Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI)

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (easydoesit)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:02:21 GMT

And just to mention, Ardy's & Ed's was done up very nicely some years ago in a segment of 'Roker on the Road.'

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (easydoesit)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:01:28 GMT

Well, actually, thanks to both 6star and kevincad. It's one of those tiny little things that can stick in the back of your head forever. I lived in Fond du Lac (southern end of Lake Winnegbago) and would often give tours of the area to new employees. I would always have to say "...third largest, blah, blah, but don't ask me the first two, cause...."

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (kevincad)

Thu, 31 May 2012 16:36:11 GMT

6star

easydoesit

Great report, for sure. It is just as pretty there as I remember. Isn't the building and parking lot really clean and well maintained? Such a good outside gives one confidence for the inside.

I understand about the sloppy joe. I really enjoyed their version, and still have a hankering for them. Wish I could duplicate the flavor at home.

By the way of minor matters, I remember something from Wisconsin stating that Lake Winnebago is the third largest inland lake in the contiguous United States. The article didn't bother to tell me the other two. Lake of the woods?....I don't know.

If you don't count Lake Michigan as being distinctive from Lake Huron, and consider only natural (not man-made) fresh-water lakes of the lower 48 states:
1. Lake Okeechobee (Florida) = 662 sq. mi.
2. Red Lake (Minnesota) = 427 sq. mi.
3. Devil's Lake (North Dakota) = 300 sq. mi.
4. Lake Winnebago (Wisconsin) = 215 sq. mi.

However, Red Lake could be considered two lakes, Upper Red Lake & Lower Red Lake, which would move Lake Winnebago up into third place. By the way, Lake of the Woods has Manitoba & Ontario boundries.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_lakes_of_the_United_States_by_area

Anymore, you could hardly not call Okeechobee man made, it's been diked and dammed and about everything the Army Corp of Engineers could do to restrain it! But, there are still beautiful areas on it.

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (6star)

Thu, 31 May 2012 16:01:08 GMT

easydoesit

Great report, for sure. It is just as pretty there as I remember. Isn't the building and parking lot really clean and well maintained? Such a good outside gives one confidence for the inside.

I understand about the sloppy joe. I really enjoyed their version, and still have a hankering for them. Wish I could duplicate the flavor at home.

By the way of minor matters, I remember something from Wisconsin stating that Lake Winnebago is the third largest inland lake in the contiguous United States. The article didn't bother to tell me the other two. Lake of the woods?....I don't know.

If you don't count Lake Michigan as being distinctive from Lake Huron, and consider only natural (not man-made) fresh-water lakes of the lower 48 states:
1. Lake Okeechobee (Florida) = 662 sq. mi.
2. Red Lake (Minnesota) = 427 sq. mi.
3. Devil's Lake (North Dakota) = 300 sq. mi.
4. Lake Winnebago (Wisconsin) = 215 sq. mi.

However, Red Lake could be considered two lakes, Upper Red Lake & Lower Red Lake, which would move Lake Winnebago up into third place. By the way, Lake of the Woods has Manitoba & Ontario boundries.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_lakes_of_the_United_States_by_area

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (easydoesit)

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:19:31 GMT

Great report, for sure. It is just as pretty there as I remember. Isn't the building and parking lot really clean and well maintained? Such a good outside gives one confidence for the inside.

I understand about the sloppy joe. I really enjoyed their version, and still have a hankering for them. Wish I could duplicate the flavor at home.

By the way of minor matters, I remember something from Wisconsin stating that Lake Winnebago is the third largest inland lake in the contiguous United States. The article didn't bother to tell me the other two. Lake of the woods?....I don't know.

Re:Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (buffetbuster)

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:28:49 GMT

Thanks for this beautifully photographed report SC! What a great looking little drive-in. If there is one guaranteed way for a place to endear itself to me, it is serve homemade root beer in a frosty mug. And offering a brat/burger sandwich doesn't hurt, either!

Ardy & Ed's (Oshkosh, WI) (ScreamingChicken)

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:51:46 GMT

A couple of Saturdays ago I didn't have anything really pressing at home and since it was such a nice day I decided to keep one of my promises to myself and head up to Oshkosh to Ardy & Ed's Drive In, which has been mentioned a few times here.

Along with car service there are a few picnic tables out back, so I parked on the side street and staked my claim. It only follows that the first thing I saw was the back of the building.

There are windows on 3 sides of the building and while the skating carhops handle the orders to the cars and tables it's also possible to place a walkup order, whether for yourself or for man's best friend.

Drink enough root beer and you'll be glad to see this.

The marquee.

The bigger sandwich on the right is the Drive-In Double, which is a burger on top of a Klement's bratwurst patty. I had initially planned on getting just one regular burger but then I found a BOGO coupon on A & E's website...so I got two. The root beer was cold and refreshing without being too sweet or too carbonated; it's served draft-style and is made fresh daily, but I don't know how much of it is from scratch.

The burgers were hot off the griddle and pretty good, but what I really noticed was the pillowy softness and bready flavor of the buns. Wherever they were from, they hadn't left there too long ago.

The Drive-In Double came on a more substantial bun that had been griddle-toasted, and a slice of American cheese separated the burger and the brat patty.

This was a filling sandwich but as often happens with this kind of combination the bratwurst seasonings tended to overpower the burger a little bit, and I would've liked just a little more balance. I'd still order it again, though.

Easydoesit had suggested I try the "Ho-Made BBQ" but I'm just not a fan of Sloppy Joe-style sandwiches, so I passed.

There's a public park and boat launch across US-45 so after eating I headed over to check it out. Lake Winnebago is Wisconsin's largest in-state lake.

I enjoyed my lunch but what takes things up a notch are the setting and the history. Ardy & Ed's is an established tradition great for a family dinner on a summer evening, a first date for teenagers, a group of fishermen or boaters looking to fuel up before or after a day on the water, or even some fool willing to drive 90-some miles just to check it out.

Brad