Stopped by here on the way back from boundary waters and was not disappointed. Nice location and…read moreplenty of indoor and outdoor seatings. Staff was nice and lots of different sandwich choices. Parking lot right next to it which was convenient. I got the slamin Gordon and it was good. The greens were a strong would have liked more salmon but the flavoring was good.

Northern Waters Smokehaus is one of the most recommended restaurants in Duluth. Located…read moreconveniently in the center of Canal Park, we stopped by on a sunny Wednesday early afternoon, hoping to score some of the best sandwiches in town. Even though this was well past lunch time at 2PM, the outside patio was packed and there was a line of 10 people or so to contend with to order at the register. Due to how busy it was, our food took about 20 minutes to arrive. The Squealy Dan, Porketta ($16) - Unlike most other restaurants with Iron Range Porketta, Northern Waters slices their porketta thinly instead of pulling the pork apart. It has a pleasant spiced flavor and the texture feels as if it's cured rather than roasted. It's relatively tender, and while they give a decent amount of meat, it's completely overshadowed by the heavy spicy quality of the black pepper and the acidity and vegetalness of the crunchy pepperoncini. There's a bit of melted gooey provolone on top of the porketta. While nice, there's not enough to balance out the peppers. This is all on a crusty almost baguette-like hero roll, toasty and warm. The sandwich is served with a side dip that's essentially black pepper and pepperoncini water. Definitely not needed given how overwhelming those elements are in the sandwich. (3/5) Pastrami Mommy ($19) - I haven't had bison pastrami before. Now I know why it's not very common - it's way too lean and dry compared to beef pastrami. Still, it's nicely spiced and peppery, and there's not much of the bison gamey flavor since it's cooked out from the curing. There's a little bit of mayo underneath and some mustard on top, but it's not enough moisture or fat in my opinion to counteract the leanness of the bison. While there are some slices of provolone above the meat, they are served cold. I feel like melting it with the pastrami on the griddle would do wonders to help develop some more unctuousness. It's also served on cold rye - perhaps toasting with some butter would also help. Otherwise, the sandwich is just too dry and lean for my tastes. (3/5) I feel like I ordered the wrong items. I probably should have gone with some of the seafood sandwiches, but I found it strange they only serve Atlantic salmon rather than local lake fish. In the end, I appreciate that Northern Waters Smokehaus makes most of their meats in house, but after trying their food, I feel like it's more hype than substance. Bathrooms - Larger ones located upstairs, shared with the rest of the businesses in the mini mall. Note: Northern Waters Smokehaus charges a 3% credit card fee. This is disclosed on a sign at the front register. Food: [3/5] Service: [ ] Other: [+] Final Rating: 3/5

Whenever I visit Duluth, the Boat Club is on my agenda. The staff, the food, and the ambiance are…read moreall well worth the experience. The view of the lake as you enter the main dining room is spectacular. If you are fortunate enough to visit on a good-weather day during the summer, the patio experience cannot be beat. Every time I have visited, the staff have been genuinely gracious and caring. Add a unique and generous drink menu on top of a delicious selection of meal options what more could you ask for? Many of the menu items are gluten-free or gluten-free on request. As with most of their menus, brunch options are unique and worth the visit. Lake Superior Hash is a unique and tasty recommendation. I cannot say much about most of the dinner menu, because I ALWAYS order the ribeye, though I have added the scallops on occasion. The quality and preparation of the ribeye are well above most restaurant standards. Don't miss it! I also enjoy just stopping in for a drink. I have struck up conversations at the bar with perfect strangers, while enjoying one of the signature cocktails (don't miss the Minnesota Old Fashioned). Be sure to make a reservation. This is the one mistake you can make at the Boat Club. With a restaurant of this quality, you cannot assume there will be an open table for a walk-up.

Table of 11 for a wedding no one came to check on us for meals, nor water fills…read more 4 of us would have sent our meals back. 2 had fish w/risotto- risotto crunchy and both fish overcooked. 2 entree salads were drowned in dressing. Since we were a group of 11, I presume they couldn't care less as gratuity was auto added.

When your server responds to "How are you?" with a "Too blessed to be stressed" positive attitude,…read moreyou know you will have excellent service. The portions are massive, and the hollandaise sauce reminded me exactly of the old Sunny Side Up that is missed so much from Uptown in Mpls... The food was excellent - the service was top notch - hands down HIGHLY recommended!

LARGE portions beware! Super friendly staff and they all help each other with the service so there…read moreis very little waiting. We sat at the counter and it was clean and wiped down quickly after each person left. Many food choices and we were told the menu was recently updated so they keep things new. Worth a visit!

FIVE STARS FOR SURE - The location has free parking (which is rare in Duluth). The hostess was…read morepolite and greeted us with a smile and quickly sat us. The menu has a lot of variety with many items to choose from. The server was just top notch like took time to get order right, answer questions, come back and check on us and smile and super professional the whole time. My beverage was amazing and food was great, one of the people in our group said the homemade vegetable soup was the best soup they've ever had. To be honest the food was really good but the staff was just amazing. The hostess, server, even person who walking by answered a question and wasn't our server were all just beyond top notch. Like the service you'd get at a upper end steak house (but even better than that). I think the food is great, the servers are TOP NOTCH and for sure recommend. I'd give six stars if I could.

Enjoyed Bruschetta with burrata and also the Polenta starter options…read more Side salad with Ranch dressing was delicious. Do know Outdoor seating parking lot is available which I really appreciated.

Best salmon ever!!!!! Thank you. I stop everytime near Duluth. Service is exceptional too.read more

My own personal mistake should not be a ding against the excellence that is Russ Kendall's Smoke…read moreHouse. Those who listen to my cautionary tale may end up fairing better for themselves should you decide to make the trek and find yourself at this magnificent smoked seafood counter. But first, for the love of god, if you are here you are a stone's throw from Lake Superior which is perhaps one of the best places for fish in the country. You may like salmon. Russ Kendall may do a great job with salmon. But don't sleep on those fish that were plucked from these frigid waters. This mindset had me eyeing the walleye and the jumbo whitefish sections. I wanted to buy both, but this was just one of many smoked fish destinations on my list for the week. I hate wasting food, and there is only so much my family can eat. Despite what others may suggest, I am not about to freeze beautiful smoked fish. My hope was that pieces in the case might be able to be cut down. But those hopes were dashed. I get it. That's fine. Policy. Mess. Time. Workflow. Yadda yadda yadda. The walleye pieces were big, but the helpful clerk found a smaller one just for me. Now, as the fish selection process was happening, more and more people were funneling into the shop. My wife was getting antsy. She wanted me to make up my mind and leave. And she had a point. However, that smaller piece was from the meaty and lean tail end of the fish. In a panic I gave the piece a thumbs up, and the clerk wrapped it up for me. This was my one great regret. Not just of this shopping trip, but of my whole vacation. I should have opted for a larger piece that was fat and juicy. That same helpful clerk did indeed find me a gorgeous hunk of lake whitefish that was delightfully fatty, and eating it made me smile with delight. Of course, different people can prefer different pieces of fish. Just like there are some chicken wing lovers who prefer the drummette and others who prefer the flat. If everyone liked the same thing, the world would be a pretty dull place. I guess what I'm saying is don't panic. Know in advance the cuts in the case are the cuts that are available for sale. Find the pieces that call you. If it ends up being a little more fish than you wanted, so be it. This stuff is so good you'll find a way to get it down without denigrating it to the freezer. For those who need crackers, like my wife and kid, there are sleeves for sale. As far as I'm concerned, those crackers are just taking up space in my belly that could be used for more fish. One last thing. Okay, maybe a few last things. Let's call it a lightning round: This isn't a restaurant. It's a takeaway smoked fish shop. It's small. It's busy. It's efficient. It's a regional treasure. Get there. Eat local smoked fish. Salmon isn't local to Minnesota. Get it fatty. Do not fear heads, or skin, or bones. The good stuff takes a little extra work, but it's worth it! You've got this. Now eat well.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS PLACE! The menu is diverse, flavorful, and has something for everyone, while…read morethe staff is incredibly welcoming. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to! CRISPY BRUSSEL SPROUTS Sweet and spicy soy glaze with sautéed red peppers and scallions. These were a little too heavy on the sauce for my liking, but otherwise very good. If you're not a fan of sweeter flavors, this one may not be for you. BUFFALO MAC & CHEESE Cavatappi pasta tossed in a creamy mac sauce, topped with crispy buffalo chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and onion straws. We added bacon and chicken, and this was a top pick for us! The buffalo sauce had the perfect balance--not overly spicy, but enough flavor to complement the creamy mac and cheese. CPB CO. FISH AND CHIPS Craft beer-battered haddock served with Northcoaster fries and house-made tartar sauce. Another top pick for us! The fish was crispy, flavorful, and perfectly fried. Honestly, one of the best fried fish dishes I've had in Minnesota. Unfortunately, I can't report on the beer as I'm not a big drinker...Sorry! Overall, a fantastic experience with great food, welcoming service, and plenty of variety. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Duluth!

We had a great experience at Canal Park Brewing Company! Our server was friendly and attentive, and…read morethe food was delicious. The beer selection was a little smaller than we expected, but there was still a nice variety of styles, so everyone in our group found something they enjoyed. They also have a full bar with specialty cocktails. The food menu was surprisingly large with lots of unique and fun options to try. The only small downside was that the Brussels sprouts were still a little undercooked for our taste, but everything else was excellent and more than made up for it. Excellent brisket, fish n chips, and build your own burger! The garlic aioli and IPA mustard sauces were definitely memorable. Overall, it's a great spot for good food, craft beer, and a fun atmosphere located right on the pier. We'd definitely come back!

You want a romantic meal with delicious food in Duluth? Look no further, but plan ahead! The food…read moreis amazing and the service is fantastic, but you've got to get a reservation (even last minute ones pop up!) My favorite in Duluth, hands down.

This was one of the few places we made a reservation for on our trip to Duluth. It's a small place…read moreand it's very popular, so that's why. We had to wait a little for our reservation but it's fine. You can't make people get up and leave. We enjoyed watching the two guys in the kitchen work and I perused the gelato case. They brought us to a nice two top on the covered part of the outside of the restaurant. Spectacular views of the lake. Service was prompt. I had wine and Jeff had a cocktail. The cocktail menu did not appeal to me; my wine was fantastic. Of course I had to start with the meatballs. They were so good. For dinner I had the salmon fresca- a pasta dish, which is not my typical dish (i usually get beef!) but it sounded so good. I was very pleased with it and my husband loves fish so he was thrilled and shared with me. He also ordered the mahi mahi which comes over risotto and loved it. We were grateful for the complimentary bread and dipping sauce. Yum! They told us their desserts were homemade so we shared the cheesecake. It was better than I expected! I'm not a cheesecake fan, but I had a couple bites! What a wonderful date night for us. Thank you! We took our leftovers to go. I want more of those meatballs! Be sure to order them.

The New Scenic Café is one of those places you could easily drive right past without realizing what…read moreyou're missing. From the road, it looks like a small North Shore cabin tucked alongside the highway, with a few trailers outside. Step inside, though, and you'll find what I genuinely think is one of the best restaurants in Minnesota. The food is phenomenal -- creative, beautifully presented, and easily approaching Michelin-level quality, but without any of the pretension or pricing you might expect. The menu is constantly changing, the ingredients and execution are outstanding, and somehow the whole experience still feels wonderfully humble and relaxed. Prices are also incredibly reasonable considering the quality of what comes out of the kitchen. I make a point of stopping here whenever I'm on the North Shore. It's only about 10 minutes north of Duluth, and if you're visiting the area and only have time for one really memorable meal, make it this one. An absolute North Shore gem.

We stopped here on our way to the North Shore scenic drive, and it ended up being one of the cutest…read morespots of our trip! The restaurant overlooks the lake, making for such a beautiful and relaxing setting. The ambiance is absolutely charming, and I loved the serveware, it gave the whole meal a lovely high tea feel. The food was on the pricey side, but every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious. They also had a display of freshly baked goods at the front, so we picked up a few treats to take on the road. Those were just as amazing as our meal! The staff was incredibly welcoming and sweet, and I loved all the thoughtful little touches throughout the restaurant. One of my favorites was the guestbook they invite visitors to sign before leaving. It's details like that that make a place feel extra special. I would absolutely recommend stopping here if you're driving the North Shore. Beautiful views, delicious food, and such a warm, memorable experience.

Came in when they opened on Mother's Day due to everywhere else being packed/long waitlist (along…read morewith 10-15 other parties). They sat us all quickly and efficiently, food was fast and the service was great. The cheese curds are like crunchy cubes of heaven served with a side of ranch. I had the Reuben and I can say I'd absolutely order it again. There were tons of juicy pieces of their tender corned beef and tangy sauerkraut. The cheese was perfectly melty, and the sandwich itself wasn't overly sauced or greasy. My partner had a burger and it was cooked just as he ordered and well seasoned - he enjoyed it! Definitely more of an up-scale place but they have a beautiful view, picture 'vintage supper club' vibes. Booth and table seating is available. They also have a separate bar area, and you can peek in the window when you walk in to see them cooking pasta! Great place for a celebration or a nice meal.

Pretty sure the entire staff is special needs. Can't find their ass in a closet! Slow, totally…read moreclueless about menus. Food was fair at best. OMG What the hell!!!! I think the so called Chef got fired from Subway???? Hoard is the only thing that comes to mind! raw chicken, uncooked walleye, soup was cold...... I'd recommend only if every other restaurant in North America is closed!!!!

10/10 sweet potato roll my favorite yet! the staff was also very nice it was a very enjoyable lunchread more

Just don't have high expectations. I ordered garlic broccoli, 2 piece Spicy Salmon Sashimi, Spicy…read moreTuna and Miso soup. Lets start with the Spicy Tuna: You might as well pick this up at a late night gas station, tiny bite, dried out (as in not at all fresh), flavorless with something to pass for wasabi (a tiny dab with no heat) and fake red ginger. In the same tiny plastic container two blobs that looked like over-ripe mashed mango, also no flavor other than slime, I called because I thought they forgot my Sashimi order, lol, and was told that because I ordered Spicy that slime was the sashimi poured in next to my Tuna roll. Yikes. I only took one small bit and it tasted less flavorful than the overripened Mango I thought it was. The Miso Soup: salty water with some seaweed, no broth at all, and finally the Garlic Broccoli was yellow and sitting in a medicinal tasting liquid, also unedible but probably the best item in the order. Maybe eating-in would have been a better experience, who knows but for sure do not order for delivery. Yuk.