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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
(218) 652-1000
The
Stompin’ Grounds
– (1 mile-go north on 64 towards Bemidji and keep your eyes
peeled for the sign on the left – and mailbox. 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. (218) 652-2964
www.stompingroundslodge.com
on-line menu
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, priced accordingly.
(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. 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. Big Screen TVs, pool tables
and arcades.
(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 (Kim’s favorite - Most excellent.
Companero’s in Dorset makes the worst seafood salad around, ick.
If you like seafood and salad with your Mexican food, choose
Zona Rosa’s and NOT the Dorset Companero’s, although other stuff
is very good there). 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
Lucky
Moose (9
miles – go east on 34 to Walker, then south on Hwy 371 a mile,
next to Country Inn Suites) Up North décor, full bar with funky
beers on tap. Consistently good food: buffalo wings,
spinach/artichoke dip, brushchetta, lavosh, herb wraps, steak,
shrimp, meatloaf, chicken fried steak, burgers, fresh tomato &
basil soup, ruebens, kid’s menu. WILL CATER. (218) 547-0801
www.luckymoosebargrill.com
for on-line menu
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
North
Point Lodge
(15 miles west on 34 – on south side of road just before Park
Rapids) Large space with big chairs and interesting décor.
Full bar. Family atmosphere. Very consistent and decent
American food (pasta, good salads, steaks, seafood, gourmet
appetizers).
(218) 237-3600 Menu on-line: www.northpointmn.com/menu.html
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
the
good life café
(17 miles – downtown Park Rapids)
American food in a casual,
contemporary environment. (This is kind of a chick café – lots
of locally grown veggies.) Innovative lunch and dinner specials
are offered daily, full bar with a wide selection of tap beers,
the Garden Patio and free Wi-Fi. Open 11 a.m. (218) 237-4212
The Four Seas Chinese Restaurant
(17 – miles downtown Park Rapids) Big John’s favorite place to
eat!
Vegetable, Soups, Seafood, Pork, Noodles, Lunch Specials, Hot
and Spicy, Fried Rice, Egg Foo Young, Dinner Combination
Platter, Dieter's Gourmet, Chow Mein or Chop Suey, Chicken,
Chef's Suggestion, Beef, Appetizers (218) 237-8888
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:
-
Companero’s (Mexican - excellent margaritas)
732-7624 on-line menu: www.companerosofdorset.com
-
La Pasta (Italian - quite good) on-line menu:
www.dorset-lapasta.com/menu.htm
-
Dorset House (good pizza buffet and 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! |
