category

restaurant/hospitality

contact

Captain Bill's
1001 Arboretum Dr Suite 204
Waunakee, WI 53597

608.831.7327


www.capbills.com

[viewed 1424 times]

Product/Service

Whether you come by land or lake, you're sure to have a great dining experience at Captain Bill's. Owned and operated by the von Rutenberg family, Captain Bill's offers the friendly service, good times and great food they are known for. During warm weather months patio dining is available and during the snowy winter evenings you can sit by the fire and admire the lake shore view of Madison.

Buying Local

Captain Bill's was among the first restaurants to participate in the Buy Fresh Buy Local collaborative between local farmers and chefs. As members of Madison Originals and Dane Buy Local, the von Rutenbergs support the local community through purchasing locally, featuring local artisans on the menus, partnering with other local businesses, and impacting the local economy by banking locally and employing over 250 employees at the various businesses that are part of von Rutenberg Ventures.

History

Captain Bill's is owned and operated by the von Rutenberg family and is part of von Rutenberg Ventures. von Rutenberg Ventures specializes in waterfront hospitality and development. The start of von Rutenberg Ventures goes back to 1961 when Bill and Betty von Rutenberg struck out on their own and purchased the Nibble Nook. This tiny eight stool hamburger spot (on East Washington Avenue just off the square) soon became hot spot for great burgers, fries, and shakes. Many customers today still mention how they loved those Nibble Nook burgers!

Five years later in 1966, Bill and Betty sold the Nibble Nook and bought Jack Burke's Supper Club (now the Mariner's Inn, one of Madison's landmark restaurants). The Nau-Ti-Gal opened in 1982 and Captain Bill's joined the family of waterfront eateries in 1993. Rounding out the family of waterfront businesses, Betty Lou Cruises launched its first yacht in 1998.

Bill and Betty's son's, Bill, Jack, and Robert, along with their outstanding crew, now carry on the tradition of waterfront hospitality of von Rutenberg Ventures. As Betty always said, "We'll put sunshine in your smile and spring in your heart!"

Captain Bill's is celebrating its 15th year of local lake front dining in 2008. A casual, rustic, nautical atmosphere awaits you when you are ready for an escape from the everyday world.