Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor

The cutest little diner! Had the most hot and delicious reuben. I’m not a big root beer fan, but Wilson’s root beer was the best I’ve ever had. It tasted like a root beer float! We got an applesauce for our baby and I think we ended up liking it more than her. Best applesauce I’ve ever had 😅

8/21/25 - The ice cream treats are fantastic!! The food itself is average, but service is friendly and attentive. Definitely an ice cream shop first and foremost, lots of flavors and a variety of treats to choose from. We had root beer freeze's this time and they were absolutely delicious. We always stop here when we come to Door County and it's always busy, but worth it. Hard to find parking too, but worth it. Inside and outside seating. Close to the water and nice views.

The entire experience was delightful! Service was good, they have a decently sized menu, and their ice cream is the star of the show. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area! Be aware that the ice cream portion sizes are huge, so save room! We each got our own scoops but easily could’ve shared.

The food is ok here. We got lucky and beat the rush and wait for a table. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Our waitress was very nice. Food prices are decent. A lot of people come here for the ice cream. Very nice atmosphere, even a jukebox. I would come back here again. The hours seem fluctuating, and ice cream is open longer than the kitchen for about a hour I believe. The ice cream is expensive, but when we tried to go back to get some in the middle of the day it was closed

Perfect 10. So cute, so fun, so busy. We'll worth the wait. I could hang out here for hours just photographing the malts and ice cream treats. So pretty. Im not 100% sold on the food but who cares because let's face it. Your there for dessert. Staff is also very professional and friendly.

Honestly the highlight of our door county trip and an absolute must-go for anyone in the area. With an extensive, classic menu, it would be hard to go wrong with choosing Wilson’s for a meal. Everything we had was fantastic (both the food and ice cream drinks), the service was great, and the food came out fast. I especially appreciated the multi-functionality of the menus, and the history of the restaurant on the reverse side. Clearly a staple for a century and a quarter.

Coney dog with cheese and French fries is bland and a waste of money. Fries come with the coney but they are coated with coney sauce that only taste like a cooked bland bean; so the fries were inedible for me and cold too. The root beer is average for homemade. I’m a sprecher lover. Also patio full of bees; which is ironic since they added screens to help decrease the bees per the history menu. Weirdly , no dogs allowed on the outdoor patio! Also NOT BABY STROLLER FRIENDLY inside or outside. Unfortunately as first times we were shouted at soon as we entered the door of the diner with our sleeping infant in the Donna Stroller ( it’s a car seat with wheels attached and can be converted to stroller). No sign on the door about it and no hostess outside to inform us either. They were very rude about it even when he collapsed it down into a car seat they said we couldn’t have it inside. So we attempted to go to the patio and they yelled at us to go back out the front because it was a service area to the side door; if it was a service area they didn’t mind people going in and out of it to get to other booths, outdoors, or to the restrooms. Then once on the patio the waitress started to inform us of the no strollers on the patio rule when the woman from inside come out yelling about how we needed to put our infant in a high chair. We should have just left but I love old dinners. My husband didn’t order food since he was upset that we had to take our sleeping baby out of the car seat and take it back to the car. When he returned she was of course still sleepy and upset and she wasn’t her typical easy going self. The root beer was good but the bees were an issue so I used napkins and a hair tie to try and help. Then the coney came and it was so deflating as it tasted like a plain baked bean. No flavor. So due to the hospitality and then over priced bland hot dog we skipped the ice cream that was $$$ pricey. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone with young children or dogs. Maybe they have something else good. Our waitress was kind and tried to apologize and thanked us for understanding and cooperating with the stroller/car seat rule. You could tell she knew how rude the woman was from inside the store to us. It felt like she was chasing after us to be sure we weren’t served with a baby car seat. We also ate at 3pm on a weekday so it wasn’t crowded and the car seat fits under the table with its wheels like a chair. It’s. Ery compact which we love. We do recommend the Ice Cream Factory as a better alternative to a long time running diner with ice cream. Also they have plastic straws which was odd for being on the lake; so not environmentally conscious. Also the napkins are in a cute dispenser but you end up with so many trying to pull them out.

Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor is a must stop! Fun atmosphere, bringing past time memories of having ice cream with grandparents at a soda shop back in the late 60's through the 70's. This place can get packed really fast. Staff and service were great.

Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor is a great find. Old fashioned ice cream parlor and diner atmosphere. Seating is limited for both inside and outside and outside, but they seem to manage getting customers served quickly. Overall, food was very good. We had a double burger and fries, chicken tenders and fries, and soup w/chicken salad sandwich. All of which were very good. Good flavors and quantity. Service was good. Drink refills are extra. Dessert was large. We had ice cream and sherbet. Great quantity and again, flavor was spot on. I'd give a five star, but limited seating detracted, even though the staff did a good job. Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor is a high recommend. We'll be back!

The place was all done up in 50's decor and had a such a fun atmosphere. There were so many treats on the menu that I could hardly make up my mind. I had to start off with a root beer because I'm a huge fan of home made root beer. Theirs had a bit of a spice to it and was served in a chilled mug. It was awesome! After studying the menu over and over I finally went with a two scoop sundae. Yes folks, these is only two scoops! 2 scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream drenched in hot fudge, caramel, and marshmallow. They even topped it with whip cream and a cherry. Next time however I will go with the Junior version which is only one scoop. I could barely finish half of it. It would be a perfect treat to split! All of us loved what we chose and were so full. They do serve more than ice cream. You could totally make a meal out of the ice cream though After we were full and checked out their gift shop we walked across the street to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan. We found a few benches and took in the scenery. It was a wonderful evening.

Someone had suggested we eat here for the food and the view. But there's a street in between the water and the restaurant, so I wasn't that impressed with the view. The food was okay, but not all that great. Our server was polite and attentive. Figure this one's checked off my list.

I choose 2 flavors. Big Muddy was very rich in chocolate and had chewy brownie bites. Or maybe the Carmel made it chewy. Well it hit the spot if you're craving for chocolate. Also had on top Jamocha Joe which is mocha flavor and almond bits. Couldn't eat it fast enough as it was melting on the side of my cup. They had piled on many scoops. It was so good I practically ate the whole thing. They sell t-shirts, so got myself one as a souvenir. Parking is available across the street in front. The cars that go by are nice to stop and let you cross the street.

Always an enjoyable visit here. The chicken salad sandwich and the triple decker BLT was the hit of our table today. Burger was good- tasty and came with all the fixings. However, the chxn salad sandwich and BLT sandwich were outstanding. The onions rings also were crisp, tasty and enjoyable. As always- the ice cream sodas, root beer (YUM!), shakes and malts are so reason a nice summer day. Enjoy!

Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor brings you back in time with a lakeside view and I'm not mad about it. Here's the thing, this place gets super busy. We came on a Saturday about 10 minutes before they opened and there was a line. Luckily we wanted to sit outside to enjoy the views and everyone else wanted to be inside. We started with the onion rings were great and the right call, I recommend them as a started. For the meal we both went with the bacon cheese burgers, keeping it simple- was it the best burger in Door County? No. Was it good? Yes. We also went with a root-beer float and that my friend was a great choice. It was so refreshing and stayed cold due to the frosty mug. Price wise this place is affordable and offers a unique dining option. Great views, good food and friendly staff, hard to beat!

My wife got the cheeseburger, very good. I got the whitefish sandwich, it was over cooked and made me regret the selection. Th sundae for desert was very good. They have great ice cream.

The food is below average and their bbq pork is inedible. The burgers are below average. The onion rings were fried in old, rancid oil. We actually threw away 90% of the food.

Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim, WI, is both a local and tourist favorite! From the moment you walk in, you're transported back in time with its charming, nostalgic decor. The food is delicious, with a wide variety of classic American dishes that are sure to please everyone. The highlight, of course, is the ice cream - rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The portions are generous, and the service is always friendly and attentive. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Wilson's is a must-visit destination for a delightful dining experience. Five stars all the way! Highly recommend going towards the end of the day. There is nothing quite like a sweet treat during a Door County sunset on the lake.

Great ice cream great chili great burgers great service . Wouldn't come to Ephraim without coming here a few times

I LOVE Wilson's ice cream so I was excited to have some by the lake on my recent trip to Door County. Unfortunately though, we missed out because their hours seem to be incorrect? We saw Tuesday they're only open until 5, and it was after 4:30 so we made other plans. On our way to those plans, we drove past Wilson's to find it was still open and packed well after 5, but we decided we'll just come back tomorrow. Hours for Wednesday also show open until 5 so we got there before 4 and the whole place was closed. It was our last day there so we never got a chance to go because they either don't have their hours listed correctly or they just decide to open/close whenever they feel like it. Very frustrating as I don't get up there but once every few years.

My family and I got a quick dinner and some ice cream while staying in Sturgeon Bay. This place has an old school soda fountain kind of vibe and we loved it! We all got some burgers which were delicious! I got a root beer float that was amazing! For dessert my mother in law got some chocolate ice cream that she loved. This place is definitely a must if you're looking for an old timey feel with good food and ice cream.

It's been years since I stopped here. Not much of a line so stopped Told the gal there for ice cream Waited a bit:::40 minutes Then heard someone say the root beer machine wasn't working Nothing on the menu about NO ROOT BEER Never stopping again

Wilson's is a must stop in Door County! They have the best ice cream I have had in a very long time. Their food is great as well! I got a turkey sandwich and a rootbeer float. Wilson's is an old school ice cream parlor so it's a really fun ambiance! They have outdoor and indoor seating. You can also just stop in, grab ice cream and go.

I love Wilson's because it's nostalgic and quaint and they have delicious and unique icecream flavors. You definitely want to stop here when visiting Door County!

I tell everyone this place has the best shakes and malts on the planet. For the first time, they screwed up my treasured Chocolate Malt. I went to Wilson's with my nephew, he ordered a Door County cherry shake and I ordered my Chocolate Malt. The kid making my chocolate malt must not have cleaned the blades after making my nephew's cherry shake, so I ended up with a nasty cherry infused chocolate malt. Additionally, the malt was in big chunks and not infused throughout the drink. Since it was my nephew's treat, I didn't return the drink.

Iconic; their own popularity is their worst attribute. count a crowd take a number and way over pay if you order the soda phosphate. The sit- down restaurant menu is a really good choice.

Walk back in time to a simpler life when Wilson's Ice Cream was started..... not much has changed since then! This is a must go to place when visiting Door County! Get anything and enjoy the nostalgia inside or outside with amazing views of the Ephraim bay!

Haven't been there for years until today. Hasn't changed a bit! Wide variety of food options and, of course, ice cream!

A must stop if in the Door County area. My favorite ice cream parlor ever. Lines can be extremely long so arrive early and plan to wait a long time. Portions are enormous but super tasty!

This is a nostalgic ice cream parlor I. Downtown Ephraim that has been around for decades. I'm a sucker for the old red awnings and throwback vibes this place gives off along the water. It also didn't hurt that it was walking distance from our hotel and offered some shaded seating outside. It appears to be quite the popular spot with a variety of ice creams, desserts, soup and sandwiches. You can also find easy parking along the road across the street. The view looking out onto the water is hard to beat. Overall, we enjoyed our short pit stop here.

The root beer float was delicious. The Chicago dog was with French fries was excellent. The server Katy from Illinois was outstanding. The restaurant is very nice and a great view of Green bay from the outside tables.

Food is average at best and spendy. Stick with the ice cream and eat some place else.

We came here during the festival and unfortunately had a terrible experience. We waited over 30 minutes just for ice cream... all the young employees were just standing around not helping anyone. Ice cream was just okay... not impressed. I asked for a small scoop and i was told they would charge me full price either way. Will not consider coming back.

Great food and stellar service. Hard workers that aim to please. We'll definitely be back.

Long line to start off with and a long wait ice cream was mediocre. I thought it was overrated.

Had a taco salad which was delicious and huge for 13.99 and a turkey club that was also delicious and quite ingredient packed. The food was great, the service was excellent. The root beer was so tasty. We were in the outside covered area and the experience was great. It's a rainy afternoon but we were covered and no issue.

Very good hand dipped ice cream with unique flavors. I had the blueberry chocolate waffle cone, and it was delicious! Only complaint is that they don't offer taste testing.

I have been coming to Door County for over 15 years now and Wilson's never disappoints. Not only is the ice cream great but they also have very good food! My fiancé and I were trying to find a place to eat that wasn't packed on a Saturday night at 6:00 PM in the middle of summer and this place was a HIT. They have enclosed outdoor seating which was perfect and a small indoor seating area as well. Amazing menu choices and fast/friendly service. We will be back next time we are in door county!

highly recommended. Good food and good portions. great nostalgia and atmosphere. something on the menu for the entire family

For lunch I had the salad with chicken breast. It was nothing special but just tasted fine. Hubs had burger & fries and was very happy with his. I saw so many yummy desserts but in the end just ended up stealing some of my hubbys chocolate malted milkshake, which was awesome! I do believe that it was the best malted milkshake I have ever had! Our service was very good and when we arrived there was no wait for a table.

Cute little shop by the water. Pricey for ice cream stop but you get a ton of ice cream so it works out. Many interesting flavors and options to choose from. Staff were friendly and worked quickly. Loved the jelly bean that is added to the bottom of the cones and at the top of the cups. What a nice touch!

Always delicious! This time, I had a to-go order of pulled pork, which came with chips and a pickle, and some blueberry crunch ice cream, which was really good. I was a little disappointed that they wouldn't allow me to order the child size because I hate to waste food, but I suppose everyone has their policies. The order was ready quite quickly. I always thought it was so cute and clever that they stop up the bottom of the waffle cone with a jelly bean, and they still put it on top of the dish

Looked forward to an enjoyable dinner at Wilson's, however, as soon as we walked in we were told everything we can't do there with a newborn including bringing a breakdown stroller inside that fit just fine in the booth. As first time parents, it was stressful enough being out for dinner and the hostess took it upon herself to make it even more stressful and became argumentative in front of customers stating a newborn would have to sit in a high chair. Throughout the meal we received glares along with the hostess looking at us asking our waitress if she was having problems with us. The waitress was pleasant. Food was okay although a reuben sandwich that was ordered was missing meat on half of it. Several other customers were also told what they could not do while visiting this establishment by this particular hostess including sitting in a booth to eat ice cream and were asked to leave. Hopefully with some additional customer service training this individual will be able to provide a non condescending experience to customers in the future.

While on vacation in Door County, hubby and I were told, "You need to go to Wilson's." We were excited to see what this place was all about. What we found...a cute historic small restaurant with an old-fashioned soda fountain, kind and attentive servers, pleasant atmosphere and cool location. We did not try the ice cream, but we found the food to be expensive and just okay. I ordered a cheeseburger. The cheese was good and melty, but the burger was maybe frozen and precooked. Not seared, and was kind of rubbery. The french fries were standard frozen type, but crispy. Hubby ordered the nachos supreme. Standard corn chips, taco meat, prepared nacho cheese, sliced olives. He said it was "typical." Not very special. No guacamole, no fresh tomato, lettuce, or fresh salsa. I ordered iced tea. Hubby just had tap water. Bill came to $28 before tip. So...for atmosphere, good service, nostalgia and maybe the ice cream, a 5. For the food, in my opinion, a 3.

My favorite spot to stop for ice cream in Door County! Situated right in the heart of Ephriam, Wilson's is iconic and a perfect afternoon snack! I've only visited here for ice cream - and enjoyed it on one of the benches across the street, overlooking the water. I love the hand packed ice cream...mint chocolate chip is my favorite. Delicious in a cone or in a dish. They employ lots of college students in the summer and it is fun to read the list of where they are studying..which is on the counter by the tip jar! Definitely stop in and have a yummy treat when you are in Door County!

We loved Wilson's so much we went twice on our 3-day stay. I had the turkey club both times and my husband had the Reuben and the double cheeseburger. Everything was really good. We loved being inside and playing the jukebox and the diner feel. The service was great and we also loved the 1/2 gallon root beer you can buy as carry out. Thank you Wilson's for a wonderful experience!

The atmosphere of Wilson's is so fun! A beautiful place with an old timey feel. The service was great. We were seated quickly and got served within a good amount of time even with a full house. The food was so good and the ice cream was top notch!

I can't mention this place without my grandmother mentioning the time her sister accidentally drove a car up the front steps of Wilson's in the 1940s, so you know it's a true classic. During COVID, they're only offering indoor seating for dine-in eating. If you just want ice cream (which is the reason that you go to Wilson's) you take a number, wait outside until you're called in, and then order and pay. They've got some picnic tables outdoors, but you're also close to the waterfront so you can take your dessert on a scenic walk. First thing--the scoops are HUGE. My photo doesn't do them justice. I forgot to take a picture right away, because the scoops were piled up to the point that the cup was overflowing and I needed to eat it before it melted all over me. Not going to lie--playdough was not my favorite ice cream. Blue moon was a childhood favorite but I think I've grown out of that flavor. The ice cream is Cedarcrest so you know it's good. The line was long, but moved at a reasonable clip. It was pleasant to sit outside and wait, and then enjoy our ice cream there as well.

A very nice ice cream/diner on the bay side of the water. Today we ate out side with a nice wind blowing. I "think" they are more known for their ice cream and creations then food but I could be wrong. I got a Chicago hot dog-loaded my friends all got chicken salad and everyone was pleased. Two people got a root beer float and raved how it tasted like when they were young. Another just got root beer in a cold glass...no ice. I definitely think that's the way root beer should be served; to many places fill glass with ice. I got one scoop of an ice cream with fudge in it (forgot name) and it was a huge scoop (see pic). BTW they gave way more flavors then vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (see pic). Service was good snd friendly.

Wilson's is a Door County staple, especially in the summertime! It's always pretty busy, so I would anticipate a bit of a wait, especially in the evenings. Their outdoor seating is seat yourself, but we put our name in for indoor and then we were able to just take it off the list once an outdoor table became available. It took a little while to get our order taken, but once we did order our food came out really quickly. After we wrapped up eating, we decided to get some shakes. There were tons of choices and any of the ice cream flavors could be made into shakes or malts. The shakes are BIG, so prepared to ask for a take home cup. The food and the ambiance are great and definitely a necessary part of the Door County experience. Make sure you stop at Wilson's the next time you make the trip!

Great old fashioned ice cream shop and restaurant. Good food in an old fashioned setting.

I'm visiting Door County and wanted a simple meal and we stopped by Wilson's. I ordered a whitefish sandwich which was just alright. Nothing special but it was fresh! Did taste like fish which door county is famous for but my husband had à white fish sandwich somewhere else and I was jealous. It looked great and he said tasted great! Oh well! The fries were very tasty and my husband said his hamburger was good. But I love this place the music was from the 50's and it had such a happy feel. The wait staff were friendly and knew their stuff. This place is well known for their ice cream parlor vibe and it had it. A beautiful view of the lake. Great place to bring the kids. Great place to be a kid! The price is right for Door County!

Yes, it is geared towards tourists. Yes, many think of it as an ice cream shop. We stopped for lunch and found it to be a good place to eat with great service. While we stopped at the restaurant on a Monday, it was still packed. The hostess did an awesome job of quickly finding us a seat. Our waitress was at our table within a minute or two of us sitting down. We had an order of onion rings, a fish sandwich, patty melt and burger. While they weren't out-of-this-world special, they were all properly cooked and tasted good. There were plenty of French fries with each of our lunches. Drinks were refilled when they got low and our college-aged waitress was friendly and attentive. While we didn't get ice cream, the restaurant offers a large menu of ice cream treats. We saw many people partaking in large shakes/malts. Most likely we will stop by again sometime for the dessert we passed on during this trip.

Absolutely amazing root beer, great service and food was tasty, too. We all had burgers, sat outside and enjoyed the view of the water. Only downside was road noise, but it wasn't terrible. I imagine it's a bit louder as you get into the peak season.

What a friendly, happy, inviting place! My girlfriend and I ate here twice on a vacation a while back and both times were seated quickly, given menus and told what the soup of the day was. Staff are attentive and happy to talk about food items. The food is delicious and not excessively expensive. On our first visit I had a bacon cheeseburger. They use the old mom and pop griddle method that results in a thinner patty with a bit of crispiness on the outside, which I love and rarely find anymore. My burger was yummy, fries were good. My girlfriend liked her reuben. Their house made mug root beer is decadent. I ordered cherry pie a la mode for dessert and it was delicious too. For our second visit, I got a chicken salad sandwich and cup of clam chowder, girlfriend got a patty melt. Once again knocked it out of the park. No dessert this time (I'm fat enough). If you get a chance, ask to be seated on the patio or on the front enclosed porch so you can look at the harbor while you eat.

Ice cream anyone ? Who doesn't like ice cream! The choices here are endless and yummy. The service is great also. Keep in mind that if you want your ice cream in a cone, you can't sit inside to eat it unless it's dumped into a bowl and the cone cone comes on top! The decor of this shop is cute inside and out. A must if in the Door County area

Staff were rude it took way too long to get Ice cream. It was very cute inside. The ice cream was good.

What a gem! This ice cream shop has been in Ephraim since 1906. I had the Mackinac Fudge Ice Cream, since we can't get that in California (not that I know of). So good! They still have a working jukebox, too. Lots of staff there to take care of all the customers.