Jasper Ridge Brewery

Jasper is one of those hit or miss restaurants. I have eaten here on and off since I was little because my grandparents, before they passed, lived in Ishpeming. Now I currently live fairly close, but I still have only eaten here about once a year.

If you do find yourself stopping here while in town, there are a few suggestions that I would definitely make. First of all, it's a brewery so even if you aren't a huge fan of beer, like myself, you still need to try the blueberry beer. It has a great fruity flavor and they actually float fresh blueberries in the glass.

The soups here are fantastic. Beer Cheese soup is my favorite, but a close second is the French Onion. If you get a batch that isn't way overly salty, the broth is always packed with caramelized onions, loads of bread and lots of gooey cheese on top.

Some decent choices for appetizers and meals in my onion would be the homemade mac and cheese wedges, and the taco salad. Although the mac and cheese wedges don't look really spectacular when you receive them, they are the perfect greasy and cheesy bite to go along with that beer or sports game you came to watch. The mozzarella sticks are also pretty decent, as long as they get cooked through to the center. Although I don't have a picture, the taco salad has been my favorite here since I was little. If the shell isn't burnt, and the waitress actually writes down the correct toppings, it is absolutely delicious.

Although the pictures probably make this sandwich look amazing (and it was so underwhelming I can't even remember what it was called), that is only because I take pretty good pictures after rearranging things on the plate sometimes. What you probably cannot see in the picture is that the sandwich is literally sitting in a pile of grease. I have no problem with the fact that they butter and toast the bread on the flat top, or maybe just use oil. Personally, I would rather not have extra grease added onto the sandwich, but every sandwich I have ever ordered here is swimming in grease. On top of the saturated bread issue, the chicken when I get it in a sandwich, is nine times out of ten as fatty as it gets. I have a downfall when it comes to chicken fat, one bite of it and I'm done. After the first bite I continued on hoping that was the only piece with a large chewy fatty area... but unfortunately that didn't end up being the case.

To sum up my opinion of Jasper, come here for the sports bar ambiance, for the brewery, and for some delicious soup. Leave the rest of the menu to be. It isn't worth it.

Jasper Ridge Brewery, Website

Lawry's Pasty Shop

I was never a lover of pasties growing up. I think it has to do with the pie crust, or flaky crust that is used because I would always only eat the filling when we used to get them in Marquette. When my husband and I moved to Ishpeming, the closest restaurant to us is Lawry's Pasty Shop, so one day I thought, heck, why not right? Taste buds change all of the time. Well, although I still don't usually have a CRAVING for them, Lawry's is the best place in the Upper Peninsula, so far, that I have ever had a pasty from.

This, is what a pasty should look like. We usually get the large ones (17 oz.) but they do make 12 oz. and mini pasties also. The inside of them stays so moist and the potatoes are always cooked perfectly. No need to doctor them up, just throw the usual ketchup and mustard on them and you are good to go.

My favorite thing from Lawry's, is actually not even a pasty at all (although they are great). It would have to be the BBQ Pork sandwich. Their rolls (from scratch like everything else here), are soft and the pork is packed with flavor. Did I mention this sandwich is practically the size of an adult's face? It is huge! They have many kinds of sandwiches, and I have heard the pizza is also fantastic.

And you can't forget about dessert! They always have a few cookie choices and their cinnamon rolls. Let me show you a picture for a size comparison to a stick of butter...

THAT is how huge these cookies and cinnamon rolls are. My husband and I usually end up splitting the cookie, and the roll, well, that usually lasts a few days or gets brought into work for some help.

Since 1946 they have been serving up the best pasties in the U.P. Some will try to argue with you and tell you that the pasties from their hometown are better. They are wrong. Although there is a Lawry's in Marquette, I grew up eating them from a few different places. The only time we had Lawry's though is when my dad used to bring them home after work from the Ishpeming location. I have even tried pasties from Munising, Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton, etc. and I am still going to stand by my statement of Lawry's in Ishpeming being the best.

Not from around here and feeling left out? No worries! Lawry's ships their pasties to those less fortunate to be a few blocks away, like I am. There are multiple kinds and sizes for sale to ship, so don't wait to try the best pasties in the U.P.!

Lawry's Main Site
Lawry's Facebook Page

Venice Pub and Pizzeria

I have been very hesitant to eat here again. Before the ownership and name switched over to something new, I wasn't a huge fan of The Venice Supper Club. At one point in time I'm sure it was amazing. You could tell that there used to be a dance floor and half of the inside looked original to when it started. But other than the pizza, which was amazing, there was never really any flavor to the food. Ishpeming has so many Italian restaurants that you really have to have something to make yourself stand out to get people coming back for more. I never had that connection.

Now that it has been a few years since things have changed, we decided to give it a try again. I found the menu on their Facebook Page and we called in and ordered pickup. I didn't get to see how the inside has changed, other than from other people's photos posted on TripAdvisor and Urbanspoon, but the food has definitely changed for the better.

For an appetizer we ordered the Chili Cheese Fries. Oh my goodness.... they were perfect since I was craving something cheesy. The chili wasn't spicy and was loaded with meat and beans. The picture doesn't even do justice to how much cheese was actually melted on top of these. A great way to start off dinner.

For my main meal I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. I was very skeptical at first before opening the lid because I was expecting to see what you get at most places, which is noddles literally DROWNING in white sauce. This is exactly how it looked when I took the lid off. The Alfredo sauce was so light and buttery that it was just enough to coat the noodles. It was almost more of a butter cheese sauce than a normal Alfredo made with cream or milk that ends up being really heavy.

I have heard many mixed reviews from people about the new menu here and I will have to say, making my own opinion obviously, that they have changed for the better. I will definitely be getting food from here again, and next time I will have to physically go and eat dinner there now that I know that the food is worth going!

A link to their Facebook page is below (I couldn't find, and maybe they don't have a main website yet).

Venice Pub and Pizzeria

Huron Mountain Bakery of Ishpeming

I was a huge fan of Peggy Sue's, a restaurant that used to serve up home-style cooked meals and breakfast all day. When the "For Sale" sign was in the window it used to make me sad, but when I had learned that Huron Mountain bakery had purchased the building to make a larger store up here in Ishpeming, the blow of Peggy Sue's closing was lessened. A full renovation in fall of 2014 completely changed the look and appeal of what used to be a somewhat eye sore. They are now equipped with a refrigeration unit, so along with all of the baked goods that they carried before, they now serve the same products as the Marquette store. Or do they?

The Ishpeming location, and only the Ishpeming location (for now), is offering wood-fired pizza in their new wood oven. They have only been offering pizzas for about a week now, and my husband was smart enough, I mean, gracious enough to pick two up on his way home from work a few days ago. Although I was sicker than a dog, I made myself try both of the kinds that he brought home, and I'm glad I did.

One of the pizzas that he brought home was the BLT pizza. There were layers of colorful tomatoes, cheese, crunchy bacon, shredded lettuce and homemade garlic aioli. I loved the sweetness of the tomato with the crunch of the lettuce and bacon.

One of my FAVORITE type of pizza is the Margherita pizza. I am a pretty big critic of this one, since it is one of my favorites, but the flavors were all there. There was a thin layer of tomato sauce, whole fresh basil leaves, and thinly sliced scattered melted fresh Mozzarella. The only thing I would have changed, or wished more of, was the Mozzarella cheese.

And of course, to end the meal on a sweet note, an M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Now they have many amazing goodies at Huron, such as bread that you can eat by the whole loaf full, muffins, doughnuts, pastries, cookies etc. Some of my favorites are the spinach and feta stuffed crescents.....but those we will save for another blog post. You definitely need to try out the new pizza at Huron in Ishpeming. The fresh ingredients and wood oven makes the pizza taste like you made it at home in your own kitchen.

I haven't been able to find an online menu for the pizza, but a link to their main website and Facebook page is below:

Huron Mountain Bakery

Huron Mountain Bakery, Facebook

Ralph's Italian Deli

Ralph's Italian Deli is located in Ishpeming, MI across from the Ski Hall of Fame. Growing up working in the family business that was right around the corner, I ate here all of the time. It is wonderful old school Italian food and has been given praise by many different magazines, books, and various articles. Not to mention by word of mouth from everyone who has eaten here. It has been family owned and operated for over 50 years, and hopefully will have many more years of business to come.

My husband and I ordered some of our favorite choices the other night for dinner (we usually get it to go). My absolute favorite thing to get from here is the meatball sub. Their meatballs are out of this world. Instead of getting it in sandwich form, I ordered the "snack meatballs", which is two meatballs that come in sauce.

If that wasn't enough (considering it comes with garlic bread and a house salad), I also ordered the cheese ravioli in meat sauce. I am not a fan of the consistency of ricotta usually, but these ravioli are mouth watering.
I personally suggest taking a bite of meatball and ravioli at the same time.

If you are looking for some great Italian food, this is one of the top places in Marquette County that I would suggest going to. If you are in a rush, you can do what my husband and I do and grab some takeout. If you do have a minute to stop and sit, they have a small dining room in the building, along with a small grocery store filled with all of the Italian staples. And if you have a hankering for dessert, be sure and grab a cinnamon roll!

A link to their Facebook page, main website and menu are at the links below:

Ralph's Facebook Page

Ralph's Main Site

Ralph's Menu

Country Grill, Sunday Brunch

My brother and sister in-law, along with my nephew were up visiting this past weekend. As you've read from my previous post on this restaurant, we don't frequent here. My nephew however has a new love for buffets and on Sunday's Country Grill has a breakfast buffet. Four out of five of us had ordered the breakfast buffet. I had to be the odd one out and ended up ordering off of the menu.

I ordered the "Cakes, Eggs and Bacon". Two eggs, any way you want them, two pancakes, and either bacon or sausage, to which I always choose bacon. My over-easy eggs were cooked perfectly. Runny yolk, with no runny whites. The bacon was crispy and not too fatty.

I tried to put my hand close to the pancakes for a size comparison (I have tiny hands.....). The pancakes were about the size of my head, and took up the entire circumference of my plate. I ended up taking half of them home, and I will say, they make for very good leftovers.

This visit gave me higher hopes for this restaurant. (Even though I will still only ever eat breakfast here.) Maybe since we came on a Sunday when breakfast was their main priority, the food was executed better. Whatever the reason, it was a good meal, and no one left hungry.

Country Grill, Facebook page

Blimpie, 50 years of Delicious

One of my favorite places to get subs from, other than Subway, would have to be Blimpie. Before moving to Ishpeming I had never really eaten here. Now my husband and I get subs and salads from here frequently. Although you do get more sauce and topping options at Subway, the subs at Blimpie are completely different and unique. They also have different bread and bun options here that you won't find at Subway.

The above sandwich is the Buffalo Chicken Panini grilled sub. I always ask for the original, minus raw onions. This sub is layered with sliced buffalo chicken breast (and yes, they actually slice the meat fresh, in front of you), provolone cheese, tomatoes, hot sauce and Ranch dressing. I always get it on the Ciabatta bread which gives the outside a great crunch.

One of my new favorites would have to be the Turkey, Bacon and Cheddar sub on the pretzel bread. The pretzel bread is AMAZING. I am a huge fan of soft pretzels regardless. The sub is layered with oven-roasted turkey, crisp bacon, smoked cheddar cheese, tomatoes and instead of getting the spicy mustard sauce that normally comes on it, I opted for the chipotle mayonnaise. I also added lettuce and pickles. Yum!

 They also have amazing soups. My two favorites are the chili (first and second picture above), and the cheddar broccoli (above right picture).


If you are in Ishpeming and have a craving for a good sub or hot soup (especially now that it is Fall, and for us practically Winter), stop in and grab some Blimpie subs! They also have a drive-through. The main website with the link to their menu is below.

Blimpie main website

Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant

When we moved to Ishpeming from Negaunee, I didn't even know this place existed! The restaurant looks tiny from the street, but when you walk in it goes back for what seems like a mile. I have eaten here about 3 or 4 times in the actual restaurant, but most of the time we just get takeout to eat at home (which is why if all of the pictures of the food look like they were taken in my kitchen on my counter...they were). 

My husband claims that this is one of the best Minestrone soups he has ever had. It definitely isn't bad, I'm just not a huge soup person.

For an appetizer, we usually get the Spinach and Artichoke dip. It is rich, creamy, packed with spinach, and topped with grated Parmesan. It is amazing! Instead of serving it with the grease-dipped huge pieces of garlic bread that they give you as a side with your meal (which most love, I am not a big fan of) they give you small bite size pieces of garlic bread. The bread doesn't seem as greasy, but still tastes the same as the bigger slices. 

This is my husbands number one choice. It is the baked Cod Parmesan. He usually gets it with a side of rice pilaf. Remember me, the one who hates fish? Yeah well.....I could eat a whole piece of this thing. The center melts in your mouth, and the outside has a great crunchy exterior from the Parmesan and bread coating. And of course, it is served with a side of lemons. It may sound like a strange combination, since they say not to pair fish with cheese products, but you need to try it. 

This has become my favorite so far. The Stuffed Rigatoni with Chicken is cheese filled pasta, served with perfectly cooked strips of chicken, and smothered in Alfredo sauce. Not too great for the waistline, but delicious on the taste buds. (Sorry the picture isn't great....it's hard to make it look pretty on the plate when you dump it out of a to-go container!)

If you have a hankering for good Italian food, in more of a formal setting (or take-out) this is the place in Ishpeming to stop. It is one of two of my favorite Italian restaurants here. I was also told that they have great pizza.....but that will be for another blog post :-) . A link to the menu, and their Facebook page is below:

Mama Mia's Menu

Mama Mia's Facebook Page

Country Grill Pub and Eatery

Well.....my husband and I give this restaurant a shot about once or twice a year. We usually eat here because it is conveniently located and usually means we are headed to see a movie at the theater that is practically a block away. Whoever took over recently has done one thing right. The decorations actually make sense now and don't clutter the whole dining room. Before, they used to have board games and movie posters plastered all over the walls. Now, they have old kitchen utensils and country style decorations. They make a LOT more sense now.

Another thing that the Country Grill does right, is serve breakfast all day. I don't know why more restaurants don't do that. My husband ordered the taco soup, that wasn't bad. It just tasted more like runny chili with tomatoes added. He also ordered the Chicken Cilantro Flatbread sandwich. It had a nice crunch on the flatbread that was grilled, but they were out of the cilantro sauce so it was more of a chicken sandwich on flatbread.

I ordered the Hawaiian Omelet, 3 eggs with ham, pineapple and Colby-jack cheese. It was huge, served with a giant side of hash browns. The hash browns were very good. I think I might have ended up with the Cajun seasoned hash browns though because they were pretty spicy. The omelet wasn't bad at all, filled with gooey cheese and huge chunks of canned pineapple (I personally would have cut the pieces smaller).

I guess it is one of those hit or miss kind of places. The prices are good considering our total bill was around 23 dollars (he got water, and I got coffee). I am sure we will venture there again sometime in the next year. It really isn't terrible food, it just isn't anything to write home about either. The link to the menu and their Facebook page is below:

Country Grill, Facebook Page

Country Grill Menu

Mama Russo's, the convenience of Italian food at home

I believe before, that I had mentioned that I lived in a U.P. town full of Italian restaurants (which is not at all a terrible thing, since I do love Italian food). In every local grocery store, and even some gas stations, they have Mama Russo's in the frozen department. In fact, the gas station closest to my house in Ishpeming, is attached to the building where everything is made.

Now, they do cater weddings and events and have a huge catering menu on their website. When my sister got married a few years ago, for the rehearsal dinner they catered from Mama Russo's and everything tasted amazing. If you do get a chance to host or attend an event where they are catering, you NEED to try the famous Italian Baked Chicken.  I personally love the convenience of their frozen products. They may be frozen, but once you cook them it tastes and smells like it was just whipped up in your own kitchen. The lasagna, pictured below, will put Stouffer's lasagna to shame.

If you live in the area, you should definitely pick up a pan from your local grocery store.  They also usually have Gnocchi, Rotini, Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, and of course, meatballs. You can also buy Cudighi, Italian sausage and their spaghetti sauce right off of their website on the link below.

Mama Russo's