Old Rittenhouse Inn

I am writing this review a few weeks after staying at the Old Rittenhouse Inn because I promised myself I would do it. I cannot say enough about how wonderful our stay was at this very maintained bread and breakfast. The gardens and porch plants are beautiful. The porch is a wonderful place to sit while having a pre-dinner glass of wine or cup of coffee in the morning. Dinner at the restaurant was spectacular. Parking was easy and getting bags into the hotel was simple. The WiFi connection was fast and reliable. All areas of the hotel were clean and antiquely cool. | The best thing about Old Rit is the staff. They were friendly and efficiently helpful. In the morning we needed to leave before breakfast, but the staff made sure we had coffee and muffins before we had to leave, | We will stay in Bayfield again in the future. I won't even consider staying anywhere else. Well done.

It was a beautiful place to stay and so comfy! A mixture of old and modern - it reminded me of my grandma's house when I was growing up. We could see Lake Superior from our room. Breakfast was included and it was amazing!!! The steps were a little tough on my knees so if steps are hard for you, it might not be the place for you.

What a spectacular time we had! The Inn is perfect in atmosphere, comfort and food. The staff was enjoyable and extremely helpful - especially Jack our server. Our room was more than we ever pictured - it was fabulous! Celebrated a special birthday and the Inn helped to make it a wonderful memorable time Thank you!

We absolutely loved our stay! We stayed in Room 12, the Moroccan Suite, which was beautifully furnished, very clean and cozy enough for reading on the cold, rainy days we were there. The breakfasts were delicious and the staff were courteous, friendly and helpful. I can’t say enough about this place. Highly recommended!

Beautiful home on the hill overlooking Bayfield and Lake Superior.|Fantastic breakfast in the morning that is no charge when you stay the night. Very comfortalbe rooms and great staff. A keurig machine would be nice in the upstairs sitting area for people staying the night.

We spent 3 enjoyable evenings in the Tower Room of le Chateau (which is associated with Old Rittenhouse Inn). The Chateau is a charming, well-maintained older building that was a pure joy to stay in. All the old woodwork, leaded-glass windows and antique furniture that decorated it were stunning. ||While we were told they were at full capacity, it was very quiet. The other guests we encountered were all very friendly.||It was an easy drive back over to the Old Rittenhouse House for the "breakfast" part of our B & B stay. Each of our 3 breakfasts were delicious, and each of our wait-staff were very attentive and friendly.

Old world style and comfort. Comfortable bed. Great chef who makes great food. I'm sure they are at the top of their profession. We are three walking blocks from Lake Superior. Beautiful area with cute shops and reasonable restaurant prices.

Wonderful stay at the Old Rittenhouse Inn. We had a great room on the second floor with views of the Bayfield harbor. We could see the Madeleine Island ferry make trips back and forth. The rooms, the main area and the various sitting areas were nicely decorated to fit in with the style of the inn. Various games and other activities were provided for guests to enjoy. Breakfast was included and was delicious. Unfortunately, we were there on days that the inn’s restaurant was not open for dinner. We would have liked to eat there. We were allowed to leave our car parked in the hotel lot while we went on an Apostle Island Boat Tour even though we had already checked out. We will stay here again the next time we are in the area.

The food is absolutely outstanding and plated beautifully. Extremely creative with care taken to include seasonal and local fare. The ambiance breathes history and keeping the story of the house alive. The worst part of the evening is choosing what to eat. Would highly recommend!

During our stay in Bayfield, we ate dinner at Old Rittenhouse Inn. The ambiance was lovely and vintage. Very clean and well kept. We sat at a corner table in the first dining room area and we could see the neighborhood and water from our window. The service was great; our waitress, Maime, was very friendly, personable, and attentive. The food was exceptional!! We loved all of it! My favorite was the fresh fruit bruschetta appetizer with honey goat cheese and I also loved that the whitefish is caught right out of Lake Superior and served for dinner! It was so fresh and the dish was put together well. I'm looking forward to eating here again during our stay. 5 stars!!

This was one of the best places I have eaten at in quite a while. We did the 5 course meal which I've never done before and it was amazing. The beef soup was very tasty and my girlfriend loved the whitefish soup. We both had the spinach salad and the dressing on it was my favorite. They then brought out a fizzy lemon sorbet. I had the steak which also had an amazing sauce, and went with the ice cream sundae as it was hot out. The support was stellar, the interior was beautiful and I already want come here again. This was one of the best places I have eaten at in quite a while. We did the 5 course meal which I've never done before and it was amazing. The beef soup was very tasty and my girlfriend loved the whitefish soup. We both had the spinach salad and the dressing on it was my favorite. They then brought out a fizzy lemon sorbet. I had the steak which also had an amazing sauce, and went with the ice cream sundae as it was hot out. The support was stellar, the interior was beautiful and I already want come here again.

Omg this place was amazing and had awesome service. There was good fresh food and drinks, AMAZING room designs, ahh it was amazing. I came here for my mother's wedding and everything was perfect, I have so many pictures but I think Yelp will only let me put one. But it was amazing!!!

Amazing. Best meal of the trip, on par with 5 star in a big city without the big prices. The pork, filet, soups and apple cobbler were absolutely outstanding.

This place is worth every penny!! It is so pretty and elaborate! I highly recommend the rooms with balconies. The in room hot tub totally made my night. My daughter and I slept soooo well. Bayfield is so beautiful in the summer, everyone should come visit!

It's old. It's historic. It's beautiful. We had an enjoyable evening dining with our friends from Germany at the Landmark Restaurant at the Old Rittenhouse Inn. But I expected much better. Though it was a satisfying meal -- it was far from great or memorable. We all opted for the five course dinner (which I certainly would recommend if you dine here). My only complaint about the five course offering is that it does not include the option to substitute one of the appetizers for the the soup or salad. I would have preferred to try the whitefish cakes -- especially after tasting my salad (which actually cost a dollar more than the whitefish cakes if purchased a'la carte). For me the soup course was the highlight of the meal. I opted for the Lake Superior Chowder. I found it to be excellent with an ample amount of trout and/or whitefish, and an appropriate amount of potato and carrot in a well seasoned, creamy soup base. The local ingredients garnish of green onion and wild rice was a nice touch that worked well with the overall flavor profile and added a textural component to the dish. Next up was the smoked trout salad which was the first miss of the evening. The trout was fine. The mesclun was lightly but adequately dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. Even the use of cheddar cheese was fine (though it could have been older and sharper to my taste). But the under-seasoned wild rice ruined the dish. The blandness of the undressed wild rice literally canceled out the rest of the flavors. And though it brought a bit of texture to the party it was not nearly as satisfying as a proper crispy crouton. The next course was one the most significant missteps of the evening. I like the idea of serving an icy palette cleanser in the middle of the meal. But when you make a raspberry ice or sorbet -- for god's sake -- strain out the seeds! That's why the French invented the chinois. Our main courses were fine though unspectacular. I ordered the "pork chop" which wasn't actually a pork chop in the classic sense but rather a braised pork roast. It was good. But call it what it is. My wife ordered the fish roulade. Normally it is Lake Superior white fish but since the white fish season is closed in October the kitchen used Dover Sole instead -- an acceptable substitution. The phallic slice of bread jammed upright into the mashed potato made no sense -- unless the chef is trying to say something. . . ? For dessert I was served one of the worst slices of cherry pie I've had in recent memory. I doubt there were more than four or five whole cherries in my piece. The rest seemed to be cherry juice congealed with a cornstarch slurry. Even the crust made with lard and the a'la mode scoop of ice cream couldn't redeem the pie filling. The ice cream parfaits everyone else ordered looked much better -- and impossible to screw up. The wines offered by the glass were quite good. I liked that the server offered a tasting before ordering. One of our friends changed her choice after finding the wine she tasted too sweet for her taste. Our server was attentive, kind and patient -- especially since everything needed to be translated for our German friends. Despite my criticisms, the Old Rittenhouse Inn is as good as it gets in the far reaches of northern Wisconsin. In fact I would say it is one of the better places I've eaten north of Chicago and east of New York and west of San Francisco. It's just not perfect.

Ive been wanting to stay here for years but as a poor college student it was always a bit out of reach. Came back for a girl's trip and it was as enjoyable as I had thought it would be: quiet, comfortable, cozy. Breakfast was delicious and the staff was just the right amount of friendly and helpful without interrupting our friend time. (Only giving 4 out of 5 because the bathroom was small with only a shower and I would have loved a bath. I'm sure if I had asked they would have moved me but we checked in late and the staff was gone for the evening.)

****Landmark At The Rittenhouse part 1****It's been awhile since I've posted anything. Not to get until too personal of details, but I was in a downward relationship for years with someone who did NOTHING, but pull me down and make me feel worthless. Also, my dad passed away in December of 2017. I'm now with someone else who I really didn't expect to come into my life, but I've have been extremely blessed and thankful. It's great to be back to reviewing!! So supportive, caring, and loving, and we were exactly what each other needed!! My awesome partner and I went on vacation to Bayfield, WI to bring in the new year. Let me first start off by saying, if you haven't been there, you NEED to go!!! We had plans to drive directly across Lake Superior, but the lake wasn't frozen. We stayed in a beautiful condo, and had the BEST 4 days ever to ring in New Year's together! I will be making a few reviews of places, so be on the lookout for the other ones. FINALLY, let's get to the review. This review is of the Landmark At The Rittenhouse, located inside of the Old Rittenhouse bed and breakfast hotel. This was not where we stayed. My partner surprised me with an amazing meal here and it was unbelievably good!! There was a special menu for New Year's and yes this is fine dining with chef's from Alaska who cooked our meals. They have a normal 5-course menu, but for New Year's, it was a 6-Course meal! It was nearly 70 something each for our meals. The first course I had Scallop Crudo. It had hints of mint, soy sauce, jalapeno, micro basil, Korean chili and black salt. It was soooo GOOD! First time having scallops and this dish made me a fan! My partner had seared duck, and it was delicious too! We tried each other's meals if we had something different than one another. We only had 2 meals where we chose different things, and that was the 1st course and the last course, which was dessert. The seared duck was fantastic! Did not taste gamey, and had almost a beef flavor to it...perfect! My first time having duck too! 2nd course was either a Spinach and Garlic Bisque, or a Lobster Bisque. My partner thought he ordered the Spinach Bisque, but he got the Lobster Bisque too, but he was completely fine with it and said he was glad he made that mistake! We LOVED the bisque. Plenty of chunky Lobster, creamy, buttery, and just completely flavorful! 3rd course was Charred Dates and Smoked Carrots. We couldn't get over how tasty this dish was. It had beluga lentils, lemon panna cotta, roasted hazelnuts, and a cedar vinaigrette! You can fathom the idea of how incredible this was. I'd have an easy time being a vegetarian if I could eat this everyday!! All of the flavors just work, and having the charred dates and the smokiness of the carrots...unbelievable!! Who would think to char dates?...YUM!!! ****This review will be continued...too long to post it all*****

It's my first time in Bayfield, so a friend recommended to come here for dinner. I'm so glad I listened. When first entering the inn, I wasn't sure we were dressed nicely enough to go in, but Wendy made us feel very welcome. She seated us right away next to the window with a beautiful lake view. My boyfriend and I both decided on the 5 course meal which btw, is their specialty. To start off, you get a choice between their fish chowder or soup of the day. Now I'll tell you that I'm not a huge fan of seafood, but I got the fish chowder anyway. It was SO good! Amy, our awesome server, said there were big chunks of fish in it. I was a bit intimidated by that, but the chunks really weren't big. At least they were not not the 1/2" chunks I was envisioning. The next to come was the salad. We both chose the spinach with bacon dressing. This is THE way to go. - so yummy! The blue cheese comes on the sides of the plates, so your choice to take it leave it. I'm not a big fan of blue cheese but this was pretty good. The third dish is a pallet cleanser. It was a lemon ginger sorbet. At first taste, it's sweet and lemony and then you get a mild kick of ginger. I would have taken a gallon of this home if I could. Then the main dish came. I chose the pork chop while my boyfriend chose the steak. The pork chop was a pretty big portion. The sauce was so good the meat turned out to be a bit on the dry side. I got the rice pilaf which I liked, but my man got the garlic mashed potatoes and said those were better. The final dish was dessert. I chose the lemon pie with ice cream. I should have gotten ice cream instead. The pie was very lemony and sweet. It was the texture that got me. Overall, I highly recommend going here and may actually ask about going back tonight. Service was AWESOME. Both Amy and Wendy were very hospitable and made me feel welcome.

Certainly one of the nicest B&Bs in the area. We splurged and booked room X (10), the one pictured on their website and in their other marketing materials. It was huge - part of the former ballroom on the third floor and featured a two-sided fireplace, a large whirlpool tub, king sized bed and nice window seat that looked out to the lake. It also had a teeny tiny bathroom - which was curious give the 800 or so square feet of the room itself. The Rittenhouse is in a great location that makes for a nice base to walk and explore the small town of Bayfield, Wisconsin. The inn keepers are celebrating 25 years+ and know how to run a successful inn. We love sitting on the porch with a glass of wine (we usually bring a bottle along) and just relaxing. Meals at the Inn are also a treat - for dinner BE SURE to get the roasted pork loin which has been on the menu forever. It cooks all day and literally falls apart. My wife and I ended up splitting it and it was plenty for the two of us. This is true of breakfast at the Inn as well. The portions are quite large and even the breakfast entrees are enough to share. Very limited cell service at the Inn. AT&T coverage was spotty with only the super slow "E" network available - which isn't all bad. You are supposed to be on vacation after all!

Such a grand place to spend a few weekdays in early December! Picturesque is a fitting description. When we arrived late on a Wednesday afternoon, it was lightly snowing. The house was lit up from inside and it looked so welcoming. Upon entering through their main door, we were impressed with a HUGE decorated "concolor fir" tree and warmly welcomed by a nice woman who acquainted us with their place and offerings. She lead up upstairs to show us our room and provide us with further details of things. We were to be the only guests until Friday so it would be very quiet until then. Our room was lovely with its furnishings and also quite comfortable. We burned our complimentary Duraflame log in the fireplace that first night, but did not burn any more on subsequent days/nights - watching a Duraflame log burn just doesn't do it for me (I've gotta have a "real" wood-burning fire). Although I'm fairly certain that the sheets on the bed were clean (given the reputation of this place), I had my reservations about that after turning down the covers before bed that first night and finding a few long hairs stuck to the sheets/pillowcase. Aaaack ! We enjoyed our complimentary breakfast that first morning and on our last morning there. Our first time, we had good service. Our second time (on Saturday morning), service was less so. Both times, however, the food was pretty good and it was plenty filling. I chose whitefish both times because I had never eaten it and because it seemed like a great protein source. I liked it alright and would likely eat it here again; however, I wouldn't go out of my way in search of it. Coffee was hot, but fairly tasteless - I like a fuller, richer-tasting coffee. Dinner our final night there was really good - in quality and in service (Thanks again, Betty!). Given our previous night's food overindulgence, we opted to share one of their 5-course meals for an extra $10 charge. We also ordered a bottle of Zinfandel. Their fish chowder was delicious as was the smoked trout salad. We had Steak Bercy, which was good. The dessert we chose was simple vanilla ice cream with both of their house sauces, fudge and butter rum, so that we could try them before deciding to buy them (and we bought both to give as gifts).

The service, staff, and food were all 5 Star. Our waiter, Lance, has been with the Inn since the 70s and truly enjoys his job. The intimate dining setting is quaint and the food is absolutely amazing. I had the Carpetbagger, which was cooked exactly to order and tasted amazing. My husband has the Rittenhouse Pork Chop and it fell off the bone with the touch of his fork. My only complaint is that the rooms are outdated. Our room actually had much more of an 80's feel with the bath, the tub, and the decor than a Victorian era. The enclosed shower is dark and small. The beds are comfortable and the house quiet, but a lot could be done in the decor department!

We stayed at Old Rittenhouse Inn as my brother was getting married on their premises. The online booking was very user friendly and their Spring special gave us a nice little savings of the cost of the room per night. Once the time came for our reservation, we had some issues with flights and were not expecting to arrive until after 9pm. The staff was very kind and understanding, and were gave us their direct contact information to call once we made it into town. We did arrive after 9pm, but the staff was very kind and accommodating. Once we made it to our room (Room II), the first thing I noticed is that the rooms do not have televisions or phones in them. Initially I wasn't sure if I liked this, but overall it made it for a more relaxing and unplugged trip. Other than that, the room was very beautiful and nicely decorated; very homey feeling. The only other slight issue we experienced was the size of the standing showers in the smaller rooms (which were pretty tiny and confined), but I am pregnant so I had a lot of extra body taking up space so it was not a deal breaker. :) The food at the inn was simply amazing and very delicious; I honestly regret not eating at the inn for more meals. The breakfasts are two-course and leave you very full and satisfied. I very much highly recommend staying at this inn if visiting Bayfield...it is completely, 100% worth it.

Our server was amazing! Her name was Katrina. She was patient and attentive. The food was great.

For a number of years we have made the Rittenhouse Inn a destination, whether for a stay, a breakfast, or a full dinner. The Phillips family has poured their heart and soul into the establishment and it shows. Our two most recent stays have been at the Chateau Boutin, a property owned by the same establishment, and is just up the hill from the Rittenhouse. Breakfast is included with each night's stay at either location. If you want a little more quiet, stay at the Chateau. There, you 'own' the house and can relax in the living area or mingle on the porch. The Chateau is private to the guests, and is secured. You will need to head over to the Rittenhouse to eat. If you want to be able to walk downstairs for dinner or breakfast, stay at the Rittenhouse. There, the public is welcome for dining. It's busy, but still fairly quiet. The food is top notch and is an experience worth paying for. The entire Chateau and Rittenhouse have been restored and kept original to the Queen Anne Victorian style when they were constructed, down to every detail in the furnishings. We stayed in the Tower room at the Chateau recently. It has a corner view of Lake Superior, the ferry docks, and a bit of Bayfield.

My family stayed at the cottage a block away. It was very spacious and had a beautiful front porch that was perfect for sipping wine in the evenings and reading a book. Breakfast at the inn is included in your stay. The breakfast was delicious and very filling! The whirlpool, WiFi, and kitchen made the cottage a very comfortable stay.

We're grateful for the hospitality of those with the determination to protect, honor and share their appreciation of artisanal craftsmanship and past sensibilities such as those expressed at Bayfield at the Rittenhouse Inn and Le Chateau Boutin for the benefit of all who would experience those qualities first hand. Third stay, 9/2019

On a whim we booked a room at the Old Rittenhouse Inn. We were impressed in many ways. Our reservation was easy through their on-site desk. On arrival we were greeted warmly and received a tour of the historic building. Our room had a beautiful view of the lake and town. The very best part was breakfast - my stomach was smiling afterwards for hours. The poached peach with yogurt and granola was a delight and the cranberry almond muffin was equally tasty. My pancakes were just the right amount and delicious. We highly recommend staying here. We look forward to returning when the restaurant is open for dinner.

Had a lovely night here. Very well kept. The management and staff were extremely friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous.

Well we stayed at the Chateau for our anniversary and had a really nice experience. We stayed in the North East room. (No whirlpool but less expensive) The decor and amenities were wonderful. And the view from the room and the porch was epic! Food: We had the breakfasts that were delicious and different everyday as well as dinner one night. The food was top of the line! I will say this. You should dress nice...no tshirts because it is pretty fancy. It's also quiet. So for dinner you likely won't be chatting loud or with the folks at the next table. (No problem at bfast) Overall, if you like B&Bs, this place is five star.

We stayed in room 4. The innkeeper said the room was recently renovated with a new bathroom and shower. It was awesome. I'd never stayed at a B&B before so I wasn't sure what to expect. The staff was very hospitable and the place was clean.

My fiancée and I were celebrating her birthday and I was flip-flopping on hotels. I was debating between Ashland and Bayfield, WI. Finally, I bit the bullet and went with the bed and breakfast. Ashland was about 20 minutes from Bayfield, WI and I wanted us to do the Apostle Island boat cruise and Madeline Island ferry ride. Well, it turned out for the best decision ever after I got an email for this bed and breakfast on 40th anniversary special. It was $40 off their regular rate during their summer season. So, I booked Room I which had its own private bathroom. Last Saturday, we checked in, the owner helped us upstairs with our bags since there was no elevator. Then, we scheduled to have an early made-to-order breakfast. Well, my fiancée researched and found a really good restaurant down the street. The location was perfect to be able to walk around downtown. We ate at the Pier Plaza and had their special surf and turf. Afterwards, we came back to hear a large wedding party downstairs. Thankfully, at 9PM, the party left and we had our peace and quiet to sleep. The bathroom was nice with its very own shampoo, lotion, and nice soap. The next day, I woke up early and asked for some coffee and orange juice. Well, we were given a plate to bring upstairs. This certainly surprised my special someone before breakfast. Once we gotten dressed, we made it downstairs to get a good spot with a view of Lake Superior. She had the quiche + bacon and I had the Belgium waffles with fresh strawberries + whitefish fillet. In addition, we both had yogurt and granola + blueberries with fresh croissants to start. The waitress also got us a recommendation for sandwich to go at Wild by Nature. Right before leaving, I asked for a bucket of ice for our small cooler. So, the owner's wife ran upstairs to bring us a bucket of ice. Both Mark and Wendy were wonderful and we would love to come back again with family. After speaking to some of the wedding guests, they returned back some 30 years later for the wedding and revisit their memories of Bayfield.

My wife and I decided to spend our 10 year anniversary at The Rittenhouse (one of the locations we stopped on our honeymoon). We stayed here both before and after and our experience was one of the reasons we booked it for our honeymoon and again for our 10 year anniversary. The good: - Nice decor (we booked room 12) - Great views - Fantastic food! (Whitefish, mixed green salad, Cajun crawfish... you name it!) - The breakfast was amazing! Nancy and Julie were both personable, friendly, and super attentive! The not so good: - My wife discovered the in room coffee pot had not been thoroughly cleaned when she received coffee grounds in her morning tea - The hostess was polite but attentive or personable (just 'went through the motions') - The wait staff were not attentive or personable. At dinner I asked for bread (included), drinks (and refills), and for my water to be refilled twice (each time I gave the server sufficient time, so as not to seem rude or pushy) - After dinner we sat on the porch swing and decided to have another drink. I went inside, but no staff were present. I went in 5 minutes later and found a server at the hostess station (she was friendly, took our order, and delivered it to us on the porch) - Another couple was on the porch as well and their server was very personable to them but would not acknowledge us (no smile or service) Bottom line: - We loved the decor, the view, and especially the food! - The service was no where near what it has been in the past and my wife agreed their standards appear to have relaxed - The Inn itself is still a great place, but the level of service has declined. We hope it will return, but plan to stay elsewhere the next time we visit Bayfield

Some of the best food in the state! I came a lot, when I was in high school, because they have gourmet food. We would go have a little French field trip day, eat here and speak nothing but French. It was always a lot of fun. Then We always got to go tour the upstairs, which is where rooms are rented out for the nights. The rooms are all gorgeous! I would love to stay they for the night, and recommend it to anyone visiting Bayfield. Bayfield is full of little bed and breakfasts, but you have to choose this one! I think it may be a bit more spendier than some, but when you step into your room, you will know why! I've also come here for lunch with some friends since then, and the food is still remarkable. I love their salmon. It truly is delicious!

Here you go: Three reviews for the price of one! As a B&B: 5 stars. As a place to go for breakfast: 5 stars. As a restaurant for dinner: 4 stars. Yelp Map Alert: As of 12/3/07 the Yelp map is incorrect. The ORI is on the main drag very close to 'downtown' Bayfield. What a fabulous place to go for a vacation, honeymoon, weekend away! They have 3 buildings where B&B guests can stay. My wife and I stayed at the Chateau. What a great place to relax. And a very nice view of the Bay. We stayed in a room with a hidden diary of guests comments. Part of the fun is finding the diary. The Chateau is a few blocks away from the Rittenhouse where breakfast is served. But it is a nice walk including across a bridge over a little gorge. The restaurant in the Old Rittenhouse Inn is a bit crowded but nicely appointed. The view from some of the windows is pretty good. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The dinner menu is limited. In addition I would characterize it as consisting mainly of entrees that sort of fit the Victorian inn theme. Except their Lake Superior trout: excellent. Casual attire is probably OK at dinner but I would suggest dressy to fit the overall ambience of this delightful place. The Rittenhouse puts on special events from time to time, e.g. a mystery dinner.

We were looking for a nicer place to eat dinner and thought we'd try the Rittenhouse on a whim. With no reservation, we had to wait about 40 minutes for a table but we were provided with a wine list out on the front porch overlooking the lake on a beautiful evening so we didn't mind the wait. Once seated inside we met our server Lance who was la creme de la creme. He made every offering sound amazing and the chef truly delivered. We both ordered the filets which were fantastic but were outdone by the most delicious seafood chowder we have ever eaten as a first course. We followed our meal with a rum banana sundae with the best rum sauce we have ever eaten. You can even buy some when you pay your bill. Overall, the meal was pricey but a real treat and Lance was absolutely delightful and made our experience even more enjoyable. The Rittenhouse should be on everyone's to do list when in Bayfield. We returned for breakfast a few days later and were once again wowed by the quality of the food and service. Hands down the best food we've eaten in Bayfield.

This place is beautiful, the food is amazing and the staff is so nice! We stayed in the South room - with a fireplace and jacuzzi and the Chateau was amazingly decorated and done - you definitely felt like you were the lumber baron from days past living in luxury, besides it being a little drafty - but it is an old house!!! Breakfast is included and make sure you are hungry when you go - it's a fruit course - which for us one morning was a parfait and the next was an eggy custard with cherries, fresh pastries and then an entree - I got the eggs de la creme both days - stuffed with mushrooms - super tasty! We had dinner here one night as well and decided to go big with the 5 course tasting menu and everything was excellent. Time to loosen my belt before heading home . .. .

I've heard about how amazing the Rittenhouse Inn is for a long time, so was excited to finally be able to stay here. My party stayed on the third floor of the sister property, Le Chateau, in the Turret Suite. Le Chateau house is beautiful, classy, and full of history. We checked in at the main inn and then made our way to Le Chateau, which sits on a picturesque hill overlooking Bayfield. The attendant at Le Chateau was friendly and gave us a quick tour of the building, including the area for complementary coffee. Our room was spacious and had a great view of the water. There was the main bedroom area, the bathroom, a couch area complete with a fireplace, along with a sitting area with a writing desk and several chairs. The room was wonderful but the sleeping arrangements could be improved. The main bed and couch were very firm, which was not the most comfortable. One member of our party slept on an air mattress, as the room did not have another bed. The air mattress was very tippy and expected. With the size of the room, there's definitely space for an additional bed or pullout couch in the sitting area. This would be a better option than an air mattress or roll-away bed, especially if there is a larger party staying multiple nights. With the room claiming to accommodate up to four people, this would be a welcome addition. In the morning, we ate breakfast at the main Rittenhouse Inn. The pastry to start was a croissant, which was buttery, a bit crusty on the outside, and soft on the inside. The croissants fit well with the homemade tart cherry preserves. For the main dish, my party had french toast and eggs. The french toast was light and airy and the eggs were well-cooked. Our server was friendly and helpful in making menu recommendations. This was a great experience and I will definitely be staying here again, should I find myself in the area!

Dear Rittenhouse, Something wasn't quite right. I don't want to complain, but I was really excited to check you out for dinner. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Maybe your new chef wasn't on his game. Or I could be a spoiled foodie. Regardless, I really wasn't impressed. It was our celebratory honeymoon dinner--we got the 5 course meal--and I was so wanting a perfect evening out. One of our soups was good, the other, a tomato soup, was like a bowl of chunky sauce. Both salads were tasty, but not remarkable, as I can't remember what they were. The pre-entree sorbet was a wonderful idea, but extremely bland. Probably the worst of it all was your most celebrated dish, the pork roast. The apple chutney resembled a canned jam, the cider reduction was a flavorless mess of opaque gravy, and to top it off, the pork was DRY. Everyone said get the pork, get the pork! I say no. Get the fish. See, I do have a few compliments: the local fish was delightful--flavorful and flaky in all the right places--your service impeccable, and the wine was excellent. The space was also nice, although the wallpaper was a little dizzying. All in all, my guess is you were having a bad night. However, I won't go back for dinner, and I also heard your rooms are overpriced. Terribly sorry, but nobody gets five stars all the time. Best of Luck.

Best western meal I have ever had. Everything cooked so perfectly! Soup salad sorbet entree and dessert all of them are awesome! Service is really good as well. I am really pick about food in the US since I am Asian and I am so used to eat Asian food. Highly recommended! One of the must try in Wisconsin! The hotel room looks so nice in the photo. We came late. Everything booked out already! So during summer time make sure book the room earlier~

My wife and I stayed for a long weekend over the 4th of July. We stayed in the least expensive room in the Inn and were very satisfied, we weren't lacking for space or amenities. The staff are very eager to serve. Based upon the reviews I was looking forward to the restaurant. At check-in, the manager asked us if we were interested in making dinner reservations. I said yes, and explained that I'd heard the fish is really good. A lady in a wheelchair sitting nearby replied "everything is good" in almost an arrogant manner. I later learned that she was one of the owners of the hotel/restaurant and used to do the cooking. And she was absolutely right, our meals were absolutely fantastic. There aren't a lot of tables in the restaurant, and it was fun listening to the waitress recite (from memory) the complete menu along with the very flowery descriptions of each item. Breakfasts too were great, and if we were to do it over again we would simply have stuck with the free offerings, as the morning pastries and the granola were both to die for. Correction: make sure you order the thick bacon, which may be the best you'll ever eat. Will we go back? Maybe.... the only thing holding us back is the long drive from Madison. But if you're headed to Bayfield for a quiet weekend, the Old Rittenhouse Inn and restaurant are a treat.

Awesome! Great staff very good service. Good food, lovely relaxing atmosphere. No tv in our room (11) great view of lake though and a cupboard of games! Best part of our trip was staying there.

Lovely place and the staff is very welcoming! The grounds are beautiful, also.

The best blueberry crisp I've ever had! The coffee was so so. The quiche was not good (had tomato sauce on it and no cheese). Get something sweet if you go here.

When choosing where to dine in this town, there are no other options that compare to the Rittenhouse. Since we were guests, we had breakfast here as included with our room. We also chose to dine here for dinner. This place has "unique" written over every aspect of the experience. The building and decor create a distinct atmosphere. The choice to retain, but rewire, the original light fixtures is an example of this. I felt like Rutherford B. Hayes could come strolling in at any moment (not sure why I picked him, he probably never visited Lake Superior...). The staff seems composed of family members of the owners and long-time employees. They have their own upcountry attitude toward formal service. This is certainly not some trendy place in the big city, but I also didn't find the atmosphere to be stuffy. Quiet and formal, yes, stuffy, no. The music was a mix of Sinatra and other jazz classics. The food is costly, but you do get value for that. The staff and chef had no problem accommodating my gluten-free needs at both dinner and breakfast. If you get seated in the front room, you have a view of the lake. The home is situated on a hill, and you look down toward the bay. The night we were there, no one was formally attired, but the atmosphere would certainly support dressing up. The food deserves that!

I loved staying at the Rittenhouse. The rooms are so comfortable and homey. The room we stayed in had really nice, thick, soft carpets. The windows even had ledges where you could sit. There was a beautiful chandelier, a fireplace, and a gorgeous dresser in the same room where there was a hot tub. The bed was very soft, and bathroom had two sinks. The person working was very kind to us, and breakfast was delicious. The breakfast comes with a drink, fruit parfait, a muffin, an entree, and a side. I had the quiche for my entree. It was nice and soft, but I wish it had more veggies. I ordered the fish for my side, and I loved how tender it was. It was baked perfectly. The fruit parfait was great. It had vanilla yogurt, granola pieces, and fresh blueberries and strawberries. The ratio of fruit to yogurt to granola was great, and there wasn't too little or too much of anything. The muffin was good, although I should clarify the muffin was more like a biscuit/muffin. Overall, my stay was very homey and comfortable, and the Inn is absolutely gorgeous.

I've been contacting the Inn's staff since September 7th trying to get basic pricing and information for possibly getting married there. I have made calls and sent emails, and have yet to get any of the information I asked for, and I'm coming in on two months since initial contact. So, I'll be finding somewhere else to get married. Don't waste your time or money here, they obviously don't care about service or even basic courtesy.

Brought my fiancé here for her birthday weekend. The staff made our stay so enjoyable at the Inn as well as hanging out with us in town. The food was the finest in town. I never would have thought I would enjoy whitefish for breakfast but it was amazing. I can't say the same for other places in town where I tried it again. The Inn is maintained impeccably and the rooms are huge and inviting. On Sunday the owner was in and asked me a lot of questions about our stay. I felt like he genuinely cared about my input. I can't wait to venture here again. Thank you to all who made our stay so memorable.

I feel like I'm taking off the Michelin star. We went back exactly one year from a wedding we attended last July. I have to wonder if that was the case with some of the reviewers. Because if you went last year, the food was perfect, now somethings not right. Had lunch and dinner both times. They had the most extraordinary wild rice salad, with the filler being wild rice, this year the filler was salad leafs. My husbands bison steak ordered mr, was rare, and we were basically told it was difficult to get it beyond rare. Then don't serve it. I got champagne chicken breast, sliced, and the sauce was very thin. Our waiter, Bill was super, but he knew we weren't thrilled with this experience. The desserts were as wonderful as always, especially the signature vanilla panna cotta. However it wasn't offered at lunch, thank God I could make a special request for it. For what you pay lunch was equally disappointing, carmelized onions made the quiche especially soggy, with an iced cold marinara sauce on top of it. Don't ask. We were comped our drinks, which is always the most delicious lemonade you could imagine. The owner told us they are made from a special type of lemon they get. Getting to meet Mr. Phillips was so enjoyable.He and Basil are both history buffs and were discussing various topics relating to Bayfield and into other things. We had a last fling with dessert and lemonade on the porch and a carafe full of lemonade so we wouldn't run out. I found out that the reason for our imperfect meals, was they lost the fabulous chef from last year, who ventured out on his own. Please make him an offer he can't refuse. If you never knew what you missed it might be ok. Would we go back? Yes. Do we wish we could stay at the inn? Definitely.

The Good The Bad & The Ugly The Good- The restaurant is superb, the meals great and the most attentive waitstaff. The Bad- Rooms smell a little musty and they have doors that lead out to a balcony, problem is is that there is a large window in it and at daybreak blinding light comes through at daybreak. The Ugly- Wendy(the owner) is a bit aloof and impersonal. Rarely says Hi or anything. They also let parents stay there with small children. A family with 2 small children stayed in the room above us. One night from 9 p.m. til midnight they (kids) were bouncing off the walls. We had a difficult time sleeping. Next night- the same- I called the owner at 9:30 p.m. to tell them about the disturbance of both nights. They sent someone over to talk to them and it quieted down. The next morning, the owner didn't apologize or say anything. I was surprised. I paid my bill and left. Go There TO Dine--Don't Stay There.

We arrived at the Old Rittenhouse Inn at 7:00 pm after spending nine hours on the road, only to be pointedly ignored for a solid six minutes by the smarmy and self-important owner while he basically provided phone sex to someone on the line interested in renting out what we can only hope was the entire inn for an extended period of time: no eye contact, no apology, no silent mouthing of "just a second," no use of the hold button, no request of his underling--seated behind him and otherwise unoccupied--to assist us. This impoliteness may not sound like a big deal, but we discovered it to be wholly representative of the overall bad attitude of the Old Rittenhouse Inn, the owner of which seems hellbent on conveying what a privilege it is to stay and eat at their puffed up establishment. They expend a great deal of energy in explaining in advance what a wonderful experience you are about to have and how unstinting will be their efforts to cater to your every whim. As a result, small infractions that you might forgive in a quaint mom and pop operation--a slightly sagging mattress, a weak AC, insufficient quantities of facial tissue and toilet paper, the inexplicable presence of a dead African violet, etc.--stand out and reveal a troubling lack of attention to detail. And after you've been unctuously informed of the "fussiness" of the housekeepers, these oversights practically beg you to beg to differ. The thick swaths of pretentiousness in which this place comes wrapped seem intended to conceal the fact that the ORI is NOT a charming country inn, but rather an impersonal high-volume business dedicated to smug up-selling and pandering to tour buses over individual guests. Unless you like having your food chewed for you, you'll be much better served by staying at Greunke's or one of the many other truly friendly and service-oriented establishments in Bayfield. This place excels only in putting on airs.

This is in a beautiful, large old house that overlooks Lake Superior. The menu varies, but it is always very good. It is prix fix but you can choose five courses or two. The food is always of a very high level and that combined with the nice house puts it in rare company as a fine dining establishment with just as much personality as your tasteful friend's house.

Loved the menu derived from local products with a fixed price. There were still plenty of choices. Portions are on the large side so you definitely don't walk away hungry. The ambience is wonderful- candles, pretty lighting and nice decor, but you don't have to get all dressed up to enjoy it. We dropped in after seeing the ice caves- wearing snow pants and all. We felt welcome and the service was excellent. Be sure to make a reservation on a weekend.

What a beautiful place! We came for dinner and were enthralled with the décor and feel of the place. I had the chowder which I would highly recommend as a must have if you like white fish chowders. Fantastic. My wife had a shrimp appetizer special and, from the tiny morsel she shared, it was great. She obviously loved it and was sopping up the remnants with bread at the end. The Steak Bercy was good, a bit past medium but well flavored and a solid dish. The trout was also good but the pasta bed it was on would have been better suited for a wild rice instead. If you are looking for fine dining in Bayfield, this looks to be the place. It was a solid 4 stars with the chowder and appetizer special clearly 5 star quality.

Wow! The place is amazing! From the decor to the staff! My partner and I went here for my birthday and we were treated like Royalty. Not only that, we were very lucky to have witnessed 2 different sets of senior citizen couples celebrating their anniversaries here. When we arrived and got seated, the 1st couple were in the middle of their dinner, enjoying each other's company, & announced it was their anni, which we congratulated them. And they got wine on the house. We thought that was a nice opening for a birthday dinner. Then after they left, the staff set up the same exact table for the next guests. They placed some fresh, handpicked flowers from their garden in the back and placed 2 glasses of martinis on the table. I thought to myself, "This table setting must be for their regulars because it's quite amazing." When the next guests arrive, the staff congratulated them on their anniversary as well. Upon seeing the martinis, the wife got teary-eyed and whispered something sweet (I'm assuming) to her husband. I'm sure he took her back to memory lane. Then we found out, these were Rittenhouse Virgins as well. Not only was the food fantastic and huge portions (we couldn't finish), but the staff was beyond great and being seated next to 2 different couples, still very loving & sweet to each other, was a very humbling experience.

Awesome Meal!!!! We ordered the chowder soup and strawberry salad. Very good and flavorful, especially the salad. I ordered the coconut curry and shrimp and it was amazing. We liked it so much, my husband ordered one to go. My husband ordered the rack of lamb which he thoroughly enjoyed, but the portion was small. Finally, Turtle sundaes which were out of this world. So nice to find such a gem in a small Wisconsin town.

My family and I spent Christmas Eve at the Rittenhouse Restaurant. It was absolutely lovely. The food was fabulous and Julie, our server, was so joyous! She really brought the spirit of the holiday to our evening at the restaurant. My favorite order from the evening was the "Santa Baby" cosmo (to accompany my wild mushroom soup and salad complete with goat cheese and chocolate shavings). It was delicious- and Julie's own creation! The peach, champagne, ginger sorbet to cleanse our palates was also fantastic. Great place. Looking forward to visiting again!

We came here for a Valentine's Day getaway, and the Old Rittenhouse Inn did not disappoint. The house and our room were exquisite (we stayed in the Ballroom). We had breakfast at the inn on two mornings (included with our stay), and there were vegetarian options, which I appreciated. Breakfast also came with warm baked goods and a fruit crisp before the entree. We spoke briefly with the owner at check in, and he was both warm and accommodating as he showed us around the house and made sure we were comfortable. Excited to stay here again when are back in Bayfield.