7 Best Places to Eat in Downtown Janesville, WI

Foodies galore! Downtown Janesville does not disappoint when it comes to culinary treats and delights. Here is a list of local places to eat in Janesville, and the type of cuisine that they have.

Thank you to Janesville’s Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for hosting us on this trip to the city. If you have time while you’re in the city, pop by their office at the Old Towne Mall downtown to pick up more information, and brochures, or buy some branded souvenirs!

This post is part of our Wisconsin travel series. Here are a few more related posts:

• Finding Rascal by Sterling North in Wisconsin
• 3 Best Things to Do in Osseo Wisconsin
• 8 Things to Do in Menomonie, WI: Beer & Cheese!
• Janesville Shopping: 10 Distinctive and Unique Shops to Visit
• Best Places to Eat in Downtown Janesville

Sandee’s Thai Fusion: Legitimate Thai food in the heart of Janesville

Address: 12 S Main St, Janesville, WI
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays 4 pm to 9 pm (dinner only), Fridays and Saturdays 11 am to 2 pm (lunch) 4 pm to 9 pm (dinner), closed Sundays

Are you craving for Asian food? I always am, being originally from the region. You’ll know Thai food is legit when they ask you for your preferred spice level when you order. Such is the norm when eating the noodles in Thailand. Sandee’s asked for the spice level of my noodles and boy, did they deliver. For those not used to the level of spice that Thai food can get, even a 2 on the spice scale (that goes up to 5) can be spicy. Apart from the usual Thai cuisine, you can get awesome cocktails as well as Thai tea and other non-alcoholic drinks. If you don’t like Thai food, the restaurant also offers its take on other Asian dishes like chicken teriyaki. For non-chopstick users, the restaurant offers cutlery by default, but chopsticks are also provided whenever you order a noodle dish.

Here’s their menu online. I ordered a pad see ew, which is my default noodle dish whenever I go to a Thai place, with a spice level of 2, and boy, was it hot. I then had water with Thai Tea to help wash it down. If I had more space, I would have gotten the mango sticky rice as a dessert!

Janesville Sandwich Bar

Address: 54 S Main St, Janesville, WI
Hours: 11 am to 2:30 pm (lunch), 4 pm to 8 pm (dinner) Tuesdays to Saturdays. Closed Sunday and Monday

Sandwiches are a bit boring and are not one of my favorite foods to eat, but luckily Janesville’s Sandwich Bar is not that type of sandwich place. Their creations are yummy and healthy. It’s a sit-down type of place, where a server will come over, and you can order the sandwiches from them. Do not forget to get the fries, the dip is the best thing ever. With a special aioli dip, the French fries have an amazing taste. 

Genisa Wine Bar: the best place to eat in downtown Janesville

Address: 11 N Main St, Janesville, WI 53545
Hours: 3 pm to 11 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, 4 pm to 8 pm Sunday, closed Monday 

If you only had one place to eat in Janesville, make it Genisa Wine Bar. This Italian food joint is the absolute best and you have to leave space for desserts. The food at Genisa’s is Italian, and they have their wood-fired oven inside the restaurant. You can watch how they make the pizza from the bar! The way they designed the oven is also very groovy and aesthetically pleasing. If you’re lucky and have a big enough party, try to get a seat at the booth. It’s so cozy and feels far away from everybody else.

Do not miss the tiramisu from the dessert menu. That is the best tiramisu I’ve ever tasted outside of Italy. It’s yummy, soft, and decadent. The slice is pretty big but may not be enough for one person who loves tiramisu! 

On the patio of Genisa’s is a mural. It’s part of the overall Janesville art trail, so do check it out if you can. For people who like hanging out with friends with a drink, Genisa’s has an amazing selection of alcoholic drinks. There’s going to be another Genisa extension opening in the next few months (in 2023) which will serve mocktails exclusively! This is perfect for those who don’t like to (or can’t) drink alcoholic drinks. They can still join in on the fun even when hanging out with friends or with loved ones.

Citrus Cafe: Best Breakfast in Downtown Janesville WI

Address: 208 S Main St, Janesville, WI 53545
Hours: Open daily from 6 am to 3 pm

Love breakfast, brunch, or lunch offerings? Citrus Cafe may be for you, but the queues to eat here may get long on weekends. Skillets, eggs, paninis, and sandwiches await. There are a lot of options available for any time of breakfast craving you may have. The coffee options may not be creative, but the food menu is what you come here for. 

29 South Cafe: Breakfast Place in Downtown Janesville, WI

Address: 29 S Main St, Janesville, WI 53545
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 1 pm, closed Sundays

29 South Cafe may be a better breakfast option if you like creative coffee flavors and pastries. Pancakes, chocolate croissants, and other breakfast dishes await. The cafe is a small business run by a family who bake the pastries you see in-store. The ambiance inside the cafe is cute too, with lots of family heirloom touches on the walls. 

Best Places to Eat Outside the Downtown Janesville Area

The restaurants below are not exactly located in Downtown Janesville, but they are worth a try. The first one is located just off the interstate, while the second one is a supper club that you have to try when you are in the area.

Milwaukee Grill Janesville

Address: 2601 Morse St, Janesville, WI 53545
Hours: 11 AM to 10 PM Mondays to Saturdays, 8 AM to 9 PM Sundays

Milwaukee Grill is not in downtown Janesville per se, but the restaurant is known for its Sunday brunches and mimosas. The location is off I-90, making it a quick stop off the interstate as you head off to your next adventure. The interior is cozy, with a working fireplace in one of the areas. Do not miss the Wisconsin cheese curds as the appetizer, they’re so yummy and can be easily shared with a bigger group. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was creamy and so good. 

The Buckhorn Supper Club in Milton, WI

Address: 11802 N Charley Bluff Rd, Milton, WI 53563
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays 4 pm to 9:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm to 8 pm. Closed Monday to Thursday 

Milton is a small town located 15 minutes north of Janesville, but I thought to add the Buckhorn to the list because it’s a super memorable place and offers great food. Located on the banks of Lake Koshkonong, the Buckhorn Supper Club has epic views of sunset over the lake. They serve the best steak in the area and have a great atmosphere whether you are dining inside or outside. The Buckhorn also hosts events like lobster boils, which sell out quickly! The Buckhorn has been serving guests since the late 1920s, so you know you are going to one of the best supper clubs you could ever visit in Wisconsin. 

Best Places to Eat in Downtown Janesville, WI

Here is a smattering of the best places to eat in Janesville, WI. I didn’t get a chance to eat in all the local places during my 3-day stay in the city, but I tried! Do you know any other restaurants that I may have missed?

Thank you so much for hosting me on this trip, Janesville CVB! If you have time, head to the Visitor Center in front of the 29 South Cafe to get more information on the city or buy a little souvenir from your trip.