Iron Duck Restaurant

Evolution Pinot Noir

I decided to step out of Green Bay for a little bit and make a 15-minute drive to a neighboring village, Howard, WI. Iron Duck Restaurant sits in isolation surrounded by nothing but trees, and if you're not careful, you may drive past it--that is if, you're not looking up at the large billboard they have displayed by the road. While the exterior of the building does not look close to anything like a restaurant, the interior will have you in awe, and take out your phone to snag a few pictures.

Their executive chef, Adam Huebscher, has spent years honing his culinary skills and making it his aim to surround his food with one specific theme: comfort foods. Keeping that in mind, Iron Duck Restaurants' mission statement is to "Provide phenomenal comfort food with an emphasis on local and cultural cuisine and unparalleled service." At the same time, it provide a welcoming and hospitable environment to the community.

They do not take customer service lightly and will meet the demands of their guests, regardless of the request (if it's reasonable too). Making a reservation beforehand is just a glimpse to show how serious they are about their operations; dining in will have you leaving with a whirlpool of nostalgic emotions.

Bruschetta

It's been a while since I had bruschetta, and if you don't know too much about it, it's an appetizer originating from Italy that initially started with tomatoes and olive oil on top of tiny slices of grilled crostini. But in this case, Iron Duck Restaurant decided to make some changes and take matters into their own hands by adding burrata cheese, smoked tomato jam, and arugula.

So, If you've never tried bruschetta before, I would highly suggest going to this restaurant first and eating theirs. The smoked tomato jam pairs well with the grilled crostini since it is the root of the sweetness. Then next to complement is the burrata cheese with its creamy texture and rich buttery flavor. And if you're not careful, the arugula will sneak up on you and add a bitter kick to stabilize the sweetness of the entire dish.

Seared Duck Breast

What a coincidence that I so happened to order duck at a restaurant named Iron Duck Restaurant. I knew that this was what I wanted to order before I stepped foot into the restaurant. I'm not sure if this is what they specialized in--regardless--it's been years since I had duck (aside from Peking duck), so I had to try it. And I was also drinking red wine, so what better way than to pair it with duck?

Oyster mushrooms are my favorite. They don't contain any of that strong fungus flavor you'd receive from your typical portobello or shitake mushrooms. They cooked the oyster mushrooms with bacon, and I was left alone to enjoy a flavor combination of pleasant anise from the mushrooms and a smoky nuttiness from the bacon.

The seared duck breast was good; however, it was underseasoned, and if I may add, the skin was not crispy enough. It went well with the blackened garlic pan sauce and truffle celery root puree, but I had another major issue with this dish: IT'S RAW!

When that plate reached my table, I immediately knew that the duck breast was not fully cooked. The middle section of the duck breast was cold and bleeding red; the edge of the breast was pink and looked edible enough to eat. I took a risk and ate a small piece from the middle, but it resulted in me almost exhausting my jawline and not being able to chew anymore. The duck breast was rubbery and bland, but while I may add that it's a little trickier to cook, it is not an excuse for the chef to send out raw protein to their customers.

Toward the end of my dinner, I left with a metallic aftertaste in my mouth.

But aside from being served a bit of raw meat, everything else was great. The service was top-notch, and the quality of the food was adequate. Iron Duck Restaurant does well in keeping consistent storage of local produce and will only accept the highest grade of meat. Chef Adam Huebscher is talented and knows what he's doing in the kitchen.

I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting or living in the area if they feel like eating out.

3.5/5 stars