This place is a gem! We ordered the smoked fish dip, smoked salmon deviled eggs, and wall-eye and everything was superb! The fish dip was warm, creamy, and savory, the deviled eggs were so tasty and smooth, and the wall-eye was perfectly crispy on the outside but tender inside. The host at the front was very friendly and greeted us with a cheerful smile! It wasn't very busy that day (Sunday) for lunch so we were able to walk freely around the patio as well. The view of the water was phenomenal and we were also lucky enough to witness the draw bridge go up! The only complaint I have is the location of the light fixtures. One of them was handing right above my head and would grace my head every time I got up... Overall, we loved this place and would definitely go back!!! read more

We have to watch our money with our first kiddo on the way so we decided on a staycation for our 3 year anniversary. We decided to try something "fancy" or I at least somewhere that we wouldn't normally go due to cost. I got the spicy shrimp and sausage Alfredo and she got the champagne chicken. Both excellent choices that are some of the cheaper options on the menu. Since we didn't go too expensive with our entrees we got an appetizer. It was some kind of bacon pirogies. Those were good too. Service was a little bit slow in my opinion for how empty it was but not terrible. We sat near the bar and was able to catch some tigers on the tv. After dinner, we took a short walk around town, played some pinball at outsiders, and got ice cream nearby too. read more

I really wish I could leave a better review for this place, but I just can't. Overall, we had a really bad experience tonight at Blue Fish. I always try to find the good, so: the restaurant was clean, has good decor and the people were friendly. We sat on the back deck along the river, which was quite nice. However, almost everything else was either average or poor. There were so many errors/shortcomings that it's hard to list it all here. Our wait person was newer, and she really tried hard. We helped her as much as we could. But, she was in over her head. It was not her fault - she didn't appear to be well-trained, and not once did a manager come to help her or to ask us how we were doing. She was on her own. Ownership/Management has to do better. The onion soup was not warm and was barely edible. One of the burgers had to be sent back twice. The tuna was meh at best and it was served with cold rice. There were good comments about the champagne chicken and the tomato soup ($10 for a bowl of tomato soup). Oh, and they charge for bread, too. It's hard to overstate how bad the entire experience was. Maybe it was just a bad night for them, I don't know. But, we were charged full price for everything (other than 1 soup) and the quality did not match the price we paid. For grading purposes...the ambiance is an A, the service was a C, the food was a solid D and the value was also a D. I would not recommend and I would not return. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Beautiful sunset from the back deck - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

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What a lovely and relaxing dinner we had a Blue Fish Kitchen. The interior of the restaurants is spacious, stylish, and very clean. We opted to have out dinner on their lovely deck by the river canal. It was a bit cool out, but lovely. It would be nice if they had a couple of outdoor heaters to help with the cooler evenings. All of the servers were friendly and efficient. I started with a fat tire beer and my husband had a scotch- with one ice cube and the server didn't look at him like the goofball he is when he placed his order. Ha! We chose to share the mussels in wine sauce, the roasted Brussel spouts, and the cajun sausage and shrimp pasta. It was plenty of food for the two of us. The sauce for the mussels had wonderful flavor. We were disappointed that six of our mussels didn't open. We aren't sure if the kitchen rushed them a bit and they just didn't open or if they were bad. The server was very respectful of our concern and adjusted the price of the dish. The Brussel sprouts had a different twist to them. They were prepared with candied cherries and pecans. They were tasty, but we decided that we actually prefer our sprouts more charred and toasted with a savory. These sprouts were really sweet and more sauteed than charred/roasted. We didn't have room for desert, but I saw several being served and they looked amazing. We will be sure to explore the deserts and some of the fish dishes on out next visit to Manistee. read more

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The view is great from outdoors! The drinks as well as the food were very tasty. A few members of our party particularly enjoyed the Champagne Chicken. The portion sizes were really nice, not too big, not too small. The bathrooms were also very clean! The only downside we had was that the service was a little bit slow, but our server Jaidin was very friendly and helpful! Overall it's a great place to stop for lunch!! read more

Food was terrible. Soup was cold and poorly prepared, Burger was a Hockey puck that you could buy frozen at the grocery store, had to send food back multiple times because not prepared as ordered. Probably worst dining experience I've had in decades. read more

Really enjoyed this spot. We went fishing in Wellston MI and wanted to find the closest place that would give us a nice steak. The steak was tender and cooked to order. I wish they had mashed potatoes instead of that potato au gratin. The smoked fish dip was very cheesy, I prefer it when it's a little more fresh. If we visit Manistee again, I would try the walleye. This would be our go to restaurant in this area. It's tough to find a spot less than 45 minutes away from our fishing spot. The best thing we ordered was the tomato basil soup. It was out of this world. I have never had a tomato basil soup so good and with chunks of tomato in it! I would come back just for this soup. read more

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We had to wait 2 hours for our food. Our waitress was working in another area so we only saw her the bare minimum that she had to. We never got water refills, asked for a pitcher so we could do it ourselves but never got one, had to go to the bar to get refills on our drinks. Never got bread but guests around us with other servers did. Had small children and would have been nice for them to at least get their food first but no. Food was cold on everyone's plate. One person's food was raw and couldn't be eaten. The others came out 15 minutes after everyone else's. Worst service. Manager cared not. Server had no idea what good service was. Will never return and would not recommend you waste your time or hard earned money, not good and higher priced. FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO EAT!!! Also first words out of her mouth were we don't have whitefish...main reason we chose the place. Shoulda just left then! read more

Outstanding food! Beverage service terrible...didn't ask everyone for refill...did not get second drink until food was finished. Did not offer to take anything off bill....server just blamed it on the bar. Bring your own beverage and enjoy the food read more

Full respect to owner of Bluefish. We had an issue with a big reservation but was later righted by the owner of the restaurant. She was timely and professional when dealing with this issue. Highly recommend this up north restaurant. read more

We had a great first experience here recently! The mussels and the pierogi were fantastic. The pork chop was a little dry, and also the "2-chop portion" was actually just 1 chop cut in half. But even so, it's nice they offer options like that depending how hungry you are. Looking forward to coming back and trying more menu items. read more

I teeter between a 3.5 and 4 because the service was a pretty rough, but some of the food was really good. We came in on a Friday night at 6pm. The hostess was fairly rude; we asked about an outdoor table and she replied, "we don't have umbrellas out so it's right in the sun. There are no river seats....if you don't want it I can put you inside...." but she was so young and service jobs can be hard, so I kind of ignored it. We were seated indoors - it was extremely hot and bright on the patio- umbrellas would be smart. We ordered a San Pelegríno and a martini. They took a solid 15 minutes to come, which is kind of long but whatever, no big deal! We ordered an appetizer- the whitefish dip- and it was delicious. Relatively promptly, our waiter returned with entrees- summer bolognese and the whitefish. The whitefish was really great- tender fish, tasty risotto, fresh summer zucchini. But the bolognese - it was so, so tart. I knew there was extra lemon from the menu description, but the sharpness or the sauce honestly made me wonder if it had gone bad. After we ate- our waiter was legit gone for another 20 minutes. We probably would have ordered dessert but I didn't want to wait anymore! For $28 a plate, I expect better service, but the food and ambiance was pleasant enough- I probably would come again, honestly! read more

My husband jokingly said he felt like he was in a Dr. Suess book, specifically "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish," but that is where the comparison to anything childish ends. This is dining for grownups who appreciate great flavors and ingredients like Canadian salmon and Lake Superior whitefish, the efforts of a great chef and excellent service. Ain't no mac 'n cheese or PBJs on this menu! Located in a beautiful old downtown building, inside you'll find exposed brick and beautiful artwork. Outside you'll find a wide deck and a view of the river, perfect for an al fresco experience or for just stepping outside to grab an amazing view at sunset! We started at the bar with a local Michigan beer on tap, waiting briefly for a table. Bruschetta with beautiful slices of green and red heirloom tomatoes and thick slices of mozarella followed. That should have been enough before our entree but we couldn't resist a small cup of the soup of the day too. Salmon chowder-dark and smokey and delicious! We finished up with salmon with a dill aoli and pan-seared whitefish. Both came with a parmesan ricotta that was creamy dreamy wonderful. Shelby, our server, was thoughtful and friendly. We had a wonderful full meal deal-even took some bread pudding sans ice cream home for a little late night snack. To which I say, "I am full, I am, I am. I am full, Sam-I-am!" read more

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The food is really great here. The champagne chicken w the Parmesan risotto is divine. The bread basket is a must, even though it's ridiculous they charge for bread when most places offer it complimentary. The service was attentive but no personality whatsoever. The river view is nice. I'd recommend overall. read more

Many visits for dinner made us try Sunday brunch. Big mistake. Food okay, service from kitchen and staff was horrible. Seemed overwhelmed but olace was empty. Server was clueless on menu, said he usually bartends. Bad excuse. How do you not know what comes with an entree? Like the first day ever doing brunch. Train your people. Really disappointing. read more

Food was ok but service was very inattentive They were not interested in doing anything personable to help with experience. Not that great of experience. Would not recommend for a special night read more

Must do restaurant if you're in Manistee. Food was good but service was very good. Katie was our server. If you do go to Blue Fish ask for her. My wife had whitefish dinner with Parmesan risotto and I had chicken which also came Parmesan risotto. Chicken and fish were good and risotto was great. Katie recommended the espresso gelato dessert and it was also great. We visited in mid October and Katie gave us great advice for sight seeing the fall colors. We had an amazing day thanks in part to her recommendation. read more

Genuinely helpful and awesome staff. Delicious food!! What a treat to be right on the river. Lots of gluten free options and knowledgeable wait staff. read more

This is a great spot for unique and tasty food and cocktails in an area where options are limited. The ambiance is fabulous inside but if the weather is nice, sit outside on the deck and enjoy the views of the Manistee River or catch a sunset if you're lucky! read more

I was looking forward to eating at Blue Fish. . . the site is lovely, and the menu looked great. My friend and I went to Blue Fish for lunch and I was disappointed. I ordered tomato basil soup and the salmon risotto. The soup was tasty for a tomato soup but there was little basil discernable. It was served warm but at the same time as the entree. The salmon was over seasoned especially with salt as were the vegetables. The risotto was very cheesy (normally, a good thing - I like cheese) but it competed with the salmon and was a bit overdone. My friend's white fish was nicely prepared and seasoned but again the vegetables and risotto had the same issues. The challenge was that my friend asked that the vegetables not be included. I wouldn't have been so disappointed or written this review except the cost of the meal was high ($28-34/entree) - nearly $100 for lunch. For that price, I expect tight service and a good meal. The restaurant has potential, but I would lower the price point until the food and service is dialed in. . . read more

This was such a pleasant surprise for us!! We had planned to go to Taco 'bout it, but they were closed this Wednesday evening. Let's start with the ambiance--really nice. Exposed brick walls, tin ceilings and beautiful artwork all around. We really liked the seating. The chairs we quite comfortable. They also have outdoor dining--looking on to the river. These seats are pretty warm in the afternoon as they seem to face west. Good menu with appetizers that are a combination of local and standard ones. My brother ordered the smoked lake fish dip and husband had the salmon deviled eggs. Both were really good. You could taste the smokiness but it was not overwhelming and they were very nice to look at as well as very tasty. He also ordered the pierogi. All were very nice. I'm not a pierogi fan but these were absolutely amazing! I loved the creamy sauce on the pierogi. They were generous with crispy bacon and cooked onions. They were so rich, we really loved them. The entrees we ordered were the Mediterranean pasta with chicken, Chicago steak, and grilled whitefish. All were superb. The wineglasses were Reidel (loved that!). Good, heavyweight silverware. Prices are a little higher than average, but the quality of food and service makes it worth every cent. This is definitely a place for a special dinner. Aiden, our server did a great job. I highly recommend this downtown Manistee restaurant. read more

The food here is absolutely sublime. This is the only place I've tried where the walleye was cooked perfectly - neither undercooked or overcooked. The whitefish was also delicious. I particularly love the risotto they serve with the fish, and the veggies are also always well seasoned and well cooked. We love the smoked whitefish dip for starters. The service is always great, servers are friendly and helpful and happy to answer all my questions! We try to sit outside whenever we can so we can watch the River go by. This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Manistee and I will be back as soon as possible!! read more

In the area to visit family and this was top on our list to try. Beautiful decor on the inside. Love the tin ceiling, brick wall and paintings/pictures throughout. Henry was our server snd he was attentive and on the spot during our entire evening! We started with cocktails = superb menu selection! Appetizers = brussels and the deviled eggs - superstar for sure! Dinners for the table = walleye, sirloin and the shrimp curry. Everyone was very pleased with their selection and not a bite was left behind. Wine by the glass menu had a decent selection of whites but the red wine by the glass could be improved... Wanted a glass to pair with the steak and unfortunately there was not a peppery red available so skipped out. Would love to come back and see more wines by the glass on the menu. read more

Quality of food is awesome....a must location for dinner! Service was very good and cocktails were outstanding! Don't pass this restaurant up....a must stop. read more

Food was great! We had the warm smoked fish dip as an appetizer . It was excellent!! Tom was a nice & good server. We definitely will go back. read more

My wife and I each had a drink, a salad, she had soup and we shared an appetizer. The bill was $98 plus a $2 charge for not using cash. Service was fine but the money spent was not worth the meal we received. read more

A 5 star restaurant in Manistee! We were in Ludington looking for a nice restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. We couldn't find an upscale restaurant so we came to Manistee. What a pleasant surprise, the Blue Fish was really good! The best mussels my husband ever had. A great ribeye with delicious roasted vegetables topped off his meal. I had the mushroom noodles, not what I expected, a little too much sherry for me. But we will be back! read more

This place was more than underwhelming for the price. They were out of main menu items. The hostess didn't even greet us, never said a word actually in the process of seating us. She was rude to customers that came in after us. A high top by the door on bar side for a reservation made days in advance was disappointing. The martini I had was good. The best thing about the experience. Had to flag down the server to get a second drink and water. The salad I ordered with medium rare steak was well done. Filet was bland. Bartenders were eating and working during the dinner rush and seemed overworked. I could hear the bartender say she hasn't eaten and was there all day. Server gave us our bill and barely made eye contact. Will never go there again. read more

The Blue Fish never disappoints. This is the first time I've tried it for lunch, and the Mussels Mariniere was excellent. I tried the raspberry Mojito, which was perfect. The view on the back deck was wonderful. Our server was personable and attentive, which prompted a 30% tip. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Mussels Mariniere - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

Overall great experience! Food and service were top notch! Had my first ever Smoking bourbon old fashioned, it was so good, I splurged and ordered a second! read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Smoking Makers Mark Bourbon was delicious! - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

Came to this quaint town and decided to try this restaurant. It was after lunch hour so the place was fairly empty. We ordered the chicken masala and champagne chicken. Both orders came with roasted vegetables and risotto. I don't know which one tasted better. Both were really delicious. read more

Excellent Food, service, ambience Great steak & seafood & dessert & speciality drinks. 5 star rating read more

Love the décor here. Our server was very nice. The tomato soup was really good. Key lime pie is ok but is a bit too sweet. Chicken Caesar salad had good croutons and chicken, but not enough lettuce. The dressing is different, has more of a lemon and sweeter taste than a traditional Caesar. I needed extra dressing for it too. It was overpriced at $15, at least add more lettuce. That is not the going rate for this area anyway. Overall it was ok and we would try it again. Also, if you are going to have online menus, update them. There is nothing more irritating than looking at the website and getting to the restaurant to find the prices and many items have changed. Take away the online menus if you cannot be bothered to update the website or Facebook. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

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The gem of Manistee's culinary scene. The blue cheese filet was sublime and my partner's whitefish with sweet corn was a winner. As long as the weather holds, choose the back balcony to coincide with the sunset. We'll so be back next time we're in town. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Sunset off the back deck. - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

Not the best. Drinks sat within reach of our table. Finally, I just went and got mine. BLT Sandwich.... Easy Peasy. But not here. The worse BLT I've ever had at a restaurant! Get something else. Sorry to say, we won't be back. read more

The food is amazing and the speciality drinks are on spot!! Love the brownie for dessert

This place is ok. It benefits from a very good location, right on the water. The drinks are quite good, and the appetizers were actually pretty tasty. Unfortunately, the Kale Caesar salad was very dry and overly coated with Parmesan, essentially just a plate of shredded kale and cheese. The entree was a bit better, but the Parmesan risotto was undercooked and, again, coated with Parmesan, so basically parmesan and crunchy rice. I would potentially visit again but order something different. read more

Not sure if they were having an off day but they were short staffed and our poor waitress was trying to do everything. The food was mediocre at best. Not sure how they have a 4 star rating. Cool building though. read more

We stopped into Blue Fish on our way home from Sleeping Bear Dunes and found our way in just before a wait started. Got lucky as every 4-5 star on the way had an hour wait and BF filled up right away. Sat outside with beautiful view of river. The fish dip was a great appetizer. We had the champagne chicken and the Mediterranean pasta with salmon added. Both dishes had great presentation and were excellent. Key lime pie was very good also. Menu was a moderate to pricey but the food backed it up. Only negative was the exposed and open dumpster not far off the deck. Luckily the wind was blowing the right direction. Glad to have found this place and will go back. Would have given 4.5 stars if that was an option. read more

#IjustcantYelpit @bluefishkitchenandbar A favorite stop in #manistee Great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Amazing food. Tasty Smoked salmon crostini. Chicago steak with #bluecheese Delicious #walleye with red skin potatoes. #andesmints Nice touch. #cleanedmyplate Definitely #worthit read more

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