The Sister Bay restaurant guide (from someone who lives here)

I grew up in Sister Bay, moved to Madison for school, spent six years in Chicago, and came back. This is home. I've eaten at every restaurant on this list dozens of times. Here's where I actually go.

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is the tourist institution for good reason. The goats on the roof are real. The Swedish pancakes with lingonberries are genuinely excellent. Go on a weekday morning. The Saturday line starts at 7:30am in summer and doesn't shorten until 11.

Boathouse Restaurant is the local's choice for a proper dinner. On the bay, which means the sunset view is real. The whitefish is lake-caught and changes with the season. Reservations are essential in summer; walk-in friendly from October through May.

Sister Bay Bowl doesn't look like much from the outside. It's a bowling alley attached to a bar that serves the best fish fry in Door County every Friday. I say this with full knowledge that this is a contested claim and I stand by it. No reservations, first-come seating.

The Corner Store for coffee and pastries in the morning. A small, well-run spot that knows what it's doing. Get there early. The good pastries are gone by 9am on weekends.

For groceries and local provisions: Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay has better local produce and cheese than you'd expect. The Orchard Country Winery and Market on the south end of the peninsula has excellent cherry products and better-than-average wine.