Home >  Plan a trip >  Shopping & Eating >  Dining & grazing >  Dining up north: the Best Bets

Other stories in "Dining & grazing"

• Putting the fat in Fat Tuesday
  When it's time to eat paczki, everyone wants to be a Pole.
• Table-hopping in bluff country
  On a culinary adventure to Decorah, we tighten our belts, then let them out.
• A feast of festivals
  At small-town shindigs, get your fill of strawberries and sauerkraut, kolacky and sweet corn.
• Chow-down in Chicago
  In a city of neighborhoods, cooks from many countries stir the pot.
• Time to eat
  During Restaurant Weeks, you can be a glutton with a good conscience.
• The chocolate cure
  When winter's allure wears off, drown your sorrows with sweets.
• A spin around Lake Pepin
  An excursion on a favorite route turns up some real treats.
• Wisconsin's cheese country
  In Monroe, the Swiss stay true to the flavors of their forebears.
• A chocolate tour of Madison
  For people who want the best in bonbons, this town is a decadent destination.
• Now they're cooking
  On weekend getaways, amateur chefs test their mettle in the kitchen.
• Chocolate on the St. Croix
  For a spring tour, inns overflow with goodies.
• Indulging at the holidays
  At old-fashioned feasts, eat like a king or tycoon.
• Dining on the North Shore
  Finally, the cuisine matches the scenery.
• Toasting Oktoberfest
  These festive tributes to Bavarian tradition put the oompah into fall.
• Capitals of treats
  When you’re on a road trip to temptation, here’s what to eat.
• Happy meals
  Nowadays, travelers can find great cuisine in unlikely places.
• Into the belly of Chicago
  A food tour points us toward pizza, candies, spice and everything nice.
• Seeking the best soft-serve
  Their ranks are thinning, but old-time ice-cream stands still brighten road trips.
• The dish on Dorset
  This tiny 'Restaurant Capital of the World' is just a burp on the road.
• Eating in the Amana Colonies
  In eastern Iowa, a historic village has a long tradition of feeding people well.
• Dining up north: Longville to Walker
  A bicycle trail connects towns and lakes en route to Minnesota's newest fine-dining destination.
• Dining up north: Brainerd to Nisswa
  We give you an insiders' guide to restaurants in Minnesota lake country, from nachos to filet mignon.
• Dining up north: Pequot to Crosslake
  Deep in Paul Bunyan country, we find the best lakeside supper clubs, roadhouses and bistros.
• Braking for jelly beans
  With the siren call of free samples, factories reel in visitors.
• Grazing in Wisconsin
  Where Badger state began, Old World flavors remain.
• Capitals of treats
  When you’re on a road trip to temptation, here’s what to eat.
• Nourishing tourism
  In small towns, an interesting restaurant can make all the difference.
• Boffo B&B breakfasts
  At a Wisconsin cook-off, we find out which is best.
• Feasting in Dubuque
  Guests on a progressive dinner and mansion tour get a good look at what frontier fortunes could buy.
• Great places for a picnic
  Here are some of the best spots in Minnesota, all with a view of water.

Dining up north: the Best Bets

In Minnesota lakes country, vacation is too short for a bad meal. Here's where to get a great one between Brainerd and Walker.

When you're on vacation, everyone wants to end a perfect day with a perfect meal.

That may mean fancy or casual — a burger in a friendly bar can be just as satisfying as filet mignon and French wine by candlelight.

We wanted to point you in the right direction, so we assembled a panel of local frequent diners, each of whom has eaten at all of the restaurants on or near the top of our list.

We asked them to nominate and rate their favorites based on food, service, hospitality, ambiance and value, and we compiled their ratings to get our final list.

They range from fine dining to cozy burger places, but they all will provide a quality experience.

Here's the updated 2012 edition of our Best Bets.

For details about each restaurant, see our three stories about dining in the Brainerd Lakes and beyond: Dining up north: Brainerd to Nisswa, Dining up north: Pequot to Crosslake and Dining up north: Longville to Walker.

Now start eating!

Best Bets overall

1. The Boulders, Walker
2. Iven’s on the Bay, Gull Lake
3. Bar Harbor Supper Club, Gull Lake
4. Cru, Gull Lake
5. Lost Lake Lodge, Gull Lake
6. Prairie Bay, Baxter
7. The 502, Walker
8. Bites Grill and Bar, Pine River
9. Maucieri’s, Crosslake
10. Norway Ridge, Ideal Township

Best food

1. The Boulders, Walker
2. Iven’s on the Bay, Gull Lake
3. Lost Lake Lodge, Gull Lake
4. Prairie Bay, Baxter
5. Bites Grill and Bar, Pine River
   

Best for a special occasion

1. Lost Lake Lodge, Gull Lake
2. Norway Ridge, Ideal Township
3. Iven’s on the Bay, Gull Lake
4. The Boulders, Walker

Best value

1. Bites Grill and Bar, Pine River
2. Maucieri’s, Crosslake
3. The Boulders, Walker

Best lakeside decks and patios

1. Manhattans, Crosslake
2. The 502, Walker
3. Bar Harbor, Gull Lake
4. Ernie’s on Gull, Gull Lake
5. Moonlite Bay, Crosslake
6. Zorbaz on Gull, Gull Lake
7. The Wharf, Crosslake

Good breakfasts (not ranked)

• The Sawmill Inn, Brainerd
• Ganley’s, Nisswa
• Munchies, Breezy Point
• Pine Peaks Restaurant, Crosslake
• Pine Peaks Restaurant, Breezy Point
  
• The Redbird Café, Longville
• Cottage Cafe, Pine River
  
• Jimmy’s Family Restaurant, Walker

Good pizza (not ranked)

• Rafferty’s, Brainerd/Nisswa/Crosslake
• Zorbaz on Gull and Crosslake
• Tasty Pizza North, Pequot Lakes
• Lucette's Pizza, Hackensack
• The Anchorage, Longville
• Village Square, Walker

Dining up north: Brainerd to Nisswa

• Northwest Pizza
• Boardwalk Bread and Bagel
• Prairie Bay
• Black Bear Lodge and Saloon
• The Lodge at Brainerd
• Jakes City Grill
• Boathouse at the Quarterdeck
• Bar Harbor
• Zorbaz
• Lost Lake Lodge
• Cru
• Sherwood Forest Tavern
  
• Ernie’s on Gull
• Iven’s on the Bay
• Rafferty’s Pizza

Dining up north: Pequot to Crosslake

Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Pine River

• Bites Grill and Bar
• Timberjack Smokehouse
• Mayson’s Grille
  
• Pestello’s
• Lakes Latte
• Antler’s
• Billy’s
• The Commander
  
• Primetime
• Pine Peaks, Breezy Point
  
• Munchies
• Norway Ridge
• Old Milwaukee
• A Pine
• Underdog’s
• Cottage Cafe
• JR's #19 Barbecue

Merrifield, Emily and Crosslake

• The Chap
• Bobbers
  
• McCabe’s Saloon
  
• Cedar Chest
• Maucieri’s
• Riverside
• Andy’s
• Rafferty’s Pizza
• Zorbaz
  
• Moonlite Bay
• The Wharf
  
• Manhattans
• The Bungalow

Dining up north: Longville to Walker

• The River House
• Udom's
  
• Patrick’s
• Common Grounds
• The Anchorage
• Fireside
• Charlie’s Up North
• The Lucky Moose
• Village Square
• The 502
• Boulders
• The Ranch House

For more about vacationing in the Brainerd Lakes, see The buzz on Brainerd.

For more about the Walker area, see Fishing in Walker.

Last updated on July 16, 2012