Went for the first time so I have no frame of reference regarding the last. We just after they introduced a new menu. The food was great. We had one old standby and two new items (again, they were all new to us). The drinks were good. Our server was efficient and kind. We got a table visit from the owner. We will go back as it was a delightful experience. read more

Cute restaurant but way overpriced for food quality and quantity. Appetizers are mediocre at best and the mains are meh. read more

Quaint little place very nice atmosphere and the food is very good. However, it's a hit or miss if they're open. There's been 3 times I've driven 25 minutes, on either a Friday or Saturday night, only to find them closed to the public. I highly recommend phoning first before going. read more

Friendly staff, slow service from the kitchen, and okay food. The house made potato chips are amazing...the rest of the food was okay. Will I go back? No unless I'm with a group that wants to eat there. I'd go to be polite and get a small side salad. I had a burger which appeared and tasted like a prepackaged patty. The amount of salt was over powering and it was just a flavorless dry burger...well flavorless minus salty. The fries are clearly food service frozen and tasted exactly like a frozen fry does when slightly under cooked. The food just wasn't that good and the wait was too long for the quality. High praise to the servers who were very professional and patient waiting on the kitchen to get the food out despite several empty tables. Maybe the fish is good but the smell of grease from the tables near by that ordered fish turned me away from trying it. The servers deserve better from the kitchen and the customer deserves higher quality food like hand cut fries and a quality beef that is fresh and locally sourced. Do better! read more

Old Channel Inn is a true hidden gem on the shore of Lake Michigan. It is incredibly cozy in the winter months and it is just as cozy and relaxing during the summer months! I love that OCI is open year round! But be sure to note that they have reduced hours during the winter months. OCI has a great selection of cocktails, wines, appetizers and main plates. Everything always taste fresh and the prime rib is great! We really enjoyed their New Year's Eve meal last winter. The staff is friendly and the restaurant is always clean. I highly recommend OCI for a date night spot or a special occasion. read more

Old Channel Inn - Prime rib, green beans, mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Montague, Michigan

Food was only okay. Server was new and a bit slow. Pretty quiet for a Sunday night dinner in September.

Excellent food and drinks. The perch was a hit but the walleye and Brussels sprouts were also very good!

Coming here for nearly 60 years, but after the ownership changed we kept coming back for the nostalgia. Now, 3 strikes you're out, no more, no more. Servers are great, owner's leadership & direction to improve is very lacking with microwaved food at best. read more

Quaint, old style steak restaurant that specializes in fish. Out of the way, and a bit out of the ordinary. If you are looking for a slick, modern, chic place to dine, look elsewhere. If you want a traditional American meal in a beautiful place on mid-Michigan's west coast, stop and take in this extraordinary spot. read more

Food was pretty good. Service was ok. Bar had a limited menus. Great for a off the path restaurant read more

Old Channel Inn - Salmon dip - New American Near Me - Montague, Michigan

Fantastic service and terrific food. It is refreshing to have an owner and bartender personally invested in the wants and needs of their customers. I mentioned I was interested in knowing what gins they had available and spent the next couple of nights having them show me gins I'd never tried before trying to figure out my flavor profile. I was in town for three days and was planning on trying a new place to eat each night but after my initial experience, I ended up going back all three nights. read more

Pretty solid food. We had the London broil and perch dinner. Both were excellent. The broil had a very tender cut of meat cooked medium rare to order. That was impressive. Some of that gravy would've been good on my mashed garlic, too. The perch were large fillets and the homemade tartar was really nice. Finally the apps - the cheese curds and onion rings. Really good. That dry rub from the ribs on the curds would be good everywhere. Use it more! And the only low point - the slaw was boring. Skip it. Show some love! read more

Best food around. I wouldn't go to any other place around the area for lake fish. I've tried and been hugely disappointed until I found this little gem. Other food is great too. I also love the speakeasy feel and charm of the place. Just stumbled upon it and hope to be back again and again and again! read more

We were looking for a meal beyond a brew pub and the Old Channel Inn fit the bill. No tablecloths but a pleasant dining room with a varied menu of real meals. I had the quinoa salad with shrimp. The salad was a bit dry, but an extra order of dressing fixed that. The shrimp were delicious. My husband had the perch, which was lightly breaded and perfectly cooked. The service was very friendly and attentive. Worth the drive to get there! read more

Stopped in on a Sunday night after being out on the water all day. Restaurant was very busy. Everyone was great. The owner came over and talked to us for quite awhile it was great to hear the story of the facility and her aspirations for the future! We started with the Wisconsin cheese curd appetizer which was great. I had the walleye dinner which was fried and seasoned perfectly. The French fries were great! Nothing bad to say at all. I'm glad to have a local restaurant like this so close to home. read more

Food is pretty good. If you like old school Michigan cottage style resort this place is for you (we like it). Friendly service and a warm welcoming atmosphere read more

Great fish, and steaks nice cold beer good service owners care a lot. Fantastic atmosphere close to the lake.

Food was really good and good service too. We had the French dip and The In Crowd turkey sandwich. I would recommend stopping here anytime for a good meal and drink. read more

Wow. Not sure what happened to this place. Used to love it. Burgers and a salad. An hour and a half later.. ask to take it to go. Plenty of people working. Very sad. Don't go unless you have a few hours to wait for food. read more

Great little homey place with a cottage-y boat-y feel. The food was great, our waitress was great. I could tell they were all locals that had worked together a long time. Definitely worth the drive down the channel for a meal here when you're in the area. read more

I went with a party of 5. Between us we had the salmon, fried perch and fried walleye. All of the meals were great. Main course down to the Caesar salads were all properly seasoned. Kudos to the chef. I had the walleye - and when ordering at other restaurants you have to worry because sometimes it is brought out oily like some kind of "fish and chips from a coney". Not here. It was perfectly done. Highly recommend. It's obvious the place has great management and dedicated wait staff. If you are in the area i would absolutely put this place on the agenda! read more

Our party of 8 stopped here because of their perch dinners. Arriving at 5:00 when they opened we were seated promptly. Our drink order was taken and drinks delivered smoothly. Most of our party ordered the perch. When the dinners were delivered, I do not believe that it was the Yellow Belly Perch, but possibly Ocean Perch. The pieces were bigger and undercooked. For the life of me, no one said a word to our server, who never came back to the table to ask how our dinner was, so how could we? Each of our party that had the undercooked perch will never go back to this establishment, it was that bad. read more

There's not a lot of variety in the Whitehall/Montague area when it comes to dining. You have your pizza places, bars and fast food, of course, but the Old Channel Inn is a little different than the chains and dives. First off, it is situated in a cottage by Lake Michigan and is decorated with quaint duck art and decor. It really feels like a summer cottage, which is the perfect vibe for such a place. The bar is well stocked and bartenders are generous with their pours. Although I do not partake, my father is fond of their Bloody Marys and Long Island Iced Teas. The weekend salad bar is also very good for a small establishment. They offer a variety of fresh veggies, cheeses and dressings to make your own salad, as well as a selection of prepared salads as well. I am fond of their potato salad because it tastes very fresh, smooth and rich every time I have it. The best thing on the menu according to fish fans, is the lake perch. The breading is thin and crispy and it is always piping hot. I am not as much of a fish person, but I always enjoy their Old Channel Inn burger which is well prepared and served with tasty green olives for a nice, briny contrast to the traditional burger. They often have a special vegetable of the day, which was recently a quite satisfactory corn bake. They also always have mashed potatoes which are redskin mashed and well seasoned. Overall, the OCI is a nice place to bring out-of-town visitors for the proximity to the beach, the quality food and the nice bar selection. read more

Great old timely place for Midwest fare. Perch recipe has been around since 1958 and they have a weekend salad bar. This place is the real deal, for summer folks and locals alike. Felt like I stepped back in time to my summers up north. read more

Old Channel Inn - Ambience. Very cute. Lots of woodwork in an old home off side of the road. - New American Near Me - Montague, Michigan

See all

A hidden gem along the lakeshore! Our favorite place for specialty cocktails, PERFECT perch and all the pastas or handhelds. Likely one of the owners will visit during your meal and the service is always top notch! 500 stars! read more

Very dissatisfied, went to dinner this evening, we had a party of four, the lady's ordered the 8 oz sizzler steak. We ordered our steaks medium rare, the steaks came out tough and over cooked, when we called the manager over, she said what do you want me to do about it! Really?? So I ordered a hamburger, when the hamburger came out it was rare, and cold in the center! Very disappointed! What a shame, cool place! read more

Really enjoyed dinner at the OCI and had great and helpful service. Enjoyed the walleye and perch which had a light cracker breading. THE BEST ASPARAGUS WE HAVE EVER HAD. Also enjoyed the bread pudding. House dressing is Thousand Island, which was very good. Father in-law commented it was the one of the best prime rib entrees he's ever had. ALSO... I highly recommend ordering a "Dark and Stormy" They have the Gosling's Black Seal Rum and the ginger beer to match. I don't recommend more than 2 of them though :-) read more

Old Channel Inn - Picture of the bar from the dining room - New American Near Me - Montague, Michigan

Everything about this place spells nostalgic charm. If you're looking for a different experience near the lake, and you like older style American cuisine, this is the place for you. We enjoyed two fish entrées. I had the walleye, and my wife had the salmon. The food was cooked perfectly. The only downside to this place is that the prices seem just a little bit high compared to other restaurants in the area. Even in this era of inflation. read more

Love the atmosphere. Perch and prime rib are great. I'm not really a fan of either (anywhere) so I don't order but that's what everyone else I go with says :) When pork tenderloin is the special, its fabulous. I've had it a few different occasions. The pain killer is as good as it gets without being in the islands. read more

See all

My wife and I went there for our anniversary dinner she had the walleye I had the perch both very good their cheese curds were also a very good appetizer great red wine and great Ambiance we met the owners and talked to them too it was a very very good experience and will be back read more

Slow Service. Food actually very good but when you spend $20.00 on a meal, you should not have to pay an extra $4.00 for a salad. Doesn't that usually come included in a meal? We also had an extra request for a $100.00 gift certificate for a friend. The owner did not know how to handle it and so she decided to ignore the whole thing. Her loss. Hobo's accommodated us beautifully the next day. read more

Our party of four hit the OCI for the first time July 1, 2011. First a Friday night on a 3-day holiday weekend so the place was full, which was what we expected. 20 minute wait with no reservations. Perfect. It was approaching sunset so we walked down the short road to the beach and watch the angry lake. Next, a quick drink on the front porch. This place is simply a restaurant hiding in an old house and the front porch feels like being at a friend's house. Inside it was hopping. Lots of staff crammed into a small space gave a nice fun ambiance. We watched a kitchen dishwasher be-bopping to music in her head as she unloaded bus trays and then noticed the bartender dancing to her own silent tunes. The help was clearly having fun and so were we. We picked appetizers of smelt and onion rings. The smelt were mostly fried breading that tasted like fish, so we barely touched them. Not bad if you are out to eat cooking oil for dinner. The onion rings were workmanlike. The dinners we selected (steak, fried chicken, Buffalo chicken sandwiches) were nothing spectacular nor mediocre, but they were just what we expected and served with a smile. Prices are reasonable, staff is very good, atmosphere is special, owners are on premises and proud of their operation as they should be. We will be back. And you should include this on your list of destination restaurants for a warm evening with friends. Kitchen is open until 11 p.m. (at least on a Friday in the summer) which is nice. The tables were all full until after ten p.m. read more

See all

My husband is from around here and we are often in the area visiting his family. This is one of his favorite restaurants from growing up and because of that we visit it at least once every time we are in town. Although one of his favorite restaurants, I have never been overly impressed. I would call it 'A-OK' just like the 3-star rating says. You can get a decent dinner here for a decent price, but nothing that knocks my socks off. This place is quite quaint, in a building that looks like an old house. When you walk in, there are a couple rooms and the atmosphere feels quite homey. One thing that is a nice touch here is their salad bar. You get one visit to the salad bar (which they specifically call out, no unlimited visits like you sometimes get elsewhere). This is actually a pretty good salad bar, lots of toppings and typically a few specialty salads too - i.e. potato salad, cole slaw, etc. They have a number of entrees on their menu ranging from fettuccine alfredo, to prime rib, sandwiches and more. They used to have a beef kabob which was quite good, but has been removed from the menu. My review would probably be higher if they still had that, but I haven't been able to find something I like as much since that was taken off. On my last visit I tried their London Broil and got rice as my side. The rice is obviously a pre-packaged frozen/boxed mixture - brown rice with some veggies in it. It's fine, but you can tell it's not made from scratch. The London Broil was fine, cooked between Medium and Medium Rare instead of the Rare I requested, but had good flavored sauce on it. The serving was on the small side and I wished I had a little more. It also came with a roll that was ice cold (it seriously felt like it had come out of the fridge!). My husband is a huge fan of their prime rib, although the last time he ordered it, it arrived at the table ice cold. We came to the conclusion they must pre-cook it, refrigerate it and then re-warm it up to serve which soured him on it a bit. When we brought it to their attention, they were quick to remedy it and get him a piece that had been warmed up. The best part of any meal here is their desert. The have an OCI Pie - which is an ice cream pie, with peanut butter and fudge. It's really quite good and I would recommend ordering it. Overall, since there aren't a ton of restaurants in the area, it is nice to have this place nearby as a good sit down option. Definitely add it to your list if you are looking for a bite to eat in the area. You'll get a warm filling meal, but you won't be wow'd. I'm sure we will continue to visit and I will make sure to update the yelp community if my review changes. read more

Growing up in rural Michigan after living in Chicago could at once be awesome and kind of a drag, but it was always seafood restaurants like Old Channel Inn that made the journey worthwhile. Now, the Inn is by no means the gold standard for seafood, and the selection can be a bit erratic, but it is a cozy little place, set up like a traditional B&B with easy access to Lake Michigan for an evening stroll. Whatever you order will be well prepared and flavorful (believe me, I have had many dishes there) and it makes for a nice evening. If ever you are vacationing in Montague, and don't feel like taking the trip in to Muskegon for a bite (and Crosswinds sounds a bit expensive) just think of Old Channel Inn as an easy choice. read more

What a super cool old beach cottage vibe! I have been there 3 times but my family has been making the 45 min drive from muskegon for years and years. 1. The best way to enjoy this place is to go at around 2pm on a hot summer day, take the convertable if you can, as it is a fun drive out to the beach. 2. Find a parking spot, go into the bar and grab 4-5 beers to-go. Tell them you will be back for dinner. 3. Take your beers and your towels out to the beach 200 ft. from the restaurant. Enjoy the beach until 5pm. 4. Come back for dinner, order a pain killer, they make them the best! It is a delightful fruity rum drink topped with nutmeg. For dinner I know the pearch, burgers, and the London broil are both good, however I hear mixed reviews about the other dishes. Swimsuits are fine for dining! read more

We ordered take out last night - 3/18/20. Not only was the food beyond delicious, but it only took about 15 - 20 minutes to have everything ready. We could drive right there and pick it up, no problem. Smelt, wedge salad, shrimp scampi, and an over-the-top burger cooked to perfection left us with full bellies and smiles on our faces. Trish was welcoming, supportive, and reassuring. In these uncertain times, we got just the meal that we all needed! This little business is a treasure - and one that is well worth supporting! PS - you can also buy a bottle of wine there if you need something to go with your meal! read more

YES! Of the limited places to eat in the area, this is it. My husband and I came to eat here on a Saturday night and LOVED the all you can eat salad bar. The dining area is cozy and homey, I cant even begin to tell you how comfortable it is. The staff was very friendly and the food was good. This is definitely the place to go when you're in the area. Love it. read more

Although I have lived in West Michigan my whole life, we have not spent much time in the Montague/Whitehall area. We drove out to Old Channel Inn not having any idea what to expect. The house is charming and lodge like, just what I would expect in this part of town. However, I would recommend sticking to the beverage menu and have dinner before or after you make the stop here. The salad bar came right out of the 70's. Totally cute, but if you are more of a spinach and spring mix lover the ice burg lettuce may disappoint you. My boyfriend started off with the ribs and needed a chainsaw to cut through them. Our server insisted on replacing them so he decided on a french dip sandwich. What little bit of beef that appeared on the sandwich was very dry and tough. I was not into breaded fish, but they had a blackened tuna special that night so I thought it may be a good second choice. I should have asked for it seared instead of medium rare. It was the toughest tuna I have ever eaten. We passed on desert as we were afraid the brownie in the brownie sundae would be a rock. Our service was great and the atmosphere was warm and it is the first place I have ever been to where the hostess walked around barefoot. read more

Good food, service was very polite. Helped recommended the foods for our group. Thank you

Certainly not one of the best menus, but great atmosphere. Awesome in the summer! Just take a walk in the back yard and you'll see. Perfect place for families and dates. Good burgers and perch. The bar has a good selection of beers and spirits, too. read more