Paradise Restaurants

In season Paradise restaurants are often too crowded. Out of season, even in fall when visitors are still out in force at the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, it may be hard to get a meal after 8 p.m. except at the Yukon Inn. The Penguin has new owners and is now open mainly for breakfast. It's a good idea to come to Paradise prepared: bring a well-packed cooler.
See also: Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub at the State Park, Bear Butt Bar & Grill in Eckerman (nearest). Also: Wilcox's Fish House, the casino restaurant, and The Cozy Inn, at Bay Mills(in Sault Ste. Marie region of this web site).

Yukon Inn
(906) 492-3264
At this fabulously rustic bar, the signature "dishes" among all the bar food are the half-pound Yukon hotdog and the $6.50 Yukonburger: 1/3 pound of ground beef, plus bacon, ham, American and Swiss cheese on a sesame seed bun—cooked, says owner Tom Archambeau, "to perfection." Now the Yukon is open for breakfast 5 days a week. It is the quintessential log tavern, built in the 1930s. Don't be put off by the deteriorating logs outside. Old log buildings like this are susceptible to all sorts of exterior maintenance problems, and refurbishing awaits an improving economy. Inside, the logs and rafters and rustic furnishings glow gloriously. Tom describes the Yukon as a family bar and "the friendliest bar in the north," a moniker that seems well deserved. Patrons and staff have enjoyed speculating on possible real-life Yukon prototypes for the characters in The Glasgow Inn, the Paradise bar in Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight detective novels.

Berry Patch Bakery & Restaurant
(906) 492-3330
Open 360 days for breakfast, lunch, and coffee—people are thrilled that the Shirley and Carl Clark and the Berry Patch are on the scene. The Berry Patch is painted blue for blueberries, the gift shop's theme: homemade blueberry jam, plus baskets, cookbooks, regional gifts, Christmas ornaments, and much more. The bakery turns out cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, cookies, a bread of the day. The lumberjack breakfast is the favorite. Lunch brings burgers, soup, roast beef, hot dogs, and salads.

Brown Fisheries: The Fish House
(906) 492-3901
It's easy to miss Brown's because it's on the west edge of town, where M-123 turns away from the lake. It's both a restaurant and a fish market, and it's only open when owner Buddy Brown, a commercial fisherman, has fresh fish. The interior is pleasant, with nifty paintings of local fishing boats. Whitefish baskets (3 pieces for about $11 fried, $13 broiled) come with fries or baked potato, coleslaw & pickle. The smoked whitefish chowder (cup $3.50, bowl $5) is delicious. A whitefish sandwich with fries and slaw is $8. Fish is maple-smoked in back; smoked fish is used for a dip that's fine picnic fare. Checks OK. No credit cards.

Little Falls Inn
(906) 492-3529
This is the only Paradise restaurant with a full bar, where you can get a whitefish dinner (around $16-$17) with beer or wine. Enter the restaurant through the bar, the Red Flannel Saloon. The rustic log building was a ballroom in the 1930s, part of the Cedar Lodge complex. The restaurant offers a full menu at breakfast, lunch (soups, burgers and sandwiches, for $6.50 to $9 with fries and slaw), and dinner. French onion soup is a favorite. Dinner menu from 11 a.m. Whitefish at $16.50 is the top of the menu. Entrées come with potato or vegetable and salad bar.

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