Eat Your Way Through Greater Green Bay, WI’s Restaurant Scene
Greater Green Bay, WI, has a well-rounded restaurant scene, with eateries turning out Mexican, Thai, Italian and Indian cuisine. With plenty of spots to choose from, diners can discover their favorite version of any given dish.
Lindsey Moon Petasek, who moved to Green Bay shortly after graduating from college in 2009, has found hers, and this foodie has years of experience exploring the region’s dining establishments.
“I went to school for communications and dreamed of being a food journalist,” she says.
While that career path didn’t pan out, the grant writer became that friend with an organized/categorized note on her phone of restaurants and what to order.
“I pride myself on being the friend to hit up for recommendations while traveling,” she says.
We caught up with Petasek, who shares her thoughts about Greater Green Bay, WI’s diverse and flourishing restaurant scene, helpfully categorized by cuisine.
In This Article
Mexican Favorites in Greater Green Bay, WI
Los Banditos has been a Greater Green Bay favorite for over three decades. The kitchen turns out a weekly taco special with rotating flavors and a killer chile con queso appetizer; the latter is Petasek’s choice when ordering at the old-school spot.
Providing a different vibe is Vintage Cantina, which Petasek calls “one of the cooler spots in Green Bay. They offer fusion tacos, and it’s a great excuse to wear a cute outfit, grab a drink with friends or lunch away from the typical bar food in the area. Get a paloma and the crab rangoon taco when it’s on special.”
La Carreta’s dining room isn’t as stylish as Vintage Cantina’s, but decor is less important than food, and “La Carreta has the best quesabirria tacos,” Petasek says.
The kitchen offers several variations of the ultra-trendy specialty (shredded beef served in a griddled, cheese-encrusted corn tortilla and served with consommé for dipping), including quesabirria pizza and ramen birria.
Finally, Caliente La Fiesta Mexicana, located in Green Bay suburb De Pere, serves traditional tacos as well as creative mashups like caprese chicken (blackened bird, pesto, cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella) and Cajun shrimp tacos (shrimp, mango, avocado and chipotle Ranch dressing).
Asian Restaurants in Greater Green Bay, WI
Many Asian restaurants in Greater Green Bay are owned by Hmong families, Petasek says. Because the ethnic group has historically resided in several Asian countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and China), Hmong cuisine reflects influences from many different cultures, therefore, many of the city’s Asian restaurants do, as well. For instance, Plia’s Kitchen serves pad thai alongside Vietnamese pho and Lao khao piak.
“Plia’s Kitchen is cozy,” Petasek says. “They have Hmong stuffed chicken wings and what my three-year-old thinks is the best crab rangoon in town (he’s a bit of a connoisseur).”
In De Pere, Nuk’s Thai offers traditional Thai dishes, including papaya salad, tom yum seafood soup and, of course, pad thai. When the weather cooperates, opt for a seat on the patio, which looks onto the Fox River. Finally, Noodle Bar in Oneida Casino has excellent pad thai and pho, according to Petasek.
“My friends may not forgive me for sharing this,” she says. “It’s where we used to go in our 20s after a night of drinking, and it makes for a fun spot to grab some food, play some casino games and get out during the winter.”
Pizza + Beer Establishments in Greater Green Bay, WI
Petasek enjoys Rustique Pizzeria’s atmosphere (“I like it when we have company and want to go somewhere nice.”) and especially appreciates its menu of unique and creative pies topped with ingredients like honey, pesto or macaroni and cheese as well as traditional pizzas. For something a bit more casual, she says, Gallagher’s Pizza on South Webster Avenue and Cocoon Brewing are both solid choices. “The pizza is good, they allow for drinking good craft beers (in moderation), parenting and being semi-social,” she says.
Finally, the Green Bay outpost of regional chain Glass Nickel Pizza Co. offers cleverly named pies, such as the Cheeseasaurus (a sauceless pizza with extra cheese) and the Couch Potato (topped with tater tots and a side of sour cream).
Italian Restaurants in Greater Green Bay, WI
Angelina Restaurant opened its doors in 1998 (its namesake immigrated from Italy to America in 1993) and has been serving Italian cuisine ever since. The upstairs dining room offers an intimate space, while the shady, ivy-covered patio is an oasis in downtown Green Bay. Its spaghetti alla carbonara garners rave reviews online.
Fine-dining spot Mangiare Italian Restaurant offers luxe entrees, like lobster ravioli, and a mile-long wine list, while Stella’s in De Pere is one of Petasek’s favorite spots when she and her husband can secure a babysitter.
“Stella’s fills the pasta-shaped hole in my heart,” she says. “It’s a dark, romantic spot that is a great place to grab a meal during sweater weather. The food is the stick-to-your-bones type, and they have a great selection of drinks and desserts, as well.”
Indian Food in Greater Green Bay, WI
Petasek’s go-to spot for savory Indian cuisine is India Bhavan.
“It’s another low-key vibe, but makes for great takeout on a rainy, movie-watching day,” she says. “Anyone new to Indian food should go for butter chicken, garlic naan and samosas. It’ll be a soft gateway to a world of spicier and more complex flavors. Also, naan bread is a vehicle for the sauce; get mileage on it.”
Taste of India has a similarly expansive menu that features favorites like saag paneer and goat curry.
This article is sponsored by Your Move Green Bay and the Greater Green Bay Chamber.