FOR ALL YOUR TIKI-RELATED NEEDS. Moke’s in Hallie is a summertime bar and grill with an outdoor tiki bar and a bean bag court. Looks like they got Land Shark in the cooler.

Hey you. Are you listening? Lean in closer. I’m going to tell you about one of Wisconsin’s best kept secrets. It’s about Moke’s Bar and Grill in Hallie.

Named after owner Nate Moquin’s late father, Moke’s looks like any other Wisconsin bar from the outside, but take a step inside the backyard and prepare to be surprised.

Approach the high wooden fence and hear Jimmy Buffet piping out into the street. Cross the threshold and behold all Moke’s has to offer by way of entertainment, from Hammer Schlagen and billiards to ladder golf and bean bags. In one corner sits a stage, where bands play most Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. “You can’t describe the ambiance until you see it,” Moquin said.

Perhaps the most unique thing about Moke’s is the massive full-service tiki bar. The bottom is made of small pieces of bamboo, and authentic Mexican masks hang from the ceiling. “I really tried making it look as authentic as possible.” Moquin said. The tiki bar is also rarely without their mascot Colby, a fun-loving bulldog.

Although the bar has been around for quite a while, Moquin didn’t take over management until April of 2007. “When we bought the bar from the previous owners, who’d been in the business for 30 years, we kept the menu the same. Exactly the same, no changes. These people were notorious for their food,” Moquin explained. 

Why mess with a good thing? Moquin recommends the pizza to first-timers. One of Moke’s cooks, Michelle, whipped me up one of their famous pepperoni pizzas, and let me tell you, it exceeds its reputation.

In the current economic times, many people shy away from the price of eating out, but Moke’s prices are extremely affordable. The entrees range from $5 to $9, and drinks from $2.50 to $4.

    Moke’s also proudly features “A Burger As Big As Your Head.” This beast of a burger uses one-and-a-half pounds of beef alone, and necessitates six slices of cheese to cover its vast surface. Moke’s has a competition going, challenging anyone brave enough to take on their gargantuan burger. If you can eat all of it (including the fries) in under 30 minutes, you get your name on the record board. Under 20 minutes you’ll get rewarded with a pitcher of beer. Under 10 minutes and it’s free. Beat the current record and win $100.

I chatted with a fellow newcomer, a young man that had just taken on the Goliath of burgers. He finished it in 17 minutes, a feat I thought rather impressive, until I saw the record board. The current record stands at a jaw-dropping 4 minutes and 29 seconds. Close to 40 people have taken on the burger and won, only one of which was a lady. “We’re going to have a head-to-head competition this fall,” Moquin said

Moke’s features a myriad of competitions on a daily basis, with bean-bag leagues on Tuesday nights and beer pong leagues on Thursdays. They plan on having mud-wrestling on July 22, and the second annual midget wrestling later this fall. They’ve also had class reunions, most recently hosting the class of ‘94.

Moquin shows great pride in his bar and grill saying, “We have a top notch staff, the bartenders are awesome, a huge reason as to why people come back. Plus there’s a huge demographic. It’s not a college bar; not an old person bar; it’s an everyone bar. It’s a place everyone can feel welcome.”

    Moke’s Grill and Bar is located at 3077 Hwy OO in Hallie. Call 720-8950 for more information.