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Places to Eat, Drink, and Stay in Northwest Michigan
Restaurants
Northwest Region
- Honor — The Trading Post — My brother used to walk down Deadstream Rd. nearly every day of our vacation on Big Platte Lake to get pizza from The Trading Post. He always said that he'd bring back a slice for us, but he always ate it before he got back. So, until recently, I had no idea what I was missing. After a 5-hour drive with a hyperactive 3-yr-old, the last thing we wanted was to have to cook dinner. I remembered how my brother devoured The Trading Post's pizza, so we stopped in on a busy summer Saturday night. The ice cream we enjoyed before the pizza was ready was like that first sip of a really cold beer. The Sleeping Bear Supreme ice cream that The Trading Post stocks comes directly from Traverse City and you can tell a huge difference in the quality. Then our pizza came out -- a large supreme with flavored crust. Even with a screaming toddler, that pizza was one of the finest I've ever had (and I've had plenty). We loved it so much that we came back a few days later. Order the "Lori special" (named after my beautiful wife): red onions, green peppers, banana peppers, and green olives. The owners of The Trading Post are local to the area, make their pizzas, and their quality is never skimped on. It's truly the best in Benzie. Rent a canoe with your family after playing at Champion Hill, Pinecroft, or Crystal Lake Golf Course. Visit The Trading Post website: www.canoeplatteriver.com
- Frankfort — Dinghy’s — I spent many sweltering summer days watching my brother and dad play pool (and kick back some cool ones) at The Baker Bar. It is probably just locals and long-time vacationers who still refer to Dinghy’s as The Baker Bar, but the old neon sign still hangs above the bar. However, the line out the door on any Friday night in July should tell you that the food is pretty darn good at Dinghy’s. I rarely order anything except the adult grilled cheese — asiago, cheddar, and provolone with carmelized onions and fresh tomatoes on rosemary sourdough. The pulled pork sandwich is smoky and messy, cooked all day in the onsite smoker. The ribs are what Dinghy’s are known for and what packs them into the same Baker Bar booths of my childhood. Order the seasoned basket of French fries for the table and decide what course to play tomorrow.
- Frankfort — The Villa Marine Bar — Fish and chips, cold beer, and a view of the Betsie Bay. Does it get any better? The menu at the Villa Marine Bar is what you’d probably expect from a bar that’s half a pool hall and overlooks a marina. However, the burgers are the best in Frankfort. The turkey reuben is a hot mess of goodness that will run down to your elbows. Don’t miss the outside bar seating in the summer.
- Frankfort — The Manitou — Make a reservation now for a weekend evening in July. No, seriously. Just around the bend from Crystal Lake and close to Long Lake, follow the cars parked up and down M-22 to The Manitou. It’s billed as casual fine dining, but the interior is more lodge-like. Plan on going for dinner after a round, because the lines are usually long at any time of day. Their whitefish and perch are hailed as the best around. I still crave the most delicious spinach and artichoke dip I’ve ever had.
- Elberta — The Cabbage Shed — So, this is an award-winning restaurant? Really? Although the exterior isn’t much to look at, the food and reputation speak for themselves. Built in 1867, The Cabbage Shed was originally a warehouse built on the west side of Betsie Bay. It’s been a restaurant since the mid-1980s. The bar is stocked with 11 kinds of single malt Scotch, handpicked from Scotland and all aged over 12 years. The Pan-seared scallops in a beurre blanc sauce will make you return after playing Arcadia Bluffs (only 15 miles south).
- Elberta — The Mayfair Tavern — Come for the burger awarded Best in Benzie by Traverse magazine. A soft bun and melting American cheese make it the perfect bar burger. It’s an honest burger without bells and whistles. The fish and chips and whitefish round out the burger and sandwich menu. The interior is a classic fisherman’s bar, complete with netting and a beautiful view of the charter boats in Betsie Bay. The addition of an outside waiting area shows just how popular this classic tavern is.
- Benzonia — Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill — Perhaps it’s because I’m on vacation and it’s usually in the mid-80s and sunny, but the margarita at the Roadhouse is superb. Pair it with the tequila chicken fajitas and their housemade salsa and you’ve got yourself an evening. Save yourself a fight at the table and get the Santiago Sampler appetizer, which includes their legendary empanadas and award-winning wings. The guac and housemade chips are a little expensive for a side, but if you’re a fan of chunky, authentic guac, order another margarita and enjoy.
- Beulah — The Cherry Hut — Few images evoke childhood memories quite like the smiling cherry pie logo that has made The Cherry Hut famous. In business since 1922, Bon Appétit magazine named the cherry pie the best in Michigan. And it is, in my opinion, the only cherry pie that I will eat in the area. Order it hot with vanilla ice cream and a cherry-ade and relish in your sugar-infused-cherry coma. The salads are refreshing in the summer and the classic mom-and-pop meals of the day are great bargains. The hot meatloaf sandwich on spongy soft white bread with gravy and whipped mashed potatoes is deliciously retro. Buy a Cherry Jerry cookie —white chocolate, macadamia nut, and dried cherries — to put in your golf bag.
- Beulah — The Market Basket — Sharing a parking lot with The Cherry Hut, The Market Basket looks like a simple veggie market, with a few groceries. However, after your round, pick up a loaf or two of the best bread you’ll ever have. The white and wheat breads are almost always fresh out of the oven because they literally cannot keep them on the shelves. Tall and soft, yeasty and spongy, the bread makes the perfect sandwich. Pick up some for breakfast and grab some hot dog and hamburger buns to make your bbq or campfire that much better.
- Beulah — Brookside Inn — Leave room for dessert. I can’t begin to describe the baked goods at the Brookside Inn. It has been the first stop in Benzie county for my family for many years. The plate-size cookies and mega cinnamon rolls are equally as good as their pies and old-world style tortes. The menu is eclectic and refreshing. Known for their seafood, you can pick your own lobster. Take a break from everything and everyone and sit out on the back deck, overlooking the brook and the beautiful gardens, and enjoy a cup of their good strong coffee.
- Honor — Papa J’s — Don’t let the strip mall location keep you away. It’s the best breakfast in Benzie, hands down. And the best value — nothing is over $7, and that’s a plate-size omelet with hash browns and toast. Grab a quick and filling breakfast before playing Champion Hill Golf Course, just about a mile away.
- Manistee — Manistee Inn and Marina — A quaint lakeside town that caters to tourists. Lodging is abundant and reasonably priced. We have always stayed at the Manistee Inn and Marina on Front Street. The rooms are spacious and clean but a little outdated. You have your choice of a street front or riverfront room. Mike at the Inn is a gracious host.
- Manistee — Tuscan Grille — Is a great way to end any day. And if you shot a record round during the day, test your luck at the Little River Casino at the intersection of Highway 22 and US 31 North. Manistee is located 22 miles south of Arcadia and is an easy drive from Arcadia Bluffs.
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