Harbor House Grille

This place is AMAZING! Hands down the best service I’ve ever had. My friend and I have somewhat difficult dietary restrictions. Because of this, we don’t eat out often. This restaurant bent over backwards to make sure we had enough to eat. The food was delicious. I had the scallops and shrimp. Yum!!!

Food is better than average for Grand Marais. Nothing exceptional, but beats most other restaurants in town. I ordered a green salad with added grilled chicken. Very fresh ingredients, however my chicken was cold — but still taste good. My major complaint was the service. After we got our food, we were never checked on again. My boyfriend sat with an empty drink during most of the meal, and his steak was overcooked.

We shared some walleye fingers and a sirloin, both were really good. Service was also above average. Only gripe is that it was really hot in there… maybe because the staff is old

I had the Paella for my entrée and it was fantastic. We shared the garlic mussels and frog legs appetizers and they were spectacular. Great local beer selection and a very pretty view. Highly recommend!

We went in the first time because the wait across the street was so long. The food, the service, the selections, the value and the overall experience brought us back the second time in spite of the place across the street! I had the pan-​fried walleye (a special) one time and it was one of the best dishes I have had. Period. They had prepared a wild blueberry topped lemon cake as a desert and the first time my spouse an I split it. I did not make that mistake the second time — we each got our own! When back, I will come back, and I can recommend it to you, also!

This is a nice place and cute building, service was nice (not amazing, but not horrible)… the food did not meet our expectations though, so we left broke and disappointed.
We started with the pork belly app that was on special, because we never pass that up — it was not melt in your mouth tender, as we’ve come to expect with this dish, but rather fatty and chewy. bummer.
I ordered the fish special (don’t even remember what it was) and it was lackluster. My husband order the steak special and took advantage of the option to add mushrooms, only to find out they are average, run of the mill, canned mushrooms. My father-​in-​law ordered the Walleye, and while he did say the crust on it was nice and crispy, he quickly followed it up with a comment stating that he can get walleye just as good at My Sisters Place (up the road) which offers a larger portion for half the price.
Maybe it’s the ‘specials’ that they haven’t perfected and their menu staples are on point? I don’t know, but, sadly, we’ll never be back to find out. Our bill was steep for the quality we feel we received.

Spectacular! Food and service was amazing. So much so that we went 3 times in 4 days. Twice for lunch and once for dinner. For those of you looking for a dinner and waiting in line at the angry trout. Cross the street! So worth it! !

I’m a long time vegetarian and found the walnut Burger pretty good, certainly unique. It’s weird that they charge extra for lettuce and tomato though and I added cheese to feel like I had a whole sandwich. Tasty wedges served with the sandwich. I would eat here again, but the angry trout across the street would be preferred for both taste and service! Try the Duluth distiller gin if you visit though, yum!

Had birthday dinner there with the boyfriend and kids. They shared a kids pizza and our food was delicious. Atmosphere and service was great. Definitely will return.

Great food and atmosphere. The location is perfect with a wonderful view of the harbor. The seafood paella was world class and the prices were reasonable. Highly recommended!

We went to the Harbor City Grille on Friday evening. The food was very nice. The scallops with a maple glaze were well-​cooked and just the right amount of maple– not too sweet to detract from the savory. The lightly-​fried walleye was tasty. The «wild rice medley» may have had more «medley» (read white rice) than wild, but it was not bad. The veggies were properly-​cooked. The dark chocolate layer cake was exceptional… and we’re not usually dessert people. The service was friendly and attentive. Overall, this was a 4 – 4.5 for food and service.
So, why a 3? One reason only, and a serious pet peeve of mine that detracts from the overall quality of a meal, on principle. This is the «split plate charge.» We, like many others, just don’t eat a lot of food, so we split entrees. In a couple of recent restaurant visits we’ve had one place expertly split our entrée and another (steak) place brought out the steak and split it tableside onto two plates, portioning the accompaniments. No charge, of course.
Not so the Harbor House Grille. First, the «splitting» happened as they brought the entrée and I happened to notice that there was another plate beneath the plate. So, we had to separate the plates and split everything. And I’m fine with that. But then to add an exorbitant $ 4.75 split charge after not splitting? Even before this antiquated practice died away in nicer establishments, this was about 2 bucks. Again, it’s the principle.
A really nice place, They should just stop this. It’s beneath them.
Cheers.

The woman who served us was really nice. We had dinner on the outside patio and we really enjoyed it! I had a sort of energy/​pressure loss, so I wanted some red meat to re-​energize me, and I took the ribs… really, really good! I’m not a huge meat fan, but I really liked them. My husband took a special daily meal, I think, and he enjoyed it as well.
If you are visiting Grand Marais, try this place!

If you are looking for exquisite food in a cozy house style setting then… Wait… This is the place to eat in Grand Marais no matter what you’re looking for. The food is home made perfection. The ambience is cozy yet sophisticated and the service is wonderful. Sound too good to be true? Well than check out the prices as well. You certainly get your money’s worth in food. I’m coming back soon to try the next specials.

My apologies that I haven’t updated my review sooner. The owner states that I haven’t responded to his 6 emails however I only have gotten three. I’ve pasted them below. Perhaps he is referring to the «compliment» he sent me telling me «you should be shot.» In any case, responding with a more positive review is out of the question as you can see from the communication below.
Your review
Remove your review we both no it’s not true!!!
3 days ago
Russel S. Hey horrible person
I’m still waiting to here from you regarding you retarded comments still waiting
One week ago
Russel S. Your slanderous lying review
Just so you no I’m seeking legal actions against this review.
5 months ago

Great service, extremely beautiful location — I’d definitely want to sit outside when the weather is more pleasant. My Harbor House sandwich was made just the way I wanted it, and our server, Jack, very courteously changed everything I wanted changed /​swapped :)

Great service, tasty food, cosy atmosphere. Highly recommend the Whitefish.
The view of the lake is an added advantage :)

We were in Grand Marais during our fall tour of the North Shore and decided to stop in here and have dinner at the Harbor House Grille (411 W Highway 61, Grand Marais) on the edge of town. We saw had read some other reviews about the restaurant and were impressed with what others were saying. We decided to dine there on our last evening in Grand Marais before heading back south towards Duluth.
You can’t help but be impressed with the location overlooking the lake. It made our dining experience that much more enjoyable. Nothing quite like taking in a sunset over the lake during the fall and watching the lighthouses in the harbor light up. Very relaxing and it does your soul wonders. The dining room is quaint and charming. We didn’t have to wait long and once we were seated we were VERY impressed with the service. The staff here is tremendous! Our hostess, our server and even the chef (who came out and asked us how we were enjoying our meals) were very polite and gracious. One of the better staff experiences I’ve had anywhere in Minnesota!
We decided to go all-​out and splurge. It is vacation, after all. Krystyn started with the Spinach and Feta salad and I had to sample the French Onion soup. Both were fabulous. Krystyn is the world’s pickiest eater and devoured her salad. The soup was perfect — just the right balance of cheese, croutons and soup. I selected the Garlic & Goat Cheese Filet and it is a STEAL at $ 24 (yes, pricey, but you are in a tourist town) and enjoyed every second of it. Krystyn said since we were along the lake she had to have the Walleye, which was battered, fried and served on a bed of pilaf. Both meals were excellent. We didn’t have any room for dessert which was a shame because even those looked «to die for.»
Friendly staff, beautiful location, scrumptious (and filling) meals are what you can expect to find here. I would recommend going early as it fills up fast during tourist season. Vegetarians and people with gluten intolerance will be happy to know that this place has a menu specifically for them — a rare find! The prices are what you would expect to find on the North Shore — a little steep, but don’t let that scare you off. Harbor House Grille is a gem of a find in Grand Marais!

It is rare that all four of us enjoy a place because we have such different tastes. We loved our experience here so much we went back the following night.
Sat outside both times with the same amazing view of the harbor.
We have eaten at the Angry Trout every visit to Grand Marais for years and were excited to try someplace new instead this time. We like this place better!
Me and husbo both had the whitefish special the first night and daughter stole half of both. All three loved it. Daughter got her own the second night. First night she had the fancy grilled cheese and super hot potato wedges with the perfect amount of salt. (I tried several.) Son had the fish sandwich and said it was the best he’d ever had! The next night he had the ribs and loved them too. I was glad I tried the walnut burger. It wasn’t pretty, but the flavor was amazing! Both nights I had the salad that comes with the meal with the yummy red wine blue cheese dressing.
Tried two desserts. The chocolate cake was rich and not too sweet.
The pretzel cheesecake with strawberry rhubarb topping was so perfect and special. The crunchy, salty crust of pretzels, the soft, richness of the cheesecake, the sweet, tartness of the topping… an explosion of flavor and textures that makes my mouth water thinking about it. Just order it.
Dana was our server both nights and did a terrific job. Thanks for two memorable vacation meals!

My critiques matter as I received feedback from the café. Pleasant and positive touch. Bravo

My third visit to this lovely restaurant spurred this review. I’ve been visiting Grand Marais several times a year all of my thirtys (shh) years, and don’t often tout my home-​away-​from-​home experiences at local establishments. Quite honestly, I’d rather keep the gems to myself as the quiet streets I remember as a child are long gone.
But…this gem deserves a solid following and is even more deserving of praise.
We first tried Harbor House during a winter visit. Looking for a sweet bite after an early dinner, we stopped for dessert and a nightcap. My dad was struggling with a restrictive diet, and our server graciously produced an off the menu plate that accommodated his every request and then some. The warm lava cake wasn’t what I expected – no under-​baked brownie here – but was light and fudgey at the same time. The cozy, homey atmosphere immediately hooked us, and we returned for lunch the next day.
The French onion soup is amazing. Homemade dressings make the salads, and the fresh greens are certainly leaps and bounds above «bagged lettuce». Offering salad as an alternative to fries on the side is an immediate plus to me. My son adored the pizza, as did the rest of us who tried it, and my entire family was extremely pleased with their offerings.
Now back in town a few months later, we enjoyed another delicious lunch. My mom had a spinach salad that was bright and flavorful. My dad and I both ordered turkey burgers which were juicy and topped with an addictive Dijon sauce. My son couldn’t pass up the pizza again, and my sister loved the walleye fingers even more than the fish we had at the Angry Trout the following day («the» media-​proclaimed fish darling in town).
Please stop in. Leave your preconceived notions at the door. This is not Chez Jude, and thankfully so. Harbor House Grille is thoughtful, warm and affordable. Service is impeccable and the food is satisfying and high quality. A large front deck was recently added and outdoor *almost* lakeside seating abounds. The view? The ambiance? Perfection. We now have a new regular stop on our list of many tried and true favorites and hope you will too.