SHOOK. Valley Burger Co. has a thoughtfully-curated cocktail menu that some people have yet to fully discover. With some help from Bar Manager Ellie Lahner, the local joint is hoping to change that.

Valley Burger Co. made quite the splash in the local foodie scene when it opened on Menomonie Street in Eau Claire back in 2022. Its double-patty burgers and seasoning-doused hand-cut fries are the undeniable stars of its compact menu. Another understated star is its cocktail menu.

Like most eateries, Valley Burger offers beer, wine, and cocktail options, but unlike most, the locally owned restaurant seems to go out of its way to make its mixed drinks as fresh as possible.

“Any type of flavoring we do, we make almost entirely ourselves. We even make our own syrups,” Bar Manager Ellie Lahner told me in a recent interview, prepping the bar to make the cocktails photographed for this article. “Our syrups are infused with spices and fruits, so it’s more natural and not just straight sugar. That makes our flavored drinks more refreshing than crazy sweet.”

The joint’s best selling drinks are their Old Fashioneds (not a surprise, considering this is Wisconsin): the Bourbon Old Fashioned and the Valley Old Fashioned, the latter made with Driftless Glen brandy. Valley Burger is one of the top buyers of the Wisconsin-made liquor, and aims to use as many regional products as possible.

Varieties of Driftless Glen are on display in the Eau Claire eatery, and other regional liquors grace its menu for specialty and regular items: Fieldnotes (made in La Crosse); J. Henry & Sons (based in Dane, Wisconsin); Wollersheim (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin); New Richmond Rye (New Richmond, Wisconsin); State Line Distillery (Madison); Prairie Organic (Princeton, Minnesota); and others.

Valley Burger’s espresso martini is another popular sip, crafted with a local spin – ideated by Ellie – thanks to its partnership with The Goat Coffeehouse, which supplies the necessary coffee.

The Valley Old Fashioned.

Lineup from left to right: Espresso Martini, Valley Old Fashioned, French 715, Cadillac Margarita, Wisco Sour.

Ellie, who was originally hired several years ago as a bartender, has worked her way up – and around – Valley Burger: She has had a hand in waitressing and hosting, kitchen work, management, and soon will be a regular face at Market on River in Chippewa Falls when Valley Burger opens its second location there.

Valley Burger made waves again in local foodie news when it announced its second location, which will open in Chippewa Falls on Friday, Nov. 22. Folks will be able to enjoy much of the eatery’s food selection there, plus a condensed version of its beer and booze menu. (Valley Burger will be the only vendor in Market on River with a liquor license.)

Though Valley Burger is a later-in-the-game addition to the Wisconsin Farmers Union Headquarters building, it seems a perfect match for the project: The eatery emphasizes local and regional ingredients, from its beef and cheese to its cocktails. Cheers to the new Valley Burger location, which will be open in Chippewa Falls Nov. 22-26 from 11am-2pm and 4-8pm, and closed for Thanksgiving. After the holiday, the location will be open seven days a week, with hours TBD. 

Visit Valley Burger Co. at its Eau Claire location (1004 Menomonie St., Eau Claire) seven days a week • Valley Burger Co. at Market on River (128 W. River St., Chippewa Falls) is slated to open Friday, Nov. 22 • Keep up with Valley Burger Co. on Facebook and Instagram and learn more at valleyburger.co