Joined
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274 Posts
I think this is my 5th year for this. It's such difficult work ivestigating these places, I often forget.
Houghton/Hancock
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Northern Lights/Franklin Square Tap Room- It's the restaurant and bar at headquarters. Kinda pricey and the food isn't really mind-bogglingly awesome, but I have a few favorites there. You really need to go just to check out all the rally pictures covering the walls. It's like an LSPR/POR museum. Favorites: Chinatown Nachos and The Bomb.
The Library- It doesn't matter what I say about this place, you'll probably go anyway. The Waitress That Hates Us still works there, and they still love to pull my favorite things off the menu, but I still go anyway. Favorites: Anything with Chipotle Pork and Shafthouse Stout (now only $2/pint from 4-6pm on weekdays!)
The Dog House- Formally known as the Douglas House Saloon and Armando's restaurant. I don't eat at Armando's much but I seem to recall they have pretty good Italian food. I just go to the bar. A nice, solid, competent bar without any gimmicks. Also has a good pool table. Favorites: Pitchers of LaBatt and Pickled Eggs.
Suomi Cafe- Rockin' breakfast spot. Blueberry pancakes are excellent and gigantic. Oddly enough, this is the only thing I ever order there.
Victoria's Kitchen- Owned by my boss's sister so it definitely gets a plug. Breakfast is good with unique and tasty omelets. This is the place for lunch though. I love their sandwhiches. Favorites: Chicken Fiesta Omelet and Siberian Turkey Sandwhich. And be sure to always get a side of Spicy Potatoes.
KBC- No food, but great beer for $2/pint. Order food from someplace else and bring it in or have it delivered- they encourage it and have take out menus behind the bar. A great place to enjoy a pizza from The Studio just up the road. Favorites: Hilde's Brown Ale and Kraken Malt Liquor.
Hunan Gardens- Chinese food, duh. Sometimes you just need Chinese Food. The tall guy behind the bar is the owner, and yes, he looks like he despises you because he probably does. Favorites: General's Chicken
Ambassador- Fishbowls! For when you really need to get trashed and not realize it's happening until you try and stand up and can't. Good pizza and sandwhiches. Favorites: Long Alaskan, Garlic Chicken Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad (best caesar salad in Houghton!)
Nutini's- Everybody seems to think this place is an overpriced dive. And well, they're right. But if you have to ask, you'll never know...
Favorites: Pints of Guinness (normal sized pints, not those piddly 14.5 oz. things), any pizza on sourdough crust, lasagna.
South of Houghton
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Carla's Restaurant- On 41 just north of Baraga. Awesome view of the bay, watch for eagles. Best whitefish in the history of the universe. You've never known whitefish until you have their broiled whitefish.
Favorites: Whitefish, broiled.
The Hilltop Restaurant- On 41 in L'Anse. Stock up on baked goods for the day. Favorites: Breakfast buffet.
The Cozy Inn- NOT the one in South Range, the one on 41/28 in Nestoria at the end of the herman stage. Burgers are excellent, but it's the sarcastic abuse of the customers that keeps us coming back. Also, frequent bets for beer with the bartender tend to make this place rather cheap for us. One of the bartenders is a ham and keeps a radio behind the bar. Favorites: Burgers, self serve beer cooler.
North of Houghton
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The Michigan House- Located in downtown Calumet. Best food in the Keweenaw in my book. Everything I've ever had there is great. And surprisingly inexpensive if you can stay out of the beer and wine menu. Favorites: Cedar Plank Trout and Fish and Chips.
The UP Pub- Downtown Calumet. I think my friend's are scared of this place or something. Positively cavernous bar with a huge collection of bar mirrors. Favorites: $1 mugs of Labatt.
Fitzgerald's- On the shore in Eagle River. If you need to take the SO someplace to apologize for blowing all the retirement savings on rally, this is the place. Get a reservation for a window seat at sunset. Fancy gourmet type food at fancy gourmet type prices, but it's worth it. Favorites: Whatever grilled slab of flesh sounds the most exotic. I think it was elk last time I was there.
Mariner North- In Copper Harbor. If I can get away from my post on Saturday at all, I'll be heading up here for a bowl of seafood chowder. Favorites: Seafood chowder, Freighter sandwhich.
There are lots more great places in the area other than those listed above. It's really hard to go wrong dining out in the UP as long as you avoid fast food and chain type restaurants.
Invariably people will ask about Pasties. They all taste mostly the same to me, so I really have no great insight. Lots of grocery stores sell hot pasties and I've heard they're some of the best. But I'm firmly in the gravy camp, so what the hell do I know anyway.
-james
Houghton/Hancock
----------------
Northern Lights/Franklin Square Tap Room- It's the restaurant and bar at headquarters. Kinda pricey and the food isn't really mind-bogglingly awesome, but I have a few favorites there. You really need to go just to check out all the rally pictures covering the walls. It's like an LSPR/POR museum. Favorites: Chinatown Nachos and The Bomb.
The Library- It doesn't matter what I say about this place, you'll probably go anyway. The Waitress That Hates Us still works there, and they still love to pull my favorite things off the menu, but I still go anyway. Favorites: Anything with Chipotle Pork and Shafthouse Stout (now only $2/pint from 4-6pm on weekdays!)
The Dog House- Formally known as the Douglas House Saloon and Armando's restaurant. I don't eat at Armando's much but I seem to recall they have pretty good Italian food. I just go to the bar. A nice, solid, competent bar without any gimmicks. Also has a good pool table. Favorites: Pitchers of LaBatt and Pickled Eggs.
Suomi Cafe- Rockin' breakfast spot. Blueberry pancakes are excellent and gigantic. Oddly enough, this is the only thing I ever order there.
Victoria's Kitchen- Owned by my boss's sister so it definitely gets a plug. Breakfast is good with unique and tasty omelets. This is the place for lunch though. I love their sandwhiches. Favorites: Chicken Fiesta Omelet and Siberian Turkey Sandwhich. And be sure to always get a side of Spicy Potatoes.
KBC- No food, but great beer for $2/pint. Order food from someplace else and bring it in or have it delivered- they encourage it and have take out menus behind the bar. A great place to enjoy a pizza from The Studio just up the road. Favorites: Hilde's Brown Ale and Kraken Malt Liquor.
Hunan Gardens- Chinese food, duh. Sometimes you just need Chinese Food. The tall guy behind the bar is the owner, and yes, he looks like he despises you because he probably does. Favorites: General's Chicken
Ambassador- Fishbowls! For when you really need to get trashed and not realize it's happening until you try and stand up and can't. Good pizza and sandwhiches. Favorites: Long Alaskan, Garlic Chicken Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad (best caesar salad in Houghton!)
Nutini's- Everybody seems to think this place is an overpriced dive. And well, they're right. But if you have to ask, you'll never know...
Favorites: Pints of Guinness (normal sized pints, not those piddly 14.5 oz. things), any pizza on sourdough crust, lasagna.
South of Houghton
-----------------
Carla's Restaurant- On 41 just north of Baraga. Awesome view of the bay, watch for eagles. Best whitefish in the history of the universe. You've never known whitefish until you have their broiled whitefish.
Favorites: Whitefish, broiled.
The Hilltop Restaurant- On 41 in L'Anse. Stock up on baked goods for the day. Favorites: Breakfast buffet.
The Cozy Inn- NOT the one in South Range, the one on 41/28 in Nestoria at the end of the herman stage. Burgers are excellent, but it's the sarcastic abuse of the customers that keeps us coming back. Also, frequent bets for beer with the bartender tend to make this place rather cheap for us. One of the bartenders is a ham and keeps a radio behind the bar. Favorites: Burgers, self serve beer cooler.
North of Houghton
-----------------
The Michigan House- Located in downtown Calumet. Best food in the Keweenaw in my book. Everything I've ever had there is great. And surprisingly inexpensive if you can stay out of the beer and wine menu. Favorites: Cedar Plank Trout and Fish and Chips.
The UP Pub- Downtown Calumet. I think my friend's are scared of this place or something. Positively cavernous bar with a huge collection of bar mirrors. Favorites: $1 mugs of Labatt.
Fitzgerald's- On the shore in Eagle River. If you need to take the SO someplace to apologize for blowing all the retirement savings on rally, this is the place. Get a reservation for a window seat at sunset. Fancy gourmet type food at fancy gourmet type prices, but it's worth it. Favorites: Whatever grilled slab of flesh sounds the most exotic. I think it was elk last time I was there.
Mariner North- In Copper Harbor. If I can get away from my post on Saturday at all, I'll be heading up here for a bowl of seafood chowder. Favorites: Seafood chowder, Freighter sandwhich.
There are lots more great places in the area other than those listed above. It's really hard to go wrong dining out in the UP as long as you avoid fast food and chain type restaurants.
Invariably people will ask about Pasties. They all taste mostly the same to me, so I really have no great insight. Lots of grocery stores sell hot pasties and I've heard they're some of the best. But I'm firmly in the gravy camp, so what the hell do I know anyway.
-james
