Kettle Black Restaurant

Wonderful spot for a fish boil and better than the more touristy options in the area. This small restaurant serves traditional fish boils and cajun fish boils on alternating days. We arrived without a reservation just after one of their boils, and the owner and hostess were gracious enough to make room for us. We thought we’d be served leftovers, but the owner went outside and freshly boiled an order for us! We missed the official show but instead got to watch from the warm interior. Reservations are expected, don’t assume you’ll get lucky like we did. The restaurant is really cute and clean. There is a lovely view over the harbor and the boiling kettle itself. As far as I’m aware, there is no menu and no options. If you’re there on a traditional or cajun night that is what you’re getting. They did have a nice variety of alcohol. The price was a bit high but fair for the experience and quality. The staff were only okay, but I thought their slight edge was fair given the end of an exhausting tourist season. The owner was very personable and took the time to help many patrons debone their fish. The traditional fish boil is served with the fish itself, potatoes, a sweet onion, corn, coleslaw, and bread. The bread was pretty good. The meal looked simple when served but ended up being delicious. The fish had a good flavor to it and came from nearby waters. The potatoes were livened up by the melted butter. The owner makes his own cajun seasoning and sauce. The liberal application of both made the meal even better. The corn and sweet onion were great. The owner described the onion as taking on a candy-like flavor and he wasn’t wrong. The coleslaw was great (my companion described it as the best she’d ever had). This meal is a lot of work to eat given the inevitable picking of bones. Therefore it’s probably not a great first date spot, but very cute for couples who know one another and can deal with some fish bones. They served cherry pie for dessert, which was the weakest part of the meal. Overall this was a lovely experience.

Delicious Cajun food and a great experience! My husband and I came to Door County to celebrate our birthdays and anniversary and he found this place! Called a day in advance for reservations. We were greeted by the host and got drinks and watched the boil. The Cajun was delicious and wasn’t too spicy at all! We loved the modern homey atmosphere and we will be back soon!

Wow—what an amazing night! The food was cooked to perfection, with portions that were just right. The entire environment was incredibly welcoming and immersive—it really made you feel like you were a part of something special for the evening. One thing that really stood out: my wife loved it—even though she normally doesn't like fish! That speaks volumes about the quality and preparation of the dishes. The food is traditionally cooked in salted water, staying true to historical methods, and it’s full of natural, comforting flavor. For those who enjoy a little extra kick, there’s a canister of fresh spices and a unique spiced sauce at the table—absolutely delicious and unlike anything I’ve had before. To top it all off, they even include dessert, and the drinks are very reasonably priced. Highly recommended!

Paul is an amazing host and your resident "Boil Master". Excellent food in a friendly atmosphere. An absolute must when visiting Door County. The cajun shrimp boil is out of this world!

We went for the fish boil on a Wednesday night and had such a great time. Paul (chef/owner) was wonderful and gave a great history of his restaurant venture and family story. My entire party agreed that the house made cajun sauce and rub was ridiculously delicious and we ate it on all the fish and veggies with the meal. The service was personal and the entire experience was very inviting and comfortable. We will be back next time we are in town!!

We came upon this after a fish boil options were not an option in other restaurants. My husband stumbled upon the SHRIMP BOIL, AND IT WAS AMAZING!!! The owner makes the food and interacts with the diners, even serves you, and helps his server clean up. Definitely did not disappoint, and the seasoning was on point!! A must try for sure!

I dined at the Kettle Black restaurant in July 2024. They served up a Cajun shrimp boil which is what attracted me. The boil itself was fairly quick and enjoyable. My table was ready when the boil ended and I was served promptly and attentively. The corn muffins were like no others! So delicious. The boil consisted of Cajun shrimp, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, corn, andouille sausage, and lots more goodies. They have their own spice and their own remoulade, both of which I bought and took home. The atmosphere is casual elegance. The service was so attentive and comfortable. I will return here and I can’t wait!

I've been to a few fish boils in Door County. This particular place is probably the best I've had. The fish was caught the day of the boil. You could have your fish plain or Cajun style. The Cajun was amazing. The chef (owner) makes a wonderful Cajun sauce and rub. The restaurant is lovely, with a really nice gift shop up front. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves. We were greeted by a lovely woman upon arrival. And the service was top-notch.

Went here to try something new and a little unique and we definitely weren't disappointed. Great atmosphere, friendly hosts and amazing food. We will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend 👌 👍 👏.

Paul at Kettle Black served up not only the best fish boil but our best meal in Door County. We opted for the Cajun boil, and several in our group added the lobster tail. The food was exceptionally flavorful. Shrimp and sausage with onions, mushrooms, celery and corn simmered in Paul’s secret spices. The ambience was relaxing and Paul took the time to check in with each table. Kettle Black will be a must for our family when we visit Door County. We look forward to next time and wish Paul and his wife all the best!!

We came in the winter when the crowds were lower. It was a very relaxing evening and the food was great (Cajun Shrimp Boil). The owners ran the whole place as well when we were there and were very nice. It definitely goes on the list for a place to go back to. They do have alternatives to fish/seafood but we did not have it.

This was an amazing experience and the Cajun Boil was phenomenal. The chef worked his tail off and the end product was so good. You have to try this if you visit Door County!

This is the best fish boil in Door County! We had the traditional boil and the cajun boil and both were amazing! We had dinner here two nights in a row, that should tell you how good it is! Paul and his staff are the kindest people and really know how to make you enjoy every second of the experience. The restaurant is such a quaint atmosphere and the food presentation is a pure art! Watching the boil process is so cool and Paul gives you the full history of a good ole Door County fish boil! Make sure you stop in here and take in this wonderful experience! We cannot wait to come back next year!

What a great experience! We chose the Cajun shrimp boil with the lobster add on. The boil master gave us an education about why the ingredients go in the order they do, and where he got the fancy paddle. Then the steaming bowl of delishness is brought to your table, along with yummy cornbread and butter. Dessert is Door County cherry pie a la mode, perfection!

Best Cajun Boil Ever!!! Hands down, the best Cajun boil we have ever had. The owners are amazing and the setting is absolutely amazing. The staff (Andrew) was very professional and helpful. Forget about Saul, you better call Paul and get a reservation quick for their Cajun Boil, trust me once the word gets out you will have a very hard time getting a reservation. Hopefully Paul has his delicious Creamy Chowder available again. We will be back!!!

My wife and I went here on vacation during their Cajun boil night. We had never had this type of boil before but it’s safe to say it was the best food we had while visiting door county for a week. I even was able to buy the owners hot sauce he makes himself. We will definitely be back and bring friends next time we are in the area to try to original fish boil as well!

Great place and the owner was very detailed on how it makes his boil. I learned a lot on how to make a great boil and the Cajun seasoning was perfect. I drank all my broth which is not frowned upon. The lobster was bigger than I expected. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. Soaking the corn bread was an added surprise.

We called early Saturday afternoon for a reservation, and were pleasantly surprised to discover the menu that night was the Cajun Boil. They have only been open less than a month, but you'd never guess by the service and experience. The ambiance, the view, the meal....each piece made for an exquisite evening! The chef, aka Boilmaster, created a delicious cajun sauce to compliment the meal. Sadly, it wasn't available for purchase yet. It needs to be. The entire meal was absolute perfection! Make the reservation. You won't be able to visit Door County without a stop here ever again! The staff was excellent as well. Sweet and welcoming.

We experienced Kettle Black for the 1st time this evening! We enjoyed the fabulous Cajun Fish Boil. Paul, his lovely wife and wonderful staff did an outstanding job. A definite place you will want to experience in Fish Creek! Thank You for the great meal and experience! Oh and to top it off a piece of Cherry Pie! All included with your meal!! Randy and Sue Baker

Chef Paul is an absolute rock star. Talked us through his variation on the door creek fish boil and treated us like celebrities. Came for the hollyhocks stayed for the cherry pie. Best food we had on vacation and best cornbread I’ve had in life.

Awesome spot to allow you to experience The Fish Boil. Fish Boil is a boil that occurs at set times on designated days and it’s pretty famous, so you should call ahead to make a reservation. We got lucky walking in and dog friendly outdoor space is available. Very friendly team here make sure you are taken care of. The conclusion: The Fish Boil here is delicious, it’s very flavorful, I would definitely recommend and return!

Really nice restaurant with a great atmosphere. We were there for the fish boil, it was delicious. The owners are very polite and were willing to engage in conversation. Highly recommended

I had the Cajun Boil… so good. Best food I’ve had in door county all week. The broth was delicious and a unique flavor. Daughter also had the chicken which was surprisingly the best chicken ever served in WI. The staff and owners were really friendly and made it a special experience by explaining the boil process, letting our kids stir the pot and telling us the history of the place.

First time in Door County and wanted to go to a fish boil. So glad we opted to visit Kettle Black and have the Cajun Shrimp Boil! It was like being a guest in someone’s home. Nice intimate environment with a beautiful view of the water. Enjoyed Paul sharing his love of cooking with us and especially enjoyed the wonderful spices and flavors that go into the food. Absolutely delicious! A must-do in Fish Creek.

They just opened a couple months ago and are a worthwhile stop. I recommend the Cajun boil it's out of this world. It's spicy but not going to make you reach for your water. The seasoning is on point, he also has a sauce that was tasty on the potatoes. The owner made a point to stop at each table, nice touch. Stop by and check it out.

Our first trip to door county and everywhere you look you see fish boils. We found nothing sounded too appetizing about boiled fish but when in Rome right? We ended up having a fantastic meal and whole dining experience at Kettle Black. Whatever magic goes into that pot does it’s job fantastically. The entire meal was delicious. The owner/ Boilmaster spent much of the meal at our table entertaining us and our kids with local stories about the area and the meal and the personal touch he puts into everything shows through. For something we leaned heavily towards skipping the entire event was one of the highlights of our trip. Couldn’t recommend it more.

We went to Door County for a mother daughter trip and we were super excited to get a reservation here! The BEST FISH BOIL!!!! The Chef is very great and knowledgeable and tells you what he is doing as he does it. There was only 1 server for the entire place...and he did excellent! The staff is friendly and helpful. The Cajun shrimp and lobster tail definitely worth it!!! Call in advance for reservations it is a small little place. My daughter suggested that maybe the Chef should add cajun crab legs to the boil as well!!! But overall I suggest this spot 10000%!!! 🦞🦐🍷

We had a lovely dinner at kettle black this past Monday. They helped make accommodations for us and our dog on their back patio. Great view of the boil and the waterfront from our seats. The food was Delicious! We went for the traditional boil but the chef had this house made cajun seasoning and remoulade at each table. So good! I meant to pick up a bottle but forgot... next time!

We had the best time at Kettle Black Fish Boil. The food was delicious! We happened to visit on a cajun shrimp boil night and I'm so glad we did. I seriously could eat this meal every day of my life! The owners and entire staff were incredibly kind and clearly passionate about helping guests enjoy Door County. It felt like more of an experience than just a meal -- the owner/boil master is a great storyteller. We sat outside and enjoyed watching the sunset reflect over the water (it seemed like inside tables had a good view as well). Highly recommend. We tried two different boil-type places on our trip and this was our favorite.

Tonight's cajun seafood boil hit all the right notes. The spice blend was warming rather than overwhelming - and every component from the shrimp to the vegetables absorbed those rich flavors beautifully. The staff made the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming. No rushed service or forgotten requests, just attentive care that let us savor both the food and the evening. Highly recommend the trip!

WOW!! Me, my husband and two friends put this on our latest Door County list and let me tell you, this experience and the food was one of the highlights of our trip! The food scene in Door County tends to disappoint, but the quality of Kettle Black and the passion behind the owner shown through! My girlfriend and I chose the Cajun shrimp boil option while our husbands opted for the chicken. The flavors of everything exceeded our expectations and left us in awe! The owner offered the option of adding on a lobster tail at the last moment, which we did because the smells were too enticing, which we did not regret. The lobster addition was well worth it! If going for a fish boil in Door County, Kettle Black should be top of the list!

We had an outstanding overall experience here. The atmosphere, experience, service and food were so good. You definitely need to make this a priority on your Fish Creek trip. The Cajun Shrimp boil was unique to anything else in our county and the flavors were absolutely off the charts. It is spicy, so make sure you’re prepared for that. My 81 year old mom thought it was a little too spicy so she had the chicken and said it was outstanding. Paul, the owner, comes around to each table and really makes you feel welcome after also showing you how he does the entire boil. You also get a ton of food so come hungry! Everything was on point with our night at Black Kettle.

We had a fun time overall! We had the fish boil and ribs, which were yummy but not life-changing. The food and experience were good, and the service was great. The potatoes were fantastic and the best part of the meal. Do be prepared to de-bone your own fish! It was also fun to get the cherry pie at the end, but given how big the meal is, it would be nice to be offered a to-go option. When we asked our server whether there was one, she seemed very confused. Even though the staff were attentive, and this may not be a controllable factor, it took over an hour to get our food after being told to get to the restaurant 15 mins before our reservation (on the website, it said 20 mins, but the restaurant had a sign outside saying 15 minutes). The restaurant was pretty crowded as well, but not too noisy. Overall, we are glad we had this experience, and we would recommend others try it, but we don’t know if we would return. But maybe we will try it again to do the shrimp boil!

Our first visit to Kettle Black & will DEFINITELY return! Cajun shrimp and Lobster boil was INCREDIBLE 🦞🍤 service was very good too & then cherry pie for dessert 🍒👍🥇 we sat outside on a beautiful June evening FABULOUS experience! Thank you

We enjoyed this fish boil experience. We love the cornbread and the cajun sauce that they put out in every table. The shrimp was good but I think the broth that comes with it was salty. For parking, might need to park a couple blocks or more farther bc it can get very crowded, parking is street parking. Overall, a memorable experience!

We're fish boil experts, been to several every summer. This was a new one for us. I liked the seasoning on everything (salt, pepper, and garlic) and how they had the Creole seasoning and sauce on the table. It was something different from the others. One thing I think they could improve on is the drink selection. They had a few beers from up here in Door County, but no local wines when there are so many wineries up here! I was looking forward to having a Door County wine with my fish, and hopefully can do that here next year. Update 2024: Still no Door County wines! And the Door County beers weren't on the beer list, which we thought was weird. Don't you think you'd want to support and highlight the local businesses?

Watching a fish boil is a Very fun experience. Everything was great except my bigger turnoff was that the white fish was full of bones to navigate through. Maybe this is how most fish boils are, but we just weren't expecting so many bones

They describe the history of it beforehand, but was overrated honestly. Food was decent but having to pick fish bones out of my mouth for half the meal while dealing with a fly buzzing around was kind of annoying. It was more of an experience, but that was it. Will not come back.

We got two adult cajun boils and two kids ones. First, with the positives - the food was tasty. The corn bread was probably the best I've ever had. The heat level was good for my husband and myself. However, I was told the spice wouldn't be bad for my kids, but they could barely get it down. I would recommend getting kids something else on the menu unless they are used to spicy food. When we came for the boil, our kids were disappointed there was no boil over for the cajun boil. Just something to note if you come with kids, to set proper expectations. Our main issue on this was the price point. We ate out at a different place all week in door county and this was by far our most expensive meal. The cherry pie was below par, and we were being rushed through eating because they had the next service coming soon. Our server tried to clear my bowl while I was still eating and had quite a bit still left. I understand needing to get through service, but for the price, I would expect a more welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. We paid for the experience and I want to enjoy it at my pace, and not be made to feel like an inconvenience to the staff.

My date was very excited and enjoyed the seafood boil. As a vegetarian I only had one option on the menu- kids mac and cheese. I love mac and cheese and visiting wisconsin I was excited to try. To my demise I am served kraft mac and cheese with a side of lays potato chips. Imagine operating a restaurant in Americas dairyland and serving kraft. Such a shame. Service was very good but the owner should be ashamed.