The Salty Heifer

Reviewed this back in '24 when they opened and it's gotten better and better. Let me just say this:…read more The Backyard burger is the best burger I've ever had. Period. And I grew up in the 80's eating at 'up north' bars, which previously had the best burgers of my life. This tops it. In addition to great pinball, a nice space, and great vibes, The Outsider is currently winning Manistee.

pros: great burger, pinball, tons of outside seating, they have soft pretzels w cheese, seems like…read morea cool spot cons: $40+ for 2 people, you get about 8 onion rings for $6, didn't get chips bc i also ordered onion rings so that felt like a rip off lol, service was kinda slow but that's fine, AI signs

Best pinball in town

Oh My BBQ Burger Combo

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Uno Burger Combo

Jailhouse Bar

4.5(12 reviews)

2.7 mi

The bar is small inside. Saw max occupancy sign for approx 78 people. There is a pool table. It's a…read moreneat little bar. The service was good. The food was your standard bar food. It was hot and good. I enjoyed the pictures in the bathroom. Price was reasonable as well.

I was in town and needed some dinner, and the Friday Fish Fry sounded like a winner. They have…read morespecials most days, and they all sounded great. It's a cozy space, with a very lively crowd at the bar. Service was on point, which was impressive since there appeared to be only two servers. The fish was plentiful, with a nice crispy breading. The slaw was also really good and seemed like it was made in house. I do wish I got the perch, it's several dollars more, but the piled high plates that went past us looked delicious.

Above the bar

Menu

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Nice clean atmosphere!

North Channel Brewing

3.5(198 reviews)

0.7 mi

When we first walked in, we were greeted by a very pleasant young lady. We decided to sit at the…read morebar. They had a selection of 12 brews: a great selection. We asked for a menu. The selection of food looked great. We chose to have nachos that were fabulous. Lauren, the general manager, was very pleasant to speak to and gracious. I highly recommend this establishment.

What a great experience at this restaurant! My burger was cooked perfectly to a true medium, just…read morelike I asked something that's surprisingly hard to find. The hand-cut French fries were absolutely amazing, and the nacho appetizer was out of this world. Everyone at our table loved their meal. We'll definitely be back! If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and check this place out. If you don't, you're really missing out!

Beers!

Walleye tacos!

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Mugs on wall

Bungalow Inn

3.9(178 reviews)

2.6 mi

I was shocked at how packed this restaurant was. We did not have to wait long because it had just…read morefinished raining and we didn't mind sitting on the patio. We had a wonderful meal, we shared a sandwich and had a couple beers.

Came here for lunch with some softball buddies and enjoyed it. Service was 5-stars as orders were…read moretaken quickly, food was delivered, and separate checks were handed out. Our server (sorry forgot her name) was friendly and efficient. Good ambience to the place. I had the Rueben sandwich on sourdough bc I don't like rye bread. Came with delicious tater tots, or you could have them with fries or chips. Overall a good experience and prices were reasonable for these days of high tariffs and meaningless wars. Just sayin'

Inside restaurant.

Ribeye Steak

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Chopos Northside Bar

3.7(34 reviews)

0.2 mi

Best fish fry in town, delicious burgers and friendly staff - always our go-to on a Friday night!read more

My husband and I came in for a beer then decided on getting just a small bite to eat. The only…read morething going for this place was the very cold beer and it was in a can at that. My husband ordered chili and we saw the cook walk behind the bar to the cooler and walk back to the kitchen with it, that should've been a sign right there. I ordered mac & cheese bites. The mac & cheese bites were the size of a large kidney bean and there were 5 of them for $8 dollars!!! The chili was too salty and more like a soup so my husband sent it back. We got our bill and she charged us for the chili and we asked about that and she said she could comp us a drink and was unpleasant about it. We left without finishing our drinks and won't go back.

Lions game, Octoberfest & Blueberry cider

Garlic parm wings w/ chips and salsa

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Menu

River Rock Sportsbook & Grill

4.1(23 reviews)

4.0 mi

The Wheelhouse Burger(x2) Peel & Eat Shrimp!…read more1/2 Rack Ribs! Perfect meal for my son and I, before poker!!!

Better than most local pubs! Come weekly to chill out and maybe even win enough to…read morePay for our dinner.

Deep fried pickle appetizer was amazing!

Multiple TVs

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Speaker modules so you can hear things on multiple TVs

The Painted Lady Saloon

4.2(133 reviews)

1.4 mi

We have come here every time we visit relatives and the food is always delicious. This place has…read morebeen around since long before I was born. I'm glad it has stayed in business. You don't come here to be fancy, you come here for eclectic decor and delicious food. The service has always been great as well.

Walking into this place, you understand that is completely a local's bar. It's the kind of place…read morefor people bring a deck of cards, or talk union business at the bar. I had barely set foot in the door when the two bartenders at the bar greeted me warmly and welcomed me in and told me I could sit anywhere I wanted. I sat at the bar and as recommended by a local, I ordered the pepper jack crab soup, which was delicious. One thing to be aware of: don't expect real crab in the soup. Imitation only. But it's plentiful and delicious on a frigid winter day. The bartender recommended the roasted chicken or the perch, and living near another great lake and always having ready access to perch, I decided on the broasted chicken. I was not disappointed. It came with four pieces, choice, potato, and a choice of another side. It was way too its food, but I ate more than I thought they would because it was that good. I will definitely return to the painted lady!

Well stocked bar

Cod dinner

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Asparagus bites

Wanagan Grille

4.0(11 reviews)

5.7 mi

Amazing food! Fabulous service!!!! Fresh Brie cheese fritters appetizer, I ordered the Coconut…read moreAlmond Shrimp, my husband ordered the Tuscany Noodle Bowl. Our food was delicious!!! Will most definitely return here when visiting Manistee again! Covid protocol part of the review...they seemed to follow the protocols all of the staff was wearing masks, most of the tables seemed to be far enough apart, they did not enforce masks for customers and were there before the governor's mandate was overruled by the Supreme Court. So it depends on your comfort level.

We stopped in for lunch yesterday based on the menu that we looked at on Yelp…read more First I have to say it's difficult but simple to find this place. It's at the Manistee National golf course. Pull into the parking lot as though you were gonna golf and follow the sign that says Grille. It is in the building adjacent to the pro shop. We arrived about 2:00 pm and were the only people there. It was a cold Saturday in April. The view of the golf course is awesome and the restaurant is fine dinning. My wife had salmon and I had steak and both were very good. I highly recommend this hidden gem.

Nightly Steak Specials and a terrific Wine list!

Seafood is also a regular item from local Great Lakes Salmon to delicate lobster and crab

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Open Kitchen concept for you to watch our chefs prepare their great dishes!

The Windward

3.5(30 reviews)

1.5 mi

Just don't! The restaurant is on the top floor of the hotel overlooking Lake Michigan. It has an…read moreabsolutely beautiful panoramic view of the lake. The restaurant serves dinner only. After Labor Day they have a "limited " menu. It's pricey and the food is barely edible(actually we couldn't finish any of the food we ordered so I'm being charitable here). There are a number of really interesting and very good restaurants a few minutes away along the river. Give the Windward a hard pass. The hotel needs to redo their whole concept; even the bar is limited and not very good. This is a great hotel and you'll have an absolutely wonderful time here but sail clear of the Windward!

Windward Restaurant - Manistee, MI Located on the 5th floor…read moreof the Hampton Inn Surprisingly great spot with beautiful views of Manistee and Lake Michigan! While the service was a bit slow and prices are on the higher side, the food quality makes it worth the visit. The wedge salad was fantastic--super fresh and flavorful. I had the mushroom Swiss burger which was massive and delicious, loaded with sautéed onions and mushrooms. Fries were perfectly seasoned. Our daughter is gluten-free and loved the cauliflower crust pizza--crispy, generous portion, and totally satisfying. Great spot for a relaxing meal with a view. Just plan on a little extra time and bring your appetite!

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Bluefish Kitchen + Bar

4.1(309 reviews)

0.6 mi

Bluefish was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the area and the perfect capstone date…read moreto our vacation. We went about midday during off hours and were advised that there was only one server on shift and there might be a wait. However, Lauren absolutely KILLED it and the service was great! On to the food... it was OUTSTANDING. The dishes my girlfriend and I had were unique and tasty. I had the blackened whitefish with the corn chipotle sauce and the flavors blended wonderfully. The seasoning was great, and it was cooked to perfection. You could also tell it was very fresh. Definitely check this place out!!

I gave a five-star rating only because a six-star wasn't an option. While touring the western side…read moreof Michigan, we stopped in at the Blue Fish Kitchen & Bar for a late lunch. It was a mid-week day and there was hardly a soul in the place so I was a bit concerned. Completely unnecessary! The pulled pork sandwich was great and the gyro was also great. Served with some of the best chips I have ever had, the food was delivered hot and quickly from our server, Marie. The upscale atmosphere was perfect for a memorable lunch. Our table overlooked the river and on a sunny day, it was perfect. Marie did not lead us astray with the dessert menu - cheesecake made in-house with raspberry topping. Absolutely delicious!

Inside the dining room

Mussels Mariniere

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The Salty Heifer - diners - Updated October 2026

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Captain's Corner

4.2

(36 reviews)

The best breakfast in town! Great service and good coffee. Be sure to get their homemade fried…read morepotatoes. Yum!

Best place in manistee to have a nice dinner with spouse or others. They have a wonderful food and…read moredrink menu

Chef Jared and Company

4.7

Spectacular. This was the best decision during our entire trip! Everything everyone ordered was…read morejust absolutely delicious and perfect. I got the barbacoa and eggs bowl. There is a reason this dish is the most popular. My daughter got the most amazing toast with homemade jam and not being much of a carb guy, I ended up getting one of two extra orders at our table of just toast! There is no question is this all made with quality, local ingredients but also with a lot of care and love. It's emulates from the waitresses and their attitudes towards everyone. It's always super awesome to have the chef himself pop by the table - which Jared did. You can tell he take pride in what he does and expects nothing less than perfection and the utmost satisfaction in the dining room.

Kudos to Chef Jared for bringing back a Manistee original...Phil's bbq pork sandwich with his…read moreoriginal recipe slaw! IYKYK! Having grown up visiting family Manistee , Phil's sandwiches were a must-have. My mom got his slaw recipe in the 1970s, and it's a staple of our family cookbook. We stopped in Chef Jared for lunch. Great sandwich menu, creative combinations adding a unique twist to classic lunch options. Save room for something special from the pastry case!

Kuntry Kubbard

3.8

(60 reviews)

Wanted a basic diner breakfast and got it. Eggs came over medium as ordered; hash browns looked a…read morelittle suspect at first--large potato chunks rather than threads, and a bit mushy in appearance. They weren't actually that mushy and the crispy bits had a nice crunch. Link sausage was dry, without much flavor--bacon would probably be a better choice. Coffee was decent, though server went MIA as I was waiting for a second refill. Overall a very clean space, with tables that can accommodate large groups as well as couples or singles. Hard to say much more about my meal here than "OK," so three stars.

This was one of our first stops in Ludington, and it did not disappoint. To my knowledge the…read morerestaurant has recently changed hands and name. I'm unsure if the food has changed at all but our experience was GREAT. The breakfast was about the best I've ever had while eating out. Everything tasted fresh and homemade, from the biscuits and gravy to the potatoes, nothing seemed like it came from a packet or freezer. The country fried steak was nicely breaded, the biscuits and gravy were great for it not being "homemade". The portions were huge while the prices were also great on the "Chicago" scale.

Old Hamlin Restaurant

3.6

(178 reviews)

We were vacationing in Ludington and decided to have dinner at Old Hamlin Restaurant downtown. The…read moreword "old" definitely matches the style of the restaurant. The interior feels dated, but also warm, welcoming, and homey. It has the charm of a place that has been serving the same homemade recipes for generations, and it truly feels like both the restaurant and the recipes have remained true to their roots since opening day. We were seated quickly, and our waitress, Sydney, greeted us promptly. She was friendly and took the time to tell us about the daily specials and homemade soups. Two of our children ordered the kids' spaghetti, while our other child had the chicken strips and fries. I ordered the Monterey Chicken Sandwich based on Sydney's recommendation, and my husband chose the meatloaf sandwich with a cup of chicken noodle soup. Everything we ordered was good. The kids all enjoyed their meals, and I absolutely loved my sandwich. My husband enjoyed the meatloaf as well, although he mentioned he would probably try something different if we return on a future visit. The homemade pies looked incredible, but we already had dessert plans elsewhere, so we'll have to save those for another time. Overall, while the restaurant's interior may feel a bit dated, the homemade food, reasonable prices, and friendly service made for a very enjoyable meal. If you're looking for a comforting, home-cooked meal while visiting Ludington, Old Hamlin Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Bad Chicken Alfredo, Good Chicken Tenders and Pancakes…read more Nice Waitress Sydney, 12 year old bus boy. Old timey boat captain ambiance, but playing pop music. Long Waits, Worth it? eh.

Traks Bar and Grill

3.7

(40 reviews)

We always have a great experience at Traks Bar and Grill. The food is consistently phenomenal, the…read moreservice is always second to none and the atmosphere makes it a really enjoyable place to relax and eat. Aron takes great care of his customers behind the bar, and the waitresses are attentive. Parking is easy, but I'd recommend getting there early because it gets extremely busy. Mike has definitely helped put Brethren, Michigan on the map with this staple.

Came here years ago when it had a different name and, I assume, different owners. So much nicer…read morenow. Pretty typical of better-quality northern michigan pubs...wood paneling, lots of fishing memorabilia. We're on the doorstep of Tippy Dam, after all. Pretty busy when I stopped in at dinnertime on a Wednesday. I passed on the bar-b-q specials and got a chicken Ceasar. Not bad, but lettuce was a little sparse. Chicken was tender if a little bland. I probably will return and try some other things. Certainly nothing wrong with Trak's as a place to hang out and have a beer.

Jolly Plate

4.1

(59 reviews)

Super cute! Great service! Super good food and lots of it! Jolly Plate is our new favorite…read morebreakfast spot. We live south of Ludington and it's well worth the drive. The biggest 3-egg omelette I've ever had. Mmmmm!

This was ridiculous we waited for basically a hour we been here since 12:30 this service was so…read moreterrible I would never eat here again

Blossom's Restaurant

3.8

First off don't go by Yelp. The food pictured is not what is served. This place is vegan and dairy…read morefree. Cash only. Very misrepresented. The lady was nice but it's false advertising. If you like meat don't bother stopping.

We loved it here. Super quiet little place in what kinda feels like the middle of nowhere. Got a…read moresolid, tasty, traditional breakfast & some good hot coffee to start the day. Rustic and old interior, felt right at home. Our first waitress was lil' gruff... kinda straight to the point. Seemed like she was maybe also the cook and was just waiting for her staff to come in. The second waitress that took over was super sweet. Would love to make this off-the-beaten path place a regular stop on our drives north now!

Cardinal Restaurant

3.5

We were there 2X this week. We just stumbled upon this place,but returned the next day. Good…read moresandwiches, good service and fair prices. I;m not in that area often, but will stop again

This is an old repurposed grocery store with very neat dining area. You pay one price before you…read moreeat. The Friday night buffet featured froglegs, shrimp, fish, and clams---all except the fish were excellent. Some meat entrees also. Buffet is a simple display but all delicious Amish cooking with good service.

Bob's Country Kitchen

5.0

(7 reviews)

Great staff, good food. Simple buffet, offers CPL classes in the back property of the restaurant.read more

Going to Bob's is like going to a friend's for breakfast. The food tastes like home. Dawn is a doll…read moreand the place is perfectly clean. It's buffet style so the big eaters are well taken care of. Don't miss the cinnamon rolls...oh my oh my!

Wolf Lake Snack Shack

4.3