The Courthouse Pub sits across the street from Manitowoc's stately courthouse. And the judge must have ordered that only good food and drink can be served, because that's exactly what you'll get. The pub has two spacious rooms: the casual bar area, which features booth seating, a long bar and a lot of open floor space, and a long side room designed for quieter gatherings, with a fireplace at its far end.

The lunch menu ($7-$14) features sandwiches, burgers, salads and wraps, including a turkey sandwich on herbed focaccia with cranberry cream cheese and lettuce, and a mixed berry spinach salad. Dinner ($11-$35) includes pecan-encrusted duck and cinnamon-encrusted pork, scallops, grilled Norwegian salmon and a Friday night perch fish fry. Don't miss the pub cheese curds made from Henning's curds and finished with a batter made with a pub microbrew. Speaking of brews (this is a brewpub after all), the beer is some of the most flavorful and inventive you'll taste, so order a six-taste sampler. The wine list is extensive, with nearly two dozen varieties available by the glass and many more by the bottle; the Courthouse has received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002. You won't go wrong with a stop here.