The food is fantastic! The chowder is the best I have ever had. I usually also get a Caesar salad with smoked whitefish on top. In good weather, Rick's Cafe', which is a deck on the river, is a great spot to dine. Indoors, the ambiance is relaxing and nautical. The location is amazing, as the restaurant is on the Carp River, right in historic Fishtown, and the sunsets are outstanding! read more

Great place. As good as advertised. First rate bloody mary. The seafood chowder is also fantastic. I had the mixed sampler of fried fish. Excellent. Even the coleslaw slaw! read more

The Cove - Great views! - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

Off the charts cool rustic boating atmosphere... located in an idyllic fishing village of "FishTown" that looks like it was teleported from the 1800's. The place sits on the edge of and slightly over a dam/waterfall next to a short river next to Lake Michigan... The interior is filled with old nautical paraphernalia, rustic wood, super views of the water... it's hard to imagine how cool it is. They have great fish and chips. Several varieties of whitefish from the lake. We had the Waleye and loved it. Likely the best we have had ... period. The clam chowder was also up there with the "as good as it gets" grouping. You can sit in a room that's almost over the waterfall if you want... we did and loved the view. Service was excellent. Our waitress impressed us enough to prompt us to leave her a Benjamin. read more

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The Cove, a respite from some of the touristy nature of Leland, with some outstanding dishes and views! Pros: Service Sadly cannot recall waiter's name, but he was amazing! A cool dude with a cool story. Very genuine. Wine selection The Cove understood the assignment! They reside in an area abundant with wineries, and delivered with local selections. The Leelanau Cellers Late Harvest Riesling was *chef's kiss* Dessert Did you even dine at The Cove if you don't have the Burnt Caramel Sea Salt Gelato? Absolute perfection. No notes. Order it and end your meal on cloud 9. Not so great: Though I am obsessed with the local whitefish, serving it only baked in foil style does it a disservice. Even the peppadews (which I love) couldn't save the Campfire Whitefish. Texture and flavor was meh. All in all, I'd dine at The Cove again definitely! But would pick a different main dish. read more

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Everything was great. Our server was kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. The food was wonderful. I would probably have to say the best fish and chips I've ever had...crispy, light breading, mild flaky whitefish inside, with delicious French fries on the side. I highly recommend! read more

The Cove - Whitefish Fish and Chips- best I've ever had - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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Second time at the Cove with our rowing group. They are very gracious and accommodating our group of about 40 people. They gave us a back room and supplied separate checks which we were thankful for. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder and their homemade cherry pie. Win-win on both. The soup was flavorful and not too thick and the warm cherry pie hit the spot afterwards. read more

The Cove - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

To be fair, we were there for a quick, light lunch and both of us ordered the same, chicken salad wraps with fries. The chicken salad was a bit bland but fine. It could have used some real local cherries since it claims to have cherries in it. We couldn't find or taste them. The fries were ok, nothing spectacular. Overall, a nice time overlooking the water fall. read more

The Cove - Chicken salad wrap and fries - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

If there were a Hall of Fame for seafood spots, The Cove would be front and center. Tucked away like a coastal gem, this place absolutely blew us away. Let's start with the Seafood Chowder--hands down, the best we've had in the entire USA. Creamy, rich, perfectly balanced with ocean-fresh flavor in every spoonful. It wasn't just a soup. It was a moment. And then came the Smoked Whitefish Pâté served with homemade chips, and oh. my. goodness. That smoky, delicate spread paired with the crisp, golden chips? Culinary poetry. We were scraping the ramekin like it owed us money. Service? Our server Justin was Warm and welcoming and quick! Ambiance? Nautical charm with just the right splash of cozy and casual. Do yourself a favor: run, don't walk to The Cove. Your taste buds will never forgive you if you don't. read more

I arrived at lunchtime and was seated right away. My table was at a window looking out to the water. My server was quick to grab my drink order. I decided on the whitefish sandwich. It came out super quick and was hot and fresh. The fish was flaky and tender. The breading was crispy and flavorful. I loved the tartar sauce that came with the sandwich. The inside of the restaurant was home-y, lots of wood, and felt like you were quite literally in a cute fish town-which you are. Loved the decor, the ceiling, and the views. Is it a little pricey, yes, but look where you are! You are paying for the views and atmosphere and location. Service was great. My server and I chatted about MSU, she's a recent grad. I had a great experience. read more

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For all the years I'd been coming to the area we'd never been to The Cove. Usually we're just too intimidated by the crowds of folks waiting for a table. But, a few weeks ago we came to Fishtown with some family with a plan to grab some Cheese Shanty sandwiches only to realize we got their hours wrong. We needed a back up dinner plan. There were some folks waiting outside but we decided to just ask what the wait was like and, to our surprise, there was none for a group of 5. Seated inside at a comfortable round table. We split a few apps (and joked that we should have brought a lazy susan with us to help pass them around) including the whitefish dip (which my inlaws had never had before and they are now HOOKED). I started my meal with an order of the seafood chowder. Even though I typically don't do hot soup in the summer I was ALL OVER this soup. I ordered a cup but sincerely wish I had gotten a bowl. My SIL also got it and loved it as well. For my entree I got the whitefish fish and chips. Oh man it was also quite good and quite a generous portion. When in the area I always go for a whitefish and I don't regret that here. BUT, my mom went walleye for her fish and chips and I'm not gonna lie, I think I liked that better. Both were great but the walleye edged out the whitefish by a bit. It's slightly pricier but worth it, I thought. She agreed after trying my whitefish as well. But you won't be disappointed with either, TBH. Our server was really nice and accommodating. Food came out quickly and, though it was busy, never felt uncomfortable. We all agreed that we'll be adding The Cove into our regular vacation rotation. No matter the wait. read more

The Cove is a hidden gem in Northern Michigan. We were seated outside and saw the charter boats heading out. Great views all around. Service was amazing with no complaints. I ordered the smoked whitefish pate and the garlic parm whitefish. Both were phenomenal. If you are ever up in the Traverse City area, it is definitely worth the trip up! read more

The Cove - Garlic parm whitefish - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

We had a terrific meal here! After reviewing other Yelp posts, we decided on: Seafood chowder (2 bowls) This was very hood , with few potatoes and lots of seafood, just as others had reported. Not the best I have ever had, but very good. Smoked Whitefish Pâté (shared) Interesting and good. I personally don't like a smoky taste. Cherry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream (each had our own!) excellent : heated in an oven, so crispy, not microwaved and hard, or cold. I was disappointed they could not make a regular mojito, which prompted me to look up a recipe for a cherry mojito. Now that would be appropriate here in Michigan. I look forward to making one at home. Noise level: inside- 4 of 5. Julie was our very cheerful and attentive server. Deserving of a "5." Hope to return to this charming town one day! read more

The Cove - Cherry pie- wishing I had some now! - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

Classic location in Fishtown - we were lucky to sit outside with a sunset view. My husband is obsessed with whitefish pâté and it was delicious. I had the stuffed flounder and it was tasty as well. Service was friendly and you can't beat this spot for a classic 'Up North' Michigan evening. read more

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No reservations so we had to wait maybe 15-20 minutes but they gave us a buzzer so we could walk around and enjoy the evening a bit first. We were given the best table in the place, it seems: right in the corner where we had a lovely view of the dam and the little river, as well as being able to see the rest of the main dining room. Once we were seated, our server, Jess S, greeted us promptly and asked if we'd like anything to drink. We ordered our drinks and then she read our minds by saying it seemed as though we might be ready to order everything. We were impressed. I stopped in the bathroom to wash my hands and was impressed with how pretty it was, and clean. By the time I got back, our drinks had already arrived! We didn't have to wait too long for the meal either. We love whitefish and this was definitely top notch quality. We'd never had it presented in tinfoil before - really ensured the fish stayed moist. I wasn't too hungry, having eaten too many snacks, so was happy with the tiny mashed potatoes but others might want to order an appetizer if very hungry. But the real triumph was the award winning cherry pie. Whenever we visit Door County Wi or northern Michigan, we always hunt for the best cherry pie. This slice was hands down the best in our lives. Perfect flaky crust with ripe, amazingly flavorful cherries and not so much sugar, allowing the flavor of the cherries to really shine. I asked Jess S if the ice cream was French vanilla, letting her know I don't like French vanilla but would like it if it's regular vanilla. She checked and brought the pie without the ice cream, knowing that since it was French vanilla, I wouldn't want it. At each turn, she was friendly, speedy, and seemed to read our minds. I'd go every week just for that pie if I lived in town! read more

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Located above and below the Leland Dam at the head of Leland's Historic Fishtown overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands is The Cove. I had a wonderful birthday dinner at The Cove and highly recommend. They do not take reservations. It gets very busy so plan to wait or try to get there before the lunch and dinner rush or better yet, go between lunch and dinner rush. They have various seating options and they do have quite a few tables, but it gets busy fast. We were seated right away because we visited just before peak dinner time. Our waitress was very attentive. We sat inside and still had a very nice view of the dam. For an appetizer of course we had the smoked whitefish paté. It was some of the best we've had. It did have chopped almonds on top, something to note if that's not your vibe! The Cove specializes in fresh Lake Michigan Whitefish. I had the baked parmesan crusted whitefish with asparagus & mashed potatoes. It was DELICIOUS. So flavorful and FRESH. Allen had the Whitefish New Orleans which was whitefish and shrimp tossed in a mild creole sauce over linguine. I tried it and if we go back I will definitely be getting this! The parking situation in Leland is not great. It is such a small town but hundreds of visitors each day. There is free street parking when you can find it. If you plan to eat at The Cove, prepare to walk from down the road where you found a parking spot! The Cove has been featured in various magazines such as PEOPLE, Midwest Living, Coastal Living etc. It is worth the hype! A true Michigan gem located in the historic Fishtown and a "must do." read more

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Excellent food, outstanding service. We had a terrific lunch, starting off with the smoked whitefish pate, the Parmesan garlic, whitefish entree, and the whitefish fish and chips. Did not dare pass up the cherry pie... It's award-winning after all! Our waiter, Andrew, was just fantastic. Speedy, polite, and attentive. Looking forward to coming back soon. read more

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My husband and I discovered The Cove two years ago after visiting several wineries along the Leelanau Peninsula. This cozy restaurant is located in Historic Fishtown, which offers amazing views. And the staff is extremely friendly. During our previous visit, we ordered the Whitefish and Chips, which is amazing! The breading is light, and the fish is quite tender and flaky. This time around my husband ordered the Garlic Parmesan Whitefish, which I sampled, and I ordered the daily special Cherry BBQ Glazed Salmon. Both dishes were perfectly prepared and quite flavorful and delicious. The star of the meal, though, was the Seafood Chowder that we shared as an appetizer. OMG! I cannot remember the past time I enjoyed a bowl of soup so much. Incredibly flavorful with nice chunks of shrimp, crab, and clams. And despite being quite satisfied after finishing our entrees, we shared a slice of chocolate cheesecake with cherry glaze. Yum! I highly recommend The Cove the next time you're in Fishtown. Your taste buds will thank you. Bon Appétit! read more

The Cove - Chocolate Cheesecake with Cherry Glaze. Sinfully yummy! - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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A local recommended this restaurant to us. We came here for a late lunch on a Saturday and it was still packed and busy at 2pm! Located right on the water, this casual and fisherman themed restaurant has great views and tasty food. I tried a bowl (larger size) of the seafood soup and it was very delicious and filling. Not overly laden with potatoes like some chowders are prone to doing. And you could taste all the seafood components. Not sure if it's really necessary to have the krab in it, but the shrimp, fish and clams were great. My husband got the perch basket and the four pieces of fish were not overly breaded and quite large. Fries were well done too. Coleslaw is a sweeter mayo version. Higher in price but at least a good amount of fish! Service was prompt and nothing special, but got the job done (the restaurant was busy and we sat at a high top near the bar so the busy bartender had to take our orders/do our check out and make drinks for the whole restaurant!) Would go back again and hopefully on a non rainy day to be able to sit outside! read more

The Cove - Seafood chowder (bowl) - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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I love love love this place. The service is good, the food is really good, and we got a great parking place in front of the restaurant! What more could we ask for? read more

We were visiting the area and got a strong recommendation to visit The Cove for their seafood chowder. We stopped and were not disappointed...here's why: - The chowder was amazing! It had little baby shrimp, and lots of whitefish that just melted in your mouth. There weren't too many potatoes, and they make their own hot sauce, which was excellent on top. For lunch, a bowl each was plenty enough for both my wife and I. - We visited in early May so it wasn't crowded at all yet...but the place is massive, very eclectic with memorabilia related to the lake all over the walls, ceilings, etc. - Service was great! Bottom line: I would recommend The Cove to anyone visiting the Leelanau Peninsula! read more

The Cove - Bowl of the Seafood Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

This place was a great spot. Food was good and nice to be on the water and able to view Fishtown. Definitely recommend checking out. read more

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Looking for the coolest outdoor vibe? Want amazing service and great seafood? This place has the best seafood chowder it was amazing. They have all different white fish options and how you can get it prepared. We went with the Parmesan option and the crust was so good and it had no bones. The coleslaw was the best I've ever had. It was amazing service and great beers too! The location is right on the water and the patio gives you a gorgeous little fish town vibe. You even can see salmon jumping. It was awesome rustic, fish shack, chill vibe. read more

The Cove - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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So I can't comment on the foods and entrees because we only got drinks. But we did one drink with fish. It was entertaining to say the least. We enjoyed the views of the river and the uniqueness of the fish. Glad we stopped by. read more

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Delicious food, great service, and an amazing view of the salmon swimming upstream made for a perfect lunch!

Food was excellent. Bloody Marys with whole smoked fish was different in a good way. Walleye a fish i'll have to eat again read more

Excellent seafoods and service. Great help from Corey. Fantastic view over dinner at Fishtown. Excellent cole slaw but not enough. Lime pie to die for. read more

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Whenever I come Up North, I always have to go to The Cove! Yes, I have my go-to favorites: must have the chowder and the campfire white fish!!! Our waiter Chris was funny, kind and provided great service! Made wonderful suggestions as well. You gotta try this place out! You'll love the decor too! read more

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Such a cool, interesting place that just happens to have amazing food! The chowder is some of the best I've had. And the fresh whitefish fish and chips was outstanding. The service was fantastic. read more

There is a reason that the Cove has been in business for many many years - it's great. Our server, Jess, made excellent recommendations and we had a great meal. We shared the walleye entrée which left has plenty of room for dessert. We ordered gelato and cherry pie. The standout was the cherry pie with vanilla ice cream. We really enjoyed all of the sailing and boating, antiques throughout the restaurant, and the view cannot be beat. This is a must when visiting Fishtown. read more

Hostess was very unfriendly and somewhat rude. Food is good but not attentive to detail. It's really about the charm and ambiance. read more

Today was our second visit to The Cove. After about a 10 minute wait on a Tuesday around noon, we were seated outside on a deck overlooking the lake. (Very cool). The waitress was efficient but not overly friendly. I had the white fish and fries while my husband had the walleye and fries. We shared a seafood chowder as well ... which was outstanding! Our fish and chips were good ... but not the best we've had. The portions aren't as large as most places. (We still went away very full!) We'll be back. We love the area and the atmosphere! read more

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Got a great seating with a great view which started the evening off A BANG! Cudos to the hostess from Holland. Andrei was our waiter and he was a waiter's waiter. Took a chance on his recommendation on the dinner special, which was black & blue white fish & it was outstanding as was the chowder. Really wanted to get the cherry cheesecake to finish off the evening but will be back. Need to hire more Romanions! Thanks for a nice evening. read more

Being originally from this part of the world, this is always a must stop. The menu is diverse, the food delicious and of course you need to get a chubby Mary read more

The Cove - The View - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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Finally made it to this great Fishtown restaurant and I get where all the love comes from. Great view looking down on Fishtown with a cool old school ambience. Seafood is great but there's many other great options. read more

Iconic spot right in the heart of Fishtown! This is a must whenever you are visiting the area. It definitely get a busy in the summer but we visited right after Labor Day so it wasn't a long wait. I have only had the white fish here, particularly the garlic Parmesan one and it is delicious. Fish and chips look great and honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I also got the iconic chubby mary. You can get it without the fish if you prefer but it's a delicious Bloody Mary. Definitely iconic and a family friendly spot. I will be back anytime I'm visiting. read more

The Cove - Garlic Parmesan whitefish - Seafood Near Me - Leland, Michigan

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What a view!! They gave us the best seat in the house. That alone made visit worth it. Hubby had a draft Oberon, I opted for pineapple margarita. Both great, altho bartender failed to add salt rim first time around. Andre, our server rectified. We shared the pike-perch basket. It was just ok. Menu describes as lightly battered, yet it had heavy cod type batter. Not at all what I expected. 3 pieces, with boardwalk style fries. Just ok on both. Coleslaw was tasty and highlight of meal. Enjoyed the decor of restaurant. Wood burner in middle of room. Nice clean bathrooms. read more

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On our last night up north, we headed to Leland to grab a bite at The Cove, and to enjoy the beautiful sunset over Lake Michigan. We arrived at prime dinner hour and were able to be seated immediately on the outdoor section overlooking Fishtown. Our server arrived promptly and took our drink orders. In honor of a friend's birthday, we ordered margaritas, which were refreshing and flavorful. When it came time to order dinner, I decided that he Whitefish Tacos looked the best, and it seemed very appropriate given that we were in Fishtown! While we waited for our food, we people-watched and waved to others across the small channel that leads to Lake Michigan. I highly recommend the Whitefish Tacos if you go - they hit the mark with flavor, texture, and portion size. I wasted no time in cleaning my plate at mealtime. As we sat after the meal and waited on our check, I saw a truly novel thing - a classic car motoring up the channel. Yes, an old convertible that was in the water! The server informed us that it was the restaurant's owner, Rick, who owns a classic "Amphicar", and was taking it out for a spin. That sight alone made the trip and meal worth it to me! If you happen to be in the area, The Cove is a perfect spot for a bite to eat, with a view on Lake Michigan, and maybe even a sighting of the Amphicar. read more

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Had low expectations but was blown away! I'm not a big fan of fish but their food had so much flavor and the fish and chips were fried perfectly. Fries were delicious and the wrap was amazingggg! It also had a great view and warm environment! read more

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Fish tacos are amazing! We go for lunch or dinner whenever we are in the Leelenau penindula

The Cove is a must have meal when in Leeland's Fishtown! Had the best patio table view overlooking the harbor and to the lake beyond. While I only had to turn my head behind me was the rush of the dam's water. Great service and even better food! The dirty martini was perfectly chilled and yummy! The perch dinner was just enough. Three large perch with more than enough fries and nice helping of coleslaw. All delicious!! It was a perfect end to the day after driving the Tunnel of Trees M119. Not peak fall color but, was a beautiful week of weather I enjoyed last week!! read more

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