Great food, drink, hospitality, and ambience. The owner is a former Coast Guardsman and the restaurant walls are adorned with Coast Guard memorabilia donated by crews who see the Coast Guard flag flying in the front of the restaurant and come in for chef prepared food at reasonable prices. A real gem in Saint Ignace. Set the Buoy and Semper Paratus! read more

They charge extra for using a credit card. The menu only shows the cash price, not the credit card prices. They are more than making up for the credit card fee they pay. Now that King Richard has responded, I'll say to you jamaican jerk boy, that the debit card I use for eating out comes out of my bank account and not borrowing from a credit card company. So therefore, I refuse to dine at establishments that pass on their fees for doing business onto customers. Especially when Jamaican jerk boy acts like a pretentious toddler. read more

First time trying this place was recommended by our Bronco group for all the good reviews. Place is small service was ok. Pricey for the amount of food you get. Flavors were ok. read more

See all

We stopped by on a Thursday night in the summer. We sat outside and were treated to live entertainment. My cocktail, lavender haze, was perfect and food was great. My only suggestion would be more fish items on the menu. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Lavender Haze - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT. One of the most hostile and humiliating restaurant experiences I have ever had. The service was unacceptable, hostile, and humiliating. We were seated and then completely ignored for approximately 15 minutes. No one greeted us, brought water, or took our order. During that time, multiple employees walked past us, while customers who arrived after us--both inside and on the patio--were served water and allowed to order. We finally had to stop an employee and ask whether anyone was going to serve our table. Several minutes later, a server appeared and said she had only just been told about us. When we asked why we had been left waiting so long and requested to place our order, she walked away. Instead of apologizing or correcting their mistake, another employee came over visibly angry, snatched the menus off our table, accused us of "yelling," refused to serve us, and ordered us to leave. This restaurant ignored paying customers, then responded to a reasonable complaint with hostility and public humiliation. A simple apology and taking our order would have resolved everything. Instead, they treated us as though we had done something wrong for asking why no one had served us. AVOID this restaurant unless you are willing to risk being ignored and then humiliated for speaking up about it. I would never return and strongly advise other travelers not to come here. read more

We had the blue soft shell crab which was very yummy, nice and crispy with interesting shaped and tasty fries. We also shared the ribeye which had good flavor as well as truffle toast. Mashed potatoes and asparagus. All very good. We shared the Malbec with the wine which was ok and a margarita with the fish. It had good flavors. For dessert we had the new yummy peanut butter cake. We finished with the s'more bourbon drink but which was strong and yummy. Our waitress was nice but I had to ask for more water. My pet peeve. The restaurant was cute, a nice singer on the deck and I got to see the end of the World Cup. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Mains - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

See all

Yes. Delicious broiled walleye. Local cocktail. Pro service. Plenty of nautical decor. Solid choice in a town for tourists.

The service was fast and the waitress was knowledgeable. We walked over from our event for lunch. We sat inside due to it was a little hot outside. I ordered the chicken salad with ranch. It was delicious and I ate it all. I will definitely be back next year! read more

See all

I came here for an early dinner and ordered the Great Lakes Walleye on a Tuesday. They had live music and a huge crowd here. The decoration here makes me think it's like a tourist water shack place. It was kind of cute. There's also an outdoor patio. Our waitress was quick and nice. Now for my fish, it was decent and lightly seasoned. There was a few fish bones but no big deal to me. The garlic bread was weak but the asparagus was amazing. I am glad I asked to add more vegetables to replace the rice. There is free 3 hour parking out front and parking behind the resturant. read more

See all

This place have so much to offer. The location is great, at the downtown of St.Ignace. ( be careful with mosquitoes tho, if you prefer outside). And foods, they have various seafood dishes you can pick. Fish, crab, etc... they did tried to elevate for the dish, so it looks great and actually delicious as well. The service was outstanding, even though it was rush hour, our server was very quick. For the small city like this, they did great. read more

See all

What a beautiful setting, with gorgeous blue Lake Michigan literally across the street. The lobster chowder is simply insane, and I enjoyed their caesar salad, although it was a little goopy on the dressing and could've used more garlic. I had a delicious local IPA--as an Oregonian, I am a total beer snob, and the Coastie was a nice summery experience. We can't speak to a lot of the other food, but honestly, the menu looks great, and if nothing else come for the chowder. (Note to Buoys -- if you want us to review onsite, have public wi-fi.) read more

As local residents, this was unfortunately our first and last experience with Buoys By The Bay. During the St. Ignace Car Show, the normal parking pattern had been disrupted by temporary fencing and heavy traffic. We parked off to the side near the temporary barrier next to a vacant building with no signage--not in the clearly marked customer parking spaces directly behind the restaurant. When we returned, we discovered our vehicle had been towed. What disappointed us most wasn't the tow itself. It was how the situation was handled. Employees were coming and going while we parked, yet no one simply walked over and asked us to move our vehicle. A one-minute conversation would have resolved the entire situation. Instead, the owner chose to call a tow truck. When we returned and found our vehicle gone, there were still open customer parking spaces directly behind the restaurant. When my 68-year-old husband spoke with the owner and explained that we had made an honest mistake, the owner laughed. There was no understanding, no courtesy, and no acknowledgment that simply asking us to move the vehicle would have accomplished the same result. We considered pursuing this matter in court after researching Michigan's tow-away requirements, but ultimately decided against it because the $125 was never the point. The point was the complete lack of customer service, common courtesy, and simple human kindness. We truly believe the owner may never realize the impact that one decision had on two local residents. That experience says far more about a business than any menu ever could. People may forget what they ate, but they rarely forget how they were treated. We hope the owner someday realizes that great customer service isn't measured by protecting one parking space--it's measured by how you treat people when they make an honest mistake. A parking space can be replaced. A customer's trust cannot. Unfortunately, we won't be back, and we won't be recommending Buoys By The Bay to our friends or family. Customer service is measured not only by the food you serve, but by how you treat people. read more

Casual little restaurant with delicious food! Had the pesto chicken; was beautifully prepared by a chef who cares as much about presentation as taste. Bar had a small but well-rounded selection of beers on tap. Had a dark beer was very tasty. Waitress was cheerful and helpful. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Pesto Chicken - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

Food was delicious especially the Walleye dinner. Nice waterfront views from lakeside tables. Great service.

Fantastic service, well crafted menu full of options for everyone and the food is well presented while packed with flavor! Highly recommend the Lobster Chowder and Shrimp Bruschetta. Our server was fantastic, friendly and the staff were always stopping by to refill waters and keep the restaurant clean! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Chardonnay, S'mores Old Fashioned - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

See all

Finally a gastro pub that lives up to its name !! Started with the Brussels sprouts! Very good!! Wife had the tomato bisque, also great. She also had the pesto bruschetta and it was good but should be called a flatbread. Nice large shrimp and great balsamic. The fish t was also great. All of this at a place with a view of the lake. I think our waitress was a family member. Very friendly and very efficient wind her years. All in all a great spot in St Ignace !! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Patio view - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

We stopped in route to the Porcupine Mountains. What an excellent place. First it is veteran owned! The menu is diverse enough to keep everyone happy. The food was amazing! We had the Brussels sprouts, white fish po boy, lettuce cups, Mac and cheese. It was all great. The sweet potato fries were perfect. The waiter was friendly. The outdoor is cute with the colored tables and umbrellas. You can see the water from inside or out. Highly recommend! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Lettuce boats - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

Excellent food with 5-star presentation!! Chef Ramsey would be proud!! Casual island-y ambiance and great service!

Says they are dog friendly on their website and on reviews but when you show up, they aren't dog friendly. False advertising and a waste of time read more

The food was very good. I had Walleye cooked perfectly. It was served with 2 spears of asparagus steamed and rice. It was a simple presentation but very delicious. My wife had the Pesto chicken. She said it was very good. It must have been because she took the leftovers home. We had a brief wait but they sent us a text when seating was available. I was curious as to why they would have 3 large tables that were empty while 3 sets of twosome's waited to be seated. I would think smaller tables that could be combined for a larger group would be more efficient. Staff was great, very friendly and attentive. Overall, a very positive experience. We'll be back. read more

Great ambiance and excellent food. Especially loved the jerk chicken (esp loved it was served with rice and beans and plantains-yum!!) We talked to the owner and they have some really authentic Jamaican dishes (curry chicken and jerk chicken). Even Jamaicans come here to eat/take out! My husband ordered the whitefish and it was delicious! Will definitely come back!! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Jerk chicken dinner was excellent!! - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

See all

We really enjoyed sitting on the patio outside and our server was very good; hardworking staff & very friendly. The water view was beautiful. We weren't starving, wanted a light dinner, so we decided to share an order of the whitefish tacos (3) and bowl of the lobster chowder. The chowder was delicious. The whitefish tacos disappointing; barely any fish inside. Literally one piece in each about the size of a not -large finger. Drinks were good and quite inexpensive. I enjoyed an Irish Mule & my husband had the Beer Barrel Old Fashioned. For 'desert' we shared the King of S'mores, which was quite fun. I'd give them another chance, when passing thru but definitely ordering differently. Love the owner's sense of humor in response to some reviews!! Such a great attitude, please keep it up! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Outside sign, gave us a good laugh - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

See all

Drinks and appetizers were very good. We had sirloin and whitefish as our entrees. Lava cake for dessert was yummy. Service was a little slow but it was Saturday evening. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

We were looking through Yelp reviews for a restaurant after a road trip in the Upper Peninsula. Buoys on the Bay came up on our screen and we decided to take a chance on it. The restaurant was full and lively. The only seats available were at the bar. No problem. It took a little time for the drink order to be made (they were busy after all) . After receiving the drinks, we ordered Crab Rangoon and the Lobster Chowder - both delicious. We both ordered the Great Lakes Walleye with potatoes and broccoli - excellent. Remember that there is a cash price and a card price (it's on the menu) - this is being passed on to us, the customer. Not a problem here either. Overall a good experience. We will be back. read more

See all

Cool vibe inside and great seating outside on the deck too which was a popular choice. Service was friendly but a little slow although we were seated quickly. Food was good. Had the brisket Mac & Cheese - being a Mac & cheese connoisseur I wouldn't get it again. Didn't care for the BBQ sauce (had too much of a kick - guessing they just mixed hot sauce in some bbq sauce). Overall decent place to stop! read more

See all

Fun atmosphere from the bright exterior to the lively nautical interior. Great deck area with a marina and lake view. Fun cocktails and local beer on tap. High top, low top seating and a bar with stools. Super friendly staff, fast and efficient. Everyone was moving around with a sense of energy and urgency. Nice portion sizes. Nice variety of menu items - apps, homemade soup, sandwiches, salads, and entres. Flavorful, yet everything seemed a little over seasoned to me. What we ate: * Tomato bisque * Bacon wrapped shimp with cheesy polenta * Center span sirloin with mashed potatoes * TCD Pilsner * King of Smores cocktail Would we comeback? Yes! My rating rationale +1 Service +.5 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value read more

See all

The beer was cold and the food was hot. I ordered the Brussel Sprouts and their fish tacos. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing! They were grilled just right and the honey bacon sauce was totally on point. The fish tacos presented fresh fish with a mango salsa. The only complaint is the tacos while very fresh , were a little bland. They need a little kick. That is my only gripe. service was friendly, and professional. I would highly recommend this establishment. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Brussel sprouts and fish tacos. - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

Had a really awesome time here. The food was extremely good. The drinks were also solid. They have a lot of different Moscow mules to try. I enjoyed the cranberry one a lot. There was music on the patio but the wait was super long so we are inside. The decor and vibes are really good. Wait staff was friendly and quick. We started with the pretzels and the crab Rangoon. Both were very good. The dip for the pretzels was interesting and tasty. For entrees we got the whitefish tacos and the soft shell crab sandy. I wish the tacos had a bit more filling in them, but it was still bomb. The salsa on top was delightful. The crab sandy was super good, very crispy. Would recommend trying this place! read more

See all

Please do not establish this business. For many reasons: First the food. Wife ordered the Black Bean Burger. She saw that on the menu online and she made her mind up that's where we were going. When the food came, it was a store bought veggie burger and not a "Michigan" made black bean burger. It came with a thin slice of tomato, one slice of lettuce, and an absurd thick slice of onion. I had the steak and veggies. The steak was over cooked and not medium. It was not to my liking and thin. Definitely not worth the $33 dollar price tag. Ambiance was good, with the exception of the out of key singer who was summing all the local canines from the neighborhood. The patio was nice with a great view. The service was abysmal. The young man that helped us was awkward and too shy to be in the service industry. Never asked or tried to refill tea. It was like he wanted us out of there. Then the bill came. There was a cash price and a credit price. There was nothing to let us know that before the meal came. That's shady. Then after we paid and walked out, there is an obscure sign saying veteran and first responders discount. The server never asked us about either. Which we are both. It didn't matter anyway because the discount would have been wiped away by their shady business practices about not in forming you about a differing price for cash or credit. Which is beyond ridiculous in a tourist area. Shady do not patronize this place. How it got over 4 stars is beyond me. read more

Buoys By The Bay - Ridiculous - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

The white fish dinner was very enjoyable and just lightly coated and came with mashed potato and asparagus. Liberty, our server was helpful in deciding what to eat, quick to serve our drinks and dinners and was always smiling. read more

Great food and service! Great view and value! Family run and it shows. Good selection of beers. read more

Excellent location in a fun atmosphere. The staff were super nice and pretty attentive to our refill needs. The food was very good. Our party of 4 all ordered different dinners so we could each have a bite of the others. Everything was very yummy. We feel like we lucked out because we tried a place down the street that had long waits and ended up here. We will return whenever we are in or coming through the area. read more

Great meal, food was good and fast. It was a success with the kids! Service was very friendly.

Get the prop wash with a floater I don't like frozen nor sweet drinks but it was really good it tastes like a fresh lemonade slush

Finally had the opportunity to try this place. It was amazing! From the moment we walked in we were greeted and sat immediately. Love the nautical vibe. The food is fabulous. Lots of gluten free options. Got the Ya Buoy Burger on a gluten free bun with a side of gluten free sweet potato fries. Also, ordered a salad, which was very fresh and a good portion. They do have patio dining too, which overlooks the water. Check them out next time you are in town. Waitstaff is amazing!! read more

See all

We ate dinner here on our recent vacation to St Ignace. They have a really nice deck outside, so we ate there. It looked like a burger place, but their menu had some surprising choices. I had the cheese ravioli with pesto sauce and my husband had the steak dinner. The ravioli was amazing! It was topped with shaved Parmesan cheese and pine nuts, which was a nice touch. My husband's steak was done perfectly (medium) and very tender. His dinner also included mashed potatoes and asparagus, which were also delicious. Our waitress was so friendly and nice. She checked on us a couple times and was quick to refill drinks. It happened to be the weekend of some semi-truck show and parade (the parade was at night where the trucks all lit up and with horns blaring, paraded over the Mackinac bridge and back. Quite the spectacle!), and she let us stay to watch. I would definitely recommend this cute restaurant with delicious food! read more

We stopped off at Buoy's By The Bay for a cocktail. We ordered the Beer Barrel Old Fashion & a Lemon Lavendar Margarita. Both were delicious! After looking at the menu we spied the Brussels sprouts...which we both LOVE! So, we had an order, fell in love & ordered another! We then decided to try the "King of the S'Mores", which was basically an old fashioned with marshmallows! WOW! Delicious! read more

See all

Place was packed so we sat at the bar. Good atmosphere. Great outdoor area. Service and food were both good. I got the soft shell crab sandwich which was mostly breading so I'd recommend a different selection. My wife got the Shrimp Bruchetta which she liked. read more

Today we visited Buoys by the Bay, after a long drive up to St. Ignace from SE Michigan. It is located on the other side of the main road from the water, but actually has a pretty nice view. Great patio, however we were inside due to time constraints (kitchen closes at 9p). We ordered the Lobster Mac-kinac, Bacon wrapped Jumbo Shrimp and the Whitefish Tacos. All three dishes were incredible, however the Lobster Mac and the Bacon Shrimp were exceptional. The service was great and our waitress was very attentive. They were short handed and we had a trainee helping us by herself. She did a great job! We look forward to visiting Buoys again on our next trip to the U.P. read more

See all

What in the Pesto Magic? And how about that roux?? Truly, among the best food I have eaten. Everyone was super friendly and attentive. THIS FOOD! The view of the lake is barely noticeable with the food as a focus (but it's glorious, of course.) The Pesto Chicken was not only photogenic, it was filled with flavor. The sear on the asparagus left just the right flavor and the crunch! Husband's pasta tasted authentically Cajun (not what I expected this far from the Deep South!) And it all starts with the roux which was the perfect color. Not only will we be back, we will be back on our way home this weekend! Thank you for starting our vacation off with a very high, very delicious bar! read more

Buoys By The Bay - Pesto Chicken - Gastropubs Near Me - St. Ignace, Michigan

See all