Verb

Each visit to Sulten Belly feels like witnessing the hone of a true culinary artist. The chef’s skills are constantly sharpening, and it’s clear they are getting better and better with each meal.

This time, we started with the Fiesta Shrimp Salad — a refreshing and slightly spicy dish that struck the perfect balance between crunch and flavor. The grilled shrimp were a standout, with a smoky aroma that almost made you taste the fire in every bite. It’s a dish that truly showcases the chef’s growing mastery of flavors and technique.

Next came the Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms, which were simply perfect. The mushrooms were tender, infused with a rich balsamic glaze that complemented their earthiness beautifully. It’s inspiring to see how the chef continues to refine their craft, creating dishes that are both innovative and comforting.

Throughout our visit, Amanda was as awesome as ever — warm, attentive, and making us feel right at home. Thank you for another wonderful experience. It’s a pleasure to see this restaurant’s culinary skills improve...

Had a very rude experience at your restaurant on Wednesday June 24th by one of the cooks in the kitchen. I brought a plate back and asked if they could change the sandwich into a wrap. I guess I should have let the waitress handle this. When I brought the sandwich back to the kitchen and asked if they could change it into a wrap, the cook came over grabbed it out of my hand very roughly and slammed it on the counter, knocking some of the kettle chips off of the plate, and told me to "GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN NOW"! Not giving me an answer if the sandwich could be changed into a wrap, I went to grab the plate and say I guess you can't. Again he rudely told me to get out of the kitchen, and at that time I left not knowing what was going to happen to the sandwich. They did return the sandwich and it was a wrap, but most of her chips were not on the plate. Also sitting outside there was a brown Labrador that was constantly by our table licking my friends feet and we were trying to get it away and it just kept coming back. Don't get me wrong I love animals especially dogs but when you are eating at a restaurant I thought that was kind of rude. Will never go back, I personally think the cook could of handled the sandwich issue in a very...