Discovering all that
Glen Arbor has to offer is best done with guidance from a local professional like Robin Vilter, who knows the ins and outs of the town’s surrounding dunes, charming downtown, and great food scene. From fresh seafood to Italian cuisine and traditional American dishes, this town has it all. When visiting Glen Arbor or considering making the move to this small-town nature haven, check out the hottest restaurants in 2023 listed below.
Blu
5705 South Lake Street, Glen Arbor, MI
With one of the most scenic dining views,
Blu in Glen Arbor is perfectly positioned next to Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands. The location itself is enough to make this restaurant one of the hottest in the upcoming year, although it’s the stellar cuisine that keeps diners visiting. This modern fine dining spot uses local ingredients and European techniques in its daily changing menus that highlight the product. Visitors also love the award-winning wine program offering tasteful pairings to dynamic dishes.
Diners visiting Wednesday through Saturday for dinner can enjoy appetizers like blue crab puffs, a light starter with sambal sweet and sour flavors. Entrees include the rack of lamb, with a green tomato jam and garlic confit, as well as a veal tenderloin with scallopini, artichoke, and polenta for a range of rich and hearty flavors. Indulge at the end of the meal with the dark chocolate mocha cake, made with ganache and served with creamy chocolate gelato.
Art’s Tavern
6487 Western Avenue, Glen Arbor, MI
On the other end of the dining scene,
Art’s Tavern is one of the hottest Glen Arbor restaurants for its big personality and local drawing. Open every day of the week, Art’s first opened in 1934 and has served as a gathering place for the town ever since. Guests can enjoy a meal indoors surrounded by college football flags, play a game of pool when it isn’t in underground storage, or eat lunch and dinner on the back patio, which is festively lit at night.
Wake up early for breakfast specials named after town landmarks. The Sleeping Bear provides a traditional morning meal spread, while Lake Michigan’s malted pancakes pair well with the Irish coffee or the Café Skrewed, a rumchata cold brew. The lunch and dinner feature familiar favorites, with some of the best burgers, sandwiches, and chili in town. Don’t forget to check out their selection of local brews.
Cherry Public House
6026 South Lake Street, Glen Arbor, MI
Cherry Public House is another popular restaurant with locals in the area. To get to the restaurant, visitors must walk through the perennial gardens, following the crooked flagstone path lined with birch-tree logs. When indoor seating is scarce, outdoor patio dining is a great alternative providing stunning nature views. Guests can also stop by the Great Hall and The Winery on the way into the restaurant. True to its name, this spot has many cherry-inspired dishes and drinks to try in its rustic, cabin-esque venue.
To start off a meal, share a cherry sample platter with a mix of fruit-inspired creations like the cherry summer sausage, the cherry artisan mustard, and the spiced cherry preserves. Warm up with a house-made chili or try out the comfort food special that changes weekly. Generous burger options like the cherry bacon marmalade burger are savory delights, while the cherry emphasis shines in dessert options like the house-made ice cream and pies.
Good Harbor Grill
6584 Western Avenue, Glen Arbor, MI
One of the best Glen Arbor restaurants to visit in the summer,
Good Harbor Grill’s blue exterior, nestled in overgrown flora, naturally exudes a quaint, small-town environment inviting guests in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surrounded by the nautically themed décor, diners can count on dishes created with fresh, local ingredients. Enjoy a meal out on the spacious covered front porch, boxed in with annual blooms, or sit at a wooden table in the warm-toned interior.
For breakfast, fuel up with a fluffy Greek omelet with spinach, olives, and feta, or satisfy a morning sweet tooth with cinnamon French toast and strawberries. Lunch offers a range of filling sandwiches, salads, chilis, and wraps, while dinner sweeps the table with its meat and fish entrees. When in season, guests can order the Italian parmesan-encrusted walleye. Or try the Thai barbeque braised short rib, the strong savory flavors balanced out with tangy pickled veggies and rice.
Trattoria Funistrada
4566 West MacFarlane Road, Maple City, MI
Located only a few minutes from Glen Arbor,
Trattoria Funistrada is the best place in town for authentic Italian cuisine. This restaurant’s elegant interior design offers neighborhood dining in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Sit along a cushioned leather booth with the whole family or reserve a table out on the front porch for surrounding views of the towering trees that commonly dot Glen Arbor, MI real estate. Whether out with the family, looking for a new date night spot, or interested in a great meal, this restaurant has you covered.
Longstanding appetizers like the mussels steamed with garlic and basil are featured alongside seasonal choices for a regularly changing selection. Pasta dishes stand out with options like the linguini with salmon, served with pine nuts for crunch, and a rich gorgonzola cream sauce. Guests can also try entrees like the Bistecca Balsamico, a NY strip steak that bursts with a black pepper seared flavor.
Ready to dine at these Glen Arbor spots?
Glen Arbor has plenty of popular restaurants that are sure to attract residents and visitors in the new year. From long-standing local favorites like Art’s Tavern with its eclectic design to restaurants nestled in nature oases, giving them a distinct Glen Arbor flare, the options are wide and varied in this town. If you’re interested in living a little closer to these local and vacation favorites, contact experienced agent
Robin Vilter to guide you through your options in the area.
