The host staff was very good and informative about the wait process. They made sure we wanted to be seated outside noting that it can get chilly ( we already knew this from previous visits) and that we needed to have our full group there to be seated. Our server was amazing. Very knowledge and helpful with our wine and food selections. Everyone's food was very delicious. I mean every last thing on the plate was carefully thought out and prepared perfectly. And the dessert. Wow! I'm gluten free so many restaurants only option is crème bruele. Not here. The Swedish cream with lingonberries is to die for. We come back every year. I'm already anticipating next year's visit. read more

For our first meal on the North Shore and during our stay in Grand Marais, we decided to visit Angry Trout Cafe. It seemed like a completely chef driven restaurant with items on the menu displaying some creativity and with many of their ingredients locally sourced. We settled in on a Monday evening, right after a thunderstorm had passed the region. Since the outdoor dining area was closed, the wait was probably longer than normal. For our party of 2, we were quoted 35 minutes. Our wait ended up being 1 hour. Right when we were called up, a family of 4 was quoted a 1 hour wait, and this was 30 minutes before they closed! There's no way the staff aren't pissed off at having to stay hours after close due to management inefficiency. At some point, restaurants need to turn away guests. This is the first restaurant I've ever visited where 20% of the displayed menu price goes towards tips and isn't retained by the house. This is the reason the prices seem so high - no additional tips are expected. Herring Fritters (Complementary, normally $17.50) - We ordered the wild rice fritters but were brought these instead. I was confused about the texture and taste. The server confirmed our order had been incorrect. To their credit, they comped this dish, then brought out the correct fritters. These fried fish balls are interesting, almost similar in texture to a Chinese fishball, but less homogeneous and bouncy. Inside is a dense batter mix of thyme, peppers, onions, and small chunks of really tender fish. (4/5) Fried Wild Rice Fritters ($17.50) - These are totally different from the fish fritters. They are lighter inside, more like fried yeast dough donuts, chewier and studded with peas, shiitake mushroom, and some snappy broken wild rice. (5/5) Lake Trout Chowder, Bowl ($14.50) - This is a thinner chowder that isn't particularly creamy or rich. The flavor is nice, with plenty of herbal and umami elements. There are lots of potato, carrot and celery chunks, not to mention a huge number of fish chunks all around. It's all very fresh, so there are no sign of fishy off flavors that I've experienced with other fish chowders. The bowl is served with two pieces of baguette, sliced on a large bias. They have clearly been sitting around in a high humidity environment given how leathery they are. (4/5) Grilled Whitefish Dinner ($39) - Angry Trout prepares their fish perfectly - it's one of the best fillets I've ever eaten. And yet it's so simple - a couple of minutes spent grilling, giving a magnificent charred flavor, yet leaving the fish flawlessly tender and flaky. There's a depth of flavor here beyond just the typical salt, pepper, and butter. It's like they liberally apply an herbal glaze on top that saturates the fish. It comes with some simply grilled asparagus, a side salad, and then a scoopful of wild rice. I believe the rice is high quality, probably hand picked and parched. It isn't as curly as some of the cultivated varieties I've eaten, but still gives the pleasing bouncy and springy snap. The flavor is clean and I especially love the hazelnuts on top for an extra nutty crunch. (5/5) This fish at Angry Trout Cafe was easily one of the best meals I had on my entire trip. With that being said, there's something seriously wrong with this restaurant in service, management, and ethics. I already mentioned the issues with wait times above. In terms of service, every single table around me got at least one thing wrong. One table asked for hot water, the server brought over cold water. Another table asked for bowls of chowder for every person at the table, the server inexplicably brought over lentil soup for one person. The server then forgot the bread for the chowder for another table. The last table complained about the chowder not having anything in it - it was all broth! Once I received the check I was flabbergasted by the credit card fee tacked onto the bill. This is not noted anywhere on the menu or inside the restaurant. This seems to be against Minnesota law, in particular statute 325G.051. To add insult to injury, I was able to pay in cash to avoid the surprise fee, but then I got stiffed a nickel on the change. It's only a nickel, but it's really the culmination of all these things that really makes my blood boil. Due to the initial wait and the error prone and extremely slow service, we were here for a total of 2.5 hours. When we finally left, it was an hour after they closed. Angry Trout Cafe seems like it's run by a chef who knows how to prepare a great dish, and is a great cook/trainer of cooks, but is a complete disaster on the management and business side. I have no idea how a business can be operated like this. I'm honestly surprised this place has been open for two decades. It would have gone out of business quickly in my market. Bathrooms - Two all gender rooms Food: [4.5/5] Service: [--] Other: [--] Final Rating: 1/5 read more

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This is the spot to visit when in town! There was quite a line but there was a huge festival in town for the summer. Plenty of things to see while waiting for your table. Once inside, you could see that everything in the restaurant was made by local artists - chairs, tables, art, etc. the staff was very friendly and basically picked the best meal for me to try. I ended up getting the grilled fish with wild rice, a staple in the region. This with the maple mustard dressing was delicious! read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Herring dinner with wild rice - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

The fish and chips are very good and filling. What makes this place so amazing is the view and vibe of the place. If you sit outside, you have a beautiful view of the lake with boats floating around. Feels out of a book. The service was also very nice. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

On a recent trip, we decided to give this place a try and boy are we glad we did! Parking: Street parking but free Ambiance: SO COZY AND CUTE! This is not an overly large restaurant, so if you want to really get a great seat inside or out, going during non-peak hours! There is a wrap around pouch and this is dining right on the water! Everything was clean and they use pottery dishes that were made specially for them! Super cute! Service: Friendly and quick! This is a very LGBTQ+ friendly spot! Food: We started with an IPA that my boyfriend said was great! I got their house made maple cream soda. It was very light in flavor, so I wouldn't get that again. We started with the Trout chowder and holy yum!!! The flavor was so tasty! It had large pieces of fish and veggies! Definitely worth trying! We both got the fish and chips with coleslaw. It was super tasty! The fish was fresh and had a crunchy exterior! Their tartar sauce has a yummy dill flavor! I would buy a bottle if you could! To end we had the Kladdkaka! THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED! It was rich and decadent! I really wish they served it with real whipped cream because it deserves it! If you are anywhere near this area, stop in!! read more

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Beautiful view, kind and attentive staff, SUPERB wild rice fritters, excellent burgers (high marks for the bacon and cheese!), and amazing fish tacos. They've been great every time we've gone -- we always go with the fish of the day, which today was grilled whitefish. Love the sauces that come with the fritters! Chili-honey, and aioli. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - View from our outdoor table . . . - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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Still hitting it out of the ballpark. Only quibbles this trip is the chowder wasn't very hot and the fried chicken dinner is fried chicken tenders. Awesome tenders but I didn't recall the menu stating that. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Fried whitefish - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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We eat here at least once every time we are in Grand Marias. By far the best restaurant within hundreds of miles. Not a secret, so you will have to wait - forever - but it is worth it!! The fish is spectacular, but we were even more impressed with their vegetables! Really, really good salads and sides. Their homemade salad dressings are always fun and tasty. So much fun!! read more

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We love the Angry Trout. We have been coming there for years. The catch of the day is the best. The service and view are amazing. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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FYI there is an included 20% service charge/tip. I had fish of the day dinner, which was very nutritious. I could eat that for every meal. Food was served in a reasonable time frame despite it being very busy. Ambiance - very busy, a bit crowded, but probably for good reason. read more

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Locally owned and sourced are just a couple of wonderful things about this quaint cafe that sits on the waters edge. Stopped in for dinner and ordered their house-made maple cream soda and their fish dinner. The fish dinner (along with the rest of their dinner options) offer choice of pasta or wild rice and a salad with choice of dressing. All dressings are made in house- I opted for the Tomato Basil and it was so light, bright and simply perfect. My white fish was grilled (you can opt for fried) and was a hearty protein. The in house sodas are not free refills and also, loved their less sugary approach to a flavorful bubble. Service was friendly, relaxed and informative. It really is a must for dinner. read more

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The wild rice pilaf was really good. The fish and chips were fine but nothing I would go back for. There is usually a wait, which means they try to move you through as quickly as possible. We were thinking a nice leisurely dinner but they want to flip tables quickly so not an option. read more

Still amazing - highlight of my year/vacation/visit to Grand Marais to stop by Angry Trout. This year I also tried their chicken mushroom wild rice soup and the chocolate cake and both were absolutely amazing! In addition to my normal fried shrimp dinner with pasta and salad. OH, it's just sooooo good! Service was fantastic and I cant wait to come back in summer and sit outside by the water! read more

Food is delicious but please purchase a new set of silverware. The trident forks are difficult to eat with. Pretty sure their silverware is from 1980 and it just needs to go. Tell your customers you love them by making this simple upgrade! read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Outside the restaurant. - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Beautiful setting right on Lake Superior. Their food is very delicious, made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Many gluten free options. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Grilled chicken plate - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Decent food and bad service. Much better places to go to in the area. I've eaten here a few times and was always under whelmed.

We came here on a cool Friday evening and were seated outside as it was the first available seating. The owner should consider adding kerosene heater to the patio area. Lake Superior can be very fickle and heaters would certainly extend his capacity. There were also metal seats at the tables. We found folding plastic seating leaning against the building which were much more comfortable. I have only positive things to say about our server Tabil. He was very attentive to all patrons' needs. He brought out our fish chowder soon after it was ordered because of the chill in the air. It was 56 degrees. He took my husband's soup back in to heat it up to a higher temperature at his request. The chowder was hearty with large pieces of vegetables and fish. It was delicious! The salad was colorful and well made with fresh ingredients. The dressings were homemade and tasty. The bread that accompanied the meal tasted like it was restaurant made. Well balanced. All in all a wonderful meal served quickly and efficiently. Thank you! read more

Came here for a quick lunch on a Monday afternoon and wow were they busy! We waited about 15 minutes for a table and ordered the grilled chicken tacos and grilled halibut dinner plate (so cool that you can order from the dinner menu at any time). We really enjoyed the fresh food and the scenic views. What we ordered: - the tacos are more like wraps instead of real Mexican tacos. Flavor is good. - the halibut dinner was the highlight for us. The wild rice was yummy, salad refreshing, and fish cooked perfectly! Would order again. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Chicken tacos - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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The food was prepared well and tasted delicious. The service both nights was wonderful. The atmosphere is right on the water and can't get better than that. Yes we would come back and did!! read more

Great cafe with some local fish options. I had the fish and chips and I really liked how the tartar sauce was made in house. The staff were friendly and the place was cozy. We went for the fall colors and would love to come back in the summer to enjoy the waterfront outdoor seating that is also dog friendly! read more

The soup/salad combo is the perfect lunch choice on a cold/windy day off the bay. Everything is sourced locally and incredibly fresh. The soup in particular was outstanding - the bits of fish/vegetables were hearty and worth the price. We also tried the grilled fish and chips, but the soup was the star. Our waitress was really nice, knowledgeable, and accommodating, but I can understand how some people might have issues with the service speed. Likewise, it's worth noting a 20% tip is added to every check. It's a busy spot so be prepared to wait! For me the combination of views, portion sizes, and the service we received today made their prices valid. read more

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Cute place right on the water - big windows with great views no matter where you sit. Simple menu with mostly one kind fish - grilled or fried. It was Herring the night we came. I got the fish tacos and they were tasty! My son said the burger was pretty good. My other son loved the fried fish. I liked that the kids meals were well rounded with protein, veggies, fruit and even a little cookie - which they loved! No cocktails but the house wine was good The napkins are tiny and a little awkward to use. Free parking on the street outside. read more

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I'm got the grilled white fish with wild rice. There was absolutely no seasoning on the stuff whatsoever. It was the most bland food I've ever eaten. I was literally dumping salad dressing on my fish and rice just to flavor. They automatically add a 20% gratuity to the food so they can pay their staff a " living wage." I am a very generous tipper, but I also tip on service. Our waiter never came back after we got our food or asked if we wanted more drinks until we were finished. He was kind of condescending to the people behind us when they asked questions about the menu. Unfortunately, if they don't have to work for their tip, they're not gonna do much more than they have to. My husband's chicken was pretty good, that got it up from two stars to three. We wouldn't go back. read more

So much amazingness at this place. Not sure there is enough space - everyone that comes to Grand Marais always says "this is my favorite place" and we finally figured out why. Location? A+++, Drinks? A+++, Food? A+++, Staff? A+++. Make sure you make a point to visit and enjoy!!! read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Hot Chocolate and amazing atmosphere - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Came here with extended family for dinner. Fantastic evening! We got to sit outside on the patio with a gorgeous view of the lake. Our server was fantastic! Very attentive and helpful. Fish and chips were awesome. Highly recommend! read more

FINALLY made it to Angry Trout Cafe! We came for an early dinner on a Saturday in November and were seated right away. What a quaint, cozy spot! They have quite a bit of cute lakeside outdoor seating, but it was cold out so we enjoyed our view from the windows inside. Lots of "window seats" here! Their menu really focuses on what they do best: local fish and other organic or locally-sourced products (like wild rice and seasonal vegetables). I opted or the fish soup of the day, which had herring and trout. They were able to get me gluten-free bread for the side. My parents both opted for the fish of the day dinner platter - both got herring grilled, and chose the wild rice for their side (along with salad and seasonal vegetables). Their platters were HUGE - three large herring filets, and plentiful portions! I was glad to see the price matched the quality and portions. We got a bottle of wine to split as well, and were too stuffed for dessert. Service was helpful, honest and efficient. We loved the portion of the menu that talks about where they source all of their ingredients: organic produce, fish from right out of the lake, maple syrup from Grand Marais, wild rice from MN, coffee from a local roaster, etc. Their interior decor all has a local touch from MN artists too, and even the dinnerware pottery is locally done! I commend the commitment to supporting local - it's not always the cheapest option, but it's the best option. Thank you! read more

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Great good, good service, unique offerings and establishment. Always busy. Seasonal restaurant. Only have beer and wine I think. Great prices. read more

Best food of our trip so far! My husband had the fish and chips with trout chowder and I had chicken and chips. Everything was excellent. Service was fast even though they were packed. We watched several sailboats come in as we were eating. read more

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The food was good! We all got fish and chips and beer. The view was epic! Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. read more

Food was awesome. Service was good. Was a little hard to find if you are from out of town.

I'll be honest, I didn't read any reviews before visiting here, but it was meantioned in about a dozen TikTok videos I saw when looking up things to do in Grand Marais. TikTok did not steer me wrong , Angry Trout is worth the stop even for the view alone. I was surprised at how fast they were able to seat us during the dinner rush, they gave us a reasonable wait time of 15-20 minutes and we were seated with waters within about 5. We ordered the smoked fish platter and it came with a side of cranberry horseradish sauce. It was so good, I'm convinced I need to make it from scratch and I've never had anything horseradish that I have liked. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - View - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

My family has been coming here for years, and we have always loved it! Never had any complaints until this last trip. No reservations here, get here early to get your name on the waitlist. This last time we waited almost 90 minutes, the estimate for us was 45, they were way off. When we were finally seated, we were starving! But this is were I became more disappointed. Two out of three of our drinks were served to us with either a hair or chunk in them. Gross. I almost lost my appetite then. After getting new drinks, they gave us a refill water container, also wasn't clean, had chunks. So so gross. No mater how busy you are, you should not be serving people unsanitary drinks or food. I got the pan seared fish special, again disappointed. The fish had little to no flavor, the vegetable were not cooked all the way thru, and overall not great. The fish barely had salt and pepper on it. The best thing I ate here was the side salad. Although this place used to be great, I wouldn't come back here anymore. Not worth the wait, not worth the drive. read more

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Best meal of our trip to the north shore. Everything about this place was 10/10 from the ambiance, to the service, to the food. The grilled white fish with wild rice and veggies...must order! Would love to sit on their deck when it's warmer. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

A recent trip to the North Shore staying near Grand Marais, and of course we stopped at the Angry Trout Cafe (as I have for the past +10 years). Ten years ago, I was blown away by this place. However, over time the inflated prices and less than five-star meals have been a disappointment. I ordered the trout dinner as I always do. I don't eat much at a time, but the quantity was so small (especially the piece of trout) I was still pretty hungry. The fresh salad was not as pretty as well. I will likely not return, so sad when a great restaurant starts the slide downhill. Oh ya and $44.00 for this plate was a bit much too. read more

The food was delicious. I had the white fish dinner. It was amazing. My wife had white fish tacos and they were delicious. The atmosphere is very charming. The staff were very nice and did a great job. Would definitely go back. read more

rude ugly male wait staff. made an honest mistake sitting at outside table you could walk to after reading outside menu. asked a female wait staff if we could sit there she said yes. male wait staff came over and in our faces screamed at us for sitting and not putting our name on a list we knew nothing about. tried to apologize and he kept screaming at us. will never ever est there. read more

Angry Trout Cafe was a perfect place to have lunch the day we were exploring Grand Marais. The view was spectacular from our table. We wanted to dine on the deck, but the flying insects were annoying, so we opted for inside. We appreciated the hostesses honesty and giving us the heads up. There were four of us and we all ordered the same, Fish & Chips. Their chips were Waffle Fries, which I found to be odd. However, they were crisp and went well with the the crispy fish. The breading on the fish was thick and seasoned well. The piece of fish was also a hefty thick slice of meat, so they complimented each other. The cole slaw was creamy, which I prefer over a vinegar & oil. If I lived up here during Lent, this would be a go to for my Friday Fish. Three of enjoyed a glass of white wine and the fourth went for a soda. The wine was a nice pour, so one glass was enough for our meal. The service was friendly and quick. The staff was hustling, it was peak season when I was there. I told our server that I was not a fan of tartar sauce and she encouraged me to try theirs. I did and I was blown away, it was the first tartar sauce I have ever liked. Not being a tartar sauce fan, all I can tell you is that its flavor was more flavorful. They do charge a service fee for using a plastic card and they do not allow dogs on the patio or deck. No emotional support dogs allowed. Only dogs allowed are service animals. Only reason I am sharing this, is they had multiple signs up telling guest the rule. read more

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Back when we were beasts, we would have fight tooth and nail for our fish. But not here. At the angry trout they do all the hard work for you. I ordered the fish and chips and a beer. Luckily they provided poseidon's trident to help defend my food. To my right was a stained glass picture of a seagull (the apex predator). It was a nice touch and it kicked in my natural instinct to defend my food and eat as fast as I can. It helped that the food was delishious. My adrenaline is still going 3 hours later from the stained glass seagull. Ambiance was a little loud but pleasant. read more

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The menu didn't have a huge selection, so I just went with a cheeseburger. The staff weren't super friendly, but professional. I had to ask for water multiple times and the food was OK. I did love their back patio that overlooks the water, we would have eaten out there except it was a bit windy. read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Back in Minnesota! And visiting the north shore where I grew up! Angry trout has done it again!!! It is my favorite restaurant here on the north shore. The staff were all super friendly, it's right on Lake Superior which is beautiful, and the food was to die for! I had the Catch dinner platter. Which had grilled white fish, garlic pasta (which was awesome), and a spring salad! Lexi had fish and chips which were also very good! They make all of their sauces, vinaigrettes, and even some sodas in house! I highly recommend if you're in the area and want some good fish! Dan & Lexi read more

Angry Trout Cafe - Catch of the day plate! - Seafood Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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