Uncle Mike's Food Emporium

Uncle Mike's Food Emporium is less a simple eatery and more an exuberant celebration of Midwestern comfort. Step inside and you're greeted by the heady aroma of yeast and sugar, punctuated by the wood-fired tang from pizzas crisping in the oven. The bakery cases push temptation to its limits: kringles in flavors both classic and wild (sea salt caramel pecan, raspberry lemon cheese), doughnuts with glossy icing, pastries that look like they should be under glass in Vienna, not Appleton. It's the kind of place where you half expect to see a regular picking up a box for the office on their birthday, or a family trading bites over coffee after Sunday service. The emporium doubles as a casual restaurant with a rotating menu that leans hearty—think burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and ever-changing specials. Mondays bring a pizza buffet that's become something of a local ritual; there's almost always a line as families and friends pile plates high. Sweets are not an afterthought here—they're woven into every visit. Even if you come for dinner, you leave with bags of baked goods "for later," knowing full well they'll disappear before nightfall. Service can vacillate between warm and distracted; some days you're guided through kringle lore by staff who clearly love their jobs, other days you might catch the team running on autopilot. The vibe is bright and open, though at times the bustle gives way to clerical fatigue—a reminder that this is an ambitious operation juggling bakery, café, bar, and restaurant all under one roof. Uncle Mike's stands as both local anchor and traveler’s delight—a bridge between old-world baking traditions and new-world indulgence. Whether you're swinging by for carryout sweets or staking out a table for Monday pizza night, it’s clear this spot feeds more than just appetites: it nurtures community rituals and sweetens everyday life.