The Hook Lakeside Grill
201 S. Huron AvenueThe days are typically pretty long when I travel for work and they don’t allow for a lot of breaks. This trip is no different.
We’re working on Mackinac Island but staying in Mackinaw City. That means early mornings to catch the ferry, a lot of walking, and late nights catching the last ferry off the Island to get back to the hotel.
We got back to the hotel around 7:30 our first full day in town. Co-worker was tired and was just going to eat a sandwich he had in his hotel room for dinner. I was pretty exhausted too but wanted a cold beer and a decent sandwich so I dropped my work gear off in my room and walked back to a restaurant we passed on our walk from the ferry docks.
The Hook Lakeside Grill is an interesting looking place. The restaurant is on Huron Street a little bit south of downtown Mackinaw City. The restaurant is on stilts right on the Straits of Mackinaw near the Icebreaker musuem. The elevation makes the restaurant “lakeside” so you can get a good view of the water…something you wouldn’t get if the restaurant were at street level.
Like I said, the restaurant is elevated so when you walk in the clearly marked “restaurant entrance” you come to a lobby with elevators.
I skipped the elevator and chose the stairs. It was several flights up to the hostess station.
I was just planning on sitting at the bar but when I walked in, the hostess asked if I wanted to sit at the counter looking out over the lake. There was no one else sitting there so I wouldn’t be around people so I said yes. I was planning on watching the Lions game but I ended up just watching it on my phone since I couldn’t see any TV’s (if there even are any….I didn’t really look).
The bar actually would have been a good option as well. I was hesitant because the bar looked pretty full and I’m not super comfortable being around people but there is a backside to the bar that I didn’t see when I walked in. It was right behind where I was sitting at the counter looking out over the lake.
The counter seating was cool and I’m sure it would be even better in the summer and daytime with the windows open. There are a couple of different seating levels over a couple of different levels but all of them have large windows that open up giving you a great view of the Straits and the opportunity to be lulled into a content state with the sound of the water hitting the shore.
I started with a beer since that’s why I actually wanted to go out to eat. The beer list was pretty good but not much local so I went with Luau Krunkles from Terrapin Beer Company in Atlanta. The beer is an IPA with a lot of tropical flavor. It’s not a huge ABV IPA but it packs a little bit of a punch.
I ended up ordering a second beer before my food came. I drank the first one pretty quickly. My next pick was Pseudo Sue from Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah, IA. This beer is a single hopped Pale Ale with Citra hops. I like Citra hops. I like this beer.
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My dinner came out right after I got my second beer. I ordered the Brisket Burger. This sandwich is a 1/2 lb. blend of brisket and short rib. It’s topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion on a toasted bun. Adding cheese is an extra $1.50. Adding bacon is another $1.50 on top of that. I added white cheddar but held off on the bacon. The sandwich was pretty delicious. The cheese was a good investment. The white cheddar was was melted all over the top of tender, juicy, and slightly pink burger patty.
Fries were also an upcharge to the sandwich. It was another $3 to get some pretty decent skin on fries. They came with a little cup of ketchup on the side but they were slightly salty and tasty on their own.
The bill for dinner was pretty expensive. Yes, I got two beers but the sandwich came out to almost $19 with the upcharges. It was a good sandwich but I left hungry. You’re paying for quality ingredients here and a fantastic view. My total for just me was a little over $32
The Hook Lakeside Grill is better than I remember Mackinaw City food. In the past, I’ve always found pretty generic places that cater to tourists who just want a quick meal then get on the ferry to the Island. The Hook offers up a pretty robust menu with a unique atmosphere. It’s a little over expensive than a lot of places but if offers more of a big city dining experience than what’s common in the area.
SW Michigan Dining 