Wausau Mine Company

Wausau Mine CompanyWausau Mine Company has been an institution in the community for as long as I can remember. I have great memories going there as a child, sitting next to Virgil at the bar and ordering kiddie cocktails. You can find the mine shaft at 3904 W. Stewart Ave on Wausau’s west side.

We walked in and promptly seated in the dining area. Upon entering the Wausau Mine Company you’ll notice you’ve taken a step into what seems to be a real working mine shaft.Wooden tables with your very own “electric” oil lamp all snugged up against walls that look like gigantic grey stone. This establishment has Wausau’s most unique dining atmosphere, nothing in the area comes close. It’s a must stop if you have kids, they will absolutely love it.

Wausauioans know what the Wausau Mine Company is really known for, pizza and Italian fries. Matt and I have had these items on numerous occasions so we wanted to try something different on the menu. I let Kaitlin, our server, order for me. I asked what she really enjoyed and what seemed very popular on the menu besides pizza. It came down between the ravioli and the hot beef. She opted to go with the hot beef with a side of french fries.

The food came out quickly and was piping hot. I took one look at my plate and knew I was surely at the Wausau Mine Company, look at that mound of mozzarella cheese! This sandwich is usually topped with mushrooms, but I’m not a fan so I opted out. Folding the sandwich together it was obvious the bread was fresh because the hoagie was very soft. Taking my first bite I got an explosion of mozzarella cheese with a hint of beef as a secondary flavor profile and soft chewy bread as a texture. As I pulled away from that first bite strings of cheese connected me to the hot beef like lifelines on a sinking ship. The beef was shredded and very moist, folks who like their sandwiches on the drier side wouldn’t even need the au jus. Let’s talk about that au jus. This was the only gripe I had with my meal. The au jus was very flat, it seemed like beef broth simply heated up. I would have liked a salty and slightly spiced au jus to soak into my sandwich. It does the job by moistening the sandwich, but it needs some pop on the palate. The fries were large cut and seasoned nicely creating that perfect golden brown color on the outside, but soft and chewy potato on the inside. Overall the hot beef from Wausau Mine Company was delicious. It’s a very dense and filling meal for a fantastic price. The only thing that could have improved the meal was a little more beef to match the amount of cheese and a spicier au jus.

Matt now takes over the reins to talk about his homemade lasagna…

Instead of pizza, I decided to try something different. I didn’t have to look at the menu long until I found the Lasagna. The server also offered Pizza Soup. I had never heard of such a thing and when she told what was in it I jumped on the opportunity. Basically Pizza Soup is pizza in a cup. Everything you love about pizza is in the soup: tomato sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, hamburger, etc.; It even comes with little sticks of crust on the side. I loved the stuff. I wish I had known it was there because I would be chowing down on that all the time!

The lasagna was excellent. The tomato flavor stuck out in the sauce and it was a bit salty, overall delicious. I also tasted the cheese quite a bit but I didn’t mind as it combined well with the sauce. The noodles were cooked perfectly, not mushy or under-cooked. It really didn’t look like a lot of food but it actually filled me up quite a bit. The meal also came with two pieces of garlic bread and a choice of salad or cottage cheese, I chose the cottage cheese which came garnished with finely chopped chives.

Wausau Mine is always a good choice for unique atmosphere. If you go there but you’re not in the mood for pizza I suggest you try the lasagna. And you must, must to try the Pizza Soup! It’s pizza in a cup, does it get any cooler than that?

So what do we think about the Wausau Mine Company? This long-running establishment has the neatest decor of any place I’ve dined in the country. It’s something that will keep the kids buzzing for days and out-of-town friends wanting to come back for more. The food is deliciously prepared from their Italian fries and pizza, to Wausau Mine’s lasagna, burgers and sandwiches. The service we received was friendly and efficient. We see no end in sight for Virgil and his staff at Wausau Mine. It’s an absolute must stop for anyone in the area. Do us a favor, tell Virgil we sent you!

WausauFood.com Rating: 8.9/10Recommended Item: Italian Fries/Pizza or Hot BeefWausau Mine Company Website / Twitter / Facebook


Lasagna

Hot Beef

Wausau Mine Decor