The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery

Four friends from Kansas University Law School and an internationally known author and his wife, who happen to live in Marquette, met for a Friday-night dinner in September 2025. Earlier that day we all did our book shopping at Snowbound Books on Third Street, and followed that visit by dining at The Vierling. As other reviewers have noted, the place is busy, and reservations are recommended. And as others have noted, the food is very good. Around our table we had soup (the whitefish chowder (cup, $5.75) came out piping hot – perfect with a dash of black pepper and Tabasco), some salads (gluten free, $5) – I wished someone would order the whitefish bites, but not this time. While all of us had dined at Vierling in the past, this was the first time our group was seated in the space immediately adjacent to the bar, accessed through a walkway. The space includes what looks like a still for beer or spirits, and impressive and imposing sight. We arrived at 5:30 p.m., when the space was empty, so sound levels were good. By 6:30 sound levels went up, probably due to our own conversations as well as those around us. Three of us ordered the locally sourced whitefish (grilled & lightly seasoned, $21); others ordered the grilled salmon ($21), and the beer-battered cod basket ($16.75). Those of us with room left after the entrée shared servings of chocolate peanut butter pie ($6.50, with a crushed Oreo crust, whipped peanut butter filling and fudge ganache top). Service was prompt, friendly, and everyone’s order was filled without flaw. We tend to talk a lot, and I think we probably overstayed our reservation when our host explained, at close to 8:30 p.m., that the table had been reserved for another seating that evening. Our host was courteous and diplomatic, and I’m glad she spoke up, as we really did occupy the space for close to three hours on a very busy Friday night. Hope to do it again next time we’re all in Marquette, but maybe be a bit more mindful of the length of our stay.