Diners' Choice: American restaurants in Northern Michigan / Upper Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall American cuisine in Northern Michigan / Upper Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bennethum's Northern Inn

4.9

4.9 (2107)

$31 to $50

American

Gaylord

About the restaurant

HERE AT BENNETHUM'S, WARM HOSPITALITY IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. BECAUSE WE ARE FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED, WE PERSONALIZE YOUR VISITS AND ATTEND TO ANY SPECIAL REQUESTS. THE COZY ATMOSPHERE IS RUSTIC YET REFINED. THE FOOD AND DRINK OFFERINGS ARE DIVERSE AND HIGH-QUALITY.

Top review

SherrieVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Bennethum’s food was nothing short of amazing, with each dish showcasing bold, flavorful ingredients and thoughtful preparation. What truly stood out, though, was the service. Paige was attentive, friendly, and made us feel like valued guests from start to finish. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and inviting, creating a perfect environment for both casual dining or a special night out. I highly recommend Bennethum’s for anyone looking for a great meal, fantastic drinks, and outstanding service.

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Popular dish

Kung-Pao Calamari

Aster

4.8

4.8 (289)

$30 and under

American

Midland

About the restaurant

Farm to table restaurant based off community, sustainability, and hyper-seasonality.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on Nov 22, 2024

I adore this restaurant. The menu is interesting and eclectic, the ambience is casual but elegant with just a touch of kitsch. The food is always outstanding.

NOMAD.

4.7

4.7 (405)

$31 to $50

American

Petoskey

About the restaurant

About NOMAD.
Located on the waterfront in Bay Harbor, NOMAD. offers a vibrant atmosphere that pairs well with its sharable plates, evolving wine list, and house cocktails.

Our menu was artfully crafted through the senses of a NOMAD, with flavors and influences from across the world.

Recently opened in Spring 2022, our mission is to continuously evolve while always maintaining exceptional quality and creativity.

Please note if booking outside dining, restaurant can't hold inside tables if inclement weather occurs. Thank you for your understanding.

Top review

Susan

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Service, thanks Emily, was wonderful. Two items on the menu had been changed but the new item we had (veggies with yogurt and feta) was amazing!

The Pointe Fish and Grille at Sommerset

4.8

4.8 (185)

$31 to $50

American

Boyne City

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Pointe Fish and Grill at Sommerset, located on beautiful lake Charlevoix. Come and enjoy an amazing dinner in a casual elegant atmosphere. We are currently open Wednesday through Sunday evenings for dinner service.

Top review

Thomas

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

A go to place when we want a special dinner experience.

Artisan - Traverse City

4.7

4.7 (1192)

$31 to $50

American

Traverse City

About the restaurant

Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern offers a unique and innovative dining experience with magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Our Great Lakes-inspired, New American cuisine has an emphasis on farm-fresh fare from local and regional farms, celebrating the theme of craftsmanship and sustainability.
With booking a table in Artisan please advise your table will be reserved for 2 hours starting at the time of your reservation.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUTSIDE TABLES ARE RESERVED UPON REQUEST BUT CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
If you have requested a table outdoors, please be advised that in the case of inclement weather, we will do our best to accommodate your party inside at the same reservation time, however we cannot guarantee a table inside at the same exact time and may need to adjust the reservation time accordingly.

Top review

Gretchen

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Service from hostess, bartender, manager and most important our server, Giovani, was perfect, professional, helpful and the exact level of attention.

Carriage House at Hotel Iroquois

4.8

4.8 (1464)

$31 to $50

American

Mackinac Island

About the restaurant

Under the direction of Chef Greg Murphy, the Carriage House Dining Room is known island-wide for its fine classic American cuisine. Local seafood selections such as Carriage House whitefish from Lake Superior and prime steaks from a Detroit family butcher are paired with fresh salads, soups and desserts topped with signature Iroquois Hot Fudge.

Directly overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, guests enjoy flawless service in our glass-enclosed dining room or on one of our breezy outdoor waterfront verandas. The restaurant features an extensive wine list, full bar and nightly entertainment at the piano bar.

Top review

Victoria

Dined on Oct 17, 2024

Beautiful space and location. Great atmosphere and food was good. Great place to see the sunset.

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Popular dish

Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie

The Dining Room at Arcadia Bluffs

4.6

4.6 (360)

$31 to $50

American

Frankfort

About the restaurant

The Dining Room at Arcadia Bluffs offers full service dining to the public, and our guests. The spectacular views of Lake Michigan and sunsets from The Dining Room and deck make it the most dramatic dining experience on the shore.

The Lakeview Bar offers a more casual dining experience. It includes a bar with multiple flat screens to catch up on the latest leaderboard updates, indoor dining and a uncovered porch with panoramic views of Lake Michigan. Seating for an additional 30 is available in the Lakeview Dining Room, including a private space for that special occasion—all of course with spectacular views of Lake Michigan and Arcadia Bluffs.

The Sunroom offers additional seating with stunning views of Lake Michigan. It is also available as private space that can be sectioned off into two spaces that accommodate up to 45 on each side or opened up to host 90 guests. The Sunroom also has an outdoor glass walled terrace with seating available for use with private events.

Top review

ashley

Dined on Nov 9, 2024

Wait staff was amazing and food was great. It was difficult to get room service, but this may have been an off season issue. Otherwise, great people and food!

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

4.3

4.3 (1518)

$50 and over

American

Acme

About the restaurant

With panoramic views of Grand Traverse Bay and a vibrant, contemporary menu, Aerie Restaurant & Lounge has always been a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Located on the 16th floor of the Tower, inside Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, we have proudly served northern Michigan for more than 10 years. Our acclaimed dining venue favors friendly over formality and has become a mecca for those who love bold, exciting flavors. We feature local wine and beer selections and make a point of sourcing local ingredients to give you a true taste of Northern Michigan. Join us for dinner Wednesday- Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.

Top review

Trevor

Dined on Nov 28, 2024

We went specifically for the Thanksgiving buffet and it was excellent. There was a wide variety of food from breakfast through a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. There was an excellent carving station with roasted turkey and baked Dearborn ham. The sides included excellent stuffing and real mashed potatoes. The salad bar was outstanding in its variety and all of the selections were very good. As usual, the desserts were sumptuous, especially the Apple Streusel although it would have been nice to have some vanilla sauce to top it off. Overall the food was about as hot (warm) as you would expect from a buffet. The service was a little slow initially but after the introduction, it was excellent. We are both very Thankful to the staff who worked during their Thanksgiving day to provide such friendly service.

The Straits

4.6

4.6 (8)

$50 and over

American

Mackinac Island

About the restaurant

The Straits is the premier fine-dining experience at The Inn at Stonecliffe. Inspired by the Great Lakes and rich in locally sourced ingredients, our signature restaurant balances delectable dishes with bold cocktails and savory desserts – always reflecting that Midwestern charm. Whether you’re inside embracing the warming atmosphere, or on the patio for some al fresco dining with a view, you become part of our fine-dining tradition.

Top review

Julie

Dined on Oct 14, 2024

My first time dining experience at The Straits Restaurant was wonderful! The food, décor & ambiance is elegant, yet fun & unique. As I mentioned to our waiter, concierge & manager, “The Straits is showy, but fun & different. Never a dull time.”

Terrace Inn and 1911 Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (149)

$31 to $50

American

Petoskey

About the restaurant

1911 Restaurant serves a variety of artfully prepared entrees, appetizers, and salads. All items are prepared in-house by our talented culinary team and feature the best fresh local produce. Enjoy your meal in our charming historic dining room, or on the beautiful terrace overlooking a peaceful park with peaks of Little Traverse Bay.

Open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 8:30 pm

Join us for happy hour from 4 pm to 5:30 pm
$5 off appetizers
$2 off all cocktails
plus $5 off any bottle of wine

We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 1 day ago

The 1911 restaurant was a wonderful experience. The service was excellent and friendly. We ordered the planked white fish which was exceptional.

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Experience

Wine Dinner

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