Ironwood Restaurants

BAKE'S COFFEE CABIN
906-932-0151.

is a fun coffee house, not a restaurant at all, but a good stop for espresso drinks, muffins, pastries, candies, and ice cream. Tracy Baker, who prepares specialty desserts and cheesecakes at a different location, has created a charming, comfortable setting that's at once stylish and down-home. It's in a strip mall; look for the big coffee pot sign.

On U.S. 2 on Ironwood's east side, in Hobby Wheel Plaza across from Super 1 Foods. Open Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4. Wheelchair accessible.

DON & GG'S
906-932-2312

Fresh ingredients, a warm, cozy atmosphere with booths and a bar, and creative touches make Don & GG's a standout and, some would say, the area's very best restaurant. It serves cappuccino and several vegetarian dishes, focuses on fresh ingredients, and offers little touches like homemade fries accompanying deli sandwiches ($4-$6). The all-day salad and sandwich menu includes homemade soups, smoked trout or raspberry chicken salad on greens ($6), and burgers. (All prices from 2004.) The Manitowish salad with cranberries, almonds, and gorgonzola cheese is unusual. Dinners ($10-$14) include pastas, steaks, chicken, and specials like chicken marsala. Fresh Lake Superior whitefish or lake trout is always available as a sandwich or dinner ($12). Count on lake trout Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. There's a pleasant outdoor deck, the only one in town.

On East U.S. 2, half a block west of the Kmart shopping plaza. Open Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to midnight, Sun noon-10 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible. Family-friendly. Full bar with many beers.

ELK & HOUND
906-932-3742.

Diners here can enjoy good food in a country club setting at reasonable prices. The 1920s Tudor-style clubhouse sits on a hilltop. The big windows of the smoke-free main dining room look out onto the Gogebic Country Club golf course and the hills beyond. The atmosphere is come-as-you-are comfortable, yet the setting is rather romantic. The sandwich and salad menu is available any time, and now there's an all-day salad bar ($6-$7). Ten sandwiches are under $6 including fries; at $4 with fries the 1/3 pounder competes with McDonald's in a much nicer setting. Prices from 2004.
     Lunch entrées and specials are under $7. The most popular dinner items are prime rib ($12-$16), ribs on Saturday, and Friday fish fry ($6.50 and up, depending on fish). Specials can sometimes be creative. Reservations recommended for weekend evenings and for six or more.

On Country Club Road, which goes south from U.S. 2 on the east edge of Ironwood. Look for highway sign. Restaurant is a mile south of highway. Open year-round. In season open Mon-Thurs 10-10, Fri & Sat 10-midnight, Sun 11-9. From Nov into mid-April closed Sun and Mon. Wheelchair-accessible. Family-friendly. Full bar.

JOE'S PASTY SHOP
906-932-4412

enjoys a huge local reputation and also passes muster with a finicky regional food fan. He feels that of all commercial pasties in the area, theirs is the "best balanced" between meat and vegetables. There's the authentic U.P. version of the Cornish pasty (ground sirloin, with rutabagas) for $2.75, a breakfast pasty ($3.75), a veggie pasty with fresh vegetables ($2.75), and a changing specialty pasty. Most business is takeout (and Internet sales are a hit for the homesick), but Joe's is also a diner with burgers, breakfasts, soups, and more. Mario and Karen Barbara stick to the original family recipe from 1946, when Joe's first opened.

116 W. Aurora in downtown Ironwood. Open Mon-Sat 7-6, Sun 7-noon. Family-friendly. Wheelchair-accessible except for restroom. No alcohol.

MANNY'S
906-932-0999

The handmade ravioli ($10.45 at dinner) and lasagna at Manny's are very good, and the meat sauce, though nothing exotic, is tasty, too. It's worth seeking out this comfortable, casual family restaurant and lounge for local atmosphere. It's way off the beaten path in the Norrie mining location. Don't expect anything in the way of decor, but the young staff is exceptionally helpful. Dinners, including steaks, chicken, and stir-fries, are mostly $10 to $15, including soup and salad bar. Chicken pizza with white sauce ($10.25 for 12") is a hit. Vegetarian sauce is available on request. $6 Friday fish fries feature cod - beer-battered, steamed, or baked with parmesan. Burgers ($2.75-$6) and meatball subs are always available. Breakfasts have unusual touches, too, like pancakes with maple syrup ($3.75). All prices from 2004. The $6.45 noodle omelet, a specialty. Lunch specials ($5.50 including soup and salad bar) are a pizza buffet (Mon, Wed, Fri) and pasta (Tues & Thurs). Reservations or early arrival recommended for weekend evenings and Sunday after church. Smoking is permitted in the main dining room, and some smoke is evident in the non-smoking section.

316 E. Houk in the Norrie Location. From downtown Ironwood, go south on Suffolk/Bus. Route 2 up the hill about 1/4 mile. Turn left at the World's Largest Indian. Manny's is just past ball field. Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Central Time, Sun to 2 p.m. Lounge open from 4 p.m. to midnight, later in summer. Wheelchair accessible. Family-friendly. Full bar.

THE PINES CAFE
906-932-4207

is the perfect small-town diner: friendly folks, lots of laughing, good food, thoughtful décor - plus an original soda fountain with old glassware. It serves Jilbert's ice cream, malts and milk shakes ($2.85), pies, and other fountain treats. Changing home-cooked lunch specials are $5-$6. Breakfast specialties include Eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, country gravy, and many omelets. "This is my party time," says owner Jan Miskovich, a native who has returned after over 20 years managing the food service at Green Bay's Holiday Inn.

Downtown at 120 S. Suffolk. Open 7 days, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family-friendly. Handicap access: not bathroom. No alcohol.

TACONELLI'S TOWN HOUSE
906-932-2101.

has become some local people's favorite restaurant, thanks to its BBB pork ribs at lunch and dinner, homemade gnocchi with garlic-butter sauce, lasagna, pasta, and other Italian specialties. The ribs are part of the $8 lunch buffet with other meat and pastas. Pastas (mostly $9 or $10 at dinner, with seafood Alfred $17) come with many sauces: clam sauce, mariner, meat, and more. (All prices from 2004.) The good salad bar with homemade soup is $7 at lunch or dinner. Full menu with steaks, seafood; lighter menu. Reservations advised, even at lunch. No smoking in dining room; choose front booths to avoid smoke from bar. Lighting is subdued; decor is green.

Downtown at 215 S. Suffolk downtown, but the rear entrance and parking off McLeod, parallel to Aurora but one street south, is most used. Open daily. Mon-Fri 11-9, Sat 4-9, Sun noon-9. Wheelchair accessible from parking area. Children's menu. Full bar.

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