Some favorite M-22 roadside lunch stops

Michigan's M-22 highway around the Leelanau Peninsula has long been one of our favorite drives. We've driven this scenic highway around the state's "Little Finger" over the years, and the trip always entails at least a stop for lunch.

Here are a few of our favorite M-22 roadside lunch stops:

• The Manitou Restaurant-I've long named this spot 9 miles north of Frankfort, Michigan, and close to the turn off for Point Betsie Lighthouse, as one of my favorite restaurants. The combination of casual atmosphere, a seafood-heavy menu featuring a lot of local fish and the scenic drive to the restaurant's location in the woods along M-22 makes The Manitou especially appealing to us. I don't feel like a trip to the area is complete without a meal at The Manitou, which we first started going to more than 20 years ago.
  
  
  

  The Manitou's proximity to Crystal Lake means it attracts a lot of seasonal-resident regulars in the warmer months, so it's best to make a reservation for dinner during prime summer evenings and weekends during the fall. My go-to meal here is usually broiled Lake Michigan whitefish and some Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling.

• Joe's Friendly Tavern-This unassuming tavern in tiny Empire, Michigan, is one of those great "up north" bars. There are always at least a few locals perched on the bar stools here, and it's a favorite with tourists looking for a burger and a beer after a day at the beach or tackling the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb. This is another place we've frequented for years.

Joe's, in Empire for more than 70 years, is justifiably well known for its burgers, made with meat freshly ground in their own butcher shop each day. My favorite meal here would be a cheeseburger with a side of fried smelt and a beer, or maybe a big bowl of soup if we visit during the winter.






• Boone Docks-This casual steak and hamburger restaurant is just steps off of M-22 in Glen Arbor, Michigan. We've enjoyed the rustic pub atmosphere and the large outdoor deck when we've stopped here for lunch over the years. Again, another great stop for burgers and beer.
• Cherry Republic-You can sample some of Cherry Republic's chocolate covered cherries, cherry salsa, dried cherries, cherry candies and tons of other cherry-based products as you stroll through the company's Great Hall retail outlet. There is a cafe here as well, and we've found it a nice stop for a quick snack like an ice cream cone or, my favorite, cherry ice tea.
• The Cove-This is another long-time favorite with us. You'll find The Cove just as you enter Leland's historic Fishtown. The Cove is a nice option for a more elegant dinner, but we usually stop here for lunch, when the vibe is definitely casual.
  
  
  

  My favorite tables here would be on the upper balcony or in the small dining area with large picture windows overlooking the river. You can watch the salmon struggle to get upstream over the dam in the fall or just enjoy the lake breezes during the summer out on the deck. The Cove closes during the winter.

  
  
  

  The Cove's Seafood Chowder is a favorite here. It is a thick, thick creamy New England-style chowder, and I often make a meal of a bowl of it with maybe some smoked whitefish pate or a salad and beer.

• Fischer's Happy Hour Tavern-We've most often stopped at Fischer's for soup, burgers and beer in the winter. It's one of those cozy, dark little places that seem like an especially warm and welcoming haven on a cold winter day.
  
  
  

  We recently stopped by for lunch the summer and found it every bit as enjoyable as we have over numerous winters. I discovered I'd been missing out on the perch because it's seasonal to summer, and I suspect there are more summertime visits to Fischer's in our future.

  My choices here? I've always had good soup here, and the perch was fresh, hot and moist as it should be.

  
  
  

© Dominique King 2011 All rights reserved

Things To Do
Glen Arbor

Things To Do
Frankfort

Comments

[Sophie]

So glad to see there's much more to US roadside lunch stops than Mcdonald's :)

[Dominique King]

Sophie-There definitely are plenty of small, independent restaurants all over the US, and I love seeking them out when I travel!

[C Jackson]

I love all the places you wrote about, some I have gone to & others I will try. GREAT info! HAppy New Year to you and Tim, Cheryl Lynn J.

[Dominique King]

You've been busy online today Cheryl :) We're thinking of heading out to a couple of these places in a couple of months...Joe's is a favorite wintertime stop!