6 Romantic Restaurants in Door County

Enjoy the best of local ingredients in a cozy dining room that’s only blocks from the waterfront in Sturgeon Bay at Cedar Crossing Restaurant. Whether it’s a cocktail flavored with Door County cherries or the latest in a rotation of fresh seafood offerings, you’ll see why the locals love it here.

For nearly 140 years, this historic building has served the area; it was once a tailor shop, an apothecary, and then a doctor’s office. Now it’s the perfect place to relax for dinner after visiting the nearby boutiques and galleries, with an adjoining historic hotel made for a romantic winter getaway (no kids allowed).

If the way to your beloved’s heart is through steak, Chop, the family-owned full-service steakhouse in the Village of Sister Bay, is the place for you. The menu includes steaks, lamb chops and pork chops, plus lobsters, scallops, shrimp, and crab, prepared in a display kitchen. 

Chop is adjacent to the Door Hotel and is open Thursday through Saturday. The newly expanded bar hosts daily Happy Hour specials with specials on drinks and bar bites from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Romance comes easy at Della Porta DC, where scratch-made, seasonally rotating dishes meet the warmth of classic Italian hospitality. Handmade pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and indulgent desserts are paired with more than 60 carefully selected Italian wines, many from organic, biodynamic, and female-owned vineyards. Plus a lingering selection of amari meant to be savored together.

Della Porta is located in Ellison Day and is open daily from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. On Thursdays, this trattoria turns to Asia with Thursday Night Ramen. The menu features appetizers, including Korean fried cauliflower and shrimp tempura, paired with mushroom tempura ramen, chicken katsu ramen, pork tankotsu ramen, and short rib ramen bowls.

You’re in good hands at Barringer’s, the Fish Creek supper club and steakhouse experience led by renowned local chef JR Schoenfeld. The historic dining room is home to great pairings, including recommendations by an in-house Certified Sommelier to enhance your meal.

While Barringer’s specializes in select cuts of steak and fresh seafood, even just a seasonal cocktail will make your visit an exclusive memory. It’s no wonder you’ll find Schoenfeld’s influence in numerous restaurants (and food trucks) in Door County.

With all the qualities of excellent upscale dining except the prices, Alexander’s is a real find in Fish Creek. Their expansive menu includes a wide range of entrees, including steaks, fresh seafood, Italian dishes and nightly specials, plus homemade desserts and blended ice cream drinks.

Owners Bruce and Jill Alexander have served their neighbors not only with food but with support for local charities for over 25 years. See why Alexander’s is a neighborhood favorite by reserving your table now—or stay for the weekend and attend their Champagne Sunday Brunch. 

This Sister Bay specialty offers a modern atmosphere where diners are encouraged to “let food celebrate life.” Explore a deliciously diverse, farm-to-table menu at Thyme Restaurant & Catering that includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes along with wine, beer, and wine-based cocktails.

The success of Thyme catering led to Thyme Restaurant, where casual dining feels fresh and new. Don’t let the outdoor patio fool you—they’re open all winter to serve classic fare along with new creations.