Having been to this fine establishment twice, I would recommend it with flying colors. You're greeted by friendly hostesses, and as they walk you past the beautiful bar, you realize that you are up for quite the experience. All of the seating has a unique waterfront view. Outside seating is offered, but we haven't visited during mild weather. All of their food is delish, but the scallops are to die for!!! read more

The Riverside Inn - Scallops - New American Near Me - Leland, Michigan

We enjoyed our meal at Riverside Inn, and enjoyed our view of Lake Leelanau. The whitefish with risotto and cherry-maple glaze was nicely done, with a crisp skin and a sauce that added just the right amount of sweetness. The steak was flavorful and cooked well, paired with blistered shishito peppers that gave a subtle smoky heat. The roasted carrots and the Parmesan-rosemary potatoes were both nice accompaniments for the entrées. The restaurant was already full at 5 PM on a weekday, make a reservation if you can. Drinks were good, and the service was friendly and attentive. read more

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We walked in just as the restaurant was closing but they welcomed us in for drinks at the bar. Cute and cozy setting on the water and friendly staff. We will definitely be back for dinner soon. read more

The Riverside Inn - Art for sale in the restaurant - New American Near Me - Leland, Michigan

Amazing food. Great ambience. Really friendly and attentive staff. Will definitely visit again. My only recommendation is allow those of us with a dairy allergy (so many API, Black and Native American people plus 5% of white people) to just order the sorbet...or offer another dairy free dessert. Yes, I did ask and was told no. read more

Ambiance = 5 Service = 3 Food = 2 This was a birthday celebration that will be memorable for all the wrong reasons: Service was seriously slow ... for both drinks and food. All of our food from appetizers to the soup ( bowl half full ) to the main course were warm NOT hot, just warm as if they sat in the window for a while before being delivered. Our waitress stopped by after we had eaten several bites and we informed her of the situation. She apologized and walked away. We were not expecting a refund, but an offer to replace our dinners with hot food would have been the proper thing to do. The food was tasteful but again and unfortunately warm to almost cold. A restaurant of this caliber definitely needs to do a better job of customer hospitality. read more

My girlfriends and I were so excited to meet at the Riv. I ordered a bottle of Champagne and Joey poured all the first glasses, but after the first pour ignored us completely so we poured our own glasses after that. The Caesar salad was so fishy it was inedible. I love anchovies, but the taste was overpowering, so I left without eating dinner. Joey never asked how our meals were. My salad was uneaten with no response. My guests asked for menus several times and gave up and shared menus. I overtipped above 15% and will be back only when friends insist on going to the Riv. I feel like an idiot tipping above 10%, which is what tonight merited. read more

We had a lackluster dinner at the Riverside Inn. Setting is lovely. Service was good but the food (the reason we were there), was not good. The calamari was a small amount. We all had pasta but it lacked seasoning. Much pepper and salt was applied. Then we asked for parmesan cheese to help the dish along. Prices were steep and we were disappointed. Too bad as we have always enjoyed dining there in the past. read more

The food was not what you would expect from here (new chef?) The 'charcuterie' appetizer was terrible (bad cheese on a dinner plate with nuts thrown in a pile). Chicken was so-so and wait staff very rude. What happened to this place? Used to be a favorite but won't go back. read more

I've been going to Riverside for decades, it was always my favorite restaurant in Leelanau. The last few years have been so disappointing. Since the ownership has changed, the food has been very hit or miss. I kept giving it more tries but last night's dinner was awful and I don't think I'll ever go back and felt compelled to write a review. I ordered the bolognese and it tasted like squash capers. I honestly don't know how they could call it bolognese. They charge you bread by the slice, which is almost insulting. Before ownership changed, delicious bread was provided with dinner. My husband ordered the lobster pasta and got food poisoning. Finally, it took way too long to get service. My daughter waited nearly 30 minutes for her soda. The food is not good and for the price you pay, I do not recommend. I miss what Riverside used to be. read more

We have traveled for over 33 years and love the M-22 drive in Up North Michigan. We made a reservation at Leland Michigan's Riverside Inn's restaurant called "RIV." The bed and breakfast is a quaint, quiet place to stay. It has gone through many changes. The decor is pleasant. They are adding an outside Patio, right on Lake Leelaneau. This will be wonderful. My family has dined here over the past 30 years and was always great food. We never stayed at the Inn but it is beautiful. My daughter and I dined on a busy Saturday night on Memorial Day weekend 2024 and I was stuck in detours and Memorial Day traffic on Saturday. My daughter kept in touch and we ended up taking the last dining reservation for 8:30. The young hostess was very accommodating and pleasant. We ordered a glass of house wine and it was decent. We split a "Caesar" salad which was delicious and very fresh but I have never had a Caesar salad with grape tomatoes? It was delicious. We both ordered the grilled fresh Lake Trout, which was a very large portion of trout. I believe the trout was grilled with olive oil , butter, capers and and maybe anchovy for a wonderful taste? Umami? We should have split the trout entree because it was very large. All in all, a great meal, but would have appreciated a dinner roll or potatoes/vegetable, asparagus? This beautiful dish was lacking a side to compliment the fish. Price point was 2 glasses wine, Caesar salad and the two trout dishes were $100 plus we aded a 25% tip because our waitress was very good. Atmosphere: 10, service 10. Delicious fresh fish10. However, no bread, potatoes or vegetables 2. Definitely a restaurant to go in Leland, Michagan! read more

I have been coming to the Riverside for years. Prior to the ownership change the menu was always on point. Delicious, perfect pairings, etc. Since the change - i keep giving it chance after chance - but always walk out thinking how horrible everything was. After my most recent visit this week - our entire group almost unanimously agreed we likely need to end our decades old patronage here. The front of house staff come off as snotty, disinterested and rude (unless you are one of their preferred guests - they really seem to roll out the red carpet for certain guests - just not you). I'm not going to throw any waiters under the bus - we get the occasional server who does well. But the food. My god the food. Never good. Pretentious with no substance. Pairings that don't make sense. Bland. Overcooked pasta. The tempura onion starter: Bland. Plantains: literally just a plantain in batter. No seasoning. Nothing. Dull. Flat. The bolognese? It wasn't bolognese. Nobody enjoyed it. Prior to the ownership change: every dish was a celebration of a job well done. Since the ownership change: Have yet to enjoy a single entree. Always left unsatisfied, confused and bewildered. But at least the staff are totally unwelcoming! Farewell Riverside! read more

Beautiful views and top notch food. Compliments to the chef. Very nice wine selection.

I'm not even sure where to start, because our evening here for dinner was so amazing! We were celebrating our anniversary weekend in Northern, MI and we're staying in Leland (our favorite place ever) on our last night. My boyfriend booked us dinner at The Riverside Inn, which we'd never been to before. The food and the service absolutely blew us away. The setting inside is romantic and welcoming, plus you can't beat dining right next to the river. We enjoyed delicious drinks, a few great martinis and signature cocktails. The seasonality and freshness of the menu is part of what drew us to dining there, and we sure are glad we did. We started with cauliflower as an appetizer and shared a wedge salad. The ramp ranch was to die for! Main entree was a pork chop with foie gras braised cabbage, bacon jam, and shishito peppers. I don't think there are even words to describe how fabulous it was! Just writing and thinking about it makes my mouth water. Perfectly balanced dishes when it comes to taste, portion, and presentation. After dinner we enjoyed a hummer ice cream dessert drink and an espresso each. If I could go every week, I would! It left us feeling happy and full and extremely excited to go back. read more

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A historic restaurant up the street from Leland Fish market docks, this was established in 1902. Highly recommend making reservations, a popular place for finer dining and quality service from a team of friendly and knowledgeable wait staff. The menu has a variety of fresh and interesting selections, from appetizers, main courses and yes suggest to check out their dessert menu. Many fresh seafood choices, plus both traditional and interesting meat selections, so from beef tenderloin to duck breast, venison or lamb as well as vegetarian and GFO options. They also have daily specials, so ask your server for anything off the menu, but beware it may have limited quantities, so don't be surprised if they run out. We also tried an Oregon Pinot Noir (Daffodil) recommended by our server that was excellent, unfiltered, smooth and easy to drink with any meal selection. I tried the Diver Scallops over a bed of fresh smoky, creamy corn - both flavorful. Scallops were prepared perfectly, seared golden and very tender to eat. Also tried a side of Brussels sprouts with bacon, again cooked to tenderness and very tasty. Others tried the beef tenderloin, sea bass, cauliflower steak and the tomato bisque which all looked great! Topping it off, we shared the chocolate Opera torte with a scoop of ice cream, and the Creme Broulee Cheesecake. Both were rich and just the right touch of sweetness, so a few spoonfuls was all I needed. This is definitely a nice restaurant to try when in the area. Enjoy!! read more

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This was a wow culinary experience. The smoked red beet plumb salad was a cornucopia of taste serendipity. I order the Wild Boar main dish it too had a sauce and salsa that was absolutely good. I cannot recommend the food here high enough. It was a 45th anniversary special outing and I was not disappointed. Our server was attentive helpful and very friendly. We sat in the bar area as the place was crowded so we didnt experience the patio. But we had a great meal that we enjoyed a lot. read more

The ambiance was nice. The food was ok, but service was terrible. The bartender was very rude. We assumed she was having a bad day, but we cut our visit short because of her. Maybe we will have a better experience next time. read more

Dined here while staying at the Inn. Ambiance is excellent. Very modern farmhouse. Felt at home. Staff is appropriately friendly. Menu is limited but selections prepared to perfection. Mussels were average. Chicken, perfect. Pork chop, tasty. Special. Evening. Come. read more

My husband and I were so excited to go back to the Inn. We have had so many wonderful experiences and food through the years. First the good - the staff was great, our waitress was delightful. Now for the food - charcuterie was bland, octopus over done, halibut with calamari was over cooked and simply awful and my husband's steak was raw. Please improve!!!!! read more

Service was good but food not so good. My beet salad didn't have any greens in it. The ribeye entree came without anything on the plate except the meat. The bowl of pasta was about 1/4 full. We left hungrey. read more

We booked a meal at the riverside to celebrate a fiftieth birthday. We'd heard such great things about the venue but couldn't have been more disappointed. While the staff are very attentive and the decor delivers a premium restaurant vibe this is not worth the $$$$. I had the pork chop - it was a thin cut and dry/overcooked. The accompanying cabbage/polenta was overly acidic and lacking any of the complexity you'd expect in a $50 plate. The Otto chicken was bland and not even close to delivering on its premium price tag. Furthermore the portions are ridiculously small. We ordered the arancini balls (delicious but barely an amuse-bouche portion size). The panzanella salad, while tasty, was also very small (and expensive). I rarely write reviews but this was not even close to the premium experience we'd hoped for. Especially disappointing for a fiftieth celebration If you're looking for a fine dining experience go to la becasse or really anywhere else read more

Not what it used to be. Total disappointment, server repeatedly forgot one of four drink orders and accidentally doubled another one. 45 minutes to get a cocktail to one in our party. It got worse from there, overly scripted and un-trained server, $65 steak special was literally 1/4" thick and served cold. I've loved this place for decades, really sad to see what it has become. I've had better service at the bowling alley in Northport. read more

Came here for dinner while in town for a wedding. We were looking for a nice place to eat, and this is def that type of place. They market themselves as a fine dining locale and they do live up to that standard. Hostess was exceptionally polite and professional. Server was very nice, professional, well informed about the menu and wine. Tables were set well and excellent silver and glasses. The people and the place were great, but how about the food. Well--it was a bit disappointing. I had the pheasant and my lady had the lamb. Both were cooked perfectly and plated beautifully, but unfortunately didn't have the flavor we expected from it's look. It's for this reason we thought that the experience didn't justify the fine dining price we paid. Riverside Inn is a beautiful location right on the water with a great staff, but hopefully our dinner was an outlier in it's disappointing lack of flavor. I would consider stopping in again in the future to try something different. read more

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This Restaurant is one of, if not the finest restaurant in the State of Michigan. Flavorful ingredients well and imaginatively prepared. The Chef at The Riverside Inn is a standout amongst Chef's. A true Master of her craft. Add to the wonderful dining experience is this lovely small Inn located in idyllic surroundings. Well worth the drive. read more

The Riverside Inn - This Scallop entree' was one of the finest dishes I have ever had. Boundless flavor. - New American Near Me - Leland, Michigan

Happened into the Riverside. Warm greeting; great wine/cocktails. Enjoyed the scallops with fresh chips...perfection! Another lovely night in Leland! read more

The Riverside Inn - New American Near Me - Leland, Michigan

My wife and I have dined at the Riverside many times over our years in Leland, yet I've never written a review. However, after our meal last night during COVID times I felt compelled to do so. Our meal was phenomenal. Charcuterie starter to split (we have probably sampled 100 other charcuterie and cheese boards across the country and nothing holds a candle to the Riv's board), my wife had the Sea Bass and I the Filet. I would honestly say it was one of the best meals I've ever had there - and that's not just my post quarantine pallet talking. Our food was awesome! We sat at the bar (our favorite spot to eat there), had exceptional service from Aurelia, and met two other nice couples who were looking to buy property in the area. We were safely distanced, and the bar area (and whole restaurant) was constantly sanitized - but in no way was it a nuisance. We felt completely comfortable. So for anyone wondering if they should take a chance on dining out during these crazy times, 100% - I would highly recommend the Riv. We felt completely safe, the service was outstanding, and the food was divine. read more

Fine dining in Leland! People looking lovely in flowy dresses, bright blouses and collared shirts up north! Food is fantastic--high end and quality but approachable. And the new decor is beautiful. Very comfortable and lovely. Service is top notch to go with the food. Definitely worth a splurge night among the more casual options! read more

Lovely atmosphere (soft lighting, white tablecloths, beautiful water view), elegant and delicious offerings on the menu - plus excellent service! Great "date night" spot. Nice cozy bar area too! Highly recommend! read more

Was so looking forward to this. Our room #2 didn't meet our expectation for the price point charged per night. $315. We are used to the little quirks of Inns and BNB's. However, even in London you can get a very nice accommodation for $315 a night right? It didn't occur to me to ask about what you don't see in the photos. I come from a F & B and hotel background so I'm surprised I missed it. In any case, there is zero storage save for a couple of hooks on the wall for clothing. The sink is not located in the bathroom it's a couple of feet from the bed. There's a tiny desk/simple chair which are cute enough but for 2 ppl? This room isn't big enough. I think it's better suited for one person. If you are an early riser? You have no place to sneak down to. Unless it's summer then you could go sit outside before the staff gets in at 9am then you can sit in the dining room that overlooks the river or the bar. But it's closed off before that we were told. And no oversized chair or nook even in the "lobby" so you'll make your coffee outside your room then you'll take it back to the room. You can hear people passing bc it's a very close quarters to the other rooms. Which is fine. Just making note of that if you are light sleeper. Also, steep staircase to the rooms didn't impact us. But just noting that. No porters were there when we arrived. Maybe ask if that's an issue for you? Lastly, the host never thanked us or asked us how was our stay when we left. Kinda not gracious. If this room was under $200? IMHO that's a far better realistic price point for this room. If you are unsure of the sink or storage in your room you are looking at online? You should call them to ask for the description prior to booking. There are larger rooms with dressers/storage and maybe even a comfortable chair to sit? Unsure of the sink location in the other rooms as we just peeked in when the doors were all open (not occupied) so just call prior and ask. The #2 room does have a nice view of the both the river and the dining room rooftop. Overall this Inn is charming but I can't say that room in particular is worth the $. read more

I read so many excellent reviews but i am sorry to say that this will not be one of them. From the mi Ute i walked in, i felt a dated vibe. The place needs a definite decor update. We ordered the charcuterie to start. The toast points were so crisp they broke when you spread on them. The cherries didn't really work since they weren't spreadable and the pork rilettes were tasteless. I ordered the salmon and it was over cooked and the polenta on which it sat was dry and co healed. My husband got the duck which was rubbery and hard to cut. I will say the homemade ice cream was very good but if i want waterside dining n this area, i am going back to The Boathouse!! read more

My wife and I ate there Memorial Day weekend 2021. The food and service were exceptional. The steak tartare was nicely prepared and well seasoned, but the accompanying sauce made the dish stand out. The charred avocado was subtle but stood out in the best ways possible. The entrees are where the meal really stood apart. I ordered the beef tenderloin, which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It was one of the best prepared steaks I have had in recent years. Simply perfect which made the well prepared sides unnecessary. My wife ordered the scallop dinner, also seasoned and cooked exactly to our preference. The cocktails and desserts did not disappoint, nor did the service. If you are debating a Leelenau dining experience, look no further. If your dinner is anywhere closer to our experience, you'll be thinking about it for days after. read more

Came for dinner last night nice place overlooking water We first had cocktails mine being a brandy old fashion Which was good For our first course we had the smoked Gouda beer soup which was very good except it was a bit too thick almost seemed like they used flour or corn starch to thicken it up when it probably didn't need it . We also had the beet salad which was Julienned like Cole slaw. Problem With that you don't get the true flavor of the local beet its muddled and to make things worse it's over dressed so that's all you taste . The arugula salad was the best of the three but it too was over dressed with the vinaigrette . For the main course I had the whitefish special with Fiddleheads as they are in season The fish was perfectly cooked atop some hash brown type potatoes both excellent The other main courses were the pasta made from golden squash with peas I tasted this and thought it was very good , and the walleye which was also good . Jim Had the Berkshire pork chop which was suppose to be med well . It came out rare so he sent it back . So almost everyone is finished with there meals and his refire comes out and it's still way undercooked like now it's med rare. So he sent it back and said he's not hungry anymore. Bummer he didn't get an entree said he was ok But still that's disappointing . we didn't have desert . Food was good and our Server Kayla was excellent read more

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The next-door restaurant was closed for cleaning, which was a little odd to me, so my girlfriend and I decided to give this place a try. I went in blind, without much knowledge of what it was before going in. We were surprised to see such an upscale place in Leland, but rolled with it. The restaurant is very small, and has a cozy feel. We were instantly greeted by the waitstaff who was very informative. The menu was very small, which was what I had expected, and selections were diverse, with unique combinations that I had not seen before. Overall, the restaurant has a very old fashioned feel, but in a way that did not necessarily appeal to me. It definitely seems to cater to an older demographic, which we were not a part of. Regardless, my food was very tasty. Most people in the restaurant seemed satisfied, but there seemed to be a few other parties who originally had not planned to go to this restaurant like we had. Ultimately, this is a fine establishment with quality food and great service. However, it's not my cup of tea. read more

Yum. We love the Riverside Inn. Anything you get will be delicious. Ask your server for their recommendations - they have never disappointed me. Great drink menu too! read more

The Riverside Inn - New American Near Me - Leland, Michigan

Excellent service. Delicious food and cocktails. Beautiful atmosphere. Highly recommend.

The Riverside is now open and as wonderful as ever! The Vilter Family had a tough year after the fire, but is back stronger than ever! Dinner for four this evening , with an intelligent, informed and friendly staff, led by Kate Vilter has done a couple of soft openings, as they try to capture the close to Labor Day crowds. The apps, salads, entrees and desserts are all as fresh and inventive as ever. Not too many suggestions to confuse, each course well presented and flavorful. The Northern Leelanau is blessed with some great dining, with The Riverside being at the top! read more

One of our favorite Northern Michigan restaurants. Outstanding food, attentive service. Beautiful location.

Beautiful restaurant in beautiful Leland Michigan heavy touristy area and all the restaurants had 2-3 hour wait times. I entered the lobby area and was told they had 0 places to sit me and my husband. Sadly I left. The manager named Dillon actually ran out the door and caught me and said he could get us in!! WOW! Never has that ever happed to me. Since it is my 70th birthday I feel really special read more

In a tourist town packed with overpriced standard fare, the Riverside Inn is a standout. In fact, it wouldn't matter where it was, the food here is always incredible. Located in a bed and breakfast, this place has been tempting my taste buds for about 10 years. We heard from neighbors that there was a new place in Leland, and have been enjoying muy delicious meals there ever since. The dining room and bar area are quite lovely, done in a Mission style and very understated without being cold and minimalist. A wonderful environment in which to enjoy a great meal. Menu changes regularly, a few standouts are always available. We generally go in groups and get one of everything and have yet to be disappointed! The Tenderloin Tower is always available, meat is fork tender and expertly prepared, the demi-glace and blue cheese whip are perfect compliments, the mashed potatoes are fantastic and the vegetables are always cooked correctly and very fresh. They generally have duck, ostrich and lamb on the menu as well and they are always wonderful as well. I tend to get nervous when I see a restaurant in Northern Michigan with a very ambitious menu as I'm generally disappointed, but this place is the exception - they can do no wrong, everything that comes out of that kitchen is delicious! Fantastic staff, wonderful wine list, beautifully located - make reservations and get a table outside looking over the river. This is a great place for a dress up dinner, a date, or to mark a special occasion. *******Edit 11/7/2007********* Check their website before you get too excited in the off season - they are closed the ENTIRE month of November and most of December as well. Sob. read more

The food is terribly overpriced for the taste level. Pros - the atmosphere is lovely, looking out windows onto water. The waitress was wonderful, very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. The drink menu is stellar and the wines, also quite good, are very reasonably priced. Cons - the food is expensive, the portions small, which is somewhat okay as you expect it at this kind of place, it's about quality over quantity. But if I am going to pay $35 for a tiny entree, it had better taste fabulous, which ours didn't. My husband got the shrimp and scallops, which consisted of 3 of each on a bed of what seemed like canned tomatoes with a few white beans thrown in. Incredibly bland. I got the whitefish, which I kept salting before realizing was going to be flavorless no matter how much salt and pepper I put on it. The appetizers looked great, but were equally bland, and the crab cakes were actually one very little crab cake in the center of a plate. Meh. The salads were the only thing we felt worthy of note, they were quite fresh and tasty, but again, extremely small portions, even for this kind of place, and it's pretty much impossible to screw up a salad in this area of the country as there is so much fresh produce available in the summertime. My suggestion would be to visit their bar and enjoy one of their lovely and very reasonably priced cocktails before heading somewhere else for dinner. read more

For the price of the food this place was quite a disappointment. I ordered the halibut and both my mom and I agreed that it was very bland. They really could work on their wine selection as well. My mom sampled three different white wines and did not find one she liked--even the waitress admitted to not liking one of them. The red wine I ordered I wish I would of had them take it back as well. It tasted more like chemicals. My mom rarely sends back wine and I never have. My mom really enjoyed her scallops and the atmosphere is nice, hence the three star rating. For the kind of money you will spend, go somewhere else that's a real taste treat instead of just an up north small town restaurant masquerading as fine dining. read more