Food, service, scenery all perfect! The menu has improved so much and the food was delicious! The servers couldn't have been better. The character of the lodge remains unchanged. read more

This place is in a great location - you don't have to leave the park to have lunch or dinner. That's exactly why we stopped here. The food here was 4 stars, the service was 3. My husband ordered the Big Ox Burger which was really good! I had the Walleye Tacos, they were okay - a few really good bites, and a few meh. I had a side salad and he the cheese curds. Both were good, the cheese curds were not "state fair cheese curds", but they were good. The service - our waitress was friendly and seemed happy to be there, but there was no promptness and she seemed to forget a lot. She did refill my water once (which made me pretty happy after the 2 mile hike I'd just finished), but we had to go get our silverware. Also, the time between getting seated and getting our food was quite a while - at least 45 minutes to an hour. Overall, if you have the time, eat here. If you don't, bring your own food, or there's a cafe at the headwaters (I know they have ice cream), maybe they have real food too? read more

See all

The walleye sandwich is delicious! The servers were slow, but pleasant. The ambience is woodsy and beautiful.

Always a must when visiting the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The Douglas Lodge cafe is a good taste of lake life in Minnesota! Their creamy wild rice soup is a must. I also got their Walleye Nibblers which were fried to perfection! They have very good comfort food with Minnesota favorites. It's a yearly tradition when up at the family lake to stop by Douglas Lodge. Even if there is a small wait there are places to walk around to see the river. read more

Douglas Lodge - Creamy wild rice soup and Walleye nibblers. - New American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

The Douglas Lodge is located in Itasca State Park and is a must if you come here. Not only do you get scenic views of the park, but you also get classic Minnesotan dishes! They have anything you could want here. When we came on this trip, we got the walleye nibblers for an appetizer and they were amazing. They have a light breading and are very light. For main meals, most of us got the Canadian bluegills, which were great! Others got the tator tot hot dish or the wild rice hot dish, which are favorites here. One of us also got the walleye sandwich which was said to be good. The service was good here too. The only bad thing was that the prices can be expensive depending on what you order. We came for lunch so it wasn't that bad. Overall a great spot hidden away in Itasca State Park. Worth a trip if you haven't been here before! Great stop for a park day. read more

See all

There were parts of this eating experience I really liked, but other stuff I really didn't. The serving staff was nice, and the entrees were a decent size. I thought the prices were a bit too expensive for what they tasted like though. I ordered the wild rice salad, and I didn't like it much at all. It was very watery, and just didn't have the greatest flavor to me. It came with a breadstick, which was by far the best part of the meal. My sister ordered veggie pasta, which came with a good side salad and a loaf of bread! She was expecting it to have real noodles, but it was carrot and zucchini strips, so that was disappointing! It had good flavor, but it literally was just a huge bowl of vegetables in sauce! My dad ordered a Reuben, which he said was good. I would maybe go back there again, but I would definitely get something else! read more

Douglas Lodge - Veggie Pasta - New American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

I stopped in again, after my last visit in August 2016 (wrote a review then), and was pleased to find that it was still amazing. This time I stopped in for breakfast before exploring the park again. I went specifically to check out the wild rice pancakes. Who can resist that?? I visited on Wednesday, around 8:30am, which was perfect. Only a few tables taken. I got a table by the window overlooking the lovely landscape and towering trees. So peaceful and serene. And yes, I ordered the Douglas Lodge Mini Chef, ($7.00) which included 1 egg (I paid $1 more to add a second egg), scrambled perfectly, sausage and a wild rice pancake. Everything was cooked to perfection. The pancake was a regular pancake with bits of cooked wild rice in it. Made even better with lots of butter and syrup!:)) Needless to say, I ate every bite. Moaning with pleasure the whole time! My server was Coral, and she was so sweet, efficient, and made the experience even better. There is a bit of a winding route to the bathroom, which is clean and spacious. You pay at the check out desk at the entrance of the dining room. Do not miss this gem of a restaurant - the ambience and food make for a perfect experience. Be sure to allow time to wander around the lodge and the grounds. Plenty of parking in a large lot nearby. **as always, they have seasonal hours, so call ahead to be sure they will be open. read more

Had dinner here while staying in the park. A great facility with historic bones. Our server must have been exhausted from a long day, as she took forever to come to our table, and after we received our food, wasn't seen until she brought the check. The meal itself was a huge disappointment. My wife had the walleye sandwich, and it was two very thin pieces of tough fish about the size of a half dollar on a bun with lettuce and tomato. I had the bluegill basket, and the fish was even thinner. I wanted to try the blueberry pie for dessert, but our server delivered the check before we were even finished with our meals - she obviously wanted to go home. We arrived well before closing, but felt like we received the leftover food from the weekend and were rushed to leave. read more

Despite having limited days and hours due to post-COVID staffing challenges, the meals were solid. Service was as prompt as reasonable. The ambience was comfortable, with park-related photos and lots of windows. The prices ae reasonable. read more

This is a restaurant that is inside the Itasca State park and is run by the state. The location is beautiful, the scenery is beautiful, the building in nice but the food is just okay. You also catch the Paddle Boat tours near here. I took pictures of the simple menu. The dinner menu doesn't start until 5pm, weird it isn't earlier. Lunch ends at 5pm. We had a full table but they do not appreciate my yelp photos taking. I tried to photograph a couple things. I would stick to the fresh caught stuff here, those seem to be the meals that hit. We had the walleye fingers, they were tasty. The cheese curds seemed to be a frozen meal and not fresh. I wouldn't get those again. The prices are in line with downtown Minneapolis prices, do not expect country prices. They have a cute lobby to hang out in also. If you plan on coming here, be aware that they do take reservations. I would recommend that you make reservations especially if you have a large party. They had wine made from Raspberries and NOT grapes. It was tasty. My wife and I are trying to limit the animal protein in our diet and we have had so much this weekend. We both decided to just get a light soup and salad combo for $10. I had their Tomato Soup and my wife chose the Wild Rice soup which I am told grows in Lake Itasca. That is cool. People at our table had burgers and they were cooked very well. You can be upset being in this beautiful park, just go withe the flow and relax! Enjoy your time! read more

See all

I love eating here when visiting Itasca. We enjoyed most of our meals. The naan and hummus tray we both agreed we wouldn't order again. Something I could easily make it home... it seemed like super store bought. But good . My boyfriend got the salmon special and really liked it. I got the veggie pasta delight I think it was called. It was good! Spirulized carrots and zucchini. Was a nice option to have. My son loved the bread loaves! We ordered desserts too which were also super good. It was kind of expensive but probably because they are out in the boonies and it probably costs more to get their supplies. read more

***Please note this review is for the restaurant and not the hotel!*** I had an excellent time exploring the Itasca park. It's a beautiful place and I was happy to see there was a restaurant in the lodge there. I was not happy when my food and service was awful. The lunch menu had sandwiches and soups. I got a burger because it sounded filling but it was pretty sad when it came out. My waitress was crabby and neglectful. When I asked what kind of vegetables came on the side she replied, "It's a Californian mix". Do you know what a Californian mix of vegetables includes? I don't. Could you go back in the kitchen for and read the plastic bag these clearly frozen vegetables come from? Doesn't matter what a Californian mix is, its gross and you don't want it. She never even came for my check so after twenty minutes of reading a book I found a host and asked if I could pay her. This is a real shame. It's a lovely park and the lodge is so cute. It would be nice to enjoy a good meal after a long day of hiking or biking. Unfortunately this isn't the place to get it. Pack a lunch or find food outside of the park. read more

Our food was very tasty, and our server was fantastic. The hostesses were distractible, and unable to multitask.

I love the Douglas Lodge. The food is great and nicely priced. The staff is always very nice and fast. Their breakfast is delicious. We come to Itasca every year, and we have yet to be disappointed. Also, they have really good food pie and coffee! read more

Quality food, great views, and nice service. I was pleased with the prices, considering that the meat was sourced locally - it was really quite good. I was not expecting the quality to be as good as it was, and I would be completely content with stopping off here every time we are checking out the headwaters. read more

We ate dinner and breakfast here and both were good. The building is amazing. I recommend that anyone staying in the park eat here.

Food was good from a limited menu due to understaff. Half as many tables as usual. Open 11am to 5 pm. Service was still good regardless of low staffing. There were 8 adults, 2 kids and 2 under two in our group. Waitress was great. read more

Was quite surprised by how good this was! Fresh, good portions and a serene view. It is even more enjoyable after a long day biking! read more

Douglas Lodge - New American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

See all

Hard Pass on the restaurant! Arrived at 8:30am on a Monday morning. Much like another reviewer the server took forever to arrive at our table. She was the only server for a table of 11 while three other tables of two each arrived in her section. Note: We were one of the tables of two. There was another server there who appeared to have less tables... who knows?? Anyway, slowest service ever. When the food did arrive part of our breakfast was missing (no bacon). We didn't even bother telling the waitress as she was too busy and by the looks of how downhill things were going it would most likely be quite a bit before our missing bacon would arrive. After reviewing the bill it sealed the deal. We had asked for one additional pancake on the side which was $6 (yup, $6 for ONE yes 1 pancake). We paid the bill and cut our losses. Itasca is a beautiful park but skip the Douglas Lodge restaurant. Not worth the time or the money. read more

Quaint rustic restaurant but overpriced. $62.00 for lunch is a little steep but it in Itasca State Park and headwaters of the Mississippi River. The experience is worth it I guess since I was going there only once in my lifetime The food was good and the service was good as well. read more

We have been yelping now for several years and have come to appreciate there are all sorts of variables which factor into ratings for an establishment. i'm giving this a four star rating because, 1) the ratings are very low overall on the previous reviews and I feel the rating really should be higher for this lodge based upon our dining experience, and 2) for the area, the food was very good. We had a group of eight, four adults and two teens and two children. Kids meals are typical and the kids finished their meals in no time flat. Everyone else ordered off the menu. Wild rice soup is broth base and is very good. Fried pickles are perfectly fried. Unique sausages on sausage platter and is served with great bread. Elk burger and walleye bites are good. We will be back. The lodge is great. Service is fantastic. read more

We absolutely love to go to Douglas Lodge on Lake Itasca in Minnesota's Itasca State Park for breakfast & lunch. It is good food, average prices & a very peaceful atmosphere. Service is never very great but food almost always comes out timely & hot. Dinners are okay but more spendy. There is limited variety of wine & beer available. read more

Douglas Lodge finally has a menu that lives up to this historic property's legendary status. If you're looking for a burger and cheese curds, or a massive Midwest-sized portion, granted, this might not be the place for you. There's plenty of taverns and roadside bars around that will happily serve you heart-attack-on-a-plate (or in a basket). But if you want decent food with modern (not 1970-something) flavors, try Douglas Lodge, now. Walleye Ceviche or Walleye Nuggets are light and tasty as apps. The new and improved Wild Rice Salad, now using a blood orange vinaigrette, is a great modern take on a northern Minnesota classic. The wines and beers are decent, despite all having to be sourced from Minnesota (a requirement at this only-one-in-a-State-Park Minnesota restaurant....and not at all easy to pull off!) Lots of surprises on the menu - live a little and give them a try. And please don't expect to pay 1980s prices - that's the main reason we have so few good restaurants in the Northwoods anymore! read more

Douglas Lodge in Itasca State Park... It's sooo achingly beautiful in this park, and the hummingbirds dance outside the Lodge's windows! No joke! It's amazing. What a charming, magical atmosphere! But the food and drink selections are incongruous within this context. It's just plain blah to bad. This place has such potential, if only the quality of the food matched the quality of the surroundings! Get a chef to work some magic with the local game and produce! Get a larger regional beer, wine, and liquor selection. Make dinner another layer of enjoyment for those who come to see the park. read more

I'm starting my journey to find the best shirley temple in the Midwest, and I started my journey here. Sure that wasn't my goal when I first ordered my drink after a long journey to the Mississippi headwaters in Minnesota but the idea bloomed. Anyways to begin my review I order my Shirley temple with the understanding it was a universally known beverage and most restaurants would have the fixings to make one... but the waiter informed he didn't know what a Shirley temple was.. let me say that again he DID NOT KNOW WHAT A SHIRLEY TEMPLE WAS. Anyways my mother and I attempt to explain it to in and with this poor explanation he showed with a fairly decent drink. Needless to say I was impressed. Which accounts for the generous three stars. read more

We stayed at the lodge with our twin 9.5 year old grandsons. They enjoyed the opportunity to eat dinner on white linen. The service was excellent and also catered to the boys. The food was very good. We each had something different and were completely satisfied with our choices. We ate breakfast there as well. While they do not have a specific children's menu for breakfast there are many options to choose from. Again the service was wonderful. The kids loved eating right next to the window that separated them from the humming birds. I recommend the lodge and restaurant to anyone in the area. read more

I have enjoyed eating at Douglass Lodge since I was brought there as a child nearly seventy years ago. Never a bad meal. In the past few years, we have especially enjoyed breakfast at the lodge. But suddenly, breakfast has been replaced by a meager and untidy buffet that costs $9.00, in order to eat as much as you can of what you didn't want in the first place: remnants of dry scrambled eggs sticking to the sides of the warming pan, odd rolls scattered, mostly on the buffet table itself, bits of egg slopped onto an untended area, and an ambience of drab paucity. We ate elsewhere. And so we shall until after we know that things have changed. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped here a few weekends ago, after viewing the beginning of the Mississippi River (great time). Anyway the restaurant looked interesting a lodge in the woods sort of thing. On to my experience. The food was awesome the service was excellent, it was a great end to our afternoon. read more

Pack your cooler this place isn't worth it. When we got there we were waiting to be seated at the front (the restraunt was not on a wait). The manager finally came over and acted as hostess and said let me see if we have anything. There were 3 clean tables within plain sight. As he returned a minute later he tried to sit us at a makeshift table where people walk in and out. My Dad got up and walked to an open table and asked if we could sit there which we did. After around 8 minutes the waitress comes up and asks for our order, we had not even gotten water or a drink order request yet. We ask for water and she comes back with a small caraf 5 mintues later. My parents (I'm in my 30's) ordered drinks which took more time. We finally placed our order (all sandwiches)....we then proceeded to wait 50 minutes for 4 sandwiches. All 4 were a bust. My grilled cheese was more bread and the "special fresh greens" were one slice of green pepper sliced in half and put hanging half way off the sandwhich. My wife fed her BLT to the birds as the bread was so thick she could taste nothing else. This is the only negative review I have left on this site and it is deserved. It must also be mentioned that 50 mintues is to long too wait for anything let alone 4 sandwhiches when there are 7 tables and 5 employees just on the floor of a restraunt. DON"t DO it, just pack your lunch or go up the road to the restraunt by the source of the MISSISSIPPI. Park is awesome besides that. read more