Lake Effect Bar and Grill

We spent the night in Copper Harbor in preparation for a trip to Isle Royale, and we needed a place to eat. There were a number of restaurant choices, but based on menus we found online, Lake Effect seemed to be the most gluten free friendly. We were not disappointed. The current menu is all new and there is a new chef. Many of the items we found online were from earlier menus that are still floating around the Internet. The current menu is smaller than what you may find online. I had the Classic Burger "Lake-Effect" and my wife had the Classic Burger "Brockway." They were some of the very best burgers we have ever eaten. I had the onion rings and my wife had the "Garlic Parmesan Fries." Everything was absolutely delicious. You can also get your burgers made with chicken, a vegi option, and one more I cannot remember. I had 2 glasses of Widow Maker beer made by Keweenaw Brewery, and my wife had something called a "Field of Dreams" made with strawberry rhubarb vodka and lemonade. Both were excellent. The service was very special throughout the entire meal. The bartender asked us about dessert, but we noted that there were no gluten free dessert options on the menu. The bartender, who it turns out makes the desserts, went back to the kitchen and came out with a dish of the warm blueberry filling from their blueberry cobbler, without the crust. It was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Our only regret is that we did not have time to go back for a second meal. If we ever find ourselves in Copper Harbor, MI again, the Lake Effect Bar and Grill will be our first choice for lunch or dinner.

Quirky place. We were looking for outdoor seating, but rain drove us inside. We were pleasantly surprised to find 80s music instead of the Christian-themed country music that was blaring outside. Even more pleasantly surprised to find Beyond Burgers and gluten-free buns. Good fries, good beer, and a somewhat irritable (and irritable for good reason), but otherwise very good waiter.