Okay, rank the restaurants within 20 miles of Cass

[Commanche Jim]

This year we have a big group going up to Cass.....We seem to always eat at the same places.

Let get your opinions on your favorite eateries......These are some we've eaten at, but in no particular order.

In/on Cass Lake:

1. The Canal House

2. Pike Hole

3. Is Tom's Harbor Restaurant open?

4. Is Birch Villa's new place open?

These are the only places on Cass that I've patronized.

Bemidji:

1. We've been to this Mexican joint many times...that's it.

Walker:

1. A Mexican joint

2. The pizza place on 371 a couple doors down from Reeds.

3. The Ranch House we were at a LONG time ago. How is it now?

4. Some steakhouse across the street from Northern Lights Casino......how is it?

5. Margarita Mulligans was fun and decent food.

6. How's the Wharf?

How is The Boulders on the north end of Walker? Looks nice.

What does everyone think? My wife has never been to Pike Hole.......we need to take the pontoon we're renting there for either lunch or dinner on a Wednesday....do they do tacos all day?

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

My .02 cents:

On Cass, Pike Hole wins, hands down never been to the other places though I have been to Chippewa Paws and they are good too. Not as nice atmospehere as The Hole.

Walker, we always hit the Mexican joint in town and we always hit The Wharf (or The Pelican Bar, as we call it) they have decent food and great fried cheese curds.

Bemidji - We always hit The Ground Round, never been dissappointed yet. And that restaurant that is in the big Green Hotel right when you are getting into town right on the water, can't remember its name but food has always been good and washed it down with a few Blue Moons!

I hope the locals (Brian and Beef) will ring in here since they probably have had more meals locally than the rest of us combined! Give it up guys, let us flat landers know where the good grub is!!!

Windy

[genegodawa]

The new Birch Villa lodge is not finished yet. Can't wait to see it next year. It'll have a great view looking out to the harbor/lake.

[djp1964]

I visited the area mid-June and tried a few places:

For a slightly more refined palate, I would suggest The Peppercorn in Bemidji. Pretty good food/value, Monday night is all-you-can-eat crab -- they have other features on different nights.

All the rumours about the Pike Hole are true - great food, great value, great ambiance and a nice pour on refreshments!

Tried to eat at Chippewa Paws but did not pay attention to the sign on the HWY and they were closed that day (Monday).

Ground Round was "ok" but not great - had better service and quality at other GR locations. Little Caesars was decent - $5 for a large pizza ready to go. Hardee's in Walker was what you'd expect from Hardee's.

Hope this helps.

[Quackaddict9]

Quote:

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Bemidji - We always hit The Ground Round, never been dissappointed yet. And that restaurant that is in the big Green Hotel right when you are getting into town right on the water, can't remember its name but food has always been good and washed it down with a few Blue Moons!

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Hampton Inn

Bemidji- Greenmill, Applebees, Tjauns mexican, Slims bar/grill, Corner Bar/grill.

Walker- the Ranch House is my #1 choice. Mexican joint, pizza a couple blocks from Reeds, Lucky Moose on 371 south (3 mi s of walker?)

Cass Lake- Pike Hole, Shooting Star on Andrusia

[steffanf]

Like most of everyone one here, the Pike Hole is my #1 choice. I have been to the restaurant at Chippewa Paws as well a few times. I can say the food is very good there, but the atmosphere is nearly dead. Also, the beer served there is the weak 2.3% stuff only (not that I'm saying I need to get drunk). I have also been to the Canal House a couple times. I actually like the set-up there with the canal and modern dock, but I would have to say the food is only fair.

-Gregg B.

[LABS4ME]

Charlies in Walker has always been good.

The 371 cafe in Cass Lake has very good breakfasts.

Chucky's Chicken is good if you want some broasted Chicken

Dave's Pizza in Bemidji is good

MJ's between Cass and Bemidji has good burgers

MorningStar resort on Andrusia has good food, but is getting spendy

Good Luck!

Ken

[cluelessfisherman]

If you want good food (burgers) my #1 pick on Cass Lake is Chippewa Paws - #2 Pike Hole.

In Bemidji - definately the Corner bar or the Garden right across the street.

TJuans is a good choice especially for a group of people with a little more menu to choose from and the best Margaritas and Long Islands in town.

If you're looking for something a little different, Brigids Cross in downtown Bemidji has the best fish and chips around and serve up a mean sheperds pie - the Guinness goes down good too...

In Walker definately give the Luck Moose a try - just opened this year - great food and great atmosphere. The Ranch house is still a great place to eat with all you can eat specials most nights and of course the pop-overs are still wonderful.

Of course there is always the Casino buffet if it's food and lots of it you're after at a reasonable price.

[Eckie]

For bar type burgers, I'd suggest the following; Corner, Slims and Becida Bar and Grill. All are excellent.

T'Juans is great for Mexican food/margaritas. I bartended there for several years in my college days.

The Peppercorn has a very nice upscale atomosphere and great food, especially the prime rib (cajun is my favorite).

Green Mill has been a very nice addition to the south side of Bemidji. Good menu, great location on shores of Lake Bemidji.

Someone mentioned Dave's Pizza...best pizza in Bemidji, hands down. Their entire menu is fantastic.

[vitt]

Cass Lake

I think everyone knows about Pike Hole. To answer your question: they start serving Tacos at 5:00pm at Pike Hole on Wednesday.

I think the food at the Canal House is not very good. When we stayed at Stony Point we did not eat there. We gave it a try 2 different years with the same result.

We ate at Chippewa Paws last year and had pretty good food. I agree with everyone else the atmosphere is not great.

Walker

The name of the pizza place in Walker is Benson’s. We have to make the drive to eat there at least once during our stay. We think of it as a burger joint, very good burgers. The pizza is pretty good also. We each order a burger and get a pizza as an appetizer. This is the only place we have tried in Walker.

Bemidji

The Corner Bar has good burgers and cheese curds. Good place to play some darts and pool. Not an easy place to find though.

The Green Mill has very good food and they serve until midnight. We usually fish until 10:00 – 10:30pm so it is great to have a place to get to get a late night meal. It is in a good location coming from Cass. We also catch the late night happy hour for cheap appetizers (which are large and tasty)

[Fish Slayer]

The name of the mexican joint in walker is the Zona Rosa, and if you like chinese food at all try WOK-Er. Both I think very good and i love the fishing atmosphere in the chinese restaurant believe it or not. If you head up towards Bemidji I would try Tutto Bene if you like Italian and the Blue Moon which is south of Bemidji. If you like a great soup and salad bar hit up the Country Kitchen they also have a pretty good size menu, and if its your B-day you get it free! My Bemidji favorites though are Green Mill, PepperCorn, and Ground Round.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Slayer,

Sounds like you and me eat alike. I love Zona Rosa in Walker and we always hit the Green Mill and Ground Round in Bemidji. Maybe we will add the Blue Moon and Tutto Benne to our arsenal this year. We usually eat out for dinner every night during the first week at Cass when it is just me and the Mrs. Then we usually take turns cooking when the other 25 family members decend on Cass the second week.

Thanks for the tips.

Windy

[Deitz Dittrich]

I cant believe The Peppercorn hasn't been mentioned in Bemidji yet... maybe a little higher dollar, but I cant get enough of their food!

[ole matty]

whoa u guys forgot abt mj's on hwy 2! best burnt hamburger and good fries ever!!!! and good water hole too!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Double D,

I think I saw a few mentions for The Peppercorn but I agree that the higher price tag scares most people away. I have not tried it for that very reason. I have hit many of the other places that might go $10 less per person. You have to keep that money so you can give it back at The Palace!

We may try the Peppercorn next week. Only 4 days and counting until Cass Lake 2007 our 20th Family Anniversary of coming up to Cass.

Windy

[Deitz Dittrich]

Windy, you will not be disapointed in thier food.. they are a sponsor of FM... here is thier web site.

http://www.peppercornrestaurant.com/

[LABS4ME]

I had MJ's on my list... most people don't even know it's there.

Good Luck!

Ken

[steffanf]

Quote:

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Only 4 days and counting until Cass Lake 2007 our 20th Family Anniversary of coming up to Cass.

Windy

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I hear you there, Windy... only 4 days. Looks like we will have some good weather for the week we are there as well. The only day that looks like it has a slight chance for rain is on Sunday. Might have to deal with some breezy conditions on Monday as well. The rest of the weeks looks high and dry with highs in the mid to upper 80's.

-Gregg B.

[Chris Haley]

Do not go to walker looking for chinese. They went out of business. There is a new chinese buffet on the west side of town (Bemidji) called "super buffet" they are next to the truck stop by wal mart.

There is also another "all you can eat buffet" opening in the next month down from the ground round called the "hungary bear" This will be a "kings table" type of buffet with theme night entrees and the same old comfort food everyday.

Bar 209 on beltrami between 2nd and 3rd street (2 blocks up from paul and babe) has all you can eat wings for $6 on thurs nights. Ask for "tom's special dry rub wings" He rubs them with cajun spice, deep fries, and finishes on the grill for even more crunch. yum!!! Also THEY have the best burger in town. The only place where the burger sticks out past the bun by an inch.

[bigfishin21]

So I will be on Cass Lake for the first time this upcoming weekend and will be looking for a place to eat on the lake around the noon hour. Can anyone tell me if Pike's Hole Bar is actually located on the lake? If so, where and do they have docks?

[LABS4ME]

Yes and Yes

Go up to the Turtle River on the north end of the big lake (the mouth is real shallow again... 1 1/2'), go into Pug Hole and go to the north end of Pug Hole where the bridge splits it from Kitchi, it's right there at the bridge.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Indeed they do BigFishin,

They are inbetween Pug Hole Lake and Lake Kitchi right under the Turtle River Bridge. You get into Pug on the Northeast side of the main basin of Cass. When you go there be sure to tell them you are on Fishing Minnesota, they love the referrals. Also I would recommend trying one of their famous burgers. Mushroom Swiss is a good one so are some of the other combo burgers. They have the coldest beer, big screen tv and a juke box. They also sell a pretty nice baseball cap with their name on it for about $15. They do have docks but they can get pretty crowded. They are accessable from the road also that runs over the bridge. Enjoy, I leave for Cass about 3 am this morning so I will be up there by 1 pm Saturday. We are staying at Wishbone Resort and I drive a red Lund Alaskan with a 40 hp Merc 4 stroke. I go about 6'2" and 350 lb with a beard and glasses. Say hi if you see me on the lake or at the Hole.

Windy

[bigfishin21]

We will be fishing in Pike's Bay I believe so will we be able to cross into Cass Lake through a channel or do we have to load the boat? If it is a channel, how deep is it?

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated...

[genegodawa]

The channel from Pike Bay to Cass can be awfully shallow at times and it is a long, long way from Pike Bay to PikeHole (but worth the ride for a great view and lunch).

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Come on Geno,

Maybe in your dingy it is a long ride!!!

LOL

Hey man, if I don't talk to you before I head out (3am) for Cass. I will talk at you when I get back.

Windy

[Deitz Dittrich]

Windy- I hear you ran into my Mother in Law... Sounds like they were pretty busy. I hope you still had the good food, and the fishing treated you right!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Indeed I did, Dietz!

Gody says hi.

We hit three new restaurants on our trip this year. We also did our annual family trek to the Pike Hole and everything was good as usual though it took almost an hour for them to bring our food out. We did call a day in advance as we had a large group of 17 hungry boaters and another family that we know joined us from our resort (Wishbone) to make a total of 26 people. The Hole has asked me to pass along a friendly request of phoning in groups larger than 10 people at least a day or two in advance, that way he can schedule some extra work staff. It was sheer he11 waiting for our food, we had to force down three pitchers of Leinenkugel Honey Weiss, it was rough but somebody had to do it.

Anyway, here goes the report on the three new restaurants. All in Bemidgi. Tutto Bene's was first on our list and it was a beautiful, understated Italian restaurant. Great date material. Food was just so so. For us Windy City residents we are used to Italian food that hits you between the eyes with garlic, onion and basil/oregano and this did not score high marks. I later found out from a person from MN that this is not uncommon in MN, they try to keep everything mild, not too wild. I had veal marsala and the veal could have been pounded thinner. Chicago gets it paper thin and it melts in your mouth. This was a little rubbery and the marsala sauce could have used some more kick. Bread was good with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and their signature Green Olive soup was good. My wife had lasagna and again, no spices. OK but not up to Chicago standards.

Our next stop was T Juans for some Mexican food and we were there the same day that Bemidgi had a parade for 50 returning soldiers from Iraq. The main drag was decorated for miles and people were everywhere. It was pretty cool. Made you feel good to be an American. This restaurant knocked it out of the park! It is built in an old electrical plant and they have bunches of coves and rooms carved out. It was very festive and the food was terrific. Their chips are to die for, not greasy, almost baked but not whimpy and they brought out three levels of salsa, mild, med and hot. The hot hit the spot for me and my wife while her mother and father opted for the mild. We had a few margaritas which were on happy hour at $5 for a 27 oz. The girls had frozen raspberry while the boys went with regular on the rocks. Very nice. Food was terrific. I had a combo platter that included a chile rellano, taquito, taco and a tostada. Took half of it home. Their Mexican rice is out of this world, you have to try it. Other favs included an enchillada dinner and a soft shell taco dinner with corn tortillas and the steak fajitas were outstanding. Nicely spiced with Cumin (I think). They also have a pool table, dart boards and a Golden Tee game and a party room for bigger crowds. Be sure to get directions as they are off the beaten path. All the way down 4th Street to the end and then left.

Our last new restaurant was The Pepper Corn and they have always scared us off with a little higher ticket price. I am glad I stopped in this year and will be back next year. Funny story, Dietz. We get there and your mother in law, Gody (she told me to say that) is the hostess and we ask for a table for 2 and she says, "We don't have any seats for you". I'm thinking that my Chicago White Sox World Series golf shirt may not have been the best choice. So I ask her, "You mean all night?" And she says no, just for about a half hour. I laughed because here in the Windy we are used to waiting for up to 2 hours for a good restaurant and she acted like a half hour was an eternity. We had a good laugh and she said that the lounge was open so my wife and I parked it just under a huge bear rug (not sure if it was a Chicago Bear, LOL)

Anyway, drinks were great, Bloody Mary was out of this world, nicely spiced with a huge green olive and pickle on a spear. My wife just had the prime rib sandwich since she was not hungry. She said it was really good and tender. Myself, I was ready to strap on the feed bag so I ordered the Northland Whiskey Steak which they recommend not to order any more than medium rare, being from Chicago, I order mine still moving. I told her to just pass it twice over the coals and leave it bleeding. Excellent choice! Steak was phenomenal and I would put it up against some of the best in Chicago ( Gibsons, Chicago Chop House, Gene and Georgetti's, Smith and Wollenskys and I have had them all) Like I said, I was ready to chow so I ordered a side dish of 3 diver scallops wrapped in spiced bacon for an additional $10. That combined with the $18 steak brought my total to $28 which is about half of what they get in The Windy City for a good steak. I left with the buttons popping on my pants! Very nice recommendation Dietz.

So that about wraps up the dining report for 2007. Hope this helps anybody still going up to Cass Lake or Bemidgi. I would heartily recommend T Juans as a great festive place easy on the wallet and great drinks. Pepper Corn will require a few more Dinero but hey, you can't take it with you. I just keep telling myself I am spending my kids inheritance! Tutto Bene might be OK for some people who don't adhere to the Emeril Lagasse school of Kicking It Up A Notch but we won't go there again, too many other places to try.

Chow Chow for Now!

Windy