It had been 13 years since I last dined at this establishment and we finally decided to give it another shot. What a drastic improvement from our last experience! The wife got the Wagyu Steak, I got a rack of ribs and the kids got something off the kids menu (I can't remember what). The wife raved about her steak which came with five or six fried shrimp on top. She did something she rarely does and offered me a piece. While she likes her steaks more medium and I like them medium rare, I still found the steak to be juicy and flavorful! I started out with a basket of fried mushrooms, and what came out to the table was a HUGE basket of delicious fried mushrooms. I wanted to eat them all, but I knew I had ribs coming. The mushrooms alone will bring me back to GLG! My ribs came out and they were ok, but I would probably not get them again. When I think ribs, I think of smokey goodness and I believe these were baked. Not a huge deal, just a difference between expectations and what was received. That is on me for not asking before ordering. The server was amazingly friendly and the manager (owner?) even swung by to check on us! Best of all, my wife and I found it to be a great value for the portions and quality! GLG has made it onto our rotation when visiting the great city of Cheboygan! read more

Don't be fooled by the exterior, I was skeptical but the reviews we read were good so we went in and were pleasantly surprised- clean and comfortable! Staff was very attentive and accommodating. The hostess and waitress (Brie) were super Sweet! Thanks for a fantastic evening meal experience read more

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Great food, reasonably priced and a local favorite. The walleye was awesome, and our server was hilarious! This place seems to be very Hands-on by the ownership and it definitely shows with the quality, cleanliness and attentiveness everyone in the restaurant received. You may have had a server assigned to you, but it was obvious all staff was watching out for everyone seated also. Thank you, we'll be back and highly recommend this restaurant. read more

TLDR: Worst meal in memory. Food borne illness followed. Up until today, if you had asked me what the worst restaurant meal that I have ever had, I would have described a horrible meal that I was served at an Italian "Garden" restaurant chain in New Mexico. But that has changed today at the Great Lakes Grill in Cheboygan, Michigan. Traveling to Mackinac for a short family outing, we decided to find a place for dinner off the tourist circuit. We selected to eat at the Great Lakes Grill after reading reviews on Google. As of today, many recent reviews were 4 and 5 stars. We are completely baffled at how anybody could have rated this establishment anything better than a 1 or 2. So after walking in, we waited almost 10 minutes to be greeted by a hostess. She said there is a wait for tables and asked if we wouldn't mind waiting in our car. Okay, we can do that. It was strange because half the restaurant was empty. Ten more minutes passed as we waited in our car and two giant tour busses pulled in. That was not a good sign. But after another 10 minutes, nobody got off the buses. Now having arrived 30 minutes earlier, we went back into the restaurant to see how much longer it would take to get a table. No idea, we were told. As we waited, at least 12 other prospective diners came in and left. After another 10 minutes, we were guided to a table with no lighting. We sat there in the shadows for 15 minutes with no wait staff to take our drink orders. We finally flagged down a waitress who told us that she would find out who our server was. Mind you, there were five or six wait staff running back and forth in the dining room serving maybe 7-8 tables. The same waitress decided after all that she was going to serve us and took our orders. The only positive part was that she hustled and brought the inedible food while it was hot. The menu contained real basic stuff, nothing inspiring. We shared an appetizer of "crab stuffed" mushrooms. They were served in an piping hot Escargot dish. Each of the six mushrooms were stuffed high with some kind of bread stuffing and melted cheese. Crab was nowhere to be found. The main courses were: 1)House Special Parmesan encrusted White Fish. It was inedible. The consistency was like pulverized fish meal. It came with mashers and a side salad. The salad had obviously been prepared earlier and refrigerated because the lettuce was wilted. There was about 1 tablespoon of salad dressing on the side. The potatoes were mashed with skins and had no seasoning. 2) Plain Cheeseburger, medium burned. It was so dried out that it was also inedible. Fries were hot but the insides had a mashed potato consistency 3) Liver and onions. The liver was also overcooked and hard to swallow. It had not been properly prepared and had tons of rubbery gristle. It was unseasoned. There was a pile of greasy onions that took up most of the plate. Two strips of cold undercooked bacon were placed on top of the liver for decoration. None of us came close to finishing our food. They asked if we wanted a to-go box. But it was all so horrible, we wouldn't even feed it to our dog. We paid the $70 plus tip (Please Pay In Cash, they insisted) and left. As we left, the restaurant's hostess had run out of the door in front of us. She stood on the edge of US23 highway to flag down a wayward bus to join the others that had pulled in earlier. Quite frankly, she should have waved them off! Within 30 minutes of leaving, two of us were ill. It was probably the crab stuffed mushroom concoction that we had shared. If the kitchen hygiene is as bad as the cooking, it might explain how we became ill. I hate to berate a family operation, but this place needs a new kitchen staff and probably needs a visit from the county's public health team. Worst restaurant meal in my memory. read more

Great Lakes Grill - Dining room half empty - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

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Great food, great service and everyone was so friendly. Cute place. Generous portions read more

When you first walk in, you notice a fishing/80's vibe of the place. The service is friendly and decently fast. And besides that, the food is great! The only reason that this review is 4 stars is the fact that it took a while to be seated. read more

Great food ,,,great service Long existing place Prices are reasonable Fried Cod excellent RIBS Nostalgic place Good home cooking Low key Nothing fancy Great and good read more

Our dinner on 4/5/25 was 5 star! We both ordered the Angus filet and fried shrimp special. It was fabulous! Our steaks were cooked to perfection at medium rare served with fried onions strings on top, 6 large shrimp lightly battered, baked potato with choice of salad or soup. The vegetable beef soup was amazing and served with luscious homemade bread. Our waitress and hostess were excellent, as always. A very reasonable, tasty dinner! We hope this "special" is available on Saturday nights regularly! Kudos to the restaurant and staff and the warm, inviting atmosphere! We always enjoy our dining experience here! read more

Best nacho's ever! Service was very attentive and the price was reasonable. Check it out when you are in Cheboygan! read more

Great Lakes Grill - Chicken Nachos - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

Great spot. Get the special of the day. But definitely try the onion rings! They are incredible!!! Nice staff and good service as well.

Great little find! Great food, great value and more than anything the folks serving you are more than friendly! Enjoyed the food but again the servers were the best! read more

Had the good fortune to stop into the Great Lakes Grill for dinner last Tuesday. Wanted to recognize the staff for the great food, friendly service and outstanding prices! -Robert&Carmen, Rochester Hills, Michigan read more

Fish was delicious. Service was great and the restaurant was clean and nicely furnished.

Always a great meal! Shrimp and chicken salad with extra croutons are my favorites. The service is always friendly and inviting when you walk in. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. read more

A nice small favorite restaurant that has a local flare and customers that frequent this fine restaurant. A wide assortment of options from fish, fried shrimp and fish, steak and hamburgers. The fried chicken was cooked just right, the burger was tasty and the chicken alfredo didn't disappoint. I had the cod, very good and hit the spot. The service was amazing, we felt special and we enjoyed our time and can't wait to go back read more

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A nice, homey dining experience. Good food and service in a casual atmosphere. Would recommend to anyone looking for a comfortable meal at a reasonable price. read more

This place has a friendly staff and food is good sometimes and not so good others. We have been here a couple of times on our trips up to Cheboygan. We have only ever been in during off season, so I assume the inconsistencies were due to that. French onion soup great one time, then not the next. Ribs good first time then old and greasy the next. We came on fish fry night and waited forever for dinner and then it came and the fish and chips was undercooked and really oily like they had fried it in oil that wasnt hot enough. I really want this place to be the amazing up north spot it could be, so I am going to keep on trying it!!! read more

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The Parmesan Encrusted White Fish is sooo good. Carrie is the best server that ever existed. That is all.

WOW!!! What a cute, hidden gem right in the heart of Cheyboygan!! And the bar area is so classy!! DON'T MISS THIS RESTAURANT!!! Cute decor, too!! We arrived right before the rush of customers and were greeted with a warm, friendly smile from the owner, Shari. We were quickly seated with menus and served their scrumptious homemade bread. There are so many delicious food options that it was difficult to choose. My husband had the Great Lakes Whitefish. The piece of fish was HUGE and tasty. His dinner came with a dinner salad and baked potato. I had the shrimp scampi. It was very flavorful with garlic and full of large shrimp. My dinner came with a dinner salad and their delicious garlic bread. We each ordered Gin & tonics, made just like we like them. And dessert...............OH!!! The carrot cake is to "die" for!! Overall, our dining experience was very pleasant with LARGE portions at a very fair price. It is evident that this restaurant takes pride in their business, serves delicious food and treats their customers right. I suspect that's why the locals keep coming back. THANK YOU, Shari and Dave!! You've got a good thing going. CHEERS to 26!! read more

Great food Great prices Fantastic people Not only have we dined at the restaurant, we also had the pleasure of working with the staff and owner at an event they catered. I own a mobile bartending service and eat catered event meals 4+ times a week. We have all had the dry chicken at a wedding but only a few of us have had the moist, tender, and delicious chicken from Great Lakes Grill. The food was hot, cooked to perfection, FLAVORFUL and most importantly DELICIOUS. The staff was wonderful to work with and the owner Shari is a delight to know. If you are ever in Cheboygan, MI or even near by, make it a point to take a meal with these fine folks, your mouth and your wallet will thank you. We will absolutely be back read more

We loved the food here! The service was amazing, and the place is so so cute! We will definitely be coming back :) read more

Great Lakes Grill - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

Food is always soggy, and never warm. The service is nice, just not good food I've tried multiple different things and they all have their own problems. read more

My husband, sister-in-law, and I stopped here after a day at Tahquamenon Falls. I have learned over time that many restaurants in small towns get unnecessarily high reviews because of the lack of options in the area - and this seems like one of those spots. The food was probably the best you can find in Cheboygan, but this restaurant might not "make it" in a more populated city with a greater variety of options. The spinach and artichoke dip was yummy, but the portions were small. The french onion soup was okay but I'm obsessed with french onion soup and have had much better at other establishments. The salad was okay - overpriced for what you get with lots of white and brown pieces of the root of lettuce. The fish and chips were standard - the fish was nicely flavored and not overly oily, but the french fries were quite undercooked. We may stop here again if we're in the area, but I would not dine here if it were located in a bigger city. read more

Great Lakes Grill - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

Sorry they took their open-faced roast beef sandwich off the menu. It was my favorite.

Always good food and lovely people running the place! Try the Parmesan crusted whitefish with sautéed vegetable medley! Excellent!

This is a prime local eatery! I had the gentlest, kindest service and FANTASTIC fried cod (I actually cried.) I may be dead, and I may have made it to Heaven. read more

Great Lakes Grill - Cod! - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

We stopped in while on vacation. Very cozy place. Small menu, but very good food. The staff is exceptionally friendly and treats you like family. We had Amy and she was phenominal. read more

This place is...fine. Looking for Friday night dinner after the 5 hour drive from Detroit to "up north" we wanted something..."up north". Great Lakes Grill has pretty standard american fare, but the feature is clearly the seafood. Or is it lake food? Everybody ordered the fish - mine was white fish, blackened. The fish was fresh, flaky, and well cooked but a little over seasoned. I rarely leave a seafood dish on my plate, but here...I just wasn't quite feeling it. Maybe it was the long drive? Everyone else agreed this was exactly what we were looking for. Things that were good - the atmosphere, "You know, I think this might be a double wide trailer." The fried dishes - the fish & chips were reported to be a big winner (we weren't allowed to have any, so that must tell you something). And, the homemade bread that came with the entrees was nice. One member of our party ordered a vodka tonic that was good, and apparently cheap. So, I dunno, solid I suppose. It certainly won't kill you, and has that "up north" kind of charm we were looking for. read more

Great Lakes Grill - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

Vacationing here in Cheboygan and was looking for a good family restaurant. I honestly do not know why this place has only 3 and a half stars, because it honestly deserves 5! Excellent food and the owner and staff make you feel like family! read more

The servers are friendly, food is good, the mushrooms and onion rings are hand dipped. I really enjoy the chicken chimichanga.

We were passing through Cheboygan and stopped here, because we read it's the best restaurant in this town. We had Amy as our server, and she was wonderful. Super friendly, and treated us as regulars. She even took it upon herself to warm us our butter before serving. The food was fresh and made in-house, including the fresh bread. I had the lake perch pan fried. The fish was fresh but could have used some more seasoning. The vegetable medley that came with it was delicious. Mom had the French onion soup, which she enjoyed. She did say that they overdid the homemade croutons in the soup. My parents also shared the Parmesan crusted whitefish. They enjoyed it, but it had a bit too much breading. Bottom line, this restaurant provides a solid meal at a good price with exceptional service. read more

Nothing in this place is bad. The atmosphere is inviting, prices are reasonable and the food is cooked with love. A definite place to stop if you want a home cooked meal or just a couple drinks. Love it ! read more

The wife and I were out of town in Michigan I was working on a project. We stopped in this Diner restaurant family-owned and found the price is very reasonable and the food was very good Home Cooking. The wife and I got the specials for the night and I got fish and chips for the night and the pieces of cod were bigger than any that I've ever had at any other restaurant for the price. The wife was very pleased with her food also. read more

First time here and a drive up north. Excellent food, service and very friendly atmosphere. The crab cakes (2) starter were huge. I recommend this place. read more

Great Lakes Grill - Just a picture of the bar area. Very good food and service - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

The food was great. The waitress not so much. I went with my friends and we spent about 70 dollars. We were going to leave a tip but before we could the waitress snapped at us about not giving a tip. Probably won't be going anytime soon. Ps. We left a smaller tip because of this. read more

Absolutely best homemade chocolate cheesecake with raspberry purée to die for! Parmesan crusted whitefish was good also!! Staff friendly and attentive read more

Still coming back. Great service. Great people. They are so so so accommodating. And the food is amazing! Delicious and a great price! Don't judge the book by its cover here, this is a diamond in the rough. read more

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Working in Cheboygan MI, locals suggested this as one of their favs. At first we passed it because it doesnt really stand out..inside sports a 70's theme including 70's music like Manilow, Glen Campbell. Even though this was not just a theme, They put together a nice 1/2 slab of ribs ,1/ dozen shrimp and choice of potatoe. The staff was incredibly friendly and eager to please, even teasing me about drinking my beer with a nipple, anyways..if you find your way this far North, and your hungry, stop on in and grab a bite, its worth it.t read more

Great Lakes Grill - 1/2 slab Ribs with shrimp and mashed potatoes - Bars Near Me - Cheboygan, Michigan

Like every business they are short staffed. Do they had three very competent people working together and getting it done! The drinks were good, the White Caps were delicious! The Parmesan Incrusted White Fish was delicious! I am here on vacation, but I will be sure to eat here again, during my next trip. Prayers for these amazing, hard working people. read more

Last night I had the bacon & bleu cheese filet mignon. It was cooked perfectly & the service is always very friendly. There are only two negatives to my dining experience last night: the food took an hour to arrive, and the dining room was EXTREMELY cold. My wife dined with her coat on, and had to lay mine across her lap. But the food & service was excellent. read more