Dining

Set the mood and enjoy the view

Dining choices abound in Northern Michigan. If you are looking for a romantic hideaway, a waterfront seat for sundown or the latest cuisine, you can find it here. Whether it’s a meal served on a white tablecloth or fixed on an outdoor grill, the local proprietors work to make guests feel at home. Make sure you sample some of Michigan’s tastiest exports with your meal. No meal would be complete without a Michigan wine as starter. Any seafood lover will know when he tastes the famed Great Lakes whitefish that it is something special. Other not-to-miss treats include pasties – a regional meat pie from the Upper Peninsula and anything that would include cherries or the coveted morel mushroom. Dessert is simple with the dozens of locally made fudge flavors. Imagine taking the dining experience “up a notch” with a dinner cruise aboard a Great Lakes cruise ship or aboard a train.

To find the right place, try first choosing a location. Is it waterside, near the beach or dune, a marina perhaps or rustic cabin? Choose your mood - romantic? Find a gorgeous view as your backdrop. Look for spirited fun in a sport bar. Or let the specialties of the house be your guide: the baked goods, award winning ribs, fresh fish, or a great steak.  It is all here for the tasting - all you need is your imagination and knowing where to look. For a complete list of dining establishments, click here.

Fine Dining - when the evening is all yours

There is no shortage of fine dining in any number of beautiful settings, to make a gastronomical rendezvous. The tiny town of Elsworth is home to the acclaimed dining spot, The Rowe Inn, where dinner has been called a pilgrimage. In Cheboygan, one can savor fresh fish and local cuisine in a turn-of-the-century hunting lodge at the Hack-Ma-Tack Inn. La Becasse in Maple City serves both local delicacies and gourmet French cooking in a menu that changes weekly. At Lulu’s Bistro in Bellaire, the French is casual and mixed with a touch of Asian, Mediterranean, and Cajun flavors. The Douglas Lake Bar & Steakhouse sits in a rustic log building with two giant fieldstone fireplaces overlooking pristine Douglas Lake. Sunday brunch is a classic at Stafford’s Bay View Inn in Petoskey. In Harbor Springs at The Fish, fresh delicacies are flown in three times a week. For an intimate repast, try Hattie’s in Suttons Bay for local cuisine prepared with gourmet flair. In Harbor Springs, visit the New York Restaurant and peruse its award winning wine list with fine wines from all over the world. Try any of the region’s fine resorts for the fine and casual dining restaurants on premise.  For more fine dining options, click here.

International Dining - no passport required

One only need travel the region to taste a world of international flavors. Many restaurants have special nights and themed weekends to introduce to the adventuresome. Others of note include Gemignani’s in Hancock featuring Rudy Gemignani’s hearty Northern-Italian style meat sauce passed down from father Gino; it has been recognized as Copper Country’s favorite spaghetti sauce. The Grappe D’Or Bistro in Marinette serves a “prix fixe” dinner of Continental cuisine in a restored lumberman’s Queen Anne mansion. Go east (in regional terms) for Chee Peng in Petoskey serving both Chinese and Thai foods. You can enjoy a spicy night of Cajun at Cajun Creole in Elk Rapids. The Red Mesa Grill in Boyne City (and Traverse City) is for specialties south of the border like Peruvian Armadillo Eggs and Flaming Chili Con Queso or Cuban Black Bean Cakes. Or if you want to taste a variety of foods, visit The Bluebird Restaurant and Bar in Leland for its ethnic night including French, Mediterranean, Southwestern, Spanish Tapas, New Orleans, Thailand and Greek.

Microbreweries - a toast to the region’s finest!

If you are a beer fan, you will not want to miss visiting some of the growing number of breweries where you can sample hand made ales and meet the brewmaster. Many breweries also have light fare, a fun atmosphere with entertainment and special events on any given weekend. Varieties abound from the Leelenau Brewing Company with its distinctive Belgium-style farmhouse brewery, to Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse in Gaylord, Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire, and the North Peak Brewing Company in Traverse City. Further north there is the Michigan House Cafe & Brewpub, located in the heart of Historic Downtown Calumet , The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery in Marquette, and in Houghton, the Keweenaw Brewing Company.

Dinner Cruises

Experience the world’s largest locking system at The Soo Locks Boat Tours & Dinner Cruises in Sault Sainte Marie. There you can enjoy a leisurely cruise on the St. Mary’s River with a complete buffet dinner. After dinner, experience “locking through the Soo Locks."  Cruise the Great Lakes on a 110 foot yacht, capable of carrying 149 passengers with The Houghton Keweenaw Excursions. They also offer lighthouse cruises, dinner cruises, and music cruises.