Angry Trout Cafe

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Ben Borgert
4 weeks ago
Been going to the Angry Trout for years and always try to stop by at least once a year when I'm in the area. I'm a creature of habit so I can only speak to the Fish and Chips basket, and it's always amazing. While I haven't tried one, their salads look amazing, and I've always heard really good things.Pros:- You're right on the lake! They expanded a few years back so there's more internal seating for those blustery and cold days and the interior is nice and cozy, with lots to look at all around you.- They really try and support local businesses as much as possible by working with local artisans for tableware, salt/pepper shakers, napkins, even tables and chairs. They get as much locally caught fish as they can, source as much fruit and vegetables from local farmers when the season allows, and really just try to be as connected as possible to the local community.- Food is always fantastic. Fish is fried to order and steaming hot when it comes out, waffle fries are also consistently really good, and their cranberry coleslaw is always a winner.- Condiments: an odd category, but their tartar sauce is home made and remains my favorite tartar sauce; when I eat there I slather it all over everything and love every bite that much more.- I've not encountered anything but really friendly staff, and have always had a pleasant experience.Cons:- Price I guess? Even when I was a poor college student I felt their food was worth the price, but it is on the slightly spendy side at $20-$30 per person for food and drink. The money is at least supporting local people and local businesses, so again, it doesn't seem out of line.

  Shahrin Shabnam Upoma
6 months ago
We had to wait over an hour, and I am just going to say, the food was definitely not worth the wait. I had a hard time finishing my meal. Didn t finish it actually. They charge a flat 20% gratuity on all checks that is distributed among all the staff, which is a nice gesture, but we didn t know that. So don t get surprised. Other dishes might taste good, but I am not returning to try. Do not want to waste my money or time.

  Nicole Janas
9 months ago
Nice view, but pricey. They do factor in a 20% service charge (AKA tip), so be aware of that. Plating of food was awesome. Plates looked beautiful. I ordered the grilled chicken dinner (Chicken and sauce get five stars, it was delicious! Wild rice side was dry/bland, wish it was seasoned or sauced more. Asparagus was perfect as far as asparagus goes. Salad looked beautiful, but the dressing choices weren t good. I didn t care for any of the four they leave out on the table.Kid-friendliness: Kids meals were absolutely awesome!!

  M. Rohs
6 months ago
The Angry Trout was a highlight of our trip to the North Shore! The service was great, the views were lovely, and the food was just fabulous. In fact, I returned a week after my first visit and ordered exactly the same dish (with a new fish of the day, naturally). I appreciated that I could easily order gluten free, and the abundant salad that came with the dinner platter was full of fresh, tasty ingredients. The wild rice was super tasty.Dietary restrictions: I had no difficulty finding a couple of gluten-free options that fit my vegetarian/pescatarian diet.

  Arun Singh
6 months ago
We went to Lutsen for watching the fall colors. It s located in Grand Murray and great place to have lunch or dinner. Inside and outside seating is available. They don t take reservations. Be prepared to wait 1 hour to 2 hours. Staff is polite, jovial and kind. When you visit Grand Murray make it a point to visit.Parking: You have to find a street side parking which is tough during peak hours.

  David Daily
7 months ago
The Angry Trout Cafe is a meal that we look forward to the entire year, and we re never disappointed. It s hard to review the Angry Trout without at least mentioning the charm, beauty and serenity of the North Shore and Grand Marais. The location is one of the reasons this dining experience is so memorable and unique. If you sit outside, or anywhere with a window view of the water, you can dine with boats passing by, the lighthouse in the distance, and the sunset across the lake in the evening. Or, if you end up waiting for a table (more on that later), there s no place I d rather wait than sitting on the shore of Lake Superior with the water lapping at my feet.We ve dined at the Angry Trout Cafe many times. Sometimes we eat there for at least one meal each day of our vacation. The food is that good. For lunch, my favorite is the grilled fish sandwich (you can also get it fried) with homemade tartar sauce, chips and pickles. As you can see from the photo, the portion is generous and the pickles + tartar sauce combined make the sandwich. On the specific day that I took this photo, salmon was available. It isn t always. At the Angry Trout, you usually have a choice of 1-2 types of fish for that particular day, based on what s fresh and available.For dinner, the fish of the day dinner is light yet filling, incredibly fresh and flavorful, and overflowing with delicious combinations. You get the fish of the day, grilled or fried, with a salad, seasonal vegetable and another side of your choice. For my side, I always choose the wild rice with shiitake mushrooms, peas, dried cranberries and toasted hazelnuts. On the day I took the accompanying photo, Lake Superior white fish was the fish of the day.In summary, there s no place like the Angry Trout. Literally. It sits on the edge of the water, in a small town at the edge of the wilderness, serving affordable, fresh, locally caught seafood. I ve never had a meal that I didn t love, the service has been outstanding, and the atmosphere is quaint and vibrant. If you can get a lake view (almost every table has one), the experience will be that much more memorable. Or, if the weather permits, aim to sit outside and dress appropriately.As of the time of this writing, Angry Trout is not accepting reservations, only a waiting list. That s been their policy for as long as I ve been visiting over the years. So, be sure to call ahead and get on the waiting list. That said, if they re swamped for the dinner rush, they may not answer the phone. It does get very busy during the peak of summer, so you may need to walk or drive to the restaurant and get your name on the list. Then, grab a beverage and sit down by the lake until your table is ready.I hope you enjoy Angry Trout Cafe as much as we do!

  Skuitar Hemingway (Skuitar)
2 months ago
Each of us agreed, the food was outstanding. When I know I am not equipped to cook a meal served to me, I actually love it.Not sure how to proceed about the service we received. Smug, comes to mind. There were several interactions which left me wondering about our servers choice to work in hospitality.One instance, we asked for water, and the force with which he dropped the glasses, at the end of our table, undelivered, shook our table, and disrupted our conversation. Unexpected.I hate giving reviews like this. But, his demeanor merits a report, so that management can correct his behavior, and help him appreciate serving such awesome food. Otherwise, he should look at work in the woods.

  George Lundgren
9 months ago
This is one of our favorite places to eat in Grand Marais. The food is super tasty. It seems basic on the surface but the ingredients are so good and wholesome and the cooking flavor is rich and fills your mouth with joy at every bite. Also the view is fantastic. The service has always been prompt and kind. We have been here with the kids and they have liked it but it is also great for a dinner date. Highly recommend for everyone.

  Donna Myers
6 months ago
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  Pam Otten
7 months ago
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  Robert Metcalf
5 months ago
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  Stacy Welle
a year ago
Incredible location on the water and the food matches with great quality and presentation. The wine was the only okay thing on the menu I tried. The smoked salmon app was so good that I would come back solely for that dish alone. The whitefish entree was amazing and I was so bummed that I didn't have enough room in my stomach to finish it because it was worth it. Equally amazing and a surprising treat was the veggie skewers. The had great flavor and we perfectly done. I cannot wait to return.There is a 20% fee added to your bill to split between all workers, which I like so all workers get tipped, yet I'd like to know if I tipped more that it would go directly to my server because she was amazing.

  Steven Mosborg
3 months ago
No matter the season, always love stopping at the cozy Angry Trout Cafe when exploring Grand Marais on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Great food and drink fare, friendly staff, wonderful views of the harbor both inside and out, and playful landscaping. Personal favorites include the fish tacos, Alaskan salmon when available, hot tea, hard cider, and bloody marys. They also opened for breakfast recently. Yum! Well worth a visit. Check it out!

  Kayli Hedblom
8 months ago
Had dinner at the Angry Trout for the first time and was amazed at the display and the taste of the food! I had the grilled shrimp meal with pasta and veggies and my mom had the fish with wild rice and veggies. I will definitely be eating here again when we venture up north next summer! So much flavor! Also their dressings are so good! I had the maple mustard and I wish I could have brought it home!

  Daniel Fenske
9 months ago
Very friendly staff and fast service. The food was excellent and you can t beat the patio view of the harbor. Would recommend calling ahead to get your name on the wait list as they don t accept reservations and can be quite busy. Definitely worth the wait!Wheelchair accessibility: There is a paved sidewalk from the street to the front door. The restaurant and patio are all on one level.

  Beth B
2 weeks ago
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  Michelle Agler
7 months ago
Wow the food was amazing! My husband got the fried fish sandwich (herring), my FIL got the fried shrimp sandwich, and my MIL and I split the pasta and salad plate. I know the boys really liked their sandwiches, especially with the homemade tartar sauce! My husband has talked about that tartar sauce multiple times. My MIL and I LOVED the pasta and salad. The pasta seemed like homemade fettuccine and was coated lightly in oil or butter with herbs and parmesan. So simple but absolutely delicious. The salad was so fresh with lots of veggies on top. We all agreed that the ingredients of everything were top quality super fresh. Absolutely worth it and next time we pass through we will try to go again! It's such a popular place that the wait may be too long but we'll definitely try.Parking: There is no parking lot, and the street the restaurant was on all the parking was taken, so we ended up on a side street and parked and walked to the restaurant.

  R Storlie
10 months ago
Unfortunately, we didn't have a pleasant experience here.When we were greeted we were told to wait so they could get a table set up. When the greeter walked back, we were abruptly told with an unfriendly demeanor that we weren't standing in the right spot and needed to get out of the way from workers coming by. It was not busy and not obvious we were in the way.Our waitress Hailey was very nice and attentive, the food was good, and you have a beautiful view of Lake Superior.When we were done eating, I took one of my 2 toddlers out of her high chair and I turned to grab my leftovers when someone cleaning tables rudely snapped at us that we shouldn't be letting our kid play with that (a long cord hanging down from a lighted sign right at the heighth of a toddler). I had no idea my child was doing it and of course immediately stopped her. My husband and I were so taken aback by the anger in her voice and the way she glared at us as if we had let our child run rampant. I appreciate being told about the cord but I was harshly scolded instead of given a caring voice of concern. 95% of my Google reviews are 5 stars as I think we need to give more praise than criticism in this world. I only write negative ones when someone is disrespectful or blatantly rude. I will never come back here due to the way we were treated.If you do eat here, do not bring young children as it is not kid friendly. I highly recommend Bluewater Cafe down the street--they are so sweet to my girls, but they were closed today so we didn't have that option.

  Noah Raisanen
10 months ago
I think this would have been a great experience if it weren't for our server Lily. The food was great, the homemade soda was fun and delicious and an awesome location.The story with Lily is that I had ordered the trout + chips basket, which came out as herring - at first blush this isn't a problem. I'm happy to have the herring, sounded delicious too, no problem. The issue was that she said I ordered the herring implying that I had no choice. I for sure never even said the word herring.Normally this is fine, people put in orders wrong, it happens, but she didn't own up to it and lied to me that I had ordered something else. This would have been completely fine if she just apologized. But she didn't have to apologize, the 20% tip is automatically added so she had no incentive to be an upright server.I will be back, the place is great, but Lily ruined it for the sake of this review.

  B Thao (Bt)
6 months ago
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  Scot Egg
7 months ago
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  Humberto Fernandez
a year ago
Arrived a hungry trout - left a happy trout. Food was very fresh and tasted phenomenal. Would highly recommend if you re in the Grand Marais area. Great location right in the harbor. We got the fish chowder (sockeye salmon) and herring with salad & pasta and a herring with salad & wild rice. All 3 were delicious. Definitely coming back!

  William Moss
10 months ago
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  Courtney Morton
a year ago
The ambiance and view are fantastic! It was so relaxing to look out on the lake as we ate. Staff was for the most part friendly and helpful, but our server seemed disinterested in being attentive, especially after we sent back an appetizer. The fried fish bites and salad were excellent, but the crayfish and fritters were not what I would expect for the price.Parking: Adequate street parking close by, but no specific designated parking lot for this establishment.Wheelchair accessibility: Winding, well landscaped abd maintained ramp from street to building is easily navigated, especially with assistance.

  James Smith
9 months ago
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  Brad Carlson
a month ago
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  Andrea Nevermind
10 months ago
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  Jin Z
a year ago
The place was recommended by a friend, husband and I ordered today's catch! The fish was delicious and fresh! The salad is very fresh too! We were warned it was chilly sitting outside, a pot of hot tea kept us warm. Highly recommend!

  Carl J.
2 years ago
Great views and pretty good food overall - the fish sandwich was great! If we had to critique anything, it would be that the host had a bit of an snobby attitude that you might expect at a stuffier establishment.There was ample outdoor seating on the deck at 3pm, but he made a group of 2 wait to be seated because he didn t want to seat them at a 4-top. Somewhat silly during a slower time of day, as the tables were all still empty when we left. Don t let that deter you though, simply ignore him as we did.

  Caren Bays
5 months ago
If you are looking for a great place to eat with a view in Grand Marais , then the Angry Trout is a must stop on the North Shore. Very nice staff. Downside: our seating arrangement for 4 adults and a baby was 2 round tables in the middle of the main pathway, making conversing a bit awkward. Second thing frying the fries in the same oil as the fish can be a turn off for some. My husband had their burger ( we had consumed fish all week) and would have preferred his upgraded waffle fries to be less fishy. All in all it was a great experience.