Limited menu but everything is so good. Mushroom Bisque and Burgers are outstanding! Drinks are right on the mark. read more

We showed up just after 3p to a quiet dining room. We were sat and quickly ordered a round of drinks. I won't knock them for this, but we ordered a gin gimlet, and were served an iced drink in a rocks glass...I don't think I've ever seen a gimlet served like that. We ordered 3 fish sandwiches as well as a roasted beet salad. 2 of the fish sandwiches came with sweet potato fries and 1 came with chips. The salad was delicious and the sandwiches were great. Our server was very friendly and even allowed us to order from the lunch menu even though it was later in the day. It was a memorable experience! read more

We sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. The bartenders were friendly. The food took more than 30 minutes to be delivered. All we ordered was a soup and salad and it was not busy. The Thai chicken soup had one spoonful of chicken and the rest was broth. It was very disappointing for $9. The Cobb salad was okay, but pricey for $22. We stopped here on our way from the UP back to Traverse city. It's a cute place with indoor and outdoor seating. The live music was good. It was a jazz band. We left feeling ripped off and still hungry. There is plenty of parking in the attached lot. read more

See all

Not a great experience. Waited forever for a drink and finally left. We had 13 people, but nobody even came to our table. Was there for over an hour. Understanding that it was busy, but pretty ridiculous when nobody even stops in to check on you or apologize. read more

Paid $24 for the "Fully Loaded" Nachos. Never seen nachos quite like this before, on top of that the price on the menu was less than what we were charged. Do not come here if you are hungry! read more

Torch Lake Cafe - "Fully Loaded Nachos" - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

Everything about this place is great. The food the location and the staff. This was our first time and we're not disappointed. We had a table outside. read more

Good food, good service, great atmosphere! A definite must if you're in the Torch Lake area.

I remember the food being pretty amazing at one point in time, but these days it is just solidly good. We stop here when we head up this way, nearly every trip. It's a fantastic option for dog owners, with a giant wrap-around porch. Service is always kind and helpful and brings water for your pup. This is a spot well worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

Sophie was wonderful to our group of four. Wedge salad, eggs Benedict, pork belly n eggs all excellent. Yes, we drank them out of Prosecco!

Worst Valentine's Day service ever! We had a 6pm reservation and we arrived at 5:45 and we were seated promptly by the host. We waited for 45 minutes until got the attention of a busier to get our waitress. She informed us that she didn't know that this was her table.... Meanwhile the host had seated many other gust in our area. We sat for 45 minutes without any of the staff questioning why we didn't have drinks or our order taken. We did not get the first course until 7:20 and waited 20 minutes + in between each course. I never got any refills on my drink. My back started hurting after two hours in that hard chair. So we left before getting dessert. We were NOT comped for anything and barely offered an apology after being there for a total of 2 and a half hours! They did box up the dessert quickly after we waited a half hour for it. My wife and I came in happy and left frustrated and angry. read more

The place was busy so we waited a few minutes to sit, but the staff were moving and welcoming at the same time. We chose meatballs and spaghetti to share. Good flavor and 4 meatballs which is 2 more than we have ever gotten in any Italian restaurant! We shared 3 sides that were delightfully seasoned. They obviously have regulars. It's a homey sort of place and our expectations were not high, but it was the best meal of our trip, which included a nice restaurant in Charlevoix. read more

I'm sure all the common wisdom regarding "Wisconsin Supper Clubs" apply to the great state of Michigan as well. We drove past any number of places on our way to the upper part of the lower peninsula that would have fit very nicely in the Badger State. We've eaten very well in Michigan, don't you know. When you get up near Charlevoix, things get proportionally more posh, and therein lies the possibility circuses may outpace bread. This place here caught my eye on the way up to our engagement in said town, and, on the way home, hungry for brekky/brunch/runch, I suggested to Wife we stop. It's a pretty place, rustic-modern, and the first thing we noticed was the bar area is able to be opened to the elements on one side. Not outdoors, but not quite indoors, either. Nice touch. Once inside, the modern-rustic theme continued, but with popular music artwork where sundry rustic implements might usually hang. Decent and varied music at a reasonable level was in the air. I should say here, there was a plethora of adverts for the live music offered at this establishment, including one for a major national Blues artist coming soon. Somebody knows what's happening here. The menu isn't extensive, but it was interesting. Wife swung with a basic brekky of Eggs, Bacon, Taters and Toast. The eggiwegs looked like they spent time in the company of butter in a real pan, and probably were in shell until they were cooked. Bacon and taters were reported to be tasty as well. Wife doesn't usually put jam on her toast, but she said the strawberry jam accompanying her plate was superlative. I swung with the Wild Mushroom Soup for openers, and it was yummy indeed, followed by a Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel. Again, someone in the kitchen knows what they were doing, 'cos the sarnie was well-composed and delicious. It's the little things there, bubba, wot puts stars in the review. A good "throw" for soft drinks we've found to be a good indicator of how much owners care for their clients. If you get down to the basic beverages, and make sure they taste right, you've got things under control. The "throw" here was excellent. Our server had a deep accent, and did not write down our order. He was a bit taciturn as well. We thought at first this was going to be troublesome; but in the end he did a good and efficient job. Our order was correct, and he was attentive without being obtrusive. Prices are a bit dear, but I chalk that up to being near the posh neighborhood of Charlevoix. It's a nice place with good food. I'll bet it's a hoot when a good band is on the stage... read more

I came here after a day on Torch Lake and it was perfect! They have a beautiful wrap around porch (with heaters), live music, and mostly delicious food. I ordered the summer salad that had goat cheese and berries and a delicious homemade Michigan cherry vinaigrette. However, the music was SO loud and they sat my party of 4 at a giant round table set for 6 and we couldn't hear anything. And the fries we got were cold. They did bring us fresh ones when we said something. But it took a while to flag our waitress down. So, the salad I got was amazing but the music was SO loud and made it hard to enjoy my family... read more

Torch Lake Cafe - Summer salad with goat cheese and berries - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

I'm not sure I've ever given a one star, but then again I'm not sure I've ever had a meal I just couldn't eat. The bagel was stale and the lox was very fishy. Maybe it should be a two star, because I didn't think to follow Anthony Bourdain's rule of never ordering fish on Monday or Tuesday's. read more

Torch Lake Cafe - Everything Bagel - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

Everything about tonight was a delightful surprise. We have been here before and expected only mediocre, but tonight was definitely different. The service (in the bar high top) was excellent and the food came at a reasonable time and Bison Bolognese was super hot and super delicious!!! Also the dinner salad was Triple was plentiful and delicious with so many flavors : Pear vinaigrette dressing, atop the beets, goat cheese, apples, pepitas...etc was amazing! The restaurant was clean and orderly. Finding out that the manager and cook have changed since the last time. Most welcomed difference . We will definitely be back, and the bar has been raised! read more

Very disappointed. Food was only adequate. Service was atrocious. Every time we needed something, we had to stop someone else to go get our server. Who we could see snacking in the kitchen read more

The food was good when we finally got it. Somehow our order wasn't put in and we only got our food because after 40+ minutes of waiting we flagged down a different waitress to check. We had to ask the bartender and yet another waitress for a refill on our coffee and they acted put out by this. They weren't busy, so not sure why service was so lacking. We saw another couple tell a passing waitress they were leaving as they had waited too long. Our waitress was apologetic after the fact. The building and decor was adorable, but we wouldn't go here again. read more

The food is usually good here, but it was better previously when they had the best lake perch between Traverse City and Charlevoix. They no longer serve it, which is a great pity. It can get a little loud when a musician is playing. The service is good. There is a takeout pizza service which is worth checking out. There is a little stand outside the restaurant to the right of the main entrance. Pizzas are pretty good there. read more

Stopped by after visiting Torch Lake. Beautiful day, wonderful location and great atmosphere. I had the Great Lakes Chowder it was very thick, filling and delicious. My Friend had the TLC breakfast which was good. The couple beside us had the chicken wings and the Wedge salad. They said their food was very good. It looked delicious. The cafe was really very busy at lunch time and like everywhere else not enough staff. The staff was very friendly and did their best. Just have a little patience and you'll have a great experience. read more

See all

One of the best places to eat in the greater area! There were 6 of us - each ordering a different item. Every single dish was very well prepared. The shrimp were perfectly cooked - moist with good flavor - which is hard to do well. Praise to the chef! All the staff were friendly and attentive. We live on the West Coast but will be sure to include the Torch Lake Cafe in our next visit. Prices are probably medium and worth it. Highly recommend! read more

Stopped in on a whim and enjoyed a delicious lunch. The menu offered a great variety of foods including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Service was friendly and prompt and bathrooms were clean. Atmosphere was eclectic and live music and karaoke are entertainment options in the evenings. Food was plentiful but expensive. One appetizer, a flatbread, sandwich and two coffees with tax and tip ran us $75 for lunch. Way too expensive for lunch. The chickpea fries were delicious but the tomato jam was too sweet and you couldn't taste tomatoes, just sugar. The plate came with a small salad garnish but there was no dressing on it. The Rachel sandwich was good but there was more bread than filling and it was a bit too greasy from the grill. The apple and Brie flatbread was tasty but sadly the apples were tart and offered no sweetness to contrast the Brie. The coffee was good! I would definitely go back and try other things on the menu and I'll be more prepared to pay those high prices. read more

Waiting for drinks and food for over 1 hour. Ordered breakfast! Eggs and toast. Unacceptable read more

three hours forty five minutes for dinner, with a reservation and dinning room only less than half full and less than average food. We ran out of water (never replaced ) and only was able to order two drinks, we sat for over an hour with no beverage. The service was so lousy and the loud music prevented us from being able to have a conversation. We keep giving this place a try every year and it always disappoints. Yes it is convenient, but the service is horrible and the food is less than average. I hope I never have to go here again! read more

We stopped here and in the way up to Charlevoix. It was mid afternoon and they were not very busy at all. The people were very nice and seated us right away, but didn't check on us very much like we'd expect elsewhere after that. When we ordered drinks (2 sodas, and a beer) it took 10 minutes to get them. Then our food (2 burgers with fries and a fish sandwich) took 30 minutes to arrive. We requested our burgers be well done, but they were over done and dry (well done can still be nice and juicy when cooked right). The atmosphere of the place is nice. I'm sure on a different day perhaps things could have been better. Not sure why things went like this today. Giving two stars because of the high price per meal per person ($29 ish) and what we got for that vs what you'd normally get for that price. read more

We found this place while driving. It was a four thumbs up place for the family. Prices are moderate but worth it. We heard the Johnny Cash artist and he was good. The fresh ingredients made this meal awesome. We would have stayed longer as we were on the deck and liked the vibe but we had hours to travel yet. Stop. It's worth it. read more

See all

A very nice local eatery. We have had a family cottage down the road for over 35 years, and I've seen several different attempts at a restaurant in this building. This is the best so far. My table-mate and I started with an excellent smoked whitefish dip, served with capers, cornichons, pickled vegetables, and crostini. I had the 14 oz, Black Angus ribeye, which was served with wild mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, baby asparagus, and topped with Stilton compound butter. My companion had the Lake Superior walleye, which was served with fingerling potatoes, baby spinach, and herb roasted tomatoes. Both were well-prepared and artistically presented. Both dishes were delicious. For dessert, I had an apple crisp and my companion had their signature banana split. Again both were great. As a note, some of their amply-portioned entrées can be expensive (up to $36), but they also have a great selection of Black Angus hamburgers, salads, pizzas, and unbelievable topped flatbreads at much more modest prices. While I did not partake, they are also known for their craft cocktails. The service was prompt (likely because of the 50% capacity), and very friendly. As for their safety protocols, this is from their website (all of which I observed - except the Bioprotect): Our top priority, of course, is the safety of our customers and staff so we're following CDC guidelines like operating at 50% capacity, spacing tables at a social distance, providing hand sanitizer throughout the restaurant and treating our HVAC system. We're also applying BIOPROTECT, a food-safe antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant that lasts 90 days, on all our surfaces every 60-days. read more

Torch Lake Cafe - 14 oz. Black Angus Ribeye - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

See all

Torchlight Café is wonderful They have more than delicious food. The atmosphere is terrific. Love the paintings on the wall, and they have live music. It's always a terrific place to hang out. read more

Torch Lake Cafe - Torch Lake Cafe is a great place to visit for the food, the atmosphere and live music. Really enjoyed this place lots of fun! Very - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

We live close by, so when we are hard up, we go here. We keep hoping that it will improve, but in the five years we've beenup here, it has not. Service is slow, it is rare to get your drinks refilled, the menu has been the same for the past five years. The food is not that great, it's average at best and the prices are way too much for what you get. The atmosphere is great... That's about the only thing that's great. You would think with all these poor reviews, that they would want to work on improving their service and their food items. But they don't seem to care because they are one of the only restaurants in the area. read more

The service at this restaurant was abismal. We arrived pretty hungry and waited 45 minutes to be served. Many of our orders were wrong, wrong meaning completely inaccurate to the menu. I ordered a pecan roll and it was hard, almost like it had been put into the microwave. There was also no baby changing station in the bathroom, leaving a mom to change her babies diaper on the floor. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Expensive and slow! We waited 45 minutes to be served and the food wasn't even good. The wait staff did not act with any haste or manners. Would avoid if you could. read more

Good food good service clean restrooms right by torch lake. Would return if in area. Beautiful drive along torch lake to get there

We have been to this restaurant for years, in the summer and winter, the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, the decor, the outdoor seating in the summer and the service is great especially Harris as he has served us many times. The food is also really good. Sadly the reason we have given only 3 stars is because it is virtually impossible to hear each other. The live music is just too load. We cannot have any conversation whatsoever at the table. It's even hard to hear the person next to you. It's a shame because we have heard the same from friends of ours about going there. We want to continue going but the music needs to be turned down read more

Great food, great entertainment. Be careful they add the credit card transaction fee no and a surcharge (no clue why) of 8+%. read more

Its 20 mins outside of Charlevoix, but worth the short drive. We had a party of 8 and the consensus across all ordered was positive. Pasta was freshly made, the fries good, the desserts were the ultimate win. We ordered nearly every dessert on the menu and all were good. Apple crisp was called out in particular as being excellent. They had many gluten free options, which we appreciated. Ambiance with music was nice, our waitress was a bit too relaxed, but the bus boy worked it. read more

Well we decided for my 50th birthday we have nice breakfast !!!! Boy were we mistaken. Sat outside waited 20 minutes to even get waited on !!! We ordered our drinks and food right away!!! We both order eggs Benedict!! No taste what so ever !! $4.00 dollars for regular black coffee what a joke !!! When food was delivered we asked for pepper the hostess snapped at up and told us to wait ..... it shows up and salt was so caked with crap wouldn't even come out !!!! Disgusting service food and prices!!!! Never will i come back !!!! read more

See all

Matthew was the most wonderful server! I have dietary restrictions and he double checked options with the head chef to make sure my meal was okay. He was very attentive to the table - what a wonderful atmosphere! Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Over the past couple years this was a great place to have a snack ( wings are great ) but last night was an experience I will NOT repeat. Service was terrible in every way. Appetizers came out after our entrees. Had to ask numerous times for condiments, food was not as good as previous visits and sat so long waiting for the check I finally got up and chased our server down so we could pay and leave. Sure, it was busy but nothing like I have seen before. Would consider somewhere else going forward. Staff just lacks energy and attention to the patrons. read more

Food not bad. The server was polite and personable. We arrived at 10:00 and there wasn't a soul in the restaurant. We had our order taken at 10:18 and received the wrong order at 10:52. The staff was hanging out in the kitchen joking around. I never leave bad reviews but man this was a joke. I wouldn't steer people away from this place necessarily, but I mean what is up with that? The eggs were way overdone- and there was a single grape in my sandwich... Not sure what to make of that lol. read more

Torch Lake Cafe - Grape in the Lox bagel sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Central Lake, Michigan

So after 3 yrs we tried to go back to see if any thing got better. Nope Place was loaded with flies. People all around us were complaining. Service has gotten worse. Place is hopeless. Very disappointing read more

The staff is nice Not lots of choices for food but thats ok because they got all the main breakfast foods I love all the cool painting and decorations When you go inside it smells amazing Our waitress was the nicest person ever The food was outstanding I order the tlc breakfast and it was the best I also tried the blue moon pancakes and they were delicious Our food came pretty fast too Overall 5/5 stars read more