The Big Lady

Onalaska, 214 Main St, Onalaska, WI 54650 | ★ 4.7 (54 Review)

📞 +1 608-519-0027

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Restaurant

Description

Offering lunch daily 11:00am - 3:30pm, dinner 4:00pm - 9:00pm, The Big Lady is an elevated dining experience boasting gorgeous river views and a large 4-season patio.

Happy hour offerings Monday - Thursday, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, featuring BOGO 1/2 off pinsas, $2 rail & domestics, and $1 off taps & wine by the glass.

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Reviews

karen merritt

★ 5

Food was delicious and fresh, service was great too.

Source: Google

Steven Shoyer

★ 5

Jaydin was attentive and ensured we had an amazing experience!

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Kathy Daily

★ 1

I never leave reviews but I was so excited to eat here today. Unfortunately I was so disappointed. Food was terrible and cold. Flies everywhere!! I couldn’t even eat my food because it was so bad. My friend had the lobster rolls and they were basically three mini corn dogs with a small amount of lobster . Bill was over $75 for that appetizer and one lunch dish. Very disappointed

Source: Google

Vicki Born

★ 5

I don't want anyone to think that I'm getting paid for these reviews, but I really think this is the second time that I've written in praise Of this place! The food is so innovative, and so delicious… And the server today, Anthony, was beyond great! He made several suggestions which really helped out, and everything that he promised was correct! We really had a great time.

Our group shared a Gorgonzola and pear flatbread, which was amazing. Anthony had said that the desserts are all made in house, but I wonder if the breads are, too… Because the flatbread base was absolutely perfect. And it was spread with some type of "white sauce" according to the menu, But I swear that it must've had ground up unicorns or something in it because all of the simple ingredients came together and some magical way! The combination was so good that several of the people in our group ordered the "toasted cheese with Gorgonzola and pears" as an entrée... Two Moore had ordered the tomato bisque soup… Two more of us went for the steak sandwich which was an open face sandwich covered in steak, Gorgonzola, and arugula that was kissed with balsamic reduction... No one left hungry! And Anthony made sure that we were all happy! I can guarantee that we will all be back!

The only thing that wasn't great was the configuration of tables. Our choice was either to sit at one of the huge booths, or else share a high top table. If the weather had been nice enough to sit outside on their large deck, we would've been fine, but the temperature had dropped, and we had been told that the heating units hadn't been turned on yet. Some of the people in our group couldn't easily navigate the high table, and others weren't happy about sitting three across in a booth, where someone is forced into the dreaded middle seat. But for food that good and for service so outstanding, we can overlook this minor transgression!

Source: Google

Tim Skinner

★ 5

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Eulee Benavides

★ 5

Beautiful place, Jake and Olivia are so passionate about their business and it shows 🧡 the food is amazing and you have to definitely see Lindsay at the bar for drinks! Love love love!

Source: Google

Jordanne Myszka-Schilling

★ 5

This is my favorite place to go! Food is incredible, drinks are delicious, and the service is TOP tier!! Lindsay (bartender) made the tastiest drinks, you definitely can tell she puts her love and soul into each drink she makes! 10/10 DO recommend

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Spencer Ladsten

★ 5

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Brittney Wellvang

★ 5

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Abby the Acrobat Kruger

★ 1

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B Phelps

★ 2

Hands down the worst steak i’ve ever eaten. I paid $35 for a bland peppercorn covered piece of putty. I got a new york strip that tasted like nothing, it was covered completely in peppercorn but you could tell they don't season the meat, if not for the red-wine reduction it would of been no better then chewing a tire. My daughter’s mac and cheese had more thought put into it. Extremely disappointing. Whoever is cooking should try tasting their own food. And the waitress hyped it up like it was so good. The only reason i didn’t give it 1 star is cause the sea bass was good and the mac and cheese was good. I will not come back and will tell everybody of the quality of the food here.

Source: Google

Alexis Schelbe

★ 5

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Tim Pierce

★ 5

New upscale restaurant. New owner's bring a touch of class to Onalaska restaurants.

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Eric Sturm

★ 4

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michelle stauder

★ 5

Delicious beyond words. Then add on the beauty and elegance of the establishment. Lindsey, the bartenderess, is a delight! I plan to stop again, often. BRAVO 👏 Michelle.

Source: Google

Peter Betchkal

★ 5

Faith was awesome……. Very nice person

Source: Google

Kyle DeLap

★ 5

Faith was amazing! Great food, great atmosphere: highly recommend!

Source: Google

Charles George

★ 5

First impressions are important, and they got it right here. Service was prompt and courteous. Very clean and modern look. Food was also a very high quality. Our party shared the Brussel Sprouts app (I could have used a little more salt and pepper, but we're not supplied on the table), very tasty. My bahn mi was tasty, but not in the traditional sense of the sandwich, I like mine with a bit more funk, liver pate/braunschweiger and more pickled veggies, theirs had a more sweet tone with pepper jam. Good nonetheless

Source: Google

Tim Murray

★ 5

I was as impressed at the other reviewers and I am a Madison food snob transplant.

Source: Google

Shelby Holub

★ 5

Chicken piccata was delicious, service was great!

Source: Google

Vickie

★ 4

Friendly greeting, no waiting.Somewhat dark atmosphere.Prompt table service, i.e.water.Waiter was friendly.
Lobster corn dog was ick! All dough, no lobster , no flavor.
Ahi bites were pretty good.
Mushroom linguine was fantastic!!
The old fashioneds were very tasty!
May try it again

Source: Google

Christian Castellano

★ 5

Source: Google

Casey Discovers Food

★ 5

My partner and I decided to have a Tuesday date night at The Big Lady. We started off with cocktails, an order of arancini, and a cup of soup of the day. The appetizer was a combination of cheesy, spicy, and the vibrancy of citrus?! When you combined it all into one delicious bite it was so full of flavor and comfort.

For the mains, I ordered the pan fried walleye and my partner had the Osso Buco. My fish was flaky and fresh, the burnt lemon squeezed over it made it almost perfect. It could have used some flake salt, but that’s a personal preference. The braised pork shank my partner had felt like home. You could see it was made with time and love and it was truly the best bite of the evening, something we will not forget.

Service was exceptional and attentive.

Overall, although the prices are on the higher end, the quality of the dishes and experience makes it priceless. We would love to come back and hope to do so soon.

Thank you for a wonderful and memorable evening.

Source: Google

Chassidy Hastings

★ 5

We've been excited to try this restaurant and it did NOT disappoint!! The mussels were amazing and I'm already dreaming of having them again.

Source: Google

Amanda Coughlin

★ 5

Had an excellent experience at The Big Lady! I tried the Brussels sprouts and the Ahi Tuna salad with an old fashioned—everything was absolutely delicious. Our server, Bianca, was so sweet and attentive, which made the night even better. We’ll definitely be back!

Source: Google

Luke Wagner

★ 5

My wife and I just got back from lunch at The Big Lady, and we couldn't be more impressed. The food was fantastic, bursting with flavor, and the atmosphere, along with the staff, was terrific. In today's world, it's not easy to find a great place to dine, but this restaurant is a breath of fresh air. We will definitely be returning regularly.

Source: Google

Jason Kaminski

★ 5

Very impressed with this place. My steak au poivre was perfect and so were the brusselsprouts and potatoes. Jake definitely know what he is doing. Jaime is a wonderful waitress as well.

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E A

★ 5

The gluten free options are amazing. Everything tastes wonderful!

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Jim Cavanaugh

★ 5

The food was amazing. Especially enjoyed the Brussels sprouts.

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Robert Bott

★ 5

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Keith Rosenthal

★ 5

I’m a “Catsup, mustard, picked, and onion burger” burger guy. On a whim I ordered the Big Lady. WOW! A half pound burger that delivers big time on taste. Slight char to the meat, combined with thick bacon and pepper jelly was fantastic. And the coleslaw…this is not your Friday night sweet creamy slaw. The sweet has been replaced with a vinegary taste. Wasn’t expecting the change, but it was great. The dog got nothing from this meal. My hat is off to the chef - nicely done.

Source: Google

Alli Delasky

★ 5

Source: Google

Bianca Young

★ 5

Source: Google

Korey241

★ 4

My wife and I tried out The Big Lady for the first time. We used to frequent the last restaurant at this location, so we decided to give this new one a try. The service was excellent. The gentleman who served us was kind, checked back a lot, and knew the menu well. He provided us with a few recommendations, and we selected one of his choices. He really made an effort to ensure we were happy, and we appreciated it. I had the walleye, and it was delightful. The Big Lady’s tartar sauce is some of the finest I’ve ever tried. We tried Lobster dogs, and they were alright. I’ve always wanted to try lobster like this. The tuna fish in the salad we tried was mild, almost flavorless. The atmosphere of this place is excellent and welcoming. The atmosphere and decor feel more sophisticated and elegant than those of the previous restaurant. We were seated outside, and we felt cozy enough to chat with the tables adjacent to us. Prices seem a bit high, but it's hard to tell with the current food prices. The menu offers a wide range of options with very eclectic varieties. I peeked at a few other tables at what others were ordering, and many of the choices looked delightful and savory. The other patrons seemed happy with their orders. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it.

Source: Google

Jaime Arnold

★ 5

Brussel Sprouts and Mussels are phenomenal! Great food, service and location! Will be back!

Source: Google

Nevaeh Newman

★ 5

Source: Google

Jordan Schroeter

★ 5

Behold, a new dining experience that will redefine how you fine dine. This restaurant has been taken over by a new managers and owners, and, thankfully, brought to the next level.

Reasonably priced, my family and I were treated with the most exquisite food with all fresh ingredients, as well as first class service incomparable to others.

Walking into the dimly lit foyer I was greeted by attentive staff and immediately felt the warmth and welcoming pizzazz that assimilates you as a first class customer. More than a customer, a first class VIP.

My family ordered the New York strips and mushroom linguine. Every menu item is lovingly catered to make you feel like you have a personal chef. It's difficult to recommend a plate as each item has been progressively popular.

Do yourself a favor and enjoy a beautiful evening inside or on the patio to get the most royal treatment around!

Source: Google

Lindsay B

★ 5

Source: Google

Stephanie Crawford

★ 5

My husband and I stopped for a date night and already can't wait to go back. We tried the Arancini, Seafood Pinsa Flatbread and Mushroom Linguini. I would highly recommend at these dishes.

Source: Google

Alaina Loeffler

★ 5

The food and service was amazing. We tried the Arancini, Mushroom linguini, Walleye, and Crème brûlée. The arancini and crème brûlée were our favorites, but everything was delicious. We’ll be back again.

Source: Google

Brittney D

★ 5

The food and service was phenomenal! We would highly recommend to everyone. Can’t wait to go back!

Source: Google

Daniel Wilde

★ 5

Source: Google

Kayle Finn

★ 5

Went to The Big Lady for the first time tonight, under the new name. The food was phenomenal! My wife ordered the tenderloin, medium rare. It arrived cooked to perfection. The mashed potatoes were definitely homemade, and delicious. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass. It was buttery and rich. Melted in my mouth. The risotto was creamy and silky.....a perfect compliment. As stuffed as we were, we had to try the bruleed bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream. OMG! I could eat that alone, without the ice cream, which just added to the amazement. Jake and his team killed it on their first, busy, Friday night! Olivia's front of the house staff, from the bartenders to the servers, worked so well together! It was busy, but they were all full of smiles. It was great to finally walk in, smell some amazing food and hear the buzzing sound of conversation among families and friends. I feel blessed to have a wonderful place to enjoy a meal with my wife, and any other guests.

Source: Google

J

★ 5

Great Food!

Source: Google

Ashley Peterson

★ 5

Had the best dinner! Both my husband and I loved every bite of what we ordered. Service was fast and friendly and our food came out super quickly. We can not wait to continue to go and try more off the menu!

Source: Google

jantzen Valentine

★ 5

Delectable & elegant food in a casual setting. The ossobuco was layered in delicious flavors. The lobster corn dogs are absolutely worth it. The brussel sprouts and arancini were amazing too. Service was also top notch. We truly appreciate you guys being so accommodating to the two toddlers in our group, sorry again for the broken ice cream dish! 😅

Source: Google

Susan Brooks

★ 5

Very good, the Brussels sprouts were yummy, and my steak was cooked perfectly!

Source: Google

Meghan Finch

★ 5

I never give any restaurant 5-stars, but The Big Lady deserves more than that!
From the amazing food (photos are from lunch, which we couldn't wait to dig in to), to the staff, to the beautiful venue, this new restaurant in town is one you NEED to check out. They have indoor and outdoor seating, with a perfect view of the Mississippi River/Lake Onalaska! If you enjoy delicious food in a sophisticated space with effortless comfort, The Big Lady is the place! (P.S. The Big Lady's name is Miso and she is so damn adorable!)

Source: Google

meghan hill

★ 5

Absolutely devine food!!! Starting with their apps, the Arincni was crispy, ooey gooey cheese and that roasted jalapeño and garlic aioli created a an amazing combination of flavors. The Chicken Thigh Piccata is to die for, the hint of lemon and capers really bring out the flavors of the creamy sauce and tie perfectly with the homemade mashed potatoes and seared chicken skin. I took the extra sauce home and mixed it with homemade pasta and it turned into a great evening snack. I will continue to come here again and again, you bet I'll be telling everyone I know to go dine at The Big Lady!!

Source: Google

Samantha Bryngelson

★ 5

We love The Big Lady! Great food & service!

Source: Google

Carla Lang

★ 5

My husband and I visited your restaurant before the official name change over, we couldn't wait! Heard many good things about the menu. We loved the space, quiet and a bit more 'fancy', yet inviting to any & everyone. The food, drinks and service were TOP NOTCH! We cannot wait to return!! Thank you for continuing the business in the heart of Onalaska.

Source: Google

Matthew Clark

★ 5

Excellent service and even better food!

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Mallori McLees

★ 5

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Ashley

★ 5

Food was great! Enjoyed the relaxing vibe and great service on the patio. Will be back again:)

Source: Google