We visited Michigan this past week and ran across this little gem! Didn't know what to expect but the food was excellent. It was so good that we ate here twice during our week stay. The hushpuppies were amazing along with the fried chicken. Everyone in our party loved the food. Chelsea and Reagan did an outstanding job waiting on us and we're so friendly! read more

Pearl’s - Fried chicken, grits, mashed potatoes and hush puppies. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

Pearls is one of my favorite places to dine up north! We always make it a point to eat here atleast one trip, and they have some of the best creole food in the UP. We always get atleast one étouffée dish and switch between their Po' boy, catfish and jambalaya. Their hurricanes make you feel like you're right on bourbon street and their service is warm and friendly. There's a great indoor space and they have a small dining patio, but anywhere you eat you feel like you're in NOLA. Can't wait to go back in a few weeks! read more

Pearl’s - Hurricane - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

See all

Vegetarian entrees are some of the worst I've ever had. Not sure why, but they did not season either dishes I ordered. The jambalaya had no sauce typical of jambalaya, it was steamed vegetables on rice. And the CAJUN pasta had no Cajun seasoning. Had to ask them to bring me Cajun seasoning and had to salt and pepper it heavily. Our friends at the same table also ordered the same original meat versions of the dishes, and their dishes were properly seasoned. While I appreciate their inclusivity by having a dedicated vegetarian menu, the dishes were executed poorly and not enjoyable. Their normal menu is good according to the rest of my party. read more

Pearl’s - Vegetarian Cajun pasta - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

See all

Really cool spot, with something to look at in every corner. We were surprised to find it's one of a chain of 3 restaurants. Our server Nicki was fabulous! Wonderful suggestions and so nice. We happened to be there during happy hour, which was a good deal. Everything we got was very tasty. Fried green tomatoes, Walleye special and blackened catfish, highly recommend all of the above. And the bread they give you is also really good. I can definitely see why it's the highest rated restaurant in the area. Only suggestion would be to dust the hot sauce bottles that decorate the walls and the restrooms. read more

See all

If I could give this place 10 stars, let's just say I would. Our server, Allison f, was seriously goated. I ate the jambalaya: so good. Also, I had a strawberry cocktail which was yummy wummy. Ok, but we need to talk about the vibes. Shiiiii. They were so good I felt like I was gonna walk outside to giant mosquitos (which they did have hanging from the ceiling) and street music made by rough looking men. Genuinely everyone was happy as a hog, and i really wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy because it was such a good time. Ps you need to try the bananas foster. They light that crap up. Gonna need some GLP1s after this visit. Holy cow. read more

See all

My group and I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. We were looking for a great spot to have brunch for my friends birthday and this did not disappoint. We enjoyed all of our meals and the staff was super nice. The vibe of the place is very cool in a unique way. I really enjoyed the ambiance as they tried to bring a piece of Louisiana to Elk Rapids. The food was also reasonable priced and the portions decent. The complimentary bread was also so delicious read more

See all

We stopped for dinner after a long day of driving and despite a very promising menu and a full house, I was just underwhelmed. We sat at the bar and we were promptly greeted. The service was friendly and very accommodating. I ordered the black and catfish Poboy my husband ordered the bourbon orange salmon, which was a special that they were running for bourbon month. And we started with a order of frog legs. Our frog legs came out fairly fast however they were horribly overcooked and even worse. They were only three. Three legs for one order. We let the bartender know that they were overcooked and she was gracious enough to get us a replacement. The second batch was much better, but again three legs for the price point seemed a little ridiculous. Our food came out. My husband was very good. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the orange glaze was delightful. My blackened catfish Poboy was fine but the protein was so small. It was two solid bites of bread before I got to the actual catfish. The bread was great, but if that's going to be the size of your protein, I would recommend getting smaller buns. I upgraded to sweet potato fries and disappointingly they were cold and tasted like they had been sitting. At this point, I did not want to make any more waves so I just left them. Pearls is fun for a visit. It's clean and the decor is entertaining. I don't know if I just ordered the wrong things, but I doubt we will be back again. read more

See all

Food was good, but a little overpriced for what was offered. Pearl's does offer deals for drinks and apps, so if you can catch Happy Hour from 3-5pm, it's a good option. Though it did offer variety in the area's cuisine options, which was great! Ordered the catfish which usually comes with hush puppies, but I was able to sub it for the very, very cheesy mashed potatoes. Thank you for being accommodating with that! Alligator bites did run a bit salty - maybe that's just NOLA seasoning, but the sauce complimented the dish well. read more

See all

Food was relatively good, but I was expecting more flavor/spice for it being Cajun food. The drinks were good but a little overpriced. Our waitress was really nice! The cornbread was the driest piece of food I've ever eaten, it honestly was not good. I expected better cornbread from a Cajun food restaurant. The beans and rice were really delicious! read more

Pearl’s - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

See all

Great food at Pearl's! My first time with my aunt and uncle; locals. We had to wait a little bit for the table but found seats at the bar for a cocktail. It's not hard to make a vodka soda but I'm surprised how many times I get one that is unsatisfying but not at Pearls! I had one of the bourbon specials for dinner; the beef stroganoff and a side of fried okra! Yummy!!! My uncle had fried chicken and my aunt beef brisket. We ate until we couldn't eat another bit and still had plenty to bring home for tomorrow. Charlemagne?? was our server and sweet as can be. Loved everything tonight! Forgot pics even! read more

If you like Cajun cooking with that Mari grass feel you have come to the right place really loved the Ambiance. Serive was very quick and my beer glass stayed full . Shrimp poorboy sandwiches were 1/2 off on special . They really hit the spot. read more

Pearl’s - Outstanding awarding food and service. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

I had the muffuletta sandwich and it was very very good! I loved the appetizers too, especially the Cajun shrimp. My sister in law and I practically drank the Broth. Gator bites were small and not a large portion, but they were tasty. We also tried cherry margaritas and they were so good! The restaurant was decorated really fun, I loved the bayou theme. read more

Pearl’s - Enjoying delicious cocktails - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

See all

Very enjoyable experience, good food and a family atmosphere. Make a reservation to guarantee seating especially if your party is big. Not all items shown in the online menu of their website were available. We will return again the next time we are in town! To us, Pearl's is one the best dining options in the Elk Rapids area. Always tasty, lively and enjoyable! read more

Drove 40 mins to eat here because it came up as an option for Dog Friendly Restaurants..nope not even on the patio. Their "dog friendly" suggestion was to leave him in the car. read more

Pearl’s - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

Amazing food! Great service. Cool and quirky vibe inside. Flavorful and delicious food for the area. A gem. read more

See all

Cortney was our waitstaff and is incredible. We will return and ask for her. Many thanks, Cortney!

This place is amazing! Food was excellent and our server Brooke was outstanding despite our large party and many questions. There are plenty of options for food and drinks so everyone will find something they like! read more

Pearl’s - Hurricane - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

We try to make it to Pearl's whenever we are Up North, it is worth a side quest to experience. I remember going as a kid with my parents and being fascinated with the decor - an alligator on the ceiling! Marti grad beads strewn about! An incredible hot sauce collection lining the walls! As a parent now myself with two kids in tow, one picky and one with food allergies I love that they have something for us all - my carnivore husband included. Service is always friendly and prompt, I usually get the vegan hoppin' John to share with my son. The bread they bring out while you wait for your food is amazing. Go here. You'll never regret it. read more

Pearl’s - Vegan hoppin' John - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

Closest thing to Southern food you can get in Michigan, they need to add salt though! Seems like no one likes the salt their food up this way read more

Sunday is the day to go! They give free bread baskets on Sundays, and we got carrot cake muffins and a sort of chocolate bread with a side of butter. It was delicious -- wish we could have had more! They have a fairly expansive drink menu. I got a cherry margarita that came in a cute little mason jar. It lasted me through the entire meal, and they also gave us waters when we came in, so that was nice to have. We came around noonish, and they still had their brunch selections as well as regular lunch choices. There's a huge variety on the menu from burgers to fish to grits, but everything tasted delicious! The inside is pretty fun. There's a lot of bayou decorations, including giant alligators. Definitely not the fanciest establishment but I saw a lot of families here, and the kids seem to enjoy the interior. Our waitress was also super kind. Everyone who walked in the door was immediately greeted. Great experience overall. read more

See all

Pearls is and has been the best local restaurant in the Elk Rapids area. The service, terrific atmosphere and the top quality food is the best. Elk Rapids is proud to be the home for one of the most outstanding restaurants in Michigan. read more

If you're coming based on the reviews, skip it! Unseasoned burnt cold food, don't bother. We arrived around 2:30/3pm and asked to be seated on the patio, the hostess (who did not greet us just showed up and looked at us) said she thinks it's closed. She then went to look for a place for our group of 8 to sit and the waitress she went to told her not to sit us in her section. After we were sat we shortly saw people being sat in the patio. Very disappointed in not being able to eat outside. One drink we ordered came out full of pulp, we asked if it could be strained and we were told it was too busy at the bar to take the time to pour the drink through a strainer.. instead they took the drink off our bill and made a whole new drink.. straining it would have taken less effort. Corn bread was so dry it was inedible . No amount of butter could make it better Our food was mediocre, most came out cold. Very unseasoned for Cajun food. Chicken was burnt, shrimp po boy dry and cold. Fried green tomatoes were NOT green tomatoes, they were heirloom tomatoes and came out mushy since there were actually not fried green tomatoes. They did take that off our bill. Hamburger was dry. Cajun chicken pastas was great, fish almandine was good. read more

What a delicious lunch we had! Barbecued shrimp, Crawfish Corn Chowder, Fried Chicken with cheesy potatoes/ all were enjoyed. The Corn bread and French bread were fresh and delicious. I took a salad to go as we were heading to the airport. So glad I did- I definitely recommend and will return when I can. read more

Snacks at the 27th anni day were good. Happy hour is fun. Nice bartenders, one threw a piece of our smoked fish? crawfish? toast on the bar by accident. He got us a new one though. I liked catching up with my former coworker who lives in this town. She is a riot. read more

You wouldn't think that there would be a tasty local joint specializing in New Orleans cuisine in Elk Rapids, Michigan, but such are the wonders of the modern world. One of the better shrimp po'boys I've had outside of the Big Easy -- very crunchy well-seasoned shrimp, not too big, pleasantly restrained hand on the mayo -- and the crawfish cakes, fried green tomatoes, and cheddar grits (almost the texture of a corn souffle) were even nicer. Pleasantly casual ambience. Seems like it would be a good bar scene if you weren't on a road trip with small children. read more

We were staying at a home nearby and our first full day in we were looking for takeout to bring back to the house. It had been several years since I last visited but I remembered Pearl's to be delicious so we decided to place an order here. A quick call to place the order (given we were ordering for multiple people I kind of wish they did have online ordering since that's a bit easier to navigate with lots of orders) and everything was ready in 20 minutes. Pick up was a breeze at the front host counter. We had a variety of eats that we shared amongst the group, like the crawfish corn chowder, shrimp and grits, whitefish, red bean cakes, andouille grits and greens, plus some beignets and bananas forster for dessert. Everything was very good and held up remarkably well in the 15 minutes back to our rental. My only critique was the beignets were very dense. I love a light and airy, melt in your mouth beignet, but they were definitely heavier. Typically they're made for the ice cream sundaes so I wonder if they make them heartier for that but on their own it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Portions were really generous and perfectly seasoned. I'd definitely head back and enjoy a meal there, too. They have a great patio that I would have loved to enjoy but we were traveling with three "endearingly naughty" (says our former groomer) dogs that don't always do great in public. But it's wonderful to know we can have a reliable takeout to enjoy! read more

See all

Every aspect was great! The food, service, and atmosphere combined into a wonderful dining experience.

Decided to give this another try, we both got the southern fried chicken, being born and raised in the south, this doesn't even come close to measuring up. It was way over cooked. Mashed potatoes were pasty and the gravy was way off. The best thing going was the collard greens. read more

Every time I am up in the area of this restaurant, I make sure to stop and Eat. It is amazing food. I can only wish I could order from Ft Lauderdale FL. I love your "Basil Pesto". Is it possible to get your recipe? Most ingredients are similar to others, but something about yours is amazing. Maybe the brand of ingredients?? If you can share, that would be amazing. I look forward to my next trip to visit. Keep up the good work, staff, atmosphere and of course the food, is awesome!!! read more

This is the best Cajun food I have had outside of New Orleans itself. Visiting from out of state and family recommended this place. Authentic feeling and taste. I felt like I was in a restaurant in New Orleans when I was there. Decorations added to it nicely. Service was great. Worth the short drive from TC. read more

I have enjoyed literally everything I have ever tried here. This plays fills up quickly; I recommend arriving shortly after they open.

Consistently good food and great service. A gem in the restaurant business that often has increasing challenges to find wait staff and chefs that can maintain a good standard. Highly recommend, especially for providing such a unique menu in northern Michigan! read more

This was such a treat to find in Elk Rapids while on a drive through Michigan for our fall color tour. We saw a sign along the road for a Cajun/Creole restaurant where you just wouldn't expect it. I love Cajun food so we stopped for a midday snack. Brooke was our waitress and she was excellent. She told us which foods were spicy, which ones were popular and what to expect. She came back often to check on us too!! I ordered a cup of gumbo and it was perfectly spiced (I like spicy foods) and the ingredients were think and delicious. I also got the crawfish cakes (an appetizer) and it was absolutely delicious!! My friend (who doesn't like spicy foods) ordered the spiked French onion soup and the grits appetizer- which he said were both amazing and delicious. We also got a basket with a tiny loaf of French bread and two pieces of spicy corn bread. Considering we went in there for a snack, we came out of there totally stuffed because the food was too good to waste!! A taste of New Orleans in the small town of Elk Rapids!! I can't wait to eat a full meal there!!! read more

See all

This 5 stars is most definitely for the stellar service (Rebecca), the amazing drinks, (ask about their special margartini- we had the watermelon), and the bronzed catfish with crawfish topping! (The best thing on the menu on our table- sooooo good) Table had the whitefish, jambalaya, alligator bites, red bean cakes & spicy shrimp- All good but when I go back, I will have that bronzed catfish with crawdads!!! I'd drive back just for that meal honestly. Those margartini things have a base of tequila soaked with fruit and then enhanced with more fruit- they're amazing. Don't miss trying one! read more

See all

I have an endless fountain of positive things to say about this place. The menu is absolutely perfect and I had the most difficult time deciding what I wanted, but I opted for blackened catfish with greens and mashed potatoes, smothered in the most beautiful, succulent, hunks of crawfish ever, in a creamy cajun sauce. It was so good and I think about it a lot lol. They've got different types of hot sauce at each table and that just wins so many points. Sauce options is one of my favorite things. Also there's bread baskets that are pretty legit with some corn bread and french bread... (PS What ever happened to bread baskets? I remember them being plentiful in my youth but now they feel rare). Their happy hour menu is amazing! I wasn't there at the right time this time, but I definitely want to come back for that. Also there's a nice little outdoor space that would be lovely when the weather warms up. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Anything there is great. Great friendly service. Spicy vodka martinis are the "bomb".

The food is my go to comfort food. Especially the fried chicken salad--- order fried okra to put on it--- you'll thank me later. There's nothing here that I don't love! read more

Food: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Value: 5 stars Pearl's is a great option in an area with limited choices - the ambiance is adorable with alligators and Mardi Gras beads hanging from the ceiling, and live music on the patio on summer weekend evenings. I haven't tried their happy hour, but it looks like a great deal. We enjoyed the brisket and fish, and they handled my mother's dietary restrictions with no problem. Make sure to make a reservation - even with one, we had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated. read more

This place has really lost its luster over the years. The staff has become less friendly and more unhelpful while the cook must have changed because the quality of the food has certainly declined. This used to be our favorite restaurant when visiting Torch Lake, but now we will find somewhere new to go. read more

Pearl’s - Grilled cheese - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Elk Rapids, Michigan

Do not believe that they are pet friendly. They said we couldn't have our dog on the patio and suggested that we leave her in the car, in 80 degree weather. read more