Bergland and Lake Gogebic Restaurants

HOOP 'N HOLLER TAVERN
(906) 575-5555
As the name suggests, this small tavern is a friendly place, not just for adults, but for children as well. (Video games are there to entertain them.) Carolyn Maves cranks out very good bar food in her tiny kitchen, while her husband, George, tends bar. They serve a wide-ranging menu: Mexican, fried chicken, fish (but not local), burgers ($6 for a 1/3 lb. flame-broiled burger with fries), salads, and soups. Theirs is the only place on the lake open year-round. In winter snowmobilers keep the kitchen so busy, expect s wait. A picture window looks out on Lake Gogebic and a small beach, which customers can use. Factoid: this is the westernmost bar in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.

ANTONIO'S
(906) 575-3581
In Bergland and not on the lake, Antonio's is the all-around diner/family restaurant. Its loyal clientele comes for the sociable atmosphere, for the breakfast scene, and for reliable service. Antonio's is known for good burgers, subs, soups, and its Italian menu. (There's also a standard American menu.) Baked pasta with cheese and Italian sausage and excellent pizza are favorites. Entrées are $10 and under. Thin-crust is the regional specialty; deep-dish is also available. The owner also has an Antonio's in White Pine. No credit cards; out-of-town checks accepted.

GOGEBIC LODGE
(906) 842-3321
The restaurant area at Gogebic Lodge really is a lodge in the old sense of the word: a big, bustling, family destination in rustic style. There's a 2-story stone fireplace and lots of activity: kids playing video games; in winter, snowmobilers at the bar (it has the best lake view); an attentive wait staff circulating in the open dining area. Full menu. Soups are outstanding. Daily lunch specials are $5. The Friday fish fry is a big draw. Longtime favorites include the Lodgeburger on Kaiser roll with fries ($7), Reubens with special sauce ($7), hand-cut Vidalia onion rings, smothered apple-bourbon chicken on wild rice $15), and slow-cooked BBQ ribs ($16-$20). There's a lakefront deck, but the screened pavilion by the lake is in some ways even nicer. Saturday nights a grill, bar, and steam table are set up in the pavilion. Children's menu.

Fishtales Pub 'N' Grub
(906) 842-3366
The menu has been updated by the relatively new owner. It's still focused on fish. There's grilled and blackened walleye ($14.50), crab-crusted haddock with a crispy crab parmesan crust ($13.50), hand-cut steaks, and a very popular fish taco ($14.50), consisting of pan-seared haddock with an Asian, chipotle, and pico de gallo sauces. Specialty sandwiches ($6.50-$8.75) come with fries and Asian cole slaw. The remodeled dining room has a fine lake view. It extends right over the water, with big windows on three sides, and opens onto the bar. Children's menu. Ask for details about cottages. They are being updated. All have kitchens, satellite TV. One bedroom: $80/day, $500/week; 2 BR $100-$130/day, $625/$725/week. Ask about 3BR and 4Br.

THE ROOT CELLAR
(906) 842-3535
Over the years this grew from an actual root cellar into a sandwich place and finally into a resort with cottages and a spacious multi-room log restaurant. Big dining-room windows look out onto Lake Gogebic in the distance. The current hosts have kept longtime favorites on the extensive menu. Here are all the things snowmobilers want: friendly atmosphere, good food and drink, hearty portions, a stone fireplace. The big round bar is at the center of things. The extensive menu offers char-broiled burgers and sandwiches any time (roughly $6-$8 with fries and cole slaw), steaks, walleye, liver and onions, and daily dinner specials like Friday fish fry, and Saturday prime rib ($15 to $28). Typical entrées $10 to $20. Children's menu.

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