The Rivalry Pub - Oconomowoc

My wife and I have tried to enjoy meals and drinks at Rivalry Pub four times, and we've only had a pleasant experience once. The restaurant seems to be struggli... read more My wife and I have tried to enjoy meals and drinks at Rivalry Pub four times, and we've only had a pleasant experience once. The restaurant seems to be struggling to find its footing this year. During our last two visits, we received an ice-cold fish fry that took an hour to arrive; it seemed to have been sitting in the kitchen because the fries were soggy and cold, and the fish was overcooked, mushy, and cold as well. Wanting to give the pub another shot since it's within walking distance from our home and we hope to recommend it to friends, we decided to stop by for a beer and lunch on a lovely sunny day after playing golf. However, after 30 minutes of waiting on the hot patio for menus (they had only 3-5 available), I approached the bar to ask for some water and check on the status of the menus. The manager rolled his eyes and curtly said he would get them for me when he could. This interaction was particularly frustrating after waiting 30 minutes without any service, especially since there were only four members of a wedding party at the bar, a family of seven already dining, and another couple in the restaurant, all with two waitresses, a bartender, and a manager on duty. The other couple was also waiting for menus, had no drinks, and had been there longer than we had. My wife and I decided to wait a bit longer because the weather was lovely, but ultimately we left after a total of 45 minutes with no water, no menu, and no follow-up from either the waitress or the manager. While the location is great and the golf course is fantastic, the service and food quality have disappointed us three out of the four times we've visited Rivalry Pub. I might consider giving the place a couple more years to turn around, but I won't be bringing friends and family here after golf anytime soon. UPDATE: The menu from the new chef has greatly improved! Wait times have been more standard or even quicker than average.

My wife and I have loved visiting The Rivalry Pub over the past two years. We often bike here, and the atmosphere is always warm and inviting, with delicious fo... read more My wife and I have loved visiting The Rivalry Pub over the past two years. We often bike here, and the atmosphere is always warm and inviting, with delicious food to enjoy. You can choose to sit indoors or outdoors and try your hand at the 18-hole putting challenge right on-site. Given the current challenges many businesses are facing with staffing, being patient with the service will be worth it for the delightful food and ambiance. We do miss the live music they had on Thursday nights last summer; reinstating that would definitely enhance the Thursday experience and add great value to the pub.

We had a fantastic experience, thanks to our bartender and server, Madison, in a charming and relaxed atmosphere that provided a lovely view of the historic gol... read more We had a fantastic experience, thanks to our bartender and server, Madison, in a charming and relaxed atmosphere that provided a lovely view of the historic golf course. The outdoor seating was a highlight for us. We enjoyed delicious drinks, the fried pickle appetizer, summer berry salads, and the cauliflower crust pizza—all of it was excellent! We can't praise the food, service, and ambiance enough. Great job! We’re already looking forward to our next visit!

Eager to give Rivalry Pub another shot since it's just a short walk from our home, we decided to stop by for beers and lunch on a beautiful sunny day after golf... read more Eager to give Rivalry Pub another shot since it's just a short walk from our home, we decided to stop by for beers and lunch on a beautiful sunny day after golfing. However, after waiting 30 minutes on the hot patio for menus—there seemed to be only 3 to 5 available—I went to the bar to ask for some water and to check on our menus. The manager rolled his eyes and curtly told me he'd get to it when he could. What added to our frustration was that, despite our long wait, there were already four members of a wedding party at the bar, a family of seven dining, and another couple in the restaurant, all while two waitresses, a bartender, and the manager were on duty. The other couple had also been waiting for menus longer than we had and hadn’t received drinks either. My wife and I decided to stick around a little longer because the weather was nice, but ultimately we chose to leave after 45 minutes with no water, no menus, and no follow-up from either the waitress or the manager. The location is fantastic, and the golf course is lovely, but we've been disappointed with the service and food quality three out of the four times we've visited Rivalry Pub. I might consider revisiting in a couple of years hoping for improvement, but I won’t be bringing friends or family here after golf any time soon. UPDATE: The menu from the new chef is significantly better! The wait times have also become more reasonable, even quicker than average.

We absolutely love the food and the ambiance! The putting course is a fun way to kill time while waiting for our meals. I've sampled various entrees, and I've n... read more We absolutely love the food and the ambiance! The putting course is a fun way to kill time while waiting for our meals. I've sampled various entrees, and I've never been let down. The outdoor seating is delightful, and the interior is very cozy. The staff is also incredibly friendly!