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    The Gate House

    3.3 (147 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Gate House Photos

    THE GATE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Gate House

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    Dee F.

    Pros: Loved the live music. The Grand Wine $70 was expensive but good. The ambiance was beautiful. Cons: Overall this is not a foodie town. So, my bar isn't particularly high. But when we metioned to the server that the noodles were undercooked and the wrong sauce was on the chicken, a shoulder was shrugged as if saying "and". So, at this point we finished our meal and enjoyed music and decided not to return.

    Grace D.

    The place is clean and has a basic vibe. Our waitress was odd and made us a little uncomfortable. I definitely won't be back. The food was decent but I think the mocktail was the best part of the meal. Definitely recommend the fries!

    Potato and Cheddar Pierogies
    j m.

    After biking and walking all day, the Gate House patio was a welcome place to rest. We walked up to the host with a challenge - can my fella with a soy allergy eat safely? The host didn't know offhand, but went to check right away, and out came a gentleman who said he was allergen certified, and who let us know the cooking oil was canola, and therefore, safe for our allergic hero! We ordered calories for a week - the fried sampler platter with fried pickles, onion rings, fried ranch cheese curds, and hot pretzel sticks; the standout was the fried pickles! The onions were good - with real onion inside and flaky batter, but I'll be thinking about those pickles weeks from now.... We also got an order of the pierogis (yum!), and we also split the mushroom enchilada entree. The enchilada was delicious, with a green salsa, pretty and tasty whole (enoki?) mushrooms, and an interesting and pleasing slightly sour flavor profile I was really digging. It came with half of a perfect avocado sliced up on the plate - fresh, pretty, and a nice accompaniment. I didn't expect much from dinner on Mackinac Island, given the tourist nature of the spot, but this came in well above my expectations. Friendly, helpful service; spacious patio with shade options; allergy friendly; and a nice finish to our day.

    1/2 half Mac Daddy burger
    Ted W.

    My wife & Family were seated outside upon request. Service was ok. We were at the establishment for an hour and a half. Before it's all said and done. The food was decent. Service was ok. The outdoor patio was clean and well spacious.

    Filet
    Paige K.

    For island options, this is a good one. Like most places on the island, it's a little pricey but the food was good. I ordered the filet which came with green beans and mashed potatoes. I subbed the roasted potatoes, which were tasty. The food was all cooked well and tasty but pretty oily. My friend had the vegetarian enchiladas and enjoyed them. She did order the sparkling rose which was completely flat but other than that, good food and good service.

    Mairin A.

    Visited here for a quick lunch. It took a little while for our server Katie to notice us - we chose to sit on the patio on an iffy weather day to keep an eye on my friend's dog - but once we were settled she was very friendly and helpful with selecting menu items (and even gave a great recommendation for finding a fudge shop)! Her service was great. The menu offers a pretty reasonable variety of options, and I went for the fish and chips to try a local catch. Unfortunately I was pretty disappointed by the quality - one piece of meh fish that was close to equal parts batter and meat, fast-food-adjacent fries, and average cole slaw. It was fine, and we absolutely expected to be upcharged as tourists, but I'm so sad I spent $32 on this. I will concede, however, that I tried my friends' clam chowder and it was excellent! Wish I had ordered that instead. In terms of location, the patio is large and great for people-watching. The inside is a little cramped but I loved the look of the bar.

    Jess M.

    WOW, what an unexpected disappointment. We were quite excited to try this place since it is part of the Grand Hotel. The service was good and friendly and we had no wait for lunch, even on the 4th of July. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre at best. We had the Walleye sandwich (which was very fishy and had 1 thin piece of fish in a HUGE hoagie bun); the grilled cheese and bacon (which had 3 pieces of soft bacon) and an italian hoagie. Both the walleye and bacon were more than skimpy, which was very disappointing, especially for a Grand Hotel restaurant. The best part of each of our meals were the french fries, which were fried well. I dont know if this was an off day for the place, but it sure didn't deliver today.

    Awesome ceiling of the bar.
    Victoria M.

    Walking around the island and noticed a sign out front that the Gate House has karaoke on Saturdays. I made a mental note and shared with the group we were staying with to come back on Saturday to check it out. I was a little apprehensive about the Gate House since it was owned and operated by the Grand Hotel. Boy was I wrong! The Gate House seems to be the let your hair down kind of place. It is located between the long hill going up to the Grand Hotel and just outside the hustle of downtown. Tucked away if you didn't know about it. The place is much more casual than what I was expecting. Great outdoor seating, full bar, and inside seating. Showed up on Saturday night - ID's were checked after 9pm to be let in. The staff was awesome - drinks were delicious and by about 10p-11p this place was really rocking with folks from all over. Had a local vibe plus out-of-towners all enjoying themselves. The karaoke was also a hit, organized well, with tons of participants. We had a very fun night. Did not get a chance to try the food but plan on returning next season!

    Potato and Cheddar Pierogies
    Michael M.

    Did was good but the service from the staff was what made everything stand out. The music that they brought in, dueling piano's, was great

    Trapper Burger with fries

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    1 year ago

    Bad food. Old dry ribs. Burger very wet and undercooked. Yuk! Never again yuk yuk double yuk

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    2 years ago

    No dogs on the giant patio WFT. Service iffy food so so. Don't bother. Slow, Over priced on the way to Grand Hotel only reason it exists

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    2 years ago

    Best ever chicken sandwich!! We would go back just for that!! Nice service and prices for the area are reasonable.

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    Millie's on Main

    Millie's on Main

    4.2
    (263 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    After a full day of walking, biking, and convincing myself I definitely wasn't tired, Millie's on…read moreMain hit the spot. My daughter ordered the burger, and it was a winner. The patty was juicy, the bun was soft and fluffy, and somehow she still managed to have room for dessert. Kids are magical like that. My husband and I both ordered the pan-fried whitefish because, come on... you're on Mackinac Island. You have to. The fish was fresh, flaky, and perfectly cooked with a light, crispy crust that let the flavor of the whitefish shine. Exactly what we were hoping for. The restaurant has a fun, laid-back atmosphere that feels like the perfect place to recharge before heading back out to explore the island. The service was friendly, the food came out quickly, and everything tasted fresh. If you're visiting Mackinac, don't overthink it. Order the whitefish, steal a fry from whoever you're eating with (it's vacation, calories are on island time), and enjoy a great meal.

    We stopped by here on a weekend in the summer- we were able to get a table quickly and were just…read moreasked to wait outside for a couple minutes while they got our table ready. Our server was excellent- very thoughtful and attentive. We shared the soup of the day (chicken and wild rice) and fresh whitefish chowder. The chicken soup reminded me of a soup you have when you have a cold and make some fresh soup at home. The chowder did not have much of a fish flavor. Our entire table devoured the whipped goat cheese with pepper jam and the fried green beans, however, there were mixed reviews on the beef pastie. All in all we really enjoyed our meal here; it was the perfect casual stop for us on our trip.

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    Millie's on Main
    Caesar salad
    Caesar salad
    Smoked Whitefish Dip

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    Smoked Whitefish Dip
    Seabiscuit Cafe

    Seabiscuit Cafe

    4.0
    (555 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I knew I wanted to eat whitefish and chips while on Mackinac Island, and the menu at Seabiscuit…read moreCafe sounded pretty good. I was worried there would be a long wait, as it's a small spot, but Nate and I could grab a seat at the bar right away for a late lunch. The bartender was super friendly and we enjoyed chatting with her. I got a featured sangria with pear vodka which was delicious and refreshing. Their taps were out of order, but they have plenty of canned and bottled options. The fish and chips came with two large filets and plenty of fries. I even liked the coleslaw, which I normally don't really love. The batter was a bit thick for my taste but the fish was flaky and not dry. Nate got the waldorf salad, which was huge and had tons of toppings and a nice portion of grilled chicken. The space is quite small so I don't think this place would be great if you have a stroller or anyone in a wheelchair. I'm glad we checked it out and would come back - some of the other dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen looked great, like the fried mac and cheese and the Reuben!

    One of the only places on the island to get a good vegan meal that isn't a burger of some sort. Wet…read moreburrito ftw! Fun horse themed decor (who'd have guessed by the name). Server was on point, refilled my water three times during meal. I ate the whole thing and regret nothing! Cheaper to pay with cash than card, cards get a 3% fee added on. Also, they're part of the 906 club, earn extra money back easily by spending yours here.

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    Interior
    Interior
    The Triple Crown Sandwich at Seabiscuit.
    The Triple Crown Sandwich at Seabiscuit.
    Breakfast served daily at Seabiscuit.

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    Breakfast served daily at Seabiscuit.

    The Gate House - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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