Food was delicious as always but our server was awesome. Danny is always so pleasant and enjoyable.

Phenomenal Location Great Bar Outside Patio to watch the bay Great food. Group enjoyed the specials and the fish and chips read more

So, our first stop on our 2026 Tour d' Yoop (the upper peninsula of Michigan) was Escanaba/Gladstone with an overnight at the Terrace Bay Hotel. We didn't have any plans for dinner so my companion started looking for acceptable options on his iPhone. "How about this one," he said. "The 'Fresh Water Tavern' in Gladstone. Gladstone is just a few miles away." Having been to the Terrace Bay Hotel recently I said, "Actually, it's just down the hallway." "Really!" He replied. "Yep, it's the restaurant and bar right here in the hotel," I said. "Let's go!" He replied. And so we walked from our room to the bar. Once seated at the bar we ordered drinks. I went for a dry martini with one of my favorite gins -- which was properly mixed and chilled. Since we were in need of dinner too, we checked out the menu. Lots of good options. I decided to try the whitefish sandwich. It was excellent. A nice filet on a decent roll with the right amount of sauce and crunchy veggies. I'd definitely eat it again. Generic but decent fries along side of the sandwich made for a nice meal after our first day on the road. I didn't expect to find five star food in Gladstone, but tasty three star food with a properly mixed cocktail at the hotel restaurant/bar after a long drive is actually worthy of four -- so kudos to the Freshwater Tavern! read more

Freshwater Tavern - Hendricks Martini. - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

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Food and drinks were fantastic only rivaled by the staff and the amazing view. Waitress was great food came out quick and prepared and plated perfectly read more

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Great stop on your way through Escanaba for whitefish/perch dinner on the water. Incredible views of the lake. The drinks are fabulous and highly recommended. Cannot say enough good things about the service. Our waitress Jordan was lovely and came to find me out in the parking lot when I left an item at the table. Highly recommended. read more

Freshwater Tavern - View from the dining area approaching sunset - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

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Wonderful views, right on the water. Excellent service! My friend is vegetarian and they were able to accommodate her very easily with a trio of enormous sides. She also asked for a citrus mocktail, leaving it up to the bar staff, and was extremely happy with it. For me, my cocktail was finished. Half of the dinner came back to our airbnb because, again, enormous portions. We did manage to eat all the cheesecake, though! Easy in, didn't have to wait although it was quite busy. A bit pricy, but we'll worth it. read more

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We loved celebrating our 6th anniversary here. We had a seat with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our food was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. So impressed that the chef is 20 years old. We will be back for sure! read more

Freshwater Tavern - Brussel chips - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

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Great place restaurant & hotel on the water! Staff, food and ambience are Amazing. But Apple Maps says they are Pet Friendly but They are NOT! Still a definite place to go. read more

I only give two stars because it's edible. Otherwise it's overpriced and they don't have a decent chef. They were awesome before when they treated you like you were in a nice restaurant. Now they don't even give you bread. For the prices of everything they shouldn't cheap out. Also get a decent chef. read more

Ambiance- nice- very relaxed... water views Service- Our waitress, Jordan, as excellent. Friendly, and had a movement of purpose all night. Enjoyed our small talk and realness. Food- wow! read more

Great location, great view, great service. The food was nicely presented, and portion sizes were ample. So convenient for grabbing dinner after checking in to the hotel. We tried the tomato basil soup and the lobster bisque, fish tacos with street corn, Caesar salad with chicken, and a Nashville hot chicken sandwich with fries. Everything was tasty! read more

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You were comfortable in any clothing styles. The scenery was lovely. Service was very fast and staff was kind and respectful. The food was top notch and very fresh. The presentation was great. read more

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My wife and l came here for our 42nd anniversary and had a wonderful evening. My wife asked about one of the specials and our server Tanisha highly recommended it. My wife loved her meal and said it was one of the best she's ever had! I chose the Bison meatloaf from reading a review and was not disappointed, it was excellent. We enjoyed a glass of merlot to celebrate with our dinner. The atmosphere was inviting and the view was beautiful and relaxing. There is no other restaurant in the area that offers anything even close to what you experience here. The food was excellent the view and atmosphere was wonderful and our service was exceptional! We live on the Bluff and decided that we're going to be regular customers at the area's best restaurant. Great job Freshwater Tavern! Thank you so much. read more

What a gem in Gladstone, Michigan, just outside Escanaba. We really lucked out tonight. Beautiful restaurant on Lake Michigan, with upscale rustic decor. Super clean and excellent service. Wonderful drinks menu, full of local selections and killer craft cocktails. The Wildflower and The Butterfly Effect were standouts. Hubby also enjoyed a flight of U.P. craft beers. For apps, we had the Boston Bibb starter salad, beautiful and yummy, along with the Ahi Tuna, which was outstanding! For our mains: my daughter had the Red Thai Curry Shrimp and Scallop, which was delicious, but the spice level is not for the faint of heart or anyone with acid reflux issues; hubby had the Whitefish Sandwich and couldn't have been happier; I had the Upper Hand Beer Battered Walleye, which was excellent, so fresh. We also ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto when the curry proved to be too hot for my daughter, and it was to die for! Taking the curry home to our son who loves spicy. They offered to replace it with the risotto, which was considerate, but we know our son will love it. Our server was really attentive and helpful, Nick, which made our experience even better, of course. Although this restaurant is part of The Terrace hotel, don't let that deter you from checking it out, though the hotel is also amazing! We loved it and can't wait to come back again. read more

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Doing a road trip from California to Michigan and are here in the UP. Went to Fresh water for a drink. Maneo made one of the best Old Fashions I have had on our trip! I have been rating them since we left home. His was a 9.5 +. Thank you read more

The food was excellent. I had the bison meatloaf and my wife had the ribs. We were both very impressed with the food and would order the same dish again. Service was also very good overall. We were seated promptly at a water view table and our server Avalynn was attentive throughout the meal. Perhaps overly so as she cleared my wife's plate and asked her about dessert while I was still working on my main. I also was disappointed that I was not given a glass in which to pour the beer I ordered. The tavern name itself is somewhat misleading as the entryway is very much "tavern" with the big bar and bar seating but passing through one is offered a fine dining experience in what could reasonably be another restaurant entirely. Certainly the menu prices would line up with a fine dining experience. All that said, we will certainly eat here again the next time we travel through Gladstone. read more

We had our wedding reception at the Terrace 35 years ago. The food was wonderful then and certainly did not disappoint us now. I had the jerk salmon and it was prepared exactly as I ordered it. The portions are very generous and our server Robin was excellent There was a "micro wedding " in the courtyard which was fun to see. But the best part was the unbelievable view of Lake Michigan. read more

Robin was attentive and helpful. She even took a second away to take a photo for us. The food was amazing! We both had steak and thoroughly enjoyed every bit. My only complaint was the potatoes had too much lemon. But otherwise, DELICIOUS! The view is amazing! We sat outside and it was beautiful. read more

If you're looking for great food with a magnificent view in Escanaba, look no more. Don't be fooled by the fact this restaurant is in a hotel with a dark and dingy bar that you walk through--the views of Lake Michigan are spectacular and the meal selection is varied and delicious. We enjoyed great service. The dining room can be bustling and loud, so I recommend coming early or avoiding weekends. read more

Had no idea when we arrived at 8:30 after a long day driving that we had found a treasure! . We were greeted by the nicest and competent staff. We sat by the windows overlooking the water and prepared to choose which fantastic dishes we wanted. The menu included many gluten free options- I can't state enough how fabulous the food is and how professional the servers are . read more

Freshwater Tavern - Complimentary cinnamon and Parmesan rolls with whipped butter and roasted garlic - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

It has been two years since we last visited the Freshwater Tavern. We noticed upon entering the decorating changes made. The restaurant didn't seem too busy, especially for a Friday night. Last time we were there, we enjoyed the food & ambience. My wife got the whitefish sandwich while I went for the ribeye steak (16 oz.). We noticed there to be a sizable jump in the meal cost in the past two years, i.e., $44 for the steak. For that money, one would expect better quality. My steak was both tough & stringy and flavorless. There was no bread served with the meal, nor soup/salad beforehand. There were charges to add these to the order. The bread pudding was also pretty heavy and dry. I don't think we'll stop there in the future. Help, though, was prompt and attentive. read more

Freshwater Tavern - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

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Great food. Messed up order (delivered fried fish instead of grillled) but still would go back. Nice view if can get a window.

We visit the area a few times a year, from the Green Bay Area. I was shocked by the prices, the view is fabulous but the value is just not there. $21 for an average burger, $29 for tacos and $38 for a "fish fry". The food would have had to blow me away and it just didn't. read more

Very upscale restaurant. Wonderfull drinks and the food also. I was in town for work and would go back for sure. Hope it stays around.

Although there were plenty of tables available, the hostess placed me at a table with no view of the bay. Unsatisfied!

Great food, no excellent food!! As one review noted, this place is awesome! Dani our server was great!! Thanks for all the recommendations!! Food selection was great!! read more

We tried the whitefish sandwich, lobster bisque, beer battered walleye, fish and pork tacos for our family of 5 on vacation from WI. Food and drinks were amazing! Boys loved the large portions! Added perk, it was attached to our hotel! read more

We visited the lovely Freshwater Tavern twice over labor day weekend. On a Wednesday evening and a Saturday evening. We were only able to dine on our first visit due to the Saturday evening crowds...each visit was vastly different. On the Wednesday evening they weren't really seating inside and we were able to safely dine outdoors with an amazing view of Lake Michigan. Our waitress was very sweet and the food was amazing. Tables were spaced far apart and everyone was respectful of each others space and wore masks when they were away from their tables. We enjoyed some wonderful local beers as well. The Saturday evening experience was a bit disappointing and we never made it to dinner. When we arrived the establishment was crowded inside. Every seat at the bar was occupied with spacing between the customers and no one was wearing masks. The were people standing close together by the bar and around the hostess stand waiting to be seated. We checked in and asked about outdoor seating. We gave the hostess our name and she told us 30-40 minutes, so we went for a walk instead of staying inside. We came back 40 minutes later and it was like we were just walking in for the first time, I'm not even sure if she wrote my name down the first time...she told me it would be another 30 or 40 minutes. It was apparent that she didn't know how long the wait was and was just giving customers a guess. Sadly we decided it was to crowded to wait and ended up ordering pizza in our room because outdoor dining is tough to find in this area. We loved Freshwater Tavern though, and when the world gets somewhat back to normal we will visit again. read more

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This place was an unexpected gem, especially considering the small-town setting. While pricey, the servings are generous and our food was very good. My shrimp and scallops curry dish was excellent! Our server was also very good! They had a couple of areas where there was room for improvement; the biggest of which was a whitefish dish which my wife enjoyed but discovered (after eating a third or more) that it had pork in it. I thought the pork was delicious, but she is a pescatarian and doesn't eat meat. Same for any Jewish or Muslim person. Such an ingredient should be listed on the menu (it wasn't.) Our server was very apologetic and kind enough to offer a replacement meal or to waive the cost, but it clearly wasn't her mistake. The ambiance could have been nice, but the restaurant was bustling and loud. read more

Wow! This place blew us away. Such a nice surprise in Northern Michigan. We were impressed by the beautiful views, the varied and Eccles tic menu and the wonderful service from Josh our server. We started with a special cocktail made the grapefruit and smoked rosemary. It was as beautiful as it was delicious. They also brought us very soft and tasty tools with four kinds of butter. That could have been a meal in itself. We then shared the ribeye satay appetizer which was also very unique, tasty and a fun presentation. We also had broiled whitefish with Tuscan potatoes and rainbow carrots. Excellent! This place is a hidden gem. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Start to finish we had an amazing meal! 1. Rolls with butter flight - When did this become a thing?! Unbelievable. The butters are regular, garlic herb, red pepper, and cinnamon. We had regular rolls, cheese rolls, and cinnamon rolls. 2. Brussel sprout chips - Shredded sprouts with onion straws in what tasted like a honey siracha sauce. Would definitely order again! 3. My husband had the seafood Mac and cheese. Big pieces of lobster! I asked the server for his opinion between the jumbo shrimp and whitefish. He told me to go with the whitefish and I'm so glad he did! I ate every bite. 4. We are on our honeymoon and the couple next to us was too. They treated us to the Fireball Banana Foster. Great way to finish off dinner! We may be back tomorrow! read more

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Staff super friendly, drinks delicious, food exceptional. So happy we found this place we were ready to dine in and have some very yummy food and it definitely was. We got the Korean bbq pork ribs to start, a little too spicy for me but great flavor my boyfriend loved them. I got the bacon and seafood Mac n cheese this is more than enough to split with 3 people i devoured it in two sittings. So delicious and was still great the day after. My boyfriend got the cedar plank salmon he said was phenomenal. Work recommend again for a great sit down, you also can sit outside and have view of the water. read more

Freshwater Tavern - Drinks - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

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Freshwater Tavern remains a must stop spot on our annual visit to Escanaba. We were seated outside this visit and the sunshine and gorgeous lake view added to the dining experience. As expected, the waitstaff was excellent, and able to talk about various entrees when we unsure of our preferred meals. My Lake Superior whitefish was buttery and delicious. The lemon caper seasoning added just the right amount of zip to it. A couple diners enjoyed filet and lobster. The filet was juicy and tender. It would have benefited from a little seasoning, but it was nothing a pinch of salt couldn't fix. The seafood fettuccine, cedar plank salmon, and the pork ribs were also hits were their respective diners. There is a great selection of starch and veggie sides- the smashed red potatoes and garlic Parmesan green beans went well with the whitefish. The bread and artisan butter that kicks off the meal put everyone in a feasting mood. The cheddar bread balls were a table favorite, as was the garlic butter. With a great selection of beer and wine, you will leave well satisfied. read more

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We had a weekend mini vacation at Terrace Bay. We patronized the Freshwater Tavern four times. You can get there early and get a seat over looking the bay. The area is popular and noisy and a bit hectic. Seats are available at the dining area or at the bar. I have to give chops to the wait staff. They were friendly, helpful and efficient. The only hiccup was our last waitress disappeared while we we waiting to pay our bill. Another waitress realized our irritation and stepped up. Whether we had snacks, drinks or meals our experiences were stellar. At my birthday dinner my sweetie had rare tuna steak and I had a outstanding tofu dish. Both meals were those types of meals you'll remember for a while. Their fries are really, really good. After the ticket shock of our first visit...margaritas were $14 a pop! We paid attention to the Happy Hours when drinks are half price. The margaritas were pretty dang good. At $7 during happy time, they were much better. I will add this...when the guy at the next table got his burger he said " oh, my lord". The thing was huge...and to this long time vegetarian, it looked to be a meal...and then some. Bottom line, we ate at several nice restaurants in the Escanaba area. This was the best. read more

Honest review: The best place to eat in Esky. Gorgeous and knowledgeable hostess/waitstaff Tony Soprano would die for the Three pepper fettuccini & The Bread pudding made me reconsider the definition of an orgasm. Fantastic experience read more

Freshwater Tavern - Banana bread pudding + bottle of zinfandel - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

Amazing. Traveling through for business and would come back just to enjoy this F&B experience again. I come from a larger city and was honestly blown away. Shout out to Nick for making my visit one I won't soon forget. -the traveling liquor saleswoman read more

Freshwater Tavern - Bourbon Cocktail with Strawberry, egg white - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

Terrible food. Salmon was way under cooked. Still raw in the center and they had to remake my wife's dinner twice.

Everything about this place was outstanding! They bring a basket of hot rolls that are to die for (cinnamon sugar, herb cheese, plain & some other cheese, they're all SO GOOD). They come with cinnamon butter, honey butter, whipped butter and a pimento cheese butter all made fresh. The cheese curds were the best we've ever had. They were crispy on the outside, melted on the inside and the cheese didn't spill out leaving the inside hollow! Served with house made ranch that was worth drinking. The Crab Stuffed Mushrooms were also highly recommended. Cooked to perfection and the insides were full of crab and cheese. For dinner we had a Whitefish Sandwich, Full rack of ribs, Fried Perch and I believe chicken tenders and fries for our kids. No one had a bad thing to say about their food. With was all bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. I love that their menu has items you can't get everywhere and they know how to prepare them! Top notch!! We also enjoyed a couple martinis and a mule which were also made properly. The staff was very friendly. The restaurant was clean and newly remodeled. The view of Little Bay De Noc was perfect! I highly recommend eating here even if you're not staying at the hotel. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Such a great experience!! Hostess staff very professional and kind, and good at their job. Nick our waiter was an absolute delight. Food was outstanding and very well prepared. Five stars! read more

Freshwater Tavern - New American Near Me - Gladstone, Michigan

This is the worse run restaurant I have been to. I travel all over the United States for work every week and have not ever encountered service at this all time low. I am usually by myself so I Will sit at the bar so I do not take up a table. The bar was so backed up they quit taking orders for food which I was told more than an hour waiting. After having a couple of drinks I have to wait here because I cannot drive to another restaurant. I am here for a week at the hotel that houses this restaurant and I will not return to eat here again read more