I’ve traveled enough in Wisconsin now to know that the state won’t let a vegan starve, though there may be a little confusion about why a sane person won’t eat dairy. Wisconsin prides itself on cheese, so vegans, please be polite when declining dairy while pursuing Lake Geneva vegan options.
Lake Geneva has long been a popular summer haven for rich Chicagoites. And since there are lots of vegans in Chicago, I was optimistic about the veg situation in Lake Geneva. Turned out, I had nothing to worry about.
Oakfire
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 many Chicagoans moved here and starting to ring the 20.6 miles of shoreline with their swanky mansions. Nowadays, it’s an all-season destination for summer boating, fall foliage, winter snow sports and spring relaxation. Oakfire takes advantage of its great lake views by providing upper level seating with terrific views.
Owner David Scotney started making wood-fired pizzas in his Chicago backyard as a hobby. Then he’d deliver his practice pizzas free to his neighbors. But when a popular Lake Geneva diner went up for sale in 2015, he decided to go pro. Oakfire is a top choice on the Lake Geneva vegan scene; there’s vegan pizza right on the menu. “That pizza came about because lots of vegans were requesting pizza,” Scotney told me. He studied dough making under a master in Chicago. His simple dough consists of flour, salt, water and yeast. He lets it sit for 24 hours before forming it into a pie. At 1200-1500 degrees, the Oakfire oven is so hot that pizzas cook in 90 seconds. And a good thing they do, because in summer the restaurant serves up to 1500 people a day. The kale salad minus cheese is another good vegan choice.
Tuscan Tavern and Grill
This Wisconsin lunch and dinner spot had pumpkin fever when I visited. Pumpkins festooned the entryway, making for a warm and festive autumnal look. As you’d guess from the name, Tuscan Tavern and Grill specializes in Italian food.
I found the server to have a high vegan IQ. As soon as I told her I was vegan, she skillfully took over. I was the only vegan in a large group. But the server made sure the mozzarella was on the side, so I could eat the eggplant caprese appetizer. She directed me toward some vegan bread to pair with the bruschetta topping. I had the Mediterranean salad, minus the feta and pita chips. Vegans can also order dairy-free woodfired pizzas. Highly recommended.
Grand Geneva Resort
I never thought I’d be sitting at the country’s first Playboy Club Hotel eating a gourmet vegan meal. Nowadays, it’s called the Grand Geneva Resort and you no longer have young women in bunny ears and rat pack artists performing in the lounge. However, there’s still a distinctive bunny head-shaped pond, and other souvenirs from the resort’s past.
Executive chef Nelly Buleje oversees the enormous resort’s restaurants. He was extremely kind and happy to prepare the most beautiful vegan delicacies for me, complete with edible flowers! Also, I felt comfortable enough with him to ask him to throw in some chili peppers, which made my risotto much more exciting. The resort’s menus are not overtly veg-friendly. However, they are committed to accommodating many diets, so if you tell your server at the beginning of the meal, the Grand Geneva will whip up something veg-delicious.
Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub
With a bit of creativity, you can get a good vegan meal at Sprecher’s. The Southwest Salad is a huge, filling entrée. Just hold the cheese and switch out ranch dressing for balsamic and you have a vegan lunch. Or order the Asian chop chicken salad, hold the chicken, and you’re left with an enormous plate of cabbage, veggies, peanuts, mandarin oranges and sesame seeds tossed in ginger-garlic sauce.
They also offer vegan patties for their burgers. If you like sodas, don’t miss their line of craft sodas brewed in a gas-fired kettle.
Avant Cafe
If bikes and coffee are your true loves, you’ll want to stop by Avant Cycle Café while visiting Lake Geneva. This combination regional biking center and coffee shop fixes bikes, rents bikes, advises on local bike routes, and serves up coffee roasted in small batches.
I appreciated the multiple nondairy options for my cappuccino. They even rent fat bike tires for snow rides, if you happen to visit Lake Geneva in winter.
Teresa Bergen owns the Veg Travel & Fitness site. Vegetarian since childhood, she’s an expert in traveling while vegetarian or vegan. Teresa’s the author of Vegetarian Asia Travel Guide, is the vegetarian editor for Real Food Traveler, and regularly contributes to Chic Vegan.
