We've been coming to the Crystal Lake area for two years and were trying to find a restaurant that was off the beaten path, but with good food. The Manitou was just the spot! The shrimp were delicious, as well as the whitefish. Great staff, especially Alex. They were all so welcoming! I left my purse in the booth, and we called the next day hoping they would still have it. Luckily they did, with all the items still in it, and let us come and get it off-hours. Great food, and great service! We'll definitely be coming back! read more

so grateful to have found this place the service and food was amazing! felt really cared for by the staff and the food was amazing! we had a great time read more

My husband and I went here for the first time. I had the broiled whitefish which was delicious, a very large portion too. My husband had a steak that was perfectly cooked. We both tried the mozzarella, cheddar and spinach soup which sounded a bit odd but tasted great. The wait staff was friendly and helpful answering our questions. read more

Loves this place. We reserved dinner for two and were seated right away. COVID precautions were in place and the wait staff was attentive. We ordered fish. Perch for me and walleye for hubby. Great meals. The peach and walleye were seasoned just right. Tender and moist inside. The bread and baked potato were excellent. The veggies were cooked perfectly-not under or over. Portions were good. We split a chocolate sundae (not on the menu) and walked out a happy couple. Would go there again in a heartbeat when next in the area. read more

We had a nice early bird dinner, and the service and food were both good. My only complaint is that the food was average; the bill for it was high. I expected better quality and presentation. And make a note: patio seating is NOT outdoor seating. read more

Spot on food!!! We have enjoyed Manitou on two previous occasions over the last two years during summer. This weekend was the best! The romaine & cherry house salad was one of the best I've ever enjoyed. Cocktails are good & taste like they do use alcohol, not just wave bottle over top of glass or shaker. Warm bread & veggie appetizers were a nice start. Whitefish, perch & walleye were succulent & light. Rhubarb pie for dessert---sensational. Nice to enjoy dinner here before the summer masses descend on northern Michigan!!! read more

We always try to get to the manitou every year we visit here. This year was disappointing to say the least. 3 adults and 2 children and the bill, with tip was almost $300. We ordered a strip steak that was tasteless, ribs that seemed like they were 2 days old, the house Cabernet was like colored water. Waitress was a bit fake. I am thinking the reason they are always packed is because it's the only place around. The owner needs to pull his ass away from the bar and watch over his place a bit more read more

Had an outstanding meal, superb atmosphere and Libby the server was excellent. Great service and made the experience even better. Definitely go here! read more

This place is like returning home. Has a cozy old school cabin feel. Never really had a bad meal here. And sometimes it's really really good. The whitefish is outstanding. That is my standard for UpNorth restaurant.. the service is always attentive. The carrot bisque was mind blowing.. the only disappointment was dessert. The key lime pie was frosty, not expected in a home made pie. But it was tasty! read more

Been going here since the early 1980's. My uncle has a summer place not far from the Manitou. This is perhaps my favorite restaurant of all time. It is expensive, it can be very very crowded... you get what you pay / wait for. The perch dinner is amazing. I've never had a bad meal there. The staff is friendly and informative. This is the perfect place for a good, expensive, treat yourself and significant other kinda meal. read more

If you want fine dining big city style, keep driving. If you want solid, good food in a fun, casual atmosphere, enjoy yourself. Been to a Wisconsin supper club? This is it, only with better food. If you're not health conscious, start with an order of Skinny Dippers. Most soups are very good. House salad with dried cherries and cherry vinaigrette is classic. Fish is great. They will broil, pan fry, deep fry, etc. even if not on the menu. So are the lamb chops. One of the best wine lists for a place like this you'll ever find: while not deep, it is broad with a great range of choices. And save room for the pie. My fav is blueberry/raspberry pie; ask and they'll warm it so the the a la mode melts all over it. read more

We have eaten here three times this summer . The lake Perch is to die for !!! Of course we can't get lake perch in Vegas , where we live most of the year . We drive from Ludington , so it's 1.5 hours , but the food is worth the drive !!! We have never had a bad meal here !!! Very consistent and always great service !!! The desserts are great , and the wine selection , while small is full of great choices !!! I don't think Whitefish at 22.00 is to much either !!! This includes a salad and potato !!! Can't wait till next Summer !!! read more

Server was very unknowledgable of food and described it as baseball park food. Drinks while absurdly strong were over priced. The desert we had was decent... read more

This place looks warm and homey - the perfect place to stop for dinner and drinks! It's like eating at a log cabin in the north woods. My husband ordered a Maker's mark old fashioned off of their extensive cocktail menu and really enjoyed it. You got an extraordinary amount of food for your money. We got the onion rings (which are hard to mess up) and and the potato skins for an app. The skins were crispy and incredible! With your entree you get a soup or salad. I order the portobello mushroom bisque - yum! The rest of my party really enjoyed their salads. I ordered the sautéed perch for my meal and was disappointed, it seemed more fried, and just wasn't what I expected. However, my husband loved his pork chops and the whitefish looked good. A great place to come for dinner when visiting the area. read more

Been coming to this part of Michigan all my life. Name a restaurant, I've been there. In spades! Tonight, our dinner at Manitou was perfection: the service (friendly, prompt, not obsequious), the food (broiled whitefish with just a hint of lemon pepper seasoning, fresh asparagus, baked potato, wedge salad, local wine), the room (cozy, wooded view, fresh breeze, relaxed vibe, quiet music). Clearly, someone has a hand on the tiller here....everything little thing was right, even "little" things like the salad and relish tray. These people are old hands in the restaurant business, not lifestyle gurus or Pinterest freaks or wanna-be chefs. They KNOW what they're doing and for that, I sing their praise. read more

If you're looking for ambiance and a really good sense of regional specialties, look no further than the Manitou. Wood paneled interior, an assortment of mounted fish, deer heads, antlers, and extraneous other (there's a bear. Did I mention the bear?) makes it feel like a cozy, intimate setting although they're capable of seating groups and serving more people than you'd expect. Service is spectacular. Waitresses are friendly and knowledgeable. When you ask them for suggestions, you don't get defaulted to the most expensive item on the menu, which is a big plus. Drink service is spectacular - they have a bar in one of the rooms (where you can sit and drink) and they've got a variety of drinks on their list that my friends and I enjoyed. The wine list is a collection of familiar "safe" options and some more local wines. While I'm not a beer drinker, the one in our party was satisfied with the offerings. I really enjoy the food here. Many of the fish options are clearly great lakes options. The fish fry is spectacular. Trout, perch, and whitefish are all Lake Michigan originated and amazingly fresh. If seafood isn't your style, the chicken is one of the write-home-about options. (It's odd. Chicken normally seems relegated to a menu position of "need one bland chicken entrée to satisfy picky eaters, and little attention is given to it after that's present.) It's well cooked, flavorful, and comes with amazing sides. The M22 (sirloin) is fantastic and probably one of my favorite things on the menu. Tip: Order the onion rings. You won't regret it. Crispy, crunchy, and delicious without being overly greasy. We have a house on Crystal Lake and spend summers here. I've been coming to the Manitou for many years and, based off of my recent visit, will continue to make it a must-do on every trip. read more

There is no better place to eat when visiting Frankfort MI than here. The fish is fabulous, ribs are moist and very tasty. Service staff are fantastic of course we are partial to Laurin. Make a reservation and enjoy sitting outside weather permitting. This is a place not to miss on your trip to Benzi County. read more

Been coming here for years and it's consistent. I'm a huge fan of the pan fried garlic perch. I'm also a huge fan of the blueberry raspberry pie, and you better reserve a slice of pie when you sit down or prepare for disappointment! Also in high summer season, make a reservation. It's slightly upscale American dining. I wouldn't call it "new" American. Only two things could improve this place. The bread is good but it's not made in house... it's good but it just has a little too much "commercially pre-made" as part of it. And for the life of me I'm not sure I'll ever understand the carrot stick, celery stick, radish, dressing pre-dinner munchie thing. It worked for a couple years, but it's long in the tooth now and there are so much more the clever things one could be doing. Great little gem "in the middle of no-where." Having a restaurant like this where it is, is a labor of love. Very few people can do this successfully. I give the owners props. read more

The nutty trout is absolutely delicious. We enjoy the woodsy atmosphere and attentive service. The perch is also fresh and excellent. I ordered the spinach salad with warm dressing, bacon, tomato and mushrooms. Yum! I noticed that the map has this restaurant In the wrong place. read more

I've been coming here with my family since I was a baby; 1994! We stay at a cottage nearby in Frankfort every summer. Food is always outstanding. My top three favorites and recommendations are the broiled whitefish, the sautéed lake perch, and the duck. You really can't go wrong with any of the menu choices. Not too crazy about the frog legs; too chewy for me. And the blueberry raspberry pie is a MUST for dessert. So delicious!!! Great location on Scenic Hwy tucked back in the trees and just a short drive from Point Betsie. However, my family is not impressed with the owner. 20 years loyal customers and he has never so much as acknowledged us in any way. read more

I had the most delicious pecan encrusted lake trout ever here. We had the smoked lake trout as an appetizer and that was excellent as well. Garlic mashed potatoes were delicious. We had a really nice experience, and can't wait to go back. Wish we could have made it to the early bird dinner (cheaper prices!), but our 20 month old did not fall asleep in the car like we hoped he would... read more

Sit outside if you can. Our server knew the drink menu really well and offered us samples of local beers before we ordered. Later she came to the table to let us know that the kitchen was backed up and offered to bring out some of our sides in advance. Try the trout with pecans topping. The fish fry special was fine but a bit greasy (it's fried so I should be surprised. The baked and then deep fried duck was tough and I wouldn't order it again. Would visit again. read more

Overpriced nouvelle cuisine wanna be. Soup was very good. My wife asked if the fries had skin on. No was the reply. I asked if fries had skin on them. No was the answer. Guess what - fries came with skins on them. So sent back meal. Another sub par establishment following the fad of unpeeled fries. Most people don't mind, but most people do not know what is on those skins. As a potato farmer, I do know and do not want to eat such stuff. I do not want to put anyone off their meal by telling you what that is, but you should do some research before eating that stuff. read more

Had a great time, great meal, and great service. The negative reviews do not add up. Perhaps they are personal. We are glad we went and can't wait to go back. The prices are about right considering location, quality, factoring for seasonal tourism lulls - they are on par with other "fine dining" places in the area. read more

Way, way over priced for sub standard food. Drinks were not great, food was bad and super expensive. We sat outside in the sun, which may have been better than inside. Went in to use the restroom, it was very warm, no a/c. Will not go back, ever! read more

The perch and daily special walleye were outstanding - perfectly cooked. Excellent sweet potato fries and vegetables. Our server, Amanda, was personable and efficient read more

We have been vacationing in the Sleeping Bear area for the past ten years and would drive by the Manitou and comment about all the cars parked alongside the road, and said it might be worth trying this place given the apparent popularity. As it turns out, we should have kept driving. Last Saturday, our group of 3 arrived at 7:15 and were promptly seated outside, but no one took our drink order until 7:45. Three dinner rolls appeared around 8:15 followed by a wilted salad and soup which came about 8:30. We were told the kitchen was backed up because of two large parties of 10. Imagine that! Being caught off guard on a Saturday night by a full house! 9:00 rolls around and our dinner was nowhere in sight. Looking at the label on my beer glass that read "Fine Dining since 1979" I began to wonder how many people were still here from that year waiting for their meal. You think management might have offered a round of free drinks while we waited, but that was not to be. At this point we were ready to pay for our drinks and salad and leave, but given the late hour and distance to another restaurant it was not a viable option. The dinner entrees finally arrived at 9:15, but by this time our impatience and disappointment with the service precluded our ability to enjoy the meal. All we wanted to do was eat and get out of there before midnight! By the time the Prime Rib and potato arrived, they had cooled off and sending it back would've been as effective as tossing it into the nearby woods and hoping it would come back out the right temperature. We have dined in Frankfort, Glen Arbor and Traverse City for ten years and this is the first bad experience we have had in a local restaurant. Time to start a new dining winning streak, and to ensure the streak will be a long one, we will avoid the Manitou at all costs. read more

The water tasted like lake water and had dirt/junk floating in it. Very overpriced for flavorless food. Very slow service for an expensive tip. Environment was not maintained to a high standard. Would not recommend read more

1st Time Visiting from Miami and loved this place. Local food and foodie worthy. We felt like every detail of the meal important. drinks, Bread salad, entrees and dessert all excellent. Worth the drive and great service at peak time!!! read more

Absolutely amazing "to die for" dishes and appetizers! One of my favorite meals there is hands-down the nutty trout and my second favorite is definitely the slow roasted prime rib! And all pies are homemade! My favorite pie there is the frozen peanut butter pie topped with homemade hot fudge. Absolutely my favorite restaurant! And all the staff are super friendly and patient and very kind and make you feel very welcomed:) you definitely won't miss out if you go here and eat and also a great selection of beer and wine! read more

Last night of an amazing golf trip with friends. Outstanding diinner. Food quality superlative, staff - Alex - attentive and engaging. Amazing that in such a rural location there is such a diverse and quality menu. read more

Everything was great! Started with an outstanding Nantucket Clam Chowder with chunks of red potatoes. Excellently prepared fresh whitefish, broiled with tasty seasoning, possibly old bay plus more. My BF had Lake Perch: generous portion, in a very tasty light batter, sautéed perfectly. We split possibly the best piece of pie I've ever had: blueberry/raspberry, and we had it ala mode. This was worth the half hour drive from where we were staying. Very casual but a little upscale. Worth the extra few bucks. We had a great dinner, Carrie attended to all of our questions. Next trip Up North will include the Manitou. read more

The service was a bit slow and reservations are necessary although depending of reservations there might be a table open. The fish were delicious and I had the pork ribs and they were tender and fell clean off the bone. I'd recommend it and to also plan a reservation. read more

on a Saturday night at 5pm to beat the rush, had great food, but slow service. never saw waitress after food was delivered, so no refills on soft drinks etc. . amount on charge card form was a few dollars more than the bill she originally showed us, but she never came back after leaving credit card slip to sign.....seemed odd, but not worth trying to get her attention. Also, older waitress reprimanded hostess in public....not classy staff seemed young and new to job, so I can make allowances for that. Would return read more

We ate at this restaurant tonight I would have given this restaurant 4 stars for the wonderful menu because they have everything! Prime rib, lobster, lamb chops, duck... Minus 2 stars because the prices were high, the restaurant was loud and after making a reservation for 630 we didn't get our food for 2 hours. We didn't have appetizers they were just too busy I guess. We enjoyed ourselves but the wait was ridiculous. My Delmonico was just Ok but my friends enjoyed their seafood dishes. They did leave hungry though after spending $50. read more

I had the fried chicken and must say I was not impressed. Our service left a lot to be desired. I don't know that I will ever be back. Too many restaurants available who want my business!! read more

In town for a vacation & searched yo find a good restaurant. We dec8ded on Manitou. The food & service was amazing! Husband swears he had the best prime rib ever! Highly recommend! read more

Recently went to Manitou for the third time. We have lived in the area for 8 years. This restaurant is highly touted. It is always busy. My wife and I had dinner with 3 other couples. I have to say that I was very disappointed in the food and the prices. Most entrees are priced well over $25. The waitress was knowledgeable, but the service was slow, and the atmosphere was loud and cramped. I ordered blue point oysters on the half shell for an appetizer. They were excellent. Three of the six I ordered were the size of a quarter. They were priced at $3.00 each. I ordered an Oban single malt scotch, asking for the scotch to be separate from the scotch because my first scotch was under poured. Still under poured and priced at $18.00 a shot. My wife had scallops that seemed to be steamed in water. My steak was 8oz, cooked perfectly and still tough. ( Sirloin steak ). $22.00 for that little steak, with a cup of soup and some squash. We won't be back. Three strikes and you're out. If you want to have a very average meal in a loud cramped over rated restaurant, this is the place to go. It was the same all three times we were there. read more

Very good dinner and good service. I had the broiled cod. They were very accommodating for food sensitivities.

Fabulous dinner. Nice setting. Good service. We were there early in the evening. My steak was mouthwatering. read more