Happy Monday!
You all are in for quite the treat today! Now, I’m sure you all know how much I love food, but I don’t think you guys understand how much I love the food up north in Leelanau. There are so many wonderful places to grab a bite to eat. From breakfast and lunch, to dinner and dessert, you will not be disappointed up there. Take a peek at some of my personal favorites, and make sure to comment below your favorites too!
For breakfast…
Martha’s Leelanau Table. Nestled in the adorable lakeside town, Suttons Bay is full of charm, and amazing restaurants! My favorite breakfast place in Suttons Bay is by far Martha’s. The french toast and blueberry flapjacks are out of this world! The best part is, they’re made with fresh ingredients from the area!
Art’s Tavern. In the town of Glen Arbor, right next to the famous Sleeping Bear Dunes, resides Art’s Tavern. One of the crowd favorites in the area that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks until late into the night. It’s right in the middle of everything and the food is amazing! I personally love the apple bread french toast. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had anywhere else!
Good Harbor Grill. Another great spot for breakfast in Glen Arbor is the adorable Good Harbor Grill. They serve some amazing breakfast dishes, and their homemade maple syrup is to die for! I also love their cherry coffee cake, made with cherries from the region.
Patisserie Amie. Further East of Glen Arbor in the busier Traverse City, lies a French inspired restaurant that serves meals that take you straight to the City of Lights with one bite of their French crepes. Their Brioche French toast is also fantastic, which makes this restaurant a must see if you’re in TC.
For lunch…
Cherry’s Public House. A great place to stop for a bite to eat not only because the food is really good, but the atmosphere is just fun! Located right next to the Cherry Republic Great Hall, Cherry’s Public House features outdoor seating on the front patio, and in the back where there are also fun lawn games. Cherries are the main focus on the menu here, but they do it so well! The heavily seasoned french fries have a subtle hint of cherry and there are sandwiches that feature cherry jam as well! I personally love their craft beers though, and I’m not usually a huge craft beer fan. I loved the Undertow Ale, and I’m pretty sure I could have sat there sipping on it (and munching on those fries) all day long!
Hop Lot Brewing Company. If you find yourself in Suttons Bay and you’re craving some good barbecue, head over to Hop Lot Brewing Company, where you’ll find a really cool place with indoor/outdoor seating, fire pits, live music, and of course, amazing food! I love their pulled pork sandwich. It’s everything you’d hope to have in a barbecue sandwich; messy and juicy, leaving you wanting more!
The Cove. Hands down my family’s favorite place to go and it’s all because of one single dish; their famous seafood chowder. This chowder is so good, that we sometimes will make the 3.5 hour drive from Holt just to have it! It’s really THAT good! The Cove is also really well known for their chubby Mary’s. My mom loves them!
Rick’s Cafe. Located right below The Cove, Rick’s Cafe rests right on the river in Fish Town, which is the best place to be in the summertime! The smell of the food smoking on the grill will lead you there! They have some of the same items on the menu as The Cove, (including the seafood chowder that you must try), but also an amazing cherry chicken salad wrap that myself and my family love!
For Dinner…
Boone Docks. As a kid, you knew it was going to be a good day when you were told we were going to Boonedocks later for dinner. The giant outdoor deck restaurant in the middle of Glen Arbor is one of the coolest places to go for dinner. There is live music, great food, and an overall great atmosphere.
Art’s Tavern. Mentioning this restaurant again because it’s just too good. There is always a line waiting outside for their amazing burgers and white fish sandwiches and the outdoor patio is constantly full of happy people. It’s a must see in Glen Arbor!
North Country Bar & Grill. If you find yourself in Suttons Bay around dinner time, one of my favorite places to head over to is North Country Bar & Grill. I feel like I’ve talked a lot about outdoor dining in Leelanau, but us Michiganders bare the cold winter months for so long that we really enjoy being outside in the summer, and North Country Bar & Grill has a really adorable patio. There are hanging lights and tons of greenery, so it feels extra cozy. Their seafood is also really delicious! Anytime I see lobster on the menu, I have to try it, and I was not disappointed there!
Joe’s Friendly Tavern. Located in the quaint village of Empire, Joe’s Friendly Tavern is one of my dad’s favorite places to go to. Their burgers are unreal! My family has even tried to get them featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on the Food Network for years!
Riverfront Pizza & Deli. Another one of my dad’s favorites, this pizza place is right on Crystal River in Glen Arbor. Grab a big pizza pie and enjoy it on their deck with views of the river, or take it to go and have a pizza picnic on the beach at sunset. Either way, you will leave very happy!
For a little something sweet…
River & Main Candy Store. When you’re in the mood for a little something sweet, head over to River & Main Candy Store in downtown Leland. This was my favorite place to spend time as a kid. I would go in and grab a big bag of jelly beans and eat them out on their patio on all of the wooden rockers. They also have really delicious coffee if you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up!
Cherry Republic Great Hall. A Leelanau staple located in the heart of Glen Arbor, Cherry Republic is the perfect place to grab some authentic cherry treats! There are samples of all of their featured sweets and snacks. From cherry salsa, to their famous jam, and tons of chocolate covered cherries. I LOVE their dark chocolate covered cherries and could probably eat only those for the rest of my life.
Boone Dock’s Ice Cream. On the same deck as the main restaurant, Boone Docks has an amazing little ice cream shop. We used to ride our bikes there all the time as a family to enjoy a sweet treat. They feature everyone’s favorite flavors, like cookie dough, moose tracks, cookie’s and cream and so much more.
The Dam Candy Store. This little candy shop rests right by the dam in Fish Town (hence the punny name). There are tons of little candy treats, and even ice cream! It’s a fun place to go to while you’re walking the docks of Fish Town.
Murdick’s Fudge. Located near the water in Suttons Bay, Murdick’s Fudge is an absolute gem for fresh fudge! I remember my mom spending WAY too much money in there as a kid, but we pretty much all have a sweet tooth in my family, so it was necessary. They have classic chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, and turtle fudge. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it!
If you’ve made it to the end of this post, congrats!! I know it was a long one, but like I said, the food up north is just too good! Make sure to comment below with some of your favorites in Leelanau so I can try them next time I’m up there! xo
