|
Kim & Big John’s Dining Picks
There are a LOT of eateries around for every budget and taste.
There are dining guides in the lodge and many brochures to
choose from. Here is a list of some of our own personal
favorites. We‘d love reports back on your experiences, also.
J
Em’s
Café
- (1
mile-downtown Akeley) Em serves excellent wraps: chicken tenders
with ranch, grilled turkey & onion, club, veggie wraps, etc.
They’re also known for their button burgers (grilled with onion
unless you ask them not to.) If you like espresso, ask Em to
make you a mocha latte- it‘s sinful! Recently we’ve tried the
strawberry banana pancakes - wow, they’re kinda like crepes.
Quite good. Cute décor (Non-smoking inside)
(218) 652-1000
The
Stompin’ Grounds
– (NEW 1 mile-go north on 64 towards Bemidji and keep your eyes
peeled for the sign on the left. It’s in the middle of nowhere,
hehe! Located right on the ATV trails in the Paul Bunyan
Forest) High quality bar food: huge burgers, fried
appetizers. (smoking allowed) 652-2964
The
Brauhaus
- (2
miles - at west end of Akeley) Fancy German place owned by
local German couple. Pork hocks - giant sized, Octoberfest
beer, sauerbraten, etc. Authentic stuff here, folks. Good
atmosphere, good food, good service.
(218) 652-2478
Jimmy’s American Café
- (7
miles - Walker, take a right out of our driveway on County 23
and you’ll come into Walker with Jimmy’s on your right) Malted
waffles and wonderful breakfasts make it a great family choice.
Kim LOVES the Reuben sandwiches with homemade dressing. The
food is ALWAYS good here. Good choice when you have a bunch in
your group and can‘t decide where to go. (It’s comparable to a
Denny’s or Perkin’s)
(218) 547-3334
Benson’s Emporium
- (9
miles, in Walker on Main Street) Full bar, and the pizzas are
usually excellent - the cheese, fresh and crust, crispy. We
like the artichoke, green olive and pepperoni pizzas - you can
create your own pizza from lots of interesting choices. They
have specialty sandwiches, too. There’s a separate non-smoking
room and big screen TVs. They have a trendy out door seating
area, but this place is definitely a “bar” atmosphere with lots
of people on game days. Lot’s of history of Leech Lake and
local sports fans here.
(218) 547-2323
Zona
Rosa’s
- (9
miles, downtown Walker) Mexican food, Big John’s favorite place
- he loves the seafood enchiladas. The chips are usually
good and fresh. The taco salad with zesty seafood is served in a
home made crispy shell. Most excellent. They serve high grade
(blue agave) tequilas if you ask for them.
(218) 547-3558
The
Ranch House Supper Club
- (13
miles on Hwy 371 just north of Walker) Classic club menu and
salad bar. Their pop-overs with honey butter are “to die for”.
Steaks, fish, crab legs: it’s a little over priced in our
opinion, but generally very good food and lots of room.
(218) 547-1540
Charlie’s Up North
- (10 miles at the “Y” in south Walker on 371) Chicken & ribs
to go! They’ll cater if you have a big group. We haven’t eaten
here much, but there’s always a crowd here when we drive by.
J
(218) 547-0222
Northern Lights Casino
(10
miles at the “Y” in south Walker on 371) Decent buffets with
standard salad bar, desserts, ice cream, free beverage and then
a changing food theme every night: Mondays – Wednesday 5 – 10
p.m. Chef’s Choice $8.95, Thursday is Seafood night for $18.50,
Friday 5 – 11 p.m. is Steak Buffet $13.50, Saturday is Prime Rib
Buffet for $13.50, Sunday 5 – 10 p.m. Walleye featured buffet
$8.95 (kids around $5)
(218) 547-2744
Hackensack Bakery
- (20
miles – downtown Hackensack on 371 south of Walker) The place
ain’t much to look at, but they seem to have the best little
burgers around! At a buck a burger, they are simple and tasty.
The Indian bread is good, too. Usually closed by 2:00 p.m.
Ironhorse Bar & Grill
-
(downtown Nevis - 5 miles) Quaintly decorated - excellent
chicken wings, original sandwiches (unique multi-meat Reuben
sandwiches with marble rye!), full bar/menu.
(218) 652-3898
Velvet Antler Bar & Grill
- (Nevis – 6 miles west on 34 just after Nevis) Or, as the
locals call it: “the fuzzy horn”. This place is full all
winter, so they must be doing something right. Beautiful log
interior, live music on weekends. Just expanded, so lots of
seating for groups. Serve steaks, fish, quality American
entrees.
Schwarzwald Inn-
(17 miles - downtown Park Rapids) VERY interesting Sunday
brunch. We highly recommend it as it boasts a dozen
different home made German salads. Nice cottage décor - the
kids like the toy train running around the circumference of the
room. (218)
732-8828
Khan’s Mongolian BBQ
(17
miles east on 34 in Park Rapids --by city park) You get to
choose your own plate of stir fry fixin’s from a big buffet and
they will stir fry it for you on two huge woks. Comes with a
big salad bar, too. Good quality fixin’s, and you can order
sake, too. Mmmmm. Big John loves the BBQ ribs and he’s very
picky. If you like Chinese food, try ‘em out!
Goose
Crossing
–(16 miles –on Highway 34 west, almost to Park Rapids, on south
side of road). Hands down, BEST FOOD AROUND. Locals remember
it as a gourmet restaurant in Nevis years ago, now it has come
back with new ownership, new building in Park Rapids, same
awesome recipes. You may need reservations on weekends. Double
seasoned prime rib, big shrimp in garlic/white wine sauce,
escargo, lamb, pork medallions, lobster, and much more. Salad
bar has gourmet dressings and croutons. Now serving an awesome
SUNDAY BRUNCH with decadent cheesecake selections. Expect to
pay for gourmet! (They do have kid’s menus and some mid-price
entrees that are excellent, like the chicken fried steak at $12
which is most excellent). 218-732-2700
DORSET
– (10
miles west on Highway 34 –then 1 mile north) Boasted as the most
restaurants per capita of any town in America. ‘Course the
population of Dorset is . . . like . . . .12 or something
J
However, there’s shopping and food to be had here:
-
Companeros (Mexican - excellent margaritas,
TIP: don't order a salad here, yuck)
732-7624
-
La Pasta (Italian - quite good)
-
Dorset House (good pizza buffet and cheap
'n good ice cream specialties)
732-5556
-
Dorset café (nightly specials, full bar, ribs, steak,
chicken, fish)
732-4072
Give
us your feedback on any of these eateries and your own finds,
we’d love to hear about your experiences!
|
