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

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Northern Michigan / Upper Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. 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 (2122)

$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

Angela

Dined 6 days ago

Want to compliment our wait person, Liz. She was very accommodating in helping us to decide what to order by explaining our choices. We were early enough for Happy Hour & got half off on glasses of wine. We were celebrating our anniversary & we’re disappointed that we didn’t get a complementary dessert. The table next to us got a complementary birthday dessert. It’s always a treat to dine at Bennethum’s when we are in the area & also to go there for Happy Hour.

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Popular dish

Kung-Pao Calamari

H Hotel Dining Pods

4.9

4.9 (184)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Midland

About the restaurant

Our luxurious dining pods have arrived and are available for dinner 7 nights a week and for lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Accommodating up to six guests, our 4 luxurious pods feature the amazing cuisine of Café Zinc, and come equipped with heaters, dimmable lighting, Bluetooth speakers, and an incredible atmosphere to enjoy with family and friends!!

While there is no charge to rent the Dining Pods during regular hours of operation, we do require a minimum spend on food and beverage of the following per reservation (excluding tax and service charge). If unable to meet the required minimum, the difference will be made up via miscellaneous charge.

Lunch: No Minimum Spend (90 minute seating limit)

Dinner: $150 minimum spend (120 minute seating limit)

For more information about our dining pods please head over to the H Hotel website below!
www.thehhotel.com/restaurants-in-midland-mi/winter-pod-dining

Top review

Becky

Dined 3 days ago

Very personalized and intimate. Available Bluetooth speaker for music. Fit 4 adults comfortably. Heat was adjustable to allow for our preference. All food was delicious and wait staff was friendly and attentive. Overall great experience!

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Experience

H Hotel Dining Pod 3

Experience

The H Hotel Dining Pod 1

Experience

The H Hotel Dining Pod 2

Prost Wine Bar & Charcuterie - Bay City

4.9

4.9 (56)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Bay City

About the restaurant

Prost! is a new refreshing experience located in Uptown Bay City! Offering a wide selection of wine and beer from around the globe, along with perfectly crafted cocktails. Our menu encompasses the European culture from imported charcuterie and cheese, shareable plates, salads, paninis and heartier dishes. We are dedicated to ensuring our guests are given a welcoming experience and bringing something new to the community for all to enjoy!

In the summer, our intimate dining space opens to the wonderful outdoors, leading to a lovely patio experience!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Top review

Shelley

Dined 4 days ago

Cory was our waiter and was awesome !! Great attitude and very attentive. Dinner was great as always. Prost is a must visit !

Pour Kitchen & Bar

4.8

4.8 (610)

$31 to $50

Global, International

Petoskey

About the restaurant

We define ourselves as a Modern American Restaurant focused on local & seasonal ingredients wherever possible. We balance these with worldly ingredients, which are reinterpreted in an inviting & familiar way, to create an eclectic range of dishes. POUR prides itself on using carefully selected ingredients, which we prepare from scratch daily, to deliver to our guests. We hope to bring not only a new & unique dining experience to people in the area, but also to serve as a vessel to for the plethora of local producers to showcase their own talents & products. Pour has an extensive wine list, and hand made craft cocktail selection, along with over 15 beers on tap.

Enjoy the POUR Kitchen & Bar Experience!

Parties of 6 or more will need a credit card to hold a reservation.

Top review

FoodAllergyVIP

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

We are regulars here & the service, food & ambience is always outstanding! They go above & beyond! Thank you Pour!

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4.8

4.8 (292)

$30 and under

American

Midland

About the restaurant

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

Top review

AlfredVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Rocky start, they were out of the bulgogi and duck, which was disappointing on a limited menu. Had a Thai Smoke cocktail, which has mezcal. I think they were out and subbed tequila and a smokey cinnamon stick, because I didn't really taste any mezcal. My wife enjoyed the Singapore Sling, and the Fig in Fashion was good We were hungry and ordered the Pajun and Duck Croquettes which were fine. Our server was very friendly and attentive, and refilled our waters multiple times. The door entering the restaurant kept getting stuck which let in a cold draft, and I had to get out of my seat twice to shut it, which felt silly. We both ordered the Duck Ravioli as our entree. This was great. Very delicious! It was a way to leave on a high note. If we had been seated further inside the restaurant away from the draft, and I had wine... I would have thought everything was perfect. I think it comes down to expectations. If you're expecting a high end experience, then there might be some hiccups. If you're expecting an upper mid type experience, then I'm sure you will be blown away by at least one dish.

Spring & Porter

4.8

4.8 (634)

$31 to $50

Global, International

Petoskey

About the restaurant

Spring & Porter features modern, globally-inspired cuisine in a refined yet welcoming environment. Chef Tommy Kaszubowski has created a menu for everyone and, when paired with our impressive wine collection, creates an experience you won't want to forget. From the selection of seasonal ingredients; and our emphasis on local purveyors to the thoughtfully crafted cocktail menu, Spring & Porter is humbled to have you as our guest.

Top review

Katie

Dined 6 days ago

Always a great time at S&P. A favorite spot that we wish we were able to get to more often.

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Popular dish

Beef Tenderloin Fillet

Popular dish

Beef Tenderloin Tartare

Popular dish

Bolognese

Great Lakes Culinary Institute

4.8

4.8 (90)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Traverse City

About the restaurant

At Lobdell's, a Teaching Restaurant, you'll enjoy food prepared and served by Great Lakes Culinary Institute students and beautiful bayside views. Lunch is served regularly during fall and spring, while bakery and coffee service is provided in summer. Special events throughout the year include farm to table and world cuisine dinners, as well as cocktail and charcuterie events.

Top review

diane

Dined on Dec 3, 2024

Always great service and food. Noise level high because there's nothing to absorb sound.

The Dining Room at Arcadia Bluffs

4.7

4.7 (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!

Artisan - Traverse City

4.7

4.7 (1209)

$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

Rocco

Dined on Jan 5, 2025

Me and my wife celebrated our first anniversary. All the food was amazing and the chefs, front of house staff, and server Melissa made the night very special and memorable for us. Terra also made delicious drinks I wish we could ordered more of them.

ONe eighteen

4.6

4.6 (693)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Midland

About the restaurant

ONe eighteen is a locally owned tavern serving quality American Cuisine in a lively setting inspired by Mid-Century Modern Design in Midland. With a focus on genuine and approachable service, we look to connect family, friends and colleagues through an authentic food and beverage experience. At ONe eighteen we are proud to celebrate the history of our region, showcase our place in downtown Midland and reinforce our commitment to the well-being and growth of our community! We offer two private rooms with seating up to 28 guests. Events held in our private dining rooms include a dedicated event planner, access to basic audio visual and group dining menus.

Top review

JohnVIP

Dined on Jan 1, 2025

Regularly rotating menu, which is nice for variety. Quality is always top-notch. Service is beyond reproach. Staff are superlative; ambiance is always chill. What's not to like?

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