Fantastic sandwich and pizza option if you're headed to or from Sleeping Bear Dunes! We came across Shipwreck Cafe after stopping for gas next door on the way to Sleeping Bear Dunes. We wanted a kid friendly option and came in for the pizza, but ended up being blown away by the massive sandwich menu! Don't be discouraged by the line - it moves FAST!!!! The young people at the register and in the kitchen are efficient and so nice!!! We arrived about half an hour before the sign says pizzas are ready, and the lovely man at the register said "sure!" when we asked if we could order a pizza. The menu has something for everyone - Including plenty of vegetarian options (I think they even had a vegan option). I loved my Griffon, and the meat eaters in our group enjoyed the SS Noronic (a BLT) and the Fitzgerald. Our kids devoured their cheese pizza! They also carry Great Lakes Co Chips, which are some of the best potato chips we've ever had. Our sandwiches were all so inventive with delicious, fresh ingredients, amazing condiments, and the most freshly baked "pretzel rolls" ever. If this place wasn't a vacation stop for us, we'd be back all the time! Our kiddos favorite part, bedsides the pizza, were the tiny plastic swords that came in our sandwiches holding them together. When they each wanted one more sword, we went back inside and the staff inside was so used to kids asking for more tiny swords that their response to "May we have two more swords?" Was "Sure! What colors?!" Very different from what the response would have been where we're from. :) We even came back later in the day for the frozen custard!!! All in all, it was a great experience with great food, great service, plenty of outdoor picnic tables under umbrellas, and something for everyone to eat. read more

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I think I can sum this one up by saying that I stopped here two days in a row and got the same exact thing both times. I opted for the Morazan and it was perfect. Wait time was minimal, benches outside were numerous -- this is the perfect sandwich shop for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. read more

Wow went there due to great reviews. Food was terrible. Must have gotten good reviews because they are the only game in town

Great place to get a quick bite. The food is fresh and service is fast. The restaurant is mostly outside eating so be prepared for that.

Great food very tasty and good value Great service Friendly workers Cool ambience Lots of outdoor seating read more

Been here many times and it never disappoints. You can't go wrong with anything you pick. My personal favorites are the morazen and Fitzgerald. Lots of tables to sit out outside or take it to the beach! Will be back always!! read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Sign - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

Tony hole in the wall place in a tiny town serving fresh delicious sandwiches, salads, wraps and frozen custard. Don't let the humble exterior fool you and don't be discouraged by the line (it moves fast). This place is top notch. We got there around noon on a busy August Friday and there were maybe 15 people ahead of us. The guy at the counter takes your order and gives you a buzzer to notify you when to come back inside to grab your food. It's pretty small inside but there are a ton of picnic tables in the grassy areas outside. I got the -"three brothers" which was basically an Italian sub with a lot of fresh prosciutto, salami and ham, juicy tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, lots of bell peppers and Italian dressing-delicious! My wife loved the chicken salad wrap (with cherries of course) and couldn't finish it-did I mention the sandwiches are HUGE and a great value. Our order was ready in about 5-10 minutes. The also sell chips and bottled drinks or go next door to the gas station and get a fountain drink. Super friendly and wonderful, high quality food. Definitely recommended read more

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We were overly impressed with this little sandwich shop. It's tiny but still a decent amount of both outdoor picnic tables and indoor counter seating. We were there at 12:30p on a summer weekday and there was plenty of seating available with only a short line. Drinks available in the fridge - sodas and iced teas. I was happy they had an unsweetened iced tea. We ordered the Fitzgerald and the staff were accommodating to leave off the bacon. The pretzel rolls are light in color and extremely soft in texture. Unlike most pretzel rolls, these felt much less heavy in our bellies and we were surprised to not feel stuffed afterward, although we wish we'd thought to split one. But all ingredients were high quality so it was worth the splurge since it tasted delicious and seemed very fresh. Bathroom is unisex. Even though there's only one, it was clean, with attractive detailing in the sink. read more

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Tiny shop close to the Philip Hart visitor center that we stopped at for lunch during our day at the Sleeping Dunes Lakeshore. There was a lengthy line but it moved fast. We got the tuna wraps, which were decent - don't think they customize, which is a pity, but the portions were filling. We got our sandwiches and had them outside at one of the many picnic benches. read more

First time coming been coming to empire for a long time. Place was not too busy for a Sunday afternoon. Ordered the Madiera, and my husband got the Carl Bradley. Order was ready within 5 minutes despite the person in front of us ordering 13 sandwiches. My sister even ordered one to go for later. Every sandwich was so delicious the bread they put it on was crunchy and flavorful, will have to come back for another great sandwich! No photo cause I ate it so quick! read more

Get the frozen custard. We stopped after a long day of bike riding and the frozen custard was amazing. My husband discovered his new favorite spot for a sweet treat in Empire. We went a second time before leaving for home. read more

Wow. What a great spot we stumbled upon for lunch. Sandwiches were 10 out of 10. Service was pleasant and efficient. Sat outside on one of the many picnic tables. If you are ever in the area, highly recommended to visit. read more

After some time on the dunes and the beach, we were hungry. There's not much in the way of food in Empire, this looked interesting, so we stopped in. Anytime you see a place that's jam packed with locals, check it out. Really this is a 4.5, but I don't have that option. The reason it's a 4.5 is just that it's so cramped inside. Otherwise the service is great and your food comes out pretty quick. The lady running the counter was friendly and efficient. There is a "bar" along the one side for about 10 people to eat inside which we did. There are tables out front outside as well. The sandwiches we had were good. The chips were really good too, grab a bag when you go in. I'd eat here again. Check out the store across the street. Also, parking is challenging here at times. When we were here, people were parked all over the place. read more

Shipwreck cafe is a nice local place that is open year round and is situated right on M22 in Empire. They have a nice sandwich menu served by friendly employees. I usually get the Tres Brothers (Italian) of the Medarian (Chicken Salad) The meat amount is generous but IMO the quality of the meat has lost a step. The place is crowded and the line will move. When i started going there a sandwich was $7 and combo was $11. I ate there yesterday the sandwich is up to $13, - $17 for the combo. In a great location just down the road from the Dunes but I think twice about visiting more due to the price. read more

Meh, overpriced deli meats. I mean sandwiches were decent enough, but $17 for a 6 sub, small bag of chips and a bottle of soda? Will be a one-stop for me. Too much $ for what you get here. read more

We loved this small town find before going to the dunes! We brought our pup with us and she enjoyed the sunshine at the picnic tables. The food was very good and quick! read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Road sign - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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Love this little roadside place! The sandwiches are unique and delicious. They also have great chips and treats.

We ended up here after stopping at another restaurant and not being able to get seated. The menu isn't very big, but it has a good selection. I ordered the house salad - it was pretty good, but on the small side. It was supposed to have nuts, but I think I came across only one or two in the whole salad. In my opinion, a side of bread and substituting blue cheese for the feta would have perfected the salad. Kid sandwiches were good, but plain. I didn't feel they were the best value. Adult sandwiches were delicious. The bread for all of them was really good. read more

Best sandwiches! We've also tried their pizza and their bfast wraps which are good but the sandwiches are hands down probably the best sandwiches we've ever had! read more

Don't miss this easy-to-miss spot if you're anywhere near Empire. This is my favorite sandwich spot - I go out of my way to get here when I'm up north but happened to be running the Sleeping Bear 5K yesterday. (The marathon makes for a Busy weekend so be patient if there's a local event- they're taking care with your food) The BLT sandwich is my family's fave- if you're a bacon fan, this is a star- I'm a veg so Griffon is my go-to- sandwiches are full full full of whatever you order and wonderful wonderful bread And the two girls currently working here are super sweet- had to make a new container of coffee for my one cup purchase with no bother- and also pros at making the sandwiches- tip well because they're worth it! read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Griffon no mayo - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

Delicious sandwiches after a morning of hiking! We were looking for vegetarian choices, and found them.

Wow, this place is such an amazing find in a small town that doesn't have tons of options. We were there the week of the 4th of July at 11am. There was no line at the time and it was pretty quiet. We ordered and got our sandwiches shortly after. They were huge & the ingredients were of great quality. You could tell the bread was homemade, the vegetables were fresh and no shredded iceberg lettuce in sight. The artisan lettuce was a great touch! We also got a cherry chocolate chip cookie. It was crunchy on the outside and gooey in the middle. Perfection. The building itself is small and so was the parking lot. I'm sure during peak hours that would've been frustrating. We got the Fitzgerald & rouse Simmons. Only thing we wished we would've done differently was asking for extra Mayo/ horseradish. Highly recommend this place! read more

Shipwreck Cafe - The Fitzgerald on the platte river beach! - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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Best lunch spot near Sleeping Bear Dunes national park. Lots of sandwich options, soups, chips, and beverages. Our group of 12 slammed them all at the same time with different sandwich orders and they cranked these out without batting an eye. Sandwich pros! On top of speed and friendliness from the lunch staff, the sandwiches were absolutely delicious and filling. Everyone loved what they got so I'm convinced you can't go wrong because I'm pretty sure we ordered everything on the menu. The inside is small and seating is limited to a counter along the way, but there are plenty of picnic tables to eat outside on a beautiful day. read more

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DELICIOUS!!! Packed with flavor, excellent amount of meat and fixings and the baguette is amazing. Definitely a stop we will make again heading north for the fall colors. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - DELICIOUS! - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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Always stop here on our way through Empire! The Italian sandwich is to die for! Love the fresh herb and veggie toppings! Would recommend calling ahead and taking your order to go - it's a busy place read more

Located conveniently close to the Philip A. Hart Visitors Center, definitely a must stop by on your way to or from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I got the Fitzgerald Sandwich: ingredients are very fresh and flavors go well together! I also had the Michigan Cherry BBQ potato chips, and wow! I've had a lot of bbq chips in my lifetime and these are definitely high on the list in terms of flavor combination and crunch factor for the chips. I also really enjoyed the Cherry limeade, the cherry flavor is very strong without being overpowering and also without tasting like cough syrup. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Fitzgerald, Cherry Limeade, Michigan Cherry BBQ potato chips - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

We heard lots of good things about the Shipwreck, so we headed over for lunch. The interior is nice but smaller, with a little bit of seating available. The parking lot is also tight - looks like some folks park across the street and walk over. There is a bike rack available. There are a number of picnic tables outside. The sandwiches were good and came out in a timely manner - we enjoyed the SS Noronic and the kids Tug Boat (turkey and cheese). The chips were Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. and were tasty, and we also got a twist cup of frozen custard. Everything was much enjoyed. The staff was friendly. read more

Delicious sandwich place! Rolls are better than they look. Everything was fresh and tasty. Need umbrellas for outside seating. read more

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Perfect for mid morning snack. Panini style breakfast sandwiches are great for sharing. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE COOKIES. No bake peanut butter and chocolate or cherry chocolate chip are worth getting more than 1 read more

Super busy sandwich shop! Line went fast!!! Sandwiches big and enjoyed outdoor seating.

My wife and I were visiting family in Michigan when we stumbled upon Shipwreck Café. 5 stars with 100+ reviews is a rare chance so we had to give them a try. We came at them with 4 kids and 4 adults and they stepped up to the challenge. The sandwiches were all great with perfect portions. This place lived up to the hype. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Sign - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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Fantastic place, great food. We pulled and seen the line and knew we were at the right place. The food came out quickly.

Great sandwich's in a place where eateries, I'm sure, have a hard time surviving. A bit pricey, but again completely understandable. Tiny eating area but clean and quaint. Polite service. Tables outdoors, which will be better once construction leaves next door. read more

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Small place but with big flavor. We ordered two breakfast sandwiches on our way through town and they were delicious. Regular sandwich menu looks epic! Great place. read more

Fresh made and delicous food. Kind employees. Highly recommend. Be nice to yourself. Go to there.

Delicious Fitzgerald and 3 brothers sandwiches! Quick and easy to order. Got our meal to go and it was ready in minutes. The shipwreck theme was very different and cool. It may be expensive for a larger family however. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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Insanely fresh bread. Scrumptious sandwiches. Definitely impressive product. Driving past here while on vacation we had to stop. The kitchen team is all very young but they know what they are doing. We were all very happy with our tasty sandwiches. Will return! A+ read more

A solid 5 stars. The sandwiches and salads are amazing, priced reasonably and the service is fast and courteous. All the sandwiches are named after boats that wrecked in the Great Lakes. Plus they have a variety of salads and soups, and a few baked goods for dessert. There are a few seats inside, but if you plan on eating there they have about 8 picnic tables outside. Be warned, there is very little shade (only one table had an umbrella) I had the house salad, my kids split a chicken salad wrap and my husband had the SS Hydras and hasn't stopped talking about it--said it was one of the most memorable sandwiches he's ever eaten! If you're visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes, this is a great place to stop by for a bite to eat, or grab a few sandwiches to enjoy in the pa UPDATE Back a year later and the Shipwreck did not disappoint. We've been in the area for a week, eating and dining our way around town and this was by far our favorite thing to eat so far. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Arizona - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan

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I almost went to a different quick service food establishment in Empire. Lucky for me that place stopped serving at 4pm. Two of us shared the Madiera and the Griffon sandwiches. They were both so good. Plus plenty of outdoor seating. I would definitely eat here again, 100% read more

We discovered this gem last summer. It's AMAZING. Their soft serve ice cream is some of the best I've ever had. Huge fans of dessert before our meal ;) The sandwiches are the star here though ! My favorite is the Fitzgerald. The pretzel roll bread isn't your traditional pretzel roll. It's not thick and dense but perfectly chewy with a salty coating. My kids are also a huge fans and love their tug boat Turkey sandwich for kids. read more

Shipwreck Cafe - Fitzgerald sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Empire, Michigan