We had reservations for 6 at 7:15. After being seated I commented to my group that someone must have alredy had water because my water glass was completely wet. As she was pouring water in the other's glasses, the waitress said "Your glass just came out of the dishwasher." Not sure why she thought it would make it better, but she did bring another glass. We ordered drinks and it was taking quite a while. She came to the table and said the bar was running really behind. After another while, she said she was about ready to jump over the bar and get the drinks herself. The smoked whitefish appetizer had a minimal amount of crackers for the amount of pate on the plate. Also, we were not told that they were out of anything until one if the dishes was requested (no apology). One of our party had halibut and said it was really good. But she got no vegetable on her dish. My dish was supposed to have mushrooms but came with none. The pear salad got good comments. The rest said the food was just fine. No bread or crackers ahead of time. We were not asked if we wanted anymore drinks. We did get asked about dessert. We declined. Then when she returned she brought one check. She never asked how the bill should be split, so we had to wait for that. All in all, not the experience expected by those that had been there in the past (probably before covid) or for the price charged. Outside of the view, a very disappointing evening. read more

Disappointing experience. We requested bread and were told they no longer serve any bread with dinner? Escargot on the menu, but no longer served. The French Onion soup was bland- a really weak beef base. The manager on duty Thurs night 6/25 was lovely and accommodated our party of 12. Sean, our server was a joy, took care of us efficiently. Lastly, I made a reservation 1-2 weeks out for 12, and she set up our table the road side instead of the canal. The traffic noise was loud. We requested a change and were moved into the quieter area on the canal. What a shame to put a family in the worst outside location in the place, and it wasn't busy outside. I would need alot of convincing to return. read more

WOW! What a quaint and wonderful new spot for me. Eclectic, delicious, and unique. We got the breakfast burrito and the turkey italian. Both came out fresh and quickly. The burrito ($6!) has every ingredient you could want in a breakfast and comes with the most delicious salsa verde. Pictured is only half of it. The italian was on such delicious bread and stacked high. Even the chips were dang good. Coffee here is worth a stop on its own. Cold brew with smoked maple flavor was exceptional. Iced latte better than the average. Highly recommend bringing to the roof and sitting outside. read more

Weathervane Restaurant - half of the breakfast burrito (other half already eaten) - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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3.5 stars for late afternoon lunch. Fish and chips were good. Red cabbage slaw seemed alittle tired and had brown edges. Nephew enjoyed his lobster roll ($32). Dining inside or out on the terrace. Caught a ferry boat going through the drawbridge. read more

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Not bad whitefish was delightful chips were hot and battered tarter sauce was exceptional it wasn't your traditional it was totally different kinda pricy but it has a excellent view and ambience also the service was great I would go again for sure read more

Weathervane Restaurant - Menu - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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The Weathervane is a Charlevoix staple! Located on the channel, built in an old grist mill designed by Earl Young, this place has so much amazing history and is absolutely beautiful! The service here is fantastic and follows the tradition of striving for the absolute best. Whether you order one of their specials or go with a classic like the oak planked whitefish or their prime rib, you will leave completely satisfied! Next time you're looking for a great summer vacation and stumble upon Charlevoix the Beautiful, you need to stop by the Weathervane! read more

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Great ambience on a sunny summer day. Delicious appetizer-whitefish pate and Hugo Spritz cocktails. Front row seat on deck to watch the bridge open and close for boat traffic. A+ read more

Weathervane Restaurant - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

Weathervane is right near the bridge that opens and closes on the half hour to allow ships to pass. The food was really good, fish and chips and the pan fried halibut, our server was good, not really attentive but did come check on us. The restaurant has been remodeled so is very nice though sitting out on the patio is the best. Be aware the olive and goat cheese tapenade is good but it has marinara sauce on it which is a suprise as it wasn't listed in the description of the food. The food is good just pricey. read more

We thought the host and waitstaff were very nice. It took 40 min to get our food. We got a meat and cheese plate. It had a pile of uncooked bacon. Never seen this before. read more

Weathervane Restaurant - Pile of bacon - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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Such a shame! This restaurant used to be exceptional and now it is overpriced, bad service , cold mediocre food. It really is a shame as it was such a nice place years ago. read more

Enjoyed fish and chips and the chowder! Running up against time until close and no reservation available, we were unknowingly part of a Friday evening rush and still managed to have great service in the bar. A lot of grumpy, hungry people but our waiter still managed to give everyone attention, refills (which is RARE these days). Service was excellent. read more

July3, 2026. White fish dinner was very poorly prepared. Fish was very over cooked and dried out. Accompanying rice and asparagus was also cooked to the point of being to dry to eat. I didn't want to spoil the dinner for my dinner partners so I didn't make it an issue but it was really a terrible meal to be served at a supposed higher quality restaurant. I'm not exaggerating, my meal was really bad. read more

2 meals out of 3 were bad. I had the baked whitefish which was horrible. The skirt steak was good. The organic roasted chicken was very bland and lacked the advertised mushrooms. Women's restroom remodel is bad too. read more

Lovely outdoor seating with amazing service. Emma was great and patient with us. We enjoyed the bread service. The bread is fantastic with butter or oil and balsamic. The white fish is very light and the sauce for it is a great balance. The potatoes are buttery and flaky. The walleye was delicious as well with risotto and asparagus. Pricy but quality meal. First time here. read more

Weathervane Restaurant - Whitefish - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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Located by the bridge in Charlevoix MI. It is clean and beautiful. Good whitefish dish. A little expensive.

We had a lunch reservation for 12 which is a large table but we had a great view of the bridge and channel from our table. Basically nothing went right from that point on. Our waiter took so long to get our drink orders after he did promptly fill our water glasses. The bar took an extremely long time (yes it was a Saturday and we are a large party, but still an abnormally long time) and they did not have simple syrup. How does that happen at a bar at 1 pm? And the bar ran out of beer glasses so I'm glad we like drinking out of bottles. The kitchen did not have any chicken salad left which is one of their main food items for lunch. The spicy chicken was not at all spicy but sweet. The flavor was not bad, but if you order a spicy chicken sandwich, it should have some spice. Sorry for complaining so much but was VERY disappointed in this experience and hope it was a one off. If this was a cheap hole in the wall restaurant then so be it, but this is a nice restaurant that was not cheap to eat at. Do better Weathervane. read more

The food is horrible. We've been going there for decades and it used to be good, especially the planked white fish (which was our favorite), now baked and soggy. Since the new ownership it's gone downhill every year. We've tried multiple foods, all subpar. We go for the ambience and views of the drawbridge and incoming boat channel, perfect. Maybe a burger is a safe choice. Maybe. read more

This place is the most recommended restaurant on Google in Charlevoix so decided to check it out. It's a MASSIVE restaurant. On a Friday at around 5pm, we were seated instantly with a nice view of the lake. Ordered the Walleye, Chicken Wellington, and Bibb Salad. Walleye was cooked well; nicely breaded. First time eating a Wellington which I learned about because it's Gordon Ramsey's signature dish, so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like but this tasted amazing! It had a bit of cranberry in it so it was savory and sweet. The outside was oh so flakey. I liked the broccolini and carrots that these dishes came with; a light buttery flavor and soft texture. Bibb salad was good but the dressing was okay, almost tasted like the Go-Gurt I had as a kid. The piece of bread it came with was good though, I wish I could get more of it! Our waitress was nice and checked on us frequently. read more

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Ordered oysters they were over priced for size of them. waitress was struggling to understand her job. no napkins or silverware, no refills. Chicken, mash potatoes came out cold. 7 people over an hour and half to eat. very over priced don't waste your time or money read more

This place is awesome, the ambiance is great, probably the best view you can get. The food was also great, whitefish and chips were excellent. read more

No bread service. Food was only fair at best. Very disappointing experience for the price.

The service at this restaurant was not only unsatisfactory, but appalling. We were given slow service, which would not be a problem, except that on top of other issues, it really serves as a cherry on top. read more

I am completely shocked at the low rating on Yelp. Amazing view, right on the inlet with a nice view of the drawbridge. Very peaceful ! Dine in one of Earl Young's masterpieces! So much history! The food was delicious! Everything was delicious but, Be sure to try the clam chowder! read more

My mom, sister, and I had such a great time at the Weathervane. The drinks were great and so was the food! The portions were perfect and we all enjoyed our dishes. While I do wish there were more options, we all found something we loved. The service was great, but the food did take a long time to come out. With a good feel/ambiance of the restaurant, we didn't mind too much. Overall, we would love to be back! If you dine here, prepared for a nice meal (it's not cheap!) and a good view! read more

Weathervane Restaurant - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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Beautiful day. Patio closed. Reasons given (after we walked there): 1. "It rained in the morning, there might be a slip hazard." 2. "The weather is variable in northern Michigan so you never know; it might rain again!" (Which begs the question, why have a patio in northern Michigan at all? ) 3. "We sent the staff home because of the rain. We can't staff the patio." Well, which answer is it? None of the excuses applied to the competition. read more

Weathervane Restaurant - Beautiful day. - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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this is a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful view of the channel to Lake Charlevoix. please be aware that the menu that they have on their website is wrong. some things are no longer available but also the prices have gone up. no wait because the season hasn't started and we got a newbie server who did well but was probably still overwhelmed with trying to keep up. three of us had the whitefish entree that was delicious and filling but the lamb was a disappointment to one of our group. give yourself lots of time if it is busy. read more

Beautiful location and good service--too bad the food was abysmal. Chicken salad on a few pieces of lettuce was a miserly portion especially considering it was $20. And the Cobb salad ($22) with a small dried out "blackened" piece of chicken , two small wedges of avocado, two small half pieces of bacon and I think some chopped up eggs somewhere was also small and served in a warm bowl (waited under heat lamp perhaps?). read more

We had Brussels sprouts ad calamari for appetizers and then the chili with venison, all the food was very good. Also chocolate mousse- was great. The service was great and we loved the atmosphere read more

Lobster bisque had no lobster, fish and chips too much breading. Mediocre dinner Remodeled and bar stools still wobble

So disappointed in our dinner. The menu changed so much. Very, very few options. Our server treated us like we were dining at a Coney Island. She rushed us. Didn't communicate anything. There was no bread service. Waters sat empty. After we ordered, we decided to add Caesar salads to start. We quickly flagged the server down and ordered the salads. Took one bite of the salads and she dropped both of our short rib entrees at the end of the table. I think the entrees came out in 10 minutes from when we ordered. We must have looked at her shocked. She said, I can't hold this food in the back it comes out in a few minutes. Really? By the time I got into my entree it was cold. Tried to eat that and the salad at the same time. Ridiculous. We will not be retuning. We are also going elsewhere for Thanksgiving. This was a staple of ours forever. The loving feeling is gone. read more

I used to come up north every summer with my grandparents growing up and we always had a meal at The Weathervane. We were up north last month for a wedding and decided to give it a try. If you want indoor seating I would recommend getting a reservation because they fill up quick. Decided to sit outside and it was the perfect setting for a meal with family we hadn't seen in forever. Staff was great and you wouldn't want anything more from them. The food was beyond delicious. A few of us got the skirt steak and it was beyond flavorful. The seafood looked amazing from others at the table and loved their meals as well. Can't wait to come back next time we are up north. read more

Weathervane Restaurant - A view right next to the restaurant. - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

Historically, the weathervane has been one of our favorite Charlevoix restaurants, but it really fell short this past week. For starters, they were out of the first two bottles of Chardonnay we requested. They only carry five types and at no point did they suggest they could give us one of the other bottles at the same price as the ones they were out of?.... They simply said they weren't an option. We were disappointed in the calamari. In the past, it has come with an Asian dipping sauce, but this time it only came with a marinara sauce. There were absolutely zero spices on the calamari and is something you could've taken out of your own freezer and put in the air fryer. One of our guests got the Reuben sandwich, and that fell short as well. The meat was a little dried out and sparse and fatty.- the bread was thin. One of our dishes came with kale coleslaw, and we have always liked that so much that another guest ordered an additional side of it. They were out of kale coleslaw and brought and charged us for the plain coleslaw. Wasn't the same at all ! It might've taken an hour between the time we ordered and got our entrées.. do better weathervane!! read more

Our server was quick and attentive. My husband ordered the filet and it was cooked to his liking. I ordered the crab cakes and a garden salad and everything tasted good. We also order a bread appetizer. The view is beautiful and we loved the huge fireplace inside. read more

Visited on Tuesday for lunch, nice atmosphere, pleasant server. Ordered the whitefish sandwich, tasty but a small piece of whitefish, others also ordered the whitefish sandwich, same results. Might go back sometime for a cocktail and the view of the channel! read more

Rehearsal Dinner June 2025- Everything was great! We were in the main dining area (construction not completed in the private room downstairs; which i knew it might not be when I booked the event). They put up a room divider for privacy. Jill Harrell & Paul the General Manager were very helpful. Guests had great choices to choose from and the food was delicious, hot and delivered to everyone very quickly. The servers were pleasant and helpful. Great cocktails & very clean restaurant! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether it is an important event or just dining out! read more

In all the years I've come to Charlevoix I've never been to the Weathervane. I've admired the architecture and I've meant to go, but in the end it just didn't happen. This year I made it a priority to go. The atmosphere is cozy. It is mostly one long room with lots of windows overlooking the channel. There is an overflow room to the side and a patio for those who are more weather adventurous. I ordered the Chicken Wellington ($28), which is a chicken breast stuffed in a pastry puff with Brie cheese, cranberry pear filling, and a sherry butter. It also came with diced red potatoes and vegetables (carrots/asparagus). This was excellent the chicken was juicy and sauces were a perfect compliment. I didn't really taste the puff pastry though. The potatoes and vegetables were very good and a perfect compliment. I also ordered a Raspberry Lemonade ($4ish), side note there are no refills so it is a per glass price. That being said it's worth it. It was probably the best Raspberry Lemonade I've ever had. The Person I was with had the Planked Whitefish ($34.50), with Duchess potatoes, vegetables, remoulade, and lemon. The meal was stated to be excellent. The service was top notch. Very efficient and super friendly. Overall a 5 star review. Would I return? Yes, I'm already planning next years vacation and Weathervane will be included. read more

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The Weathervane used to be a top restaurant in Charlevoix. We went there last week because we have had good experiences in the past. The view of the canal leading to Lake Michigan is great. But the food offering was a disappointment. Yes the food we ate was good. But the menu has really gone down the tubes. They don't have one decent steak on the menu. They did have steak frites which i was told was a thin slice of steak. I was looking for new york strip or filet mignon. I would have settled for ribeye or sirloin but its not really what i like. In their defense i couldn't find a place to eat in Charlevoix that had steak on the menu. Service was okay. Nothing to write home about. Next trip in Michigan i will find a steak place north or south of Charlevoix and skip Weathervane. I gave them 3 stars for the food and view. A good steak would have raised their score. read more

Our last meal in Charlevoix, the atmosphere and the view were so good! The service was nice, we really like our waitress and the host. They are dog friendly restaurant! I almost got salad and whitefish egg roll, but changed my mind last minute and got their feature menu: Salmon and Hazelnut instead. The first couple bites I was like, I don't know what it is but then...it's very good! The tomato stuffs on top was very refreshing! Mashed potatoes was good as well. My husband got bacon jam burger and fries, he said everything's perfect, usually he doesn't like the egg with his burger but it was very good this time. We were happy with our choice tonight! read more

Weathervane Restaurant - Salmond and Hazelnut - American Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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Great location! Located on the water Downtown Charlevoix. We arrived at 4:30, hoping to sit outdoors on a gorgeous afternoon. The host said there would be an hour wait for the patio, although we saw several vacant tables outdoors. We were happy; however, to be seated near the window with a gorgeous view! We had wine, cocktails, seafood chowder, french onion soup, walleye and perch. The kale rice served with the walleye entree had no kale and tasted hard and old as though it had been sitting all day. It was also served lukewarm (which we did mention to the waiter, he said he would notify the Chef). Both soups were delicious as well as the fish. Overall, the prices were a little inflated, the atmosphere felt a little old school, and the decor was definitely dated, but the food was good, service was great and we enjoyed our experience, so I would recommend for a special night on the town! read more

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This place was right across from our hotel and the adorable original 60's neon sign lured us to check it out. The hostess wasn't friendly at all, always a disappointment from the outset. The expansive dining rooms and floor plan feel like a dinner outing in the 1960s - I really liked the atmosphere. I ordered the French dip and it was good but wow, what a small portion. French fries were fresh and good. I would love to return to try out their cherry cold soup in season! read more