Best Restaurants in Saugatuck
Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, the charming town of Saugatuck is not only known for its stunning beaches and vibrant art scene, but also for its impressive culinary landscape. This gastronomic haven boasts a plethora of restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience that caters to a variety of palates. From upscale eateries serving gourmet dishes to cozy cafes offering comfort food, Saugatuck's dining scene is as diverse as it is delightful. This article will guide you through the best restaurants in Saugatuck, ensuring your dining experiences in this picturesque town are nothing short of exceptional. Whether you're a food connoisseur or a casual diner, Saugatuck's culinary scene is sure to leave you craving for more.
Wicks park bar & grille
4.3
(772)
Casual parkside bar & grill featuring American fare, drinks & regular live music.
Reviews:
We had a group of eleven. We were greeted warmly and the inside easily accommodated us. We had a wonderful time! Great family gathering. Food was very good. Our waitress was very friendly. Service was a bit slow.
Michael gold
Waitress was very polite and helpful and patient. Food was very good and big portions. Prices were good. I had lettuce wraps. My wife had coconut shrimp and onion rings. Big portions of them. Very soft. EZ to eat. We will be back. Drove there from Grand Rapids for the afternoon. Ate outdoors. It was cool the view of the boats.
Jeffery Wilkinson
Our experience was ok, I wouldn’t go back or recommend it. The margaritas were really bad, I don’t say this lightly but they were undrinkable (tasted like weird lemonade). When we ordered new drinks our waitress had an attitude about it (although we did not complain or get them comped). The food was also just ok. The chicken lettuce wraps come with large uncut pieces of chicken making it a hard app to share. We also got the crab dip which was essentially a bowl of cream cheese. The chicken sandwich was just so big it was difficult to eat. The chicken salad was pretty much a giant piece of fried chicken on lettuce for $21. All in all, there’s a lot of better options in Saugatuck, we won’t be back.
CC
We enjoyed this tasty meal on a beautiful day seated outside. We ordered a burger with extra crispy fries, coconut shrimp and onion rings. The burger was just right and our fries were perfect! The shrimp and onion rings were some of the best we've ever had! We definitely would recommend visiting Wicks! We certainly will return!
Karen Lawson
Great food indoors and outdoors. Everything is to enjoy boating, charters, shopping, music, beer, and wine. The Star tour is just down the street.
Kurt Krawczyk
449 Water St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
Duck alley
4.6
(105)
Reviews:
Great food choices, nice place overall. We got lucky with no wait on Sunday late afternoon. Duck was tasty. Pate was yummy.
Kinga W
Absolutely a gem of a restaurant. Food was incredible with complex layers of deliciousness going on. Lamb Ragu was some of the best pasta I've had...several trips to Italy included. Mussels were also delicious. The beet salad was a fresh delight. Cannot recommend this place enough. Staff was great as well. Can't wait to come back.
Jonathan Kitchens
Been here a couple of times and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The first time we came we had dinner. The food was great. Loved the French fries and steak. This time we came in just for cocktails. Had a drink called The Painkiller and it was really good. Also had a couple of Moscow Mules. Really yummy. The service has been great each time.
Erik Gonzalez
We loved this restaurant in Saugatuck and would recommend to anyone looking for upscale dishes, nicely styled dining room and a fun staff. All of our dishes were incredibly tasty and well balanced. They had plenty of choices to accommodate my dietary preferences and we left feeling full but not uncomfortable. Would come back again!
June Johnson
Delightful. Stopped in here for lunch when we made the day trip to Sagatuck. The service was great, cocktails were tasty and the food was out of control. If I have one complaint, it is that my salad was on a plate that was a little small. It needed just a little more room but food was great!!
Melody Dockery-Chleva
220 Culver St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
Phil's bar & grille
4.6
(1181)
Dynamic eatery with a long wood bar offers a small, diverse beer list & a menu of creative flavors.
Reviews:
One of the best spots in Butler St. The outdoor seats are super cozy. The staff is sweet and attentive. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer 10/10. The Cobb salad 8/10. The blackened burger 6/10. Kids menu cheese quesadilla 8/10. Sangria 9/10.
Rafael Polidoro
Wry nice place. Had the special halibut with risotto. Very well done. Only thing halibut was just a little over cooked but that takes some experience to get right. Very good value for the meal. It is defiantly a bar experience was quite loud but not much they can do about that it’s just the atmosphere. Great service and good food. I’m sure the other good would have been amazing too! Maybe the tuna poke next time.
Robert
It is rare for my wife and I to be blown away by every dish that we order when we eat out. Usually, there is at least one item that is just "meh" compared to the rest of our order. At Phil's, everything on the menu seems to be a perfect version of that dish. This time, we ordered the goat cheese appetizer, the chicken sandwich, and the blackened burger. All three were to die for. The service was also spectacular. All the servers and staff were kind, attentive, and personable. I also appreciated that they dressed casually. It gave the restaurant a more laid-back vibe. There isn't much outdoor seating, but there are a few outdoor tables and we happened to get seated at one, which was fun. It looked a bit crowded inside, so I was glad we got a spot outside. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning myself.
Chase Ockerse
What an amazing spot! My partner and I went to eat here and we just had the most fabulous time! I got the pad Thai and my partner got the fish special. It blew us out the water. The pad Thai was a bit hotter than I was envisioning but still delicious. The ambiance was so sweet and I cannot recommend it enough. Service was fantastic - we had been walking around and I was super thirsty and asked for 5 diet cokes. The waitress was so kind and obliging. 10/10 recommend.
Penelope Nave
Had the ribs and wife had the pasta. The ribs were definitely just warmed up in microwave and bbq sauce dumped on them, they tasted old and I puked them up about an hour later. Wife got the pasta and she couldn't even eat it, she said it was worst pasta she's ever tried. The nice waitress took it back and off our bill. Wife didn't have dinner. Sucks because we waited over an hour to sit down thinking we're going to have a nice dinner but that was far from nice.
Matt Gauthier
215 Butler St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
El burrito feliz
4.2
(393)
Down-to-earth eatery serving familiar Mexican dishes as well as beer & margarita pitchers.
Reviews:
We docked our boat at the public access a block from this restaurant in lovely Saugatuck, Michigan. I have been here before and recalled enjoying it the first time. Dinner tonight was absolutely delicious. My three companions and I each loved our different dishes. Fresh and flavorful. This is such a cute place in a cute town with lovely outdoor dining space. My only thought is that the patio dining area needs sweeping- but not a huge deal. It won’t stop me from coming back!
danicajhey
Ordered the Plato Loco for takeout. Had it home and on the table 25 mn after ordering. Everything in this dish was stone cold. I could have reheated but after tasting a few item it was evident this dish was made way earlier and then reheated. The chicken was dry-like a day old reheated chicken would be. The bacon around the shrimp was tough/hard and the shrimp was doughy. The veggies were absolutely mushy and cold. I tossed most of this into the trash. I was hoping for something spicy and at least fresh. Awful.
arnolfo santoro
Good food, great outdoor seating. Friendly service. We appreciated the vegetarian section in the menu. The vegetarian burrito was tasty and filling, with a good selection of veggies including broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, onions, mushrooms. And the heaping plate of veggies was generous on the vegetarian fajita. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Jim Tolbert
Great place to eat! Wonderful atmosphere and attentive wait staff. Excellent experience.
Michelle Anderson
The food was excellent and the drinks were delicious. The prices were reasonable. We had very helpful and friendly staff. Our food and drinks came out pretty fast.
Heather Field
322 Culver St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
Mermaid bar & grill
4.2
(1109)
Dockside eatery for seafood fare & sandwiches offers patio seating with a view of passing boats.
Reviews:
My visit to the Mermaid Bar and Grill in Saugatuck, MI, was a memorable experience. The location itself is fantastic, with a beautiful marina, boardwalk, and a stunning sunset view that adds to the charm of the place. However, I was a bit disappointed with the limited fish options on the menu, and my initial choice of halibut was unavailable. This happened again with my second choice. However, the server recommended the fresh cod fish, which I usually don't prefer, but it turned out to be exceptionally fresh and delicious. What truly impressed me was the server's friendly attitude, explaining that they prioritize serving only fresh fish, even if it means running out of certain options. I wholeheartedly agree with this approach. To start, we had the Calamari, which was cooked to perfection, and the drinks, while enjoyable, were on the pricier side. However, the dessert, the pumpkin cheesecake, was a delightful way to end the meal. Overall, the Mermaid Bar and Grill offers a great atmosphere, and their commitment to serving fresh seafood makes it a worthwhile dining destination.
Gene Ivanov
I took my daughter there to celebrate her birthday. Last year we had excellent food & service. We thought we’d try it again. What a price hike and disappointing meals. We waited extra long for our meals and were told it was taking longer because they were training a new cook. We were OK with that but when our food came out, we were quite surprised they were basic meals and certainly should not have taken as long as I did. However, my veggie bowl was extremely greasy and small. Our crudite was old veggies, some sort of soggy cauliflower in the hummus had oil poured over it. My daughters jerk chicken was very overpriced and they used canned pineapple. Our server was sweet and uncomfortable when she came up to the table and told us they were training a new cook. However, we tipped her very well for her time and service. Not sure if we will give this place another try or suggest it to anyone. Very overpriced and unappealing food.
Julie Remkema
The calamari and mermaid roll was excellent! Lot of good seafood options. Very friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. Perfect spot for a girls night. Long wait times in the weekend but worth it if you plan ahead, put your name in the waitlist and go for a stroll around town until your table's ready.
Athira
Mermaid is all outdoor seating at the moment which was great, because we got a table by the water. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food is over-priced but good. We paid as much for an appetizer as we did for an entre. It's nice to try once, but I wouldn't come back, because it's over-priced for what you get.
Suzanne Chick
visit this Bar & Grill 3 Days ago direct on the Saugatuck harbour after a beach day nearly the dune’s. It was a recommendation of a friend. Very beautiful location and view to the lake ! I ordered grilled calamari and lobster roll 😋 very delicious! Service und food quality very good ! Hope to visit Michigan again and do a Stopp again !
sesa
340 Water St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
Pumpernickels
4.1
(634)
Breakfast & lunch cafe with baked goods in a homey, 2-story space with a screened porch.
Reviews:
Great beach town cafe. Wonderful watermelon gazpacho. We stopped for a late lunch after a morning at the beach and it was perfect. You can stop down the block if there is a wait and the host will call you when your table is ready. We will definitely be back.
Kirsten Bishir
A cute place to have breakfast. The food was very good and so was the service. We loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and the location was convenient to everything in Saugatuck. Highly recommended.
Michael M
Love that it’s very dog friendly. Food needed some attention with taste. The drinks had an amazing taste and well made.
Oscar Enrique Phelps
I've always loved this little restaurant. It's very nice and always has excellent food and service. This was my first time for brunch hours and it was wonderful as always. Highly recommend if you have time to stop!
Ali Burck
We came in with a party of 4 and sat at the bar for brunch (tip: no wait for the bar if available and you get full service). We had drinks and brunch. The spritzer was the favorite drink! For food we ended up with 3 dishes: corn & beef hash, crab cake Benedict, and blacked mahi tacos. All were flavorful and came out quickly at the correct temperature and textures were all on point. Really no complaints. Definitely check out this restaurant. Also, Alexa & Collin we’re both wonderful! Very friendly, prompt, and Collin helped make some menu decisions that did not disappoint!
Rebekah Cathey
202 Butler St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA
Marro's italian restaurant
4.5
(534)
Long-standing Italian spot outfitted with white tablecloths & framed photos serves a seasonal menu.
Reviews:
A wonderful place for a Friday night date! The food is extremely fresh and delicious. It is a little expensive, but definitely worth every dollar. The ambiance is wonderful and everyone there seems to be having a great time. It definitely will set the mood for a date night dinner followed by watching the sunset at the beach or along the river! It's
Jayden Jones
Atmosphere and the service is excellent, we had problem with the food... The mushroom ravioli were not justifying the price tag. We had to add salt and pepper to taste something. The appetizers were great, though. Ovarall, we won't visit again... Not worthy the price. Piza, they must stop making it... Probably top 5 worst American pizzas we ever tasted.
Risto Andonovski
This the garlic bread rolls, gnudi, and penne alla vodka with sausage. The gnudi is definitely something you should try! The penne alla vodka left a little to be desired. They could definitely improve their sausage. I wouldn't call it Italian sausage. Service was very good, views are nice, ambiance is quite nice as well. You definitely feel like you went to a proper old school dinner.
Tony Mitidiero
I visited Marro’s again for the first time in many years, and I had a great dinner there with some friends. The atmosphere and service were great, and prices didn’t seem too bad given the state of things these days. The sangria was delicious and sweet, and the penne ala vodka was amazingly fresh-tasting and rich. This had to have been one of the better pasta dishes I’ve had in several years, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a rich tomato-froward pasta dish. Marro’s was just as good as I remembered.
Mateo Gebon
Unfortunately our food experience at Marro’s was incredibly disappointing. Some positive points first: we sat at a very nice table outside at Marro’s Two, our server Sage was great and they have a decent wine list. We ordered a deluxe pizza and the baked penne with 2 meatballs to share. The pizza was fine, some parts had sauce, some didn’t and there were just too many toppings, sometimes more is not better. The penne was so over cooked and soft, not even close to al dente and the meatballs seemed like they were frozen and incredibly dense, needless to say we did not finish our food. Marro’s has been a staple in Saugatuck for decades and I hope they can up their food game once again.
Mary Jones
147 Water St, Saugatuck, MI 49453, USA