Restaurants in Grand Marais [Moved from Minneapolis-St. Paul Board]

[fretan]

My partner and I are spending two days this weekend (6/24-26. 2011) in Grand Marais, MN. We haven't been to Chez Jude before. The reviews I have read on Urban Spoon are mixed. I'd appreciate getting any first-hand info about dining there. I am also curious about the Crooked Spoon, which gets rave reviews. We have eaten before at the Angry Trout and intend to eat there again. I would love to hear from those of you have dined at either place. Thanks!

[RMC]

I realize these recommendations are not Grand Marais restaurants, but you will be passing right by both them on your way to, and back from, Grand Marais. We were just in northern Minnesota last weekend on our semi-annual visit to Duluth to see family. We try to eat at The New Scenic Café, which is located on the two lane road that runs along the shoreline between Two Harbors and Duluth, every time we travel to this area. This restaurant could hold its own in any major city from NYC to San Francisco! It serves excellent food, more on the gourmet side than traditional North Shore restaurants, but is casual enough that you can stop by wearing tourist clothing. The wine list is very good too.
A little farther north, near Gooseberry Falls (actually in Castle Danger), is the Rustic Café. This restaurant is located on highway 61, just south of all the highway construction, and it was a delightful find on our trip last week. My wife had the Prime Rib, which was large and excellently prepared, my mother-in-law had the Roast Beef Sandwich, which also looked excellent, and I ordered the Lake Trout, which I thought was very good too.
I could mention several other places in the Duluth area where we have found good food too, and some places you probably want to avoid, but your question is about Grand Marais, so I’ll stop here.
The scenery is beautiful where you are going and I hope you have good weather!

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New Scenic Cafe
5461 N Shore Dr, Duluth, MN 55804

[tart1]

I agree that the New Scenic Cafe is excellent. We tried to stop at the Rustic Cafe for breakfast around 9:30 am, but they weren't open yet. It seems they sometimes operate by their own timing because their web site says they open at 8am.

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New Scenic Cafe
5461 N Shore Dr, Duluth, MN 55804

[fretan]

Thanks for your recommendation. The restaurant is now called just "The Scenic Cafe." The word 'new' is no longer part of their name. We got several recommendations for this cafe and stopped by on our way back from Grand Marais on Sunday afternoon. The food was outstanding. We had had excellent dinners at the Angry Trout and the Crooked Spoon in Grand Marais and didnt' think that we would be able to top those experiences this weekend. However, the Scenic Cafe did so. I had seared scallops in a citrus sauce and spring green salad with a fennel mustard dressing; both were to die for. My partner had a grouper sandwich with spinach and a lovely piquant variation of tartar sauce. It came with fresh fruit. The grouper was perfectly breaded and was neither greasy or heavy. The staff were very firendly and accomodating. We plan to return as soon as we are in the Duluth area again or even make a day trip of it sometime to have a meal there. We highly recommend it to anyone heading toward or from the North Shore.

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Crooked Spoon Cafe
17 W Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Angry Trout Cafe
408 W Highway 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604

[billbink]

Agree about The Scenic Cafe (they have now officially dropped "New" from their name). We ate there on the way back to the Twin Cities (from Grand Marais) and our lunch as unbelievable. I had a grouper sandwich that was, perhaps, the best fish sandwich ever. Wife had pan-seared scallops that were to die for with a creative and uber-tasty salad. Lunch prices are reasonable for the level of service and kitchen creativity, The interior of the restaurant is in that sparse modern minimalism. Tasteful and restrained. What a find! Was busy, though, for 2:00 on a Sunday afternoon (they don't serve a brunch).

[Davydd]

Last week we had this grilled herring sandwich at the Scenic Cafe. The herring was fresh and caught locally. We followed it with a triple berry pie.

[Davydd]

I've eaten at probably every restaurant in and around Grand Marais and from Duluth to the Hovland. Chez Jude is one of my favorites though I like most all of them for various reasons and eating experiences. I put together this photo gallery for an RV Rally I hosted in Grand Marais to give participants an idea about the area and the restaurants. You cannot taste the food but this photo gallery shows the plates.

http://gallery.me.com/davydd#100159

[CdnFoodie]

Wow, really love your gallery. North Shore Foodie Porn!!!! I've added a few new restaurants to my "must visit" list. Everytime I think I've been to every decent restaurant on the north shore, another one pops up! Thanks!

[danionavenue]

No but I have eaten at Sven and Oles pizzeria and also at a cafe in town which name eludes me.
You can drive up the Gunflint Trail and eat at Justine's which is a restaurant at the Gunflint Lodge. It is gorgeous there and the walley is great! You may see a moose.

[tart1]

I was in Grand Marais last month. The Crooked Spoon was terrific and Chez Jude was nothing special food-wise or service-wise. I'd try the Angry Trout before returning to Chez Jude, and I'd return to the Crooked Spoon in a heartbeat.

[billbink]

We ate at The Crooked Spoon at the end of June and the meal was amazing. Probably the best steak I have ever had (and I'm 57 years old). Service was excellent (admittedly, the restaurant was not busy). Did not expect this level of cuisine in Grand Marais. Our meal (the next night) at The Angry Trout was also good...not on the same level as The Crooked Spoon, but then the two restaurants are VERY different in styles, ambiance, etc.

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Crooked Spoon Cafe
17 W Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Angry Trout Cafe
408 W Highway 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604

[forgottendreamr]

We ate at Chez Jude about a year ago. We stopped by both for dinner and tea. I can't remember what we had for dinner, but there tea was a nice mid-afternoon break. Not to mention, normal high tea portions are quite small- Chez Jude's was very generous.