Absolutely worth the alternate route up north. Glad we came here, next time with our children for sure!!!
(5)
Laurel S.
Wow. Pearls is a must try place. Great food, great drinks, unique new orleans decor and awesome service. We recommend the gumbo, fried chicken salad, and the brisket! Its all amazing. The bananas foster is a yummy way to end the meal.
(5)
Dean K.
I had a really nice time here and I wanted to love the place. Unfortunately, I think I just ordered the wrong thing. I had a crawfish caesar salad - I think it was a special. The crawfish tails were fried in a cornmeal (?) batter and just became very gluey when mixed with the dressing. Sadly, I just had to sit and watch everyone else eat. They all liked the food a lot.
(2)
Aaron L.
Darn good food. We got take-out for 7, including 3 vegetarians and a baby, and everyone was happy. For vegetarians, definitely get the red bean cakes and skip the vegetarian jambalaya. I had the white fish mufaletta, and it was quite tasty with nicely fried fish (not too greasy) and a zesty tartar sauce. The staff was very nice and helpful, labeling all of our take out dishes and helping to carry it out to our car. One improvement they could make for takeout would be to find a more environmentally friendly packaging material than styrofoam.
(4)
Marie V.
Pearl's consistently provides amazing food, and stellar service by a gracious, energetic waitstaff. The menu is varied and there is something for everyone. This place is always busy. That tells you something. We go during the week when possible. Have been enjoying Pearl's for many years...everything on the menu is outstanding.
(5)
Brandi P.
Love this place!! You get jalapeño cornbread and French bread before the meal. We decided, after our waitresses' recommendation, to get the fried green tomatoes .... They were really good! Nice fried green tomatoes with some spice to them. The chicken po boy was really good as well! The service was the best we've had all week since we've been in northern Michigan too. This place has a cool vibe and great food. I'd definitely recommend it!
We stopped at Pearl's on our way out of town after a long weekend and it definitely hit the spot. The oysters and poboys were good and our waitress was super friendly and prompt.
(4)
Joshua R.
A big taste of New Orleans, and the "Big Easy," right in Northern Michigan! It's pretty tame (so you can get your beads without having to raise your shirt a whole lot), but it's still a good time - and the food is stellar!
(5)
toni b.
The food was good. I had fried catfish with crawfish on top and it was a huge portion and it was delicious. The cherry margarita was AMAZING. It was tart and refreshing. Service was good. The only thing lacking here is the ambiance. It kinda reminded me of a tgi Friday's. I would go back if I was in elk rapids.
(4)
Nick M.
Awesome food and cool atmosphere. Best New Orleans food I've had outside of New Orleans it self. Never expected to find this is northern Michigan. Only a short drive from Traverse city and worth the stop.
(5)
Linda G.
Stopped in for just a snack. The Buffalo oysters were hot, hot, hot! Will definitely get them again!
We stopped here on the recommendation of a friend and I'm so glad we did! Oh my world. They start you off with a basket of jalapeno cornbread and this French bread that just melts in your mouth. You can't stop eating it. I chose the cherry margarita and was super happy with it. Just the right amount of tartness. Etouffe with crawfish and blackened shrimp ended up as my choice for lunch and I loved it. This place is a bit off the beaten path and we would have never stopped if we didn't know about it, but it is worth it!
(5)
Jamie A.
The food is Cajun, not my favorite, but my family loves it. I love the fried chicken!!! Yummy! The wait staff is usually good, although we had to wait last time to put a drink order in. After that, service was great. I've been coming to Elk Rapids forever. I love this town and Pearls adds a great deal.
(5)
Alisha S.
Great food and great drink specials. This is one of our favorites! Bronzed shrimp pasta is my favorite main dish. The blackened alligator and the crawfish chowder are awesome! They also serve Shorts beer :)
(5)
George N.
Very good service and great food. Started with blackened alligator, very tasty and spicy but super small portion. Also got dozen raw oysters, they were clean and perfect. Kids had po boys, gumbo and corn chowder. Chowder was yummy, gumbo a bit spicy. Blackened catfish po boy was fantastic, fried chicken po boy not so much. Wife had cherry pecan salad, kind of meh. We also had a couple Big Easy Bloody Mary's, very good and spicy. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Craig J.
Seriously good food!!!! I loved this place, I can't wait to go back. The staff were super friendly and the food was a nice change of pace. The place is pretty packed and it's bustling inside, you probably aren't going to have a quiet low key dinner here but you'll enjoy yourself. We went with a large group, 12 or so, and the service was great and every thing came out together and done right the first time. I dig Cajun, this isn't exactly "real" Cajun, but it's good enough for me in Northern MI
(5)
Ryan L.
Great experience and great prices for happy hour! The beers are cheap, the oysters are fresh and the service is friendly. I Will be coming back to Pearls in the near future. It is an Elk Rapids staple and definitely a must if you are visiting the area!
(5)
Cathy O.
I am writing this review before I even leave the restaurant -- that's how good this place is. Everything we ordered was out-of-this-world good, and that's not even by Elk Rapids standards. I'm talking best creole food anywhere. Highly recommended: the unique house salad, featuring black-eyed peas and pickled vegetables (get the honey jalapeño dressing); shrimp and grits, making sure you save some french bread for the delicious sauce; and the jalapeño club muffuletta with the outstanding cole slaw. Even though we came in the winter when it was not crowded, I deem Pearl's totally worth the wait it has in the summer. You will love it!
Our server Jackie was awesome and attentive!! NOLA is one of m favorite cities in the U.S. and to come across a gem like this found by Yelping restaurants in Elk Landing was a treat!! Too many good choices on the menu Jackie recommended the Fried Green tomato Muffalta- which was what I chose and could not have been happier! The bread was soft and super tasty and the tomatoes were fried to perfection without too much added breading added and the olive salad put the sandwich over the top with flavor!! I chose the creole chips to accompy and had a zingy cherry margarita with cherry liquor to wash it down!! Great place with terrific service!!
Last night was Girls Night Out. We met at Pearl's because I try to get here at least once a year for the Fried Green Tomatoes. Everything was wonderful last night... From the Big Easy Bloody Mary's and the Strawberry Basil Mohitos to the happy hour Fried Okra and Fried Green Tomatoes and finally the Shrimp and Grits. (My Aunt had the Beef Brisket and she was loving that as well! ) I have to tell you it is only 24 hours later - and a 45 minute drive away - and I am seriously considering going back again for more Shrimp and Grits. I have a budding desire to try new food, so this selection was a first for me... But the flavors were fantastic and buttery. I have never had true grits before so I expected something more "al dente," but these were perfectly unexpected in my opinion! Everything is great here, and another review had said the gator was a bit small of a potion - and I would agree, but other than that... LOVE IT! Also... This was the second time I had Jenn as my waitress (2years ago was the first) and yesterday I almost tipped her every bill I had in my wallet- which usually wouldn't say much except I had just stopped at the ATM ... She is very attentive and during my last visit she spent a lot of time with me helping me decide what I could try. She is a gem and I will ask for her on my next visit which I hope will be very soon!
(5)
Lindsay G.
This is one of the best Cajun/creole meals we've ever had. We had Sunday brunch and loved everything we tried- Cajun Bloody Mary (topped with a crawfish, blue cheese stuffed jalapeño, and okra!) shrimp and grits app, crawfish cakes, and Tasso ham eggs Benedict. It was all delicious and flavorful without being excessively heavy. The service was truly excellent and friendly, and this is a fun place to visit. I really wish we had this restaurant in Seattle!
(5)
Ginai H.
Fabulous!! The sampler featuring shrimp on grits...oysters Rockefeller..crab cakes...and Cajun gator!! Splendid! My catfish entree was superb!! The service was friendly and timely. I highly recommend Pearl's!! I loved it so much, I bought the shirt in Gator Green!!
Um, Cajun in Michigan? Good Cajun in Michigan?! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!!! But alas my friends, this place is about as good as it comes! We arrived early on a Saturday eve and the place was already packed! While we were waiting for a table, we grabbed a spot outside and got our cocktails on! Hurricanes, yes. Mint Julep, yes. Alcohol, yes. Gah! When we finally got sat, our waitress was incredible. Some of the best service I've ever had, anywhere!! We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were crunchy and served with this Cajun sauce. Git you some. For dinner, I had the shrimp etouffee, because why not?! MP got the BBQ shrimp, because again, why not? Pops got the Jambalaya and MIL got the fried chicken. We were all extremely happy with our meals. Hardly any leftovers! The drinks are also stiff, which I love. :-) I can't really elaborate anymore how much this place rules!! The walls are lined with all sorts of bottles of hot sauces, beads, historical pictures! The bathroom murals are hilarious! The bartender station is busy and loud! Lots of huge families chowing down on delicious food and servers that can't stop, won't stop!! Ha! Seriously, if you guys are in Elk Rapids and have not been here, you need to go now. I've been to NOLA a ton of times and I live in Texas, this was some of the best I've had! "Laissez les bons temps rouler"! In Michigan.
(5)
Amber L.
This was our second time at this restaurant. They have very good drinks with my husband trying the Bloody Mary and liking the jalapeno pepper and crawfish. I tried the cherry margarita. It was a little sweet but it was still very good. We were there for lunch and the service was excellent and the waitress was very friendly. The portions were somewhat small. It's expensive. It was about $50 for us to have lunch with a drink a piece.
(4)
Tori V.
Never expected a place like this in northern Michigan, absolutely phenomenal! Service: from the waitress to busboys, everybody went above and beyond. Drinks: my ginger fizz was delicious Apps: buffalo oysters- a table favorite, fried tomatoes- light and tasty, and the crawfish cakes were also very good. Dinner: I think I tasted all the dinners and my crawfish enchiladas were by far the best! Creamy, savory, amazing! Once my hubby tasted them I had to fight him off for the rest.
This was the first time coming to Pearls. And oh my stars, is this place amazing. There is an outside bar/Waiting area that had live music tonight. If your not fond of smoke in your face, I recommend sitting at the bar inside while waiting for your table. The interior is loud and so original. The decor is exactly what you picture when thinking about New Orleans. When you come here, expect to wait at least 30 to 40 minutes to get a table. That gives you plenty of time to sit at the bar and enjoy a drink. I enjoyed a Hurricane while I waited tonight. Man was that tasteful. And the drink came with bead necklace for me to wear. And for table pagers, they give you a lobster that vibrates. So original. We finally got a table and I decided to get the fried alligator for my appetizer and the bronzed catfish with fried okrah and hushpuppies. The alligator was amazing. It was so crunchy, and full of flavor. After ordering my main course, I went to use the bathroom. The bathrooms were very clean, and the art work on the walls is amazing. You must stop in the bathrooms when you come. My main course was great. I had my catfish bronzed, and it was so flaky and also full of flavor. Also not too fishy. For sides I had hushpuppies and fried okrah. Both were full of flavor, and the okrah was very crunchy. The catfish is awesome. While at the bar I noticed a lady near me had ordered one of there bloody mary's and was struggling to get the meat out of the crawfish. It was so amazing to see the bar tender stop and explain to her how to properly eat crawfish. The staff is so helpful, and full of spirit. We did have to wait quite a while for our food, but it was so worth the wait. Can't wait to find a reason to drive up north again.
(5)
Dion S.
Oh my goodness the best New Orleans cuisine I have ever had. So loved everything about the decor... The food was amazing-gator, crab cakes and jumbalia. The best flavors in everything they have.
(5)
R S.
I went to Pearl's again this past weekend. The food and service was again fantastic. I finally tried the cherry margarita and it was surprisingly good. This is the Cherry Capital of the world so I thought that it might be a stretch but the drink had a nice balance between sweet/tart. My fellow diner described her food as "My eyes rolled back in my head" it was so good. Shawn our waitress was friendly and helpful with menu suggestions as well. Thanks to all at Pearl's for continued great food and great service.
(5)
Jamie G.
Wow! What a place! I'd known about Pearls for years, we've just never made it in. Well, we've been missing out. It's a rarity that you get the trifecta: awesome food, great service, & you don't feel like you overpaid. We stopped in for lunch in July, and ordered the combo app, subbing in fried green tomatoes. Perfect, especially the oysters. Two Po Boys for lunch were do filling. I loved my brisket Po Boy! There was just no room for dessert. If you go, check out the artwork in the bathrooms! Neat place!
(5)
Daroki K.
Barbq shrimp, chicken fried pork steak, mashed potatoes, hush puppies... Great stuff! Gotta come back for the great bourbon selection. sazerac, absinthe, hurricanes.
(4)
Amanda S.
If you're reading these reviews because you're wondering whether you should go to Pearl's, do yourself a favor and stop hemming and hawing, jump into your vehicle immediately, and get yourself to this place ASAP. This is my absolute favorite restaurant. And that's not an insignificant statement, as I live in Ann Arbor (a town widely acknowledged to be a mecca for foodies). Allow me to quickly provide some details: Last year on a spontaneous trip to Traverse City, we tried Pearl's on a whim after picking it from a list of nearby dining options in a tourist magazine. And it blew our minds. The atmosphere is unique and quirky; it is decorated to the hilt with fantastically odd wall hangings and shelves of interesting trinket collections. The customer service was the best you'll find anywhere. (Seriously, our waitresses at this place have been amazing!) And the best part, the food offerings, included top-quality nuanced dishes full of authentic Cajun appeal. The staff even provided me with an entire vegetarian menu, which picky veg eaters like me will immediately appreciate as a rare luxury! I ordered the Hoppin John and it was to die for. If my memory serves me correctly, my fiance ordered the jambalaya, a dish that--since he orders it almost everywhere--he can credibly evaluate. It was a 10! This is no joke: I was so enamored with the place (love at first bite!) that I immediately started visualizing a Cajun-inspired menu for my wedding. (Okay, so maybe that was an extreme reaction.) But that is how much you will love this place. Anyway, for months after that trip to TC we were really hankering to return to Pearl's. Last weekend, on a follow-up romantic weekend getaway, we made absolutely certain to get ourselves to Pearl's as our first dinner stop. It lived up to my high expectations and then some. I ordered the Red Bean Cakes this time around, and it was truly a dish of culinary bliss. This restaurant will definitely be a top priority on our travel itinerary every time we are in the area - which I'm hoping will be as often as possible! Anyway, I'll wrap this up. Please go to Pearl's and experience the goodness for yourself! You will not regret it.
(5)
Lauren D.
This was a perfect experience. Our whole family went here for lunch on Tuesday this week. We had the whole gang, 8 of us including my 3 year old daughter. The restaurant easily accommodated our large group without problem and we felt very welcomed. Our waitress was awesome, friendly, efficient, and personable. The food was out of this world and the cocktails were super yummy . I had the cherry margarita and it was sooo delicious. Even though the restaurant is Cajun based there were option on the menu that were not too spicy.
(5)
Mike V.
Excellent meals last nights , especially the special - pork tips and berry sauce also salmon special delicious , as were the golden margarita
(5)
David D.
I don't typically eat Cajun outside of New Orleans but I'm glad i tried this place. Eight of us ate here and we were all impressed - even a three year old. The server was available, interesting, informative and quick to respond. The food was great, smaller portions than i would expect but outstanding flavor. The decoration was a little eccentric and exactly what you expect to see in New Orleans. I ate the baked Cat Fish with Mash and greens and was tempted to try another main dish. The bar had a great selection of bourbon's and after taking my first glass of Blanton's single barrel I may just make a transition from Scotch! Great choice for a night out in Elk Rapids.
(5)
Pam R.
Same old, same old. This is definitely a watering hole for the locals. I saw the same folks there even when it's been 12 mos since I was last there! The menu has NOT changed in 10 years or so, but that can be a good thing! The Magnum Hospitality Group restaurants have started serving Northwoods Sodas ( the local pop manufacturer) which is a bad thing to me personally. I imagine this happened because of the push for local goods. Northwoods Soda is a reason for me NOT to frequent a restaurant! The only reason we ( and it appeared many others) ended up there the other night, was because Siren Hall was closed.
(3)
Tracie S.
Go and eat here now! Flavorful dishes with balanced spices. Not hot or spicy for the sake of being Cajun. Wait was shorter than expected. Jessi was an AMAZING server.
Always a great meal at Pearl's! They have an extensive Gluten-free (Celiac Safe) menu, including GF cornbread muffins that are delish! This way, when everyone is enjoying the fabulous French bread while waiting for the meal, you too have something to enjoy! The Whitefish Florentine (Gluten-free) is outstanding. In fact, probably the best Whitefish I've had in N. MI! Patio seating is available, so if you don't want to wait for a table, that's an option. That said, there is pretty much a wait for everything after 6:00, and they do not take reservations.
(5)
Tina C.
Great food (not traditional) but flavorful and freshly cooked. Had great service she was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu! A must visit location when you are in the area! Also has fabulous drink menu. P.S. get the Greens and I am Southern; so I know good greens!
(5)
Adam L.
This is a pretty good place in an odd area. The food is good as is the service. Neither in my mind are anything to write home about bit if you're in the mood for something different then pearls has what you want. And if you do go be brave and try an oyster shooter they're actually quite good.
(4)
Jack M.
If you are in the Elk Rapids area Pearls in a must place to go. Even if you are staying in Traverse it is a nice drive to hit Pearls. I eat here 4-5 times a year and it has always been solid. A little tip....go out early and hit Pearls for lunch..the prices are about 40% less and the beer and drinks are Happy Hour priced. Plus unlike dinner there is no wait. If you go for dinner plan on a 30-60 minute wait.
(4)
Luke S.
Wow, went here ten years ago plus and still remembered to go back. This time took the kids and they were well received. There is stuff to play with/look at all over the place almost all out of toddler reach. The staff loved the kids and catered to them very well. Will defiantly go back next time I am in town.
(5)
PE B.
We are on a road trip to northern Mi. Found this gem on Yelp. It is a definite winner. Tried the Award winning cherry Margarita. Fried green tomatoes,barbecue Shrimp and Bananas Foster! Amazing!!!!
(5)
Mariesa C.
We heard this place was great and it has good reviews but we found it mediocre at best. Food was not the greatest. Caesar salad was dull and brown lettuce. Fried chicken the waitress said is one of top sellers but it was nothing special. The cheesy potatoes were cold and just so so. Gumbo was just ok. Steak filet was great. Chicken po boy was ok- chicken was good but bun was nothing special. Drinks were great. Their peach margatini was amazing. Cherry margarita awesome also.
(2)
Taylor E.
I would say this is one of the best restaurants in Elk Rapids. I eat here at least once every other week. I'm a huge fan of their bloody mary's and the shrimp po-boy. A little on the pricier side as far as your local eating options go, but completely worth it . Only recently did I learn that they have a huge gluten free menu if you need it. Have only had great experiences with this place. Watch out during the summer because this is one of the more popular spots in town and wait times during dinner hours can be lengthy. No worries though, that's when you order a southern-inspired drink and relax on their outdoor patio.
(4)
Erin S.
Yum! The food is amazing! The decor is great! We brought the kids and everyone loved it! I would make a special trip from Kzoo to go there again! A great place for adults or the family!
(5)
Brian G.
Extremely rude management. Waited for almost 45min for food to arrive after ordering. Was confronted by a drunk patron who attempted to start a fight with me, the manager was there watching and did nothing to intervene. Food arrived cold, and after being there an hour I tried to just leave but the manager refused to cancel the order as it was already there on the table, so I had to get a to-go box of cold food and pay full price for it to take it home and eat. Called the owner's group the next day only asking for an apology for the way I was treated. The owners refused to apologize.
(1)
Kristin F.
We came to Pearl's last night and talked about the alligator the entire way. Welp, they're out of the alligator until mid-September, due to a storm that wiped out the poor little eggs. Le sigh. Nevertheless, we hadn't been to Pearl's in YEARS and agree that no other New Orleans creole quite compares. We ordered the Bayou Sampler, and the waitress apologized repeatedly for being out of the gator- she offered to replace it with an app of our choice. Since we were already ordering the Creole shrimp and the Scallops, we replaced it with a bean cake. The cheesy grits, greens, oysters, and crab cake were also amazing. Pearl's remains in my Top 5 Northern Michigan restaurants. We'll be back come October when the alligator is guaranteed to be there- yum yum.
(5)
Bernice W.
Appetizers: blackened alligator was actually decently tender, gumbo yaya was only ok, not much of a gumbo fan though, and the crawfish corn chowder... SOOOOO YUMMMMYYYYYY i would have been satisfied to end my meal there xp (we went back later in the week to get it for take out) Entree: Beef brisket was ok, etouffee is pretty good, but like all etouffee, the taste gets tiring pretty quick, southern fried chicken was very crispy and decently juicy,pretty good, but it's also just fried chicken, bronzed shrimp alfredo was also alright. i really shouldhave gotten fish.... we are right next to several lakes!!! Dessert: bananas foster: my friends loved it, but i personally wasn't a fan.... a little bit too sweet for me. the chowder pushed it over the top for me... xD
(4)
Dominique K.
We stopped into Pearl's late one Sunday afternoon for brunch. Our server was knowledgeable and personable...giving us advice about the hot sauces on the table, the menu, and tips about inexpensive happy hours around town (including the Red Mesa Grill in Traverse City which the folks at Pearl's also own). There were so many great-sounding menu items that we had real difficulty making our choices. We had the fried green tomato app along with a basket stuffed with house-made bread and biscuits...and both ordered the Crawfish Benedict (which we both felt was the best Eggs Benedict-style meal either of had ever had) with a side of cheese grits to share. Food was great and so plentiful we couldn't eat dessert for brunch or even need dinner later that day. Pearl's looks like it would be a lot of fun for dinner or lunch, but probably a lot more crowded than the nearly empty restaurant we enjoyed when we were there. Still, I sure would like to return and try some crawfish etoufee or jambalaya!
(4)
Janet B.
Ummmm......not terrible but not great either. Best described as so so. The yelp reviews are what caused us to drive from Traverse City. My mother-in-law had the Bronzed Shrimp and really liked it. I had the beef brisket, which was prepackaged with a heavy sauce. You can buy better in your grocery refrigerated foods section. It came with mash potatoes with some sort of tasteless gravy. My husband had the special: pork chops with blue cheese. The chops could better be described as "patties", they were maybe 1/4 inch thick and the size of a child's palm; heavily seasoned with Cajun seasoning and DRY. There were some good things: gumbo was excellent with big chunks of sausage and chicken and nice smokey flavor. The house Margarita was good, tasted like fresh sour mix. Pass on the cherry version, different but unremarkable. All in all, an average experience. Yelp had me fooled.
(3)
Sarah W.
We love this place. Clearly the management is the key. Everytime we are here we are impressed. The servers are great. They are knowledgeable and clearly proud of their establishment. This is in stark contrast to so many Traverse City restaurants where the service can often ruin the meal. The food here is invariably delicious as well as the drinks. We love the Sazerac. There is also an awesome Bloody Mary with a garnish of a crawfish and a cheese stuffed jalopeno. It is fun to watch people taking pictures of their drinks. The sides are fantastic, especially the red beans and rice and the collards. Everytime we are in the Traverse City area we make a point to eat at Pearl's and always leave raving about the experience.
(5)
Caroline M.
There may not be a lot of dining options in Elk Rapids but what they do have (Pearl's!) is freakin' fabulous! I was staying in Elk Rapids for a long weekend with some friends and ended up doing dinner and brunch here. The bartenders and servers here are sweet as apple pie. They know many of the patrons here by name. The like to chit chat with you. The other patrons like to chit chat with you. Everyone seems to be touched by that country charm and hospitality. For dinner I was a little disappointed to see no shrimp and grits entree on the menu. I had my country girl heart (for the weekend) set on shrimp and grits, dammit. I remedied this by ordering the cajun shrimp appetizer with a side of cheddar grits. The portion was a little small, but flavorwise it was everything my country girl tastebuds longed for. Onto brunch food. I ordered the crawfish benedict which came with crawfish cakes and 2 eggs benedict. The poached eggs were as beautiful as any I have had in Chicago. The crawfish cakes were seasoned perfectly, not too spicy or overpowering for the delicate eggs. Bottomless coffee and great bloody marys. Pearl's is a rightful Elk Rapids staple. Count 3 city girls impressed.
(4)
Edward W.
What a great surprise to find this great authentic new Orleans place. Fun decor. Great service. Good food. The alligator bites were a little tough but if I were an alligator I guess I'd try to be a little tough too. The hurricanes were pricey but very good. Muffeletta very good. Kids liked the food and loved playing I Spy with all the great things to look at. We'll be back.
(4)
Lauralyn T.
A favorite place to visit during our annual visit "up north." We brought additional family members, and enjoyed varied and delicious meals. Appreciate the covered (also includes heaters if it were cool) waiting area, especially since they do not take reservations and when I called, I was told their "call ahead" list was full. Because we ordered the large sampler plate, I opted for the chowder . . delicious! And, filling! The rest of party enjoyed their meals as well. Service is well done, food great, atmosphere super.
(4)
Dana P.
My favorite restaurant on the planet. We moved away 12 years ago and come back for a visit about once a year. We always high tail it right up to Pearls. Our favorites are the blackened pork chops, brisket, stuffing and Cajun gravy. OH MY, I am getting hungry just thinking about it! My husband still mourns the removal of the chicken fried steak from the menu back in 2006, though. He still talks about it and was clearly traumatized. hahaa Love the atmosphere here, too. It is a relaxed, fun place to go.
(5)
Sarah S.
Absolutely love this place! My family has been going for years. Everything I've had has been delicious. The service has always been great as well. In the summer it's very busy so try and call ahead for seating. But it's well worth the wait!
(5)
Vince S.
Cajun food should be your goal when selecting this restaurant. Very friendly staff. Prompt service and were attentive. Very popular so plan on a wait to get a table. IPA only beers on tap. Very good menu selection.
(4)
Jeff H.
Still great !!! Alligator alligator alligator woohoo !!!!
(5)
R. L.
This restaurant is amazing and one of my favorites. Cajun in Elk Rapids is pretty random, I know. But their dishes are delicious and full of flavor. I still remember the piece of perfectly seared tuna I had there over two years ago. I also love the casual dining experience and all the cool hot sauces lining the wall. Check this place out! I have no idea why anyone would be disappointed.
(5)
Jen L.
A very fun and tasty restaurant, very unexpected for its location in northern MI. We went for a late lunch on a Sunday and found the brunch menu. We enjoyed our po'boy sandwiches and tasty soup. The atmosphere is nice, the walls are covered with bottles of hot sauce and voodoo dolls. The service was really good. Just watch out for the cement parking barriers in the parking lot. They're easy to run over. ;)
(4)
Keith W.
Pearl's is great and a staple of my visits to Traverse City. It's been several weeks since I checked in here but I know from previous experience that the burgers are great and I have not yet had a bad meal there. If you haven't been, do attend! Service was great and eating outside (though right next to a speedy road) still is pleasant.
(5)
Laura C.
For a small northern MI town, I could see the appeal of this place. It's kitschy-cute with tons of knickknacks and relics of New Orleans that could easily be picked up in any souvenir store in the south. The voodoo dolls and giant blue sea monster almost mock the city in an overkill of decor. Countless bottles of hot sauce line the back room, and the place has a lively vibe. After driving a half hour from our Traverse City hotel to get here on a recommendation, I was pretty disappointed with the food. The jalapeno cornbread was nicely spiced, but too cakey. We started with the blackened alligator, a small portion of chewy meat with no distinctive flavor. In addition, we had the corn mash whitefish cakes, which seemed like a poor man's crab cake. For our entrees, we had the pistachio tuna, which was served medium rare and had a gummy texture that suggested it wasn't the freshest fish on the block. The catfish was highlighted on the menu, so we tried that breaded and "smothered" with crawfish tails. Pretty hard to mess up fried fish, but one recommendation - get the tails on the side or the breading will get soggy before you're done eating. Also served alongside the catfish were hush puppies, which were actually the highlight of the meal. Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, these had the best flavor of any item I tried. We also had a couple orders of the etouffee, which is not the most aesthetically appealing dish with its overwhelming brown sauce. For dessert we split the buttermilk pie, which our server described as "apple pie without the apples." Well, I would have preferred the apple pie. No trip to a New Orleans spot would be complete without beignets, so we indulged in the beignet sundae, which also got pretty soggy in the ice cream. I felt like the beignets had been sitting around all day and briefly heated up right before serving. Overall, it might be good for locals, but not a destination spot for out of towners.
(2)
Nate and Justine B.
Pearls is one of only two 5 star ratings that we've given. We are consistently impressed by the caliber of the food here. Bring vegetarians! The Plantation Platter is Veg, and to DIE for ($14) This past visit we had a party of 11, including a baby. We waited about an hour (NOTE: you will probably have to wait for a table. Plan some extra time, or have a snack before dinner; it will be worth it! If you have a party of 8 or more they said you can call ahead to reserve a spot), but they have a great outside patio where you can wait, and they serve drinks. We got seated inside and huddled down with our menu's. There is a glossary of terms in the back for anyone who is new to New Orleans style food. My husband always orders the Etoufee with crawfish ($16.80), and I ordered the New Orleans Barbequed Shrimp Dinner ($18.50). They also have soda's from a local company, including Orange Dream and Black Cherry ($2.30 with free refills). The BBQ shrimp was incredible. It came with some of the amazing french bread, and I think I used that to soak up ALL of the sauce. The BBQ shrimp is a peel-at-the-table, so it's a little messy, but for me it makes it all the more fun. My husband loves the Etoufee, he says it has excellent cajun spices without being overwhelmingly hot. They don't skimp on their crawfish. Another nod has to be given to the great drinks that they serve. We LOVE the Cherry Margarita, the Grilled Apple Mojito, and the Big Easy Mary comes with a cooked crawfish in it! For the party of six that we paid for, plus desserts (we love the bananas foster), we ended up spending $130. The waiters and waitresses are always SUPER friendly. This place is amazing!
My partner and I went to Pearl's based on a recommendation from friends. When you first walk in, the decor looks like it belongs in Disneyland--very over the top and filled with stereotypical New Orleans artifacts. But, don't judge a book by its cover. The decor is part of its charm and the excellent food will surprise you! I ordered the Chicken Florentine and Crawfish Tails special. It was amazing. It came with a bed of creamed spinach and fried polenta with blue cheese. I never had crawfish before and this was an excellent way to introduce me to it. The crawfish was nice and tender instead of rubbery when it's overcooked and the polenta was creamy in the middle and crispy on the outside. My partner had Fried Catfish with Crawfish Tails in a garlic cream sauce and he gave it his approval, something the southern boy only does when it tastes authentic and fresh. We loved the food so much, we went back 2 days later and ordered the same thing!! The service is great. Our first night there, we had a wonderful waitress who was attentive and full of personality. She made our experience at the restaurant fun and inviting--A plus in my book! I am so happy we came across this place! It is one of THE best places to eat in the Traverse City area and my favorite restaurant now.
(5)
Lesley H.
I've been trying to make it to this place for years, and it never seemed to work out. Well, I finally made it, and now I know what I've been missing out on! We stopped in on a Thursday at about 6:00 on our way home from the up-north region. We arrived at just the right time - 5 minutes later and we would have been waiting for a table. Our server came over to our table promptly to take our drink orders and bring us some bread (the jalapeno cornbread was delicious). My husband and I each ordered a cocktail (the Sazerac and Cherry Margarita, respectively), and both were excellent. We decided to start with a couple of appetizers - the Fried Green Tomatoes and Alligator - and neither of them disappointed. We attended a wedding in Charleston, SC last summer and had our share of Fried Green Tomatoes while we were down there, and these were right up there with any that we had there. For our entrees, my husband ordered the Etouffee (with crawfish and andouille) and I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, which came with cheddar mashed potatoes and collard greens on the side. The Etouffee was excellent, not too soupy, not too thick, and perfectly spiced. My chicken was equally as good - the coating was crispy and the chicken was some of the juiciest I've ever had. I've come to be disappointed by most collard greens I've had at restaurants in Michigan, but these were fantastic. We were too full for dessert, but we saw Bananas Foster being delivered to a nearby table and it looked tasty. Also, they have buttermilk pie! I've never seen this on a menu in MI. Overall, the service was great. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend this place to anyone!
(5)
Amanda F.
Our very favorite! Southern fried chicken is the boss!! My husband is obsessed with Cajun popcorn and bronzed shrimp Alfredo! Try an alligator bite! Yummmy!
(5)
R J.
Reasonably good cajun style at moderate prices...great atmosphere!
(3)
Jesse S.
I freaking love Pearl's. Great food, great drinks, great service, and very reasonably priced. Cool ambiance, fun, and festive. I've only been 4 times since it's a bit of a drive for me, but I love it! It gets CRAZY busy in the summer. They make a delicious margarita, and all the creole seafood dishes are super. Good apps, too. It is a unique restaurant for our area and I am a huge fan!
(5)
Mark H.
Wonderful Mardi Gras meal last night. The place was fun, the food great and the music added the special touch. I had Ahi Tuna that was to die for! It was worth the drive from Cadillac!
(4)
Liz B.
If you're in the area, you will probably stop in. Either because there aren't many choices in the area or because someone has told you about the Cajun decor inside. I understand the food is great, but not a fan of Cajun so I didn't partake. It was worth the stop.... Gotta see the vast collections of hot sauce, bourbon, alligators, and other kitsch displayed all over the restaurant/bar. It's fun and a must see! Try the Cherry Margarita!
(4)
Dave N.
Good food. Unique items that were all tasty. Good brews and a very nice Bloody Mary. Jen was the most personable server I've run into this year.
(5)
Chris H.
A great place to enjoy deep south cuisine in Upper Michigan. The food is very good. It all varies from mildly spicy to flame thrower. The service is welcoming and the atmosphere is very unique and enjoyable. Higly recomend.
(5)
Carri A.
This is a fixture for dinner when visiting my friend's lakehouse in Alden. The food is dynamite (seriously, order anything and it's going to be delicious) and the drinks are potent. Prices are decent but the service is what keeps this humble review at four stars instead of five. I came here on Saturday and though we had a big party (12 people) we called a couple of days earlier and was told to come at 8.30 pm. They dont do reservations officially but we were not seated until 9.15 pm. Now, we are big people and had been out on a boat all day - we were tired and starving. For us to wait 45 minutes after the time we were told to show up seemed like days. But once the baskets of rolls and cornbread appeared, we were back to our charming selves. We started with the fabulously creamy Crawfish Dip and wonderful Fried Green Tomatoes appetizers. I ordered and thoroughly enjoyed eating the Bronzed Shrimp Alfredo. I literally ate until I thought I was going to barf. I couldnt stop! So good. There's a lot of crap on the walls (and ceiling!) and it can be overwhelming but it has it's charm.
(4)
Jared C.
I have been eating at Pearl's for a good part of my life, and it will always be an old favorite. Pearl's provides a fun atmosphere, with great service, and most importantly, GREAT cajun food!!! Among my favorite aspects of this establishment is the homemade jalapeno cheddar cornbread they bring to the table to start the party. The sweet, spicy, and savory flavors all a real winning combination! If your extra hungry, I would recommend starting your meal with the gumbo. Tons of chicken and sausage, perfect amount of spice. For the entree, I have almost always exclusively gotten the fried chicken. And let me tell you, it is by far the best in the region. The collard greens and cheddar mashed potatoes that come on the side are on par with similar dishes I have tried in the Southern United States. However, on my last visit I decided to get the hanger steak...and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! I ordered it medium, and it came out awfully red, but aside from that I thought it was good. I would not reccomend ordering it blackened as I did unless you are really looking to be sweating hardcore by the end of the meal. If your craving the Bayou in the great North, do yourself a favor and head to pearl's for some great food!
(4)
Marc V.
Creole food in northern Michigan! Nice change from the norm. And on top of it the foods great. I recommend to anyone who wants some good spicy food or anyone who just wants good food I suppose.
(5)
Bruce T.
You just can't get a bad meal at this place. Even when it's busy you seem to always get attended to properly and the food does not appear to be rushed to the plate. You may be able to get a more authentic meal in New Orleans, but not anywhere else in the state of Michigan. Try the Bay Catfish, blackened and smothered with a locally brewed Short's Huma Lupa Licious to wash it down. Or, if you want a more authentic brew, they have Turbo Dog on tap.
(5)
Sara P.
My party and I dined at Pearl's for a family meet and greet dinner before a wedding and even though I lived in the area for over seven years, I had Pearl's maybe once or twice. I never really liked it that much. Why? It may be because I don't much care for spicy food. Now, before I go any further let me just say I'm not silly enough to review a place negatively based on the fact that I simply don't like the type of food they are preparing. Pearl's is a New Orleans style kitchen, so if you don't like spicy food, it won't be your cup of tea. You might be wondering why I would choose Pearl's if I didn't like spicy food. Because their reputation is just that good. We had people coming from out of the country who wanted to try something unique. When your other options are Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc, Pearl's is by far the best choice. We also choose Pearl's because 5% of every dollar spent on our meal went directly to a local food charity, which is a mighty awesome thing. Everyone in our party was extremely satisfied with their meal, their drinks, and the service. Pearl's loses two stars however (making it A-OK) because there's only one vegetarian meal on the menu, and it's a sandwich. With a menu as large as theirs, and the experience from the chefs fairly extensive in variety (such as alligator and buffalo), I would appreciate some more vegetarian options.
We head over to Pearl's anytime we are in the Elk Rapids area. The food is fantastic and also the specials. Only disappointment is the wait on Friday/Saturday Nights, which is to be expected. Also, the service is slow at times. But other than that, exceptional place to try, at least once!
(5)
Teri C.
It was fantastic! We ordered the Brisket, craw fish enchilada, and Jambalaya. Our waitress was super nice and a delight. Very helpful and on top of things.....I feel bad that I can't remember her name....but she did mention she had worked there over 12 yrs. She gave us her suggestions which were helpful. The brisket was seriously the best I have ever had! The sauce had a hint of kick to it......and it went very well with the cornbread. I know many of the reviews said this place was pricey.....for the amount of food and the quality, I think it was right on target. This was our 1st visit and before we go home.....we plan to go back! We didn't have too much of a wait.....but by the time we left the line was long!
(5)
Rebecca T.
I gave it an extra star for the ambiance, more specifically, the womens bathroom, because what's not to love about a painted mural of various colorful characters (a man in a dress, a large man with no shirt on, who I posed by rubbing his belly). Food was okay, nothing really earth shattering about my meal (the blackened catfish po'boy sandwich with creole chips), the bloody mary I tasted was delicious, not to mention the cheddar grits that a friend ordered. Great atmosphere, countless bottles of hot sauce line the walls, and plenty of photo ops.
(4)
Tom Z.
Been there once, just this past July. Observations: Plus: -Super Friendly Bartenders (gave us 2 free pint glasses since our first visit), plenty of attention Negative: Well, we had to eat our meal in the bar due to packed crowd. Positive, Negative: considering how cramped the tables were jammed together, the bar was, in retrospect, the best place to eat. Negative: Must have been over 90 degrees in restaurant and no fans (I went to restroom to wash my face and hands in ice cold water to keep from passing out) Positive: Best jalapeno cord muffins on the planet, not the least bit over-bearing in spice Negatve: Worst corn grits on the planet Positive: They didn't charge us for the grits! Positive: Cherry Margarita in a festive glass Ice Cold Oberon
(4)
Kellen W.
It pains me to leave such a low rating for this place. The food was good but honestly the service was not great. Our group of 6 went there for dinner and we were told it would be a 40 minute wait. That's ok, we'll order some drinks and hangout outside on the patio. As time went on we watched groups that had come after us (including a group of 8!) being seated. We checked on the status of our table a couple times and they kept saying "You should be next." Well, one hour and 15 minutes later we were finally sat. This would have been a one star review had it not been for the food. The meals we all ordered were very good. Beware: If you order anything 'blackened' it will be very spicy! My wife and friend ordered the blackened pork loin and asked for it to be lightly seasoned (which it was) but it still had a ton of heat. Portions are large. The mixed drinks leave a lot to be desired, stick to anything pre-mixed or bottled.
(2)
Christopher B.
I returned here after about a decade for the happy hour- I was not impressed. I ordered Oysters Rockefeller, which was topped with bits of pork (not in the menu-description) and the waitress didn't offer to take them back when I communicated that I don't eat pork. The fried catfish strips were decent at best. The service was fairly friendly and punctual though.
Everything about Pearl's is outstanding. Their food, drinks, and service are off the charts. To begin, the bloody marys and the margies (red mesa) are ridic. I fly all the from SoCal to have as many of the entrees as possible each summer. There is not a less than item on the entire menu. If there were more stars to give, I would. Go, indulge, you will be ecstatic. Promise.
(5)
B.S. T.
This was our 2d visit and we were again happy with our meals as well as our service. Both visits were at lunch and we did not experience any wait. I would describe meals as "amazing" but most dishes were very good to good. Recommended: Fried green tomatoes. Jalapeno Corn bread. Cheese grits. Pecan crusted pork loin with blue cheese sauce with dried cherries. Vegetarian sampler. Not so: Chopped bourbon-marinated pork sandwich. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Mike A.
Some of the best cajun food around! I am from New Orleans and I think Pearls has some of the best gumbo in the country! Great service and wonderful atmosphere as well!
(5)
Diana D.
What a disappointment!!! If you've had real Cajun food in the south; if this is what you want and expect -- Warning: Do NOT go to Pearl's. Food is so-so and very pricy for what you get. Everything is ala carte. Service is poor. We own a home in the area. Have tried Pearl's from time to time over the years. Always a big disappointment. We are totally baffled by what people see in this place. It must be the great bar.
(1)
sara k.
Love the vibe at Pearl's. The classic Nawlin's/Mardi Gras motif lends to the Cajun menu. Friendly servers. Usually very prompt. A much needed restaurant...the only in its category that I know of in NW MI. Now, what to eat and drink: * Short's anything microbrews * Bloodies * Hurricane * Wings * Fried mud bugs * Blackened alligator * Corn bread and French bread (comes with meal) * Fried chicken salad * Muffaletta * Creole shrimp and pasta * Greens Now go home and grab a Tums. Locals: You should already know, but don't forget about Po' Boy and a Pint during off-seasons!
(4)
Alison G.
This is the best restaurant in town. The best drink is the cherry margarita and all of their food is great, even the fried catfish tails which scared me at first. The service is always really good and everyone is so friendly. It can be super busy but it is well worth any wait.
(5)
AVID C.
Great place with many choices. I had the vegetarian sampler which were bean cakes, fried green tomatoes, wilted greens and cheese grits. All were excellent. Bean cake and tomatoes had crispy crusts. Sauces were chunky and fresh. The grits were smooth and heavenly and the greens were sweet. The fried chicken dinner, salmon salad, and whitefish entrees were all devoured by the other members of our party with happy satisfaction. All in all, an excellent place to eat in Northern Michigan.
(4)
Chris V.
Pearl's is a little piece of heaven in Northern Michigan. It's a lot more removed than other restaurants in the area of it's caliber, tucked away quietly back in Elk Rapids, but anyone traveling to (or living in) the area with a penchant for spice should make the trek. Even though I grew up in arguably the one of the least cajun places in the union (Traverse City, second only to Fargo), I have a crazy penchant for this kind of food. I haven't had a bad dish here yet! The cornbread in particular always makes my mouth water - I've never ever gotten it that good at home. The jambalaya and crawfish dishes are both scrumptious as well. Good & friendly service, to boot. The atmosphere is a little over the top, but isn't that what one does when giving an homage to the French Quarter?
(4)
Allison B.
Can't say anything bad about Pearl's! Great service, great food! This is a destination for us from Traverse City several times a year. It is our go-to special occasion restaurant!
(5)
Torrie B.
Pearls is great. I have never had anything I didn't absolutely enjoy there. The atmosphere is fun, the staff our fun, the bartenders are AWESOME. (Crazy Lady gets six stars). My personal fav are the po boy's, but I have had several entrees there as well that have never left me unsatisfied. The best deal is on Wednesday nights during the off season, when you used to be able to get a po boy and a pint for like $7 (not sure if that's still around). Thankfully my parents still live in ER and I get to drive by this little gem everytime I go home, which in turn ensures that I almost always stop in for a visit. Definitely check out Pearls, you'll be glad you did.
(5)
Mike D.
Cherry margarita is amazing, real smashed cherries in the mix. Overall down to service with a great neighborhood atmosphere. The collard greens created an addict out of me
(5)
Nicole Leigh S.
Absolutely fantastic. As I've said before, there's not a lot of ethnic diversity in Traverse City, but I continue to live in and love it regardless. But I think, and maybe this is a fluke, but Pearl's is a great example of good ethnic cuisine. In the cajun/creole category, it is a great restaurant all around. Everything from the service, to the food and bar. I feel proud to come from the town that is the home to this great eatery. As a matter of fact, I've met people that have come from *out of state* to go to this restaurant, even when they could have gone to the south, where creole/cajun actually comes from. Kudos to you, Pearl's. You rock.
(5)
Russ C.
I am not sure which is better, the food or the atmosphere. The music, the art and the staff were all great and very authentic. I got the jambalaya, it was so good! The chicken was flavorful and juicy, the shrimp was great but the rice and sausage were what got me. It was spicy but full of flavor. I can't wait to go back. My only caution is the parking, there is not a lot of parking and the restaurant can get very busy.
(5)
Lori Taylor R.
This review is based strictly on the libations and with that said: Pearl's knows how to make a Bloody. I crave this drink every time I am in Northern MI. It's a summer tradition! The perfect proportions, blended beautifully in a chilled jar, rimmed with the right spice and garnished with carrot, stuffed jalapeno and a craw-fish. Need I say more!
(5)
Jennifer G.
If you're ever in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping in at Pearl's for some good Cajun cooking! I started with the house salad with a sweet honey jalapeno dressing. Nothing too spicy, but yet still had a kick to it. I then had the 'peel yourself' barbecue shrimp. To me the sauce wasn't barbecue - but more so a worchestire sauce concoction. Still good - but not really barbecue. My husband started with a bowl of their gumbo which he thought had a very nice spice and then had their shrimp jambalaya. The jambalaya was a bit different than most places as it had a full chicken (on the bone) in it. A little unusual, but still quite good. I just wish we had left room for dessert. The table next to us got the flaming bananas foster and it looked delicious!
(4)
Jane C.
Good food, busy during the summer. Great specials in the winter
(4)
Myrna J.
I'm giving this 4 stars mostly because they are generally a fun place to go. You'll find cajun food, southern food, really pretty well done for a Northern Michigan place. They don't usually have a band, but they should because it's that kind of place. I went there night before last after a show and had some yummy chicken wings in some sort of sauce, collard greens in a corn meal sort of thing with cajun sausages. Strange meal but good. Pretty friendly and reasonably good service if you don't get there on a really really busy night like mid summer Saturday night. It's worth a visit if you are looking for some tasty food in a bland food world.
(4)
Suzanne M.
Pearl's is the best! A fun place to eat with great service, a varied menu and decent prices. Try the Hot 'n Dirty Martini, made with vodka steeped with jalapeno peppers . . . yum! They also have fantastic Bloody Marys. Red Beans and Rice, Cheese Grits and Blackened Alligator are some of my favorite appetizer/sides. I often combine a couple of sides to have instead of an entree. My favorite dinner is the Bayou Mixed Grill . . . absolutely fabulous. I've been to Pearl's many times and I've never had anything less than a 4-star experience.
(5)
michael b.
Pearls is a fun place but the quality of the food is poor and it's not healthy fare. Also, you should be prepared to wait a long time for a table in the summer. Best thing is usually the blackened whitefish. Their chicken has a thick batter and fried so it's heavy. The craw fish is good but portions are small. Frankly, nothing here is good for you. Staff are friendly and helpful.
(2)
Justin O.
The New Orleans Kitchen known as "Pearls" is a Magnum Hospitality restaraunt, so you know your in for a treat. They also own Red Mesa Grill, Cafe Sante, and previously "the Fish." They do food justice, as the bring atmosphere and great deep flavors from the region they tend to represent. This time, they have injected their hospitality knowledge in Peals to bring Elk Rapids and Northern Michigan a one of kind Nawlins expierence. Oysters, Blackened Alliagtor, BBQ Shrimp (Peel-on), Cornbread, Crawdaddies....You name it Bayou lovers, Pearls is serving it, and in a cool Voodoo-Hot Sauce environment that makes you feel at home. The service is wonderful, and the menu is reasonably price. Check out the online coupons, and take advantage of the happy hour specials where all bar drinks are a dollar off and they have incredible foodie snacks for only 2.25. My personal favorites are their oyster shooters (Vodka duh?), cornbread, grits, collard greens, beef brisket, brunch on sundays, moonshine.....come on this restaraunt is a place all food lovers need to see, take pictures, and then eventually tell a friend! I drive an hour to visit quite often! Thank you Magnum Hospitality for a really cool northern, I mean NAWLINS treat! Great for groups, Come as you are. No reservations (unless frequent card holder), but worth the wait...lots of tables......just wait...its worth it. Enjoy the outside patio as you take my advice! Four Star for Pearls.
(5)
jake a.
Was a great meal and a really nice waitress. I had the crawfish etouffee and was really good and super filling. I plan going there again the next tine I'm in Elk Rapids for sure.
(4)
Jessica C.
I want to give a 3.5, but not quite a 4. Service good, atmosphere so fun. The food we had heard so much about was kind of underwhelming. Blackened catfish was very good, fried chicken was meh, greens good. We would go back for the great drinks and live music. Keep it up, Pearl's! We love the non-chain originality you offer up!
(3)
Shannon B.
So fun and great food! It was my first time here and won't be my last. Clearly everyone in town thought the same because they were there. Loved it!
When discussing this review my husband said "Could they have done anything better?!?". We drove up from Cadillac during a ski trip and would definitely come back! We had both great food and great service. Starting with the fresh bread and jalapeño cornbread...then I had the corn and crawfish chowder which was delicious - I could have had just that. My husband had the beef brisket po boy and said it was fabulous and reminded him of the French quarter. I had the special - a salmon, mussels and asparagus pasta which was light and tasty. This was all topped off with the bread pudding and beignet hot fudge sundae - which the table devoured. Even our kids enjoyed the food and atmosphere and everyone working there was friendly and welcoming.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Steven J.
Absolutely worth the alternate route up north. Glad we came here, next time with our children for sure!!!
(5)Laurel S.
Wow. Pearls is a must try place. Great food, great drinks, unique new orleans decor and awesome service. We recommend the gumbo, fried chicken salad, and the brisket! Its all amazing. The bananas foster is a yummy way to end the meal.
(5)Dean K.
I had a really nice time here and I wanted to love the place. Unfortunately, I think I just ordered the wrong thing. I had a crawfish caesar salad - I think it was a special. The crawfish tails were fried in a cornmeal (?) batter and just became very gluey when mixed with the dressing. Sadly, I just had to sit and watch everyone else eat. They all liked the food a lot.
(2)Aaron L.
Darn good food. We got take-out for 7, including 3 vegetarians and a baby, and everyone was happy. For vegetarians, definitely get the red bean cakes and skip the vegetarian jambalaya. I had the white fish mufaletta, and it was quite tasty with nicely fried fish (not too greasy) and a zesty tartar sauce. The staff was very nice and helpful, labeling all of our take out dishes and helping to carry it out to our car. One improvement they could make for takeout would be to find a more environmentally friendly packaging material than styrofoam.
(4)Marie V.
Pearl's consistently provides amazing food, and stellar service by a gracious, energetic waitstaff. The menu is varied and there is something for everyone. This place is always busy. That tells you something. We go during the week when possible. Have been enjoying Pearl's for many years...everything on the menu is outstanding.
(5)Brandi P.
Love this place!! You get jalapeño cornbread and French bread before the meal. We decided, after our waitresses' recommendation, to get the fried green tomatoes .... They were really good! Nice fried green tomatoes with some spice to them. The chicken po boy was really good as well! The service was the best we've had all week since we've been in northern Michigan too. This place has a cool vibe and great food. I'd definitely recommend it!
(5)Judd H.
Ambiance is kinda divey, but not necessarily in a bad way. Go with all of the Cajun standbys (étouffée, jambalaya, etc) and you will not be disappointed. One thing to note - fried okra croutons on salads are phenomenal.
(4)Brynn M.
We stopped at Pearl's on our way out of town after a long weekend and it definitely hit the spot. The oysters and poboys were good and our waitress was super friendly and prompt.
(4)Joshua R.
A big taste of New Orleans, and the "Big Easy," right in Northern Michigan! It's pretty tame (so you can get your beads without having to raise your shirt a whole lot), but it's still a good time - and the food is stellar!
(5)toni b.
The food was good. I had fried catfish with crawfish on top and it was a huge portion and it was delicious. The cherry margarita was AMAZING. It was tart and refreshing. Service was good. The only thing lacking here is the ambiance. It kinda reminded me of a tgi Friday's. I would go back if I was in elk rapids.
(4)Nick M.
Awesome food and cool atmosphere. Best New Orleans food I've had outside of New Orleans it self. Never expected to find this is northern Michigan. Only a short drive from Traverse city and worth the stop.
(5)Linda G.
Stopped in for just a snack. The Buffalo oysters were hot, hot, hot! Will definitely get them again!
(5)John C.
Outstanding Cajun Plus. And with great fun service. Truly authtentic jambalaya and étouffée and BBQ ribs. We've become regulars.
(4)Erin Q.
We stopped here on the recommendation of a friend and I'm so glad we did! Oh my world. They start you off with a basket of jalapeno cornbread and this French bread that just melts in your mouth. You can't stop eating it. I chose the cherry margarita and was super happy with it. Just the right amount of tartness. Etouffe with crawfish and blackened shrimp ended up as my choice for lunch and I loved it. This place is a bit off the beaten path and we would have never stopped if we didn't know about it, but it is worth it!
(5)Jamie A.
The food is Cajun, not my favorite, but my family loves it. I love the fried chicken!!! Yummy! The wait staff is usually good, although we had to wait last time to put a drink order in. After that, service was great. I've been coming to Elk Rapids forever. I love this town and Pearls adds a great deal.
(5)Alisha S.
Great food and great drink specials. This is one of our favorites! Bronzed shrimp pasta is my favorite main dish. The blackened alligator and the crawfish chowder are awesome! They also serve Shorts beer :)
(5)George N.
Very good service and great food. Started with blackened alligator, very tasty and spicy but super small portion. Also got dozen raw oysters, they were clean and perfect. Kids had po boys, gumbo and corn chowder. Chowder was yummy, gumbo a bit spicy. Blackened catfish po boy was fantastic, fried chicken po boy not so much. Wife had cherry pecan salad, kind of meh. We also had a couple Big Easy Bloody Mary's, very good and spicy. Would definitely go back.
(4)Craig J.
Seriously good food!!!! I loved this place, I can't wait to go back. The staff were super friendly and the food was a nice change of pace. The place is pretty packed and it's bustling inside, you probably aren't going to have a quiet low key dinner here but you'll enjoy yourself. We went with a large group, 12 or so, and the service was great and every thing came out together and done right the first time. I dig Cajun, this isn't exactly "real" Cajun, but it's good enough for me in Northern MI
(5)Ryan L.
Great experience and great prices for happy hour! The beers are cheap, the oysters are fresh and the service is friendly. I Will be coming back to Pearls in the near future. It is an Elk Rapids staple and definitely a must if you are visiting the area!
(5)Cathy O.
I am writing this review before I even leave the restaurant -- that's how good this place is. Everything we ordered was out-of-this-world good, and that's not even by Elk Rapids standards. I'm talking best creole food anywhere. Highly recommended: the unique house salad, featuring black-eyed peas and pickled vegetables (get the honey jalapeño dressing); shrimp and grits, making sure you save some french bread for the delicious sauce; and the jalapeño club muffuletta with the outstanding cole slaw. Even though we came in the winter when it was not crowded, I deem Pearl's totally worth the wait it has in the summer. You will love it!
(5)Phoebe J.
New Orleans holds a very special place in my heart! The style of French Cajun food, mixed with super fresh seafood- and the SOUL of the city, with it's incredible music and history- always gets me. My husband and I even decided to get married there in 2013. Pearl's Kitchen encompasses all of that soul and more. The moment you walk in you get this feeling of excitement and happiness.. from the crazy cool papier-mâché giant Mosquitoes hanging from the ceiling- to the beads and icy cups of Hurricane cocktails being swept past you on a tray, to a table of happy folks. We love their incredible, diverse menu- filled with the very best seafood of the bayou, with touches of local favorites and products. The Crawfish Corn Chowder is total comfort food... it's creamy bisque base matches up with the tender chunks of bright pink crawfish, potatoes and is highlighted by sweet corn! They top the little bowl with bacon & scallions for an extra flavor punch! (yes I know I sound like Guy Fieri. I'll stop, I promise.) They have fantastic raw and grilled oysters.. Oysters Bienville being our favorite. We usually order up a bunch during their fab Happy Hour, alongside their delicious crawfish cakes (topped with this awesome Cajun red sauce!) Their BBQ shrimp are extremely good... truly comparable to the famous ones served in New Orleans at Mr. B's Bistro. They serve these sautéed shrimp in this intoxicating sauce.. not actual BBQ sauce - but the traditional Worcestershire-spiked butter sauce, alongside some crunchy baguette to soak it all up! We love their brunch- and often come for dinner and enjoy a fresh fish entree. You really can't go wrong with anything here. I personally will order the Eggs Sardou at brunch, and the Shrimp & Grits during lunch or dinner. It's really lovely how they serve everything with a basket of fresh baked cornbread & baguette! Their Happy Hour is banging! They have SUCH GOOD specials for cocktails, beer (ABITA!) and small plates. We love their Cherry 'ritas and the Pearl's Moonshine cocktail (it reminds me of a LI Iced Tea.. just as potent, gin, vodka, Bacardi Limon & Sprite. Très dangereux!) It's a super fun environment to get loose in, after a day on the lake or in the office. As they say in NOLA: Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!! (Let the good times roll!)
(5)Sheryl S.
Our server Jackie was awesome and attentive!! NOLA is one of m favorite cities in the U.S. and to come across a gem like this found by Yelping restaurants in Elk Landing was a treat!! Too many good choices on the menu Jackie recommended the Fried Green tomato Muffalta- which was what I chose and could not have been happier! The bread was soft and super tasty and the tomatoes were fried to perfection without too much added breading added and the olive salad put the sandwich over the top with flavor!! I chose the creole chips to accompy and had a zingy cherry margarita with cherry liquor to wash it down!! Great place with terrific service!!
(4)Sandra Y.
Fantastic food, great atmosphere. We had wonderful time. Our server was wonderful too. Had the alligator appetizer & the fried oysters on the half shell. They were wonderful. The happy hour is from 3-6 and gives you a nice discount on appetizers and drinks We had the Mahi Mahi bronzed & shrimp étouffée. It's the real deal!! So delish!
(5)A B.
Last night was Girls Night Out. We met at Pearl's because I try to get here at least once a year for the Fried Green Tomatoes. Everything was wonderful last night... From the Big Easy Bloody Mary's and the Strawberry Basil Mohitos to the happy hour Fried Okra and Fried Green Tomatoes and finally the Shrimp and Grits. (My Aunt had the Beef Brisket and she was loving that as well! ) I have to tell you it is only 24 hours later - and a 45 minute drive away - and I am seriously considering going back again for more Shrimp and Grits. I have a budding desire to try new food, so this selection was a first for me... But the flavors were fantastic and buttery. I have never had true grits before so I expected something more "al dente," but these were perfectly unexpected in my opinion! Everything is great here, and another review had said the gator was a bit small of a potion - and I would agree, but other than that... LOVE IT! Also... This was the second time I had Jenn as my waitress (2years ago was the first) and yesterday I almost tipped her every bill I had in my wallet- which usually wouldn't say much except I had just stopped at the ATM ... She is very attentive and during my last visit she spent a lot of time with me helping me decide what I could try. She is a gem and I will ask for her on my next visit which I hope will be very soon!
(5)Lindsay G.
This is one of the best Cajun/creole meals we've ever had. We had Sunday brunch and loved everything we tried- Cajun Bloody Mary (topped with a crawfish, blue cheese stuffed jalapeño, and okra!) shrimp and grits app, crawfish cakes, and Tasso ham eggs Benedict. It was all delicious and flavorful without being excessively heavy. The service was truly excellent and friendly, and this is a fun place to visit. I really wish we had this restaurant in Seattle!
(5)Ginai H.
Fabulous!! The sampler featuring shrimp on grits...oysters Rockefeller..crab cakes...and Cajun gator!! Splendid! My catfish entree was superb!! The service was friendly and timely. I highly recommend Pearl's!! I loved it so much, I bought the shirt in Gator Green!!
(5)Michael H.
New Orleans cuisine is rare in this neck of the woods; doubly nice is that's done up most excellently. This is a destination restaurant so be prepared to wait during the busiest days in-season. They have a celebratory atmosphere, big bar, and an outdoor waiting area; so cocktailing it prior to dinner is considered a feature and not a bug. I always have the étouffée with crawfish and andouille sausage. Perfect. They have some nice local pinto grigios that pair well. My wife typically has the southern fried chicken. That's another item that's rare in this region, at least done to the quality presented at Pearl's. Fried green tomatoes with creole sauce is a highly recommended appetizer.
(5)Allison L.
Um, Cajun in Michigan? Good Cajun in Michigan?! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!!! But alas my friends, this place is about as good as it comes! We arrived early on a Saturday eve and the place was already packed! While we were waiting for a table, we grabbed a spot outside and got our cocktails on! Hurricanes, yes. Mint Julep, yes. Alcohol, yes. Gah! When we finally got sat, our waitress was incredible. Some of the best service I've ever had, anywhere!! We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were crunchy and served with this Cajun sauce. Git you some. For dinner, I had the shrimp etouffee, because why not?! MP got the BBQ shrimp, because again, why not? Pops got the Jambalaya and MIL got the fried chicken. We were all extremely happy with our meals. Hardly any leftovers! The drinks are also stiff, which I love. :-) I can't really elaborate anymore how much this place rules!! The walls are lined with all sorts of bottles of hot sauces, beads, historical pictures! The bathroom murals are hilarious! The bartender station is busy and loud! Lots of huge families chowing down on delicious food and servers that can't stop, won't stop!! Ha! Seriously, if you guys are in Elk Rapids and have not been here, you need to go now. I've been to NOLA a ton of times and I live in Texas, this was some of the best I've had! "Laissez les bons temps rouler"! In Michigan.
(5)Amber L.
This was our second time at this restaurant. They have very good drinks with my husband trying the Bloody Mary and liking the jalapeno pepper and crawfish. I tried the cherry margarita. It was a little sweet but it was still very good. We were there for lunch and the service was excellent and the waitress was very friendly. The portions were somewhat small. It's expensive. It was about $50 for us to have lunch with a drink a piece.
(4)Tori V.
Never expected a place like this in northern Michigan, absolutely phenomenal! Service: from the waitress to busboys, everybody went above and beyond. Drinks: my ginger fizz was delicious Apps: buffalo oysters- a table favorite, fried tomatoes- light and tasty, and the crawfish cakes were also very good. Dinner: I think I tasted all the dinners and my crawfish enchiladas were by far the best! Creamy, savory, amazing! Once my hubby tasted them I had to fight him off for the rest.
(5)John F.
Who woulda thought you'd find a great Cajun style restaurant in Elk Rapids near Traverse City, Michigan? The unassuming exterior of this tucked away establishment hides a fantastic island of Cajun joy and flavors. The staff are fantastic and we hope they stay that way. We witnessed a staff member take a water filled bowl to a customer who was in need for their canine family member. I believe it's that kind of caring sincerity that separates a good restaurant from a great one. The spices in the Étouffée and the crawfish cakes were just right. And we loved the crazy okra croutons on the Caesars salad! We sampled the crawfish and corn chowder and the jambalaya and they were both fantastic compared to the Louisiana originals that we have enjoyed. While we reserve the five star mark for a Cajun restaurant in Cajun country, Pearls is a true gem in the Oyster of Michigan Restaurants.
(4)Harold S.
This was the first time coming to Pearls. And oh my stars, is this place amazing. There is an outside bar/Waiting area that had live music tonight. If your not fond of smoke in your face, I recommend sitting at the bar inside while waiting for your table. The interior is loud and so original. The decor is exactly what you picture when thinking about New Orleans. When you come here, expect to wait at least 30 to 40 minutes to get a table. That gives you plenty of time to sit at the bar and enjoy a drink. I enjoyed a Hurricane while I waited tonight. Man was that tasteful. And the drink came with bead necklace for me to wear. And for table pagers, they give you a lobster that vibrates. So original. We finally got a table and I decided to get the fried alligator for my appetizer and the bronzed catfish with fried okrah and hushpuppies. The alligator was amazing. It was so crunchy, and full of flavor. After ordering my main course, I went to use the bathroom. The bathrooms were very clean, and the art work on the walls is amazing. You must stop in the bathrooms when you come. My main course was great. I had my catfish bronzed, and it was so flaky and also full of flavor. Also not too fishy. For sides I had hushpuppies and fried okrah. Both were full of flavor, and the okrah was very crunchy. The catfish is awesome. While at the bar I noticed a lady near me had ordered one of there bloody mary's and was struggling to get the meat out of the crawfish. It was so amazing to see the bar tender stop and explain to her how to properly eat crawfish. The staff is so helpful, and full of spirit. We did have to wait quite a while for our food, but it was so worth the wait. Can't wait to find a reason to drive up north again.
(5)Dion S.
Oh my goodness the best New Orleans cuisine I have ever had. So loved everything about the decor... The food was amazing-gator, crab cakes and jumbalia. The best flavors in everything they have.
(5)R S.
I went to Pearl's again this past weekend. The food and service was again fantastic. I finally tried the cherry margarita and it was surprisingly good. This is the Cherry Capital of the world so I thought that it might be a stretch but the drink had a nice balance between sweet/tart. My fellow diner described her food as "My eyes rolled back in my head" it was so good. Shawn our waitress was friendly and helpful with menu suggestions as well. Thanks to all at Pearl's for continued great food and great service.
(5)Jamie G.
Wow! What a place! I'd known about Pearls for years, we've just never made it in. Well, we've been missing out. It's a rarity that you get the trifecta: awesome food, great service, & you don't feel like you overpaid. We stopped in for lunch in July, and ordered the combo app, subbing in fried green tomatoes. Perfect, especially the oysters. Two Po Boys for lunch were do filling. I loved my brisket Po Boy! There was just no room for dessert. If you go, check out the artwork in the bathrooms! Neat place!
(5)Daroki K.
Barbq shrimp, chicken fried pork steak, mashed potatoes, hush puppies... Great stuff! Gotta come back for the great bourbon selection. sazerac, absinthe, hurricanes.
(4)Amanda S.
If you're reading these reviews because you're wondering whether you should go to Pearl's, do yourself a favor and stop hemming and hawing, jump into your vehicle immediately, and get yourself to this place ASAP. This is my absolute favorite restaurant. And that's not an insignificant statement, as I live in Ann Arbor (a town widely acknowledged to be a mecca for foodies). Allow me to quickly provide some details: Last year on a spontaneous trip to Traverse City, we tried Pearl's on a whim after picking it from a list of nearby dining options in a tourist magazine. And it blew our minds. The atmosphere is unique and quirky; it is decorated to the hilt with fantastically odd wall hangings and shelves of interesting trinket collections. The customer service was the best you'll find anywhere. (Seriously, our waitresses at this place have been amazing!) And the best part, the food offerings, included top-quality nuanced dishes full of authentic Cajun appeal. The staff even provided me with an entire vegetarian menu, which picky veg eaters like me will immediately appreciate as a rare luxury! I ordered the Hoppin John and it was to die for. If my memory serves me correctly, my fiance ordered the jambalaya, a dish that--since he orders it almost everywhere--he can credibly evaluate. It was a 10! This is no joke: I was so enamored with the place (love at first bite!) that I immediately started visualizing a Cajun-inspired menu for my wedding. (Okay, so maybe that was an extreme reaction.) But that is how much you will love this place. Anyway, for months after that trip to TC we were really hankering to return to Pearl's. Last weekend, on a follow-up romantic weekend getaway, we made absolutely certain to get ourselves to Pearl's as our first dinner stop. It lived up to my high expectations and then some. I ordered the Red Bean Cakes this time around, and it was truly a dish of culinary bliss. This restaurant will definitely be a top priority on our travel itinerary every time we are in the area - which I'm hoping will be as often as possible! Anyway, I'll wrap this up. Please go to Pearl's and experience the goodness for yourself! You will not regret it.
(5)Lauren D.
This was a perfect experience. Our whole family went here for lunch on Tuesday this week. We had the whole gang, 8 of us including my 3 year old daughter. The restaurant easily accommodated our large group without problem and we felt very welcomed. Our waitress was awesome, friendly, efficient, and personable. The food was out of this world and the cocktails were super yummy . I had the cherry margarita and it was sooo delicious. Even though the restaurant is Cajun based there were option on the menu that were not too spicy.
(5)Mike V.
Excellent meals last nights , especially the special - pork tips and berry sauce also salmon special delicious , as were the golden margarita
(5)David D.
I don't typically eat Cajun outside of New Orleans but I'm glad i tried this place. Eight of us ate here and we were all impressed - even a three year old. The server was available, interesting, informative and quick to respond. The food was great, smaller portions than i would expect but outstanding flavor. The decoration was a little eccentric and exactly what you expect to see in New Orleans. I ate the baked Cat Fish with Mash and greens and was tempted to try another main dish. The bar had a great selection of bourbon's and after taking my first glass of Blanton's single barrel I may just make a transition from Scotch! Great choice for a night out in Elk Rapids.
(5)Pam R.
Same old, same old. This is definitely a watering hole for the locals. I saw the same folks there even when it's been 12 mos since I was last there! The menu has NOT changed in 10 years or so, but that can be a good thing! The Magnum Hospitality Group restaurants have started serving Northwoods Sodas ( the local pop manufacturer) which is a bad thing to me personally. I imagine this happened because of the push for local goods. Northwoods Soda is a reason for me NOT to frequent a restaurant! The only reason we ( and it appeared many others) ended up there the other night, was because Siren Hall was closed.
(3)Tracie S.
Go and eat here now! Flavorful dishes with balanced spices. Not hot or spicy for the sake of being Cajun. Wait was shorter than expected. Jessi was an AMAZING server.
(5)Merry E.
If you are in Elk Rapids or the surrounding area, Pearl's is a great place to stop. The décor is fun, the service is good and the menu offers a little something for everyone to try. They offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options with their own menus. The selection of cocktails is good and we always have a nice time when we are there.
(4)Carolyn J.
Always a great meal at Pearl's! They have an extensive Gluten-free (Celiac Safe) menu, including GF cornbread muffins that are delish! This way, when everyone is enjoying the fabulous French bread while waiting for the meal, you too have something to enjoy! The Whitefish Florentine (Gluten-free) is outstanding. In fact, probably the best Whitefish I've had in N. MI! Patio seating is available, so if you don't want to wait for a table, that's an option. That said, there is pretty much a wait for everything after 6:00, and they do not take reservations.
(5)Tina C.
Great food (not traditional) but flavorful and freshly cooked. Had great service she was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu! A must visit location when you are in the area! Also has fabulous drink menu. P.S. get the Greens and I am Southern; so I know good greens!
(5)Adam L.
This is a pretty good place in an odd area. The food is good as is the service. Neither in my mind are anything to write home about bit if you're in the mood for something different then pearls has what you want. And if you do go be brave and try an oyster shooter they're actually quite good.
(4)Jack M.
If you are in the Elk Rapids area Pearls in a must place to go. Even if you are staying in Traverse it is a nice drive to hit Pearls. I eat here 4-5 times a year and it has always been solid. A little tip....go out early and hit Pearls for lunch..the prices are about 40% less and the beer and drinks are Happy Hour priced. Plus unlike dinner there is no wait. If you go for dinner plan on a 30-60 minute wait.
(4)Luke S.
Wow, went here ten years ago plus and still remembered to go back. This time took the kids and they were well received. There is stuff to play with/look at all over the place almost all out of toddler reach. The staff loved the kids and catered to them very well. Will defiantly go back next time I am in town.
(5)PE B.
We are on a road trip to northern Mi. Found this gem on Yelp. It is a definite winner. Tried the Award winning cherry Margarita. Fried green tomatoes,barbecue Shrimp and Bananas Foster! Amazing!!!!
(5)Mariesa C.
We heard this place was great and it has good reviews but we found it mediocre at best. Food was not the greatest. Caesar salad was dull and brown lettuce. Fried chicken the waitress said is one of top sellers but it was nothing special. The cheesy potatoes were cold and just so so. Gumbo was just ok. Steak filet was great. Chicken po boy was ok- chicken was good but bun was nothing special. Drinks were great. Their peach margatini was amazing. Cherry margarita awesome also.
(2)Taylor E.
I would say this is one of the best restaurants in Elk Rapids. I eat here at least once every other week. I'm a huge fan of their bloody mary's and the shrimp po-boy. A little on the pricier side as far as your local eating options go, but completely worth it . Only recently did I learn that they have a huge gluten free menu if you need it. Have only had great experiences with this place. Watch out during the summer because this is one of the more popular spots in town and wait times during dinner hours can be lengthy. No worries though, that's when you order a southern-inspired drink and relax on their outdoor patio.
(4)Erin S.
Yum! The food is amazing! The decor is great! We brought the kids and everyone loved it! I would make a special trip from Kzoo to go there again! A great place for adults or the family!
(5)Brian G.
Extremely rude management. Waited for almost 45min for food to arrive after ordering. Was confronted by a drunk patron who attempted to start a fight with me, the manager was there watching and did nothing to intervene. Food arrived cold, and after being there an hour I tried to just leave but the manager refused to cancel the order as it was already there on the table, so I had to get a to-go box of cold food and pay full price for it to take it home and eat. Called the owner's group the next day only asking for an apology for the way I was treated. The owners refused to apologize.
(1)Kristin F.
We came to Pearl's last night and talked about the alligator the entire way. Welp, they're out of the alligator until mid-September, due to a storm that wiped out the poor little eggs. Le sigh. Nevertheless, we hadn't been to Pearl's in YEARS and agree that no other New Orleans creole quite compares. We ordered the Bayou Sampler, and the waitress apologized repeatedly for being out of the gator- she offered to replace it with an app of our choice. Since we were already ordering the Creole shrimp and the Scallops, we replaced it with a bean cake. The cheesy grits, greens, oysters, and crab cake were also amazing. Pearl's remains in my Top 5 Northern Michigan restaurants. We'll be back come October when the alligator is guaranteed to be there- yum yum.
(5)Bernice W.
Appetizers: blackened alligator was actually decently tender, gumbo yaya was only ok, not much of a gumbo fan though, and the crawfish corn chowder... SOOOOO YUMMMMYYYYYY i would have been satisfied to end my meal there xp (we went back later in the week to get it for take out) Entree: Beef brisket was ok, etouffee is pretty good, but like all etouffee, the taste gets tiring pretty quick, southern fried chicken was very crispy and decently juicy,pretty good, but it's also just fried chicken, bronzed shrimp alfredo was also alright. i really shouldhave gotten fish.... we are right next to several lakes!!! Dessert: bananas foster: my friends loved it, but i personally wasn't a fan.... a little bit too sweet for me. the chowder pushed it over the top for me... xD
(4)Dominique K.
We stopped into Pearl's late one Sunday afternoon for brunch. Our server was knowledgeable and personable...giving us advice about the hot sauces on the table, the menu, and tips about inexpensive happy hours around town (including the Red Mesa Grill in Traverse City which the folks at Pearl's also own). There were so many great-sounding menu items that we had real difficulty making our choices. We had the fried green tomato app along with a basket stuffed with house-made bread and biscuits...and both ordered the Crawfish Benedict (which we both felt was the best Eggs Benedict-style meal either of had ever had) with a side of cheese grits to share. Food was great and so plentiful we couldn't eat dessert for brunch or even need dinner later that day. Pearl's looks like it would be a lot of fun for dinner or lunch, but probably a lot more crowded than the nearly empty restaurant we enjoyed when we were there. Still, I sure would like to return and try some crawfish etoufee or jambalaya!
(4)Janet B.
Ummmm......not terrible but not great either. Best described as so so. The yelp reviews are what caused us to drive from Traverse City. My mother-in-law had the Bronzed Shrimp and really liked it. I had the beef brisket, which was prepackaged with a heavy sauce. You can buy better in your grocery refrigerated foods section. It came with mash potatoes with some sort of tasteless gravy. My husband had the special: pork chops with blue cheese. The chops could better be described as "patties", they were maybe 1/4 inch thick and the size of a child's palm; heavily seasoned with Cajun seasoning and DRY. There were some good things: gumbo was excellent with big chunks of sausage and chicken and nice smokey flavor. The house Margarita was good, tasted like fresh sour mix. Pass on the cherry version, different but unremarkable. All in all, an average experience. Yelp had me fooled.
(3)Sarah W.
We love this place. Clearly the management is the key. Everytime we are here we are impressed. The servers are great. They are knowledgeable and clearly proud of their establishment. This is in stark contrast to so many Traverse City restaurants where the service can often ruin the meal. The food here is invariably delicious as well as the drinks. We love the Sazerac. There is also an awesome Bloody Mary with a garnish of a crawfish and a cheese stuffed jalopeno. It is fun to watch people taking pictures of their drinks. The sides are fantastic, especially the red beans and rice and the collards. Everytime we are in the Traverse City area we make a point to eat at Pearl's and always leave raving about the experience.
(5)Caroline M.
There may not be a lot of dining options in Elk Rapids but what they do have (Pearl's!) is freakin' fabulous! I was staying in Elk Rapids for a long weekend with some friends and ended up doing dinner and brunch here. The bartenders and servers here are sweet as apple pie. They know many of the patrons here by name. The like to chit chat with you. The other patrons like to chit chat with you. Everyone seems to be touched by that country charm and hospitality. For dinner I was a little disappointed to see no shrimp and grits entree on the menu. I had my country girl heart (for the weekend) set on shrimp and grits, dammit. I remedied this by ordering the cajun shrimp appetizer with a side of cheddar grits. The portion was a little small, but flavorwise it was everything my country girl tastebuds longed for. Onto brunch food. I ordered the crawfish benedict which came with crawfish cakes and 2 eggs benedict. The poached eggs were as beautiful as any I have had in Chicago. The crawfish cakes were seasoned perfectly, not too spicy or overpowering for the delicate eggs. Bottomless coffee and great bloody marys. Pearl's is a rightful Elk Rapids staple. Count 3 city girls impressed.
(4)Edward W.
What a great surprise to find this great authentic new Orleans place. Fun decor. Great service. Good food. The alligator bites were a little tough but if I were an alligator I guess I'd try to be a little tough too. The hurricanes were pricey but very good. Muffeletta very good. Kids liked the food and loved playing I Spy with all the great things to look at. We'll be back.
(4)Lauralyn T.
A favorite place to visit during our annual visit "up north." We brought additional family members, and enjoyed varied and delicious meals. Appreciate the covered (also includes heaters if it were cool) waiting area, especially since they do not take reservations and when I called, I was told their "call ahead" list was full. Because we ordered the large sampler plate, I opted for the chowder . . delicious! And, filling! The rest of party enjoyed their meals as well. Service is well done, food great, atmosphere super.
(4)Dana P.
My favorite restaurant on the planet. We moved away 12 years ago and come back for a visit about once a year. We always high tail it right up to Pearls. Our favorites are the blackened pork chops, brisket, stuffing and Cajun gravy. OH MY, I am getting hungry just thinking about it! My husband still mourns the removal of the chicken fried steak from the menu back in 2006, though. He still talks about it and was clearly traumatized. hahaa Love the atmosphere here, too. It is a relaxed, fun place to go.
(5)Sarah S.
Absolutely love this place! My family has been going for years. Everything I've had has been delicious. The service has always been great as well. In the summer it's very busy so try and call ahead for seating. But it's well worth the wait!
(5)Vince S.
Cajun food should be your goal when selecting this restaurant. Very friendly staff. Prompt service and were attentive. Very popular so plan on a wait to get a table. IPA only beers on tap. Very good menu selection.
(4)Jeff H.
Still great !!! Alligator alligator alligator woohoo !!!!
(5)R. L.
This restaurant is amazing and one of my favorites. Cajun in Elk Rapids is pretty random, I know. But their dishes are delicious and full of flavor. I still remember the piece of perfectly seared tuna I had there over two years ago. I also love the casual dining experience and all the cool hot sauces lining the wall. Check this place out! I have no idea why anyone would be disappointed.
(5)Jen L.
A very fun and tasty restaurant, very unexpected for its location in northern MI. We went for a late lunch on a Sunday and found the brunch menu. We enjoyed our po'boy sandwiches and tasty soup. The atmosphere is nice, the walls are covered with bottles of hot sauce and voodoo dolls. The service was really good. Just watch out for the cement parking barriers in the parking lot. They're easy to run over. ;)
(4)Keith W.
Pearl's is great and a staple of my visits to Traverse City. It's been several weeks since I checked in here but I know from previous experience that the burgers are great and I have not yet had a bad meal there. If you haven't been, do attend! Service was great and eating outside (though right next to a speedy road) still is pleasant.
(5)Laura C.
For a small northern MI town, I could see the appeal of this place. It's kitschy-cute with tons of knickknacks and relics of New Orleans that could easily be picked up in any souvenir store in the south. The voodoo dolls and giant blue sea monster almost mock the city in an overkill of decor. Countless bottles of hot sauce line the back room, and the place has a lively vibe. After driving a half hour from our Traverse City hotel to get here on a recommendation, I was pretty disappointed with the food. The jalapeno cornbread was nicely spiced, but too cakey. We started with the blackened alligator, a small portion of chewy meat with no distinctive flavor. In addition, we had the corn mash whitefish cakes, which seemed like a poor man's crab cake. For our entrees, we had the pistachio tuna, which was served medium rare and had a gummy texture that suggested it wasn't the freshest fish on the block. The catfish was highlighted on the menu, so we tried that breaded and "smothered" with crawfish tails. Pretty hard to mess up fried fish, but one recommendation - get the tails on the side or the breading will get soggy before you're done eating. Also served alongside the catfish were hush puppies, which were actually the highlight of the meal. Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, these had the best flavor of any item I tried. We also had a couple orders of the etouffee, which is not the most aesthetically appealing dish with its overwhelming brown sauce. For dessert we split the buttermilk pie, which our server described as "apple pie without the apples." Well, I would have preferred the apple pie. No trip to a New Orleans spot would be complete without beignets, so we indulged in the beignet sundae, which also got pretty soggy in the ice cream. I felt like the beignets had been sitting around all day and briefly heated up right before serving. Overall, it might be good for locals, but not a destination spot for out of towners.
(2)Nate and Justine B.
Pearls is one of only two 5 star ratings that we've given. We are consistently impressed by the caliber of the food here. Bring vegetarians! The Plantation Platter is Veg, and to DIE for ($14) This past visit we had a party of 11, including a baby. We waited about an hour (NOTE: you will probably have to wait for a table. Plan some extra time, or have a snack before dinner; it will be worth it! If you have a party of 8 or more they said you can call ahead to reserve a spot), but they have a great outside patio where you can wait, and they serve drinks. We got seated inside and huddled down with our menu's. There is a glossary of terms in the back for anyone who is new to New Orleans style food. My husband always orders the Etoufee with crawfish ($16.80), and I ordered the New Orleans Barbequed Shrimp Dinner ($18.50). They also have soda's from a local company, including Orange Dream and Black Cherry ($2.30 with free refills). The BBQ shrimp was incredible. It came with some of the amazing french bread, and I think I used that to soak up ALL of the sauce. The BBQ shrimp is a peel-at-the-table, so it's a little messy, but for me it makes it all the more fun. My husband loves the Etoufee, he says it has excellent cajun spices without being overwhelmingly hot. They don't skimp on their crawfish. Another nod has to be given to the great drinks that they serve. We LOVE the Cherry Margarita, the Grilled Apple Mojito, and the Big Easy Mary comes with a cooked crawfish in it! For the party of six that we paid for, plus desserts (we love the bananas foster), we ended up spending $130. The waiters and waitresses are always SUPER friendly. This place is amazing!
(5)Jeremy J.
Thanks to a solo adventure at Blue Tractor in downtown Traverse City earlier in the day, I'm not terribly hungry when we head to Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen for an early dinner, with good friends John and Di. Still, I know my duty and try to muster an appetite as we pull into the dirt parking lot. I'm a little worried to see some people standing outside in the oppressive heat. Does Pearl's get this busy, this early? As it happens, the answer is yes...but we manage to snag the last four-top booth all the way in the back. It's not much cooler in here, however. The unseasonably hot and humid temps are taxing most air-conditioners this weekend, it seems. We order ice water to start, and I like the sound of the cocktail du jour. It is lemongrass-infused True North vodka with sweet-n-sour and a touch of grapefruit juice, I believe. Very refreshing and not too sweet. The cool drink and the scent of cajun food helps prod my stomach into action. There are a lot of fun appetizers on the menu--including alligator, oysters, and fried green tomatoes--but I'm just not feeling up to the task. Juliet orders some cheddar grits for the table to share. From the one spoonful I tried, they were quiet delicious: cheesy, creamy, and studded with chunks of andouille sausage. Seafood seems to be the dominant choice, but I'm just not feeling it tonight. Thankfully, there are five different combinations for Étouffée and the andouille is calling my name. The overlarge bowl platter brims with sausage in a thick roux of rice, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, and okra. It is pitch-perfect cajun food, piping hot and delicious. There is a gumminess to the mixture that is not altogether unpleasant. I struggle to finish the meal, picking out chunks of sausage even though I'm full. Dessert is, of course, out of the question (even though we'd been told the bread pudding is phenomenal). I do try a slice of John's blackened tuna, very rare in the center, and I immediately regret steering clear of the seafood. It is amazingly fresh and succulent, with a nice kick. Di's blackened marlin is also tasty, exhibiting texture like a thick piece of pork. We pay the bill and head back out into the heat, promising ourselves that we must--no, need--to get back to Pearl's in the near future for more of the authentic gulf coast cuisine. Next time, I'll probably go with the tuna.
(4)Vince Y.
My partner and I went to Pearl's based on a recommendation from friends. When you first walk in, the decor looks like it belongs in Disneyland--very over the top and filled with stereotypical New Orleans artifacts. But, don't judge a book by its cover. The decor is part of its charm and the excellent food will surprise you! I ordered the Chicken Florentine and Crawfish Tails special. It was amazing. It came with a bed of creamed spinach and fried polenta with blue cheese. I never had crawfish before and this was an excellent way to introduce me to it. The crawfish was nice and tender instead of rubbery when it's overcooked and the polenta was creamy in the middle and crispy on the outside. My partner had Fried Catfish with Crawfish Tails in a garlic cream sauce and he gave it his approval, something the southern boy only does when it tastes authentic and fresh. We loved the food so much, we went back 2 days later and ordered the same thing!! The service is great. Our first night there, we had a wonderful waitress who was attentive and full of personality. She made our experience at the restaurant fun and inviting--A plus in my book! I am so happy we came across this place! It is one of THE best places to eat in the Traverse City area and my favorite restaurant now.
(5)Lesley H.
I've been trying to make it to this place for years, and it never seemed to work out. Well, I finally made it, and now I know what I've been missing out on! We stopped in on a Thursday at about 6:00 on our way home from the up-north region. We arrived at just the right time - 5 minutes later and we would have been waiting for a table. Our server came over to our table promptly to take our drink orders and bring us some bread (the jalapeno cornbread was delicious). My husband and I each ordered a cocktail (the Sazerac and Cherry Margarita, respectively), and both were excellent. We decided to start with a couple of appetizers - the Fried Green Tomatoes and Alligator - and neither of them disappointed. We attended a wedding in Charleston, SC last summer and had our share of Fried Green Tomatoes while we were down there, and these were right up there with any that we had there. For our entrees, my husband ordered the Etouffee (with crawfish and andouille) and I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, which came with cheddar mashed potatoes and collard greens on the side. The Etouffee was excellent, not too soupy, not too thick, and perfectly spiced. My chicken was equally as good - the coating was crispy and the chicken was some of the juiciest I've ever had. I've come to be disappointed by most collard greens I've had at restaurants in Michigan, but these were fantastic. We were too full for dessert, but we saw Bananas Foster being delivered to a nearby table and it looked tasty. Also, they have buttermilk pie! I've never seen this on a menu in MI. Overall, the service was great. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Amanda F.
Our very favorite! Southern fried chicken is the boss!! My husband is obsessed with Cajun popcorn and bronzed shrimp Alfredo! Try an alligator bite! Yummmy!
(5)R J.
Reasonably good cajun style at moderate prices...great atmosphere!
(3)Jesse S.
I freaking love Pearl's. Great food, great drinks, great service, and very reasonably priced. Cool ambiance, fun, and festive. I've only been 4 times since it's a bit of a drive for me, but I love it! It gets CRAZY busy in the summer. They make a delicious margarita, and all the creole seafood dishes are super. Good apps, too. It is a unique restaurant for our area and I am a huge fan!
(5)Mark H.
Wonderful Mardi Gras meal last night. The place was fun, the food great and the music added the special touch. I had Ahi Tuna that was to die for! It was worth the drive from Cadillac!
(4)Liz B.
If you're in the area, you will probably stop in. Either because there aren't many choices in the area or because someone has told you about the Cajun decor inside. I understand the food is great, but not a fan of Cajun so I didn't partake. It was worth the stop.... Gotta see the vast collections of hot sauce, bourbon, alligators, and other kitsch displayed all over the restaurant/bar. It's fun and a must see! Try the Cherry Margarita!
(4)Dave N.
Good food. Unique items that were all tasty. Good brews and a very nice Bloody Mary. Jen was the most personable server I've run into this year.
(5)Chris H.
A great place to enjoy deep south cuisine in Upper Michigan. The food is very good. It all varies from mildly spicy to flame thrower. The service is welcoming and the atmosphere is very unique and enjoyable. Higly recomend.
(5)Carri A.
This is a fixture for dinner when visiting my friend's lakehouse in Alden. The food is dynamite (seriously, order anything and it's going to be delicious) and the drinks are potent. Prices are decent but the service is what keeps this humble review at four stars instead of five. I came here on Saturday and though we had a big party (12 people) we called a couple of days earlier and was told to come at 8.30 pm. They dont do reservations officially but we were not seated until 9.15 pm. Now, we are big people and had been out on a boat all day - we were tired and starving. For us to wait 45 minutes after the time we were told to show up seemed like days. But once the baskets of rolls and cornbread appeared, we were back to our charming selves. We started with the fabulously creamy Crawfish Dip and wonderful Fried Green Tomatoes appetizers. I ordered and thoroughly enjoyed eating the Bronzed Shrimp Alfredo. I literally ate until I thought I was going to barf. I couldnt stop! So good. There's a lot of crap on the walls (and ceiling!) and it can be overwhelming but it has it's charm.
(4)Jared C.
I have been eating at Pearl's for a good part of my life, and it will always be an old favorite. Pearl's provides a fun atmosphere, with great service, and most importantly, GREAT cajun food!!! Among my favorite aspects of this establishment is the homemade jalapeno cheddar cornbread they bring to the table to start the party. The sweet, spicy, and savory flavors all a real winning combination! If your extra hungry, I would recommend starting your meal with the gumbo. Tons of chicken and sausage, perfect amount of spice. For the entree, I have almost always exclusively gotten the fried chicken. And let me tell you, it is by far the best in the region. The collard greens and cheddar mashed potatoes that come on the side are on par with similar dishes I have tried in the Southern United States. However, on my last visit I decided to get the hanger steak...and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! I ordered it medium, and it came out awfully red, but aside from that I thought it was good. I would not reccomend ordering it blackened as I did unless you are really looking to be sweating hardcore by the end of the meal. If your craving the Bayou in the great North, do yourself a favor and head to pearl's for some great food!
(4)Marc V.
Creole food in northern Michigan! Nice change from the norm. And on top of it the foods great. I recommend to anyone who wants some good spicy food or anyone who just wants good food I suppose.
(5)Bruce T.
You just can't get a bad meal at this place. Even when it's busy you seem to always get attended to properly and the food does not appear to be rushed to the plate. You may be able to get a more authentic meal in New Orleans, but not anywhere else in the state of Michigan. Try the Bay Catfish, blackened and smothered with a locally brewed Short's Huma Lupa Licious to wash it down. Or, if you want a more authentic brew, they have Turbo Dog on tap.
(5)Sara P.
My party and I dined at Pearl's for a family meet and greet dinner before a wedding and even though I lived in the area for over seven years, I had Pearl's maybe once or twice. I never really liked it that much. Why? It may be because I don't much care for spicy food. Now, before I go any further let me just say I'm not silly enough to review a place negatively based on the fact that I simply don't like the type of food they are preparing. Pearl's is a New Orleans style kitchen, so if you don't like spicy food, it won't be your cup of tea. You might be wondering why I would choose Pearl's if I didn't like spicy food. Because their reputation is just that good. We had people coming from out of the country who wanted to try something unique. When your other options are Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc, Pearl's is by far the best choice. We also choose Pearl's because 5% of every dollar spent on our meal went directly to a local food charity, which is a mighty awesome thing. Everyone in our party was extremely satisfied with their meal, their drinks, and the service. Pearl's loses two stars however (making it A-OK) because there's only one vegetarian meal on the menu, and it's a sandwich. With a menu as large as theirs, and the experience from the chefs fairly extensive in variety (such as alligator and buffalo), I would appreciate some more vegetarian options.
(3)Tim M.
Awesome food and exceptional service. The jambalaya, étouffée, crawfish corn chowder, and hush puppies were all amazing. Our server Danielle also kicked ass!
(5)Sarah H.
We head over to Pearl's anytime we are in the Elk Rapids area. The food is fantastic and also the specials. Only disappointment is the wait on Friday/Saturday Nights, which is to be expected. Also, the service is slow at times. But other than that, exceptional place to try, at least once!
(5)Teri C.
It was fantastic! We ordered the Brisket, craw fish enchilada, and Jambalaya. Our waitress was super nice and a delight. Very helpful and on top of things.....I feel bad that I can't remember her name....but she did mention she had worked there over 12 yrs. She gave us her suggestions which were helpful. The brisket was seriously the best I have ever had! The sauce had a hint of kick to it......and it went very well with the cornbread. I know many of the reviews said this place was pricey.....for the amount of food and the quality, I think it was right on target. This was our 1st visit and before we go home.....we plan to go back! We didn't have too much of a wait.....but by the time we left the line was long!
(5)Rebecca T.
I gave it an extra star for the ambiance, more specifically, the womens bathroom, because what's not to love about a painted mural of various colorful characters (a man in a dress, a large man with no shirt on, who I posed by rubbing his belly). Food was okay, nothing really earth shattering about my meal (the blackened catfish po'boy sandwich with creole chips), the bloody mary I tasted was delicious, not to mention the cheddar grits that a friend ordered. Great atmosphere, countless bottles of hot sauce line the walls, and plenty of photo ops.
(4)Tom Z.
Been there once, just this past July. Observations: Plus: -Super Friendly Bartenders (gave us 2 free pint glasses since our first visit), plenty of attention Negative: Well, we had to eat our meal in the bar due to packed crowd. Positive, Negative: considering how cramped the tables were jammed together, the bar was, in retrospect, the best place to eat. Negative: Must have been over 90 degrees in restaurant and no fans (I went to restroom to wash my face and hands in ice cold water to keep from passing out) Positive: Best jalapeno cord muffins on the planet, not the least bit over-bearing in spice Negatve: Worst corn grits on the planet Positive: They didn't charge us for the grits! Positive: Cherry Margarita in a festive glass Ice Cold Oberon
(4)Kellen W.
It pains me to leave such a low rating for this place. The food was good but honestly the service was not great. Our group of 6 went there for dinner and we were told it would be a 40 minute wait. That's ok, we'll order some drinks and hangout outside on the patio. As time went on we watched groups that had come after us (including a group of 8!) being seated. We checked on the status of our table a couple times and they kept saying "You should be next." Well, one hour and 15 minutes later we were finally sat. This would have been a one star review had it not been for the food. The meals we all ordered were very good. Beware: If you order anything 'blackened' it will be very spicy! My wife and friend ordered the blackened pork loin and asked for it to be lightly seasoned (which it was) but it still had a ton of heat. Portions are large. The mixed drinks leave a lot to be desired, stick to anything pre-mixed or bottled.
(2)Christopher B.
I returned here after about a decade for the happy hour- I was not impressed. I ordered Oysters Rockefeller, which was topped with bits of pork (not in the menu-description) and the waitress didn't offer to take them back when I communicated that I don't eat pork. The fried catfish strips were decent at best. The service was fairly friendly and punctual though.
(2)Mindy M.
Pearls is a great little slice of authentic New Orleans food in Northern Michigan. The wait staff was friendly and the food portions were hearty - midwestern style! The food was rich but tasty. I love spicy food and this did not disappoint. I even snuck a few bites of my husband's étouffée which I had never tried and loved it! Pearls maintains a busy crowd even midweek in the summer so it doesn't hurt to eat a little earlier - or later - than usual to quickly snag a table.
(4)Todd G.
We vacation in Northern Michigan at least once, usually twice a year. Our must stop restaurant is Pearls. If you like okra gumbo, Pearls is the place for it. The gumbo has been consistently excellent for over the 12 years we've been going there. The bar menu is pretty diverse, offering a nice assortment of local and name brand beers and wines. The house cocktail specialties are very diverse and creative as well, my favorite being their moonshine. My wife is somewhat a creature of habit and always orders either the jambalaya or the étouffée which has always been very good through the years. I, on the other hand, like to see what they have on special or try new things. Last night I had a new whitefish dish on the menu. It was excellent. The roasted whitefish served over sautéed spinach with a side of red beans and rice. The dish was very tasty and cooked perfectly. Our daughter had the braised beef brisket. It was also very tasty and prepared perfectly. Service was pretty good, not extremely fast. As usual during the summer they were very busy even for a Wednesday. Our entrees were a bit slow coming out, but not horrible. It gave us a chance to enjoy each others company. Our server towards the end of our meal disappeared for a while, but in his defense it appeared he was given a "high maintenance" table. Overall, if you're looking for something different than same old, same old; Pearls is a local favorite that definitely delivers.
(5)Heath P.
Everything about Pearl's is outstanding. Their food, drinks, and service are off the charts. To begin, the bloody marys and the margies (red mesa) are ridic. I fly all the from SoCal to have as many of the entrees as possible each summer. There is not a less than item on the entire menu. If there were more stars to give, I would. Go, indulge, you will be ecstatic. Promise.
(5)B.S. T.
This was our 2d visit and we were again happy with our meals as well as our service. Both visits were at lunch and we did not experience any wait. I would describe meals as "amazing" but most dishes were very good to good. Recommended: Fried green tomatoes. Jalapeno Corn bread. Cheese grits. Pecan crusted pork loin with blue cheese sauce with dried cherries. Vegetarian sampler. Not so: Chopped bourbon-marinated pork sandwich. Would definitely go back.
(4)Mike A.
Some of the best cajun food around! I am from New Orleans and I think Pearls has some of the best gumbo in the country! Great service and wonderful atmosphere as well!
(5)Diana D.
What a disappointment!!! If you've had real Cajun food in the south; if this is what you want and expect -- Warning: Do NOT go to Pearl's. Food is so-so and very pricy for what you get. Everything is ala carte. Service is poor. We own a home in the area. Have tried Pearl's from time to time over the years. Always a big disappointment. We are totally baffled by what people see in this place. It must be the great bar.
(1)sara k.
Love the vibe at Pearl's. The classic Nawlin's/Mardi Gras motif lends to the Cajun menu. Friendly servers. Usually very prompt. A much needed restaurant...the only in its category that I know of in NW MI. Now, what to eat and drink: * Short's anything microbrews * Bloodies * Hurricane * Wings * Fried mud bugs * Blackened alligator * Corn bread and French bread (comes with meal) * Fried chicken salad * Muffaletta * Creole shrimp and pasta * Greens Now go home and grab a Tums. Locals: You should already know, but don't forget about Po' Boy and a Pint during off-seasons!
(4)Alison G.
This is the best restaurant in town. The best drink is the cherry margarita and all of their food is great, even the fried catfish tails which scared me at first. The service is always really good and everyone is so friendly. It can be super busy but it is well worth any wait.
(5)AVID C.
Great place with many choices. I had the vegetarian sampler which were bean cakes, fried green tomatoes, wilted greens and cheese grits. All were excellent. Bean cake and tomatoes had crispy crusts. Sauces were chunky and fresh. The grits were smooth and heavenly and the greens were sweet. The fried chicken dinner, salmon salad, and whitefish entrees were all devoured by the other members of our party with happy satisfaction. All in all, an excellent place to eat in Northern Michigan.
(4)Chris V.
Pearl's is a little piece of heaven in Northern Michigan. It's a lot more removed than other restaurants in the area of it's caliber, tucked away quietly back in Elk Rapids, but anyone traveling to (or living in) the area with a penchant for spice should make the trek. Even though I grew up in arguably the one of the least cajun places in the union (Traverse City, second only to Fargo), I have a crazy penchant for this kind of food. I haven't had a bad dish here yet! The cornbread in particular always makes my mouth water - I've never ever gotten it that good at home. The jambalaya and crawfish dishes are both scrumptious as well. Good & friendly service, to boot. The atmosphere is a little over the top, but isn't that what one does when giving an homage to the French Quarter?
(4)Allison B.
Can't say anything bad about Pearl's! Great service, great food! This is a destination for us from Traverse City several times a year. It is our go-to special occasion restaurant!
(5)Torrie B.
Pearls is great. I have never had anything I didn't absolutely enjoy there. The atmosphere is fun, the staff our fun, the bartenders are AWESOME. (Crazy Lady gets six stars). My personal fav are the po boy's, but I have had several entrees there as well that have never left me unsatisfied. The best deal is on Wednesday nights during the off season, when you used to be able to get a po boy and a pint for like $7 (not sure if that's still around). Thankfully my parents still live in ER and I get to drive by this little gem everytime I go home, which in turn ensures that I almost always stop in for a visit. Definitely check out Pearls, you'll be glad you did.
(5)Mike D.
Cherry margarita is amazing, real smashed cherries in the mix. Overall down to service with a great neighborhood atmosphere. The collard greens created an addict out of me
(5)Nicole Leigh S.
Absolutely fantastic. As I've said before, there's not a lot of ethnic diversity in Traverse City, but I continue to live in and love it regardless. But I think, and maybe this is a fluke, but Pearl's is a great example of good ethnic cuisine. In the cajun/creole category, it is a great restaurant all around. Everything from the service, to the food and bar. I feel proud to come from the town that is the home to this great eatery. As a matter of fact, I've met people that have come from *out of state* to go to this restaurant, even when they could have gone to the south, where creole/cajun actually comes from. Kudos to you, Pearl's. You rock.
(5)Russ C.
I am not sure which is better, the food or the atmosphere. The music, the art and the staff were all great and very authentic. I got the jambalaya, it was so good! The chicken was flavorful and juicy, the shrimp was great but the rice and sausage were what got me. It was spicy but full of flavor. I can't wait to go back. My only caution is the parking, there is not a lot of parking and the restaurant can get very busy.
(5)Lori Taylor R.
This review is based strictly on the libations and with that said: Pearl's knows how to make a Bloody. I crave this drink every time I am in Northern MI. It's a summer tradition! The perfect proportions, blended beautifully in a chilled jar, rimmed with the right spice and garnished with carrot, stuffed jalapeno and a craw-fish. Need I say more!
(5)Jennifer G.
If you're ever in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping in at Pearl's for some good Cajun cooking! I started with the house salad with a sweet honey jalapeno dressing. Nothing too spicy, but yet still had a kick to it. I then had the 'peel yourself' barbecue shrimp. To me the sauce wasn't barbecue - but more so a worchestire sauce concoction. Still good - but not really barbecue. My husband started with a bowl of their gumbo which he thought had a very nice spice and then had their shrimp jambalaya. The jambalaya was a bit different than most places as it had a full chicken (on the bone) in it. A little unusual, but still quite good. I just wish we had left room for dessert. The table next to us got the flaming bananas foster and it looked delicious!
(4)Jane C.
Good food, busy during the summer. Great specials in the winter
(4)Myrna J.
I'm giving this 4 stars mostly because they are generally a fun place to go. You'll find cajun food, southern food, really pretty well done for a Northern Michigan place. They don't usually have a band, but they should because it's that kind of place. I went there night before last after a show and had some yummy chicken wings in some sort of sauce, collard greens in a corn meal sort of thing with cajun sausages. Strange meal but good. Pretty friendly and reasonably good service if you don't get there on a really really busy night like mid summer Saturday night. It's worth a visit if you are looking for some tasty food in a bland food world.
(4)Suzanne M.
Pearl's is the best! A fun place to eat with great service, a varied menu and decent prices. Try the Hot 'n Dirty Martini, made with vodka steeped with jalapeno peppers . . . yum! They also have fantastic Bloody Marys. Red Beans and Rice, Cheese Grits and Blackened Alligator are some of my favorite appetizer/sides. I often combine a couple of sides to have instead of an entree. My favorite dinner is the Bayou Mixed Grill . . . absolutely fabulous. I've been to Pearl's many times and I've never had anything less than a 4-star experience.
(5)michael b.
Pearls is a fun place but the quality of the food is poor and it's not healthy fare. Also, you should be prepared to wait a long time for a table in the summer. Best thing is usually the blackened whitefish. Their chicken has a thick batter and fried so it's heavy. The craw fish is good but portions are small. Frankly, nothing here is good for you. Staff are friendly and helpful.
(2)Justin O.
The New Orleans Kitchen known as "Pearls" is a Magnum Hospitality restaraunt, so you know your in for a treat. They also own Red Mesa Grill, Cafe Sante, and previously "the Fish." They do food justice, as the bring atmosphere and great deep flavors from the region they tend to represent. This time, they have injected their hospitality knowledge in Peals to bring Elk Rapids and Northern Michigan a one of kind Nawlins expierence. Oysters, Blackened Alliagtor, BBQ Shrimp (Peel-on), Cornbread, Crawdaddies....You name it Bayou lovers, Pearls is serving it, and in a cool Voodoo-Hot Sauce environment that makes you feel at home. The service is wonderful, and the menu is reasonably price. Check out the online coupons, and take advantage of the happy hour specials where all bar drinks are a dollar off and they have incredible foodie snacks for only 2.25. My personal favorites are their oyster shooters (Vodka duh?), cornbread, grits, collard greens, beef brisket, brunch on sundays, moonshine.....come on this restaraunt is a place all food lovers need to see, take pictures, and then eventually tell a friend! I drive an hour to visit quite often! Thank you Magnum Hospitality for a really cool northern, I mean NAWLINS treat! Great for groups, Come as you are. No reservations (unless frequent card holder), but worth the wait...lots of tables......just wait...its worth it. Enjoy the outside patio as you take my advice! Four Star for Pearls.
(5)jake a.
Was a great meal and a really nice waitress. I had the crawfish etouffee and was really good and super filling. I plan going there again the next tine I'm in Elk Rapids for sure.
(4)Jessica C.
I want to give a 3.5, but not quite a 4. Service good, atmosphere so fun. The food we had heard so much about was kind of underwhelming. Blackened catfish was very good, fried chicken was meh, greens good. We would go back for the great drinks and live music. Keep it up, Pearl's! We love the non-chain originality you offer up!
(3)Shannon B.
So fun and great food! It was my first time here and won't be my last. Clearly everyone in town thought the same because they were there. Loved it!
(5)Cardinal Girl A.
Really fun atmosphere and good southern/Cajun style good. My DH had the shrimp étouffée and liked it, the fried green tomatoes were yummy, the crawfish & corn chowder was very good, as was my fried chicken. Kids loved the table side flambéed bananas foster and the service was very good.
(4)Becky T.
When discussing this review my husband said "Could they have done anything better?!?". We drove up from Cadillac during a ski trip and would definitely come back! We had both great food and great service. Starting with the fresh bread and jalapeño cornbread...then I had the corn and crawfish chowder which was delicious - I could have had just that. My husband had the beef brisket po boy and said it was fabulous and reminded him of the French quarter. I had the special - a salmon, mussels and asparagus pasta which was light and tasty. This was all topped off with the bread pudding and beignet hot fudge sundae - which the table devoured. Even our kids enjoyed the food and atmosphere and everyone working there was friendly and welcoming.
(5)