Hancock Restaurants

See also: Houghton, Calumet, Laurium, Lake Linden, Freda, Tapiola, Chassell.

GEMIGNANI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
(906) 482-2920
Gemignani's Italian Restaurant
Gemignani's (JIM-in-YAN-eez) has highly recommended homemade cannelloni and ravioli (meat, cheese, or a surprisingly good cheese and raisin). "This is the place for pasta," in the opinion of one food-lover and his vegetarian wife. Another repeat customer comes for chicken marsala, and because it's a quiet place to talk. The family recipe for the thick Northern Italian meat sauce is from the old Gino's, an area landmark. Garlic-cream sauce is a vegetarian option. Large portions. There's a sandwich and panini menu, too. Homemade fruit pies and tiramisu are for dessert. Espresso drinks and Italian sodas. Now smoke-free. (—8/2010

512 Quincy/ U.S. 41 toward the west end of downtown Hancock, across from Finlandia. (906) 482-2902. Tues-Fri 11:30-9, Sat 4:30-10. Wheelchair access: 1 step. Full bar.

PETERSON'S FISH MARKET
(906) 482-2343
Unpretentious and evolving, Peterson's Fish Market has long been a dependable place in the Houghton-Hancock area for LakeSuperior whitefish and trout (they also make a great smoked whitefish spread). They expanded in 2008 to an adjoining sandwich shop that quickly won raves for its fried and baked whitefish ($9 baskets and $4 sandwiches). Now there's a $4 salmon bagel, fish chowder "with jalapeno emulsion" ($4 cup, $7 bowl), and even a $3 fish tostada.

49813 US Highway 41 up the hill across from the Quincy Mine. Open June to mid-Octobr Monday-Wednesday 11-6, Thursday-Friday 11-10, Saturday 11-5.
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GINO'S RESTAURANT
(906) 482-3020
Fans of this unpretentious place point to the classics, made largely from scratch, the same way for maybe 50 years: ravioli swimming in Gino's distinctive meat sauce, thin-crust pizza with fine-ground sausage made here, and Italian chicken (Friday and Saturday evenings and all day Sunday, baked in marinara sauce and sauced again. Broiled lake trout ($8.25 as a plate lunch, $15.75 as a dinner) comes fresh from Peterson's Fish Market up the hill. The wide menu includes big burgers, many sandwiches, desserts, and appetizers. Weekends a favorite is Italian chicken marinated in an Italian sauce with black olives and baked ($13.90). Sundays everything but alcohol is 20% off. The vintage bar has a warm wood Deco look. Booths are in front, a large non-smoking dining room is in the back. The owner cuts his pork chops and beef by hand. Salads are lettuce, tomato, and onions — nothing fancy. (—8/2010)

800 Quincy just past where U.S. 41 turns up the hill. (906) 482-3020. Opens at 11 a.m. daily. Closes at 9 Sun & Mon, at 10 Tues-Thurs, at 11 Fri & Sat. Closes for cleaning first Mon of month, Sept-June. Wheelchair access: front door. Full bar.

Return to Hancock

HANCOCK
POINTS OF INTEREST

Quincy Mine. The U.P.'s best all-around mine tour combines geology, a gee-whiz tram ride, social history, monumental engineering technology, and an optional underground experience at one of Copper Country's two richest mines. ... more

Distant Drum. A delightful custom clothing shop inspired by trips abroad, her Ramsay roots, and annual trips to the Southwest ... more

M-26 Hancock to Lake Linden. A fascinating drive through the old copper processing region ... more

McLain State Park. Two miles of beautiful Lake Superior beach, a lighthouse pier, and 443 diverse acres provide wonderful beach and woodland walks, good birding, and stunning sunset views for campers and day visitors alike. ... more

North on US-41 Hancock to Copper Harbor. Past historic copper mining villages and ruins, majestic rock bluffs, a shady tunnel trees, this is one of Michigan's best known scenic drives ... more

Portage Waterway. The 21-mile stretch of water results from an ancient fracture of Keweenaw's spine of hard rock ... more

Temple Jacob. A jewell-like temple is perched prettily on a Hancock hillside, still in good shape decades after most of its congregation has moved elsewhere ... more

Downtown Hancock. Unlike many downtowns, Hancock's remains a one-stop business center with many useful shops, a department store, resale stores, arty specialty stores and galleries, a toy store, gun shop, home-owned bank, and bookstore with specialties in regional, the environment, and Scandinavia. ... more

Finlandia University/Finnish-American Heritage Center. Finlandia University (the U.P.'s only private college) and the associated Finnish-American Heritage Center form the U.S. epicenter of Finnish culture. They offer exhibits and lectures. ... more

Finlandia University Portage Campus. Hancock's big old hospital is now a hub of college activityk, including yoga, fitess, meditation studios and a cafe with a nice view of the waterway. ... more

Deja vu & Daily Brew Antiques and Collectibles. An imposing, fanciful Victorian house features Depression-era and cut glass as well as a coffee shop with wi-fi ... more

Keweenaw Co-op Natural Foods & Groceries. A great place to stop for picnic and camping provisions, with a tasty deli section, gourmet and international fare, unusual sauces and bulk foods, and an impressive selection of wines ... more

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