Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty

Lodging style with a crowed gift shop. Higher price for the buffet in a tourists area with outdoor theme. Not sure if the rustic mugs were apart of the themed(gross). The cashier was rude for first timers, pay first (tip upfront was new to us) she didn’t bother to explain anything, hand us an extra menu to choose. Then loud and clear ask my hubby how much do we want to tip in a rushed tone( they were not busy at all ). Our waiter was attentive and nicely explained to first timers. Tasteless coffee, average warm food. Oily potatoes, ham, sausage, scrambled eggs and pancakes were ok, sugary cake doughnut was average. Hubby likes the gravy hot cakes. Ask for any extra if need : scrambled eggs, sausage, breakfast potatoes, gravy hot cakes, ham, doughnuts, milk, juice coffee. NO BACON. Anything else needs to pay up front. We barely finish any of our food.

Now this is a fun place to eat breakfast! Definitely a must when staying in the dells It’s so cool to eat family style and have so many options for breakfast! It’s a bit pricey. Our family of four costed $80 (kids are 6&7) but it is all you can eat. The food is pretty good, we really enjoyed the pancakes and biscuits and gravy. You are kind of rushed through though. This place does get very very busy.

Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty was family style dining. There were three rooms filled with people. The food was delivered to each table by a dedicated person. We had a waiter named Wyatt. Food was refilled based on request. The food is very fulfilling, so it is easy to get full fast. There were add on menu items available for purchase. There was also a gift shop on site. There was a long line when we arrived, but multiple people worked the line so that it moved quickly.

Awesome breakfast!!! It's all you can eat and they bring you fresh donuts. Scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage links, fried potatoes, pancakes, ham and fresh fruit. The atmosphere here was great and the staff we're very pleasant. The gift shop is big and they have a lot of souvenirs and cool items.

It was alright. All you can eat. They bring everything to the table and refill if you want more of something. It’s more of an experience. The scrambled eggs were not cooked well enough for me. Even my husband who eats anything was not a fan. Too wet and runny for me. Sausages, potatoes and biscuits and gravy were ok. The best part was the pancake and donut, those were very yummy but wouldn’t come back to pay $20 for all you can eat and just eat pancakes.

The Donut is one of my favorites. The breakfast was delicious, and the atmosphere was nice, although, very busy and loud. I enjoyed the cabin like setting.

Servers were absolutely pleasant and polite. Service with a smile. All staff was busy with work, no one was in a corner on their phones. Food was amazing. Donuts are freshly made. They have their own bakery and make them every day. Very neat gift shop. Cost for two people $42, a little sticker shock. It is all you can eat family style. Includes 2 meats, scrambled eggs, pancakes, fried potatoes, biscuits and gravy, 2 donuts and drinks. Biscuits were homemade. No doubt you will want to purchase the donuts to take home

Complete chaos but an extreme well oiled machine! Every one was dancing the tango around each other in perfect harmony. And we sat next to the kitchen so we watched as they carry heavy trays of drinks and food around each other like they have done it all their lives. The food was delicious and perfect portions to! Yummy yummy yummy!

Paul Bunyans is exactly what you expect it to be. It's a kitschy, comfortable place to go with family and friends. It is served family style. It was very crowded which I think is the norm because everyone wants to go to Paul bunyans. The food is good, not great but the experience is what makes it memorable and and absolute staple to visit when in the Dells

Huge parking lot, and it was FULL! We were in the spot furthest away from the door. When you walk in you begin being herded like cattle. First a girl explains it's an all you can eat place, how it works, what drinks are included, what is extra. You must decide right then what extra you want. She writes it on a ticket. You take the ticket with you to the next girl where you pay. They didn't tell us how much, but it was lucky I had cash in my wallet since they don't take tap pay and that is what we primarily rely on. There is an ATM out front, but that doesn't help us tap pay people. Next you take your ticket and receipt to the next desk where they will seat you. Our waiter was friendly enough. We just had a slight language barrier and background noise in the restaurant was quite noisy on a Thursday at 11:30, so that was really working against us as well. First, he brings you out your drinks. Next, is doughnuts. These are okay. But shouldn't be what they are famous for. (I'll get to that) Then, is the meal! Biscuits and gravy. Pancakes. Home fries (these could've been cooked longer for our tastes). Ham. Sausage links. Scrambled eggs (by far the BEST eggs we have ever had. This should be what they are famous for! I wanted to take a whole bucket of these home!). It's all you can eat. But for the three of us, we didn't even finish the first batch that they brought out to us. Food was good. Service was okay. Environment was cool.

For about $19 an adult you only get a few options to eat for their AYCE breakfast. Which includes: buttermilk donut, pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, breakfast sausage, ham, and biscuit with gravy. They do have drinks as well which were some juices, milk, tea, and coffee. I think for $19 a person there is a lot better breakfast spots in dells. The service is great and ambiance is different from places around dells. For AYCE I think the best spot in dells will have to be pizza ranch which is only $12-15 depending on if you go for lunch or dinner.

DATE & TIME OF VISIT: August 5, 2024 @ 7:30am. They were getting busy but were very busy by the middle of our meal (around 8:00). AMBIANCE & CLEANLINESS: We liked the old cabin shack feeling you get from the exterior to the interior. They have it set up where it's almost a communal table type seating (you are practically sitting on each other). Seemed clean from what we could tell. HOSTESS & SERVER: The hostess was friendly. Our server was nice but he was very slow and inattentive, he explained the theme of the restaurant and what the breakfast buffet was about. FOOD: This is what we ordered.... Breakfast Buffet -- Taste; VERY basic nothing special. You are served scrambled eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, sausage links, ham, potatoes, cinnamon sugar fried donuts, coffee, white milk, or juice. It is served family style to your table and all you can eat. And there are no to go containers because can't bring leftovers home (so be mindful of how much you ask for!). Price $18.95 per person (WAY OVERPRICED!!) OVERALL THOUGHTS: Definitely NOT worth the price you pay. $100 for four people. They are very stingy with the food, first round served only our kids and my husband and I had to wait 20 minutes for server to come back to check on us so we could order more food so we could eat and he brought only enough for me and my husband! So waited another 18 minutes to get seconds for our kids (my husband and I didn't get seconds because we didn't want to wait any longer). WOULD I RETURN? NO! Price is too high for what you get.

Traditional Wisconsin Dells must do! Try for a weekday to avoid long lines. That said, tables turn fairly quickly. Tons of parking, more hidden up the hill in back. Breakfast is served family style and there is a lot. Not gourmet but good. Service is nice. Donuts to go are essential and you can get them in the gift shop usually without a wait.

A great place to come to eat and hang out and buy a few Souvenirs. Been coming here a few times over the last couple decades... Love the vibes here and history. Doughnuts and pancake are my faves. Pricey and very Limited menu options. Couldn't take my half finish coffee to go too kinda bumbed.

We've been coming to Paul Bunyan's for years for their breakfast, it's a family staple. The food is served family style, all you can eat, which is great. The donuts are the best part, the warm sugary goodness is hard to resist and always makes you consume more than one. The biscuits and gravy was delicious as well, but lacked enough gravy to get the full taste. The eggs and sausage were mediocre. Pancakes were also a big hit with our group this year. The price is high for breakfast; it was over $100 for our family of 5. Overall it's a fun experience and still good food.

The place is huge. The inside looks just like Cracker Barrel does. Very dark, pictures & stuffed animals everywhere. Our server was highly pushy the entire time. We ordered the All You Can Eat Family Style Chicken Meal. Chicken, mixed veggies, mashed potatoes & bread. The first small plate of chicken served out 3 kiddos. My husband and I waited for the 2nd round. 1 breast, 1 leg & 2 wings. We asked for another plate, she acted as if we were an inconvenience. So I then asked for just 1 chicken breast for my husband. The place is SUPER loud, people sitting over top one another. 24.99 per person to eat is highly expensive for the small amount of food you receive. Won't return.

How many places can you come to as a kid and return 33 years later with your own kids? You gotta do it. Do it now. Do it for later. Do it for you and them. Eat here and take a couple pics. This review is based on a visit on a Monday morning in mid-August. There was a wait, line past the awning, so be prepared for that during the summer season. Service is fast because of the line - they will keep you moving. Not a hippy dippy yogurt parfait or high end brunch place (like I usually go for) but down home American fare like the lumberjack Paul Bunyan himself would have had! Carbs and fat to fuel yielding an ax! Plan to get your nutrients later in the day. Get your basic breakfast in a family positive setting here. Take in the Northwoods cabin environment. (This isn't your Cracker Barrel look). Spend money at the gift shop. The tall coffee mug with PB on it I do not recommend. The design was painted on and came off after two washes. Metal water cup like PB would do, still intact. Non painted stout mug with words on it, still intact. Anything useful counts as a need and not a want right? In conclusion, I'm rating this five stars because it's something you're only doing once, or once in a while. And you're coming with the understanding that it's basic breakfast. No frills. With appropriate expectations and a lighthearted attitude and open to buzzy breakfast energy, you'll have a good time. Plus there's a historical aspect for the kids. You're probably here on vacation right? Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty is your best bet for a breakfast that will make a memory.

I had not been here in twenty years. I wasn't sure what had changed. There was a line when we showed up but it moved super fast. You pay for your meal up front. As soon as you walk in, you walk through the gift shop and then you get to the register where they ask you how many in your party and you pay per person. Once you are seated, they bring you pancakes, eggs, sausage, potatoes, coffee, biscuits and gravy. They bring you enough for your party and refill the bowls as needed. That way, no food is wasted, Genius! We enjoyed the breakfast experience. It is a traditional experience at The Dells. My kids enjoyed it and so did my husband.

Stopped here for breakfast with my sister during our sisters weekend getaway. We had not been since kids and the place was just as good as I remembered it being. The staff are efficient checking to see what beverage you would like as well as if you interested in biscuits in gravy. It's my guess that they saw a number of biscuits and gravy wasted and that's why they check. After that, a smorgasbord of pancakes, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage and ham arrive to the table. Staff quickly bring any refills. They also have a fun gift shop to check out while there.

Went for breakfast on Sun, 4/17/2024. We (2 parents) have been here several times this is our kids' firs times (2 kids). $18.99 for adult all you can eat breakfast $10.99 for the 8 yr old $7.99 for the 4 yr old Plus tax Plus 3% charge if you use a credit card Plus 18% tip we gave in cash to our server Total was $78ish Food was good and served hot. Donuts are delish as always! Efficient check in. There was a line but we sat within 5 mins of approaching the door. The staff here are efficient! I love it! They have a souvenir store attached to the restaurant if you want to spend more money. We will go back again in maybe 5 yrs. Only my husband eats a lot that we can justify spending $19 for his food. For me, $19 It's overpaying because I do not eat much. Same with the $10.99 kid. 3 stars for food, efficiency, log cabin ambiance Minus 1 star for the 3% credit card use charge Minus 1 star for the price

As you walk up to the entrance you are greeted by large Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues. The decor and architectural design of the "cabin" is very neat. The have a huge gift shop full of restaurant/Paul Bunyan themed items, Knick knacks, and country souvenirs. You pay at the register before you are seated to eat your meal. One thing I wasn't happy about was they ask you if you want to tip with your card or leave cash at the table. We payed with card, the hostess asked, "Do you want to tip 18 or 20%?" Firstly this kinda put us on the spot. Secondly, I tip based on service and I like to decide what percentage that will be. The waitress was friendly and asked if it was our first time there (it was). She explained that it was family style, all the food would be brought out at once, and once we finish an item we can have refills. This is a good standard for food cost but we had the poor waitress running back to the kitchen every couple of minutes seeing as how I have a family of five and the portions they brought out were fairly small. All of the food was quite good, actually better than I anticipated. All seasoned well, hot, and fresh. The buttermilk donuts were hot and amazing with a cup of coffee. We enjoyed it for a special occasion but considering the price I probably wouldn't (and couldn't) go here on a regular basis. Our family of five cost $92 which included the 18% tip we were given as one of two options to pay. They have been around for 60+ years so there's something to be said about that. All around, I'm not sorry we went. We were stuffed when we left. A lumberjack's breakfast for sure!

It was a fun breakfast and food was better than expected. Love the family style platters that gives you a little of everything and speeds up their service bc this place stays busy! Great little gift shop too.

This place is a must see in the Dells! Service was fast, food was tasty. Everything was good and the touristy feel of the place really made it. Servings were pretty much spot on for our group of 6. Only needed an additional serving of scrambled eggs, which came out in less time than it took you to read this review.

This place is larger than life, just like its name sake. They serve all you can eat breakfast and they use to have a show, but that has since went under. The restaurant has a few photo ops outside with a large Babe the Blue Ox and a Paul Bunyon statue. The restaurant has a log cabin feel and has a touristy feel to it, which I am here for. They have ample parking in their private lot and a huge dining area. You get the basic all you can eat breakfast which includes: sausage, ham, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, scrambles eggs, pancakes, juice, water and coffee. It also includes a fresh buttermilk donut. You can buy a fruit cup and a mimosa at an additional cost. The food was surprisingly good and had a good flavor. I liked the potatoes, donuts, and sausage the best. The donut was so fresh and still warm. The all you can eat breakfast is served "lumberjack" or family style where they bring it to your table. There are two tables that can sit 4 people for a total of 8. With that being said if you have a party of 4 or less, you may be sitting next to another small party. The staff here is friendly, but a little slower than average. Keep in mind that if you plan on tipping using your credit card then you put the tip on before you even sit down, and when you pay for the breakfast. You enter and exit through a small gift store that gives me a Cracker Barrel feel. They have little trinkets like magnets, signs and shirts. You can also purchase some of their donuts to take home with you. This was a nice breakfast, and it seems that many people agree because this place is always packed. You need to eat breakfast here at least once while in the Dells. I know I will stop here every time I am in town

Almost 3hour drive from home, but never fail to visit Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty during summer and fall before it closes. It's always a good dinner, i say. Before COVID, it's dinner everyday and that was good, eat all you can food and fun. It's different nowadays. However the ambience still there and i might add the breakfast is good food.

We were so excited to try this place, what the hostess failed to mention was that the drinks we chose for the kids (lemonades) were additional price, the OJ was included in the breakfast meal, so right off the bat it felt like a rip off for tourists. The place was so busy when we arrived, but the seating was swift and easy. Our waiter was friendly, very patient in explaining the whole drink situation to us (that OJ came with meals and the lemonades were additional price) and making sure we were taken care of (do not recall his name, but shoutout to him if he's reading this)! The food was pretty good, except the ham and sausage links were kinda lukewarm. The mimosa was delicious. The seasoning "Pleasoning" they had there made the potatoes taste so amazing, I bought my own to take home, it was that good! The orange juice tasted watered down, didn't taste freshly squeezed nor straight from a container?? The atmosphere of the restaurant was lovely, the staff in the gift shop areas were friendly. I think the price we paid for the food was decent, we paid about $158 I believe for 8 people, if we had been able to eat more we would have.

Excellent breakfast and great service, thank you Rachael, she was so kind and she remembered not to bring pork to our table and she switched for turkey r chicken something. They donut are the best, so fresh and they coffee an amazing combination. A fluffy pancakes, oh and what about the potatoes!!! Oh My, my !!

It was a fun place great service but food quality poor flavorless tbh and no bacon are u crazy no bacon smh but fun experience. I wouldn't go back that's for sure.

Don't waste your time and money. $62 for breakfast for two adults and a 9 year old. Food served family style and it's just enough for what ever your party size is but of course you get ss much to eat as you want.

Wow!!! Awesome experience all around. My family and I were traveling back from Green Bay for the Packers Family Fun Night and stopped in the Wisconsin Dells for brunch at Paul Bunyan's cook shanty. It was just simply amazing! There was a really long line to get in, but it did move rather quickly. And it was so worth the wait. They bring out all of the food at once, and you just serve yourself whatever portions you want. Pancakes, potatoes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and ham was what we had. They also have biscuits and gravy, but we didn't have that for our meal. Oh, did I mention they start you out with some of the most delicious donuts ever made!!!??

We really enjoyed this restaurant. The food is not super great, but it is good. It was a fun experience and great service. It's family style... the only thing missing g is bacon. Not too pricy compared to most all you can eat places. I went on Mother's Day and even received a rose (I think it was made of wood).

All you can eat breakfast that they bring to your table - served family style. Eggs were okay, They served sausage link and polish sausages, thinly sliced potatoes (didn't really like that it was tiny little slices), donuts were on the drier side, biscuit and gravy was pretty good and nicely seasoned, and the pancakes were okay (my son loves pancakes but he said they were no good). Juice, coffee, and milk also included. I also got a strawberry mimosa which was very good, so I do recommended (extra cost). Fruits were also extra charge, $6 for a plastic cup. Not sure if I'd come return or not. I do have to say the staff was amazing.

Paul Bunyans is such a fun place to take your family, especially if your toddler twin boys are bottomless pits like mine! . We love how you just lay for family style and perhaps some add ins and then wait to be seated. We found that while the line looks intimidatingly long, it typically doesn't take too long to be seated. From that point, the food comes fast and it is hot and fresh. The donuts are so delicious and warm. While it's basic food, it's good food! I'm partial to the biscuits and pancakes, but our family ate it all up and it just kept coming. The staff really have a system down and it's fun to take pictures with the statue and sign when you are done!

If you like shit on a shingle and low quality food, this is exactly your place and it's not cheap

Recently visited here. Left with scratches in my car and a whole lot of disappointment. Prices were not openly listed and we were shocked to pay nearly 80 dollars for 2 adults and 2 young children to eat breakfast. Pancakes and donuts were decent, everything else was just okay and we were disappointed to see they did not have bacon available. Ultimately I would have just shrugged this experience off and not said anything... However, after our meal my family and I were sitting in our car getting ready to leave. We heard several metal clanging noises which turned out to be one of their employees hitting our car with their broom while they swept the parking lot. The employee clearly did not know anyone was in the car, as he nearly jumped out of his skin when I opened my door demanding he stop hitting my car. I did not receive an apology, only an extremely angry glare as he quickly walked off. I called the restaurant to speak to a manager as we had to leave right away, and I was told the manager was not in the building and they would call me. This happened on Tuesday. It is now Friday, I have called back twice and no response. There are scratches on my car in a handful of places where the broom hit it. I would avoid coming here if not because of the overpriced, meh quality food, then because their employees apparently have no problems causing property damage and the owner doesn't give a flip either.

This rustic all you can eat joint is an experience. Expect to wait in a long line through their gift shop before you get seated. The service was friendly. My Bloody Mary was excellent and the breakfast was solid with the exception of the scrambled eggs. They were dry and tasteless.

The food was just as good as ever. We were seated right away and did not wait long for the coffee and donuts... the most delicious, fresh donuts. It was busy, but service was not affected. I will come again!

I asked the family how many stars for Paul Bunyan's and the answer was a quick and resounding 5. We arrived well ahead of the crowd at 7:15. I really suggest doing the same. When we walked out there was a line growing. Our server had our drinks and food out to us very quick and checked on us frequently to see if we needed anything else. It's a family style all you can eat so bring a hungry belly and fill up till dinner. We loved the decorations and the shop had some great little souvenirs. So stop here when visiting the dells, especially if you have a big group and all want to sit together. We plan on going back for dinner and will make this a regular stop when in the area.

Good quality food and the donuts are amazing. Price is a little high for what it is in my opinion especially with the adds. So worth it for the experience but the food is just above average.

We came here every year, but it's been changing a lot, portions are getting smaller, for what you are paying, you should get enough food at the table.

Yah! Loved it! The best fried chicken ever! And love the theme thing goin on! Gotta stop at paul bunyans when in the dells!

We decided to try this place out for the all you can eat breakfast while we were in the Dells for a few days and we cannot wait to go back. To start, it's decorated like an old cook shanty which is fun. There's also a giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statue outside which makes for a great photo op. We waited in line for about 20-30 minutes which we expected and actually thought was decent for a Saturday morning. While standing in line you are in a gift shop area and we enjoyed looking at the various souvenirs and other items while we waited. When we got seated we were impressed at how quickly our waitress was at our table. She explained how the all you can eat worked and asked us what we wanted. We ordered everything to start and it was all delicious. The donuts are especially wonderful. They are soft and melt in your mouth. All of the food was hot, fresh, and tasty, and we never had to wait long between orders. We left feeling very full and we will definitely be back when we are next in the Dells!

Just as good as we were here last 5 years ago and then before that 20 years ago. Good breakfast and a great spot to start the day.

do not go if you are disabled!!! the owner can give 2 craps!!! extremely horrific service!!!

Staple of every Dells visit for our family. Great food, polite staff, and even with a line around the block, you never feel rushed. Large family style tables provide a great opportunity to plan out the days adventures.

This is such a great place to go with the family or group of friends. It's family style breakfast for one price- 17.99 (September 2022). The food is unlimited and everything is yummy! Perfect hangover breakfast after partying to much in the Dells! ;) Very cool cabin vibes here!

1st time to Wisconsin Dells and I recommend as they advertise any vacation to the Dells would not be complete without a hearty Paul Bunyan's Lumberjack meal. They offer family-style Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ample amount of parking. For Breakfast it was: Fresh Buttermilk Pancakes Sausage Links and Ham Scrambled Eggs Camp Fried Potatoes Biscuits and Gravy Homemade Buttermilk Donuts Drink options were; Coffee, Hot Tea, White Milk and Orange Juice and Apple Juice You could order fruit or bloody Mary's for an extra charge for the table. The donuts are AMAZING! Highly recommend to purchase some to go through the gift shop. You pay at the register before you are seated, I recommend to have cash to leave tip on the table. The service is great! After eating you can explore for fun their gift store or purchase souvenirs, collectibles, T-shirts, blankets and cute stuff for your home or garden.

Best advice is to get there early bc even though it can accommodate lots of people the line develops quickly. Food is served hot and family style and is all you can eat. Delivered with a smile as often as you want. Country decor with large tables for family seating.

Fast service, clean, and respectful. Good food! Attentive staff. Ambient noise can be loud, but expected considering the atmosphere.

This place is over-rated. It seems as though you're gonna get a buffet all you can eat by the advertisement but then you go inside it's all you can eat fried chicken, cheap veggies, and mashed potatoes or three tiny potato pancakes that I personally didn't think were good. You do get a slice of bread each that was good but you have to ask for more of that too. So here's how our night went: three of us ordered all you can eat chicken meals ($25 each) and they brought the mashed potatoes and veggies in metal bowls that we had to split between the three of us. I asked where all the food was at b/c each bowl was small enough for one person and they said just to divide it by three and they would bring out more. You also get a choice of a small salad. That did come in it's own bowl. I'm not even sure if that's part of the all you can eat but I ended up getting another one. There are other things on the menu that you can order but it's not a buffet type restaurant and it's really overpriced for the quality. Oh my grandson whose five got the macaroni and cheese dinner. Now I don't know what it tasted like but it looked like it came from a box. The only thing this place has going for it is it's theme. I'm not going here again for sure.

We just went to pick up the donuts to go. We went when they first opened and they were so fresh and still warm. Delicious!

Worst experience ever at Paul Bunyan in the Dells. Its supposed to be a restaurant for large groups, nope sat the 3 of us separately from th group. Wouldn't add a small table so we could eat together. Automatically charged us an 18%gratuity before we could even get seated and served. Then the manager continued to talk over me when I tried talking to her about the ordeal. I will never go there again. I will never encourage any one else to go either. Family Style Breakfast but don't plan on sitting with your family. Log Cabin nice.

Great home style food. Service was on point and it seems to be always busy. Smaller parties can possibly be seated at a table with someone else.

This is a pretty hearty brunch spot with a fairly limited menu, all you can eat. Pro tip: you can request non pork meats It's not the cheapest place but usually the service is pretty quick and the food is pretty tasty. I always end up feeling like I need to be rolled out. They have a little gift shop with various nostalgic type of tourist items. They do a good job with the Paul Bunyan theme as well.

A unique dining experience in an appropriately decorated restaurant. Though the food isn't amazing, the donuts did stand out and no items were cooked poorly. The restaurant is completely packed, which helps to add to the experience of eating in a busy cabin, and food portions and generous and unlimited. The service is friendly and quick. The dining hall is also connected to a gift shop where you can pick up some neat souvenirs.

Touristy. All you can eat simple food, but it was cooked properly. Good place for young children.

Food is decent but if your family are not BIG eaters, it's way over priced. I could never eat enough to make it worth the money and neither could mg kids.