The Sheboygan Series of blog posts concludes with one
that certainly delivers as advertised – the Charcoal Inn. There are two locations in Sheboygan. This post is about my visit to the south
location, as it was open for dinner.
The Charcoal Inn is not unlike many local diners with a
menu focused on burgers, sandwiches and sides (and the obligatory Friday fish
fry in Wisconsin). How it prepares many
of the sandwiches is how it stands out.
As previewed above, the Charcoal Inn’s south location
occupies a rather ordinary looking with a brick front on the 1300 block of
South 8th Street, just a few blocks south of where you cross the
Sheboygan River at the edge of downtown.
At night, in a highly residential area, it may not stand out, but I can
guarantee you all the locals know exactly where to find it. But then again, they’re only open until 9
p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends, so it’s not like they’re keeping the
neighbors up at night.
The seating area inside is nothing fancy, but substantial
enough for the steady business the Charcoal Inn brings in. The photos on the wall show the place
embraces its position in Sheboygan history.
Of course, I preferred to sit closer to the action, on a
counter stool with a nice view of the cook working over the coals. As you can imagine, the counter seats in this
place are preferred over all else.
I ordered a soda and studied the menu. The hand menu had the prices …
… but the menu boards behind the counter had the
nostalgia.
Having almost reached my limit of bratwursts during my
time in Sheboygan, but not wanting to miss the full flavor experience of the
place’s signature charcoal grilling, I opted for the signature Charcoal Inn sandwich – brat and hamburger patties,
served with lettuce and tomato. The bun,
naturally, was warmed on the grill and coated with butter. I figured the
slaw had to be good because of the fish fry factor, so I ordered a serving to
substitute for fries. I could not have
been more satisfied with both. A subtle
charcoal flavor permeated the meat but did not overpower the taste of each
meat. The slaw was finely diced, creamy
and comforting.
The Charcoal Inn South was another fine diner experience
in the heart of Sheboygan. The charcoal
cooking just made it more memorable. If
you’re in the mood for an affordable sandwich and fries (or slaw, or onion
rings, or applesauce) kind of place (their soup specials seem quite popular,
too) in Sheboygan, seek out the Charcoal Inn South. And if it’s breakfast time, look for their
north location.
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