My family goes up to the UP at least once a year, and this was my first trip to this restaurant this past summer '10, and I really have to give this 10 stars if I could. Upon fist glance, I may have skipped it, but I was assured I had to go! There's a cute little gallery across the street in this near ghost-like town with very few choices when it comes to eatin' joints. Being used to city life and spoiled living between Milwaukee and Chicago eating joints, I was skeptical, especially when we were greeted by a less than happy hostess and a bench full of people waiting to eat that looked like they were waiting forever and less than thrilled themselves. We finally got seated in a high-backed private-like booth and wwaited a bit for service, but when it came we were pleased. Upon glance of the menu I had to say I was impressed. Tons of awesome pub food options including salmon, awesome sounding burgers (and I'm not a burger for dinner type of gal). The fresh chips are amazing, and I'm not a chip lover by any means. I would go back in an instant, and if I had tried this place on our first night, I wouldn't have gone elsewhere. There are still things on the menu that make me want to go back. Overall, excellent food, service could leavea bit to be desired, but atmosphere was good as well! Nothing like good food in a historical and fun place!
(5)
Bill S.
Awesome, awesome, awesome food! I had the chili as an appetizer. Wonderful, spicy, rich and thick; I'm a chili freak and that was some of the best ever! The peso pasta and steak was fabulous! My wife and friend could not finish. Tarragon! Who would have thought yo add tarragon to a pesto ... these guys! Ribs!!! Ooooo... foodgasm right here! I love my ribs and have had award winning ribs across the country...THESE WERE THE BEST!! Bourbon baster...tender and juicy. Don't get the full portion of 2 pounds and not plan to take some home!!!!
(5)
Wendy M.
VERY SLOW!!! Food was ok, but hubby ordered a burger medium and it came back well done. Nothing special to write home about. Waitress was nice, but extremely inefficient. Took forever to get two cokes. Even longer for a refill. Took card for payment And left it on a counter while she did some things for a couple of other tables and then took card back to the kitchen. She returned to the dining area for quite awhile, puttering between tables and finally went back for my card and slip to sign. If you don't Mind spending a couple of hours for a meal, then you will be fine, but if you are needing to be somewhere else, don't try it. Place has a lot of potential, just needs more help.
(2)
Stacey K.
I'm honestly baffled by some of the reviews on here. This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in the U.P. I'm a burger fanatic and the Black and Blue burger from the Michigan House is by far the best burger I've ever had. I've had it multiple times and no other blue cheese burger I've had compares to their recipe. The owners are very nice and present and immerse themselves into crafting the very best for their restaurant. The beer is a must and I cannot recommend the amaretto cheesecake enough. We live downstate now and we find that we CRAVE Michigan House food. A true hidden gem in the U.P.
(5)
Nicole P.
I'm giving it 2 stars based mainly on the building. Our server was nice enough but the service was rather slow. I had a panini which looked good but was really slimy on the inside of the bread and 1/4 of the outside was completely soggy. I literally ate 3 bites. Their famous homemade chips were flavorless. My husband enjoyed his burger but the fries were disgusting, limp, oily slices of potato. He also ordered a beer (it is a brewery after all). The one he wanted wasn't available so our server suggested a different, similar brew that was the total opposite of how it was described. He didn't like it at all. Prices are OK for the area and it is a very cool historic building.
(2)
Craig J.
SOLID 4 stars. This place is worth the effort. Really cool piece of history and the food and service are both great. My buddy who actually drinks beer told me the beer was very good. Overall this place is just a cool hang out with great food and history. Looking forward to returning
(4)
Victoria W.
Very good. Service was a bit touchy at times but you are in the u.p what do you expect? Food was delicious (walnut burger & fries) I highly recommend it for any vegetarians in the area as well as anyone else who wants to indulge in a meat-less entree. I would come back again.
(4)
Timothy B.
Good service. Not much beer on tap. IPA was pretty good. Cool history of snowshoes that you can read about.
(4)
Patricia R.
We stopped in for lunch on Tuesday...we had previously been there back in October of 2010 and my husband was hoping they still had the Peppadew Panini on the menu (they did!). We walked in...chose a table and our waitress brought us our drinks quickly. My husband had the Oatmeal Espress Stout and I had a Keweenaw Cowboy IPA..both were super delicious. My husband ordered the Peppadew Panini and I ordered the Roma Panini....our food came out quickly and it was very delicious. We stopped back on Thursday to pick up a few growlers to take home. Overall? we highly recommend. We truly think that the Red Jacket Brewing Company beer beats the Keweenaw Brewing Company Beer hands down... Go, sit a spell...eat a great sandwich and drink some great beer...oh and the staff is great too!
(5)
Mike G.
This review is more of an encouragement to visit Calumet and see what a town in the middle of the UP's late XIX Century Copper boom was like than for Michigan House, though the latter is a great place to drink and eat - if not sleep, too! - while there. The town is laid out with wide streets, which make its now-strange architecture - something between Queen Anne and Gothic Revival - all the more apparent as you drive or walk down them. It's apparent that there was once a lot of money here and just as obvious is the fact of its quick departure, preserving the town in time much as it was when laid out. There are some interesting museums and exhibits, and lots of clearly well-financed churches, so spend an hour or town walking old downtown Calumet soaking up the sights and then stop in Michigan House to soak up some suds.
(4)
John B.
Good beer, good food, good staff. Nothing spectacular, but never disappointing.
(4)
Alan H.
My only regret is that I found out about this place in my fifth and final year at Michigan Tech. After being mistreated and disappointed by other local places like The Library, this was the antithesis that I was searching for. At first I was apprehensive because the decor is a bit tacky and overwhelming at first, but after you sit for awhile the charm of it certainly grows on you. I've gone at least twice a month since discovering it and I've always had A+ service here and never been disappointed with the food. Their Gipp Burger may be the best burger that I've ever had in my worldly burger travels. The Oatmeal Stout will suddenly make KBC beer taste like water. I also manage to always save room for dessert(usually by fasting a day beforehand), as their Amaretto Chocolate Cheesecake is out of this world and roughly 2-3 times the size of a normal cheesecake slice. I highly recommend sticking with the server's suggestions because they know what they are about. This place is the only one in the Keweenaw I've deemed worthy or my business and attention at every chance I get.
(5)
Carole R.
Best burgers in the area - if you haven't tried them, you ought to! The gipp burger is my favorite. The homemade chips are addictive! I prefer the chips to the homemade fries. All of the other food I've tried has been good. I love the interior and the staff is good. It's worth driving up the hill for a change of pace from the places in Houghton/Hancock.
(4)
Jessica S.
Beer: Eh Food: Eh Service: Bad We sat at the bar and ordered food and drinks as there were only about 9 tables in the whole place and everyone of them was taken. We each had a different beer on tap that was made "in house", and none of us were happy with them. We ordered 2 appetizers to split amongst the 3 of us and they weren't anything great, and by no means hot or fresh. It took us 45 minutes to receive our food...Part of that was probably due to our poor waiter/bartender who clearly didn't care about his job very much. The only thing I would return for is the atmosphere, and next time, I'll order something from a bottle.
(2)
Nadine G.
I really enjoyed the Cowboy IPA last night. Service is always friendly and knowledgable. Reservations are accepted. I recommend booking a room upstairs.
(5)
J G.
I honestly can't say I was impressed with the food -- a greasy spoon housed within a historic area. A beautiful bar, and good beers. Worth a visit. Just go more thirsty than hungry! :)
(3)
Gary N.
I love the way that this town has preserved it's architecture. The Michigan House is a shining example. From the outside architecture to the interior decor, it feels like you went back in time about 70 80 years. I loved that they playing music of that era as well. Nice atmosphere. Fairly busy at mid-afternoon. I had the Michigan House Burger ..... $7.95 and the english brown ale. Burger - OK, a little bit dry. But, otherwise it was quite good. Their oatmeal stout was not being sold this week. I had the english brown ale, which was good. tasted the Founder's Dirty Bastard Ale, as well. Quite good. Overall rating - 4. Mostly because of the uniqueness in location, decor, and atmosphere. If you are in this area, I would definitely recommend a stop here.
(4)
K B.
Great stop on my UP trip, fantastic lake trout...albeit the accompanying sides of bland vegetables and chips didn't sit well...the trout was awesome! The bartender took a lot to warm up to, it was a slow afternoon, but he soon provided a ton of information about the area which was helpful since I was passing through. An awesome stop along my trip.
(5)
Kenny M.
Great building. Great food. A must stop when passing through. Sit back and enjoy the laid back atmosphere.
(4)
Karen J.
Nice environment, good beer, fresh food in a laid back, north woods environment. A good lunch stop.
(4)
Jessica M.
Always great food, beer, service. Recommend making reservations for dinner (yes, they do take reservations despite what Yelp says). I love veggie burger with walnuts and any of the fish items on the menu. Just go! Architecture alone is worth the trip.
(5)
Jordan W.
Came here on an annual trip to Calumet to visit my great grandfather. So glad we stopped, we had a couple appetizers and some delicious craft brews. The detail and history in this building are amazing. We will be returning in a few weeks on our trip and can't wait to stop here! They also have a few rooms available to enhance your stay
(4)
Gerry H.
Step into this place, and you might think you've stumbled into a wormhole and have initiated reverse time travel. The same can be said of Shute's Bar down the street ( a must visit for anyone exploring the Keeweenaw). This is how Calumet must have looked at it's peak of prosperity, when the city fathers were vying for the proclamation of the Capital of Michigan. Which, by the way, was lost to Lansing by one vote. A magnificent mural adorns the back of the bar, and not much has changed, relative to the decor, since the late nineteenth century. That's not to say that the environs aren't interesting, clean, and well maintained, because they are. And the menu is fresh and creative, and features certified angus burgers and steaks. The beer is indigenous, variatal, and delicious. The owner works it and is a really nice guy. My only complaint: Dial the bar TV to something other than that dreadfully dull music station.
(4)
Lee R.
Great beer selection, bad food, cool building, listless staff. No one in our four person party thought the food was any good and we all ordered wildly diverse things from the menu. This was really unfortunate because I love to eat and on vacations I want to eat well! I would probably go here if I lived in the area to drink, though.
(3)
Jillian F.
This place is one of the best in the area. We have had a variety of items on the menu from the Michigan House steak (my fav), to ribs (great sauce), to the warps, and ALL were delicious. NEVER a problem at the place. Great salads, beer, and wait staff. ALWAYS a pleasant experience here. Great atmosphere as well, can't buy that classic appeal anywhere
(5)
Jason M.
Cool bar with bar food. Hit this place up for lunch. Decided to go with a dinner salad and a bread bowl of chili. If I had it to do over again, I'd skip the salad. The chili was good and the bread bowl was so soft and good that it seems it was homemade. The chili had a nice zing to it so if you don't do spicy, you better pass. The wife got a panini and chips. The panini looked good and the chips were awesome. Moral of the story, don't come here and try to get fancy. Stick to the bar food.
(4)
Betsy N.
Beautiful historic building and bar. Great in house brewed beers- I had the Blacksmith's Stout, and amazing veggie burger. Fries are homemade - cut in house. Best meal I've had in the Keenewaw.
(5)
Eileen O.
I have to say that this summer the service was much improved - far more quick than the last time I reviewed. If you're interested in the history of the building, make sure to read through the menu. It includes pictures, historical information, and personal accounts. The Michigan House is also now brewing beer on site.
(4)
Diana W.
Downtown Brown is a good beer you could drink without food. Oatmeal express is great if you accompany it with food. Food is good. Deserts are wonderful and house made Would have given this place 4 stars except for the bites I got on my hands from the black flies.
(3)
Chris J.
This was a very cool location should you be in the Houghton/Hancock/Calumet area of the UP. The bartender was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the building and the brewing company that once owned it (note the stained glass windows and the mural over painting over the bar, both over 100 years old and have not yet needed to be preserved). It is dually used as a restaurant and brew house (try the Oatmeal Espresso Stout from the house's Red Jacket Brewing Company). Now for the food rating. I liked what I had (the Pesto Pasta w Steak) and side salad with the house dressing (a tarragon, white wine, mayo and sour cream base). The pasta and steak were good but I do caution that you MUST like pesto to order this as it is not cut with a cream. The salad was fresh and the dressing was great as long as you set aside the fact that it's base is mayo and sour cream; just get over the health content of it and give it a whirl! Their beer selection isn't massive but most all of them are excellent selections. They had three house brews on tap when I was in (Oatmeal Stout, Brown, and American Pale Ale) along with Bells Two Hearted, along with a wealth of bottles to choose from including some rarities. I mentioned it earlier but it is worth noting again. From the second I walked in the door, the bartender and waitstaff greeted me and made sure I was feeling welcome. Even when the place began to get busier, they were still as chatty but not just the "hey, how are ya's" but conversation with substance. I would recommend this place to anyone staying in the area. If I should ever make it up this way again, which is a definite possibility, I would actually consider staying in one of the three suites they have above the location!
(4)
Kevin R.
My wife and I came here for burgers tonight, and we must say that we're puzzled by the bad reviews. We were immediately greeted and sat, our waitress Kelly was very friendly and attentive. She got a regular hamburger, I got the Black and Blue Burger, both were done to our exact wants and very delicious. Both burgers came with very fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion, as well as fresh cut french fries. The Oatmeal Stout was very tasty as well! If you like Fitzgerald's 20 miles away in Eagle River, then you'll definitely like this place! We will be back for sure!
(5)
Scott C.
I stopped by the Michigan House on a brewery tour of the U.P. on my motorcycle. We went to every brewery in the U.P. trying over 58 beers, every beer brewed in the U.P. This was an incredible trip, and yes, we stopped in towns where there were multiple breweries overnight. The Michigan House has my favorite beer, Oatmeal Express. Holy Cow This Is Good!!!!! I have tried hundreds of beers and brew my own and this is a stunningly dark and full bodied beer that has flavor far beyond that of most other beers I have tried. Add to that the historic building and original design and you have one hell of an experience. This place was so good that my buddy that road with us named his dog after the town where his favorite beer is made, Calumet! Without a doubt, this is a place that you should not miss. I would not hesitate to drive the 13 hrs to get there again!
(5)
Kait G.
This was once a rare gem not found in a copper mine and I would have cast evil spells upon anyone traveling through the area and not stopping at the Michigan House. I have visited many times over the years and honestly it had been one of my favorite UP places to eat. The historical pub especially on a night with live music is one of my favorite places. Sadly, the menu has changed and my favorites have given way to less expensive, trendier fare...panini's...and pub food :( Gone is fresh whitefish, home made green goddess dressing, and the dark chocolate beer beignets. I suspect a change in management or in the back of the house, sadly my favorite place has changed.
(3)
Cindi B.
Stick with the beer. We've taken visitors here more than once because the building is unique, and never had food that was better than 'meh.' One time I even had the misfortune of getting a toasted cheese sandwich cooked on a griddle with rancid oil/butter. Service is uniformly slow and poor, but the beer is good. Sit at the bar, have a beer, enjoy the old building--then go to eat elsewhere!
(3)
Richie D.
I hope to return to Calumet just to come here for dinner! Unfortunately Calumet is often passed by to arrive further up into the Michigan UP...but it shouldn't be. Gosh this town has such historical gems--like the Michigan House Cafe & Brew Pub. Michigan House still brews their own beer, Red Jacket: 1/2 barrel at a time! I'm not a beer drinker, but I will definitely try their Oatmeal Espress brew where 13 double shots are added to each half barrel after the final boiling phase, along with oatmeal. Both oatmeal and coffee were very available in 1905, so they continue to offer this historical drink today!! If that doesn't do it for ya, there's a long list of red/white wines, premium brews, microbrews, import beers and domestics. Most are listed on their website. Magical! The pub has a gorgeous original painting on the ceiling. It's worth stopping in just for a view...You don't have to even grab a drink or bite to eat since the employees are always very friendly. Above the cafe/pub, there's the hotel with 13 rooms...Well now only 2 remain on the second floor. Each one is uniquely decorated as historical renovations. They go for only $55-70 a night!! Truly a jewel (in this case it would be a copper one) to not be missed!!
(5)
Victoria Z.
Downtown Calumet is historical and beautiful, however, lacking in great restaurants. The Michigan House is THE place to go. I have eaten here every time I am in the U.P. The owners live above the restaurant and rent out the other two apartments to visitors. It's less than the price of staying at the AmericInn and a waaaaay better atmosphere. The rooms are perfectly sized and the decorations are super cute. They even give you fancy locally made soaps in the bathrooms. But...back to the Pub. Never have been disappointed by the food. Service is slow, but I believe everything and everyone moves at a slower pace up there, so it's just something to be expected. Be sure to look along the walls and read the menu for some historical facts and pictures of the area.
(4)
Chelsea M.
Like to stop by this place on my way out of the keweenaw. This stop was pretty disappointing. They seemed to be out of alot of things including their house oatmeal stout and rasberry sauce that was included in several items we tried to order. Problem was the waitress just brought them out missing the key component and asked us if we wanted it anyway. I had pretty good pesto chicken pasta and a non house brown ale. The service was a little sketchy, she even called my boyfriend old! Be sure To stop by anyway, perhaps you'll catch them on a better day.
(3)
Ally S.
Loved the look and feel of this place. It calls back to a time and day that must have been, well, much cooler (in the groovy sense). So I'm a sucker for historical and architectural finds. The saloon in and of itself is a venue worth visiting. Gets bonus points. Staff and service were friendly-ish. I was a little shocked the menu didn't have the local fare pasty (maybe it was only popular when I was in school there). I think with a little extra effort on their part, this could be a great place. Problem is tapping into the college students - driving to Calumet from Houghton is no picnic in the winter, let alone with beers in stomach.... maybe they could run a "historic shuttle" with odd hours? Unfortunately, I admit to giving this rating more as a historical point of interest than anything. As an aside, Calumet is an amazing city frozen in time - unlike any other I've seen. In many aspects it has become a bit of ghost town. It's nearly untouched by architectural modernization and has the unique history of being a turn-of-the-century center of industry. I am glad to see places like Michigan House keeping the spirit of this city alive.
(4)
Mike L.
An historic building with a lots of old wood and a great mural over the bar. Like many smaller towns in MI this one has seen better days but they still seem to be doing OK for themselves and to have this restaurant is something of a gem among all the old copper mines. The food, at least the protein part, was very good as the whitefish I had was nice. The side of vegetables were strictly cafeteria quality. The brewpub part is a bit iffy as they only brew once a week an then it is only a very small amount so it can go quickly and if it runs out, thats it. The beer itself is a higher alcohol stout that is quite tasty. What is a big surprise is they have a large number of craft beers in the bottle and a good wine selection. They are closed on Wednesday. A fun stop when in the Houghton area.
(4)
Gary E.
We use to live within walking distance of the Michigan House and ate there weekly. It is a real treasure of the U.P. You can't find anything more authentic. Great food and beer, friendly waitstaff and wonderful owners. Eclectic to say the least. They knew us by name and always greeted us that way.
(5)
Tiger M.
Good food and beer. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey, Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Melissa L.
My family goes up to the UP at least once a year, and this was my first trip to this restaurant this past summer '10, and I really have to give this 10 stars if I could. Upon fist glance, I may have skipped it, but I was assured I had to go! There's a cute little gallery across the street in this near ghost-like town with very few choices when it comes to eatin' joints. Being used to city life and spoiled living between Milwaukee and Chicago eating joints, I was skeptical, especially when we were greeted by a less than happy hostess and a bench full of people waiting to eat that looked like they were waiting forever and less than thrilled themselves. We finally got seated in a high-backed private-like booth and wwaited a bit for service, but when it came we were pleased. Upon glance of the menu I had to say I was impressed. Tons of awesome pub food options including salmon, awesome sounding burgers (and I'm not a burger for dinner type of gal). The fresh chips are amazing, and I'm not a chip lover by any means. I would go back in an instant, and if I had tried this place on our first night, I wouldn't have gone elsewhere. There are still things on the menu that make me want to go back. Overall, excellent food, service could leavea bit to be desired, but atmosphere was good as well! Nothing like good food in a historical and fun place!
(5)Bill S.
Awesome, awesome, awesome food! I had the chili as an appetizer. Wonderful, spicy, rich and thick; I'm a chili freak and that was some of the best ever! The peso pasta and steak was fabulous! My wife and friend could not finish. Tarragon! Who would have thought yo add tarragon to a pesto ... these guys! Ribs!!! Ooooo... foodgasm right here! I love my ribs and have had award winning ribs across the country...THESE WERE THE BEST!! Bourbon baster...tender and juicy. Don't get the full portion of 2 pounds and not plan to take some home!!!!
(5)Wendy M.
VERY SLOW!!! Food was ok, but hubby ordered a burger medium and it came back well done. Nothing special to write home about. Waitress was nice, but extremely inefficient. Took forever to get two cokes. Even longer for a refill. Took card for payment And left it on a counter while she did some things for a couple of other tables and then took card back to the kitchen. She returned to the dining area for quite awhile, puttering between tables and finally went back for my card and slip to sign. If you don't Mind spending a couple of hours for a meal, then you will be fine, but if you are needing to be somewhere else, don't try it. Place has a lot of potential, just needs more help.
(2)Stacey K.
I'm honestly baffled by some of the reviews on here. This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in the U.P. I'm a burger fanatic and the Black and Blue burger from the Michigan House is by far the best burger I've ever had. I've had it multiple times and no other blue cheese burger I've had compares to their recipe. The owners are very nice and present and immerse themselves into crafting the very best for their restaurant. The beer is a must and I cannot recommend the amaretto cheesecake enough. We live downstate now and we find that we CRAVE Michigan House food. A true hidden gem in the U.P.
(5)Nicole P.
I'm giving it 2 stars based mainly on the building. Our server was nice enough but the service was rather slow. I had a panini which looked good but was really slimy on the inside of the bread and 1/4 of the outside was completely soggy. I literally ate 3 bites. Their famous homemade chips were flavorless. My husband enjoyed his burger but the fries were disgusting, limp, oily slices of potato. He also ordered a beer (it is a brewery after all). The one he wanted wasn't available so our server suggested a different, similar brew that was the total opposite of how it was described. He didn't like it at all. Prices are OK for the area and it is a very cool historic building.
(2)Craig J.
SOLID 4 stars. This place is worth the effort. Really cool piece of history and the food and service are both great. My buddy who actually drinks beer told me the beer was very good. Overall this place is just a cool hang out with great food and history. Looking forward to returning
(4)Victoria W.
Very good. Service was a bit touchy at times but you are in the u.p what do you expect? Food was delicious (walnut burger & fries) I highly recommend it for any vegetarians in the area as well as anyone else who wants to indulge in a meat-less entree. I would come back again.
(4)Timothy B.
Good service. Not much beer on tap. IPA was pretty good. Cool history of snowshoes that you can read about.
(4)Patricia R.
We stopped in for lunch on Tuesday...we had previously been there back in October of 2010 and my husband was hoping they still had the Peppadew Panini on the menu (they did!). We walked in...chose a table and our waitress brought us our drinks quickly. My husband had the Oatmeal Espress Stout and I had a Keweenaw Cowboy IPA..both were super delicious. My husband ordered the Peppadew Panini and I ordered the Roma Panini....our food came out quickly and it was very delicious. We stopped back on Thursday to pick up a few growlers to take home. Overall? we highly recommend. We truly think that the Red Jacket Brewing Company beer beats the Keweenaw Brewing Company Beer hands down... Go, sit a spell...eat a great sandwich and drink some great beer...oh and the staff is great too!
(5)Mike G.
This review is more of an encouragement to visit Calumet and see what a town in the middle of the UP's late XIX Century Copper boom was like than for Michigan House, though the latter is a great place to drink and eat - if not sleep, too! - while there. The town is laid out with wide streets, which make its now-strange architecture - something between Queen Anne and Gothic Revival - all the more apparent as you drive or walk down them. It's apparent that there was once a lot of money here and just as obvious is the fact of its quick departure, preserving the town in time much as it was when laid out. There are some interesting museums and exhibits, and lots of clearly well-financed churches, so spend an hour or town walking old downtown Calumet soaking up the sights and then stop in Michigan House to soak up some suds.
(4)John B.
Good beer, good food, good staff. Nothing spectacular, but never disappointing.
(4)Alan H.
My only regret is that I found out about this place in my fifth and final year at Michigan Tech. After being mistreated and disappointed by other local places like The Library, this was the antithesis that I was searching for. At first I was apprehensive because the decor is a bit tacky and overwhelming at first, but after you sit for awhile the charm of it certainly grows on you. I've gone at least twice a month since discovering it and I've always had A+ service here and never been disappointed with the food. Their Gipp Burger may be the best burger that I've ever had in my worldly burger travels. The Oatmeal Stout will suddenly make KBC beer taste like water. I also manage to always save room for dessert(usually by fasting a day beforehand), as their Amaretto Chocolate Cheesecake is out of this world and roughly 2-3 times the size of a normal cheesecake slice. I highly recommend sticking with the server's suggestions because they know what they are about. This place is the only one in the Keweenaw I've deemed worthy or my business and attention at every chance I get.
(5)Carole R.
Best burgers in the area - if you haven't tried them, you ought to! The gipp burger is my favorite. The homemade chips are addictive! I prefer the chips to the homemade fries. All of the other food I've tried has been good. I love the interior and the staff is good. It's worth driving up the hill for a change of pace from the places in Houghton/Hancock.
(4)Jessica S.
Beer: Eh Food: Eh Service: Bad We sat at the bar and ordered food and drinks as there were only about 9 tables in the whole place and everyone of them was taken. We each had a different beer on tap that was made "in house", and none of us were happy with them. We ordered 2 appetizers to split amongst the 3 of us and they weren't anything great, and by no means hot or fresh. It took us 45 minutes to receive our food...Part of that was probably due to our poor waiter/bartender who clearly didn't care about his job very much. The only thing I would return for is the atmosphere, and next time, I'll order something from a bottle.
(2)Nadine G.
I really enjoyed the Cowboy IPA last night. Service is always friendly and knowledgable. Reservations are accepted. I recommend booking a room upstairs.
(5)J G.
I honestly can't say I was impressed with the food -- a greasy spoon housed within a historic area. A beautiful bar, and good beers. Worth a visit. Just go more thirsty than hungry! :)
(3)Gary N.
I love the way that this town has preserved it's architecture. The Michigan House is a shining example. From the outside architecture to the interior decor, it feels like you went back in time about 70 80 years. I loved that they playing music of that era as well. Nice atmosphere. Fairly busy at mid-afternoon. I had the Michigan House Burger ..... $7.95 and the english brown ale. Burger - OK, a little bit dry. But, otherwise it was quite good. Their oatmeal stout was not being sold this week. I had the english brown ale, which was good. tasted the Founder's Dirty Bastard Ale, as well. Quite good. Overall rating - 4. Mostly because of the uniqueness in location, decor, and atmosphere. If you are in this area, I would definitely recommend a stop here.
(4)K B.
Great stop on my UP trip, fantastic lake trout...albeit the accompanying sides of bland vegetables and chips didn't sit well...the trout was awesome! The bartender took a lot to warm up to, it was a slow afternoon, but he soon provided a ton of information about the area which was helpful since I was passing through. An awesome stop along my trip.
(5)Kenny M.
Great building. Great food. A must stop when passing through. Sit back and enjoy the laid back atmosphere.
(4)Karen J.
Nice environment, good beer, fresh food in a laid back, north woods environment. A good lunch stop.
(4)Jessica M.
Always great food, beer, service. Recommend making reservations for dinner (yes, they do take reservations despite what Yelp says). I love veggie burger with walnuts and any of the fish items on the menu. Just go! Architecture alone is worth the trip.
(5)Jordan W.
Came here on an annual trip to Calumet to visit my great grandfather. So glad we stopped, we had a couple appetizers and some delicious craft brews. The detail and history in this building are amazing. We will be returning in a few weeks on our trip and can't wait to stop here! They also have a few rooms available to enhance your stay
(4)Gerry H.
Step into this place, and you might think you've stumbled into a wormhole and have initiated reverse time travel. The same can be said of Shute's Bar down the street ( a must visit for anyone exploring the Keeweenaw). This is how Calumet must have looked at it's peak of prosperity, when the city fathers were vying for the proclamation of the Capital of Michigan. Which, by the way, was lost to Lansing by one vote. A magnificent mural adorns the back of the bar, and not much has changed, relative to the decor, since the late nineteenth century. That's not to say that the environs aren't interesting, clean, and well maintained, because they are. And the menu is fresh and creative, and features certified angus burgers and steaks. The beer is indigenous, variatal, and delicious. The owner works it and is a really nice guy. My only complaint: Dial the bar TV to something other than that dreadfully dull music station.
(4)Lee R.
Great beer selection, bad food, cool building, listless staff. No one in our four person party thought the food was any good and we all ordered wildly diverse things from the menu. This was really unfortunate because I love to eat and on vacations I want to eat well! I would probably go here if I lived in the area to drink, though.
(3)Jillian F.
This place is one of the best in the area. We have had a variety of items on the menu from the Michigan House steak (my fav), to ribs (great sauce), to the warps, and ALL were delicious. NEVER a problem at the place. Great salads, beer, and wait staff. ALWAYS a pleasant experience here. Great atmosphere as well, can't buy that classic appeal anywhere
(5)Jason M.
Cool bar with bar food. Hit this place up for lunch. Decided to go with a dinner salad and a bread bowl of chili. If I had it to do over again, I'd skip the salad. The chili was good and the bread bowl was so soft and good that it seems it was homemade. The chili had a nice zing to it so if you don't do spicy, you better pass. The wife got a panini and chips. The panini looked good and the chips were awesome. Moral of the story, don't come here and try to get fancy. Stick to the bar food.
(4)Betsy N.
Beautiful historic building and bar. Great in house brewed beers- I had the Blacksmith's Stout, and amazing veggie burger. Fries are homemade - cut in house. Best meal I've had in the Keenewaw.
(5)Eileen O.
I have to say that this summer the service was much improved - far more quick than the last time I reviewed. If you're interested in the history of the building, make sure to read through the menu. It includes pictures, historical information, and personal accounts. The Michigan House is also now brewing beer on site.
(4)Diana W.
Downtown Brown is a good beer you could drink without food. Oatmeal express is great if you accompany it with food. Food is good. Deserts are wonderful and house made Would have given this place 4 stars except for the bites I got on my hands from the black flies.
(3)Chris J.
This was a very cool location should you be in the Houghton/Hancock/Calumet area of the UP. The bartender was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the building and the brewing company that once owned it (note the stained glass windows and the mural over painting over the bar, both over 100 years old and have not yet needed to be preserved). It is dually used as a restaurant and brew house (try the Oatmeal Espresso Stout from the house's Red Jacket Brewing Company). Now for the food rating. I liked what I had (the Pesto Pasta w Steak) and side salad with the house dressing (a tarragon, white wine, mayo and sour cream base). The pasta and steak were good but I do caution that you MUST like pesto to order this as it is not cut with a cream. The salad was fresh and the dressing was great as long as you set aside the fact that it's base is mayo and sour cream; just get over the health content of it and give it a whirl! Their beer selection isn't massive but most all of them are excellent selections. They had three house brews on tap when I was in (Oatmeal Stout, Brown, and American Pale Ale) along with Bells Two Hearted, along with a wealth of bottles to choose from including some rarities. I mentioned it earlier but it is worth noting again. From the second I walked in the door, the bartender and waitstaff greeted me and made sure I was feeling welcome. Even when the place began to get busier, they were still as chatty but not just the "hey, how are ya's" but conversation with substance. I would recommend this place to anyone staying in the area. If I should ever make it up this way again, which is a definite possibility, I would actually consider staying in one of the three suites they have above the location!
(4)Kevin R.
My wife and I came here for burgers tonight, and we must say that we're puzzled by the bad reviews. We were immediately greeted and sat, our waitress Kelly was very friendly and attentive. She got a regular hamburger, I got the Black and Blue Burger, both were done to our exact wants and very delicious. Both burgers came with very fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion, as well as fresh cut french fries. The Oatmeal Stout was very tasty as well! If you like Fitzgerald's 20 miles away in Eagle River, then you'll definitely like this place! We will be back for sure!
(5)Scott C.
I stopped by the Michigan House on a brewery tour of the U.P. on my motorcycle. We went to every brewery in the U.P. trying over 58 beers, every beer brewed in the U.P. This was an incredible trip, and yes, we stopped in towns where there were multiple breweries overnight. The Michigan House has my favorite beer, Oatmeal Express. Holy Cow This Is Good!!!!! I have tried hundreds of beers and brew my own and this is a stunningly dark and full bodied beer that has flavor far beyond that of most other beers I have tried. Add to that the historic building and original design and you have one hell of an experience. This place was so good that my buddy that road with us named his dog after the town where his favorite beer is made, Calumet! Without a doubt, this is a place that you should not miss. I would not hesitate to drive the 13 hrs to get there again!
(5)Kait G.
This was once a rare gem not found in a copper mine and I would have cast evil spells upon anyone traveling through the area and not stopping at the Michigan House. I have visited many times over the years and honestly it had been one of my favorite UP places to eat. The historical pub especially on a night with live music is one of my favorite places. Sadly, the menu has changed and my favorites have given way to less expensive, trendier fare...panini's...and pub food :( Gone is fresh whitefish, home made green goddess dressing, and the dark chocolate beer beignets. I suspect a change in management or in the back of the house, sadly my favorite place has changed.
(3)Cindi B.
Stick with the beer. We've taken visitors here more than once because the building is unique, and never had food that was better than 'meh.' One time I even had the misfortune of getting a toasted cheese sandwich cooked on a griddle with rancid oil/butter. Service is uniformly slow and poor, but the beer is good. Sit at the bar, have a beer, enjoy the old building--then go to eat elsewhere!
(3)Richie D.
I hope to return to Calumet just to come here for dinner! Unfortunately Calumet is often passed by to arrive further up into the Michigan UP...but it shouldn't be. Gosh this town has such historical gems--like the Michigan House Cafe & Brew Pub. Michigan House still brews their own beer, Red Jacket: 1/2 barrel at a time! I'm not a beer drinker, but I will definitely try their Oatmeal Espress brew where 13 double shots are added to each half barrel after the final boiling phase, along with oatmeal. Both oatmeal and coffee were very available in 1905, so they continue to offer this historical drink today!! If that doesn't do it for ya, there's a long list of red/white wines, premium brews, microbrews, import beers and domestics. Most are listed on their website. Magical! The pub has a gorgeous original painting on the ceiling. It's worth stopping in just for a view...You don't have to even grab a drink or bite to eat since the employees are always very friendly. Above the cafe/pub, there's the hotel with 13 rooms...Well now only 2 remain on the second floor. Each one is uniquely decorated as historical renovations. They go for only $55-70 a night!! Truly a jewel (in this case it would be a copper one) to not be missed!!
(5)Victoria Z.
Downtown Calumet is historical and beautiful, however, lacking in great restaurants. The Michigan House is THE place to go. I have eaten here every time I am in the U.P. The owners live above the restaurant and rent out the other two apartments to visitors. It's less than the price of staying at the AmericInn and a waaaaay better atmosphere. The rooms are perfectly sized and the decorations are super cute. They even give you fancy locally made soaps in the bathrooms. But...back to the Pub. Never have been disappointed by the food. Service is slow, but I believe everything and everyone moves at a slower pace up there, so it's just something to be expected. Be sure to look along the walls and read the menu for some historical facts and pictures of the area.
(4)Chelsea M.
Like to stop by this place on my way out of the keweenaw. This stop was pretty disappointing. They seemed to be out of alot of things including their house oatmeal stout and rasberry sauce that was included in several items we tried to order. Problem was the waitress just brought them out missing the key component and asked us if we wanted it anyway. I had pretty good pesto chicken pasta and a non house brown ale. The service was a little sketchy, she even called my boyfriend old! Be sure To stop by anyway, perhaps you'll catch them on a better day.
(3)Ally S.
Loved the look and feel of this place. It calls back to a time and day that must have been, well, much cooler (in the groovy sense). So I'm a sucker for historical and architectural finds. The saloon in and of itself is a venue worth visiting. Gets bonus points. Staff and service were friendly-ish. I was a little shocked the menu didn't have the local fare pasty (maybe it was only popular when I was in school there). I think with a little extra effort on their part, this could be a great place. Problem is tapping into the college students - driving to Calumet from Houghton is no picnic in the winter, let alone with beers in stomach.... maybe they could run a "historic shuttle" with odd hours? Unfortunately, I admit to giving this rating more as a historical point of interest than anything. As an aside, Calumet is an amazing city frozen in time - unlike any other I've seen. In many aspects it has become a bit of ghost town. It's nearly untouched by architectural modernization and has the unique history of being a turn-of-the-century center of industry. I am glad to see places like Michigan House keeping the spirit of this city alive.
(4)Mike L.
An historic building with a lots of old wood and a great mural over the bar. Like many smaller towns in MI this one has seen better days but they still seem to be doing OK for themselves and to have this restaurant is something of a gem among all the old copper mines. The food, at least the protein part, was very good as the whitefish I had was nice. The side of vegetables were strictly cafeteria quality. The brewpub part is a bit iffy as they only brew once a week an then it is only a very small amount so it can go quickly and if it runs out, thats it. The beer itself is a higher alcohol stout that is quite tasty. What is a big surprise is they have a large number of craft beers in the bottle and a good wine selection. They are closed on Wednesday. A fun stop when in the Houghton area.
(4)Gary E.
We use to live within walking distance of the Michigan House and ate there weekly. It is a real treasure of the U.P. You can't find anything more authentic. Great food and beer, friendly waitstaff and wonderful owners. Eclectic to say the least. They knew us by name and always greeted us that way.
(5)Tiger M.
Good food and beer. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area!
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