Barnacle Bud’s! What can we say?  We had actually been open a year or two and unaware of this place til friends invited us there and we discovered for the first time that we had such a fun fish shanty within walking distance on the Kinnickinnic River. This was partly due to the fact that the “true” entrance to the restaurant is intended to be from off your boat onto the dock at Skipper Bud’s – a boat storage facility in an industrial park behind buildings with no storefronts.  No matter.  After we found it, we became regulars as well as good friends with Yvonne and Chris – two managers that also happen to be our neighbors.

Our favorite thing to eat there is anything with grouper…Tacos, fish fry’s, Po’Boys…they are all delicious!

During the Covid years when I was still working in healthcare, I worked extremely long hours at a Covid clinic for 2.5 years. Barnacle Bud’s on a Friday night after work kept me sane.  We’d walk over after a long, hard work week and Chris would see us and immediately walk to the bar to get us our favorite beverages.  It was definitely appreciated “care for the caregiver”.

Now that those dreadful years are behind us, one of our favorite things to do is walk over after rooms are cleaned and before the next batch of guests arrive and relax for a minute with grouper tacos and a bucket of ice cold mini Coronitas.  It’s great to take a load off while enjoying being outside along the river.

Fast forward to today.  To keep the faithful employees busy during the off season (and with continued healthcare insurance!), Barnacle Bud’s has started a fun switch-up inside the restaurant – a Wisconsin dinner club!

Last week we were invited to a friend/favorite customers tasting of the winter menu.  You can see from the picture above that there are some delicious choices.  We went with the lamb chops and sockeye salmon.  O.M.G.! We loved them both. And the Supper Club Old Fashioneds were totally on point!

So – the ambiance is the same old Barnacle Bud’s quirkiness except with linens and china instead of paper menus, paper plates and plastic glassware.  Never mind.  The food was DIVINE!

They will be serving this wonderfulness Wednesday through Saturday until Valentine’s Day.  You will need a reservation because the seating inside is limited.

Get yourself over there! For reservations call 414-481-9974.