We were up in the north woods with the in-laws . We had been to Gates previously for lunch and said "Hey, let's go for dinner,". I called and Josh was accommodating for a reservation. Gates is a place that makes great food and is low key /non pretentious. Don't dress fancy, don't expect cloth tablecloths or napkins. Do expect solid food. The crew had one vegan and three carnivores. Ryanne and Lexi were great for support and took care of us. We had drinks and a few appetizers as well as entrees. The trout, pork, and steak were great. The vegan salad and pasta were vegan... We finished off with a few desserts and had a great time. The location is remote and beautiful but worth a 40 minute drive. read more

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We love this restaurant and have been going for almost 6 years. A very small intimate restaurant overlooking the Ausable river with a serene view of canoes, river rafters and yes, Anglers fly fishing while dining on today's catch, as well as the special of the day. The food is absolutely amazing. from the Pastry Chefs homemade desserts to the Chefs daily creations. We live and dine most of the time in the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Wine area. We know awesome food. This rates right with the best! The service has always been excellent and we can't speak highly enough of our wonderful server Ryanne. She has waited on us several times this year and last year. Always a smile and always aiming to serve and please. Make sure you call in advance for your reservation. It's a very small restaurant suggest calling at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Sometimes you get lucky 1 week in advance. We are going back again tonight. Highly suggest starting the meal off with their "out of this world" Michigan Salad (field greens, Roasted Pecans, Blue Cheese Fritters with their homemade dressing). The salad with a cup of soup is a meal into itself. The pictures I have posted was their special that day: the Soft Shell Crab plate. They were flown in live that morning and put in the pot minutes before I ate it. Delicious. My husband ordered their fish fry, which is always on the menu for $28. Lightly breaded freah Blue Gill, fries, homemade coleslaw and tarter sauce. Wonderful!!! The special dessert of the day is well named, the Flutter Nutter Cheese Cake; We went crazy nuts over it! It was the Pastry Chefs (the restaurants' owner BTW) unique creation. A very whipped and fluffy peanut butter and chocolate cheese cake. Just heaven! Can't wait for our 5pm reservation for tonight. Stay tuned! read more

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Came to this little place. If you drove by it, you would not have any idea that the quality of food is his high as it is. From the pine paneling to the fact that it's attached to a fishing shop don't let that persuade you from trying this great restaurant. The food was outstanding. The service was great. I highly recommend this place. read more

Gates Ausable Lodge - Restaurant - American Near Me - Grayling, Michigan

Cute small restaurant set on the banks of a river. Small family feel to it with great friendly staff who recognize you from the last time you were there. Service is great, drinks and apps came out quick, and the entrees were timed perfectly so nothing overlapped. The food is amazing, the smothered chicken is great, but the special on the diver sea scallops they had was amazing! Full of rich flavor, with a nice slice of pork belly on a squash succotash with a lemon butter. Scallops were cooked perfectly! This was an amazing dish. read more

Gates Ausable Lodge - Restaurant - Diver Sea Scallops special - American Near Me - Grayling, Michigan

Still my favorite restaurant in Grayling area. Excellent food, good price point especially for the quality. Service is always friendly. Small, casual spot. Highly recommend getting a reservation if you're going to go there. I always come here when I'm back in Michigan. The smothered chicken is excellent and their appetizers are also a must try. Deserts are all homemade. read more

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Ten years later - some changes. They expanded a little, reconfigured the dining room, added more servers. Greatest hits are still on the menu and I still get the trout. Best dinner in the area and the word is out, reserve early! read more

Although the restaurant is a few miles outside of Grayling , diners are amply rewarded for the effort of their drive. Located on the beautiful, world renowned (at least as far as trout fishermen and women are concerned) AuSable River, diners are offered a wide selection of meal options. This is a small, intimate facility where the food is always excellent and served by pleasant waitstaff. You won't find TV's hanging on the walls screaming the latest sports scores or replays of last years superbowl. Instead there are pictures of the environs that surround this hidden gem. It must be noted that Gates Lodge is the location where the founder, Rusty Gates and a few other dedicated trout fishermen, founded Trout Unlimited. read more

Has very nice cabins for rent along with a state of the art fly shop and restaurant too, so if you need a relaxing weekend or even just a memorable day, I highly recommend it..... read more

Food is great, staff are friendly, can't beat the view. Best breakfast in the Grayling area. read more

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The restaurant is cutely decorated and in a great spot along the ausable river. The sandwiches were amazing. Large servings. Service was fast and so friendly! read more

This is a hidden gem. My friend had the elk and I had the whitefish and it was OUTSTANDING. Salads were beautifully prepares and pecan bourbon pie was to die for. Cant wait to go back! read more

Good service. Food was delicious. And the river ambience was perfect. On one exit, service person ran up to me carrying credit card I had dropped. I was grateful and thrilled. read more

Excellent fish! Always so glad we thought to make a reservation. Yes, the place is small and you must make a reservation. The service is personal and friendly. We have even ate outside at a picnic table on the river. You don't expect food this good to be found in Grayling. We come every year to canoe at Penrods. Which I also recommend highly! Pure Michigan! read more

Stayed 1 night for full day fishing. Food and cocktails were incredible!! The smothered chicken is a must have and the Manhattan, wow!! Fished a full day with Matt V. He is the best hands down! I have taken guided fishing trips with over 20 guides throughout the U.S., Matt is #1!! read more

Amazing clean wonderful place for dinner and their shop is nice too! Thank you Mitch for helping me pick out a great gift for my husband.

My son and I stayed at the lodge over the holiday weekend and dined in their restaurant for two breakfasts and one lunch. We didn't plan to eat three meals there but it was SO good. This is a hidden gem in Grayling. We absolutely loved it. The food was fantastic, the service was great and the view is incredible. I highly recommend this restaurant. Really enjoyable place.... Admit that I am a fly fisherman who has a bias towards the fly fishing theme of the lodge.... Full disclosure. read more

Nestled up along the Au Sable river, this is a restaurant with a TREMENDOUS view. Providing outdoor/ indoor dining, this is the perfect spot to go on a date, take the entire family or just pop in for a sandwich as you wade / float down the river. Options are more limited after 4 pm, as the kitchen classes it up quite a bit- switches gears and puts on a tremendous dinner menu offering rotating dishes like sausage stuffed dates, smothered chicken dish, or the trout Hemingway. I went Trout Hemingway, and would certainly go Trout Hemingway again. If you are an early riser, this is the perfect breakfast spot, offering all of the classics. And plenty of handheld items for those just wanting to eat on the fly. I went with the American burrito before we set out on our day on the water, and this burrito hit the spot and started my day off right. And as I wade along this review, might as well mention that their lunch sandwiches are on point (yes- I enjoyed three meals here in a matter of 24 hours). It was included in a guided fishing tour, but told there are some 200+ different offerings that the chef chooses from based on available ingredients/ season. Was able to have half a gunner sub and half of an articulated club on the river. A++++. Oh, and Couldn't beat the view..... Note- limited seating inside, but plenty to do while you wait. They have a beautiful property along the au sauble that you could walk along with your beer while you wait. Or some yard games to occupy the time. Or if you are interested in fly fishing, a premier pro shop right next door open 7-7. read more

Gates Ausable Lodge - Restaurant - Trout Hemingway - American Near Me - Grayling, Michigan

I have never had a less than wonderful meal here, breakfast, lunch or dinner! Chefs Matt and Emily make sure this is no ordinary restaurant. Enjoy a view of the river from the dining room or get a sandwich to go. Make sure you have reservations if you want to have a delicious dinner. read more

An amazing food experience located in Grayling Michigan! Definitely a hidden gem. Delicious and fantastic service as well

This gem of a restaurant is so unassuming but the food is five star. Trout fishermen are right outside the window guaranteeing the freshest fish anywhere. The chefs are top notch and the staff is so helpful and friendly. Dinner reservations are a must and this is a small venue with limited seating. There is also a pastry chef who makes the most amazing desserts! We can't wait to go back! read more

Great food! It was small and quaint with the view of the Ausable river. Highly recommend making reservations.

I have to say, we were expecting something completely different. Everyone mentioned that it was important to make reservations, and they list their food as "fine dining" so of course we got a little dressed up for our dinner at the Gates. We certainly didn't need to. While the Gates lodge campus is very cute, and it is in fact RIGHT on the Ausable, it certainly isn't fancy. I think the "fine" in "fine dining" refers to the fact that it is actually "fine" like... AOK. My wife enjoyed her somewhat odd falafel veggie burger, something we'd never seen before. And I did think my "wild fire" burger had a delicious kick to it. For me the highlight was the calamari, which was served in french fry form and was perfectly cooked and meaty. My only complaint is that it was absolutely beautiful outside, with the perfect breeze and they had all of the windows and doors closed. Due to the heat of the kitchen, and the fact that it's a very small room, it was uncomfortably warm. I think if we had the breeze, it would have been a perfect evening. read more

Hands down one of the best meals I have had in the Grayling area. My mother lives up there and I do not know how I have never been to this place (maybe she didn't want to share). Prices are good, people are nice, it's on the river. Like I am talking an A++ people! It is a very small place so I am sure in the mid summer they are really busy so I would suggest calling for a reservation. We went towards the end of August during the week and it was still full. They also had live music outside which we enjoyed on our way out. Here are a few meals that I would recommend. MICHIGAN SALAD: Dressing was very light and the fried blue cheese? I mean come onnn. WHITEFISH: I can't remember if I got a special or if it was just the crusted whitefish but whatever it was go look at my photos it was so good! PERCH: Small perch that were not overly fried and oily. A nice big tray for ya! SCALLOPS: This might have been a special as well but man was it good! So many desserts I mean I don't even need to recommend them just get them all. read more

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Hate to spread the word because this place is magical. A throwback for sure. From a fantastic fly shop, to expert guides, to one of the best restaurants this lodge has everything a fisher person could want. Just a great experience that is only topped by floating the Holy Waters. read more

In a casual atmosphere, Gates serves interesting, sometimes surprising combinations that were very tasty. The server/manager was friendly and helpful. A unique dining experience. read more

I recommend making reservations! We did thank goodness and This is truly a hidden gem in grayling! It's a bit off the beaten path and seems to be a well kept secret. We've been "out of town" locals my whole life and felt we'd tried all this humble town had to offer through out the years until I heard of this place. This restaurant shares the lot with a fly fishing shop and cabin rentals. The ausable meanders nearby and its much more than meets the eye. It's a small building with quaint outdoor seating and tight interior space. Decorated well and really highlights the areas charm and nature. They offer a list of craft beers, WAY more than expected actually. A signature cocktail list which is plastered the a chalk board along with soup of the day and award winning homemade desserts! We went with the family to celebrate and everyone was impressed by the spread. Right away a waitress greeted us, promptly served the drinks and laid down a complimentary snack. The cheese ball covered in red pepper jelly was so good we requested another and they delivered. My mom got a steak with roasted potatoes, my father and husband got fresh caught perch with waffle fries and coleslaw. My bother and sister in law got burgers with fries and I got the ever so decadent smothered chicken served on top potatoes and asparagus. House salads with vibrant and fresh and craft beer was served in a beer clean glass. Nothing bad to say about this place! We even ordered desserts to go. We'll be back!! read more

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I absolutely love this place! Cute, electric and on the river...need I say more! Our waitress was a doll, hilarious and just a sweetheart. The food was delicious and definitely going back before the season ends! read more

This is a true diamond hidden in the rough. I can't begin to tell you how quaint and beautiful the setting is. The food has been outstanding for lunch and we finally snagged a dinner reservation. Truly a joy to enjoy such a wonderful dinner with outstanding service and food. read more

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After several attempts to secure a reservation for our 45th wedding anniversary, Josh kindly got us in a few days later. We were so excited to dine here as have heard many positive reviews. However, we were a little disappointed in our meal and service. First off, the atmosphere is wonderful and enjoyed our front table seating to view the river. I would think that getting ice in our waters and stir sticks for our drinks would be basic, however, we had to ask. My husband ordered the whitefish which he said was excellent. I ordered the snapper which was extremely fishy tasting and drowning in sauce with barely any vegetables. Since everything is priced à la cart, I would think the main dish should provide substantial vegetables. Finally, the strawberry rhubarb pie was excellent, but wished they would have comped us something as it was such a special occasion for us. we asked the waitress to take a picture of us, but unfortunately, both pictures she took were either fuzzy or our eyes were closed. Small disappointments. read more

One of the best restaurants in Northern Michigan. They have outdoor seating so it's pet friendly. Food is top notch. Reservations highly suggested since it's a small place. But the food is amazing. I had the Stuffed trout which was perfectly cooked. By wife's meatloaf was large enough for 2 meals. A foodies dream right on the banks of the Ausable river in Northern Michigan. We've eaten here 4 times now and every time the menu is different but the food is fantastic. read more

We we're driving back to Ohio from the UP with our dog and yelp found this place for us. Outdoor eating on picnic tables is available for anyone with pets. There is indoor and outdoor eating for the pet-less folks too. Great food, good service right on a fast running stream were everyone was coming to fish. Cool place. read more

This truly is an incredible establishment. It's right along the river, so it's a great place to canoe up to. The food is amazing. For lunch, there is a wide variety of tasty sandwiches including great vegetarian options. Dinner is delicious and borderline upscale. The beef stroganoff ravioli had me licking the plate and the duck wontons were beautifully crisp. I could not recommend this place enough. read more

Can't beat the people at Gates and their hospitality and thoughtfulness. Best grilled cheese on the planet and for the love of fish and flying, a piece of heaven. Catch it if you can. read more

We stopped here for the first time on a Friday for lunch. At first I was wondering if people could find the place with only minimal signage. I needn't worry. The Lodge lot was near full, restaurant only had a table or two. The lunch menu was well well rounded with the usual plus some local adds. Good choices available. Our sandwiches were excellent, service fast and cheerful. Seek this place out. read more

Excellent dining experience! Great service and gourmet food along with the best margarita (hand crafted) I ever had! Pricey, but worth it when celebrating a special occasion! read more

Not open for lunch. Though hours list 6:30-8pm doors locked, staff outside smoking, 12:35, no sign to tell you which building is restaurant, asked a staff member and they didn't know which entrance either. read more

This is my kind of restaurant! Fantastic food and a cozy riverside atmosphere. Friendly staff and casual environment. Great breakfast lunch and dinners. Service is a relaxed pace but not too long of a wait. Fantastic Trout Hemmingway! read more

Gates Ausable Lodge - Restaurant - Fishing art and photography. - American Near Me - Grayling, Michigan

I was told of this lodge by the locals. I had to try it and I was not sorry. Everything was amazing. The blackened trout tacos to the perch. Heather my server was top notch. Highly recommend. Reservations needed as it's a small place. read more

I've stayed at the lodge to enjoy the fishing on the Au Sable River and the restaurant is an added plus. You'd never expect to find the quality of food at a fishing lodge, but this restaurant rivals anything you'd find in Northern Michigan. No need for reservations for breakfast or lunch, but you'll need reservations for dinner (the dining rooms is pretty small). The Au Sable river gurgles past the restaurant and bird feeders bring in lots of colorful birds. read more

Each time we dine the food just gets better. I recommend trying it for a unique dining experience.