Au Train Restaurants

See also: Christmas, Munising, Chatham, PAGE#Eben.

Excellent, interesting food, prepared from scratch, served in a charming setting, with an amiable staff—that's what brings local people and visitors back to the Brownstone Inn again and again. This distinctive fieldstone building seems like a northwoods version of a comfortable European inn, mellowed by age and use. Homey lace curtains and a Victorian crazy quilt are played off against the stone fireplace and original Rittenhouse rustic furniture. Local stone and salvage like factory windows were used when a retired Detroit police officer launched the project in 1946.
The chance to buy the distinctive building drew Jeffrey Van Bremen and Deb Molitar back to Michigan from California in 1989. Chef Jeff, burned out from too much intense, high-tech problem-solving, had been taking cooking classes. His wife, Deb, runs the bar and budget. The menu and specials combine the inventive with the expected—fresh whitefish prepared many ways ($15-$18), steak, prime rib. Cedar-planked salmon is a favorite. Currently Jeff enjoys making interesting salsas and sauces to go with fish and pork, smoking meats, and inventing lasagnas—some with fish. Shiitake, oyster, and crimini mushrooms make wonderful lasagna with white sauce and zucchini. Fresh lake trout, perch, and walleye appear, depending on availability. See website or call for specials.
Portions are generous. Dinners include salad, potato or grains (mixed brown rice, rye, sweet potato orzo with daikon seed), vegetable, and bread. An excellent selection of wines and beers is also available to go. For lunch, served any time, are charbroiled hamburgers conventional and exotic ($8-$9 with hand-cut fries, regular and vinaigrette slaw, sweet potato fried $2 more), fresh whitefish sandwiches ($9), and meal-size salads like the huge, popular Laughing Whitefish salad ($11). Homemade desserts, cappuccino and coffee drinks are served any time.
Dinner reservations are recommended in busy seasons, especially weekends. The dinner menu is now served starting at 3 p.m. but specials may not be ready until 5. Call-ahead takeout orders are encouraged. Come early for yellow lake perch (Friday, when available). Barbecue, usually on Sunday, often sells out by 2. In this small, 60-seat place, there's often a wait between 6 and 8 p.m. Special-occasion room upstairs

On M-28 two miles west of Au Train blinker. From Memorial to Labor Day: Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 9 or on weekends to 10 p.m., Sundays noon to 9 p.m. Other times: earlier closing, closed Mon. In slow seasons, call ahead if you're coming within an hour of closing and they'll stay open. Handicap accessible. Full bar.
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AU TRAIN
POINTS OF INTEREST

Scott Falls. A highway rest stop permits a close-up look at charming Scott Falls and a pause by Lake Superior's Au Train Bay to see and reflect on an Ojibwa landmark ... more

Au Train River Canoe Trail. A slow, meandering river, good for families, great for seeing blue herons, kingfishers, and other wildlife. Two canoe liveries are here ... more

Bay de Noc-Grand Island Riding & Hiking Trail. 40 miles long, this is part of an ancient Ojibwa trail between Lake Michigan and Superior ... more

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