4.5 Stars New Scenic Cafe was recommended to me by both my hair stylist and my sister-in-law when we were planning our Duluth trip last summer. I am sooooo glad I listened to them as it was the best meal we've had in a long time! The drive to the restaurant is along the shoreline and yes, scenic. It was also a little further outside of town than we were expecting. The restaurant has a fire pit out front and its own (gravel) parking lot. The space is super cute, a nice balance of fancy and rustic. We had dinner reservations, and in fact changed them without issue just a couple hours beforehand, but it was kinda slow so we could have managed without them. But I suspect that it's not usually slow though... The service was fantastic! The waitresses knew their stuff and were exceedingly patient answering the hundreds of questions from an older couple at the table near us. We actually heard the couple say they were there on a weekly basis so that means they surely subject the staff to their line of questioning every week, so all the staff members deserve gold stars, IMO. But onto the food. Everything was DELICIOUS. And the presentation was beautiful as well. We had a couple appetizers, I believe we had the salmon and bass for entrees, and we also had desserts (it was my bday dinner). We enjoyed absolutely everything, there was nothing to complain about. Actually, my husband wished the portions were a little more hefty, but he has a very "healthy" appetite. Next time we are back in Duluth we will definitely be making another stop at the New Scenic Cafe. read more

This place is very cute. Its wood-built. Location is amazing; as the name says its scenic. Its on scenic drive. You can see superior lake from the restaurant. Enough about location. Wine collection is good, not expensive but good wines. I had bodegas naia verdejo, it was really good. First smell of it was powerful enough to tell me that I choosed wisely. They give a cup full of pistachio as soon as you sit down so that's an advantage you free loaders out there. I had ratatouille, it was freaking good. They cooked all veggies and put it in baked bread with oil and vinegar. Really nice. It came with pineapple and few berries. My restaurant review is not complete unless I have seen bathroom. No it does not mean I pee/poop too much. I just expect cleanliness in a 4 or 5 star restaurant. Toilet was nice and clean, had a wooden decor. So go there enjoy the drive, view and then eat and poop(optional). read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Having lived in and eaten in the very best restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Rome, we can say that the New Scenic Cafe ranks among the very best experiences we have had. Unpretentious and utterly genuine, the food my wife and I ate this past weekend was phenomenal. The New England oysters were as fresh as one can find anywhere; the cassoulet was astonishingly good; and the game platter (venison, duck, quail) surpassed my highest expectations. The service was commensurate in quality. Our waiter was patient, well informed about the origin and preparation of the food, and friendly. We were so impressed by our experience at the New Scenic Cafe on our way Up North, that we returned on our way Back South, as we were returning to our home in the Twin Cities. We arrived as it opened and the friendliness of the wait staff greeted us. It was a delightful and equally delicious brunch, with soups, sandwiches, and pickled beets so good we bought some to take home. The New Scenic Cafe is a destination restaurant and one that we will recommend to friends who are traveling anywhere near Duluth and the North Shore of Minnesota. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Perfectly cooked game platter of venison, duck, and quail with root vegetable side, cut to resemble french fries. Very creative! - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

This could be a five star location based on the food itself. I took off a star for the service by hostess and lack of bar to get pre dinner drinks. To be fair, I think the hostess was taking on a lot of work for one person. The ahi tuna tacos were great; could use a little more tuna in them but the slaw, ginger, and wasabi really rounded out the app nicely. I had the Land and Sea special and my husband was quite envious and wished he ordered my dish. All of the dishes are beautifully dished and quite tasty. read more

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The best of foodie California tastes with local foods and Minnesota prices! My expectations of unhealthy, non-fresh and overly processed Midwestern food were ruined at this place. I suppose I don't need to miss the options of healthy California cuisine if I continue to find places like this. Plus six of us enjoyed a fabulous lunch of sandwiches, soups, salads and coffees for $38.40 total! What a deal!!! read more

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We went to New Scenic Cafe for a lunch. When we arrived we noticed that they completely renovate the building and were working on new landscaping. Our food was fresh and tasty with some local twist. Our service was fast and friendly. And we like the beer that our waitress recommended to us. read more

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When you see a place with the name "Scenic Café" you don't expect much more than a nice view. This place however is firing on all pistons ! We started with a black fig toast. With honey(infused with sage) blue cheese and walnuts awesome! Great burger! and the finale of pie was beyond. take it from me I have tried a lot of fruit pies back east here but this was top self. Come for the view...stay for the food. read more

I have been to very few Duluth restaurants that didn't have rotten service and crummy food. New Scenic has both excellent service and quite good food. I'm pleased to recommend New Scenic and wish more restaurants in the area would get a clue like these guys. Try the French onion soup or croque Provençal. read more

I tried the walleye sandwich lunch special (pistachio encrusted walleye filet topped with aioli, mixed greens and sandwiched between slices of toasted multigrain cranberry pecan (or was it walnut?) bread. Served on the side was a slice of musk melon, pickle spear and salad greens. I only wished that the bread was sliced just a smidge thicker. It would have held up a bit better aganist in the sandwich fillings that kept trying to ooze out of the crevices of the toasted bread. The group also ordered white bean and cabbage soup (a bit on the peppery side which was tasty) that was served with a nice hunk of ciabatta bread, an egg and asparagus sandwich served on ciabatta bread, and the grilled chicken breast sandwich. The grilled chicken breast was kinda plain jane, but done in good fashion with surpringly good flavor. The egg and asparagus sandwich seemed like a sleeper on the menu, but was quite exceptional. The only personal issue I had was that the egg yolk wasn't kept runny (personal preference). However, the bread was toasted golden brown and the sandwich itself was quite large. The only drink we tried was the blackberry lemonade. However, for some reason, the blackberry flavor wasn't as prominent. It was quite sugary strong, but we ended up watering it down a bit, which suited our tastes more. The outside and even interior looks can seem misleading here, but the sandwich meals here are done in much higher fashion. So, this is definitely a nice place to stop by if you happen to be in the area, enjoying the scenic view of Lake Superior. This isn't too far of a drive from Duluth. read more

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Wonderful Scandinavian food. The best deviled eggs I've ever had. Wonderful breads and crackers. Mustards and jams on the smorgasbord. Missing from photo are deviled eggs. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Smorgasbord - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

You wouldn't guess it from the outside, but this place has great gourmet food, great beer list, and good wine selection. Service is also good and it's a nice comfortable place. Also, don't be discouraged from all the cars in the parking lot, there's plenty of tables inside. I'd definitely recommend timing your trip up north to stop here for lunch or dinner. read more

This is a foodie place located up on the scenic north shore drive. Nice outdoor area with big chairs in a sunny spot - kitchen type atmosphere on the inside. Unlike other north shore places, don't think beer burger cheese fries. Think gruyere salmon quinoa jicama. Plenty of parking. read more

This was such a great find. Located just north of Duluth and situated across the street from Lake Superior is the New Scenic Cafe. Modestly decorated with a nice little garden in front, this restaurant caters to a foodie but casual clientele. The location and decor aside, it's really all about the food. For appetizers we went with the ahi tacos in a fried wonton with wasabi slaw. We also went with the curry mussels. Both dishes were unique and out of this world. For entrees we went with the seared scallops over mashed potato and the pork loin. Just fantastic. They also had a great dessert menu and we tried the kettle corn ice cream. Service was excellent and the beer list was great with many local craft options. All in all it was a great spot. Make reservations! read more

New Scenic Cafe - Pork tenderloin - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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So sad to see such an amazing restaurant go under. So sad for the owner because so many people talk so much crap about the person. Whoever is running should just retire and sell it to a younger person. Yikes! I feel awful for the employees who work their asses off and I saw it when I at there and had a $30 LITTLE salad?! What the!! So yeah go elsewhere. read more

New Scenic Cafe was indeed scenic, the restaurant had many tables facing a nice view of Lake Superior. We ordered two raksmorgas, a pastrami sandwich, and a baby kale salad. The favorite dish was the pastrami sandwich because it was housemaid pastrami and it had nicely melted cheese on a hoagie roll. Usually those types of sandwiches have sauerkraut but there was none; luckily we had bought horseradish to put on it. The raksmorgas is a Swedish sandwich but it wasn't very authentic -- the bread was too thin and too much of a distinct flavor (needs to be pretty neutral to taste the shrimp) usually it should be a white & airy bread. There wasn't enough shrimp & it had no flavor, there usually isn't egg salad and it was on mayo as well (?). The baby kale salad was the smallest salad in the world which was very unfortunate as it cost $12, i think a singular cracker would've been more filling. The salad had more cheese than salad but the pine nuts & candied pepitas was a nice combination with the meyer lemon vinaigrette. The views were nice but the quality/amount of food for the high price, we wouldn't go back. read more

New Scenic Cafe - The raksmorgas - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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My boyfriend and I would always pass this cute little place on our drive up the North shore and we finally decided to try it! The service was great and the food was amazing! Some of the most interesting things I have tried. The salmon burger with a brioche bun was so good and then we finished it off with a delicious slice of blueberry pie and buttermilk ice cream! Would highly recommend! read more

New Scenic Cafe - Blueberry Pie and buttermilk ice cream - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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I don't understand how the New Scenic Cafe doesn't get a five star review every time. The service is homey not stuffy or elegant. The food is five star on presentation and execution. Fresh ingredients flavorful food. A must stop if you are going to Duluth or up 61 to Canada. read more

2nd stop in my northern trip was to this aptly named scenic cafe. Our food of choice was the special starter of figs with bleu cheese and crostini in local maple syrup and nuts. Thank you thank you thank you. This was wonderful. The main courses we had were the beef tenderloin and seared duck breast. While these dishes were good (the flavors combining a little of everything in a bite of duck worked quite well) the figs stole the show. On the less positive side the lunch took around 2 hours! Way way way too long as it was not by choice per se. Second, some of the staff did not seem too keen to be of service (dont like kids?) For which their tip suffered. Anyways it seems to me the kitchen is putting out interesting and perhaps passionate food for which I give my thanks. It was a pleasure dining at your table. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Black mission fig app - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Friends of ours have been talking up this lakeside bistro for years and, having finally made the trip to Duluth, we figured it was as good a time as any to try it out. We weren't disappointed. We came in during a storm, on a holiday, and between lunch and dinner, but there were plenty of people in the cozy dining room, much to our surprise, but certainly an indication of how good it was. I ended up getting a cup of the French onion soup and the banh mi special. The soup was just what you would expect from the bubbling gruyere to the savory croutons to the rich broth. A restaurant that can't deliver on this staple has no business serving food to anyone, so I was glad to find it was on point. I wouldn't think the North Shore would be a good place to find great banh mi, but again given the reputation, it was something that spoke to me. Marvelous. The baguette was crispy and soft, tender but with just the right amount of chew that the meat didn't get squeezed out the back when you bit down. The pork confit was delicious, the veggies fresh and crisp, and I couldn't get enough of the house made Sriracha mayo. I do wish it had come with frites or something, although the mandarin orange was very nice on a blustery winter day. My wife got the burger, which was recommended by our friends. From her reports, it was perfectly fine, but with a dairy allergy, we could not try it as they intended, so I can't really speak on it with authority. It was a bit spendy for a burger, but the blend of meat was excellent and flavorful, and the frites were thin and crisp. One last thing, our daughter was delighted to have a fun lunchbox full of crayons and puzzles to play with while we waited. I always appreciate places that go the extra mile for parents to keep kids entertained without having to dig out their phones. read more

Not sure how I feel about the 20% Gratuity automatically added at the counter.. considering there is no table service. And I personally found the Salmon burger dry. It definitely looks cool, but that much bread requires grease, jus or some kind of sauce, which the salmon patty does not provide. Sorry guys. But I do look forward to trying again soon.. the outdoor seating design and gardens are stellar. read more

So. Ya. Whoa. New scenic is a bit of a juxtaposition if judged by its cover. Right off hwy 61 in a slightly kitschy house like building, complete with local art on the walls inside you'd think you just walked into a ma & pa coffee shop. But neigh, let not thine eyes deceive ye- This place serves up 5 star food, no doubt about it. The French onion soup is to die for, and their asparagus and lump crab appetizer was nothing short of mouth watering. Their seasonal menu does not disappoint and we cannot wait to come back again when we head back up here this summer! And dessert? Yikes; scary good. Love at first AND last bite. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Jumbo asparagus and lump crab appetizer - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

This is a great restaurant with awesome original menu. This is my second time here and it was as good as the first time. You should definer check this one out if you are in the area read more

New Scenic Cafe - Ahi tuna tacos - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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This is my favorite restaurant. Out of all the restaurants in all the world. Come in different seasons to see how their brilliant chefs use seasonal foods. I recommend making a reservation whenever you come. They have great vegetarian options. Some of my favorites over time have been the fondue and the honey crisp endive salad. This time I had a pistachio goat cheese salad and the mushroom melt. Both were amazing! The soy chai latte is great, as are the cocktails. Leave room for dessert. Come with a few people so that you can try several different things. You won't be disappojnred! read more

Yummy lunch here once a year when passing through on our way to teach at North House Folk School up in Grand Marais. After it was recommended we now schedule our trip to pass by during lunch hours every year. This year it was asparagus and fried egg on ciabatta for me, Molly had the day's special, a grilled lake fish sandwich. Sides were fresh pineapple chunks and mulberries, a delightful first! read more

New Scenic Cafe - Great view from our table. - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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I took my mom for her 87th birthday as she said she heard the Lobster rolls were great. We arrived and sat ourselves, ordered at a counter, and were so disappointed in our meal. A lobster roll, was $24.oo, the kosher pickle had to be dry and shriveled, the grapes old. My tuna taco appetizer was on a small salad plate and the cabbage was burning hot. I couldn't eat it. For $65.oo I was terribly unsatisfied. The only reason I gave 2 stars was the young girl at the counter who took our order was very nice! Flies drove my mom crazy while she ate. Won't go back until I read better reviews. read more

Wonderful amazing food! Will definitely be coming back whenever we are in Duluth. Awesome!

This cute little spot North of the main Duluth area was such a nice little getaway and the scenic road alone could have just done it for me! Stopped by for some soup on a cold, overly-early snow day. Customer service and general ambiance here is pefect! Very short food menu. There are usually two soup options. On this day I ordered the beet and cumin soup while my friend ordered the bacon asparagus soup (omg this was definitely the better pick - so rich and creamy!) it was a short but welcome visit! read more

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This restaurant really is one of the gems of the north shore, situated just out of Two Harbors. When we arrived, the building was clean, modern, and had beautiful natural lighting. Our service was excellent, and the waitress was always attentive to our requests. I had the curried blue mussels, French lamb rack, lemon poppyseed bundt, and blackberry cream cheese tart. All of the dishes were flavorful, complex, and had pleasing presentations. Not to mention, the view of the north shore was gorgeous. It is a bit pricey, but it is well worth the cost. read more

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One of the best meals we had exploring north of Duluth! Interior is simple- tables have a nice spacing about them so you can have a private conversation or eat alone. Walleye with pistachios was excellent, as was the salmon burger- and the fig special ... so good! Wed is half off all wine by the glass. Nice parking area- and the service was top notch- Nothing is rushed here- take your time and enjoy your dining experience! Love the gardens out front full of fresh produce that must end up on your plate somehow! read more

I suggested to our group of 7 to stop here on the way to Lutsen. My son ordered the $17 burger, and I thought for that price it must be good! He took 3 bites of it and didn't care for it, so I had to eat it. It was bland, and not worth $17. Simply stated, a complete rip-off! On the other hand, I shared the Baby Kale Salad with my wife and that was outstanding! The hit-or-miss menu is just way too inconsistent to ensure everyone in a large party will enjoy their meal. I get the fact you need higher prices to warrant quality food, but ALL of your items should be amazing. If not, take them off the menu. And speaking of menus, recycle the ones that have visual food stains on them. There's nothing more unappetizing than trying to pick out a meal when looking at a stain-ridden menu. Yuck! And I'm sorry to say this, but handing out the bill with a binder of "rave" reviews is pretentious. I wanted to write my thoughts in there, but I suspect it could have easily been pulled out. read more

Don't see what all the fanfare is about - just ok. I ordered the pork Pible sandwich and hubby ordered chicken with Brie on cranberry bread. Two skimpy sandwiches and 1/2 cup of bean sides totaled $32. 21 before the tip. Great choices if you are a 90 lb vegetarian who had a snack before coming to eat. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and friendly service but we did not think the food was up to par and certainly fell short of our expectations. read more

This is an absolute gem in the rough. The food is always good and interesting. The wines are well chosen and fairly priced. It never disappoints. It is far and away my favorite restaurant in the area. read more

Absolutely breathtaking cuisine. The food is among the best meals I have ever had. Presentation and flavor is literally world class. Plates are displayed in a gorgeous nouvelle style that resembles the intricate and personal use of global flavors that come together in delicate harmony. Entrees are rich and dense showcasing the complexity of the dish. I sampled the Salmon burger which was placed on a unique "black bun" made with squid ink made by the house baker. The salmon was so incredibly delicate and moist it was topped with greens that tied the plate nicely. You can say all you want about this restaurant; but, nothing compares to sampling. People visiting Duluth eat in the city,but people that live in Duluth eat here. Simple as that. read more

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We just had the most delicious, adventurous meal at this wondrous roadside spot, with scenic outdoor seating and a warm and welcoming fire pit. After sampling as many of their scrumptious apps and entrees as we could, and scoring the last rhubarb tornado cake, and several bottles of wine, we retired to the fire pit and met Payton, who was charming, kind and most engaging. She was relaxing after a long day and shift, and made us feel beyond welcome. What an amazing young woman and what a special place to spend an evening. Everyone working there was gracious and solicitous. New Scenic Cafe is a must, if you're north of Duluth near Two Harbors! read more

We came here looking for some quick food and we were blown away. Ten of us arrived at once and got our food within minutes and it was very delicious. I think I had the best lobster roll in my life here. My friends were also pleasantly surprised and they even gave my friend who couldn't pay for his meal at the moment some food. Amazing food, amazing service, 10/10. read more

This is the one of the best restaurants in Minnesota. We've been coming here for years and have always had incredible food and wonderful service. This is a very, very talented chef and very creative - he really knows how to put flavors together to give the food a heightened quality. OUTSTANDING - worth every penny. read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Scott is the best! Always great. The sashimi tacos are always to die for. Great wine list. Best restaurant north of the Twin Cities.

I went here hoping to have a tempeh reuben, as I saw that on one of the menus posted on Yelp, but they sadly don't serve that on the menu anymore. Instead I went with the Wild Mushroom Crepe. Yum, yum, and more yum. The food was expertly prepared and the flavors were all perfect. The service was warm and friendly. The Switchel is house made and a terrific refresher after a day of hiking. I definitely hope to be back soon with my family. read more

Talk about a Minnesota find! This place is gourmet and high quality--picky eaters may need to go elsewhere. The atmosphere is calming and delightful with a lovely view of Lake Superior. If you want dessert or a pastry this is the place. I love all the options for seating outside. read more

This was the best surprise. We were on a hunt for a cup of coffee before my male "grumpy" love and I killed each other and pulled up here. We had a cup of coffee out front in the garden and stayed for lunch. The food was fine chef blow you away fantastic. You could not go wrong here. I have eatten gourmet dinners made by highly trained chefs and this was outstanding. If you are looking for an affordable burger or american food this is not the fit for you. I had sashimi tacos followed by a goatcheese peach dessert cake that resembled a flan in texture. read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota