/ Business of the Month / Outdoorsman Restaurant
Business of the Month: February 2024
Outdoorsman Restaurant
The Outdoorsman Restaurant
10387 Main Street
Boulder Junction, WI 54512
Phone: (715) 385-3297
Website: www.outdoorsmanrestaurant.com
The Outdoorsman Restaurant has witnessed decades of transformations. Now owned by Chef Matt Prochaska and Noelle Fey, the restaurant's recent revival in February 2023 has brought fresh energy and a new chapter to this fond destination in Boulder Junction. We recently had an opportunity to sit down with Chef Matt to learn about The Outdoorsman and his journey of entrepreneurship.
The Outdoorsman Restaurant was built in the late 1950's as a private residence and remodeled in 1961 into a restaurant with a private residence attached. That restaurant was called The Rustic Kitchen. It passed through several owners over the next few decades and in 1978 was renamed The Outdoorsman.
Matt’s passion for cooking started at the young age of 15. “Growing up we had to do a lot of things ourselves. And one of my roles in the family was to help cook for my sister, my mother, and my dad. My dad though, despite being a deputy sheriff, had a flair for cooking. He always thought of himself as a chef, and he was a really good cook. So that inspired me to get in the kitchen," Prochaska shared.
“We have made it to a year of being open now,” said Prochaska. “We are extremely grateful to all the staff and community members who have come and gone to help us succeed. With the impact of the lack of weather in this normally high tourist season we have overcome many obstacles to stay open for the community.”
He added, “I never realized how much of an impact this place had on the community until we did open. We have had people come in every day saying that they used to come here as a kid with their family. We have had people who have gotten emotional that the place reopened after being closed for four years. It's just an amazing feeling to bring that back to them and to add a little twist to it, but still provide that comfortable Northwoods environment.”
The restaurant prides itself on its commitment to customer service, using fresh ingredients and offering unique menu items. It serves fresh from scratch breakfast and lunch, Friday Fish Frys, and occasional comedy nights! “We have revamped our breakfast and lunch menu, tailoring it to all the specialty items. Occasionally, I’ll create something unique such as, preparing a Beef Wellington or some handmade raviolis," Prochaska explained. "I’ll also bring in unique products like venison, smoked salmon, halibut, you name it.”
He added, "What inspired us to open The Outdoorsman is a dream. This has been my dream since I was a teenager. To be able to have my own restaurant, to cook people food and see them smile, see them talking to each other and creating memories while they're at our restaurant. That's what it's all about," Prochaska reflected.
Congratulations to Chef Matt & Noelle and The Outdoorsman!
