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    Johnny’s Torch Riviera

    3.6 (90 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Johnny’s Torch Riviera Photos

    Business Info

    JOHNNY’S TORCH RIVIERA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Johnny’s Torch Riviera

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    Lasagna up close
    Chris H.

    Funnily enough the building reminds me of an old bait and tackle shop. However that being said inside is inviting and a little dark. It divided into a couple of seating areas and a bar. I Ordered the Crab Rangoon Dip ($16) served hot with Wonton Chips. They were excellent. They come out scalding. The chips taste homemade and once the dip cools enough to taste it becomes very addictive. I also ordered the Lasagna ($22). It somehow comes out even hotter than the dip. Yowser, it is a nice thick slab of Lasagna. Once it cooled enough to eat it was delicious. The noodles were delicate and tasty. The sauce was right on and there was plenty of meat inside it. It ended up being too much to complete and I had about half left to enjoy the next day. The service is very friendly and does a great job. Overall a 5 star review. Would I return? Yes, an oasis in the practical middle of nowhere it seems like.

    Mozzarella Caprese
    Kimberly K.

    Mico's is back! What was known for generations as "The Torch" is now Mico's Torch Riviera and it's fabulous! I've been fortunate enough to know the Fortuna family and their long history of serving delicious Italian food to the Traverse City & Torch lake region. Since the Leelanau Peninsula translates to wine country (it doesn't but it should!) we started with a bottle of Black Star Farms Riesling. Some restaurants really mark up the wine but the prices at Mico's were more than reasonable. For starters we ordered the Caprese salad (good but nothing that stood out) and the calamari for an appetizer. I was surprised how much calamari came on the plate. It was delicious too. Lightly breaded and flavorful and enough for a whole group to share. My mother had the chicken Marsala. Their homemade Marsala sauce was excellent. For me though the shining star was the tortellini Norma. The walnuts mixed in the cream sauce added a nice touch to an already wonderful dish. Don't skip dessert either. We got cannolis to go and enjoyed them the next morning with our coffee. Mico's is truly a gem for Torch Lake and I can't wait to go back next summer!

    Cioppino. "Fisherman's stew"
    Steve Z.

    2 of us went here for first time ever. Heard the new owners were great restaurant and entertainment people and it proved to be true. Not sure about some of the negative reviews are about but the food and service here are amazing. Not super polished fine dining service but real people putting in a hard effort with enough skill to make for a great experience. Calamari is some of the best ever. The Fishermen's stew is loaded full of seafood and savory tomato based sauce. Even the side salad had a homemade raspberry vinaigrette that was better than I've had before. The cannoli for desert was just average. The musician during dinner was very entertaining. We will stick around for main show next time. Would have given 4.5 stars this time but not available and 4 was too low.

    Whitefish and lasagna
    Emily C.

    The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious!! Quiet atmosphere with clean restrooms and dining area. Ordered Crab Rangoon dip, Lasagna and a whitefish special. Servings were huge, definitely enough lasagna for two or even three meals.

    Veal marsala and fish sandwich
    Elisa G.

    Somewhere between one and two stars. Service was slow even with our trying to wait patiently in these barely past COVID times, thinking the restaurant was just getting back up and running. My dining companion had the fried fish sandwich which was average at best...I should know since she traded me for my awful meal halfway thru! I had the veal marsala, nasty is the first thought that comes to mind. Bland, gray, lifeless and void of flavor are other adjectives I'd use to describe this ugly mess of a meal they were calling veal. The manager came by and inquired why the meal wasn't satisfactory, but was overly defensive in her attempts to right the situation. Even the complementary cannoli they gave us to make up for the meal was equally boring and flat. I'm sure the place will be mobbed by families coming off the lake (which can't be seen from the restaurant) during the summer but anyone looking for a seriously good meal won't return.

    Fantastic dirty martini and a solid tap line.

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    1 year ago

    Food and service is fantastic. ! The Lasagna is the best and don't forget to try the Spaghetti.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The only restaurant on the lake. Uninspiring food. Menu could be fresher. Staff was efficient and organized.

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    3 years ago

    The people are great! We've had several Dinners and always enjoyed the food. Be sure to go hungry the portions are large.

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Anything I've had or guests we've taken to Johnny's has been excellent. Service, food and warm welcome.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Had take-out from there tonight. It was absolutely wonderful. Just like the original on C look am River!!!

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    4 years ago

    Pizza is very good! Great place to eat , service was excellent 5 stars for sure.. i'll be back

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Johnny’s Torch Riviera

    Does anyone know why they changed the restaurant name from Mico's to Johnny's?

    In the process of changing ;-) Dominic is moving on to pursue his entertainment career Will keep all post ;-)

    Are they open on mondays?

    Yes, we open at 11:30

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Cove - Side Caesar's Salad

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    3.9(381 reviews)
    24.2 mi
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    We ate here this weekend. The perch was great, but the homemade fries were soggy and not worth…read moreeating. The service was great and our waiter was always checking in on us! The Cove is great with most seating with a view of the outside!

    This was such a great spot for lunch! If you're looking for a local place with good food and scenic…read moreviews in this area, The Cove is it. The only reason I'm rating this restaurant 4 stars, is because the hostess is extremely rude. I don't know her name but she was working at 3PM (there were 2 or 3 girls at this time). The way she responded after we asked "what" when we couldn't hear what she was saying, was extremely condescending and "valley girl" like with a high pitch/annoyed tone. I also saw her do this to someone else too. it's not a good look and almost turned us away but we really wanted to try the food. My fiance and I both got the fried white fish sandwich with fries and it did not disappoint! The batter wasn't super thick and it absolutely melted in your mouth. I also love the type of bread they used for the bun. I think it was ciabatta bread? I might be wrong but I think that's what it was. The entire flavor combo was really good. Also, our waitress, Jillian, who was fantastic, gave us extra tartar sauce without even asking! I think she knew we were about to ask lol! We also asked for the fries well done and they definitely were. The fries also didn't taste like old oil or anything, they were really fresh. All in all, we were both very satisfied with our meals and were happy with the entree choice! Oh, I also had a Moscow Mule but made with whisky and that was also very good. I had the house whisky and it was very light and very good. All in all, a good experience with the food and the views -- the hostess just needs some training on customer service. If you're in the area, I'd recommend stopping by and grabbing a bite!

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    The Cove - Seating area near host stand

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    The Cove - The famous "Chubby Mary" featuring a pretty good sized delicious smoked chub.

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    The famous "Chubby Mary" featuring a pretty good sized delicious smoked chub.

    Johnny’s Torch Riviera - seafood - Updated August 2026

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