Off The Rail

A must visit for breakfast or lunch! My daughters said they would give it a 100 out of 10 if they could! The chicken orzo soup was incredibly delicious, so much so that we went back to get more! And the sandwiches were flavorful and hit the spot. The staff was also incredibly friendly. The location can get busy during rush hour and it does take some time to get your food but it is SO worth it. Don’t be discouraged!

Absolutely fell in love with this enchanting coffee shop from the first words from the lady working the register this morning 12/14/25 9:30am. We had never been here before. Her extremely positive attitude and kind words brightened our day. The service from the rest of the team was also very upbeat and fast. Coffee was extremely hot/clean/smooth. This team went above and beyond my expectations. My only regret is not getting back in line to order a Carmel apple bar. Very much contemplated turning the car around after eating my sandwich to get some bakery goodies. I will be back thank you, off the rail team for your impeccable standards to clean hot made for your food and drink. Special shout out to the lady at the register, you are truly making spirits brighter.

Small but cute place. The food was absolutely amazing and the service excellent. I highly recommend. Pictured is a cup of the corn and kielbasa chowder and a half sandwich of the British Rail (ham and cheese). They were excellent.

This place is amazing! Fresh breakfast sandwiches are the bomb and the coffee is delightful. Love it, definitely going back!

I come here whenever I visit Road America and it never disappoints. Great sandwiches, especially the sourdough. Laid back atmosphere. People are always so friendly.

Amazing iced coffee and an even better breakfast sandwich. The Trolley is hands-down the best! They had made a mistake, we called and they made it right right away! 🙌 I will be a regular at this spot! 😊

Fun atmosphere with great staff and a delicious variety of sandwiches!! The half soup and sandwich is a great deal and option if your in the mood for fresh homemade soup also. The cookies are roughly the size of a large hand, if not bigger. The food is phenomenal and tastes incredibly fresh as if it was made at home. The seasoned potato chips are a perfect side!! Highly recommend a visit!!

LOVED this place so much! Great atmosphere, great food and drinks and awesome staff! I came two days in a row just because the first experience was so great. I tried lunch, then tried their breakfast the next morning! Both were fantastic. The setup inside is really unique, and the outside is super cute for this small town. I hope to back when passing through again! I love small towns and their warm vibes!

Another great visit to OTR--a must-stop whenever we're in town. There's always a line, but the food is absolutely worth it. This time, we waited about 45 minutes after ordering, but it was a holiday weekend so we were prepared. The restaurant was bustling, the staff was working hard, and it looked like they were having fun doing it. We snagged a table outside and enjoyed the atmosphere while we waited. The Freight Train was delicious as always, and the caprese salad with chicken was fresh and flavorful.

Wonderful place with great food and service! The sandwiches, coffee, and breakfast are top notch!

This place is absolutely adorable and while typically there is a wait, there wasn't one today. I felt truly magical as the woman at the front was so personable and kind. She helped me pick out the best coffee drink. My usually I order a caramel latte but today I was all about the caramel macchiato as she told me that it was even sweeter. And boy was she right. One of the best coffee orders I've ever made in my life. I will definitely be back this weekend for more. We ordered the bagel sandwich with sausage and it was able to hit the spot. We will come back for lunch and try out some more things and I'll update the review lunch recommendations. However, everything here seems to be good. The service is awesome. The people are kind and if there is a line it's well worth the wait.

Checked out off the rail for the first time and was very impressed with the food and service! This is a cute little cafe in Elkhart lake that has mostly sandwiches on their menu. It is a great stop for a breakfast or lunch sandwich. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to your table. The staff was very friendly and answered all the questions I had. The seating is limited so if it was super busy it would be hard to find a spot but I had no issue. The food was great cafe food! The soup was absolutely amazing and my sandwich was the perfect size and tasted great. I will be back to check out more!

Super cute spot with cool local owners and a group of friendly baristas. Grab a tasty coffee and don't miss the strawberry rhubarb bar. Delicious.

Small but cute place. The food was absolutely amazing and the service excellent. I highly recommend.

Cute place that serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, with coffee, wine, beer and pastries. Outdoor seating and indoor seating. Popular place with great service and good coffee!

great coffee . quick and easy hot breakfast items. Cute spot with friendly staff. No wait during the off season !

Love off the rail. The corn beef sandwich was amazing. Loved the atmosphere. Excellent coffee as well.

Following other Yelp reviews we stopped for lunch before checking into the Osthoff resort. Excellent soup and sandwich combos were had by both of us. We opted for the soup of the day Pork Curry Noodle even though Baked French Onion was on the menu (which is one of my favorites). The soup was creamy and had a nice curry flavor, not too spicy, and ample pieces of pork and noodles. Excellent choice on the first snowfall of the year! The sandwich choices were the Freight Train by my wife. Turkey, Havarti, bacon and a horseradish sauce. Mine was a standard BLT and both sandwiches were BIG! Reading the reviews we were surprised there wasn't a wait the day we visited and the soup and sandwiches came within 5 minutes. There's a nice wine and beer list to choose from also!

Usually I like this place but they are having issues. Their panini maker was broken today so there are no hot sandwiches and after lining up for 10mins they said it's a 35min wait for cold sandwiches. Disappointing.

I ate breakfast here three days in a row recently while in town for a race nearby and really loved it. Terrific breakfast sandwiches (I think we enjoyed the Trolley and the Commuter), yummy baked goods, and excellent coffee. Very cozy little spot and I would absolutely return were I in town again.

Parking is a little bit of a hassle because of the location, but the interior is so cool and the sandwiches were incredibly good. Great for takeout, but they also have a couple tables inside and a small patio outside. The staff were all friendly.

Great breakfast and lunch place in Elkhart Lake. Always busy because it's so tasty. Casual and cute. Great owners!

Food is great. Workers are fun and friendly. Line is impossibly long most weekends on the morning.

Wonderful thai noodle soup and "freight train" sandwich. Portions are large and service excellent. We missed our turn off and found this great spot on a cold and snowy day. The decor is very interesting with some railroad nostalgia and funny poster sayings. Stop in for a real treat.

Excellent place to stop for a sandwich if you (1) don't mind waiting 40 mins for a cold sandwich (2) don't mind everyone staring at you because of your dark skin color Cashier recommended I order a cold vs hot sandwich to speed up the process. So I ordered a veggie sandwich. 40 mins later, yes, 40 mins..I received my sandwich, walked back to my hotel 3 blocks away. Opened my 40-minute-sandwich to find the hummus melted into the toasted bread, cold sprouts, tomatoes and cucumbers. (Blank stare x10)...sigh

It was wonderful! We actually got coffee in the morning and then sandwiches in the afternoon for our lunch! The kids had grilled cheese and their cereal bowls. The specialty coffees were good and our sandwiches (The El and Bahnoff) were wonderful as well! Will definitely come again!

After having lunch here, I see why it gets 4.5 stars. The entire place seems like a labor of love. From the location, to the funny signs inside, to the amazingly friendly staff to the the super fresh food, nothing disappoints. I had the 'cold' train wreck and wow what a sandwich. Layers of turkey, sprouts, cheese, a little bacon and mayo make this a mother of semi-healthy eats. Tried the 7-grain bread instead of sourdough, but I'm sure the SD would be crazy good too. If you're a bit of a cookie monster, try out one of their colossal chocolate chippers. Super fresh and enough for 2-3 people. Inside and out, Off the Rail is not to be missed. Would have taken pictures, but I was too hungry.

So nice I had it twice! Stopped here on the way to door county for a weekend trip based on the yelp reviews. The El and the freight train were both delicious! Love the salt and pepper chips served with. All weekend long I kept drooling over the El so we stopped here again for lunch on our way back home. Equally impressed a second time! Worth a stop even if it takes an extra hour. I was impressed by how busy this place is in such a small town. They are busier than many restaurants in Chicago. 5 stars.

Another 5 star review ! Ate here three times in 24 hours . Enjoyed everything we ate . Great coffee, muffins , sandwiches . Super friendly and efficient staff . Would return for breakfast but they are closed on Wednesdays.

This place is a gem! Who can resist spotted cow on draft for breakfast and lunch? The food here is solid and the fresh baked goods are all so delicious! The crew here is great and we ate here several times during our visit.

Looking for a place to have some lunch in Elkhart Lake, we found Off the Rail. When we walked in, the air was pretty smoky and smelled of onions which is fine but part way through my lunch the smoke was burning my eyes. They offered hot and cold sandwiches, and I ended up selecting a chicken salad sandwich with chips for $8.50. It took 15 minutes or so for our food and while we were waiting whenever a popular song came on the employees were singing fairly exuberantly. The chicken salad was good and the chips were tasty, crunchy, seasoned and oniony. There was seating for about 20 inside, but could be chaotic with people lined up to order however there was more seating outside. I took a seat at the very back which was away from the music speakers. If you're looking for a chill lunch stop on a Sunday afternoon, this may not be it but the food is good.

Very solid sandwiches. The paninis don't skimp on the cheese, that's for sure! I visited on a very crowded Labor Day weekend but the staff worked like a well-oiled machine.

Friendly staff, always n their A game! EXCELLENT tasting coffee and a great menu. They can do any sandwich gluten free, so that's a HUGE bonus. Do not let the weekend lines deter you, they exist for a reason. Things move fast and you will NOT be disappointed!!

My husband and I visited Elk Hart for a little get away. When we arrived we were starving and Off the Rail was open. It was a bit after 1:45 no idea they closed at 2 because they welcomed us and took our order with no fuss. The food was amazing! Good portions and the salt and pepper chips we equally delicious. I also order a cup of their cauliflower cheesy soup, it was amazing! It tasted like cheesy tomato bisque. If you're visiting and need some tasty food stop here so worth it. We will be back! Thank you for being so welcoming, the tasty food, and for the great service

Great coffee, sandwiches and baked goods along with friendly service. Best coffee shop in the area

I had the pleasure of eating here while in town for a professional conference. The atmosphere is great, the staff was friendly, and the food was delicious. I also tried their soy caramel macchiato and it was amazing! I would highly recommend for a delicious breakfast or lunch and coffee

The best place in Elkhart Lake for breakfast, lunch, and conviviality! Dan and Kelley help make Elkhart Lake the special place it is with their welcoming attitudes and wonderful products. The entire team is always upbeat and cheerful -- and this is no small feat for a team that starts work most days before the sun rises. This is a great place for a terrific meal or to just while away some time with a coffee and some other locals. On busier days - such as race weekends - don't let the lines turn you away. It moves quickly, and you never know who you'll meet and get to talk to while waiting. The line is another way to enjoy Elkhart friendliness! Embrace it!

Cute little spot. It's not a traditional restaurant it reminds me of a Culver's as far as you order at the counter and take a seat for your food. The food was good. I got the special and I'm not sure what it was called but it was delicious and obviously fresh. Service and atmosphere was great'

What a charming place with great service from a ton of students and the sandwiches were terrific!

Friendly service. I didn't find the food to be as amazing as everyone says it is. Considering it's the only option at 7a, it's adequate. Again, the service and staff is top notch!

Absolutely delicious and the ambiance is great! My husband and I came here for breakfast on a brief trip to the area and if this was located near my home I'd be eating here all the time!

Cute little place and friendly staff. I had a breakfast burrito that was huge and very tasty. Service was great as well. Prices were fair for what you got. My only complaint was that the place lacked proper ventilation and coming out you will smell like grease the rest of the day. But it was good enough that I'd still go back.

A must for coffee and breakfast or lunch when in the Elkhart lake are. Seating is limited. Fresh baked goods, delicious sandwiches and awesome coffee drinks ( they can customize well and have both almond and soy milk and sugar free vanilla). Don't go if you are in a hurry - takes a bit of time but worth it.

Worth the stop! There is no place to sit down and eat so be prepared to order your food and carry out. Fantastic sandwiches and little bakery treats!

What an adorable little breakfast/brunch spot in Elkhart Lake! What an adorable (only) breakfast/brunch spot in Elkhart Lake! (It's cool though, the town's not that big.) --- Off the rail(s), literally: I think this place was an old train station back in the day? Anyways, now it's an adorable little cafe with affordable eats, coffee, sweets, and more. The staff is super friendly and the place seems popular. Get in line, peruse the menu, order, get a number, and park it inside or outside on the patio... they'll bring it to you! Pour your own coffee/water while you wait. Admire the kitsch and the history adorning the walls. Play one of their many board games, read the paper, play on the internet, or just take a breath and relax. There's also an adorable (albeit somewhat pricy) gift shop connected in the same building. In a nutshell: Off the Rail's great for a casual breakfast or lunch. It's within walking distance of everything, because Elkhart Lake is pretty dang tiny. (... albeit adorable.)

This place rocks my world. I live in Los Angeles and came out to see family for two weeks. I might have spent more te here than with my family. For breakfast the flying Scotsman bagel is the best breakfast in town. It had capers in the cream cheese on a every thing bagel layered with smoked salmon cucumber and onion. For lunch the chicken salad sandwich is killer but you have to try the freight train. It is on sourdough with turkey, cheese, bacon, onion, sprouts, tomato, smothered with a creamy horseradish sauce that the girls making the sandwich called horsey. As far as coffee and teas go this place shines. They make there own roast and there fall specials are playfully and delish. I never thought I would get a better cup of joe and sandwich in this small town that I could not get in the monster city of Los Angeles.

Coffee is my drink of choice day or night. As I travel this planet I always love to find a small coffee places. Off the rail is as good as any coffee shop in the country. Every drink is perfectly made, the food is outstanding and healthy and the young staff is tremendous.

Lovely people! Great tiki bar. F1 fans and a venue to die for. Can't wait to see the again.

If you are anywhere near this place and are hungry, you must stop! The complex in which the restaurant resides seemed to be a grain elevator along with its support buildings, providing a quaint "farm to table" connection for its businesses. Having been lovingly resorted to a three business facility, the complex now houses a must see up-scale grocery store, a gift store with many diverse offerings and the Off the Rail. Off the Rail is the perfect stop for breakfast and lunch. Amazing baked goods, grilled sandwiches and homemade soups and salads provide child and adult many options. The kids menu contains items named for various Thomas the Tank Engine characters. Our family frequently stays at the nearby Osthoff Resort and has visited Off the Rail many times. We love this place!

I love this place and they've got the service and food dialed in. Breakfast sandwich perfection. Great coffee drinks. Muffins used to be the best but skimpy on fruit now.

A charming little stop in Elkhart Lake for a breakfast bagel/sandwich and a coffee or tea. We stopped early in the morning and they were not yet busy. The place is quite small and I don't think I'd care to be there during the peak of the tourism season. Very enjoyable atmosphere during my quiet visit. I enjoyed the chai tea which had a nice creamy froth on top. I find myself a big eater if you will. I had the "commuter" which is a sour dough bread, egg, bacon & cheese sandwich. Not my typical breakfast but it was a pleasant meal, prepared well. The staff were very friendly and it's a nice location to sit back and people watch.

They are handling Covid wisely and swiftly. They have their process to order and deliver down to perfection. The food was very good and latte delish. We recommended it to others we visited with while in Elkhart Lake.

Best coffee shop. Our little secret of awesomeness. Specifically coffee, smoothies and sandwiches. Expect to wait in line but good things are worth waiting for. Owners are awesome people so chat them up as they are often behind the counter. If you want to concoct something let them know and they will make it for you. Our favorite concoction? Cherry hot chocolate with whipped cream!

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Known as OTR, or simply the Rail, to the locals. I love this place. I stay in Elkhart Lake about 6 or 7 times a year...seldom do I not visit the Rail, it's an easy walk (down the train tracks) from the Osthoff. This place has the feel of an old town ski-resort. The coffee is great as are the breakfast sandwiches. Additionally I've had their catered lunches perhaps 50 times. Always very good. FYI- they're closed on Wednesdays.

Very fun and trendy place. Great Decour and great location. I think the food is good but not exceptional Based on what it cost my girlfriend and I for 2 bagel sandwiches and 2 coffees, 1 of the baked oatmeal(aka oatmeal Cookie) I feel it was a bit pricey.

We had very fresh food and generous serving of unique deli sandwiches. Great experience!! Recommend it to anyone out of town

Amazing restaurant with great breakfast and lunch. I have tried almost everything on the menu and love everything. Coffee drinks are fantastic.