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Johnny’s Torch Riviera

3.6 (91 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Johnny’s Torch Riviera Photos

Business Info

JOHNNY’S TORCH RIVIERA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Johnny’s Torch Riviera

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Lasagna up close
Chris H.

Funnily enough the building reminds me of an old bait and tackle shop. However that being said inside is inviting and a little dark. It divided into a couple of seating areas and a bar. I Ordered the Crab Rangoon Dip ($16) served hot with Wonton Chips. They were excellent. They come out scalding. The chips taste homemade and once the dip cools enough to taste it becomes very addictive. I also ordered the Lasagna ($22). It somehow comes out even hotter than the dip. Yowser, it is a nice thick slab of Lasagna. Once it cooled enough to eat it was delicious. The noodles were delicate and tasty. The sauce was right on and there was plenty of meat inside it. It ended up being too much to complete and I had about half left to enjoy the next day. The service is very friendly and does a great job. Overall a 5 star review. Would I return? Yes, an oasis in the practical middle of nowhere it seems like.

Mozzarella Caprese
Kimberly K.

Mico's is back! What was known for generations as "The Torch" is now Mico's Torch Riviera and it's fabulous! I've been fortunate enough to know the Fortuna family and their long history of serving delicious Italian food to the Traverse City & Torch lake region. Since the Leelanau Peninsula translates to wine country (it doesn't but it should!) we started with a bottle of Black Star Farms Riesling. Some restaurants really mark up the wine but the prices at Mico's were more than reasonable. For starters we ordered the Caprese salad (good but nothing that stood out) and the calamari for an appetizer. I was surprised how much calamari came on the plate. It was delicious too. Lightly breaded and flavorful and enough for a whole group to share. My mother had the chicken Marsala. Their homemade Marsala sauce was excellent. For me though the shining star was the tortellini Norma. The walnuts mixed in the cream sauce added a nice touch to an already wonderful dish. Don't skip dessert either. We got cannolis to go and enjoyed them the next morning with our coffee. Mico's is truly a gem for Torch Lake and I can't wait to go back next summer!

Cioppino. "Fisherman's stew"
Steve Z.

2 of us went here for first time ever. Heard the new owners were great restaurant and entertainment people and it proved to be true. Not sure about some of the negative reviews are about but the food and service here are amazing. Not super polished fine dining service but real people putting in a hard effort with enough skill to make for a great experience. Calamari is some of the best ever. The Fishermen's stew is loaded full of seafood and savory tomato based sauce. Even the side salad had a homemade raspberry vinaigrette that was better than I've had before. The cannoli for desert was just average. The musician during dinner was very entertaining. We will stick around for main show next time. Would have given 4.5 stars this time but not available and 4 was too low.

Whitefish and lasagna
Emily C.

The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious!! Quiet atmosphere with clean restrooms and dining area. Ordered Crab Rangoon dip, Lasagna and a whitefish special. Servings were huge, definitely enough lasagna for two or even three meals.

Veal marsala and fish sandwich
Elisa G.

Somewhere between one and two stars. Service was slow even with our trying to wait patiently in these barely past COVID times, thinking the restaurant was just getting back up and running. My dining companion had the fried fish sandwich which was average at best...I should know since she traded me for my awful meal halfway thru! I had the veal marsala, nasty is the first thought that comes to mind. Bland, gray, lifeless and void of flavor are other adjectives I'd use to describe this ugly mess of a meal they were calling veal. The manager came by and inquired why the meal wasn't satisfactory, but was overly defensive in her attempts to right the situation. Even the complementary cannoli they gave us to make up for the meal was equally boring and flat. I'm sure the place will be mobbed by families coming off the lake (which can't be seen from the restaurant) during the summer but anyone looking for a seriously good meal won't return.

Fantastic dirty martini and a solid tap line.

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3 months ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

Food and service is fantastic. ! The Lasagna is the best and don't forget to try the Spaghetti.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

The only restaurant on the lake. Uninspiring food. Menu could be fresher. Staff was efficient and organized.

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

The people are great! We've had several Dinners and always enjoyed the food. Be sure to go hungry the portions are large.

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Anything I've had or guests we've taken to Johnny's has been excellent. Service, food and warm welcome.

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

Had take-out from there tonight. It was absolutely wonderful. Just like the original on C look am River!!!

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

Pizza is very good! Great place to eat , service was excellent 5 stars for sure.. i'll be back

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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Ask the Community - Johnny’s Torch Riviera

Does anyone know why they changed the restaurant name from Mico's to Johnny's?

In the process of changing ;-) Dominic is moving on to pursue his entertainment career Will keep all post ;-)

Are they open on mondays?

Yes, we open at 11:30

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Trattoria Stella - CHEFS TASTE

Trattoria Stella

4.4(863 reviews)
16.7 mi
•$$$

So great! Service was prompt and professional. Menu changes daily and is exquisite. I enjoyed the…read moreseafood tasting appetizer which was amazing, fresh lettuce cups, perfect bitter crunch, fresh shrimp. I did catch a few shrimp shells but otherwise perfect. I did add a bit of lime juice and salt for flavor. The bread was delicious! I met a new friend at the bar and she and I enjoyed splitting the Wagyu beef 8 ounce with risotto. This was delicious and perfectly prepared rare with a chat. The risotto gravy was a bit rich for me. I would have loved a steak sauce but enjoyed adding lemon butter. Wonderful all around night before my asylum tour.

For dinner on our road trip, we headed to a wonderfully unique spot located inside an old asylum…read morethat has been converted into shops and restaurants. Although nothing is explicitly marked as gluten-free on the menu, the service and attention to dietary needs completely made up for it. Our server was exceptionally knowledgeable and took the time to go through the entire menu with us, ensuring a safe dining experience. While they do not have gluten-free bread available, the staff made sure that every single dish set down at our table was explicitly announced as gluten-free for me, which gave me immense peace of mind. To drink, I ordered a mocktail called Spoke of Genius that was confirmed to be gluten-free, and it was so good. For my starter, I had the minestrone soup, which was absolutely to die for and a major highlight of the meal. For my main course, I ordered the gluten-free fettuccine with no lamb. It was cooked very well, though it was a bit saltier than my personal preference. They even offer gluten-free desserts, but unfortunately, we were far too full to try them. Overall, it was a fascinating and delicious dining experience with top-notch allergy safety protocols, making it a great way to end the night.

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Trattoria Stella - Dining Atmosphere

Dining Atmosphere

Trattoria Stella - Flatbread WHITE PIZZA

Flatbread WHITE PIZZA

Trattoria Stella - Chef's Table with blood sausage

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Chef's Table with blood sausage

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo

4.4(315 reviews)
16.7 mi
•$$

Higher end restaraunt at the commons. Enjoyed some dishes more than others but overall a great…read moreexperience. We sat at the bar which was staffed by two very efficient bartenders who did it all. It was nice to be able to see right through to the kitchen from the bar. Really enjoyed the mussel special (not sure if this is always on the menu). The prosciutto fig salad was quite good too but a very small serving size for two people to share as an appetizer. The crostini served with the burrata was very tasty and crispy. The best dish was the fettuccine which has pork ragu and fresh parmesan. This was recommended by our server and it did not disappoint. I only wish there were just a couple more noodles because the amount of meat was very generous. If you're deciding between here and the other Italian place also at the Commons (I don't think I can say it by name) I would actually recommend PepeNero's over that one!!!!

Brussel sprouts were to die for! Sweet and crisp and excellent with the almonds! The focaccia was…read morepretty standard. I had the branzino parchment and it was cooked perfectly. My partner had the gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, and though tasty, it was pretty ordinary. We tried the roll Latini and sausage and well I regretted initially not getting that. I felt that my fish was more outstanding. The tiramisu in the chocolate shell and the cheesecake with amereno cherries were outstanding! Service was good. But there was an unusual request from the chef to have the whole order come in rather than ordering appetizers first and main courses following.. The ambience was very chic.

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PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Dining area

Dining area

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo
PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo

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Trattoria Funistrada - Tiramisu

Trattoria Funistrada

4.3(98 reviews)
30.3 mi
•$$

Made a reservation months in advance and delighted that we took the time. We were greeted by one…read moreof the owners (Susan) as soon as we entered the restaurant. Her warmth and friendliness was matched by the staff who made our dining experience so comfortable. We were promptly seated and received outstanding service. Portions were large and meals come with bread and a house antipasto salad. Our meals were exceptional. My wife had Chicken Saltimbocca and I tried Linguine with Salmon. Chicken was flavorful; salmon was perfect; the pasta was 4 star. The food was so good that we even ventured into a dessert (rare for us). We tried a lemon cake with glaze and VERY fresh strawberries; it was wonderful. A small restaurant that is a gem and well worth it. An outstanding dining experience. Exceptional food; the service and atmosphere were amazing.

Ambiance - intimate, cozy, but also loud Service - had two…read moresteaks ordered medium rare but they were undercooked - sent them back and they came back very burnt on outside, still undercooked but closer (photo) and inedible - sent back again We asked for pasta since they couldnt get the steaks right and thought maybe those meals would be comped but not so much. (Rest of the party was long done by the time we got meals). Asked for the manager but our server (Liz?) said she was the manager and tried to fix it by cooking the steaks more - kinda was uncool to sit while everyone else ate while 2 of our party were waiting. Food : steaks (see above), pesto pasta was good. Heirloom tomato salad was very good but star was tomatoes themselves and presentation was odd with dollop of dressing on each tomato - needed some acidity in the dressing. Chicken saltimbocca was OK but very sweet. Nearby places were closed so we ordered dessert. Tiramisu wasn't very good and peach cake was dry but probably also tainted by the experience. They comped the dessert after we ordered. Bill was over $300 for a crappy experience. Wouldn't recommend. We were here 15 years ago and it was really good and we were looking forward to returning - we live 1600 miles away so it kinda was a big deal to return here over La Becasse. Oh well.

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Trattoria Funistrada
Trattoria Funistrada
Trattoria Funistrada - Dirty

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Dirty

Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza

Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza

3.9(129 reviews)
20.8 mi

My girlfriend and I came here once before on our first date over a year ago, and it was a great…read moretime. So much so that when her parents came to visit, I wanted to take them here, and I'm glad I did. We made reservations for 4 people ahead of time, which is recommended, and we got a nice table inside. Rachel was our server and what a complete gem of a human. Rachel is funny, attentive, and just plain awesome. Three out of four of us got drinks and my Old Fashioned was made VERY well, I know it's a simple drink, but you'd be surprised. My girls aperol spritz was also made well. Nobody ordered appetizers but I chose a bowl of Morel Forest Mushroom Bisque and HOLY SH*T was it good. Once I tried it I had to make everyone at the table try it and we all had the same reaction. Rachel came to check in on us about the drinks n soup and I expressed how great it was. The pizzas came out a little too soon but it was fine since nobody got appetizers. My girl got the Spanish pizza and her dad ordered the Smoked Brisket BBQ, and they loved their food. The Spanish was a perfect balance of sweet n savory and had a crunch with the nuts and was absolutely awesome. I didn't try the bbq pizza because it was gone quickly haha. I ordered the Chicken Parm, which is going to be hard not to get next time. The pasta seems made fresh, the sauce was bright and flavorful for 'just a red sauce' and the chicken was unreal, just perfect. Outside was crunchy and inside was juicy and perfectly cooked. Now, despite being absolutely one of the best Chicken Parms I've ever had, I was only able to eat about 1/3 of this plate. It was SO much food l but I was excited to take it home. My girls mom didn't get Chicken Marsala til a bit after we all started eating, and when it finally came out it looked smelled awesome. After a little allergy scare ( totally cleared up and no issues on either end) we decided to grab desserts to go (which ended up being incredible as well much later) Rachel and the chef that we met were absolute legends and despite a couple little oversights (early pizzas and late entree) I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm sad I didn't get any photos but everything was too great to waste time on a phone. Thanks Nittolos, we'll be back soon!

We were seated in their outdoor garden area on a pleasant summer night. Beautiful flowers, pergola…read moreand overhead twinkle lights lend a relaxing atmosphere. We started with a limoncello martini and a bottle of Fuga red wine - both excellent. There were 7 of us and we ordered for the table to share Caesar Salad and Pasta Rigatoni. Also, Crab Cakes and Shrimp Alla Vodka. All were delicious. Service was good and we had a wonderful, friendly waitress. Would recommend!

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Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza
Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza - Halibut

Halibut

Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza

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Sarducci's Creekside - Pizza

Sarducci's Creekside

3.7(41 reviews)
9.8 mi
•$$

What a great little mom and pop spot in Shanty Creek! The dude behind the bar was awesome and the…read morefood was made with love. The spicy fried pickles were solid. Not too hot and had a great crispy texture. It was the pizza that did it for me. I ordered a personal pizza, no sauce, pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeño. Yes, pineapple belongs on pizza! The crust was the star. But I love how it came out hot and the cheese had such a sick cheese pull. When you're up here, make sure you visit this spot. The servers and bartenders made our group feel at home! Also, I know the bartender didn't think I noticed... but I was really appreciative of him not changing the golf tournament we were watching when the guy requested the Tigers game. Mad respect there.

We were a little confused when we arrived at the address as the restaurant is part of a resort and…read morethe actual location is a small building sitting behind a handful of other buildings. If you're seeing a giant neon PIZZA sign you've found it. The food itself was okay enough but nothing overly special, especially for the price. The atmosphere was very comfortable though and the guy who runs the place seems to care a lot which was nice to see. They also have live music if you're into that. All in all I'd say if you're on the resort (or staying less than a mile away like we were) it's a good close option but I wouldn't drive out of my way to eat here.

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Sarducci's Creekside - Spicy Fried Pickles

Spicy Fried Pickles

Sarducci's Creekside - Caprese salad

Caprese salad

Sarducci's Creekside - Pizza

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Pizza

The Flying Noodle - Cheesy Garlic Bread

The Flying Noodle

4.5(327 reviews)
15.5 mi
•$$

Immediately knew it would be great. Sweet Greeting by Noemi and follow-up with serving us in a…read moretimely way. Made suggestions and the mix of pesto and Alfredo for a creamy pesto delight! We also got the scallop pasta and chopped salad We couldn't decide which was better. It was all 5star delicious ! The restaurant is cozy but yet you aren't on top of other patrons and you can see the kitchen working hard to get the great food out. Which I really liked

Sometimes what you remember most about a place is how you were treated, and not necessarily the…read morefood. My wife and our special-needs son and I were visiting Traverse City for a getaway weekend, and we decided we wanted to have a slightly more upscale meal for one of the nights we were in town. After reading the reviews we decided we would give this place a try. When we arrived we were told that the way would be an excess of an hour, which we felt was acceptable given the weekend/summertime setting. As it happened we went in after it had already been an hour, and they actually jumped into action getting a table together for us. I got the sense that they were a little overrun, and perhaps discombobulated, but it all came together. My special-needs child can be a challenge for a food server, he has a tendency to bark orders and doesn't really have social graces at times. Our server handled his behavior with grace and professionalism, and in the end he was very happy with both his meal and the experience. The food was delightful. The pastas all had a freshly made appearance and texture, and the sauces were rich with carefully chosen ingredients. The room is small, but they make good use of it and it's clear that they're hustling inside to try to turn tables. I would love to come back.

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The Flying Noodle
The Flying Noodle - Crispy chicken sandwich

Crispy chicken sandwich

The Flying Noodle

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Johnny’s Torch Riviera - seafood - Updated November 2026

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