We stopped here on our way to the North Shore scenic drive, and it ended up being one of the cutest spots of our trip! The restaurant overlooks the lake, making for such a beautiful and relaxing setting. The ambiance is absolutely charming, and I loved the serveware, it gave the whole meal a lovely high tea feel. The food was on the pricey side, but every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious. They also had a display of freshly baked goods at the front, so we picked up a few treats to take on the road. Those were just as amazing as our meal! The staff was incredibly welcoming and sweet, and I loved all the thoughtful little touches throughout the restaurant. One of my favorites was the guestbook they invite visitors to sign before leaving. It's details like that that make a place feel extra special. I would absolutely recommend stopping here if you're driving the North Shore. Beautiful views, delicious food, and such a warm, memorable experience. read more

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Must stop on your tour of the north shore. This is the gem on scenic 61. Great staff and service. Relaxed family lake vibes on the inside. Order: Sashimi tuna tacos. Fresh tuna, creamy avocado on the inside with a crispy wonton shell. Nice citrus ponzu sauce but the real star was the Japanese inspired coleslaw. Curry mussels. Just a big bowl of deliciousness. Delicious tender mussels with a cravable curry sauce. Fresh bread on the side to soak up all the liquid gold in the bowl. Enjoy. Lobster roll. Freshly prepared lobster served cold in a buttery toasty bun. It was as good as it looked. Homemade chips on the side added the needed texture and crunch to the dish. Grilled artichoke toast. This was the surprise of the meal. It was an artichoke lovers dream. I would drive 2.5 hours for this dish without hesitation. It was that good. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Lobster roll - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Was there with my husband for dinner Amy was our server. She was so inappropriate with my husband even he felt the odd feeling ....very rude. She looked at my husband and was obviously enamored by him ...The whole time she would never even address me when you see a married couple you should be talking to both of them while they're out for a nice evening. She was so inappropriate and unprofessional. read more

First off, the food was superb. Like, even the WATER was delicious! We had the lobster roll (amazing-better than we had in Boston!), burger (really good), tuna sashimi tacos (delicious), and burrata (very good). Also, the ambiance was lovely. Everything was presented beautifully. The prices are quite high and the menu is very Scandinavian. If you're not a seafood fan, the choices are limited. The service was the biggest challenge. We had a reservation for 6 at 7:45. When we arrived, the host told us the party before us was still at the table an hour after getting their bill. We wound up waiting 25 minutes to be seated. No concessions were offered for the wait. We ordered drinks (a soda and a lemonade) and it took another 20 minutes to get them. When the drinks arrived at 8:35, we ordered. It took almost 40 minutes for the food to arrive. Again - we ordered four sandwiches and two appetizers. Because we were seated so late, the restaurant was clearing out - I can't imagine how long the wait is when it's busy. Our server was an infrequent guest at our party. I might come back just to have that lobster roll again, but nothing else was so outstanding that it would be worth the trip. read more

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Smodebrod!! And deviled eggs!! What a wonderful find on our way up to Gooseberry Falls. Great service, and warm but clean Scandi vibe. read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

One of the best culinary experiences you'll find on the North Shore of Superior. Food, beverages, location, ambiance, service - all lovely. Reasonably priced for the quality too. I finished the night out front with a cigar under the northern lights looking over Lake Superior! How do you beat that? read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant and made so many (for lack of a better expression) yummy noises. New Scenic Cafe was EXCEPTIONAL. The cafe is located alone the shore of Lake Superior. There is lots of parking onsite, so no worries there. The restaurant is as stunning as the view! It's, dare I say, very scenic! As for the food (I do dream of it!), I was obsessed with this dish that was essentially dates, cheese and honey -- insanely good. We also loved the seared duck with dumplings and "the bear" chocolate cake. The only thing we were a little underwhelmed with were the tuna tacos. They were good, but just couldn't compete with the other dishes, which were fantastic. Make sure to call to make a reservation ahead of time -- they are busy, busy! read more

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Great food with unique flavors. Attentive service. Bonus free desert on your birthday! We'll be back!

Hands down, the best lobster roll I've ever had. The sweet corn was a bold choice, and even as someone who loves cilantro, I never would've thought to use it as a garnish--but it worked perfectly. I was so happy the bread wasn't drenched in butter; most places overdo it, and it kills the flavor. The lobster itself was cooked to perfection--tender, delicate, and it just melts in your mouth. An absolute grand slam of a meal. The service was professional, and the scenery was beautiful. There's really nothing quite like that countryside feel. read more

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Friendly, chic, nice views and good food. We really had no complaints. The chayote squash was especially delicious!

Excellent service, amazing food. Pork belly starter, sea bass, rack of lamb, and raspberry rhubarb pie with Love Creamery lemon curd raspberry ice cream. Everything on point. Great way to start a weekend. read more

Great food, service, and atmosphere. Had the escargot, lobster roll and coconut cake. Loved the book idea at the end. read more

New Scenic Cafe - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

I am glad to update my previous review. My last visit to New Scenic was much nicer and better. The space itself is still lovely. The menu is still foodie foodie foodie in the best of ways. My service was much better this time around, which made me feel that perhaps they have worked all the kinks out. My friend and I had an absolutely lovely brunch and I am glad to upgrade their ranking. read more

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Unique. Foodie place for sure. Great bakery shelf upon entering. The pastries look delectable. We are trying to be adventurous today. Service is good and attentive. The ambiance is casual and cozy. Great outdoor space, but it's raining so no outdoor space today. It's a happy friendly place to be. Calm. We started with beef tartare. It was surprisingly delicious. Then we had rack of lamb and the charcuterie board. Super good. The herring and deviled eggs lacked a little flavor. All the rest was quite good. read more

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We tried the New Scenic Cafe on the recommendation of a friend. It did not disappoint! The service was impeccable and the food was superb. We had the tartare for our appetizer. We shared the scallops and the Chicken for our main dishes. They were both perfect. The restaurant sits across the road from Lake Superior and it provides a cozy, intimate atmosphere. It is a definite choice if you are ever in the area! read more

Only the salmon was good. Portions are minuscule and way overpriced for the small size. Salade nicoise was terrible: dry spinach leaves and egg that oozed over it and some taste of lemon. Yuck...not a real salad nicoise and 17$ dollars for like 10 leaves of dry spinach and a crappy egg. Not worth it unless they increase the size of their portions. I was starving even though we bought 1 salad, the salmon and the breakfast plate, which was also tiny. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Outside - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

The food was delicious. The service was great. The ambiance was fantastic. The view from the Scenic Cafe is everything.

Food is ok, small portions and very expensive!......................................... ..........,........... ........., read more

This is the best place to eat in the north shore, bar none. Inventive (radishes with butter?) homey (homemade Parker house rolls) with impeccable oysters & mussels. Lamb rack, scallops... excellent staff, views of superior, reasonably priced wines by the glass... come on! read more

New Scenic Cafe - Lamb divided up for 2 - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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I miss the old New Scenic Cafe. Don't get me wrong, the food is still good, but the prices are high and for me, not worth another visit. I will say that our service was excellent. The final straw for me though was when we are paying $30+ for an entree and our "side of fruit" is literally an unpeeled whole piece of citrus. Nope! read more

New Scenic Cafe - "Side of fruit" - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We visit every trip up the north shore. The food is consistently good, service as well. It's got charm, as well. It is a level of quality rare in rural areas. read more

We stopped in for lunch on our way back to the Twin Cities on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. It was the first time we visited this cute little restaurant along the waterfront of Lake Superior. The entry is into their coffee and bakery. They make beautiful sourdough, croissants, and other drool-worthy pastries. The service was great because the waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu and made recommendations that aligned with our appetite and hunger. As a party of 4 adults, we shared the mussels, smorgasbord, grilled cheese, and banhmi sandwich. We also tried their beet bloody mary drinks, which were pretty amazing. The drink is served with a pickle, fresh dill, and a lemon wedge. It was quite refreshing. Another great thing about this place is the spectacular view of the lake. It's a bit spendy for a lunch but worth the experience. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Curried Blue Mussels - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Truly in my top 5 restaurants in the world, we've never had a bad meal at new scenic cafe. We stopped in on our way up the north shore, in the lazy days in between Christmas and New Year's. Even in the mid afternoon the atmosphere was buzzing. Lots of people coming in for the pastry counter and many others waiting for a table. We only waited about 10 minutes for a table and were served warm pistachios pretty quickly. The menu is always an overwhelming number of tasty looking selections, it's one of the few menus where I want to order everything. The winter pear salad was a highlight of this visit with a delicious tallegio sauce on the bottom it was unlike any salad I've ever had before. The French onion soup was perfection as well, a hearty beef consume on a cold winter day, name a better duo. We grabbed some pastries on the way out and they blew us away as well, the tart cherry danish was crispy and flavorful and the gjetost eclair was so unique. Already dreaming of our next trip here. read more

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En route from Twin Cities to Grand Marais, we passed thru Duluth and hopped on to the scenic portion of 61. Our goal was to find some kind of local eatery for lunch. The stop at New Scenic cafe was prompted in part by a descriptive Nordic flair. We arrived at lunchtime, were quickly seated and then impressed. Dan's need for a burger was vastly met (he did have a bit of a problem with sliders from the brioche bun). And me... I was overjoyed to see a menu with escargot knowing how I can make a meal out of an appetizer. Yummy!!! The front reception sported a dessert and breads case, so naturally I picked up some ginger cookies and a lemon bar. Ambience was comfortable and cozy with birch tree flair. A bit pricey for lunch with the 20% labor wage share addition. But, this is vacation so we will adjust our spending when we get home. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Dan with his burger & fries; pistachio leftovers; and, a few remaining escargot that were quickly eaten! - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Fantastic food, beautiful cozy pine walls and atmosphere. Attentive service. It was a bit spendy for the portion I got but I was truly happy with the flavors and the food. I was happy to see some innovative and delicious vegetarian options a on the menu. read more

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This is my absolute favorite place to stop for pastries. Anytime we got to Duluth this is always a stop on our itinerary. The building and property is beautiful and is situated directly on the lake shore. I try different pastries each time we come and I've yet to be disappointed. We have never sat down for a full meal in the restaurant but the staff that work the counter are always very kind and will help make suggestions if you aren't sure what to get. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Chocolate croissant and cardamom bun - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

What an absolute gem! Eater did well to rank this spot as one of the must dos of Duluth! Great location on the North shore. Views are amazing. Service was professional and courteous. Food was creative and delicious. Wine list was concise but on point. I tried the Borscht, it was beautiful and tasted even better. The Piquillo Peppers were an amazing fusion and of east meets west. The venison strip loin makes it a proper Minnesota meal! The Pots de crème to finish was perfect! Do yourself a favor and visit this spot at least once! read more

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Amazing food. Everything was delicious. Service was excellent. Ambience also great! We are from out of state and would highly recommend.

Worth the hype in my opinion! Where else can you get unique, tasty, quality food on the north shore? (Hint: it's nowhere) I loved the Nordic theme throughout the menu and of course the views of the lake during a meal absolutely add to the experience! (Even with the construction right now you can still see the lake but it will be even more picturesque without the construction!) Definitely make a reservation if you want to sit inside. They were offering takeout for folks to sit outside if they didn't have a reservation, which honestly created some confusion and chaos at the host stand. It wasn't super clear to me who to talk to for a reservation because it seemed that the host stand and the place to order takeout was the same place. (Recommend to have a separate line or place for the host stand from the bakery or takeout line!) Once we got checked in for our reservation it was just a few minutes until we were seated. Our waitress was excellent. Friendly and patient with good suggestions. My boyfriend and I ordered drinks, French onion soup, burrata, scallops, smoked brisket, and crème brûlée. Oof - such a good meal. Favorites were the soup, scallops, and crème brûlée. Overall it was a little spendy, but I thought it was worth it, especially to celebrate a special occasion. We were able to finish our drinks outside in the sun before we made our way back to the city. Will definitely return! read more

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Lovely food and what a great location. Had a great time with the view being such a bonus read more

New Scenic Cafe - Charcuterie board - yummy - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We stopped here on a Saturday around 4:30 hoping to get a light snack before making our way back to Duluth. The host was very pleasant, he said they could seat us in the dinning room, but it would be about a 20 minute wait. In the bar/reception area, there is a section that faces out toward the lake and has an awesome view. While we waited for our table, we ordered two hard ciders, the host brought them to us. He also brought us a chilled carafe of water. We appreciated his attentiveness and we decided that since we had a nice view and a good server, we might as well just eat at the bar. We ordered the duck sausage & poached eggs plate, it was delicious. Overall, this place was the full package-- the food was good, the service was good, the view was good, and the vibe is upscale but not pretentious. read more

Were I trying to inspire someone to move to Duluth I'd take them to New Scenic Cafe on a warm afternoon in September. I'd order a bottle of wine then find a seat at a picnic table somewhere on the grounds, with a stunning view of a sparkling Lake Superior. New Scenic Cafe has a little counter of pre-made food available for purchase and from there I'd order as I did: Pickled Beets (delicious) and an open-face sandwich piled attractively with pristine pink shrimp and fresh egg salad, served on a thin slice of chewy Scandinavian bread. I'd probably order more at that counter, maybe a 2-person berry pie with a sugary top-crust, as the food being prepared to order took a bit longer than expected. Still, I'd not miss the Pistachio-Crusted Goat Cheese ($14) served with lingonberries, pickled rhubarb, and "farmer greens", even if it does take a while on a busy afternoon. Remember, you have that wine and that view. New Scenic Cafe intentionally reminds me of Scandinavia, a place I've never been. I didn't look around inside, but the menu and the ambience in the entryway convinced me of the Scandinavian inspiration. I don't know what this place is like once Winter hits, when you're indoors with a view only of a frozen lake. When it's sunny and warm though, it's quite the winner, and also quite a unique and special find for the area. read more

New Scenic Cafe - Pistachio, Goat Cheese, Lingonberries, Pickled Rhubarb ($14) - Delicious - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Elegant food with a beautiful view! This is an upscale restaurant and bakery. A foodie's dream. You will not find chicken nuggets, plain sausage or bland herring fish and chips here. Check out any other breakfast place on the north shore for your standard diner american breakfast. The table next to us didn't quite understand this. We were here for lunch at the opening time of 11am. You might have to wait after that. Service and kitchen on point with speedy, flavorful, rich and hot dishes. The mussels are 10/10 and a must get. The sauce has the perfect consistency to cling to the mussel and they even will bag it up for you to take. Or order a bread basket! Its just really that good. We were there for lunch with a long drive back to the cities ahead so we sprung for a lighter meal. The dinner choices look succulent and sound just as delicious. The monsieur brioche was yummy but hard to eat and very rich (the saltiness of the meat complimented the cheese) but was a bit over powering at time. Not sure the point of the egg but it does pair well with the dish. The torta ahongda was a special and would recommend but be warned the sauce is spicy. The good news is its on the bottom of the dish not in the sandwich you can control it to an extent. The pork is so delicious mainly because it is cooked in butter. The lemon raspberry terrine had a good subtle fruit flavor balanced well with the tartness of the coulis. You can get this in the display case up front but it doesn't come with the coulis that really made the dish. I wish there was a hard biscuit or shortbread on the bottom as the bite felt mushy. Come early for anything in their pastry case if you are coming during the peak of summer. read more

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Excellent food, views, ambiance, and service! We love this restaurant and can't wait to return.

Pretty wonderful place with an 'inside a Swedish sauna' vibe inside with birch tree decor. Food was fabulous - smorgasbord for starters, excellent deviled eggs and smoked herring, wonderful lamb. Our server forgot about us but we don't hold it against her - all turned out fine. And dessert chocolate cake one of the best. Hope to return. read more

The first time we went here it was about a year ago. We waited over an hour for our food and our waitress was rude and didn't acknowledge our wait time. We tried a second time a few weeks ago to give it another try. This time we ordered the oysters and they smelled absolutely horrendous! My husband and I order oysters all the time from other restaurants in the twin cities and they never smell bad. These were so bad it made our fingers stink. I refused to eat them for obvious reasons. Strike two. Just bad. We tried again because it's such a pretty cafe with a cozy vibe we just keep striking out. Maybe third time will be a charm?? Idk. Have to see. But disappointed for sure. read more

New Scenic Cafe - The view. - New American Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

I was surprised to read some negative reviews so I had to respond: our party of four was seated promptly at our reservation time on a busy Friday night. Our server greeted us and gave us tastes of both an interesting cab franc rose from the Loire valley and a N/A rose and we chose both- a reasonably priced and interesting wine list btw. We chose mainly a few tapas-like waves of small plates and enjoyed them all, particularly the mussels, heirloom tomato salad and the Norke plate. All came promptly. This place is a North shore gem, we're glad you are here! read more

Excellent lake (Superior) side cafe with a Swedish flair. We enjoyed absolutely everything we ordered, as well as the bakery items we picked up! We'd highly recommend finding this gem! read more

Be ready to drop some ca-ching! ($12 for a hotdog just so you catch my drift definitely a date day/night joint) but it's worth it - everything there is locally sourced which we always enjoy and love to support. Our host/bartender/greeter was awesome and he said he was new! He did great at answering questions and lots of fun info. The pistachio crusted goat cheese was SO GOOD. Mm perfection. The combination of the jam and greens was delicious. This location is gorgeous- the outdoor patio is huge and covered in wild flowers, the grounds are just fantastic! We couldn't dine outside because of the rain but the inside is as equally as charming. We noticed the other part of the outdoor seating with this amazing 20+ft fire place overlooking the lake - ugh swoon. We will definitely be back. read more

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This is a favorite spot for MANY people. A destination as they head up to the North Shore. For me - it's good, not great for the price! It's QUITE expensive for the portions and what you get. Each time I've been there the service has sub-par and they always have a huge wait (I completely also get that it's difficult to find help right now)! Dishes are unique (expensive) and fresh! Flavors are good, but I think they are lacking on seasoning and a bit of the WOW factor that you'll find for the same price at restaurants in MSP. We got the figs (YUM) The salmon (OK) The heirloom tomatoes (Past prime season) The ratatouille (BEST DISH) Scallops (3 scallops, OK) Again, go for the fire, for a glass of wine outside enjoying the area, maybe grab something to go from their to go counter, but at least for me, not worth the price! read more

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