Great Lakes Area - good food sought

Vickie M. wrote:
|>
|> My husband and I will be driving through the great lakes
|> region of the U.S. in June.
|>
|> We'll be covering large areas of Michigan and Wisconsin,
|> with a 3 day stop in Chicago.
|>
|> I know that someone has recently requested Chicago restaurants.
|> Did anyone compile a list?  May I have a copy?
|>
|> Are there any out of the way little towns in any of these regions,
|> with incredible food worth detouring for?
|>
|> What about cheese factory's or shops in Wisconsin?  Where and
|> what's the best.
|>
|> I'll take any and all advice I can get.
|> I've never even been to the midwest!

If you go through Traverse City, go to a place called Bower's Harbor Inn.  It is half way up the Old Mission Peninsula from Traverse and is right on Grand Traverse Bay.  It used to be a suit and tie place but has since gone to a more casual attire.  The building is beautiful, the food is excellent, and the service is great.

Vickie M. wrote:
>
>My husband and I will be driving through the great lakes
>region of the U.S. in June.
>
>We'll be covering large areas of Michigan and Wisconsin,
>with a 3 day stop in Chicago.

If you happen to wander through the Keewenaw Peninsula (it's that finger of land that sticks out into Lake Superior from the U. P.), I have the following recommendations:

      The Library Bar & Grill (451 N. Isle Royale St., Houghton, MI)
            Standard pub fare, but done very well. Wide selection of
            sandwiches, pizza, and a number of munchies; also a
            selection of very good entrees if you're looking for something
            more substantial. Saturday is Prime Rib night. Live music
            upstairs two(?) nights a week. Owned and operated by the
            same people who run...

      The Northern Lights (Shelden Ave., Houghton, MI)
            Um... don't know the exact street address on this one,
            but it's on the top floor of the Best Western on the
            EAST end of the strip (the Franklin Square Inn). This
            is one of the classier restaurants in town, and the
            food is excellent.  The dessert tray features
            cheesecake from...

      Marie's Deli (518 Shelden Ave., Houghton, MI)
            Marie's is an institution. Lebanese/Middle-Eastern is the
            primary influence here, but nothing is fixed in stone.
            All the food is good, but the cheesecake is definitive.
            Nothing else quite compares.

      Suomi Bakery (Houghton, MI)
            Sorry, don't know the street address... (So I lived there
            for 3 years; it's a SMALL town!) It's on one of the
            covered side streets, towards the Portage Canal. Typical
            diner fare, distinguished with traditional Finnish cuisine.
            In particular, go for breakfast and try the pannekaku or
            french toast made with nisu; also go for lunch and have the
            pasty.

Okay, time to get out of town. If you came from points east, you probably drove through Chassell, MI, and right past:

      Pilgrim River Steakhouse (Hwy. 41, Chassell)
            I've had steaks here as good as anywhere, and for better
            prices.

      Nelson's Summer Place (Hwy. 41, Chassell)
            One of the other classy restaurants in "town". Excellent
            food, excellent selection.

If you're feeling adventurous on a Friday, go back to Houghton, follow Michigan highway 26 north across the bridge (there's only the one in town) and out to Mohawk, MI to:

      The Country Haus (Hwy. 26, Mohawk)
            Somewhat limited in its regular menu selection (chicken,
            fish, and beef), but its Friday-night fish buffet is not
            to be missed. All you can eat, locally-caught, FRESH fish,
            baked, broiled, and fried.

                        -- Andy