The Backyard is the casual cafe located on the back lawn of the Stonecliffe Inn on Mackinac Island. It is open to non-guests of Stonecliffe, and offers a menu of lighter fare with unique flourishes.
The strongest asset of The Backyard is the setting. Quite simply said, the view is stunning. From our seats, we could see Lake Huron, the Mackinaw Bridge, and the sunset. Across the spacious back lawn were fire pits, circles of Adirondack chairs, fountains, and walking paths. The temperature was about 68 degrees with low humidity and few bugs and was absolutely perfect.
I ordered a brisket and carmelized onion pizza for $24. While I originally thought the price was a bit steep, I changed my mind on this after it was delivered to my table. The pizza was loaded with chucks of smoked brisket, carmelized onions, and smoky gouda cheese. The flavors blended with each other into a complex masterpiece of sweet, smoky, and slightly sour flavors. I would estimate that the pizza was about 14" and provided 2 meals for me.
My mother order the smoked pork taco (which actually was 3 tacos) for $16. The tacos were loaded with shredded smoked pork, pickled onions, and a spicy salsa.
We finished up the meal with a couple of beers while we watched the sunset.
Our server, Morgan, added to the overall experience. She was hustling from table to table, but never rushed us, and paused to have a nice conversation with us.
Overall, a good value given the beautiful setting and high quality dishes. read more