The Family Inn

Awesome. Delicious breakfast served fast and friendly. Very clean and great decor. Wish I lived…read morecloser so I could return. Highly recommend!!

Oh, man. You ever do that thing where you want to try a pasty for the first time, so you search for…read morea good restaurant that has them, then go about your business for a minute, then search the google map for the restaurant based on memory alone, then go to the restaurant only to find out you went to the wrong restaurant because you have the memory of a goldfish? No? Nobody? Just me? Damnit. The silver lining? A wonderful breakfast meal and cheap to boot! Since I realized I'm part idiot (and not the good part), I decided to eat breakfast at my accidental restaurant. Mostly because I was already sitting in the booth and did NOT want to admit defeat. And boy howdy, am I glad I did! I ordered the French toast, eggs, and bacon. Two toasts, two eggs, and about three bacons. And a breakfast Coke (which is normal coke, but in the morning). First off, the eggs. I only eat scrambled eggs because I'm a child. Salt and pepper, then into my mouth. I don't like creamy scrambled eggs and I don't like scrambled eggs that get that weird skin on them for cooking too long. These ones were perfect. I garbled them down. My trick is to heavily salt and pepper them THEN cut them up and mix them together to disperse the seasoning. Eggs 10/10 The French toast? Perfect. Good size slices, a ball of butter on top (thankfully enough to spread over all four triangles), and a ramekin of syrup. They were the perfect portions. The FT (French toast) had the best sponginess and fluffiness. French Toast (FT) 10/10 Finally. The bacon. Look. I am a huss for bacon. I'll do some shady sh** for some good bacon. But I ain't going back to prison. I always ALWAYS request my bacon be floppy. Some places call it limp. I call mine floppy. Because I'm a professional. A lot of places struggle on what floppy should look like. I've had floppy bacon I could put through a plate glass window. I've broken a piece of floppy bacon on a table edge and shanked somebody (see prior prison comment). But here? This place? Sweetie pie, I could tie my shoes with this bacon it's so floppy. I could lasso a baby calf with this floppy a** bacon. If you don't believe me, I attached a photo of what floppy bacon should look like. Professional Floppy Bacon 12/10. I would also like to mention the Coke this place served was top tier. It's like it's chilled prior to coming out the fountain dispenser. It just went down SO smooth. Drink some. Also. It's a medium-quiet place. Family friendly. Has that down home look and feel.

Looking at cooking area from very clean front booth

Mexican Omelette w/pancakes included

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Freshwater Tavern

4.3(181 reviews)

2.2 mi

•$$$

My wife and l came here for our 42nd anniversary and had a wonderful evening. My wife asked about…read moreone of the specials and our server Tanisha highly recommended it. My wife loved her meal and said it was one of the best she's ever had! I chose the Bison meatloaf from reading a review and was not disappointed, it was excellent. We enjoyed a glass of merlot to celebrate with our dinner. The atmosphere was inviting and the view was beautiful and relaxing. There is no other restaurant in the area that offers anything even close to what you experience here. The food was excellent the view and atmosphere was wonderful and our service was exceptional! We live on the Bluff and decided that we're going to be regular customers at the area's best restaurant. Great job Freshwater Tavern! Thank you so much.

Phenomenal Location Great Bar…read moreOutside Patio to watch the bay Great food. Group enjoyed the specials and the fish and chips

Blackened Walleye Tacos

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View from the dining area approaching sunset

Rosy's Diner

4.7(175 reviews)

2.4 mi

Literally cured my hangover, I was thinking about wearing sunglasses into the restaurant…read morebeforehand. Bearded chef, you have saved my morning and long drive home. My server w bangs and glasses was super kind, funny, spunky, and efficient! Same with the younger lady w the fancy highlights. Adorable interior that's very cozy, would be a regular spot for me if I was a local. Ordered one surprisingly big pancake, American fries, a BLT w fries, a side of gravy, tea, and water. Killer breakfast for 28.32.

Food was delicious! Service was friendly! Food was cooked fresh as you order! It was a whole diner…read moreexperience. We will definitely be back!

Morning crew

Wimpy Burger is huge!

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Coffee

Cat-man-dos

4.0(28 reviews)

2.4 mi

Great food. Clean and not crowded. Serves food fast and hot. I would eat/drink here again.read more

My bartender/waitress with multicolor dreadlocks made an amazing green drink I forget the name of…read morethat tasted like apple cider thag I want to mimic. She also handled an insane lunch rush that I would've dreaded in my serving days and kept her cool while customers were being disruptive. She was able to redirect tjem to wuit being a disturbance in the restaurant without escalation, served everything and everyone with a smile, and truly made my dinner experience worthwhile and honestly set the cozy ambience of Cat-man-dos. Workers like her taking on that many tables deserve some serious kudos for keeping their head on straight and I hope she knows her hard work doesn't go unnoticed She maintained a full bar and at least 10 tables without forgetting anything for anyone as far as I saw. I got a BLT which was good, some pretzel sticks, and my friend got a grilled cheese. We both enjoyed our food :)

The Man

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Applewood Eatery & Espresso Bar

4.5(43 reviews)

2.4 mi

They are only open until 2PM today…read more One of the few places open in downtown Escanaba. The chicken salad sandwich sounded so good. Cozy interior. I really like the tin roofs at many places in the UP.

Out of business. Owners were remodeling and ran out of money. Closed permanently. : (read more

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Bellanasi

5.0(2 reviews)

1.4 mi

Holy sh$t!!! This is the best steak sandwich you can have in this area if not anywhere. Absolutely…read moreloaded with everything when you order an "Everything Steak", wow! And a couple of wonderful young ladies taking your order at the window in this great family business. How is the line not blocking traffic at this place? Shame on you locals, get your a$$es down there and keep this place going!!!

Not a fancy place, but dang good sandwiches!! I had the cheese steak with extra cheese,…read moremushrooms, peppers, onions and jalapeños. It was awesome! One of the best cheese steaks that I've ever had...anywhere. My hubby had the NY chopped. Also very good. We will definitely be stopping by whenever we're in Escanaba. But we're hoping the they open another one of these in Marquette.

Fully loaded pizza

Fully loaded steak

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Beer cheese Kat's meow

The Buck Inn

3.4(53 reviews)

0.7 mi

Friendly and attentive service. Great food! Coconut shrimp and broasted chicken was excellent…read more Local tap beer.

We dined in and also ordered a takeout meal to bring home. After we got home, I realized our server…read morehad forgotten to bring the takeout order to us. Mistakes happen. Our server was nice and they were busy, so I drove back to pick it up. When I got home for the second time, I discovered that the $26 takeout meal was incomplete. The container only had the garlic bread, and the side salad that came with the meal was missing. Since the restaurant is about 15 minutes away, I called and asked if they could simply credit me for the missing salad. Instead of acknowledging the mistake, the manager immediately questioned whether the meal even included a side salad. It does. I ordered it, and it's part of the meal. He then told me the salad was $1.99 and that he could credit that amount in 8-10 business days. Since he didn't offer a salad voucher for the future I accepted. That did not sound right so I checked the menu after hanging up, where I found the salad actually costs $3.50. At that point, it wasn't about $1.50. It was about the way I was being treated. Rather than simply apologizing and making things right, I felt like the manager was being cheap and patronizing. Then I got irritated. So I decided to drive back to the restaurant again to pick up the missing salad. When I got there, the manager confronted me and said he had been "just about to process the credit", I told him he said $1.99 and that was not the price of the item, So I just came and got it. He then insisted he had told me he wasn't sure of the price. That isn't what happened. He confidently told me it was $1.99. It felt like he was trying to rewrite the conversation instead of taking responsibility. Oh his parting words were not I am sorry, it was "good thing I didn't process that credit!" Customer service 101 lesson, a good manager should know the menu, own mistakes, and focus on taking care of customers. We spent around $100 on dinner, and I wasn't looking for anything free just the item I'd already paid for or a fair credit. I expect better for the price. ($18.99 for chicken and fries.) The missing salad wasn't what prompted this review. It was the repeated attempts to avoid responsibility over a $3.50 side salad. He should have put me on hold. Looked and the menu and offered a customer focused solution. In the end, the restaurant likely lost customers over $1.50, not because of the money, but because of him. Mistakes happen everywhere. How they're handled is what people remember, and unfortunately, this experience left me feeling dismissed and irritated rather than valued.

Inside

Fish nuggets and onion rings.

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Outside

Ford River Pub & Grill

4.1(20 reviews)

7.3 mi

Great salad bar and fish fry! We went midafternoon and enjoyed a quiet meal right before the rush.read more

I'm not sure what I was expecting, probably burgers and wings and fried mushrooms lol. I was…read morepleasantly surprised to find a great salad bar, and many dinner options. I had the rib special, and they were perfect, second only to a special place I go at home. Service was perfect. And the price was great. I can't think of anything to gripe about if I wanted to decor was typical bar/supper club look from days gone by.

Beautiful deck to enjoy dinner

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Hereford & Hops Steak House And Brewpub

3.2(143 reviews)

2.5 mi

In Escanaba for work and tried Hereford and Hops and never got to eat. Extremely disappointed in…read morethis place. When I walked in I was told to seat myself and I did. That is the last time the wait staff spoke with me for almost 15 minutes until I walked out. After 10 minutes I did the obvious look around trying to get someone's attention, but nothing. They were NOT busy (only 2 other tables of people) and now I see why. Sad service, sad experience

Food was good, service was good and the building itself was interesting. The history behind the…read morebuilding.

Hereford & Hops Steak House And Brewpub - The bar! Great food, had the Mongolian stir fry, the chef made most of the sauces himself. Husband & I had the Mongolian bowls!

The bar! Great food, had the Mongolian stir fry, the chef made most of the sauces himself. Husband & I had the Mongolian bowls!

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Brewery!

Dewdrop Family Restaurant

4.2(21 reviews)

5.6 mi

I recently had breakfast at the Dew Drop Restaurant in Gladstone. I ordered the country fried steak…read morewith eggs over easy, hash browns, sourdough toast, and a freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea. The food was about what I expected. It wasn't exceptional, but it wasn't disappointing either. Everything was prepared as ordered, and the meal itself was perfectly acceptable. One thing I genuinely appreciated was that they serve freshly brewed iced tea. Living much farther south, I've always preferred brewed tea over fountain tea, and it's something that's sometimes harder to find the farther north you travel. Every so often I visit Gladstone to see my mother-in-law, and I enjoy supporting locally owned restaurants whenever I can. I was looking forward to a quiet breakfast by myself with a glass of fresh brewed tea because it reminds me of sitting with my great-grandmother years ago. Unfortunately, the experience took an unexpected turn when I received my check. Before ordering, I had specifically asked the server whether the tea was freshly brewed rather than fountain tea. When she said it was, I ordered it without giving the menu another thought. After years of traveling throughout the United States and Canada for work and eating in restaurants almost daily, I simply assumed brewed iced tea refills were complimentary, as they almost always have been in my experience. It wasn't until I looked at my bill that I realized I had been charged for each refill. I had two glasses of unsweetened iced tea at $2.99 each. Seeing nearly $6 spent on tea alongside a $13 breakfast was genuine sticker shock. At that price, the beverage felt more like I was paying for a premium drink, such as a beer or a margarita, rather than iced tea. When I asked about it, I was told the restaurant has to make money and that brewed tea costs more than fountain soft drinks. That explanation didn't make sense to me because brewed coffee also receives complimentary refills. Looking at the typical costs of operating a small restaurant, brewed coffee, freshly brewed iced tea, and fountain soft drinks all appear to cost only a few dozen cents per serving once ingredients, equipment, utilities, maintenance, and labor are taken into account. While every restaurant's costs are different, the actual difference between these beverages appears to be relatively small, so I found the explanation difficult to understand. This wasn't really about the extra few dollars. It was about the surprise of discovering the charges only after the meal and the inconsistency of offering complimentary refills on brewed coffee and fountain soft drinks while charging for brewed iced tea. I appreciate that Dew Drop serves real brewed tea, and I enjoyed supporting a local restaurant. I simply hope they reconsider this policy or, at the very least, make it much more obvious to customers before they order. Had I known refills were charged at full price, I likely would have ordered something different. That small change in communication--or a change in the refill policy--would have made what was otherwise an average breakfast a much more enjoyable experience.

Food was pretty tasteless Portions were on the stingy side…read morePrices seemed a bit high for this kind of place However the Cole slaw was good

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ray F.

0

17

0

14 years ago

Dirfter's is worse, Delona is closed , Elmers is on the other side of town and McDonalds here is worse than the worst.... Those things considered, I would again visit the Family Inn but with VERY low expectations. The problem, like many other diners is that they try to be too much. Too many items on the menu promising that nothing will be fresh. Better to focus on doing a couple of things well. Homemade bread here is quite good, buy man does not live by bread alone. Breakfast is spotty, sometimes OK others pretty bad. Complaints fall on deaf ears, maybe being a family business means the cook is related and has the job through genetics rather than abilities.... a shame really. read more

Chad C.

0

20

0

16 years ago

This is a local favorite. The food isn't bad, but it is't special either. If your driving through and want a break to watch Fox News while eating comfort food loaded with calories and mild flavor, then stop on in. Don't try going on Sunday morning....the locals make this their church after church. read more

Paula R.

0

9

0

12 years ago

Nothing special or exceptional on the menu here. It's "okay" if you are hungry but if you are looking for something amazing, look else-where. read more

Xboxmaster 5.

0

14

2

5 years ago

The beef soup Is really good and the cookies are also really yummy! Good job! I think this business deserves more stars! read more

Mike F.

10

30

0

4 years ago

The food and staff are excellent. We have been coming here for years and never had a bad meal or service.

Sean M.

0

8

1

3 years ago

Love their hot turkey sandwich, breakfast is always great. This is one of the local favorites.

Mike S.

0

117

12

17 years ago

If you like bland old-people food, you'll love The Family Inn.

Brett D.

0

4

0

13 years ago

Great food. Great atmosphere

The Family Inn - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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The Buck Inn

3.4

(53 reviews)

Friendly and attentive service. Great food! Coconut shrimp and broasted chicken was excellent…read more Local tap beer.

We dined in and also ordered a takeout meal to bring home. After we got home, I realized our server…read morehad forgotten to bring the takeout order to us. Mistakes happen. Our server was nice and they were busy, so I drove back to pick it up. When I got home for the second time, I discovered that the $26 takeout meal was incomplete. The container only had the garlic bread, and the side salad that came with the meal was missing. Since the restaurant is about 15 minutes away, I called and asked if they could simply credit me for the missing salad. Instead of acknowledging the mistake, the manager immediately questioned whether the meal even included a side salad. It does. I ordered it, and it's part of the meal. He then told me the salad was $1.99 and that he could credit that amount in 8-10 business days. Since he didn't offer a salad voucher for the future I accepted. That did not sound right so I checked the menu after hanging up, where I found the salad actually costs $3.50. At that point, it wasn't about $1.50. It was about the way I was being treated. Rather than simply apologizing and making things right, I felt like the manager was being cheap and patronizing. Then I got irritated. So I decided to drive back to the restaurant again to pick up the missing salad. When I got there, the manager confronted me and said he had been "just about to process the credit", I told him he said $1.99 and that was not the price of the item, So I just came and got it. He then insisted he had told me he wasn't sure of the price. That isn't what happened. He confidently told me it was $1.99. It felt like he was trying to rewrite the conversation instead of taking responsibility. Oh his parting words were not I am sorry, it was "good thing I didn't process that credit!" Customer service 101 lesson, a good manager should know the menu, own mistakes, and focus on taking care of customers. We spent around $100 on dinner, and I wasn't looking for anything free just the item I'd already paid for or a fair credit. I expect better for the price. ($18.99 for chicken and fries.) The missing salad wasn't what prompted this review. It was the repeated attempts to avoid responsibility over a $3.50 side salad. He should have put me on hold. Looked and the menu and offered a customer focused solution. In the end, the restaurant likely lost customers over $1.50, not because of the money, but because of him. Mistakes happen everywhere. How they're handled is what people remember, and unfortunately, this experience left me feeling dismissed and irritated rather than valued.

The Ludington Grill

3.6

(72 reviews)

Deep fried steak bite for a shareable app. Prime rib and provolone steak sandwich w/onion rings…read more and the A1 burger w/frue

Came for pizza .... but ..... "our pizza oven is broken." AGAIN!! It wasn't working months ago…read moreeither!! Please take pizza off your menu - and inform customers, especially before they order their drinks. Although the bartender seemed capable and friendly, our waitress didn't know her wine nor how to take a drink order. As things got busy, she seemed less helpful. Food was disappointing. Piped-in music was loud. Will not return.

Rosy's Diner

4.7

(175 reviews)

Literally cured my hangover, I was thinking about wearing sunglasses into the restaurant…read morebeforehand. Bearded chef, you have saved my morning and long drive home. My server w bangs and glasses was super kind, funny, spunky, and efficient! Same with the younger lady w the fancy highlights. Adorable interior that's very cozy, would be a regular spot for me if I was a local. Ordered one surprisingly big pancake, American fries, a BLT w fries, a side of gravy, tea, and water. Killer breakfast for 28.32.

Food was delicious! Service was friendly! Food was cooked fresh as you order! It was a whole diner…read moreexperience. We will definitely be back!

Hereford & Hops Steak House And Brewpub

3.2

(143 reviews)

In Escanaba for work and tried Hereford and Hops and never got to eat. Extremely disappointed in…read morethis place. When I walked in I was told to seat myself and I did. That is the last time the wait staff spoke with me for almost 15 minutes until I walked out. After 10 minutes I did the obvious look around trying to get someone's attention, but nothing. They were NOT busy (only 2 other tables of people) and now I see why. Sad service, sad experience

Food was good, service was good and the building itself was interesting. The history behind the…read morebuilding.

Matera Grill

4.6

(13 reviews)

A shining star on the Escanaba dining scene, where I consider myself a seasonal semi-regular…read more Matera is a hit w locals and tourists, as the dining room is always packed. They had a wait for tables on one of my visits, as it was packed. The staff was hustling! Being a bartop diner, I am free of waiting for a table, although the bar also gets busy. RaeAnn, Caroline, Alexa, and the lone dude Dom professionally run the bar with added personality. Lately I've had the Meatball app (generous portion) with half Bolognese and half Alfredo. I've also found the Chicken Marsala Fettuccini to be worthy. The Roman style pizzas are also very good. Nice crust. When in town, I'll be there.

Surprisingly upscale ambience for hotel restaurant. Varied menu for all tastes & price points…read more Service slightly above any on Thurs. happy hour. Ordered tasty House Salad (big enuff for 2), free bread are akin to pizza rolls; Chicken Parmesan tasted OK but 1 ding: top cheese was burnt affecting meal; Fettuccine Alfredo had rich mushroom flavor and huge portion.

Tyelenes Restaurant

4.5

(2 reviews)

Great place to eat. Good for breakfast or lunch. Has great whitefish, fresh only. Great burgers…read more and Ruben's

Great food and service! I had the chicken wrap and my husband had breakfast. Both were really…read moregood. Highly recommend.

China Lily

4.2

(42 reviews)

We had a craving for Chinese food in the U.P. and a friend recommended China Lily. Great find! It's…read morefamily-owned and off the beaten path in Gladstone--Lily came to our table to chat with us. The food is very good--I ordered the chicken with broccoli and my husband had the honey chicken. Food is brought to the table fast and piping hot. The prices are reasonable. The phone rang nonstop and I quickly figured out that this is more popular for takeout than dining in. The dining room is rather small and has a LOT of crystal on display. (A bull in China Lily would have a field day, but I digress.) The only negative: even for dining in, meals are served in styrofoam containers...nooooo! Cups are styrofoam. Utensils are single-use plastic. While I love the food I am guilt-ridden about the waste. Please, Lily, consider real plates and flatware and paper takeout containers. We will love you even more!!

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Thai'd UP

4.4

(9 reviews)

Everything was AMAZING stopped in for lunch and the staff was so nice and helpful! Now the food was…read morealso AMAZING best Thai I've had in a while!!! But to top it off the exterior and interior were super cute and incredibly well themed! The menu has a little bit of everything making it a great choice for everyone!!! Thank you Thai'd UP for providing such a wonderful meal and experience!

A wonderful place to find great food and atmosphere, the service was quite kind and took orders…read morewith consideration, making sure to answer any question we had about the menu. Food was delicious and quickly delivered. Overall a great place to eat and experience some wonderful dinning.

Delta Deli

5.0

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Friendly service and Great food...Ham Egg Cheese sandwich on Fresh Homemade Bread…read moreBiscuits&Gravy was good. I ate ALL OF THAT! So next time I will try one their baked goods Giant Muffins or Maybe one those nice looking cinnamon rolls ummm!!

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