Me and my girlfriend went here for a date night and I don't regret it. It was on a Thursday which is "Gnocchi night" and it didn't disappoint! Our food came out within 25 minutes which is a little longer than I'd like to wait as an impatient person but the food spoke for itself! Plus the views are incredible. Thank you Becca for serving us! You were very diligent, and kept the drinks coming! read more

This was not simply a disappointing dining experience--it was a clear example of how a lack of service standards, compounded by an even more concerning management response, can undermine an otherwise capable establishment. To start with what was done well: the food was very good, and my request for a table with a view was honored. The kitchen is evidently not the issue. The service, however, was unacceptable. I would rate it a 0 out of 10 without hesitation. Our server, Maddison, did not introduce herself, did not offer recommendations, and made no attempt to guide or elevate the experience. The only initial interaction was, "What can I get for you?"--and that tone carried throughout the evening. There was no presence, no attentiveness, and no effort to deliver even baseline hospitality. We were seated, served, and effectively ignored. On multiple occasions, our server made direct eye contact with our table and chose not to approach. That is not a subtle oversight--it is a visible lapse in service. There is a clear distinction between giving space and neglecting guests, and this fell firmly into the latter. I also ordered a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary. While pricing is understood and not in question, the value of the overall experience did not come close to justifying what was charged--because service is a fundamental part of that value. What is most telling, however, is what happened next. Rather than immediately posting publicly, I extended the professional courtesy of addressing this privately with management. My message was clear, measured, and rooted in industry understanding. I explicitly stated that my concern was service--not pricing, not food quality. The response I received was defensive from the outset. I was told the server is "introverted," "passive," and new. That may explain behavior, but it does not excuse it. Guests are not there to adapt to staff limitations; the business is responsible for maintaining standards regardless of who is on the floor. I was then told my experience was a matter of "interpretation," as though repeated lack of engagement and visible neglect are subjective rather than observable. This kind of deflection speaks volumes. Most concerning was the claim that my message was "blackmail-ish," implying I was attempting to leverage a complaint for compensation. This is categorically false. At no point did I make a demand. Referencing potential resolutions is standard practice in hospitality--not a threat. Choosing to handle concerns privately before going public is professionalism, not coercion. That distinction was either misunderstood or intentionally misrepresented. The final response made it clear that management "disagrees," considers the matter closed, and believes the complaint to be without merit. I was also asked to cease communication. At that point, the issue was no longer just poor service--it was a complete breakdown in accountability. This is not a question of opinion versus opinion. It is a question of whether fundamental service standards are being upheld, and whether guest feedback is taken seriously when it is delivered respectfully and in good faith. The food may bring guests in, but service--and how a business responds when it falls short--is what determines whether they return. In this case, both failed. read more

My boyfriend treated me to this spot for my birthday and I really enjoyed it! We ordered heartier meals even though it was in the middle of the summer as they just sounded so delicious! They were specials and recommendations of our server. The views of this spot are overlooking the water and absolutely stunning, especially near sunset! It's really quite peaceful and I really enjoy the ambiance of this place as it definitely feels on the fancier side. It is bright and beautiful, definitely a vibe for a nicer restaurant if you want to impress your guest! read more

The Beacon - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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View is beautiful, lovely ambiance, great server with excellent recommendations, and the food, especially mustard glazed salmon, was wonderful. Will return any time we're up north. read more

Well we decided to take our new boat from Charlevoix to an early dinner in Petoskey. The choice was easy, as we wanted to return to Beacon after our past two dinners this summer, but by water this time. First we sat in the bar, & enjoyed the Shrimp Cocktail, Whitefish dip, with sliced cucumber & cherry tomatoes as we were a little early for dinner seating. By the time we finished it was time to sit for dinner. We ordered the Crab Cake as another app because we know it's so good, & Tuna Poke & The Airline chicken breast as our main course. For dessert we shared the lemon cello cake. All were memorable & will return soon to try more items... Brendan was our server & actually for his first night did an excellent job & made our early dinner a memorable one. As far as the ambiance, well I have been going here even before Beacon, & the location is romantic as it gets. You be the judge... read more

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Sadly, the chicken cacciatore missed the mark. There is chicken in all that sauce. However, it was burnt and the sauce was overwhelming rather than rich and comforting. read more

The Beacon - Chicken cacciatore. - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

Wonderful happy hour from 4-6, sat on the outside porch while enjoying our cocktails. Waiter was terrific. We ordered the whitefish dip - incredible!! read more

The Beacon - Cocktails! - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

Beautiful restaurant and setting, however, out of 7 of us, no one liked their meal. Tasteless, poorly cooked, sub-quality....... Go somewhere else. B read more

Great salads, rice bowl and sliders. Service super friendly and attentive. Beautiful views of the bay and Truman walking away. Award winning. read more

This was our second or third time dining here. The Food each time has been very fresh, tasty and well prepared. My wife had the Maurice Salad which has shredded lettuce, julienne ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, pickles, hard boiled egg, olives and the Beacon homemade dressing. She really enjoyed it. All ingredients fresh, well portioned and the salad was flavorful. I had a few bites of it and would have to agree. She paired the salad with the Soup of the Day which was Butter Nut Squash Bisque. The soup had amazing flavor, rich, creamy and perfectly seasoned. I ordered the Roasted Beet Salad, mixed greens, pecans, pickled onions, goat cheese, red and gold beets with a mixed berry vinaigrette. This too was an excellent salad and one I would order again. I paired this with French Onion Soup, which I also felt was very good, lots of cheese, croutons and onions were really flavorful. We like to sit at the bar, which is small about 8 seats. The servers were very attentive, friendly. They offer a great selection of craft cocktails. If in Petoskey, would definitely recommend giving them a try. The dining room has amazing views looking out over the Bay. read more

The Beacon - French Onion Soup, paired with Roasted Beet Salad. - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Wow wow wow we were blown away by our experience at the Beacon Bistro! We were looking for a place to stop with reservations between Mackinac Island and Traverse City and Beacon Bistro came up. We are so thankful that it did because it was the best restaurant we've eaten at all weekend! From the moment we entered, the experience was wonderful. The bartenders and hostess greeted us kindly. The hostess gave us options for seating, but you really can't go wrongly. The view from the large dining room windows of the water is breathtaking. We were able to sit right next to the windows...perfect! Our waitress was super kind, informative, and welcoming. She truly made our dinning experience even better, when it already was phenomenal! The drink menu was excellent! I got the Pure Michigan cocktail and it was scrumptious! A perfect blend of sweet and butter. Plus with the Michigan-forward Cherry! My husband got two local Michigan IPAs and he loved them. As an IPA guy, he loved the wide variety of local selections! We started with the smoked white fish spread and it was sooo scrumptious. Bursting with flavor and freshness, we were both immensely satisfied and craving more! For dinner, I got the tuna poke bowl. It was fresh, delicious, and hearty! Sometimes poke bowls can be a bit bland, but not at Beacon Bistro. With pickled jalapeños and other delicious ingredients, it was bursting with flavor. I loved every bite! My husband got the Shrimp Bucatini and really enjoyed it. He commented that the amount of shrimp was very generous with the pasta, and he really appreciated that! The pasta sauce was the perfect level of spicy without being overpowering, so he was a big fan! The food is a bit pricey, but it totally worth it due to the high quality ingredients and excellent chef-work! The space is clean, chic, and gorgeous. We felt fancy and welcomed at the same time. We couldn't stop staring at the great views from the full wall windows looking at the water. Stunning! If we are ever up this way again, we will definitely stop by Beacon Bistro again. If you're ever in the area, you must stop by! We promise you'll walk away happy, full, and grateful for an amazing dinning experience! read more

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Beautiful restaurant, beautiful view. Went to lunch today, we both ordered the forest floor soup. My friend did a cup and salad I did the bowl. The cup arrived, and it was as so unappetizing. My friend said it was like hot pudding. I quickly changed my order to salad with chicken. All the salad had was lettuce and onions. The chicken was barely edible. read more

Be prepared to wait a lifetime for food. Maybe an hour. Very loud room. Beautiful view. Nice staff.

the beacon view is so special! i love looking over the water while enjoying a nice meal, it is so peaceful! the front of the restaurant where the bar is will trick you into thinking it's small and dark, but where the seating is - that's the good stuff! i've been twice nice, the first time i enjoyed the half off drinks during happy hour (starts at 1pm, every day!!) and a delicious bougee burger (get it, it's delicious) the second time i enjoyed the crab cakes for a starter and the greek chicken naan (i would opt for the burger next time, the sandwich needed a little more sauce) our server madison was so friendly and gave us plenty of fun activities and info about petoskey, as we recently became locals! the beacon is where i have taken my visitors and we have all been happy! read more

The Beacon - crab cake - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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The few times i have been here everything was salted to an inch of its life. After last visit its just a nice place for a cocktail

I am surprised to see the rating below 4 stars. I was so impressed with our lunch here that I felt compelled to write a review, which I don't do often. I've eaten at so many places across the US, and can honestly say the burger I had here was the best I've tasted in the last couple of years, even compared to some high-tier restaurants. The service was wonderful as well. Kind of unexpectedly, we had a great lunch here, and I am sure many other travelers will enjoy the food and the views too. read more

Beautiful view not so good food. Service was great but quality of food was not so good

Definitely overpriced and overrated. We were in town for a short getaway, and thought the restaurant was worth a try given the rating. Unfortunately, we got so disappointed. The steak tips were hard to chew. The Mediterranean Pasta was the worst... worse than the frozen one you could get from target... The service was below average. I don't know why the rating was so high. Would never recommend the place. Here is the response from the owner "Dang that's too bad sorry about that.. you had the steak tips not a strip. That is a new appetizer that we brought out. And I gotta be honest with you. We've never had a complaint about the Mediterranean pasta ever... and last I have to apologize... l've never had mediterranean pasta from target heck nor have I ever been or will go in a Target. But we are sorry.. cheers" read more

We ate at the Beacon Bistro twice during our visit to Petoskey. Husband ordered the tomahawk Pork Chop twice. And I ordered the ribeye. Both meals were fantastic and perfectly cooked! Would recommend again and again! Now...the bolognese was mediocre and one note. Note sure how else to describe it other than flat and one flavor. I would not recommend. Service is great! read more

The food was delicious, The view from dining room is great. The service was excellent. Highly recommend!

Food was fantastic! Had the bruschetta and the white fish spread.. very good...staff was very attentive and nice.. ambiance is nice looks over the bay. read more

Great happy hour specials, and fantastic staff. Server's were pleasant and always had a smile

Amazing in every way. Wonderful server Becca. Delicious entrees! Hot from the kitchen, perfectly prepared! Rack of lamb, steak frites, beet salad, Maurice salad. All to die for! Thank you! Generous servings and obviously fresh as can be! read more

Incredible staff and service. Peter is fantastic every time we go! Great drinks, incredible dinner. The beet salad is a family favorite. Love the view of the bay from the dining room! read more

My wife and I were visiting the area and were meeting a friend (actually my 9th grade Latin teacher-and I am 72 years old!) for dinner. Where we met there was a 2 hour wait so we decided to try another local eatery. It turns this must have been a sign from above. The dining experience at Beacon Bistro was phenomenal. Every staff member was extremely pleasant and helpful. Our server (the receipt says Alyse but we think her name was Kara) was phenomenal. She was extremely pleasant and helpful. Service was excellent. I ordered the salmon and it is the best I have ever had. My wife loved her Casio and Pepper pasta and our friend loved her pork chop. Very nice dining atmosphere. Lots of space between the tables and a view of the water. You have got to support this business! read more

Wonderful dinner! We arrived late, tired and hungry after a long drive. The kitchen essentially was closed. No problem. Manager Peter made sure there was a wonderful entree (snapper, perfectly prepared). Server Autumn quickly and efficiently brought me a beet salad and a nice glass of wine to start. Add to that a great view of the bay ... am I in San Francisco? The food, wine, atmosphere and service was the perfect tonic after a long day. A dinner which exceeded expectations. We will return! read more

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Great view and service. The menu needs work though. Either elevate the quality and selections, or scale it down to simpler items at lower prices. The current menu and quality doesn't justify the prices. read more

I can't say enough about the short rib stroganoff. It's enough for two and was so good I had to make myself stop eating. Come during happy hour for half odd drinks and hopefully Becca waits on you, she was fabulous! read more

great view and customer service!! a little pricey but the food made up for it. TRY THE LAMB POPS!! read more

The Beacon - lamb pops - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Great food, nervous staff. Becca (our server) was awesome. Food was great. Everything went as you'd expect from a nice evening dining out. We were seated quickly, service was fast and attentive. I had the Mahi-Mahi, and it was delicious. The coconut rice paired well with the light flavor of the fish, and was delectable. My wife had the French onion soup, which I sampled, and was awesome; rich and with much body. Food was fantastic, and Becca has nothing to hide from. 5 stars!! read more

The Beacon - View from dining room. - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

We rated Beacon higher in the summer but they have faded. Last night they were out of many things on the menu. No soup du jour, no pork chop, only one desert. We asked the server what the issue was and he replied that he had no idea. That's not a great response. My wife rated the onion soup as a 3 out of 10. The walleye was very nice as was the hanger steak. The vegetables were close to raw with a long ways to go to get to al dente! The bar was empty and the restaurant was not crowded. Something is going on here. read more

HIGHLY impressed with the Beacon Bistro. The views are stunning!! Get the smoked whitefish dip! It is fantastic. Drinks were never empty, service was spot on. The drinks are delicious. All of our food was so good! 100/10!! read more

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Had a lovely dinner tonight with my family. All of the food was delectable and our server Becca was very attentive and helpful. Thank you for a great evening! read more

The Beacon - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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WOW!! Sitting on Bay Street overlooking Hwy 31, a softball field and Little Traverse Bay is a wonderful bistro with a great view. We stopped in for dinner and drinks and were very impressed not only with the menu but the friendliness of the staff. My brother ordered a Manhattan while I started with an IPA and ordered the Caprese salad as our appetizer. I chose the Hungarian Goulash and it was the best I have ever had. The beef was exceptionally tender, the paprika sauce delicious and the bread was toasted just the way I like it. We were attended to by Peter H. And he definitely took care of us with exceptional service. So, the dinner was 5star, the dessert was some of the best cheesecake I have ever had. Parking - so, there is street parking in front of the restaurant, and a parking lot across the street with meters. Definitely one of my favorite experiences. Thank you Peter and the staff of The Beacon Bistro. read more

The Beacon - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

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Servers were very unprofessional, kept asking what we were going to drink after we told them no. Food took very long to come out and came out disgusting. Ordered a burger and asked specifically to put bacon on the side, the burger came out with bacon on it and it was burnt to a crisp. Completely black. The prices are outrageous for the quality of the food that you are getting. I do not recommend this place to anyone and I will not be coming back. read more

This place is great! The view outside of the restaurant is amazing, and the charcuterie board was probably the best one I have ever had. Their smoked salmon jerky was AMAZING. I definitely recommend. read more

The Beacon - Charcuterie Board - New American Near Me - Petoskey, Michigan

We were in between lunch and dinner and were told we could be at the bar or bar area table with cold selections. Servers were combining silver and napkins next to us on the two empty tables which was distracting. During the rain they turned away 12 people. The chopped Maurice salad was excellent. The bartender did his best.... he was doubling as the hostess and bartender. read more

SLOW SERVICE, LOUD ENVIRONMENT, AND NO KIDS MENU SLOWEST service ever. We ordered and waited 45 minutes for salads. Literal salads. The restaurant was empty, and they claimed they were just so busy?? The restaurant is also insanely loud. Music stared blaring mid-meal, making it impossible to have a conversation. The menu is also extremely limited, and there is no kids menu. read more

The lunch menu was a little small, but the roasted beat salad was delicious!! Very nice view on the inside as well.

Excellent service! Food is amazing! Great view of the Little Traverse Bay! Check it out-never disappoints!