Backwaters Updates & News

Our outdoor dining space is open for business! Enjoy fresh air and beautiful water views with our outdoor seating. Eat your fish fry, ribs, burgers or salad - and don't forget the beer and cheese curds - all while enjoying fresh air and the beautiful water view at the Backwaters Bar & Grill outdoor dining. So friendly! The back patio and bar is beautiful! The best thing of all is that you could come by boat if you wanted to. - Colleen D. Even if you are in a hurry, you can relax at Backwaters. Just check out our menu, and you can even order online ahead of time. Backwater Bar & Grill restaurant offers an amazing, one-of-a-kind view for the area. A wide array of wildlife is always around: from geese, ducks, cranes, swans, otters, beavers, foxes and even eagles flying above daily. There is always a unique experience and our outdoor dining will bring you even closer to the famous northwoods wildlife Guest can also visit us by boat, canoe or kayak when the weather is right. Our menu is just right for everyone in the family. We have a kid's menu and plenty of variety to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes. We'll cook to order if you have special requirements. Be sure to stop by and enjoy Rhinelander's finest at the Backwaters Bar & Grill Restaurant.

Welcome to the Backwaters Bar & Grill in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Owners Jennie and Richard Kotula, along with their three daughters, were proud to take ownership of the Backwaters in 2019. The Kotulas continue the history of great dining, drinks and family fun for Rhinelander. Jennie and Richard are continuously working to improve the quality, variety and value of the food they provide. The bar menu is constantly tweaked to suit all tastes and keep things fresh. Interested in the history of this longtime local favorite Rhinelander restaurant? Here is the history of the Backwaters… The Backwaters Bar & Grill has been a Rhinelander, WI, local favorite restaurant for over 20 years. It was originally opened under the name "Budreau’s Backwater’s Supper Club and Lounge". The  scenic spot on the Wisconsin River, with easy access from the northern end of the Boom Lake chain, was an ideal location for dining. Longtime Northwoods residents look back fondly at the old-time supper club days. Remember the self-serve salad bar? The Backwaters remained a constant through the years. In 2014, new owners Patrick Wilson and his wife Jeanne were introduced. It was at this time the name was changed to the "Backwaters Bar & Grill" - as it is known today. The Wilson's did a complete remodel of the interior: goodbye dim lighting and the days of past – hello new interior, bar, seating, flat screen TVs and better views of the water! Lakeside dining at its best, plus great food, drinks and sports! The Backwaters Bar & Grill delved more into craft beers, cocktails and became known for their new smoked meats and upgraded fish fry. Current Owners... In 2019, the Wilson’s decided to move on and sold the Backwaters to the Kotulas. The Kotulas found the business to be just the right fit for their active family: sports, food, hospitality and good times. They have fine-tuned the menu, increased the bar menu and done many further improvements on the interior. New Specials and Old Favorites Are you looking for favorites? Check out the Broasted Chicken, in-house smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Want new specials? Try the Broasted Pork Chop, homemade soups, seasonal drinks and get lucky with Thankful Thursdays (FREE dessert!). In addition, the Backwaters also hosts special holiday meals, so be sure to stay in touch for these specials. Stay tuned for continuous improvements and fun times at the Backwaters Bar & Grill in Rhinelander, WI.  

Backwaters Reopening! You'll find a new restaurant reopen on a stretch of highway 47 in the Northwoods. Backwaters Bar and Grill just opened Friday. It used to be Budreau's Backwaters Supper Club and Lounge. The new Rhinelander owners moved from Nebraska so they could be closer to family and friends. "Just something we always thought about doing. Coming back, being back around family, our friends that we left 20 something years ago. It's just something we needed to do." said Backwaters co-owner, Jeanne Wilson. The restaurant is located right off of highway 47 and nearby snowmobile trails. Customers says the restaurant gives easy access coming off the trails. The restaurant is open seven days a week. Read the full story on WJFW News (Originally posted  January, 2014 - Shardaa Gray / WJFW News)

Archived article from January, 2014 -------------------------------------------- Marcus Nesemann/River News A familiar local restaurant has a new name and a new identity, set to open soon - thanks to a couple of Rhinelander natives who have come home to the restaurant business. Backwaters Bar and Grill, formerly known as Budreau's Backwaters Supper Club and Lounge, should be open by the end of the month if all goes as planned, new owner Patrick Wilson said. "We're planning on opening here in the next few weeks. We don't have a set date, it's bouncing around a little bit," Wilson said. "We'll be open by the end of the month though." Not only does this mean a dormant establishment will once again be open for business, it also marks a return to Rhinelander for Wilson and his wife. "My wife and I are originally from Rhinelander. All of our family lives here and we decided that after living in different parts of the Midwest we'd come back to Rhinelander to start our second career," Wilson explained. "When we came back to the area, we looked around for different opportunities and this one seemed to be the one that fit us the best, so we decided to purchase the building and the property and renovate it and open it up." "We want to become known for having the best little bar and grill in the area," Wilson said. "We're accessible on the northern end of the Boom Lake chain and we'll be catering to the snowmobilers and pontooners and travelers going up and down Highway 47 as well as the people that live here year-round. We want to have something for everyone." Read the full story on the Northwoods River News