While visiting family in Michigan over a holiday weekend recently someone in our group had a craving for cheesecake. Apparently The Cove has a reputation for having great cheesecake so we made a special stop just for that. A lot of the menu items looked enticing and the view along the water was quite pleasant so we ended up ordering some other desserts including the chocolate mousse cake along with some other food and drinks too. Two of us had the Boozy Root Beer Float, I had the Sunset Sangria with a burger and Caesar salad. Next time I would like to try the crab cakes. Our waitress was friendly and making jokes. We enjoyed the atmosphere and even seeing a couple of swans with their babies pass us by. read more

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What a cozy place!! We were able to sit on the patio overlooking the beautiful water. Service was fast and pleasant, drinks cold and made to perfection, and the food was absolutely delicious! I will definitely be going back again next time I'm in town. read more

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Love the view always from the outside deck. and the food is always good. Our waitress was attentive

The food was good and they had a wide variety of options. The cocktails however, had little to no alcohol in them. We had 3 different drinks and none of them tasted like alcohol was added. The service was extremely slow. We had to wait and or ask for everything. After we asked for the check, we waited at least 15 minutes to finally cash out. read more

Let me start by say thing this was a special date night for my husband and I. We had hopes of a fabulous meal and a place we hadn't been to before. My husband is on oxygen and has a portable unit. We, of course, were seated at the furthest table possible from the front door. That's probably just Murphy's Law and possibly an area to improve training the reception staff. Dining area has no sound suppression and is one very long room. Extremely loud. I could not hear my date from across our 2-top table. Service was disappointing, but it may not have been her fault. It seems this establishment has no interest in accommodating, nor knowledge of, food allergies. There are no vegan options and no way to avoid dairy on/in most everything on the menu. Absolutely no starters are available without dairy (or cross contamination). We were told the crab cakes "have butter as a binder..." I'm not kidding. It's simple, mildly seasoned food, but it's almost all covered in butter for absolutely no reason I can honestly fathom. Once our food arrived, things went downhill quickly. My entire dish was cold (whitefish meal, no substitutions). His was piping hot (Sunset Shrimp, no subs but no dairy). We found our meals to have mediocre flavor, at best. I almost never do this when out, but had to add salt and pepper to all of my meal. The "champagne butter sauce" on my whitefish was a bland Alfredo-ish covering (no, not a drizzle or light coating) that I eventually scraped to the side. We were also very disappointed when informed at the end of the meal that our gift card - given to us and saved for this experience - was not valid on Mondays, because we're members of the Millennium Group club. IYKYK, but we've never had another MG restaurant do this to us. All in all, a total bust. Not a good environment for a couple, a disabled person, or someone with a food sensitivity. While we love MG restaurants, we'll stay clear of this one. read more

The restaurant had a nice vibe to it and had lake view which is nice too. The food was subpar at least for my entree. I had risotto and added salmon to it, the risotto just tasted very tomato-ey but that's because that was its based. I probably wouldn't gone that route if I knew that. I think i like it more creamier based. The fries were good and also the calamari were good. I think the appetizer was better than my actual entree. Perhaps a different entree would've worked better. read more

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The ambiance and music choice was a 5/5 out server was great as well thank you Haley for your service . The food was good but not anything crazy , the white fish was too fishy in my opinion menu is basic but the view and the vibes are top tier ! Thank you Cove staff . read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - White Fish - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

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The food was awesome! I especially loved the beets and goats salad--the dressing really brought out the sweet and savory flavors of the feta and beets, and those candied walnuts were *so* good. Service was super quick and friendly--they explained the menu when we had questions and were happy to make any changes we asked for. The place was clean and nicely set up, both inside and out. I really liked the sun shades outside too--perfect for a sunny day. Definitely coming back to try more dishes! read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Menu front - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

We took the patio table, great water views on all tables outside!! The patio tables do not take reservations, so go as soon as it opens as they fill out fast! We Ordered coconut shrimp curry and ahi tuna burger, both were delicious!! For dessert, we ordered chocolate ganache with snickerdoodle, which was good but extremely sweet. Service was great, our server was super sweet and friendly! read more

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Anna was the perfect server! Fast and personable. Door was outstanding! Crab cake sandwich was nicely done! My wife had the quinoa burger, also well prepared. Fries were perfect pub fries. Would Highly recommend. Great atmosphere. We chose outdoor seating. Great choice, sun shades and a wonderful breeze coming off West Lake. read more

Great spot for lunch or dinner on their outdoor patio seated on West Lake. Lots of seafood and fish options to make you feel like you are eating on the coast! The coconut crusted cod was amazing! If you like coconut shrimp, you'll love this. The salmon was also a hit at our meal. The service was ok, slightly stuck up, but the atmosphere made it all worth it. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Coconut Crusted Fresh Cod and Chips - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

What a great place to sit outside with a beautiful view of West Lake! I've been here a few times now and the consistency is excellent in both food and service. For appetizers we've tried the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and the Sweet & Spicy Parmesan Fries. Both were absolutely delicious, but the fries....oh brother....incredible and addictive! Thick cut, hot, perfectly crispy on the outside but tender on the inside with a really tasty sweet & spicy drizzle. The fries are crispy enough to hold up to the sauce without becoming soggy. There is also a very good dipping sauce on the side to add a little extra spice too. Burgers here are very good, made with a choice cut burger blend. The Topside Burger, that includes a crab cake on it, was hearty, flavorful, filling, and delicious. GF buns are available as well. The Beets & Goat salad is generously portioned and topped, and very very good. On my most recent visit they had a Shrimp & Grits entrée on special that rivaled some of the best I've had in Alabama and Louisiana. I was nothing short of impressed. The staff here has been beyond friendly, accommodating, kind, attentive, and outgoing on every single visit. Some of the very best service I've had in the area. I only wish we'd have found this place years ago. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Sweet & Spicy Parmesan Fries - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

We like this place and love eating outside! The steak is very good. Dessert is also pretty good and the plating is excellent.

A beautiful lakeside setting makes for a relaxing lunch or dinner. For lunch, I tried the mushroom sandwich with red onions and swiss cheese. The flavor was very good, but the choice of mushrooms may have not been the best as they were very fibrous and harder to eat. The service was excellent and the choice of music (mostly 70s and 80s Pop) was also enjoyable. Overall, a very good experience and reasonably priced ($16). read more

Finally got to visit the Cove. Everyone was eating outside, so my sister and I sat outside too. Terrific view of West Lake. We ordered cocktails, peach margaritas! Delicious and potent. This was followed by cups of French Onion soup. Wonderful! For entrees we had the lobster fondue: a marvelous mixture of lobster and cheese, served in a bread roll. They were splendid. The waitstaff was impeccable. Great experience. read more

I was visiting my hometown over the weekend and we were in the area looking for lunch. First time here, I remember thinking "this reminds me of Fieldstone Grille" and sure enough it is owned by the same group. The parking lot was pretty full but we were seated right away. The waitress was good. The service was quick. We got the Hampton Clam Chowder, grilled cheese and a burger and fries. It was all pretty good. The soup could have been a bit warmer. Pricing was fair. The dining room overlooked West Lake and has a large outdoor seating area (it was cold and rainy so we sat inside). It also had a large bar area. read more

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We were seated quickly inside and the service was great. It was beautiful looking outside at West Lake because it was around 615 and the Sun was shining and the water was sparkling. Great ambiance, loved the decor . The food was excellent as I had the whitefish with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The food arrived pretty quick very tasty and seasoned just right . We will definitely go back again ! The servers were very friendly and professional. read more

The staff was wonderful and very attentive. We had clam chowder, steak, thick french fries, and brussels sprouts. The clam chowder was excellent and hot - just like food should be. The steak tasted wonderful, but was a bit tough to chew. The french fries were cold by the time they got to us and we could have done without the Brussel sprouts were also cold. But - we will give you another try. read more

The food was great! I had coconut curry shrimp. It was delicious but I wish there was more rice! Where was the bread? We picked this restaurant because of outside seating. I think the restaurant would put money into the shade sails so they cover the deck. Perhaps a small salad.would be great. The restaurant had some unique dishes on the menu!! But I will go back!! It was very good especially compared to other restaurants. read more

My wife and I met my bro and SIL for lunch. They chose the place. We walked away satisfied! We were seated with a view is the lake. Really nice (however the lake was very choppy today). There's a nice amount of room between the tables. I hate it when places jam as many tables in as they can. We all started with the clam chowder. Nice and thick! I detest a thin chowder. This is anything but that! The roux was a bit dark, however, this chowder is one of the better I've had recently. I ordered their French Dip. Nice soft bread. Great jus. The horseradish cream? I got zero heat. Good overall tho. Wife got the Lobsta roll. A great amount of properly dressed Lobsta. Not drowned in dressing. She really liked it. Bro got the Ahi burger. He said it was over and a bit dry. SIL ordered the salmon. Excellent grill marks, delicious glaze (her words) and perfect cook. We shall come back. For sure. read more

Food was excellent! We had such a nice celebration. So thankful they were open on a Sunday evening.

Ambiance- except for the bees, pretty nice. Well maintained place in general. Pretty turned off immediately by their soggy paper menus but we sat outside and didn't want to look too far into it. The limescale on the water was also off putting, probably shouldn't be scraping calcium and soap residue off of their water jugs but again, whatever. Service was fine too, super friendly. Unfortunately I went to eat out for the food and the food was of similar quality to any given Trader Joe's frozen dinner. I got the curry shrimp. The rice was undercooked, but the veg inside was total snot from being overcooked. The shrimp was essentially rubber for the same reason. Nice flavor in general actually, but pretty clearly batched, sat on a hot plate or microwaved before service. My wife got the crab cake burger, which strangely came with the exact same Gordon Food Service bun that every middle school in the US uses for their burgers. Better off with frozen food and bumming it at the park. read more

Location is excellent. Beautiful buildout and view - felt like we were up north near traverse. Service was friendly but a bit on the slow side, seemed like there was a lot of tables to cover. Food was good - I had the whitefish which was tasty and perfectly acceptable but not jaw dropping. Solid presentation. Def worth checking out. This area has come a long way in the last decade... read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Whitefish dinner $24 - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

Beautiful views of West Lake. Great food, interesting menu. We always receive great service. Cocktails on the deck at Sunset is a real treat! read more

This is, without a doubt, the greatest restaurant I have ever dined at in America. - Impeccable service and hospitality - Amazing outdoor seating with beautiful lake views. - Spectacular food, especially the bread+butter and fries. - Great price to quality ratio It does not get better than this! read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Lake views - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

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We always have good service, good food and drinks. There's not too many restaurants that have a lake view like this place. No clue why the ratings are so low. Kazoo can be fickle. Give it a try! read more

I highly recommend this place , love there Great Happy Hour drink list, also love there a Fall menu it's amazing we had great food and delicious food. Our waitress was very nice and recommended a few items honestly everything was very good! Fun place to go on a date or celebrate any occasion. read more

Came here for dinner with a friend on a Tuesday night and it looked pretty packed! We still got in with no wait. I had the mojitorita as my drink which tasted exactly as it sounds and was decent. We split the calamari as an appetizer and it was so delicious! Came out super fast as well. The crab cake sandwich was ok. Nothing super special. My entree plus my friend's entree were kind of small portions for the price. The server was friendly and attentive! I think I'd come back here again to try something else. read more

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Best view in town! Amazing service. Really good food and the jalapeño margaritas are delicious. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

Cove has a great view of the West Lake. Their food is not disappointing, and the price is pretty reasonable. I had the Quinoa Burger, which was very pleasant. It's a cute place to go out to that isn't too fancy. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

The best. This is a darling little restaurant with a nautical theme overlooking the lake. I had an incredible meal. The toed salad was especially great. I had the vegetarian mushroom vegetable stew. Oh ...DELICIOUS! I really want to return when I'm back in the area. I saw several things on the menu that sounded appealing. I could tell by the salad and the stew that the Chef knows his/her way around the kitchen. Thank you for such a nice evening! read more

Same bland food that all the other millennium group restaurants have. Being on a lake doesn't make you a seafood place. It's frozen food from the local Gordon's. Even the name is just a rip off of the place that was there 40 years ago. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro has beautiful views of the lake from the large patio or the dining room. I have eaten here many times over the years and the food is exceptional. My favorite is the mushroom ravioli. My friend said the filet is great. I highly recommend Cove Lakeside Bistro. read more

This is not my first time at Cove. However, it is my first time eating here since being plant based vegan. I met a friend for lunch and was excited to see that they not only had vegan options but plant based vegan (side note...PBV on the menu stands for plant based vegan). I was appreciative that our server pointed that out. We had our lunch outside on the patio which we had a beautiful view of the water. Now regarding the food. For starters, I had the soup of the day which was a chickpea soup and that was delicious and also PBV. For lunch I had the cauliflower rice bowl which sounded amazing on the menu but when I got it and took my first bite, I have to say I was disappointed. It lacked flavor big time. Just a few more spices/seasoning (besides salt) would have made this bowl fantastic! I would come back here simply based on the view but I would definitely try something else on the menu that is PBV. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - Chickpea soup-Plant Based Vegan - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

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This as our first visit. Great service by Jay and the rest of the staff. Food was delicious as expected for a restaurant with top notch location on a lake and beautiful decorations. read more

Cove Lakeside Bistro - American Near Me - Portage, Michigan

Great restaurant with an awesome Lakeside view especially during sunset. I ordered a Grilled Whitefish with Asparagus. Great food, the only disappointing thing is the portion size of the food. The portion seems small in my opinion. I have seen other reviews that also mentioned the small servings for the main entrees. The staff are friendly and makes you feel welcome the moment you step into the restaurant. Great service by the staff as well. read more

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Location was the best part of dining at The Cove. Our view overlooking the lake, as always, was beautiful. Lunch, however, was not memorable. My clam chowder was pricey and tasted like it had come from a can. The server was very good. read more

Visiting family in Michigan and after a 2 hour drive from Chicago of course we were hungry. I jumped on Yelp and found this place. It's right on the lake and has a nice outdoor patio with a nice view of the water. Unfortunately this particular day wasn't the best in terms of weather so we opted to dine inside. The inside was nice homey type of feel. Our server, the hostess were all friendly and welcoming. It was happy hour and Margaritas were $5. They were so good I ordered 2. The whitefish dip was a nice addition for the palate. It had a smoky flavor but wasn't overwhelming. The lobster roll was my favorite. Fries were seasoned perfectly. Too bad it's a 2 hour drive from Chicago because if it weren't I'd surely make this a frequent dining option. read more

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The only good thing about this place is that is on the lake. So in summer you can get a nice view. That is it. Food is below average, i.e. uses poor quality ingredients plus lacks flavor. I thought the cocktails might be better but nop, NOT ! It is a misuse of such a nice location. read more

This experience was absurdly ridiculous. Showed up early, the host stand had nobody available, finally someone told us it would be 30 minutes for a table the water. The bar was understaffed the wait staff was lacking and I would HIGHLY advise from coming here. Bad service bad EVERYTHING read more