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Joe's Friendly Tavern

3.8 (293 reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Burgers
Open • 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Joe's Friendly Tavern Photos

JOE'S FRIENDLY TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Casual
Good for kids

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Yummy pizza too
Timm R.

Great burgers and staff. Definitely up north decor, cool old gas station and auto advertisement signs and a roof covered patio with big sliding windows that open all along one wall.

Cheese curds and local beer

No joke- best burgers! Love the setting and cheese curds with "Michigan gravy"! Stopped in for a quick bite before dune hiking- perfect hole in the wall restaurant!

Peanut butter pie
Keith K.

Classic greasy spoon; good burger and rings...$20 a bit high. Peanut butter pie excellent; really about two servings...chilled and smooth! Waitress attentive...and recommended pie!

Samantha G.

Joe's Tavern definitely gives you the small town ambiance. The fries were absolutely delicious! The fried chicken was even tossed in a yummy cherry wing sauce. Although the prices might be out of your budget, the flavors may be worth it! It came out to be approx 20 dollars a meal along with a 3.5% credit card fee.

Stephanie K.

We went before 5:30 on a Saturday night and there was no wait but by the end of our meal it was filling up quickly. Family- friendly, except no diaper changing table in the men's bathroom and server didn't seem too pleased to be at a table with kids. Oh well. They don't serve Coke or Pepsi products, they serve a local cola brand which is AMAZING. The kids LOVED the "Shark Juice" (Sprite-like cola with blue raspberry syrup and a gummy shark) All of our food came out hot and delicious! I really loved the dip burger! Service was a smidge slow, including not filling waters and we asked for something to-go and never got it (but weren't charged for it either). Oh well.

The BLT.
Wyld B.

We ended up at this place on our way to Traverse City. We were starving, or after seeing the prices we would have found somewhere else. The waitress came over to take our orders. No pleasantries, no smiles. My husband ordered the smelt basket, and I ordered the BLT. The smelt basket came with fries, but nothing else on the menu, as far as we could tell, came with any sides. A side of fries was almost $7.00! Someone at another table ordered some, and it looked like any side of fries you normally get with a burger at any other restaurant! The waitress then informed us that they were out of smelt...something she should have told us when she gave us our menus. So, after looking at the menu again, my husband ordered a cheeseburger. For the prices we paid for a couple sandwiches, you think they would be amazing. The waitress didn't even offer a choice of bread types. The BLT was thin, and cost $13.45, and the cheeseburger was $14.50...NO FRIES, but I did get a very soft pickle spear. Would NOT recommend this overpriced place.

Thai me up salad
Ashley B.

The burger and fries here are really really good. It's what they're known for after all. Salad was decent. Our waitress lived up to the word friendly. A little pricey.

Chili & PBR

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7 months ago

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9 months ago

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8 months ago

Friendly neighborhood tavern with good food and friendly service. A bit pricey but what isn't these days.

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8 months ago

Stopped in for breakfast. Not a large selection but our omelette was delicious. Staff was very friendly.

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

Food was great service was fast love their cheeseburger and onion rings highly recommend

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5 years ago

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1 year ago

Everything was incredible! Especially the wings with cherry sauce, burgers and fries! Fast service and very relaxed atmosphere.

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

I love Joe's!!! Fun and down to earth staff. A good place to enjoy a nice burger and beer before a hike.

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2 years ago

The service was friendly, food was good and a pleasant setting. The meal was served quickly and hot!

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7 years ago

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Blu - Amuse-bouche

Blu

4.4(118 reviews)
7.2 mi
•$$$

We had a fantastic dinner at this small upscale spot while in town for a visit. With its elegant…read moresetting and abundant windows featuring Lake Michigan views, it makes for a memorable evening. The daily menu was crammed with the best local foods and in August when we visited that meant cherries, luscious vine ripened tomatoes, blueberries and more. In fact I hard a hard time narrowing down even the 4 salads as they all sounded fantastic as did the 10 appetizers. In the end we opted to share some things starting with the light crab "puffs" (really golf-ball-sized crab/rice cakes) which were delicious although a bit light on the accompanying sauce. Next we savored the small summer salad made with juicy dark purple tomatoes, fresh basil and slivers of mozzarella. Our entree was the pecan crusted white fish that was also nicely prepared. Note they add a somewhat outrageous charge for a split plate-around $16, so our fish ended up costing $66! For dessert we chose the turtle sundae festooned with crunchy toasted pecans and a house made caramel sauce. There's a nice wine list too. Service here was top notch with constantly filled water glasses and a very professional staff. I was really pleased and surprised to find a restaurant of this quality located in a tiny vacation hamlet. Highly recommended

We wanted to book one fancy dinner while in the Leelanau/GA/Leland/TC area - and I'm so glad this…read morewas our pick!! While we love great food, we are not "foodies" who do well with super modern/unique takes on classics - and after perusing many menus of different restaurants in the area, we felt like Blu was the right mix of fancy but delicious and classic and we were not disappointed! Pro tip: book a reservation and look when sunset is - we did the 8pm seating with the sun setting around 9-9:30 and if was amazing. They have see through blinds, but raise them up for the sunset and many people walk out to go take a picture on the beach right outside! It's a small intimate restaurant, so in general booking a reservation is advised. The gnocchi was amazing and so flavorful with sun dried tomatoes and succulent shrimp. My spouse got the lamb and really enjoyed the garlic and sauce Robert- and was so happy that it wasn't traditional mint sauce with lamb. The scallops were extremely rich with the asparagus risotto. We did split a crème brûlée which was just okay (maybe a bit too eggy in the texture?) , but they do use real vanilla bean and overall we were stuffed at that point. They have an extensive wine list, cocktail list, and mocktail list which I appreciated as a lady on her baby moon trip :) best Shirley temple I've ever had with real homemade grenadine made from real cherries! Staff is attentive, kind, and always checking to make sure you're taken care of. Overall, yes it's pricey, but for the delicious food, view, overall fanciness - I think it's justified and worth it for a special occasion! We would love to come back in the future.

Photos
Blu - Interior

Interior

Blu - Wild Boar tenderloin

Wild Boar tenderloin

Blu

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Rock's Landing

Rock's Landing

4.6(79 reviews)
11.0 mi

If I could go here for the rest of my life, I would…read more Food was incredible, service was top notch, and WOW what a gorgeous view we had. We had a reservation for our anniversary, and I must say, I highly recommend this place. We arrived right on time and were asked where we'd like to be seated. When we requested a table by the water, they were more than happy to accommodate us, leading us to a beautiful waterfront spot. When we first went over to our table, they had this roll down screen over our window and the staff kindly rolled it on up. The staff the entire time was amazing. Very friendly, felt like I've known em' for years. We started with drinks - a chest warming whiskey for me and a Sauvignon Blanc for my girlfriend. For our appetizer, we chose a tomato bisque type of a shrimp, served with rustic bread, greens, and lemons. This dish was absolutely divine. Every bite was delightful, and when we ran out of bread, our waitress kindly brought us more so we could savor every last drop of the delicious sauce. For the main course, I ordered the Sablefish, and let me tell you, it was the best fish I have ever eaten in my life. The combination of miso, honey, and citrus glaze was nothing short of incredible. The flavors melded together perfectly, and the fish was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. It was so exceptional that I insisted on swapping plates with my girlfriend so she could experience it too. The dish also came with amazing fried rice and some decent bok choy. While I'm not familiar with bok choy, it was an interesting addition to the plate. My girlfriend opted for the Cacio E Pepe, a pasta dish made with noodles, pecorino romano, pepper, and roasted tomatoes. We both enjoyed this dish immensely; it had a comforting, home-cooked vibe. The roasted tomatoes were a highlight, enhancing the noodles perfectly. However, as good as it was, it simply couldn't compete with the Sablefish--but honestly, I doubt anything could. In the end, the bill came to around $115, and it was worth every single penny. Anytime I'm in the area, I'll be dining at Rock's Landing. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Food was great, service exceptional, and views were amazing on the Crystal Lake. The water was…read morelapping against the shoreline right next to our table on patio (enclosed until warmer weather)

Photos
Rock's Landing - Patio view

Patio view

Rock's Landing - Our Appetizer

Our Appetizer

Rock's Landing - Rocks Landing at sunset

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Rocks Landing at sunset

Empire Village Inn - Deluxe pizza

Empire Village Inn

4.0(156 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

We ate here on a recent trip to Empire two times! We had pizza on 12/16 at about 7pm - it was…read morepacked for Taco Tuesday! However, I was in need of pizza! We ordered a medium with mushroom, pepperoni, and extra cheese. It did not take long, and it was perfect. Piping hot and traditional pizza (my fav). It's expensive ($25), but it's worth it, and you tend to see higher prices in destination areas. Max was our server, he was great! So great we went back to try their sandwiches last night! I had the BLT and my husband had the Philly. Both were good, we did not add a side. I wouldn't get the BLT again because I would try something more exciting for the price (LOL). The ambience is warm and friendly, you feel like a local, and if you're lucky you'll meet Max!

VI is the best food in Empire! If only they can be open when they say they will!…read more Loved just about everything about dining in at Village Inn. Definitely more of a locals place, vibes are immaculate. Started with the pepperoni chips...order these! Gluten free, keto friendly deliciously addicting! I'd order these every time! I had the Salmon burger, and it exceeded my expectations! It's an actually filet of Salmon, no weird patties here. Healthy, fresh tasting, I would order this every time as well! Sweet potato fries had good flavor. Husband ordered pizza and was happy. They have the root beer Friendly's has, which is awesome, because the food at VI is so much better! Service was excellent too! We did inquire about their 4th of July hours, and though they said they were to be open for lunch, they were not. :( I get it, it's a tiny beach town, they can do what they want, but it was a bummer, because the food is special, and because there are so few options. All in all, I wish I was able to try out more of the menu at VI, maybe next time!

Photos
Empire Village Inn
Empire Village Inn - Drumsticks

Drumsticks

Empire Village Inn - Fried pickles

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Fried pickles

Joe's Friendly Tavern - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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