You’d Never Guess Minnesota’s Best Walleye Sandwich Comes From This Roadside Diner
Right off Interstate 35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth sits Tobies Restaurant & Bakery, a Minnesota road staple with lines that smell like butter and warm sugar.
Caramel rolls get the headlines, sure, but regulars lean in for a different habit. A crisp, hand-breaded walleye fillet lands on a toasted hoagie with fresh lettuce, tartar, and that just-fried aroma that hits before the plate does.
Locals call it the reel deal, comfort that travels well, and a sandwich worth pulling off for again and again.
Hand-Breaded Walleye On A Toasted French Hoagie
Fresh walleye gets coated in a crispy breading that crunches with every bite at Tobies. The kitchen hand-breads each fillet instead of using frozen shortcuts, which means you taste real fish flavor.
That golden piece of Minnesota’s state fish sits perfectly on a toasted French hoagie that soaks up just enough tartar without getting soggy. Crisp lettuce adds a cool contrast to the warm fillet.
House-made tartar sauce brings tangy notes that complement the mild walleye without overpowering it.
Pairing Perfection With Minnesota Wild Rice Soup
Regulars at Tobies rarely order the walleye sandwich without adding a cup of wild rice soup on the side. This combo has become the unofficial state meal among those who know.
The creamy soup features nutty wild rice harvested from Minnesota lakes, creating a hearty contrast to the crispy fish. Carrots and celery float in the rich broth that warms you up during those brutal northern winters.
Together, these two dishes tell the story of Minnesota food culture better than any fancy restaurant ever could.
Deep-Fried Walleye Dinner With All The Fixings
When that sandwich just won’t cut it, Tobies serves up a full walleye dinner that channels classic fish-fry vibes. The whole fillet gets dunked in hot oil until it reaches that perfect shade of golden brown.
Lemon wedges arrive ready for squeezing, adding bright citrus notes that cut through the richness. Extra tartar sauce sits in a little cup for dipping between bites of flaky white fish.
This plate satisfies even the hungriest travelers rolling off the highway.
Northwoods Walleye Breakfast Brings Fish To Morning
My uncle used to joke that walleye tastes better before noon, and Tobies must agree because they throw a fillet right onto the breakfast menu. The Northwoods Walleye Breakfast sets that golden piece of fish alongside eggs cooked your way.
Hash browns get crispy on the griddle while toast arrives with little jelly packets in grape and strawberry. Nobody expects fish for breakfast, but one bite proves morning walleye works surprisingly well.
This dish converts skeptics into believers faster than you can say pass the syrup.
Side Swaps Let You Customize Your Plate
Standard fries come with most meals, but Tobies knows not everyone wants the same old potato sticks. Swap those regular fries for thick onion rings that crunch louder than a gravel driveway.
Seasoned fries get tossed with spices that add a little kick to each bite. Feeling virtuous after that fried walleye? Trade up for a dinner salad with ranch or vinaigrette dressing.
These simple switches make your meal feel custom-built instead of cookie-cutter boring.
Seafood Menu Goes Beyond Just Walleye
While walleye steals the spotlight, Tobies keeps other ocean treasures on the menu for variety seekers. Icelandic cod arrives in thick portions that rival the local fish in texture and taste.
Jumbo scallops get seared until they develop a caramelized crust on the outside while staying tender inside. Even lobster makes an appearance, which seems wild for a highway diner but somehow fits right in.
This seafood breadth proves Tobies takes fish seriously, not just Minnesota’s favorite swimmer.
Long-Running Menu Signature Proves Staying Power
Flip through old Tobies menus from different decades and you’ll spot that walleye sandwich appearing again and again. Some restaurants chase trends and swap dishes every season, but this roadside spot knows better than to mess with success.
The walleye has outlasted countless food fads because it delivers consistent quality year after year. Regulars who moved away decades ago can return and order the exact same sandwich they remember.
That kind of menu loyalty speaks volumes about what keeps customers coming back.
Bakery’s Caramel Rolls Create Built-In Dessert Run
Right after you finish that walleye sandwich, the attached bakery starts calling your name with those famous caramel rolls. These massive spirals of dough get drenched in gooey caramel that drips down the sides in sticky rivers.
People drive hours just for these rolls, but pairing them with the fish creates a sweet and savory journey worth bragging about. The bakery aroma drifts into the dining room, making dessert feel mandatory rather than optional.
Leaving Tobies without grabbing a roll feels like a wasted opportunity.