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    The Gate House

    3.4 (144 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Gate House Photos

    THE GATE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Gate House

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    Grace D.

    The place is clean and has a basic vibe. Our waitress was odd and made us a little uncomfortable. I definitely won't be back. The food was decent but I think the mocktail was the best part of the meal. Definitely recommend the fries!

    Potato and Cheddar Pierogies
    j m.

    After biking and walking all day, the Gate House patio was a welcome place to rest. We walked up to the host with a challenge - can my fella with a soy allergy eat safely? The host didn't know offhand, but went to check right away, and out came a gentleman who said he was allergen certified, and who let us know the cooking oil was canola, and therefore, safe for our allergic hero! We ordered calories for a week - the fried sampler platter with fried pickles, onion rings, fried ranch cheese curds, and hot pretzel sticks; the standout was the fried pickles! The onions were good - with real onion inside and flaky batter, but I'll be thinking about those pickles weeks from now.... We also got an order of the pierogis (yum!), and we also split the mushroom enchilada entree. The enchilada was delicious, with a green salsa, pretty and tasty whole (enoki?) mushrooms, and an interesting and pleasing slightly sour flavor profile I was really digging. It came with half of a perfect avocado sliced up on the plate - fresh, pretty, and a nice accompaniment. I didn't expect much from dinner on Mackinac Island, given the tourist nature of the spot, but this came in well above my expectations. Friendly, helpful service; spacious patio with shade options; allergy friendly; and a nice finish to our day.

    1/2 half Mac Daddy burger
    Ted W.

    My wife & Family were seated outside upon request. Service was ok. We were at the establishment for an hour and a half. Before it's all said and done. The food was decent. Service was ok. The outdoor patio was clean and well spacious.

    Filet
    Paige K.

    For island options, this is a good one. Like most places on the island, it's a little pricey but the food was good. I ordered the filet which came with green beans and mashed potatoes. I subbed the roasted potatoes, which were tasty. The food was all cooked well and tasty but pretty oily. My friend had the vegetarian enchiladas and enjoyed them. She did order the sparkling rose which was completely flat but other than that, good food and good service.

    Mairin A.

    Visited here for a quick lunch. It took a little while for our server Katie to notice us - we chose to sit on the patio on an iffy weather day to keep an eye on my friend's dog - but once we were settled she was very friendly and helpful with selecting menu items (and even gave a great recommendation for finding a fudge shop)! Her service was great. The menu offers a pretty reasonable variety of options, and I went for the fish and chips to try a local catch. Unfortunately I was pretty disappointed by the quality - one piece of meh fish that was close to equal parts batter and meat, fast-food-adjacent fries, and average cole slaw. It was fine, and we absolutely expected to be upcharged as tourists, but I'm so sad I spent $32 on this. I will concede, however, that I tried my friends' clam chowder and it was excellent! Wish I had ordered that instead. In terms of location, the patio is large and great for people-watching. The inside is a little cramped but I loved the look of the bar.

    Potato and Cheddar Pierogies
    Michael M.

    Did was good but the service from the staff was what made everything stand out. The music that they brought in, dueling piano's, was great

    Jess M.

    WOW, what an unexpected disappointment. We were quite excited to try this place since it is part of the Grand Hotel. The service was good and friendly and we had no wait for lunch, even on the 4th of July. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre at best. We had the Walleye sandwich (which was very fishy and had 1 thin piece of fish in a HUGE hoagie bun); the grilled cheese and bacon (which had 3 pieces of soft bacon) and an italian hoagie. Both the walleye and bacon were more than skimpy, which was very disappointing, especially for a Grand Hotel restaurant. The best part of each of our meals were the french fries, which were fried well. I dont know if this was an off day for the place, but it sure didn't deliver today.

    Awesome ceiling of the bar.
    Victoria M.

    Walking around the island and noticed a sign out front that the Gate House has karaoke on Saturdays. I made a mental note and shared with the group we were staying with to come back on Saturday to check it out. I was a little apprehensive about the Gate House since it was owned and operated by the Grand Hotel. Boy was I wrong! The Gate House seems to be the let your hair down kind of place. It is located between the long hill going up to the Grand Hotel and just outside the hustle of downtown. Tucked away if you didn't know about it. The place is much more casual than what I was expecting. Great outdoor seating, full bar, and inside seating. Showed up on Saturday night - ID's were checked after 9pm to be let in. The staff was awesome - drinks were delicious and by about 10p-11p this place was really rocking with folks from all over. Had a local vibe plus out-of-towners all enjoying themselves. The karaoke was also a hit, organized well, with tons of participants. We had a very fun night. Did not get a chance to try the food but plan on returning next season!

    Trapper Burger with fries

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    10 months ago

    Bad food. Old dry ribs. Burger very wet and undercooked. Yuk! Never again yuk yuk double yuk

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    2 years ago

    No dogs on the giant patio WFT. Service iffy food so so. Don't bother. Slow, Over priced on the way to Grand Hotel only reason it exists

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Best ever chicken sandwich!! We would go back just for that!! Nice service and prices for the area are reasonable.

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    7 years ago

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    Sara W.

    Thank you Amy! We're so glad you enjoyed our special Bloody Mary!

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    Pink Pony - Cheeseburger

    Pink Pony

    4.0(957 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This is a beautiful restaurant on the water and the brunch was amazing (except the blueberry…read moremuffin)!

    I brought my mother here for Mother's Day, and I'm really glad I did. Our waiter was very friendly…read moreand greeted us with a smile every time he came to the table. He even wished my mom a happy Mother's Day before taking our order, which was a nice touch. We started with the Street Corn Nachos as an appetizer, then ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich, both with fries on the side (an additional $4 each). This was an excellent place to bring my mom since she's vegetarian, and the restaurant had plenty of vegetarian-friendly options. The food was excellent, especially the nachos -- the queso was amazing. The restaurant also gives you a lot of customization options, like swapping chips for fries for an extra $4 or adding protein to the nachos for an additional charge. That said, while the nachos were really good, they were still $18 without any protein, which honestly felt overpriced for chips, cheese, and vegetables. We came during lunch service, and overall the food, service, and view made for a great experience. However, it is definitely on the expensive side. Most entrees seemed to range from around $20-30. Still, if you're willing to spend a little more for quality food, generous portions, and a great atmosphere, it's definitely worth visiting.

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    Pink Pony - Pink Pony gift shop

    Pink Pony gift shop

    Pink Pony - Fish & chips

    Fish & chips

    Pink Pony - Whitefish Sandwich

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    Whitefish Sandwich

    Millie's on Main - Kids' cheeseburger

    Millie's on Main

    4.1(256 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Millie's is one of those restaurants that has something for everyone, and will appease everyone,…read morebut to be honest, I forgot what we ordered and ate as soon as we left. I had to look at my photos in order to remember our meal. That's not to say it was bad. Not at all! Just that the only thing I remember is that the prices are slightly higher than I think they should be. (Although, that seems to be the case at every restaurant on Mackinac Island. They have you trapped, and they know it.) We started with the smoked whitefish dip, which is a popular thing in this part of Michigan. It came piping hot with melted cheese on it, and served with crispy pita chips and crostini. I'm glad I tried it! I love me a good meatloaf sandwich, so when I saw meatloaf sliders in the menu, I had to get them. These sliders are made with pretzel buns, which are not my favorite because I feel like they're never soft enough. A nice white bun would have been so much better. I got a side Caesar salad, and it was fine. We also ordered a chicken tenders basket, the Low Carb Platter (just a cheeseburger without a bun and a side of cottage cheese), and a kids' cheeseburger. They do have a kids menu here -- just ask. Millie's gets very busy! We had to wait almost 30 minutes for a table. But it's centrally located in the middle of downtown Mackinac, so I wouldn't expect anything less.

    We checked out Millie's on Main for lunch at the recommendation of a staff member (and year-round…read moreresident) at Hotel Iroquois. A great spot, located right where visitors board for the public carriage tours! We stopped in around 12pm and by the time we left, every table was filled. Our party enjoyed a beautiful kale salmon salad, delicious and slightly spicy whitefish tacos with mango salsa, and a pasty with coleslaw and gravy. If I were to go there again, I would definitely get the pasty, hands down.

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    Millie's on Main
    Millie's on Main - Caesar salad

    Caesar salad

    Millie's on Main - Smoked Whitefish Dip

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    Smoked Whitefish Dip

    Chuckwagon - Cheeseburger

    Chuckwagon

    4.5(341 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    With a name like Chuckwagon ... to be honest, I didn't expect much. But it turns out that you…read moreshouldn't judge a restaurant by its name, because Chuckwagon served us what was probably the best meal we had on Mackinac Island. And it was the cheapest, too! Blessed from all directions. A patty melt was on the menu, so that's what I got. I can't not get a patty melt if I see one on a menu! This one was beefy and melty, with caramelized red onions between two slices of rye bread. All of the burgers and sandwiches come with plain potato chips and a pickle spear. We also got a regular cheeseburger and bleu cheese burger. All of the burgers are served on a pretzel bun, which is not my favorite type of bun, but I wasn't eating those burgers, and the eaters didn't seem to mind. Chuckwagon has a small kids' menu (the Lil' Buckaroo's Menu), with four items on it. Your kids can choose from a pb & j sandwich, a hot dog, a grilled cheese sandwich and mac & cheese. My little buckaroo chose the mac & cheese, which I believe was Kraft mac & cheese. Kids' menu items don't come with anything additional. This is a small restaurant with limited seating. You can sit at the counter and watch the action happen, or if you're lucky, you can find one of the few tables lining the wall or located in the back of the restaurant. Either way, depending on when you visit, you might encounter a crowd! But I think it's worth it to visit this old-school diner-type restaurant.

    This lively cafe has a varied menu with probably some of the best prices you will find on the…read moreisland super friendly staff. Limited seating for sure, tight spaces along the wall and a few larger tables in the back. Found the food not too greasy and the place very clean.

    Photos
    Chuckwagon - Front seating area

    Front seating area

    Chuckwagon - Bleu cheese burger

    Bleu cheese burger

    Chuckwagon - Artwork along back booths.

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    Artwork along back booths.

    Woods Restaurant - Brioche Pullman Bread Box, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

    Woods Restaurant

    4.1(179 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    First off, Woods Restaurant feels special because of its remote location on the island. The dining…read moreroom is interesting and historic. We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairings to celebrate our anniversary. The service was excellent and the food was good, but it felt a bit like someone was trying to replicate "fine dining" without actually being fine dining. Don't get me wrong, the food was very good, but the presentation often felt like it was trying too hard for what it was. We were surprised that for having dress code there were a lot of people in jeans and shorts, making the experience feel less than actual fine dining.

    Dining in Style at The Woods - A Mackinac Island Gem Step…read moreinto an elegant, elk-lodge-inspired setting and prepare for a truly memorable dining experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable--Lawrence, our server, was wonderfully attentive and made us feel so welcomed. We started with the brioche pull-apart bread and jumbo shrimp cocktail--both fresh and flavorful. The beetroot salad was an absolute standout--beautifully balanced and bursting with flavor. For entrees, I had the local lake trout, which was perfectly cooked and delicately seasoned. My husband declared the baked cod the best he's ever had, and my son devoured his chicken fricassée. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, dessert arrived. The warm apple strudel and the Grand Pecan Ball were both over the top--a sweet, satisfying end to an exceptional meal. Take your time, relax, and savor every bite. The Woods is without a doubt a must-have dinner spot when visiting Mackinac Island.

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    Woods Restaurant
    Woods Restaurant - Warm Apple Strudel

    Warm Apple Strudel

    Woods Restaurant

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    The Straits - Pumpkin pancake single

    The Straits

    3.8(5 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Had a super quick breakfast ahead of catching the 8am carriage ride to the town to catch the ferry…read more The menu is lean but mean! We had the: *STONECLIFFE OMELETTE (sun-dried tomatoes, chanterelles, Leelanau raclette, arugula, cottage fries) - soo beautiful - especially the chanterelles. It's a shame that it was completely under seasoned though!! The cottage fries (home fries) were pretty perfect though! *AVOCADO TOAST (sourdough, radish, goat cheese, tomato, lemon evoo, everything bagel spice) - the sourdough here is really lovely. thick pieces but not cut-your-mouth-craggy. I enjoyed it! But it is a pretty basic avo toast. *PUMPKIN PANCAKES - I asked if I could order just ONE and they let me!! The syrup came out piping hot, which was amaazzing. It was the perfect fall bite. We were in and out in ~20-25 minutes - just in time to board the carriage! I wish we had more time to enjoy the wonderful view. Next time!

    You're truly missing out if you don't try The Straits while on the island…read more It's accessible fine dining as in it's great for those who don't experience fine dining often. I would like to combat the review that says the portions are too small. He's wrong; I got the short rib and couldn't even finish my plate From the moment you enter the front doors of Stonecliffe, staff is ready to seat you. The staff is on top of everything. The second my wine glass was empty, Rudy was there to get me a refill. He brought a truly beautiful smile to the meal. I've eaten here a few times now, breakfast and dinner. I'm picky and a foodie so I'm very hard to please. I have absolutely no notes on the meals we had at The Straits. My husband got the pistachio crusted cod whereas I had the short rib. He's not big into seafood but LOVED the cod. He said all of the elements on the plate were perfect together. The short rib didn't need a knife and the potatoes were like silk. We also go breakfast. I got the Bodega breakfast sandwich which was so fun and the egg crêpe gave it a fresh experience. The breakfast potatoes here are seasoned and fried. Crispy, salted, with a mix of species (nothing spicy). I promise breakfast here will be the best start of your day.

    Photos
    The Straits
    The Straits

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    Seabiscuit Cafe

    Seabiscuit Cafe

    4.0(548 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Drinks and dessert was the main focus for a visit to Seabiscuit Cafe. Did I procure any real food…read moreat this horse-themed restaurant? Neigh! But they had what I wanted: sugar and alky hall. I just wanted a little (big) glass of red wine and something sweet to cap off the night, and I left satisfied. Key lime pie was the special dessert of the day, so that's what I got. I can't pass up a special dessert that's here today, but might be gone tomorrow. The kitchen didn't just give me a slice of pie: They dusted my plate with powdered sugar in the shape of a horse! It's these little touches that make all the difference, and you can tell that they're not horsing around here. (Or maybe they are?) My glass of Cabernet was great, and I was told that the beer was great, too. They were very busy, considering it was the end of the season. Nevertheless, we got a seat right away, and the service was great. If you visit Seabiscuit Cafe during the evening, you'll see that it's a cozy little spot with dim lighting, where you can relax and have a meal (or just drinks and dessert, like me).

    Amazing!! Went there on a recommendation from our shuttle driver and couldn't have been happier…read more Delicious food, quick service and a chill ambience. Loved every bite of what we ordered- Painted pony macaroni, Whitefish Reuben and Pasta Primavera. If we visit Mackinac Island again, Seabiscuit for sure will be our first choice for food.

    Photos
    Seabiscuit Cafe - Interior

    Interior

    Seabiscuit Cafe - Creole Salmon

    Creole Salmon

    Seabiscuit Cafe - Beer

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    Beer

    The Gate House - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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