The pasta is amazing. The black and blue burger specifically wasn't very good. The view out on the river is very beautiful, especially at night. read more

We had a couple of drinks at the bar. I loved the atmosphere of this place. The drinks were better here than the place down the street. I would come in again. read more

The Library - Beer - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

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Pretty cool spot inside. Menu is relatively small, and prices are okay. Food itself was decent; nothing to write home about but not anything wrong either. Service whee was a little lacking through. read more

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I can remember many nights of hanging out here while a student at MTU. As an adult, my experience was very different. Service was less than stellar and the drinks were not consumable. We had to send our drinks back twice and our food took way too long. I understand it got crowded but even when the food was served, it arrived cold. I'll probably give it another shot when I'm in Houghton again because I loved going here so much in college and hopefully it was just a bad night. read more

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I suggest you avoid rhis place. Service wasnt just terrible - it was nonexistant. Waited over 40 minutes for a waiter to even say hi and finally gave up read more

4th time at the Library. Sat at a hi top in the bar area . Bartender Kierstin took care of the area, did a great job. Bused tables, looks as she had no help. Very friendly prompt, came back several times to make sure everything was to my liking. This time I tried the Margarita pizza. Was good not great, could have Been mere done (crispy). They were out of marinara. read more

It's honestly been a long time since I ate at the Library, but husband and I stopped in for drinks a couple of times during a recent visit to Houghton. Their cocktails are excellent! The bartender (Tasha, maybe?) was super nice and, of course, the ambience was amazing! read more

The Library - Hugo Spritz - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

This was a great fine dining place. I had the chicken caesar salad, and it was 10/10! Also had the chicken burger and it was amazing as well! Getting the bill was a little slow, but otherwise the service was great. read more

Good food for a reasonable price. Service was great but we went during non prime hours. Spinach Parm dip is excellent and very filling

Service was great & food was delicious! My husband found a new favorite soup, Creamy Swiss Au Gratin. Basically a creamy French onion soup read more

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I like this place and visited several times to try different items. Beer drafts are good/ great. Place is Friendly to groups, families, and dates. I love the kabobs and usually get two meals from the order, so value is fine with me even though it's one of the most expensive (and delicious) items on menu. Ambiance and view is good. Parking easy in the city lot. Servers are friendly and helpful with menu questions. Whether in town or traveling through, this place is likely to meet or exceed expectations for everyone. Recommended for all tastes! read more

Waited 20 minutes and didn't even get waters. Lots of tables full of people just waiting. We left after we saw another table leaving.

Food was great, service was prompt and professional. Expected much higher prices for what we had. Seated right away. We were originally going to another place but the wait was too long so we headed here. Glad we tried it. read more

Pleasantly surprised. We had an amazing meal. The service was above and beyond what you usually get a busy restaurants. Great beer choices and my mixed cocktail was fantastic. We will definitely return. Loved our table with a view of the canal. read more

The Library - My ahi tuna was prepared perfectly. Came with rice and choice of vegetables. The Cesar salad was huge. - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

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Service wasn't the best, slow, forgetful. Hostess seemed alittle fluster with a party of 8. Food was bland. The creamy onion soup had a weird taste, almost too much pepper. read more

The Library - View from our table. - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

Food was OK...nothing special but not horrible. Not sure there was actually any alcohol in the two cocktails we had. Service was good. We had a nice view of the water from our table. read more

We've been to The Library several times while visiting Houghton over the last few years. Each visit was a great experience, even when they were very busy and short staffed. Our favorite server is Kirstin, she is friendly and thoughtful. The last visit was my birthday. We had the lamb chops and asparagus with raspberry sauce and fettuccine Alfredo special. 100% recommend. I ordered mine medium and they were perfect! The Swiss Au Gratin soup is also amazing, especially if you love French onion soup. The decor is, as you might expect, library themed. Lots of books and heavy dark wood, but it doesn't feel dark or drab at all! The end wall offers a full view of the river front! The brewing room is also surrounded by glass. read more

The Library - The Swiss Au Gratin soup and the Complementary Cheese Cake. The cheese cake is complementary for birthdays ! - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

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Great food some of the best I have ever eaten in my entire life but was long wait

The food portion was very filling. I had the blackened White fish with double serving of Brussel sprouts. I was unable to finish the entire meal it was so filling! The service was ok probably due to low staffing. read more

I really liked the cheese soup. The Reuben was awful. Bread not grilled, not enough sauce. Burger was good. Very pretty building and good ambience on the inside. Yes, there are books. Service felt rushed. read more

World famous soup was great. The ambience was better. My drink was really good and the name of it made it better, pride and pomegranate martini read more

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Avoid. First time I tried the place I spent 15 minutes waiting at the hostess stand not just being ignored by being completely avoided eye contact with. Finally walked away. Tonight I grabbed a seat at the not busy bar. Waited to order a drink and a cup of soup. The drink was wrong. The soup took 20 minutes and was lukewarm at best with raw onions and unmelted cheese. I wanted to get dessert but after another 20 minutes gave up and went to the register to pay. Crappy food, horrendous service. Stay away. read more

Super disappointed with the majority of our meals. We're a bit group and each thing we got was just we'll below average - except the soup but even that was disappointing because years ago it was better than now. The whitefish was dry as a bone, the black and blue burger was just flat. No flavor and over cooked a lot! The Philly cheese sandwich was just OK but nothing to recommend to someone. The shrimp salad was again, just OK. The shrimp were small and not seasoned. Seemed like they were just defrosted, rinsed and put on the plate. I don't remember what our other friend ordered, it was that forgettable. The beer is also just OK. Then we learned that the new owners are from the DT bar down the street. That place is fun for a drink but not for food so I can't see the Library improving on quality, flavor or creativeness. This is the last time we'll go and it's sad. read more

So poorly managed. Watched 4 tables get up and leave. Felt so sorry for our waitress, who was also the bartender, busser and hostess...too bad because it has a lot of potential with location, charm and good food. Needs new management. read more

Nice place. Pleasant atmosphere, good service, more than reasonable prices. Would recommend to anyone looking for a comfortable bar in downtown Houghton! read more

Today does not compare to Memories!!! Service was so SLOW, they forgot our appetizers, the drinks were horrible, and food was disappointing. We ordered two margaritas, and they were tasteless! The roast beef and mushroom sandwich was dry, and the beef was definitely well done. The perch special was so overcooked it was almost hard to eat. The onion rings with the Ruben sandwich didn't even taste like onions anymore they were so overcooked. Speaking of the Ruben, it must have been made first and put under the heat lamp as it was soggy. The only good thing we had was the cup of soup. read more

The food took seventeen mins to get to us. Which felt like an eternity because we were snowboarding all day and failed to eat lunch. When the food arrived it was devoured on the spot. The waitress even commented about us inhaling the food. To their credit though the food was great. I got the Shrimp Po Something and it was flavorful but still retained the classic shrimp taste. The sandwich was served on a bread that tasted as if a little French man spent his entire life perfecting the recipe and now works at this hipster restaurant on the edge of nowhere Michigan. This place has smaller portion sizes although I did upgrade to beer battered fries and I would highly recommend you doing the same. It's only $2 more. The beers are also reasonable. $6 for a flight and they're brewed on site so there are always provocative and compelling flavors. The porter was especially satisfying. Lastly the atmosphere. This place feels very upscale but at the same time extra chill. They encourage people to study and do homework at the bar. I would be there everyday if I went to school at Michigan Tech and I would go to Michigan Tech if I had stupendously lucrative amount of US currency. Great food with a unique atmosphere but the prices were a little high for the portions. John Out. read more

The Library - Who is that staring at me?? - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

I last was at The Library in Houghton in the late 70's-early 80's and knew it as a college hang out with cheap beer and good food. The Library that I knew burned down since and was resurrected. We came in the summer so it didn't feel like a hangout anymore- the only college aged people were those employed there. it is a brewery as well and the decor is clean with an open room and windows over looking the water. The bathrooms were spotless. The food was as I remembered it- delicious. The Philly steak sub was outstanding with sweet peppers, onions and mushrooms on a sub bun. Served with chips and a pickle, it was very filling. My husband had a burger and he reported it was really good as well. The beer menu had plenty of selections, which we did not try- maybe next time. read more

The Library - The Library - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

The place: A bar with books. You might not want to read them, they look like they're mostly for decor, but if you've ever wanted to say, "I went to the library and got a drink," now's your chance. The location: It's on a hill just off the Main Street through downtown Houghton. There's street parking and a public lot a short bit away. Super easy to access. The fare: Generous selection of tap beers. I love a good local brew, and there are many to sample. Tasting flights too! There are also mixed drinks and alcoholic milkshake type things, so fitting for any alcohol preference. I got a blueberry ale which came with frozen blueberries in it, much to my surprise and delight. The fettuccine Alfredo was delicious and probably arrived with a pound or more of pasta. It's worth the price because you're getting two or more meals out of this. Dinners come with a soup or salad! Spousifer got a shrimp po'boy woth onion rings which he generously shared. They were a little dark, but I loved the crispy. The service: We had a server who was fabulous. They seated us swiftly and made jokes with us. They checked in to make sure everything was good and commiserated when we lamented the absence of the Impossible burger. They shared their advice and gave us some insight! They'd been working a multiple-shift day, so I extra appreciated the energy and kindness that kept coming. Next time: We went for the Impossible burger, but they were out. Next time, I'll call ahead and ask if they're available or just roll the die again. read more

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Shrimp tacos.... Coleslaw on them so bitter you couldn't eat it. Only 2 small shrimp per taco. Service was terrible. We had to hunt down menus ourselves. Brought the food, no plates no silverware and no server to be found. Went and got it ourselves. Didn't see the server until the bill arrived. Needless to say overall was an ugly lunch. Will not be back read more

Service (since 1970s) is great. Our server "Shellie" provided us great service and shared Library history. Our food and afternoon cocktails were very tasty and served quickly. read more

The Library - Pastrami Chopped Salad with Christian Brothers brandy (in honor of my late friend Greg Davis) and Don Julio tequila (in honor of me). - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

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This is a hard review because I'm reviewing off a few different things.. Brewery, food and service! Brewery: I honestly didnt really LOVE the beer and had to force my self to drink it but wouldn't say I really enjoyed it! Probably 2 stars here! Food: The shrimp appetizer was amazing, side salad was amazing! Then we ordered brisket burgers, came out without cheese so had to send back, asked for mayo on the side and never recieved so I ended up just eating! Service: I understand it's a hard time right now with finding staff and people that are willing to work! So they were definitely understaffed which meant everything took 10 times longer then it should have! Not anyone's fault but definitely doesn't make the experience enjoyable! read more

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Both times I've eaten here, we've had 70+ minute waits for our food. Our appetizers were brought out 2 minutes before our entrees after this long wait. The servers are friendly, it just seems like the kitchen is either dysfunctional or struggles to communicate with the front of the house. Food is good, but the service makes it hard to recommend. Really cool building and generally great atmosphere. read more

This is another one of the places that I REALLY wanted to like. The name, the look of the exterior, the history, even the location are all very cool. Lots of potential for a great place. Unfortunately that's as cool as it gets. The general theme of the interior is right on the money. They have lots of shelves with all the books, but then they ran out of ideas. The rest of the decor seems like whatever. For some reason, they put up a flatscreen television that played a salt water fish tank screensaver or something continuously. Then they added some blue colored LED light strips along the ceiling that just seems out of place for a "Library". Their menu is pretty basic. A couple burgers, a couple pasta dishes, and a few steak or seafood plates, blah blah blah. They don't even any cool take off menu items of their own. The Library Classic Burger?? The Library Classic Chicken Sandwich?? The Library Prime Rib?? They couldn't come up with a better name? Hey you guys, adding "The Library" to the name of a plain burger with onion lettuce and tomato, doesn't make it cool. They do have one sandwich called The Epicurean (after a Greek philosopher), that appears to be their own version of a BLT. I'm not sure how many people would know that. I got a Library Classic Burger because the menu said I got to choose between "grassfed burger" or "brisket burger". Besides, it's their "Classic" which by definition means to be judged over a long period of time to be of high quality and outstanding. They should rename this as the Library Basic Meat No Frills Burger. I'm not saying it was definitely frozen at some point, but.......hmmmm. I never got to choose grassfed or brisket either. My wife got their "Angry Shrimp Tacos". On the menu, those were described as being spicy grilled shrimp. The only thing angry about these was my wife. She wasn't sure when they were "grilled" but they were raw and cold and looked like they were rolled in a dry rub. The waitstaff got us menus, got our waters, took our order and then disappeared until the food was ready about 25 minutes later. She delivered the food and disappeared again until she came back to drop off the bill. The prices were pretty standard for what kind of food it was, and for being so close to campus. My daughter got plain Alfredo though and that was $18, WTF??!! That's all I got for my review on this place, but I think I got all my thoughts in. WAIT!! One more thing..... something stinks. I think it's the carpet. read more

This restaurant has a pretty great view. The chicken Alfredo was really good. And I'd get it again if we came back. The chicken strips are made from scratch which always ranks high in my book. The Bayou Shrimp was alright. The serving was fairly small and the crostini bread it was served with wasn't very good. I also tried the creamy French onion soup which was different and really good. The service wasn't the best. We had to ask for another beer and she also never came back to refill water for myself or my daughter. The restaurant and bathrooms were both very clean. I'd go back again and you should definitely give them a try. read more

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This was our first experience here and it was a pleasant one! I had never been to Houghton and had my eyes set on the Keweenaw Brewing Company for dinner. Unfortunately, it was closed, but my boyfriend found this place instead. We were told to seat ourselves and immediately got to put our drinks in. Our waitress was nice and she put everything in quickly. We had a longer wait for our food, but we enjoyed the time we had with each other and our beverages. I think they had a lot of takeout orders, due to Covid. The truffle fries are pricey, BUT SO GOOD! They come with garlic butter, which I also used on my Shrimp Po'boy. read more

The Library - My flight! 21 was my favorite with 22 and 23 being close seconds! The Husky Ale (6) was more delicious than I thought it would be. - New American Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

Truffle fries were perfect and the portion was huge! Caprese salad fresh and delicious. Beer also well hewn. Waitress(Abbey(sp) was always there; enthusiastic and helpful. Will be back soon! read more

Place has a cool vibe. Stopped in after a random trip to the town, it wasn't busy at all. My guess is we got to sit right down because school wasn't out for winter break. There is a nice view of the water and it's a comfy place to sit. Their beer kegs were on the fritz so I just had a bottle of Stella. I read a review that days the cheesesteak was the best sandwich they ever had so naturally I had to try it. Husband got the pizza. I also got a cup of the cheese soup. THE SOUP WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD. I should have got a bowl. The added croutons on top were perfect. Highly recommended! Hubby said the pizza was good, definitely made from scratch, a good amount of cheese and the perfect size for 1. More than 1 if you need a snack over drinks. The cheesesteak tho.. I think that previous reviewer needs to get out there more lol. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either. Not memorable. Maybe I just started off too good with the soup. I'd definitely be back for that soup. The bartender warmly greeted us when we walked in and the waitstaff was very pleasant. read more

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My father enjoyed his time visiting the Library when he was at college 38 years ago. When we visited Houghton this week, we found that it still lived up to those delicious memories. All of the food we ordered (pictured below) was fresh and hot. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful, good at recommending items based on what you like. They even offered sampling's of the beers on tap. The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The windows have a great view of the river and beyond. The tables had extra napkins and condiments. Other reviewers have complained about the decor, but we personally enjoyed looking at the crazy titles of old books and reading quotes on the wall from famous writers. If you're visiting Michigan Tech, staying in Houghton, or just passing through, I can firmly say you'll regret it if you miss this spot. read more

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Went for dinner tonight. The view of the Kewenaw waterway is amazing. The shrimp scampi was delicious, with green beans and Mac and cheese. The salad also came with the meal and was large enough for two! Our server was Amber, and she was very attentive and made sure we were enjoying everything. The blueberry beer was delicious also, with frozen blueberries as garnish. Would highly recommend and will come back again next time we're in Houghton. read more