Old fashioned was terrible! Walleye was super salty. Kids pizza was awful. Dessert was forgettable. $200 for 2 adults and 2 kids...‍ Pass. read more

This was a good spot and a pleasant quality dining experience for what we were expecting in Manistee (please don't be offended, Manistee). Local flavors - good fish. We enjoyed the pork belly appetizer very much. I had the seared whitefish which was perfect. My daughter had the stuffed trout which was good too (she devoured the 'stuffin' of gnocchi and spinach, which is a surprise since she usually goes straight to the 'meat'). My wife had the scallops which were tasty. I think the chef was extra cautious about over cooking the scallops because the tops could've used a little more sear. Good sides, good drinks (a local 'grapefruit' brew, a wine, and a root beer). Excellent view! If it had been a few degrees warmer, we definitely would've sat outside on the deck. We LOVED the decor inside the restaurant and the flexibility the hostess showed in catering to our table request (we didn't have a reservation). Well done. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - The deck overlooking the river - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

We loved, loved, loved our food and experience here. One of the business owners downtown recommended Blue Fish for dinner, and we are glad we took her advice! My husband and I were seated outside, where we enjoyed a wonderful view of the river. Our server was prompt, efficient, and very pleasant. Our food...oh my goodness. Chef quality. The bread was warm, crusty, perfect. The soft herb garlic butter made it heavenly. We both ordered lemon scented perch. It was perfectly prepared and seasoned, with a lovely hint of lemon in the creamy aioli. The risotto was perfectly cooked and flavorful. We do not usually order desserts in restaurants because they are often just sugar & fat loaded calorie bombs, but, because we had enjoyed our meals so much, we decided that THIS restaurant may actually have a pastry chef and know how to create lovely desserts with flavor and style. We ordered the flourless chocolate cake. We were not disappointed. Wow. What a great ending to a great meal! The dark chocolate creation was warm, deeply chocolatey, decadent, yet still seemed to have a light, quality...ahhh, a real dessert! The only suggestion I would make is that there be more shade for the outdoor tables. Since we visited in the evening and it was rather cool, this was not a problem. We could see, however, that if we wanted to sit outdoors mid-day on a warmer day, the lack of shade would have been a problem and could have made for a very hot dining experience. read more

Best restaurant in Manistee! It's a must! I have been here more than a couple times and every time we have gone it's amazing! The atmosphere is great. We usually sit out on the deck right by the river. The server this time was so sweet! We got the honey goat cheese appetizer and it was so tasty! My husband was super excited when they had Hop Slam and I ordered a Traverse city cherry mule, so yummy! My favorite entree is the champagne chicken. My husband got the Alfredo shrimp he was hoping it would be more spicy but it was really rich and tasty. We love this place and will definitely continue to visit when we are up north and near Manistee! read more

While the food items we had were good, they were not unique, nor were they worth the overall price of the meal. The staff was courteous, friendly, and helpful, which was a saving grace for our experience. read more

It seems downright cliche giving this place five stars, since so many already have, but it earns every one. The champagne chicken with parmesan risotto was amazing and so was the pork cutlet with polenta. It has a nice atmosphere and a great location. The service was excellent and the prices very reasonable, considering the quality was so good. read more

We made a reservation for 6 people and I specifically said we would have two dogs with us as they assured us they were dog friendly. When we arrived the hostess was anything but gracious. She told us we would be on the patio- that we would have to eat at two separate tables as they won't push them together (mind you we had two children and 4 adults). She was rude and not even interested in accommodating us even after I specifically said I had a reservation... unbelievable that a restaurant with very few customers would turn down a table of 6 people. Needless to say we left. I wouldn't waste my time in a restaurant that your first impression is a host who has zero willingness to make things right. Poor customer service is not acceptable! read more

Amazing food and awesome service!! One most important factor in my food experience other than great taste is that the food is hot and this place fits the bill! Definitely coming back read more

Just got violently ill IMMEDIATELY after eating here. I called up, talked to a "manager" and they don't care that I'm sick, or even willing to address what did it. $67 + tip for a Steak, Caesar salad, and cocktail. I'm only one person, and I thought it would be great to celebrate a business win here - so I decided to throw down to celebrate, and I got burned. ...Horrible service, horrible attitude from the management... Never again. I will never come back. This place is bogus and expensive, don't eat here. read more

Service was horrible. Never even got to have a drink let alone dinner. We have been here before and the service was not great, but acceptable. On March 1, 2019, we stopped in on our way to the casino for dinner at 7:00. Had to wait at the hostess station for five minutes until some one finally acknowledged us and sat us in the dinning room. Our server brought us our waters and said she would be right back to take our drink order. 15 minutes later I asked another server if she could find ours. Five minutes after that we left. If you are going to pay the prices they ask, the service should be at the same standard. We won't next door to the Fillmore. Not the same atmosphere or food selection, but the service was outstanding and the food was really tasty. read more

We were so excited to try this place. Looks great. Good reviews. I had the salmon and risotto. My fiancé had the Chicago filet (bacon wrapped) and au gratin potatoes. My salmon was amazing. The risotto was pretty bland. Tasted like it was out of a box. My fiancé's steak was a really nice cut of meat cooked well (medium) but it had some overpowering spice (we asked and the server thinks it's fennel). Really killed the flavor. Started with the mussels which were a little fishy. If we had my salmon and his potatoes I'd give this place 4.5 stars. read more

Enjoyed a great Ribeye steak with a mountaindew with a view of the river. Seasonal squah and peppers with potatoe el gratin rounded off the meal. Afterwards, had a mild stroll along the river walk. Wished I had more time to visit again. If you get a chance the light house is a nice walk to burn some calories. read more

See all

We had been on a two day motorcycle ride around Lake Michigan and we're staying right down the road at a B&B. They were doing great with social distancing, so we decided to eat inside because it was so hot out on the deck. They sat us far away from the next table and all the bartenders, waitstaff and managers were wearing masks. I really appreciated how safe they were being. We had a couple of drinks that were delicious, I had a Moscow mule, my husband had a tequila. We shared a smoked fish dish that neither one of us liked that much, it had way too much cheese and not enough fish. Then we split a brand new menu item, chicken marsala. I make a mean chicken marsala and it sounded good so we ordered it. The problem was, it had about three mushrooms in it and it had absolutely no marsala wine taste. Otherwise, it was delicious. It just wasn't chicken marsala. That's why I gave them four stars instead of five. And that's the only reason. We tipped 25% because we are tipping 25% now because most of these folks have not worked in months. You could tell they were all very happy to be working. I have to tell you, I know that everyone who works in a restaurant is happy to be working right now, mask or not. Good job on making us feel safe and care for, not just feeding us. read more

Made a second visit this afternoon and added their hummus appetizer to the mussels that I HAD to order again. AMAZING!! Fresh, flavorful with a hint of heat, grilled naan bread and sliced veggies to dip. Oh yes, the mussels were just as good as the first visit, and the service by Sean was spot on. Attentive but not oppressive, willing to customize my food and offered suggestions for me. EXCELLENT!! read more

It's a beautiful place right on the river leading to Lake Michigan. It's a little pricey, but the atmosphere is worth it. The food i has, was delicious. It's more seafood, I'm not much of a seafood person so I can't give a review of the seafood. But I am sure it's awesome. The staff are very nice and friendly. I would like to check this place out in the summer. It will be slammed. Make sure Randee takes care of you, so very nice. read more

So pleased with everything at Blue Fish! The historic building with a modern industrial flair give a great atmosphere for dining. Amazing food choices and awesome craft cocktails. The bartenders and waitstaff are top notch, down to ability to make a Moscow mule and old fashion at the SAME time without skipping a beat. Options available to dine outside on the river with a great view, although with the inside practices for Covid definitely felt comfortable inside. read more

I keep wanting to like this place. Last three times here the food has been a major disappointment. Ordered a burger medium rare...result was a charcoal hockey puck. So bad, they had to reorder for me...still medium well vs. medium rare. Only saving grace for this place was a great bartender who was extremely nice and made great drinks. read more

One of Manistee's best spots to eat and drink! They have the prettiest outside deck seating and a wonderful menu!

Wonderful experience. Amazing, quality food. Beautiful atmosphere. Great serves. Highly recommend. Will definitely be coming back in the future with friends and family. We got the fish dip and I got the tomato basil soup and the lemon perch.. also, highly recommend, all of the above! read more

See all

I was in the area recently and decided to try this place out. The started was ok, I got the fish dip and tasted bland. But after that, my steak came and it was excellent. read more

Very nice setting. Very expensive. Took 2 pictures of kitchen staff, cooking not wearing masks. Least costly dinner/house specialties is the burger for with chips and slaw for $14.99. A dollar for each addition. Couple meals for $17 to $20 (chicken or pork). Steaks and fish $27 to $40. Salads or soup of the day $4 more. This was our second time here. Pretty much the same. Husband want to try again. They do have very good French Onion soup for $6.50. Lake Superior whitefish ok, modest portion. Husband kept a boat on Lake Superior for a few years, we know Lake Superior whitefish. In summary, ok, but, pricey. Will try to post menu. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Menu - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

Not really busy hours and not many people eating. Waiting for food forever. Chicken burned and burger burned. Ok the environment is nice. Not recommended if come with kids. Burger King is better. read more

We were traveling in the area and went to Yelp to help us out with lunch. Thankfully, Yelp reviewers led us to this place. I had the cheese panini with tomato basil soup. My husband had the perch tacos. We were both blown away. Great flavors, skilled cooking. I had started out that hungry, and neither had my husband but we both walked away with clean plates, it was all so good. I'll crave my panini and that homemade soup always. read more

Bluefish Kitchen + Bar - Cheese panini with tomato basil soup - New American Near Me - Manistee, Michigan

Indoor space is fantastic though I like the outdoors so we sat in the deck. The outlook was pleasant but the decor a little lacking there so the vibe isn't as cool as inside. Fried Brussel sprouts for starters was a little , undercooked and a little bland so more like boiled brussel sprouts. But the walleye for main was outstanding. The texture of the cooked fish was perfect, succulent, buttery, melt in your mouth and the topping was the perfect mix of flavor and subtlety. read more

Great menu and service Sit outside and enjoy the experience Blackened fish awesome Brussel sprouts yummy read more

Pretty good but pricey. I have Gluten issues and everything I ate was safe. They do not have a dedicated fryer so no fries or fried food modified. They will modify dishes with in reason, which was reasonable to me. I always appreciate that. They did have GF indicated on their menu and ask about other dishes like I said earlier they do modify. Here is why I rated them with a 3. It was safe to eat which gives them a positive. However my white fish was over seasoned and slightly under cooked. My risotto was under cooked which further brought the stars down. Veggies sodden with butter. I would try them again if I got a gift certificate as a gift. Atmosphere is fantastic and staff is pleasant. Another positive. read more

Amazing restaurant overlooking the Manistee River. The whitefish and champagne chicken were phenomenal dishes. 10/10 would recommend

Was vacationing in the area and after a chance stop one night came back for dinner next day, even though I prefer to explore and try new places every day when traveling. The food and drinks are awesome - but it's mostly the staff that makes it amazing. Ladies at the bar, especially Jennifer, had such a genuine positive vibe that it was an absolute pleasure to be here. But, again, don't discount the food - it is awesome. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by the food here! Everything from the fresh bread bowl to the desserts (yes plural!) was delicious! The entrée definitely stole the show. I am a sucker for salmon and the chef suggested "medium rare" along with risotto and creme fraiche dill dip was yummmm! The drinks were alright, and that's the reason I cannot add that last star! Even though higher on the price range, I would totally come here again! read more

We went to blue Fish for lunch and Randee was our server .The food was very good. I had the grilled cheese and tomato basil soup which was fabulous. My wife had the chicken salad on croissant which was very nice and toasty. Wine was a little expensive and I had a hot cider which hit the spot on a cold fall day. Highly recommend read more

This is likely the best option in Manistee County, but for the rate, the experience should have been better and every entree a winner. The Good: Decent wine list with options at various price points. Nothing exciting about the starter menu, but they do a nice job. The "regular" items are done well. Good job on the fish. The aesthetic is great, nice remodel of an old factory right on the river. The Bad: The cheese plate was plunked down with no conversation about the cheeses, no staff training. The staff really doesn't understand fine dining flow. The specials were poorly executed. Jambalaya was awful, chef boyardee sauce, gamey shrimp, it just fell flat. The restaurant didn't recover well when two plates largely uneaten were sent back. Dessert pretty run of the mill, but fine. Overall, a party of four should have been about $160 and we had a $240 bill. If we go back we'd stick with the tried and true items. We regularly eat at truly foodie places, so we may be unrealistic for Manistee. read more

Always excellent food. Great service and ambiance. We love going for special occasions.

Blue fish kitchen serves a great meal. I have been here twice, and both experiences were very pleasant. The pork belly and polenta is a great way to start your meal, as is their soup of the day which was chicken and sausage curry on this visit. It was good enough to be an entree. Stay through dessert for an ever changing sweet treat. read more

Amazing wagyu and salmon. 100% recommend the crème brûlée for dessert. The server Katie provides amazing service! For sure a place to eat when visiting manistee. read more

Great food. Great Decor. Great service. The perch was fantastic. Highly recommend the Brussel sprouts too

Came for a celebratory birthday dinner but was pretty disappointed in the drinks and quality of food. Definitely not worth the prices they charge and service was spotty. read more

Came here with my girlfriend on 5/13/22 for a nice dinner at sunset. The hostess was a little off, like cold? Still, we were having a good time - we ordered drinks and dinner right before the kitchen closed at 9. The waitress checked our IDs and walked away, everything was fine. Then a very stoic woman came out five minutes later, and was very unpleasant - told us that she needed to check our IDs again and that one was suspicious. She was awkward and we felt very unwelcome. Then she left without saying anything at all. Then our waitress came out sweating nervously and told us that she couldn't serve us because our IDs were in question. We are both over 21 with valid IDs?? We are clearly a gay couple and felt very unwelcome but beyond anything else - they handled it so poorly and made us feel so awkward. Truly an unpleasant experience. And, it was past 9, so then all the kitchens were closed in all of the restaurants in Manistee. So we were left with no way to get dinner. Just unpleasant, awkward, and thoughtless staff. Especially because we are both literally of drinking age with VALID IDs! We were left wondering if it was something about us that made them want to make us feel unwelcome. read more

Great view, great service and good food. We ordered the avocado BLT croissant and it was delicious. We also ordered the trio sausage appetizer which was also very tasty. The whIte fish po boy was light, flaky, tender fish on brioche. The fish was tasty, however the sandwich was a little bland. Would definitely go back! read more

Have been there a few times in the past. Food was ok, nothing to write home about, but satisfactory. This time my wife and I took our daughter and her fiance there for dinner. We made reservations. We were seated immediately. First thing I noticed was that the silverware was spotty. We browsed the menu and discussed what looked good to us. After about ten minutes, my daughter said she was thirsty, no one had greeted us or acknowledged our presence. None of the wait staff would even look in our direction. We decided to take a water carafe from a neighboring table that had left and had not been bussed (as were a number of tables). We waited another 10 minutes, now 20 minutes we sat there with no one coming to the table. My daughter went up to the hostess and explained the situation to her. She said she would find out what was going on. The hostess returned to her station and we sat another 5 minutes, and nothing. Noticed a lot of the people seated looked impatient waiting for their food. We decided at that point to leave. Went down the street and ate, had outstanding service and excellent food. Will never return, this is as far from upscale as you can get. read more

Wow worth the drive from Cadillac. The food was fantastic and service was solid. We came on a Wednesday night and my teenage daughters loved the food read more