Looking for an all-in-one destination for your visit to Door County, WI? You can’t go wrong at Gordon Lodge. Or, just take a night and spend it watching the water from the Top Deck restaurant.

This is where we had some of the finest food Door County provides, brought to us by chefs Jerry Zak and Tony Gorham. While the setting is casual, the quality of the food is fine dining at its best.

Top Deck Restaurant. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

Start with the Steak Bites. Trust us on this. Start with the Steak Bites. They are described as pan seared tenderloin, with garlic aioli, grilled garlic toast—in other words, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Seriously one of the best appetizers you’ll find anywhere.

Steak Bites. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

If you aren’t a meat eater, the Mushroom Bruschetta may appeal, with oyster, crimini, portabella, shitake, and button mushrooms all mixed together in a balsamic reduction—presumably the same one used in the addictive Brussel Sprout Chips, made with bacon and bleu cheese.

For entrees, we recommend the Skillet Sausage & Potatoes, an excellent and surprising blend of Italian sausage with potatoes and arugula, topped with parmesan.

Skillet Sausage and Potatoes. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

Or, go for the Edamame Pot Stickers, a series of dumplings with Asian slaw, Thai chili, and bulgogi dipping sauce. A personal favorite, though was the Seafood Scallop dish that contained succulent scallops, perfectly cooked.

Edamame Pot Stickers. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

Come for the food, but be sure to stay for the sunset—easily viewed from inside Top Deck with its expansive window views, but also beautiful from the landing, where a fire pit burns away the evening chill and, just for a moment, it’s 1923 and the boathouse is waiting for the family to return.

Sunset at the Top Deck Restaurant. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

This is part of The Food Channel‘s coverage of Door County, Wisconsin, from a recent tour hosted by the Door County Visitor’s Bureau. Find all the stories in the series here.

Travel accommodations and tour arrangements in Door County were provided by the Door County Visitors Bureau in conjunction with Geiger & Associates Public Relations.

Photos by Paul K. Logsdon.