The Top Restaurants On Mackinac Island, Michigan

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With an old-world tavern atmosphere, the Mustang Lounge is a great place to relax and feel like a local while enjoying a flavourful meal and a craft beer or drink. Begin with Mustang’s Mac-n-Cheese Bites, Gouda cheese and macaroni bites fried in potato batter, or the deep-fried clam strips served with cocktail sauce. Or, try some of the Mustang Lounge’s delicious soups, enjoy the homemade campfire chili or ask the server about the soup of the day. The Mustang Lounge is also well received for its burgers and sandwiches. Here, you can try The Swimmer, battered and fried local whitefish from Lake Huron complete with homemade tartar sauce, or the buffalo chicken sandwich, served with ranch or blue cheese dressing. The Mustang Lounge boasts eight beer taps, including Oberon, a beer made in Michigan. During the summer months, the Mustang Lounge hosts live entertainment and a lively quiz night on Thursdays.

At the quaint blue building with the patriotic bunting on Astor Street, the Yankee Rebe Tavern is an eclectic, delicious restaurant. The tavern’s name derives from the patriot Ambrose R. Davenport, who came to Mackinac Island and was a prisoner of war during the War of 1812. Delicious menu choices include the Cajun steak bites (mini sirloin steaks served with crustinis and spicy dipping sauce), the potato leek chowder and the pot roast sandwich (with melted cheese, caramelized onions and mustard on wheatberry bread). For dessert, finish the meal with an old-fashioned root beer float or a bananas foster cheesecake. Peruse the wine, beer and specialty drinks lists for something more to accompany your meal.

At the Carriage House, enjoy flavourful cuisine whilst taking in breathtaking views. A beautiful flower-lined path leads to the Carriage House restaurant, where you have the choice of dining inside or dining below the umbrellas in the outdoor seating area. From here, diners can overlook the beautiful flowers stretching out to the water. The Carriage House, part of the Hotel Iroquois of Mackinac Island, is an award-winning restaurant serving American cuisine. At lunch, the Carriage House serves menu items such as chilled vegetable gazpacho, French onion soup, salads such as the grilled shrimp and asparagus salad and sandwiches like the mushroom walnut burger or the open-faced crab melt sandwich. For dinner, the Carriage House offers delicious entrees such as the pan-seared halibut with grilled avocado salsa, the wild mushroom and butternut squash risotto or the spinach and garlic ravioli with pesto cream sauce and jumbo shrimp.

An old-fashioned western-style diner, Chuckwagon has been serving Mackinac Island locals and visitors for almost 60 years. First opened in the early 1950s, here you may find some of the best breakfast, burgers and sandwiches on the island. At breakfast, try the cinnamon swirl bread French toast, flapjacks with butter and syrup or the Mackinac Breakfast Burrito, with scrambled eggs, onion, American cheese, salsa, sour cream and your choice of meat. For lunch, Chuckwagon serves an array of burgers, like the olive burger, the rattlesnake burger (with pepper jack cheese, jalapenos and chipotle aioli) and the mushroom Swiss. Or, try one of Chuckwagon’s many sandwiches, like the black Russian (smoked turkey with bacon and Swiss cheese served on rye bread) or the Mackinac cheese steak with shaved ribeye and grilled onions. Sit at the counter bar seating and watch the chef cook up the delicious meals.

Seabiscuit Café hosts a modern, contemporary tavern-like atmosphere and incredible food. Seabiscuit offers an array of delectable appetizers, like Michigan pasties (house-made meat pies), ‘painted pony macaroni’ (macaroni cheese balls rolled in bread crumbs and served with a tomato cream sauce), tomato basil bisque and Mackinac whitefish chowder. Larger menu items include dishes like the Wild Turkey Pilgrims Dinner (turkey, stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes and gravy), the salt and pepper fish and chips, the barbecue meatloaf and the chicken curry wrap. End your meal at Seabiscuit’s ‘finish line’ with items such as warm butter apple dumplings, peanut butter crème pie and salted caramel-chocolate cupcakes.

With Mexican-style food and an old-fashioned bar, Horn’s Gaslight Bar & Restaurant is a wonderful place for a night out with friends or family. The current Horn’s building was first used in the 1920s for a pool hall and snack shop and, after prohibition, soon became Horn’s Gaslight Bar. At Horn’s, enjoy delicious southwestern egg rolls with chicken, black beans, spinach and cheese or super nachos with cheese, green chilies, jalapenos and beef, pulled pork or chicken. Horn’s also serves sandwiches like the grilled vegetable with zucchini, squash, peppers and red onions or burgers, like the southwest burger (with avocado, black olives salsa and pepper jack cheese). Accompany your meal with one of Horn’s many beers, wines or specialty drinks, like the prickly pear margarita. Check out Horn’s Gaslight’s website for a list of the live music the restaurant features on weekends.

A ‘Mackinac Island tradition since 1905,’ the Cannonball is a quaint white shack on British Landing boasting a beautiful view of the water, a charmingly shaded forest, delicious food and picnic tables from which to enjoy them all. The Cannonball is the perfect place to stop after a bike ride around the island or if one seeks ‘world renowned’ fried pickles. At the Cannonball, dine on hamburgers, barbecue beef sandwiches, chicken strip or coconut shrimp baskets, pizza, homemade potato chips, corndogs, hotdogs, French fries or onion rings. Lighter options at the Cannonball include salads, deli wraps and turkey or ham deli sandwiches. Finish off the meal with a great shake or ice cream. The Cannonball also offers a reservation-made Hayride BBQ. A wagon gathers customers in town and carries them to a barbecue dinner of chicken, ribs and summer sides, such as corn, potato salad and a sundae for dessert.