Been up here for dinner for at least 3 years in a row now. Fall color trips. Last two visits we've had the same dishes. Duck legs chicken wings, Doll had the BLT. Duck wings? Way too big for duck wings, but mighty tasty, tangy Asian sauce, crispy, and sesame seeds. Excellent wings. The BLT with the fig jam and a little bit of spice, killer. Tater tot's with the parmesan cheese dusting and the curry ketchup, excellent. Some of the best food on the trail, hands down. White Pine pizza is a close leader, gotta say. read more

Poplar Haus - Menu at the Poplar Haus on the Gunflint Trail. - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

We made a mistake and stopped by during a Vikings game. The TV was so loud we couldn't hear each other speak! The server was apologetic but I gathered this place turns into a sports bar during Vikings games. We haven't been here for a couple years and we didn't experience this before. The fried Brussels sprouts and Duck wings were delicious as always. The walleye chowder is very mildly flavored, a brothy base with lots of wild rice and corn in it. We couldn't taste the Walleye. I wouldn't order it again. It was our anniversary so we split a piece of coconut cream pie which was good. The accessibility was an issue for us as well. My husband has a bad hip and uses a cane and is unable to climb stairs. The ramp entrance is a very long walk up to the deck entrance and we had to stop a couple of times so he could rest on the way up and again when we left. We probably won't be back. read more

Our server Casey welcomed us. The stairs are steep but there is a ramp that follows to the outdoor patio and the main restaurant/bar area. The drinks were delicious. Full bar and kitchen. Our food came and was delicious. The outside patio sunset was beautiful. A must stop on the Gunflint Trail. The ambiance is amazing with a rock fireplace on either side of the patio doors. read more

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Such a gem up in the gunflint area. Friends and I stopped by for lunch after hiking Magnetic Rock. We have a variety of dietary restrictions (gf, df, and vegetarian) and EVERYBODY was happy! Their drinks are fun and delightful, the service was solid, and they have a beautiful back porch area that you can sit on and enjoy the stunning views. They've also got board games if you really want to park and hang for a little while! I'm excited for the next time I'm in the area to get to visit this gem again. read more

Best spot on the gunflint trail for a more classy experience. Delicious food, kind service and beautiful restaurant overlooking Poplar Lake. Ordered the fried pickles, duck wings, smash burger and caprese sandwich. Everything was delicious. Call ahead for a reservation the morning of- it gets crowded if you don't have one. read more

Menu limited, food took too long, Bryan needs manners and a gym membership. Server saved the day but funny man owner is going to wise crack himself out of patrons. read more

Our group of three LOVED our dinner at Poplar Haus! It was truly a highlight of our trip. We had a reservation (which I highly recommend making) and were sat on time. We opted to dine on the outdoor deck overlooking the lake and it was a solid choice. We watched the sun set and it was just delightful. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful in making choices of what to order. We ended up sharing the Brussels sprouts appetizer and nearly kicked off the plate it was so good! For entrees, I had the blackened fish with wild rice and broccolini. My friends had the BLT and walleye po boy. All of our dinners were so good and we kept raving about it! Our only regret is not getting dessert but we were so full! I will definitely need to make a trip back! read more

Go to place on the Gunflint trail. The owners are great as are the staff. The ambiance is really nice, and the food is quality.

Went for dinner, place was hopping, sat at the bar had French Onion burger and the BLT, both were great. Bartender was a lot of fun, great personality. Tip, if you want to sit at a table without a long wait, make a reservation. read more

We tried this spot while staying nearby for a long ski weekend. It's about 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais, right off the road at Poplar Lake. There was plenty of parking out front, even during the Saturday evening dinner rush. The decor is open but still warm and fun. The staff were very welcoming and the have a full bar and some good draft beers. We went with Castle Danger Cream ale, and started with Fried Pickles, which were very good. For dinner we ordered the Haus Burger, the Walleye Po' Boy, and a fried chicken/mashed potato/corn bowl thing that I forget the name of. Both sandwiches were really good. The bowl thing got mixed reviews but I thought it was solid. For dessert we ordered cheese cake and carrot cake - both of which were delicious. We had a very nice meal and plan to try in again in the summer. read more

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More like 4.5 on the gunflint trail where food is scant and mediocre at best Great venue overlooking the lake. Nice indoor spots but patio is sooo nice if it's warm. The grapefruit marg was delicious and nuanced. The old fashioned was very worthy. Limited menu but there were a ton of upscale touches on high quality ingredients. Best walleye for freshness and flavor but the touches of a pickled fennel and a tarragon slaw and aioli with a soft high quality bun put it right on top. The fries were very thin sliced oven fries which were a revelation. Walleye chowder would have been 5 star but for overly salty bit delicious homemade croutons. Our server Casey was amazing and she made the whole experience even better. I believe this is the best place to go on the gunflint trail for a lovely meal and service. read more

Poplar Haus - This sandwich was despite my crappy photo - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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Food and service were great, as always! The back deck outside was really nice. The burger on the menu was honestly the best burger I've ever had. read more

Probably the best lunch on our trip. This is a jem in the north woods. Definitely worth a stop. read more

Poplar Haus - Lake View - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

I never visited this location in its previous form when it was the Windigo Lodge. But from what my husband tells me, it was quite a dump with no windows (which makes no sense give the gorgeous lake outside). But I can tell you this: in its current form, the Poplar Haus is completely worth the stop and also completely surprising. The Gunflint Trail is not where I expect to find amazing cocktails that we would happily pay $10 a pop for, nor one of the best cheeseburgers I have ever had. But that's totally what we got. So first, the space. It's lovely. There are gorgeous huge windows facing the lake and outside seating if the weather and the bugs want to cooperate. There's lots of woodwork, a huge fireplace, the coolest coffee table made of driftwood and art from some of our favorite local artists. It's very tastefully done and very elegant. There's also a bar dog! Second the cocktails: everything we had was so good that we basically ordered a second round immediately. My husband had the mule (some variation of the Moscow mule, I can't remember what it was called). My brother in law had the old fashioned and declared that it was excellent. And the mango margarita was also a hit at our table. And finally, the food. I ordered the cheeseburger, which is juicy, flavorful and somehow feels like the cheese is melded throughout the meat. It almost was like a Juicy Lucy but without one big glob of cheese in the middle. The bun was perfectly toasty and boy was that a good burger. I upgraded to the parmesean tots, which were SO good (though the curry ketchup was not my favorite - I just used regular ketchup). My mother in law got the salad which was humongous and totally gourmet. And the soup of the day, which was a walleye chowder, was also declared to be delicious. The only other thing I remember is the brussell sprouts (awesome) and the fries, which were unique and almost like thick potato chips that were still potato-ey in the middle. YUM. The menu isn't big but man is it good. No room for dessert. It's a delight to know there is such a high-end meal available on this part of the Trail. Service was great and the bar staff was super nice and friendly. We will surely be back. read more

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We rode to Poplar house on sleds. Had a group of 12. The bartender Jeff (or steve) was horrible. Honestly the whole crew just sucked. Don't bring your kids or family. It was not busy. He made comments to our group, he was not friendly at all. It was the complete opposite of a good bartender. The server couldn't care less either. We were looking forward to going there to have a drink and food. They ruined our whole experience. I tried to order a drink and he mentioned to not tell him how to do his job, when I just ordered the drink I wanted. This place needs to hire kind people who know who have customer service experience and want to work in the industry. Absolutely disgusting. We would've stayed later, but left due to how bad the service and staff was. I wish it was better. We would have spent our money here over anywhere else if it wasn't so bad. read more

After getting lost on the lake in our kayaks, my mom and I were starving. We were staying at Big Bear Lodge next door to Polar Haus and decided to head over before they closed. I could not have been more shocked. After ringing the bell and being allowed upstairs to the restaurant, I was surprised to find a beautiful modern restaurant. We sat at the bar where my mom had a "Yas Queen" with sparkles and I had an IPA. We ordered the umami tsunami burgers and it is the tastiest burger I've ever had. We liked it so much, we came back a second night and tried out the Brussels sprouts in addition to the burgers. Worth every penny. Just beware! This place is popular and it can be difficult to get a seat during peak hours. read more

We visited Poplar Haus on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and I'll start by saying the actual restaurant is very cozy, great location up the gunflint trail, and the food was amazing! I had a seasonal flatbread (they had a pop up menu in honor of the state fair) and it was delicious. But I just wanted to caution any non locals before visiting, because there's no other way to say it other than we were so uncomfortable dining here. Poplar Haus was recommended to us by the owner of the motel we stayed at, and I called the day before to make a reservation. When we got there it was busy but of course it was a holiday weekend so we didn't expect to walk right in and be seated instantly even with a reservation. They were definitely busy and I had heard that they had been a bit backed up from storms earlier in the day that had knocked out the power (at least I think that's what had happened). But again we were down to wait because we expected it to be busy. The issue was our server. She was so short with us, slammed our drinks down (not an exaggeration, it startled us the first time she did it), and acted so put out by us but we noticed her stopping at other tables to chat and even sing happy birthday. I don't consider my husband and myself to be tough customers(we knew exactly what we wanted to order, just two people in our party, didn't ask any questions about the menu), so the only thing we figured is it was because we were not locals? I've never experienced anything like it really so just wanted to put that out there for other tourists. read more

I called a week in advance for reservations. Was told they would only take them a day in advance. Made the reservations a day in advance. Was seated by the bathrooms with two tables on the windows open. Asked to move. Was told, "No, man." Waited 45 minutes for app. Waited another 30 minutes for entree. Hangar steak was actually COLD when we got it. Flavor was good, but these people are in way over their heads. I am so glad people want to do better dining on the Gunflint, but this is not going to be it. I want them to be successful, but they are not on the right path. The people that got the tables near the window......they had a cocktail and a toothpick. We have a $200 bill. read more

Do I make excuses several times a year just for the food up here? Yes I do. Just took a three day trip up north to see the fall colors and more specifically to eat at this restaurant. Had the Ruben this time which was a phenomenal mesh of flavors, the autumn book cocktail which definitely hit the spot, Asian duck wings which are always delicious, and the classic house burger which is always a tasty indulgence. Great staff great service great food... What more could you want?! read more

Three nights in a row. Limited menu but full service bar and an insatiable view. Staff is like family. But 3 nights in a row might be part of that .... read more

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Amazing views, friendly knowledgeable, attentive staff/owners. Wonderful menu selection Blue Gill and Walleye delicious. Amazing drink, beer and wine selection. Nice ambiance, good music but not to loud. Pool table, darts, video games and fun woman bathroom. Will definitely be recommending this place and will come again next year. Wishing you the best. read more

A hidden gem along the Gunflint Trail, the newly renovated Poplar Haus is worth the drive just for lunch. I haven't seen inside the cabins but if they're anything like the restaurant and bar, I'd surely stay! The food was upscale and delicious without being pretentious and the drink menu was creative in the best way possible! I will be back plenty throughout the winter and summer! read more

My wife and I were heading out for a trip in the woods and this place became highly recommended from our outfitter. He said that they had new owners and that they had done a lot of work on the place. The place was very cool inside with a million dollar view of the lake. The patio was full so we had to eat inside. I did notice that they had people tying up tables on the patio that were not eating, they were just playing games. I found that very odd that they would allow people to do that when they had customers coming in and looking for tables to eat at. It is not like it was a slow time, it was 6pm on a Saturday. They have a limited menu but we were able to find something. My wife ordered the walleye quesadilla and I orders the California Club. I have to say that we had the tail of two meals. My wife's quesadilla was okay, but the weird slaw stuff they had on top had a very strange flavor, it really took away from the overall meal. On the flip side of it, my sandwich was amazing. The bread was good, the turkey, was good, the bacon was good, and the aioli was awesome! The service was a bit slow, but when it came time to pay it got really slow! I think our waiter all but forgot about us, it is not a big place so we can see him walking around busing tables and helping other people but it sure did seem like he was doing everything to avoid our table. Just to give you an idea of how bad it was, the people next to us ordered and got their food in the time that we were waiting for our bill. And he never did end up showing up, we ended up going up to the bar to get our bill. The scary thing is our next meal out after this at another restaurant we had the exact same problem. All that being said, I would probably give this place another try. read more

This is such an incredible place - the atmosphere, the service and the food is outstanding! Looking at the view of the lake - and sipping a Mango Margarita - it's like a kiss from Jesus! Definitely make a stop at this wonderful place on the Gunflint Trail. Xoxo read more

Poplar Haus - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Poplar Haus is a perfect gem. Nicest staff on Gunflint. The cabins are clean, comfy, and a great value. I canoed Poplar Lake everyday of my visit. The water was glassy and smooth at sunset and so clear you could see very deep. A beautiful retreat. Bonus tip: order the Brussels Sprouts! read more

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Best place to eat on the trail! Love the duck wings and tater tots with a great deck over looking Poplar Lake

Restaurant with one of the Best views - overlooking Poplar Lake on the Gunflint Trail. Great service from super friendly staff and I'd live on their tots, brat, and chicken salad every day by choice if I could! read more

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Poplar Haus is by far our new favorite restaurant in northern Minnesota. The drive up the Gunflint Trail is so picturesque in the fall, and once inside the restaurant's modern aesthetic is warm & charming. The staff were on top of all Covid-19 necessary protocols, but still killed it in the customer service department. Poplar Haus has a pretty big menu - for both food and drinks. There's a nice selection of beers on tap, wines, and cocktails. I went with their take on a Moscow mule...& trust me, you need to try it. For food, we got an order ofthe cheese curds & duck wings. Now, I was apprehensive ordering the duck wings but I'm so so so glad we did. The sweet chili glaze and seasoning was perfect. Not to mention they were breaded & cooked perfectly. It was hard to share them! The cheese curds were a slight departure from the squeaky norm, but I like how fresh they were & how they were melted more than they are at other restaurants. Can't wait to go back! read more

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The Gunlint Trail does not have many places where one can eat. So, really, just a decent hamburger would do. But, Poplar Haus goes well above and beyond the basic victuals and serves some first class, both in taste and creativity, gourmet cooking. I can't think of any other place where you can come in off a five-day canoe trip and sit down to an appetizer of maple-glazed Brussel sprouts. Their mac and cheese is like none you have ever had before. Service is excellent, they have a real chef, and the bartender knows his stuff! read more

Best walleye sandwich I have ever had. The best fish sandwich I have ever had and that is saying something. I will be back! I love this place. Service was great! Wow. Just wow. read more

I say "wow" - unique and imaginative food. We had the walleye Po-boy....my husband and I will be dreaming of this sandwich for years to come. If you are on a low-carb diet -trust me - this is your cheat meal. The drinks are also really good - grapefruit margaritas - yum and refreshing. I hope Poplar survives the pandemic - they deserve to - great views, great food and an epic stop on the gunflint trail. read more

Incredible food, fantastic service, and charming staff. The space is open but warm and inviting. The view of Lake Poplar is stunning - but the food takes first prize. The duck wings are perfectly executed and their Burger and Ruben do not disappoint. Cocktails and beer tap are also phenomenal. I Would give Poplar Haus 10/10 but 5/5 will do, too. read more

Poplar Haus - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

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My wife and I drove up from Gran Marais and it was well worth the trip up the GunFlint! The short ribs and Brussels! DELICIOUS!

A must stop off the Gunflint Trail. A hidden gem that you will love. Amazing cocktails and food. We will stop again if we find ourselves up that way. Oh and if you run out of liquor you can stock up on premium liquor choices below the restaurant in their liquor store, which we did. read more

A meal from Poplar Haus is a must during your trip to Gunflint Trail! Asian pork sliders, beef stroganoff and walleye po-boy - every bite was amazing! Nothing like we've ever had before! And we had the carrot cake for dessert - light and fluffy cake with whipped cream cheese frosting and crushed walnuts on top - not your average carrot cake by any means. Poplar Haus always puts a unique twist on northwoods comfort foods. The owners Stacy and Bryan are so friendly and chef Jackie is amazing. We'll keep coming back and look forward to it! read more

This place was incredible, from the food to the ambiance and especially the service. We could not believe how amazing the food was, we ended up dining here three nights in a row. Hoping they keep the Walleye Quesadilla on the menu but we also highly recommend the Brussel sprouts and the margarita. Everything we had here was delicious and we can't wait to come back! read more

Poplar Haus - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

We ordered take-out pizza, with low expectations (I guess because one doesn't think of Northern Minnesota as good pizza country). It was absolutely delicious. Great crust, excellent sausage - we ate more than I thought we could. Covid has really messed up life - but to be on vacation in a remote area where we brought in most of our food, and then be able to pick up hot, delicious pizza for one night was an unexpected treat and much appreciated blessing. Throw in their warmth and kindness, and this was a memorable experience. Thanks, Poplar Haus! read more

This review is for the lodging. We stayed in cabin 4 with our infant over Thanksgiving and LOVED it. We saw a moose a few miles from Poplar Haus on our way in - it was a snowy evening and the moose turned to look at us before slipping into the woods - quintessential Gunflint Trail! The owners had a fire ready for us in the gas fireplace, and our little log cabin was a cozy delight. They were smoking whitefish from gill netting, and there is a sauna on the property, too. We loved waking up to the sky brightening over Poplar Lake. We highly recommend this lodge. The new owners are renovating and this is going to be a great spot on the trail. Thanks for the great stay for our son's first Thanksgiving! read more

Poplar Haus - American Near Me - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Newly renovated, this is a favorite stop on the trail for lunch, dinner, drinks, or watching a game with friends and family. Food and drinks are well selected and executed. Staff are welcoming, friendly, and skilled. read more

Two stars because the cabin and lake were beautiful. Restaurant great too although closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Not more stars because the cabin we were in (4) had no privacy. The cabin next door had a very loud obnoxious group with a little kid screaming constantly. One of the men got off his boat and came to pee in the stream under our deck. They seemed to be related to the owners and just took over the whole area. Large group with more kids camped in the woods on other side and cut across our area dragging all their things. Maybe it was poor timing that we were there for some party they were having. But it's not what I rent a cabin for. Not a bad place overall I guess but will try a different place next time. read more