I was with my girlfriend & her family for a weekend getaway. Being from the Milwaukee area, we wanted a Fish Fry on a Friday night dinner. This place was highly recommended so we went. Entering, the place is large & can easily accommodate groups of 6 to 8 people bc even for a Friday with it being busy there are more seats than you'd expect. I got the Cajun Cod with Sweet Potato fries. I didn't want beer battered so it was great to find a place that offers grilled, Cajun grilled, or Beer Battered for all fish fry's. The pieces were quality good size for a grilled cod, 3 quality sizes. Plus comes with good portion of side sweet potato fries for $1 extra. My girlfriend got the Fried Perch which was two massive pieces. Most of the table got a side salad instead of another side. Food was probably a 4 to 4.5 star. Not jaw dropping but not just basic at all. Negatives: Need a drink menu. I am not going to order a beer if you aren't going to give me what is offered. Simple as that. They brought a small pitcher of water (no more than 1.5L) for a table of 6. Water was room temperature & no ice at all. Waitress did write down one of our orders down incorrectly as cod instead of crab cake. His crab cakes didn't show up for another 20min. The poor part was that the waitress never came over at all during the 20min to give an update. Heck, didn't even come over to ask us anything or give us a refill on water. The owner of the restaurant came over but he was only asking how everything was. That was when we brought it up after 5min of the waitress being gone. The owner did give us a piece of carrot cake & was overly nice which is main reason this is a 3* & not a 2*. I usually am not harsh on reviews but the issue more was on the lack of communication between the waitress & our table. By the time he got his food, every single one of us was done or asking for a carry out box for their meal. While the owner was very nice, there obviously was a lack of communication between him & the waitress during the 20min wait bc even she was asking "can I get you something else?" not knowing the owner already had already given us some cake in a carry out container. I get Friday's are busy but don't put Crab Cakes on the menu (he got a side salad as the side so they didn't need any sides) if it takes 20min to make it or that nobody on a Friday night is ordering it at all that you can't skip an order. Also, I think the other table of 6 next to us was not happy on how long their food & drinks were taking. It was a bummer bc we were all really looking forward to a Friday Fish Fry in the UP. read more

See all

After a long drive and 1/2 day skiing this was the perfect place to have a delicious and filling meal. The waitstaff are super friendly and their recommendation of deep fried whitefish was spot-on. The owner dropped by to say hello and he was really cool. The "pine cones ", which are deep fried mashed potatoes in a roughly cone shaped package of tastiness, are a nice accompaniment to the rest of the meal. The side salad was very good and having mostly local beers on tap was a very nice touch. Can't wait to try their prime rib night the next time I'm here on a weekend. read more

See all

Charming little spot with great service, the owners and waitress came to check on us frequently which was very sweet. Food was delicious and fast, plentiful portion size and well-priced. Took home a slice of chocolate cake baked by the owner himself - we would definitely recommend. :) read more

Absolutely delicious fish fry! Service was amazing. Loved the environment! We will be back!!

What a great local gem! I just moved to the area and was able to walk to the Pub, can't beat that! I tried the cheese curds, vegetarian pizza, and fried chicken with pinecones. Everything was amazing and very good prices. I like how everyone seemed to know each other, it felt very welcoming. I think it was the owner, an older gentleman, asked where my boyfriend and I are from and what brought us to the area, because we were obvious newcomers. The waitress (didn't get her name but she has super cute surface piercings on her cheekbones) was very sweet and attentive. My one (tiny) complaint is that one of the employees changed the channel from an NHL playoff game to a black-and-white tv show XD read more

Absolutely AMAZING burger!!! Everything about the food here is amazing! The salad was good, the pizza was awesome, and the bun on this burger, just wow! And you've got to try the PINECONES! The staff is amazing, super friendly and we loved the atmosThis pub is seriously one of the best meals I've ever had, if your nearby going here is a must! We'll be back before we leave town. read more

Black River Valley Pub - a burger and french fries - Pubs Near Me - Bessemer, Michigan

The food here is fine, but the woman who seated us told us that they're short-staffed, and to please be patient with the server, etc. Having been in this position before, we, of course, had no problem with this. However, this woman went on and on about how "nobody wants to work" and how SHE "never got unemployment", etc, etc. All we wanted to do was sit down and eat and relax over a couple of beers, NOT listen to her right-wing political ramblings - which, to us, were unappetizing, to say the least. IF we ever come back (which is debatable), we suggest keeping such commentary to a minimum. It appears that you could use the business, even from people you disagree with politically. read more

While passing through the area my husband and I stopped for dinner. We almost didn't because we aren't fond of bar/pub food. We are so glad we did! The ambience was warm and cozy. The service was very good and the food was excellent. The owners were charming; chatting and checking on us more than once. The homemade rolls....simply amazing! read more

Friday fish fry for me and veggie burger for my wife. Best of both worlds. Music on weekends. Great food, great service, and friendly prices. We have been coming here for years and it has never let us down; always hopping and fun. read more

Black River Valley Pub - an american flag on the side of a building - Pubs Near Me - Bessemer, Michigan

We came here on a recommendation from our hotel we stayed in. The service was very friendly, the place was very clean but the room itself was so hot inside. The night we went, they were not serving pizza or burgers so we ordered a Cajun shrimp platter and a berry salad. The food was mediocre because the chicken on the salad was mystery meat. It didn't have an appeasing texture that made you want to eat the rest of the salad. read more

I'll tell ya what, My phone went dead & They ran out of fish. But we'll be back! Was our first time in. It was Fish Fry Friday and packed inside. Smelled incredible and had a very inviting atmosphere. Sat down, we were promptly greeted, drinks came quickly. Ordered the Fish Fry then after waiting a while our waitress came back with apologies because they'd ran out of fish. So we made another selection, Fried Pickles & The Bacon Bleu Burger. Man was that burger good! Juicy Beef, Perfectly cooked Bacon, Delicious Bun, and a Pile of Bleu Cheese. Onion & Homemade pickles on the side. Oh those pickles Mmm! If my phone had not gone dead I would of gladly given the burger a photo shoot to post a pic lol Definitely going back next Friday because we were drooling at every Fish Fry that passed us by as we were waiting and before being informed they'd ran out. From the looks it's gonna be a winner! read more

See all

We found this restaurant on Yelp and liked the reviews and so we decided to have dinner here. Wow the reviews did not fail us - the prime rib was excellent and my husband chose the pizza. The pizza crust was thin but also an excellent choice. The service was extremely attentive as was the conversation with the restaurant managers. A very nice restaurant...don't pass it up!!! read more

Awesom. Best pizza in the area. Fish fry is also a big hit, & just about everything else. Fast friendly service. Would highly recommen.

Our family stopped after a day at the lake and the food was delicious and the staff were so friendly! We will definitely make this a regular stop when we are in town. read more

Staff was friendly and attentive. Food was tasty and made fresh. Sweet potato fries were great!

After a long afternoon of hiking down all the waterfalls and watching the sunset at the beach, this was the perfect location to stop for dinner on our way back to town. We ordered the Reuben sandwich and the Buffalo Chicken wrap with sweet potato fries. The Reuben was okay... could have been grilled more and needed more Russian dressing (was a little dry). The wrap was pretty tasty. The sweet potato fries were delicious! Perfectly done. Service was quick and very friendly. read more

I love this place!! I Amazing food and such a great atmosphere. My waitress was super sweet and helped me with everything I needed :) read more

Loved it so much i came back twice during my trip. Food was delicious and the service was incredibly friendly. The owner came in to check on my table several times. Ask the bartender for a vodka collins ;) read more

I have been here a few times for fish fry and every time the service, food, and drinks were excellent. I can't speak for the other dishes, as I've only had the fish fry. On holiday weekends, this place gets pretty packed as it is the only restaurant in the immediate area and is close to the ski resorts. The last time I was here I had to wait a bit for a table, but it was well worth the wait. read more

Excellent fish fry last night and delicious prime rib tonight. The staff is very friendly and hard working. The owner Jerry is awesome!!! Definitely will be back there again soon!!!! read more

This place is superb! What a great gem in the woods! Love the atmosphere, and the staff was extremely friendly. They have different specials depending on what night you go. Taco Tuesdays was delicious! The largest quesadilla I've ever had, plus the tastiest! Tried several apps the pub poutine was by far the best, you gotta try it!! Don't forget Saturday is prime rib night and has live music that brings a great crowd. My new fav spot for sure! Oh os ask for a dark and stormy to drink, you won't regret it! read more

First time I've ever left a review on Yelp but the food here was great. Personal pizzas had a wonderful crust and the steak sandwich was incredible. Ate and drank for hours and the tab was very reasonable. Can't wait to check out karaoke night!! read more

Fish fry? Ya sure. Brandy Old Fashioned? You betcha! Lake Superior whitefish was perfect. Wonderful people all around. I'll be back next time I find myself in the U.P. read more

This is a great north woods joint. Tasty food, warm atmosphere, huge menu. Close to skiing without losing a local feel. My favorite place in this area. Come for the poutine, stay for the pizza. read more

The staff was friendly from the hostess to bartender to waitress. Food was delicious too. I can't wait to go back and try more items

Disappointed, mostly. Greeted enthusiastically and it went down hill from there. There was 7 people total eating in - so not busy at all. Waitress greets us at the table, says prime rib and fried chicken are the specials, with 2 sides, a roll, and the prime rib has a starter salad. Ordered the "generous portion" of prime rib with a baked potato, and when I asked about the other side, she named off more potato items. Too many carbs, so I didn't say anything. Waitress chose my 2nd side for me I guess, because I got mushy green beans. Generous portion turned out to be 1/3 pure fat, the gristle cut, and about 8 ounces total, including fat. Couldn't get a refill until I got up and went to the bar myself and asked for a refill on my soda - was huffily told to "go sit down and I will bring it to you", complete with eyeroll. He ordered the fried chicken, and like last time it looked amazing!!, but tasted like scorched oil, and very dry. The waitress choose his side for him, too. I laughed a little at the look on his face when he asked why he got cole slaw and she didn't even bothering answering. He doesn't eat mayo, at all. Rolls were huge and fluffy, but cold, as was the butter. Tasted good, though. My salad was great, but the ranch dressing tasted funny. I asked for A-1 to help with the nonexistent flavor in the prime rib. Felt downright ashamed to put steak sauce on it, but I was trying to work with what I had available. We got through our meal, our ticket was brought to the table. After a few minutes of just talking and such, I gave my card AND the bill back to waitress - no handy check presenter folder available. Imagine my surprise when she brings my slip to sign and has given me the wrong ticket that is double the price, and gave other people my ticket price. They hurriedly paid their (my) ticket and left. When I approached the bar (quite timidly after being told to go sit down before), I told the gal I was usually a very good tipper for GOOD service, but if she wanted a 100% tip she would have to earn it with actual GOOD service. Now I was annoyed because I was charged double, bad service, less than mediocre food, and it was almost like she expected me to volunteer to pay the additional $35 because the other people ducked out quickly after they paid their (my) bill. Not forgetting to mention, if they don't know your name, you are nothing to them and aren't given good service because your mother's cousin's 3rd grade best friend's sister's now exhusband isn't related to or even known to you. I was trying to give this place a second chance, won't be back. Where are the good places to eat around here? Seasoned food (not just a bunch of salt), good atmosphere, welcoming staff, and good service. Save yourself the headache and go somewhere else. read more

Great food, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and fantastic fish fry with such a great variety!

My wife and I were in town for a family reunion and chose this restaurant for a Friday night fish fry dinner. Jack, the owner, was very accommodating of our group as more relatives joined us. He rearranged tables and chairs so we could sit together, and checked with us often to make sure we were happy with everything. Our server Pam was great, she was friendly, which made the experience even better. The fish fry was delicious, although they ran out of the featured fish by the time we ordered. Nice atmosphere, I especially liked the display of items related to local history. I would definitely go out of my way to eat here again. read more

Really great food at reasonable prices. We ate there twice while vacationing in the area. We had very good service both times. Highly recommend it!! read more

Ok place. Clean and friendly staff. They dont seem to know their menu though. The bartender had to tell the cook what was in the item on the menu, after reading it to him. Would i come back. Most likely. The food wasnt that bad read more

Very good evening dining. Ample burger and sandwich menu. A nice variety of salads, chicken and beef dinners. Nightly features: Tues. is Mexican, Wed. offers all you can eat pasta. Thursday is chicken wings or ribs. Friday is an excellent fish fry. Reservations on Friday is a necessity if you are eating after 5:00. Saturday night specials include a pizza and pitcher special. The pizza is thin crust and very tasty. There's a full bar. There's always a unique desert freshly prepared. During ski season there may be entertainment after 9:00 pm. There are multiple big screen t.v.s. The location is only a half mile from Big Powderhorn Mt. Try it, you'll like it! read more

This is a warm and friendly atmosphere. The exceptional food is homemade, and the staff, Chris and Meghan, are outstanding. We had a ball with the girls, they are so engaging and fun. Make it your destination for food or drinks! From three lady tourists. read more

If staff were as caring, friendly and enthusiastic as the previous owners staff I would have given it more stars. The food is good (maybe not the quality it was but good) but as frequent good customers we are no longer frequent due to the wait staff. They are noses to phones, talking to friends or one another and ignore customers. Then act like it is an imposition to have to wait on you. Needs better staff and maybe a lot if we faithfuls will return. It was a great pub at one time. Very disappointed. read more