Nonna Lisa’s Italian Ristorante
312 S Huron, Mackinaw City, MI, 49701
Nonna Lisa’s Italian Ristorante Menu
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Address :
312 S Huron
Mackinaw City, MI, 49701 - Phone (231) 436-7901
- Website https://www.nonnalisa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Michelle A.
Stuffed bears, raccoons, wolves and deer. An Italian restaurant? What else would expect from Northern Michigan. A bottle of local wine went perfect with our appetizer of mussels in garlic broth. The crispy, crusty breadstick melted in my mouth. My entree of grilled shrimp, spinach and artichoke hearts over angel hair pasta was delicious and way too ample for me. We probably could have shared it. Our waiter6, David, was helpful, honest about what he did and didn't know, and very attentive. So, don't let all the animals scare you away. Definitely worth it.
(4)Victoria M.
My husband and I ate at Nonna Lisa's because my parents have eaten there before and they loved the bruschetta. They recommended that we eat here. It had been about 6 years, since they ate at Nonna Lisa's. We went on a Sunday night in August to check it out. The restaurant itself is tucked behind a wine shop and you can't miss it because there are taxidermy animals everywhere. The restaurant is pretty much one big room and dead animals everywhere you look. Somewhat strange for an Italian restaurant? The bathrooms are next to the door to the kitchen, as well as the dirty plates/flatware/empty glasses. Not the nicest spot for a bathroom and with a restaurant that large they only had single stall bathrooms. Our waiter seemed busy and was inattentive. Waiter wasn't that friendly and barely came around to check on us. I was surprised you didn't get a small salad with your pasta. I order lobster ravioli in a vodka sauce and my husband got meat raviolis. I was expecting a lot out of this place and unfortunately it all disappointed me. The sauce and the raviolis tasted bland and I could barely taste lobster. I dare say that Olive Garden had better pasta and at least you get a bit more for your money. You do get a breadstick with your pasta that is deep fried, not sure why a deep fried breadstick is necessary? I am pretty happy with normal baked breadstick; I felt like I was just eating an oil breadstick/fried dough. I wanted a box to go and it took the waiter forever to get me this and he forgot it when he gave us our check. I wanted to-go silverware, since we were vacationing. I asked the girl at the bar for to-go silverware since our waiter was taking way too long for everything else. The bartender seemed annoyed when I asked her and I had to get the to-go silverware myself from the stand. Overall, I would never eat here again. Nothing special, slow service, and too pricey for what you get.
(1)Cathy M.
Loved the north woods decor with birds, wood land animals and trees. Nice selection of beer and wine with fair prices. We had the garden salad to start which was tasty and fresh with plenty of tomatoes and cucumbers and baby lettuce. Our shared Italian sausage pizza had a crispy crust with a tangy tomato sauce and plenty of mozzarella cheese. Service was friendly and prompt. Just what we were looking for after a long day if sightseeing. Definitely recommend.
(4)Molly R.
Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed the decor. Although I would never think to link taxidermy to Italian food. The service was poor and the food was just okay. At almost $20/dish, I expected more flavor. It was all pretty bland and just good.
(3)Ali F.
Fun atmosphere, good food, fast seating, but not the best wait staff. Had a hard time getting our waiter to crack a smile. Perhaps he didn't want to be there or he was dreading to wait on a family of 10. Important to note that they automatically include the tip for parties of 7 or more, but they fail to mention this when they hand you the bill. Other then the waiter being a debbi downer, we had a good time. NOTE: when we asked for the wifi password, we were told no one at the restaurant knows the password.
(4)Asha P.
This place had a rude staff, and dirty tables that had not been bussed. On top of that we had not been waited on. The place had 4 tables that were being occupied. (It was dead in there.) The servers rolled their eyes and looked like they hated their job. I was very disappointed in the lack of service.
(1)Blane K.
Very beautiful restaurant with lovely atmosphere and HORRIBLE SERVICE. This place had 2 servers and 4 tables when we walked in. After waiting about 15 minutes for a server and didn't get one we walked out. I think they need some new help. This place won't get my time again.
(1)J P.
Pros: 1. The food is always great (compliments to the chef!). Love their calzones, but I have never been disappointed with other options. 2. The ambiance of wood carving and stuffed animals is unique and provides some great pictures. 3. Next door to a cute little shop with candy and ice cream and fudge; great for kids. 4. There IS a kids menu. Cons: 1. The service is always poor. Expect maybe 2-3 check ins with your server with few drink refills and to be crammed in the back with all the other customers, leaving the lovely front room empty. 2. Food is a bit pricey - $20 for most plates. 3. Breadsticks are not great. Fried dough more like a donut.
(3)Sergio R.
I had ordered the lasagna and it was absolutely delicious! The ambience was also really cool with the rustic feel and the various animals around. My girlfriend had their ravioli and I tried some of hers and both of us really liked that a lot too!
(5)Mckenna D.
At this point in my life I can't keep comparing Italian restaurants to my Grandma's cooking, it is simply unfair. BUT I'm going to do it anyways because the pizza crust for the Pizza Bianca I got was pretty darn close to my Grandma's. Nice job Nonna Lisa! The pizza was excellently crafted and was hot, fresh, and delicious. The portion was pretty hefty for a personal pizza, I didn't finish it though I tried in vain. We wandered over to this restaurant because our hotel gave us a discount off our order. What our hotel did not warn us about were the taxidermy friends encompassing the entire restaurant. For example, a lion hovered above our heads in an apparent battle and a goose rotated a mere five feet away from us. A little distracting, but who am I to judge? A word of the wise: the baked breadsticks are good with or without cheese and the fried breadsticks are too much.
(4)Pam B.
Great food! The line to check-in was long but I guess that's to be expected since in my option it's has the best food in town. The service was a little slow that may have been because our waitress was new.
(4)Jin M.
My boyfriend and I ate here twice and both times the food was excellent. The portions are large and could easily be shared by two adults. The wait staff were friendly and attentive and the place was clean. Our food came out steaming hot and everything tasted fresh. Dining here was a great experience and I will be back next time I pass through Mackinaw. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Angela T.
Run for your lives! You can judge a kitchen by the bathroom it offers its patrons. There are only two at Nonna Lisa, one private bathroom for men, one private for women. They are ASTONISHINGLY FILTHY. So much so, that I mentioned it to the manager. He gave me a sheepish shrug and said "yeah." (??!!) yeah? You can also judge a kitchen by the aptitude of its manager. Who's running the place, right? I told him gee I'm even more astonished at your cavalier response. He told me: "we clean it every morning, there are a lot of people that use it." "But there are only 2!!!" I said "And you need to go look at it, that bathroom hadn't been cleaned in a LONG LONG TIME." Then be told me I was being rude(?). The sink was thick with black scum(?) there was long-built up gunk in each corner. The toilet was FOUL. The bathroom at a truck stop is cleaner. These people are preparing food.... We're never going back and can only imagine the festering nightmare the kitchen must be.
(1)Joe P.
Great service thank you Angela The pasta had enough maranira for 2 meals.and the chicken parmigian wasnt crispy the bread sticks were ok i expected fresher bread and the cheese only covered about 1/2 the bread . The interior is very unique I took about 30 photos all in all we had a good time but the food Is average at best
(3)Cindi C.
Had a great lunch, food was amazing, loved the rustic decor and our dog was welcome which was amazing
(5)John S.
Great service at lunchtime. Bathrooms weren't clean and a little disgusting. Very pricey but filling.
(3)C R.
Service was slow, food ok but expensive for what you're getting and not enjoyable to dine amongst dead animals on the ceiling.
(1)Joshua Y.
We had a group of 15. Everyone loved their meal. I wasn't crazy about the marinara sauce in the five cheese ravioli but it was good enough. However, the raviolis were very good. The pizza was also way better then pizzas at surrounding places. One party member was wavering on ordering a steak. After two servers saying it was good, he decided to try it. It turned out properly seasoned and delicious. Lots of people complained of poor service but we had two male servers who were very attentive. Overall the experience was great.
(5)Dave B.
Chicken parmigiana okay Tuscan Chicken good. Paying extra for salad and breadsticks at an Italian place.... Meal was ok but Olive Garden compares very favorably with this place on price performance. Service was good.
(2)Randi G.
The food is delish. I had the Tuscan Chicken. Breadsticks are amazing (I think they're deep fried ). Large portions!! Best of the three places we ate at (Anna's & Dixie Saloon). Out of our party of 10, everyone had different dish that they loved!
(5)Lindsay B.
Had great food very yummy they had alot of stuffed animals and beauitful pictures I could not believe they had a stuffed lion in the resturant very interesting
(4)Angela G.
Food was great! Large portion sizes, good service, nice atmosphere and food came out quick and delicious!
(5)Heather B.
I am going to give the best description I can. FOOD - First off, our food was great. I am a picky person and require good food. My husband had the tour and it was very flavorful and I had the Steak with Prosciutto & portobello reduction. My steak was a bit overwhelmed with all the flavors going on, but it was still a good dish. His was very flavorful as well. DECOR - Seriously, just ask people. The building has quite a history. It was originally a greyhound bus depo in the 1950's. After that it was a predominant clothing & furniture store. This is when all the animals and stone work were added. It has been a restaurant for the last 11 years. So no, it's not because they are avid hunters. It's actually a pretty cool building with lots of character. SERVICE - Our waiter was very attentive and great. I wish I could remember his name, but no issues with service, food came out quick. All in all it was a fabulous experience and I WOULD suggest this place!
(4)Stacy C.
Great customer service. The waitress was awesome. With that said we were only one of 4 tables in the entire restaurant and the food was average. The restaurant is huge, I can't imagine it busy!
(3)Michelle M.
Very good food with generous portions. Server was cool. Atmosphere was really cool. We loved it and would eat there again.
(5)Sebastian G.
This restaurant, along with most other restaurants in Mackinac City was very sub-par. For an appetizer, my group ordered a basket of breadsticks. They were okay, but definitely not worth $5. It was a whole other dollar just to get cheese sprinkled on it. Come on, really? Someone ordered a salad, and they said they ran out of basil. This seems like it's not the first time it's happened, as someone else also commented about this in a previous review. How do you run out of basil? I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was pretty bland. The lobster was definitely not fresh and was definitely frozen, as it was pretty bland. The sauce was good though. It was pretty filling too. Not entirely bad. Our server was very inattentive. We had to wave him down several times just to ask for a refill or a simple request. Don't even get me started on how long to get the bill for the food. Guess what we had to do to get him to take the bill to the register? You guessed it, wave him down again. He even brought it while we were still in the middle of our meal. We weren't even offered desert. The environment is definitely not one suitable for an Italian restaurant either. It looked like we were in a ski lodge. For some reason, the floor is elevated over the actual floor, making every step someone takes a thousand times harder than if it was just flush (it was almost deck-like). You can feel every step within 20 feet. The cleanliness was pretty bad too. I stepped in someone else's food at least twice while I was just sitting. I will definitely not be stopping in again.
(1)Andrea T.
Not that great. I think that with our current choices of fresh options provided in our great state of Michigan. We expect way better.. Waayyy better than this.. I have found traveling into Mackinaw City that the food isn't so Farm to Table. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. However, the decor'e is another story! This place is a delight, the dining room is grandeur and magnificent. Rich and old. The server was very friendly and we enjoyed ourselves. My fine date and I are quite the entertainers. Food in my belly matters!!!
(3)Jordan R.
Pizza was amazing, we got the Quattro wood fired pizza. Calamari not that great, and wasn't super impressed with the side of marinara either (although I'm biased to Carrabbas calamari). Great service and cool atmosphere.
(4)Ron K.
My Wife and I had a long day and stopped in for a late supper. The salad my Wife ordered was designed to include Basil and a special house dressing. The waiter first informed her that they were out of Basil. She still wanted the salad. The waiter then returned again and informed her that they were out of the dressing. She substituted a Raspberry Vinagraite. How does and Italian restaurant run out of Basil? My Alfredo pasta was pasty and stuck together as if it weren't rinsed well. This is a very pricey joint and I won't recommend it. Ciao.
(2)R.J. R.
Food fair. Ravioli mostly pasta. Service excellent. Restaurant wouldn't make it in a competitive market. Summer in Mackinaw.
(3)Paul B.
I'm not typically a critic OR a negative review-writer, but...it was a rough experience. After waiting 15mins AT our table without being greeted or offered any drinks, our group of 6 decided to head out. Prices are high, atmosphere is chaotic- this is NOT a kid OR family friendly resteraunt.
(1)Rachel A.
Terrible . 0 star service . Ordered take out . Was told it would take 25 minutes . Showed up after that time and stood for another 25 mins waiting for someone to give me my food and Bill. Which never happened so we ended up walking out !
(1)Brian S.
The ambiance is a little strange......an up north hunting lodge Italian joint. The server did a good enough job. Commented that the food was flavorgasmic. That was at least something to talk about. Portions were big and service was ok. Place needs to be cleaned up a bit. Flys and cobwebs in the window by the seat we sat in. Later that night I was holdings wife's hair back as she puked over a waste basket. Salmon must have been bad. Needless to say we will try someplace else next time.
(2)Melissa R.
This was one of the oddest experiences at a restaurant I've ever had. We stopped in late for a pizza and beer, it's like an up north lodge with lacquered wood everything. Not as inviting as you would think-mostly creepy. The bartender was very flighty- didn't greet us and couldn't answer many of our questions. The sign boasts 'wood fired pizza' but the bartender told us each pizza takes 15 min to cook. sounds strange because most wood fired pizza takes an average of 4 min to cook. We got one with sausage and tomatoes. The sausage was gross, like it was a store-bought round that got quartered and placed in the center of the pizza. The crust was good, but be warned this did NOT resemble a wood fired pizza. There was no grit on the bottom, no bubbly almost burnt pieces. I would love to see their oven because i think it's a sham. I don't think we'd ever come back unless it was a true moment of total desperation
(2)Jordan G.
This was my first time this far north. Nonna's prices were higher than I anticipated but I don't mind to pay the price to eat. Our waitress, Chelsie, was great and attentive. While my girlfriend and I were super indecisive we just told her to take her time to come back and we would let her know we were by setting both menus down. The food was great. The wine was wine and the service was great. Also, did I tell you that I want my home to look like this joint?
(4)Amy B.
If you're considering whether or not to go here, please take my advice and don't go here. Maybe sit in the bar for a beer if you must. Pros: I can't think of any. Cons: Expensive. Very very very slow. Tables were sticky. It's like a giant cafeteria, but instead of Formica tables, they are made of interesting rustic wood. And there are a lot of stuffed (as in previously alive and now dead but reanimated via taxidermist) animals all around. The animals aren't necessarily a con. I did think they added a fun up-north touch to the decor. But they didn't fit with the Italian food theme. We had the unfortunate experience of getting a waitress who was brand new. She didn't know much. She looked confused and also terrified. She abandoned us most of the time. After an hour we hadn't gotten our food or seen our waitress. I went to the bar and got my own beer. Meanwhile my son spilled his drink and no one came anywhere near us so we could ask for help cleaning it up. We used our ineffective cloth napkins until finally I flagged down a bus boy. I begged him to please help us and he said something like he had something else to do, but he'd come back. He never came back. I desperately grabbed another guy, while watching the bus boy clean every other table in the place, and asked him to help us. He cleaned up and was very pleasant. He apologized for the bus boy (who never ever came back). After literally one hour, the waitress said she would check on the food. The people behind us, who'd arrived after us, were already eating. They had a six-person party to our four-person. Our food finally came out. The waitress apologized that she'd been inattentive because she'd been in the bathroom with a broken tooth. Unappetizing and also not very ... Just ... No. My son's dish was wrong. When we said he'd ordered something else, she said, "Oh, I didn't even know we had that." Long story short: we had our entire meal comped. The waitress came to our table crying. The pizza Bianca was terrible. The fried ravioli was dry and cold. Only the Stromboli was edible. Just don't go here. It was really unpleasant on so many levels. Yes, they tried to make up by comping our meal and yes, the waitress was new, but this was just terrible. I felt like we'd wasted a couple hours of our family vacation just suffering through this experience.
(1)Jennifer T.
Like others have said, it's a very up north feel for an Italian restaurant, which it hasn't always been so that explains it. Another reviewer mentioned that this place probably survives on tourists who only come once. We stopped in on a cold day and were the only customers. We were worried about freshness but I guess things seemed fresh enough but it's not enough to recommend this place. Tuscan chicken was the standout for sure. Bottled dressings, "fried" tasting breadsticks (baffled how some reviewers said they were the best ever unless they changed), sterno-tasting veggies (odd), and margarine were the low points. Bruce the server/host was nice. Wish we had liked it more.
(2)Jo F.
The worst, worst, worst pizzas I have ever had. I ordered two 12-inch pizzas for delivery - the Quattro Formaggio and the Margharita. Supposed to be Neapolitan pizzas with thin crusts. NOT! The crust was thick and horrible. PLUS there was a really wide area around the edges with no sauce and no toppings. Advertised to be roma tomatoes?? dont think so - they were big, and round, and under-ripe. AND there was hardly a flavour difference between the two pizzas. LASTLY it was $30 (including a $3 tip for the delivery guy) for the two. Way out of range.
(1)John S.
Went there for Lunch, there is no lunch menu. Only dinner menu, so if you share there is a $2 surcharge. Make sure you have 2 hrs to eat. The soups are not homemade or even made there. The Minestrone soup vegetables were still frozen. Should of ordered the Chicken noodle soup which was very good. Lasagna was good, stay away from the Alfredo dishes They are under staffed, and don't seem to care, no manager in sight. Will not be going back
(1)Justin W.
The outside of the building was nice so my wife and I decided to stop in. The interior is really cool. Polished driftwood and mounted animals everywhere. Went downhill from there. I ordered their signature stromboli and it was unlike any stromboli I've ever had. It was shaped like a calzone and stuffed with shredded pepperoni and salami and the cheese was unmelted in the bottom. I ate a quarter and couldn't keep going. Signature dish? After trying that I'd be afraid to try anything else.
(2)Bill H.
The food was good enough but the server must have been having an out of body experience I ordered an antipasto as an appetizer and got a salad instead. When I politely corrected the order the server implied that I was at fault. To add insult to injury the server forgot my entree and said she never heard me place the order. Everyone else at the table did. I had to wait another 15 minutes.
(2)Ricardo B.
The place is nice but the food is definitely bad. We ordered the whitefish with polenta and seasonal veggies. The polenta and veggies had no flavor and looked like frozen food, while the fish was totally dry. For an $20 plate we expected way more. We also ordered the calzone, which was fine (although too much cheese and dough).
(2)Michelle B.
First time here, the service was a bit overwhelmed with the number of tables they had. I don't think it was that busy for a Tuesday evening. The food was good...I had the calzone and others in our party had the traditional spaghetti, Caesar salad, and homemade pizza. They all enjoyed their meals and the portion sizes were large. We all had doggie bags to take with us. I like this place and would definitely return. The decor is like an Italian alps hunting lodge.
(4)Jason H.
If you are looking for Neapolitan style wood fired pizza (as the menu claims), this is NOT the place to go. They do not have the crust nor the technique, on several levels.
(1)Cheryl S.
Pizza was decent... Thought a little pricey but should not be surprised for a high tourist spot. They were great to deliver to hotel room, that was a positive. Would very much consider going to restaurant for dinner next time in town
(3)Ruthie S.
Okay nothing here is going to be a culinary masterpiece but every other place in Mackinaw City was gross (aside from one okay pizza joint far from downtown). The food was good enough to make me want to keep eating once I was full. They have pitchers of beer. They are open late. The decor is so bad that it's fabulous.
(4)JR M.
Yes, the decor is questionable for an Italian place and it does look more like a ski lodge or somewhere in Gatlinburg, but we didn't go there to look. We went to eat & the food was good. I ordered the chicken alfredo with hopes that it wasn't like Olive Garden. I'm very picky about this dish wherever I go and they did not disappoint me. The pasta was al dente to perfection. The alfredo was very tasty, top 3 I've ever had. Chicken was as expected & the garlic bread was fried (I assume) and was actually pretty good. The gf ordered a pizza and she raved about it. Folks had soup & they were impressed as well. Definitely a good place, would go back.
(4)T R.
Would not recommend. Ordered the veal parm which was mainly batter with very acidic tomato sauce. Lasagna was extremely cheesey with the same acidic tomato sauce. Slow untrained service and will not return
(1)Brian S.
Fantastic atmosphere if you are a outdoorsman, not like any Italian place I have ever been. Food was good but not great, server - Brian, was very helpful and friendly, I would recommend.
(4)jennie g.
Decent pizza. Decent salad. Nice staff. 10% off with our hotel key....but..... Truly unnerving decor. I'm just not a fan of being stared at by dozens of dead animals while I eat. I'm totally against trophy hunting. I could maybe understand if they were Michigan-type dead animals- moose, bears etc- but the stuffed baboon with teeth bared , the giraffe, the polar bear are just weird. If I got another pizza, it would be takeout only.
(3)Beth S.
Kids meals were a hit with my kids. Bruschetta appetizer was pretty good as was the lasagna. The side salad was actually quite good with mixed greens and vegetables. Some in our party liked the breadsticks while others did not. The taxidermy ambience was interesting.
(3)Sandra D.
This restaurant is located in downtown Mackinaw City, so you cant miss it. The portions are HUGE! Service is great. The day my family and I ate dinner at this restaurant, our server Ivan, was pretty awesome. The restaurant is clean. I had the garlic shrimp over angel hair pasta and it came with a bread stick that was so yummy! The best breadstick I've ever eaten.
(5)Reggie P.
I don't typically ever leave reviews on here, but this place was so bad, I had to. The food is terrible. It seems to be prepared well in advance (and not well). By the time it's served it's extremely dry and over cooked. Save your stomach and your wallet. I assume this place stays in business because of all the visitors who come in and try it once... I'm pretty sure there is no second time.
(1)Dave R.
We knew what we were getting into when selecting this place. As described by others, the service was very poor and slow and the food was sub-par. But for a tourist trap town, I suppose it could have been worse.
(2)Tom H.
A dining disaster. We were there in the late summer -- appeared that the restaurant was understaffed. Table service started out as non-exsitent and improved to tortoise-slow, there seemed to be a shortage of tableware, kitchen was slow. Floor manager was non-existent.
(1)Kerry S.
This restaurant was quite the surprise. Taxidermy animals and driftwood throughout the restaurant. We found it interesting. The main dining room was too stuffy and crowded so we ate in the section that they call "outside". It's near the wood oven and the entrance door. It was a lot cooler sitting in this section and we didn't have to be crowded by nearby eaters. The spaghetti and meatballs was pretty decent, nothing too fancy about the sauce. The steak gorgonzola and pesto was really good. The waiter was very attentive and kept us informed on how much longer till our food was ready. We would definitely eat here again!
(3)Missa H.
I don't usually like eating while surrounded by stuffed dear heads, but this pizza was definitely worth it. I had the 4 cheese neopolitan and it was incredible! I enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was friendly.
(5)Kelly H.
We were there in September, 2013 with a 10 person wedding party.....after asking the waiter for separate drink checks after 1st round was paid for the waiter said no problem and knew how to handle it. When we got the check it was not done. Asked for coffee 3 times after 40 minutes never got it. One of my guests actually cleared the table after the appetizers were done. The method our dinners came out was improper as they came out at 3 different times with 15 to 20 minute intervals. Our server never came back to check one our meals we had to keep stopping him and asking him for service. We had a problem with one meal, finally received 50% off that meal. I think the worst part of this experience was the manager, as we tried to explain our problems. He was dressed in a pull over had his nerve to tell us where he had worked prior to this.....blah blah blah. we just wanted credit for our meal and bad service. They automatically put an 18% tip on our 300.00 tab which was not deserved. Also with the manager he gave us 2 different names first name was Jim and then it was Gary. I finally asked another waiter his real name. Was told it was Jim and the server gave me the phone number of the corporate office. I was so excited to take my wedding party there.....but now will tell everyone not to go here!!!
(1)Neil S.
Great food and service. This was the third time that my wife and I have dined here over our last few visits to Mackinaw City. Each time we have enjoyed a great meal with excellent service. The seafood portofino is as good, or better, than any we have had anywhere. The rustic atmosphere and up north feel is enjoyable, but the good food and service is what makes this restaurant such a enjoyable dining experience.
(5)Russell H.
My wife's Lemonade came out warm, had to wait for ice to melt to cool it down. Tasted like CountryTime mix. Well... watered down CountryTime mix.... She was hoping for real lemonade. I ordered a strawberry Italian soda. I thought the server had to go to Italy to get it. Turns out she never put it in. When it finally came out it was decent. But nothing to rave about. Server was aloof and not very attentive. The decor was.... interesting. The restaurant looks like it has an identity crisis. It appears like it should be a beef and potatoes place with all the lodge decor and stuffed animals. The couple of Italian themed tapestries don't really help it feel "Italian". The fried ravioli for an appetizer was good, but the sauce tasted like the cheapest off brand basic spaghetti sauce jar just opened up and poured into the dish. The margherita pizza was good. The waitress forgot that we asked for a glass of water. Service was poor but food was okay. I wouldn't say it was thee best I ever ate though.
(2)Adam J.
I've been to Nonna's quite a few times growing up in this area. It is only as my tastes have matured did I realize the food is pretty meh. Everything is cream-based and too rich. The breadsticks are good - but they are deep fried...so of course they are. My biggest complaint is any semblance to decent Italian fare. The bruschetta (which I was corrected by the waitress to say the "sha" sound instead of the proper "k" sound) tasted like basil. Lots and lots of basil. Thats it. The salad came with "Italian" dressing. AKA bright orange Gordan Food Service Italian dressing. You mean to tell you are charging close to $15 for a basic entree and you don't have a decent dressing for your salad? The kicker is the filet mignon I got. I know, I know - not necessarily the place to get a good steak. I realize that. However...the menu does not state that the onions and peppers covering the filet are sauteed in THE CHEAP ITALIAN DRESSING. It was horrendous, ruined a wonderful piece of meat. Their pizzas are halfway decent and if you are stuck there (since there are limited choices in the area) go this route. This place has such potential...bums me out they cut so many corners and half-ass the food and charge a ton for it.
(2)Rachel W.
I've eaten here four times over the course of two vacations to Mackinaw City. Neither me, my husband nor our friends have yet to be disappointed. The break sticks are so tasty, I look forward to them every time! The food is your standard Americanized Italian fare - but it's good. If you get the pizza, be sure to get the personal size, not the large - it's much better. It's funny to me that people are complaining about the decor - your in Northern Michigan, what do you expect?! Our service has been decent, one of the four times here it was slow.
(4)Mark M.
Food is top notch, but if you order a pizza expect to wait a bit. It's worth it though, because the wood fired oven takes some time. Bread sticks are succulent. The best restaurant in Mac City IMHO.
(4)Mike H.
We have made 5-6 stops here in the last 3-4 years, we have yet to have a bad experience here. Yes, the service was slow one of our trips. Yes, we've had less than attentive waiters once or twice. We are usually here on one of the first few weekends of the season, so things are not running at peak yet. I have not had a bad dish here that I can remember, including the pizza, the calzone, the lasagna, and the Tuscan tour. Way better than fast food, and a darn sight better than that American food "saloon" at the end of the road. The kids get a bit wierded out if they haven't seen taxidermy before, but they usually end up fascinated - hey, you're "Up North", eh?
(4)Barramundi S.
Family friendly weird deco for a Italian place. I had the chicken something. Given that there's not much choice up in the this part of the woods, it's ok for dinner. If you have kids like we do go early. They have a kids menu but if your kids are under 5 they can probably just eat of your portion since the sizes are large. Overall a B.
(2)Debbie Z.
I thought this place was great. You are in upper Michigan which everyone knows is a beautiful place to visit. In this area there are many types of animals and is quite rustic in some places. When going into a Northern Michigan restaurant one can expect to have taxidermies on walls/ceilings (whatever) as well as an atmosphere of being in the northern woods. When we entered the establishment I was with a person who is physically handicapped with their walking, so I immediately told the young lady that we would like a table very very close. She accommodated our needs. When looking around you see foxes, bears, eagles, rams, bucks, moose, etc. Looking further through a door I saw a bar, so I had to investigate further. I walked in and to my amazement there was a huge restaurant along with a fireplace made from real stones. The waiter approached me and I told him to tell me about its history. He informed me that the establishment use to be a bus station, hence the size of it - you could put 2-3 buses in there and still have enough room. He said that they built the part of the restaurant that I was in about 2 years ago due to the influx of patrons in the establishment. He enjoyed his job and was very happy to tell me different stories. We ordered the personal size pizza with proscuita, peppers, onions, and pepperoni. We were not disappointed at all. The wait staff was right there for us, even though we were not in the main restaurant. The cost was not that much - remember you are in a tourist town which is a trap financially. But, all in all, had a wonderful experience at this restaurant and will plan to go there when I am way up north again!
(5)Sarah C.
I ate here last July and was so not impressed. First, the atmosphere was totally log cabin, woodsy, dead animals on walls, etc. I'm a jersey girl and for my Michigan vacations, was just getting used to that theme in Northern Michigan :) anyway, ambience sucked for being an italian restaraunt. Oh! And there's a typo on their menu, they spelled the word lasagna wrong, I can't remember exactly how they spelled it, but everyone I was dining with shared a laugh over it. The service was bordering no tip at all, and after waiting forever for an appetizer, our "fresh" garlic bread was still FROZEN in the middle. That right there did it for me. My meal was ok, not horrible, but it's not hard to cook some pasta and sauce. All in all I'd recommend going somewhere else if you can.
(2)Alan L.
Prepare yourself for a dining adventure! Nonna Lisa is not your typical Italian restaurant! Oh sure, the food is classic northern Italian fare--all homemade with fresh ingredients making it taste like it just came out of grandma's oven! We started with the classic northern Michigan breadsticks, and just loved the fresh doughy texture and delicious buttery salt topping! I ordered a house salad to go with my meal, and was surprised by both how large it was and the number of garden delicacies that went into it. For our entrees, we enjoyed x and y. But the real treat of Nonna Lisa is the décor! The restaurant is actually built in Mackinaw City's former Greyhound bus station, so the dining room is in an expansive hall. Owner XX, however, has taken to acquiring a diverse collection of wild animals that were extremely well prepared by taxidermists, and then placed throughout the dining room! A roped off area has everything from polar bears to elk, including a canoe full of raccoons, beavers and such seeming to paddle away. The rafters contain bobcats, mountain lions, water fowl, and Canadian geese. Throw in a couple of hand carved totem poles, and you have a dining room more resembling a rustic Alaskan lodge or a tent on the savannah. Either way, the animals are impossible to ignore and make family dining a pleasure!
(4)Nancy F.
Wow, this place is such a rip-off. It is overpriced for food that should not be considered Italian at all! I came to Mackinaw City for a holiday weekend with the family and needed a place to eat. Considering that we had some picky eaters, we thought we couldn't do wrong with Italian pasta. We had the crab manicotti and apparently their special sauce is just a lot of sourcream which did NOT make the dish taste good. The risotto should not be called risotto because its just overcreamed rice with no taste (maybe they just add food coloring so it looks like it has flavor). Other dishes were not that great either. I think the only reason this place is still open is because there is no other Italian restaurant in the area (there arent that many options in this city) and they have tourists who get tricked into coming (like us!). This place is way overpriced for crappy food - any Italian place in Chicago will laugh at what this restaurant is trying to pull off (let it be a mom and pop restaurant, a fancy restaurant or even a chain restaurant). My BF just couldnt eat the food and chose to just starve instead of trying to force down the pasta.. it was that bad! The decor is also quite particular.. its not Italian! Its with a bunch of animal heads all over with christmas lights and heavy wooden tables and chairs.. reminds you of an old American type of restaurant.. maybe they should change this to serving Paul Bunyan type of food - chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, etc, etc.. no, i don't want to give them any ideas - I hope they just go bankrupt and close down! If only Yelp offered an option under the Good For: section where i could check off: NOTHING!
(1)Rebecca W.
I'll say off the bat I'd give this a 2.5 if I could, but I can't quite give it a 3. As others have mentioned, the atmosphere/decor is really strange....the place is decked out like a northern hunting lodge (animal heads everywhere) + Holiday Inn (the movie, not the chain--little pine trees with white lights). The only nod to Italy was the generic painting of a wine bottle and some grapes--hung over the 1950s-style jukebox. Our waiter was friendly, but a little too much so: he took our order, then stood there for five minutes quizzing us about our personal and professional histories, rather than putting our order in. Awesome way to alienate hungry guests! It was also very apparent that the place was suffering, cash-wise. Now, these aren't good economic times for anyone, but the nickle and diming was painfully obvious here (or rather, the dollar and dollarsing). For example, according to the restaurant's ad in our hotel binder, bread and salads come with the meals. On the menu, we saw we'd be charged $3 for salad and something like $5 for an order of breadsticks. I heard our waiter tell another table there'd be a SPLITTING CHARGE to share a dish of pasta. Really? It didn't seem like the kind of restaurant where that's standard. Prices were difficult to get a handle on. Pizza prices seemed average and fair, but the pasta was really high. $13 for plain spaghetti and marinara? $16 for cheese ravioli? And again I say.....really? It's a huge restaurant but they only have individual restrooms (I mean, one stall for men, one for women). There's a sign saying more restrooms are available in the attached Sweet Shop, but I couldn't figure out how to get there, so I gave up. While we were eating, the manager of the restaurant (or so I assume) came over to speak with us, as managers will, and make sure our meal was going ok. Unfortunately, he looked more like a travelling vagabond (a scruffy George Carlin in dirty pants and a sweatshirt) than a restaurant manager...we saw him approaching and were pretty nervous by the time he actually got to our table. He was friendly to us but as we left we heard him really yelling at a cook "out back." It just sounded ugly and left a bad taste in our mouths (if you will). Speaking of taste: the food was just fine. Generous portions, tasty, and filling which is what we were looking for. The cheese ravioli was yummy, the stromboli was a big hit with 2 in our party, and they were quite heavy handed with the pizza toppings, which is always nice. There was just so much other weird stuff that it wasn't really worth it. Had we known we'd be charged for bread we probably wouldn't have even gone. On the plus side: our hotel gave us a 10% off coupon that we thought would be applied only to one meal, but was actually put on to the whole bill. Which made the whole thing a little less annoying.
(2)Jacob H.
Food was so-so, but atmosphere nearly made me vomit. I mean, I can handle a few mounted deer heads, but this place takes the cake! Mounted taxidery from endangered and undoubtedly poached animals from all corners of the world! Makes just a thrilling dining atmosphere...methinks not. Yuck! Check the bar across the street.
(1)Brent N.
Went on a Friday night with a group of eight on a busy June weekend. We had some gluten free people in our party and were pleasantly surprised that they had a gluten free menu. Not super extensive, but at least there were some options. All our food was very good, including the lasagna and gluten free options. The atmosphere is fine if you don't mind taxidermy and log cabins. The service was good and the food was delivered hot and fairly quickly. All in all it was a good experience. Next time we're in town we will go back.
(4)Benton H.
Make sure you have two hours for dinner as this place can be pretty slow. We were a party of four dining on various dishes. The special Stromboli received good reviews as did the veggie pizza. The salmon was a little dry and served with really yummy vegetables. The dishes are a bit overpriced and I would definitely recommend sharing! Also, if you have any qualms about dining near a taxidermy center, this place is not for you! Everything from snakes to giraffes are stuffed and hanging on the walls!
(3)Dave C.
Interesting decor and the food is great! End of summer it might not be as busy. It should on thr try list for anyone!
(4)Emily D.
3.5 is what this place really deserves... It was a cold blustery evening in Mackinaw City when we decided to prance around in search of a delectable dinner. What we found was a warm Italian ristorante across the street. The interior of this place SCREAMS Northern Michigan! From the deer heads on the wall to the wooden furniture, it really fit the bill. Did it look like an Italian spot? Not really but I got over it. Our meal was pretty good! I got a really good Italian salad and my boyfriend loved his pizza. I DO have to say that the best part about the meal was the service! I wish I remembered the gal's name, but she was truly the perfect server!! bon appetite!!!
(4)Steve W.
Updated: Dropped from 3 stars to 1. Second trip here the food was pathetic and service was average. Sauce came directly from a can....
(1)Terry L.
First time in Mackinaw City for me and the second for my gf. The entire town is lacking in decent eating places. The best was the all you can eat crab at the Lighthose. This place cost us $50 w/tip for 2 12 " pizzas and 6 bread sticks. Very little sauce and what was there tasted bad and the italian sausage was links cut up and to much cheese. We ordered marinaraand cheese to dip our breadsticks in. What we got was the marinara and cheese cheese melted over the breadsticks which made it hard to separate.
(1)Rob F.
Horrible. Awful. Never go here. The food is the equivalent of middle school cafeteria and is priced like it's actually edible. They must only be open because trapped travelers who don't know any better eat here (that was us) Please, do the world a favor and help put this place out of business.
(1)Warren W.
My girlfriend and I wanted a good place to dine that wouldn't break the bank. We decided we would try an italian restaurant. I'll admit the decor looked very much like Northern Michigan with the log cabin type decor. It definitely was not Italian, but was still kind of felt cozy. My issue was not with the decor though. The service was all right. The food was okay. We did order the breadsticks for an appetizer. Yes, I said ordered. To me, I feel breadsticks should be complimentary. They were good though. My girlfriend ordered the Fettucini Alfredo and I ordered the Tuscan Sampler. It really wasn't anything special. On hindsight I probably would have gone with one of their pizzas or perhaps their steak. It was a decent place to eat, but I do not think i'll be coming back to this place. I think there are better places in Mackinaw City. Unfortunately, we weren't there long enough to discover some of the other establishments.
(2)Adam P.
I am mostly giving this place 5 stars because everyone else here is CRAZY. For a Northern Michigan Italian restaurant, this place was great. My girlfriend and I came here for lunch as soon as we got into town, and it was a great experience. The atmosphere was woodsy and rustic, with taxidermied animals EVERYWHERE. Some of them were hilarious (a beaver paddling a canoe!). The server was very attentive but not TOO attentive, which to me is perfect. They had a decent beer selection and some local brews. The food, while kind of pricey, was excellent. The girlfriend had a delicious shrimp pasta dish with spinach, artichoke, and red peppers in a white wine sauce. The portion was so huge that we were able to take it home and save it for dinner. I had a pizza with portabella mushrooms and artichoke which was cooked to perfection in a brick oven. Sure, each topping was $1.50, but they LOADED the toppings on there. After 3 slices I was struggling to go on. After dinner, we walked around the restaurant snapping pictures, and our server even offered to take our picture in front of a taxidermied wolverine. Good times. Overall a great experience, and the best restaurant in Mackinaw City.
(5)Mellotune C.
Convenient location. Price of a regular Italian restaurant but quality of food is below average. Ordered the Mussels Napoletano appetizer but it was way overdone. Hubby had the Shrimp Scampi which was salty and greasy but the shrimps were big. I orded the Eggplant Parmigiano which was ok. Our server was quite nice.
(3)Jon T.
Ate here on 9/11/15 the night before the Mackinaw 8 mile run. Carb up. The service was awesome, the food to die for, and the waitress very nice and very helpful. Love the atmospere and even enjoyed a game of little ball bowling afterwards. I highly recommend this rest... and did the next day to a young couple looking for some good Italian food. GREAT experience. Thank you
(4)Mike S.
We had the sea food portaging and lobster ravioli with vodka sauce. Both were outstanding. Also recommend the stuffed ports Bella mushroom appetizer. Be prepared to take food home. In addition to tasting great, portions are big. Service was excellent. The decor was co and unusual...a lot of stuffed wild life and drift wood. Not all the animals portrayed were indigenous to the area, but cool all the same. Recommend this place definitely.
(5)Drew D.
We went for a late dinner on the recommendation of our hotel. The atmosphere is great and is unusual. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. We ordered a house salad, which was huge--meal. Also split a five-cheese ravioli. This was good but the tomato sauce was very uninteresting. The menu is quite extensive. The pizza looks good, and they have a good selection of craft beers. Service was quick and courteous. It's good for families too.
(4)Magnus L.
This must be one of the best dining options in Mackinaw City. I really like their decor, logging / wood style with chairs and tables also having a very unique look which I like. They have ton's of good dishes on the menu. We started with their bruschetta, the bread was nice and thick which I like. The bruschetta was alright but I would have preferred it with (more?) garlic and onions. I had their pizza Vienesse (tomato, mozzarella, italian sausage etc) which was really good. It's cooked in a wood fired oven which makes the crust come out just right. It was a basic pizza but the combination of flavors worked perfectly. I'm not a big fan of taxidermy but if you like seeing animals, they have a ton of different types on display at the restaurant as well.
(4)Hema K.
There are very few good dining options in Mackinaw City, and even less so for vegetarians. I've come to Nonna Lisa's a few times over the last couple trips I've made here with my family. We keep coming back not because we necessarily love it, but because there's not much else. That being said, it's not a bad place at all. We've always had good service and the rustic decor always gives us something to look at and talk about while we wait for our food. The food itself is pretty average. It's not the most authentic Italian, but certainly not bad for a place in [not-very-diverse] northern Michigan. I've eaten enough wood fired pizzas to know that these pizzas aren't the real deal, but they're still pretty good. My go to is the Pizza Bianca-- it's well balanced. Some of the other pizzas (the Margherita in particular) are a bit too heavy on the cheese. The food is definitely on the expensive side, but the portions are HUGE and I've always had enough leftover for lunch the next day! Decent food, decent place. I'm sure I'll be back on a future trip up north.
(3)