The Best Waterfront Restaurants in Northern Michigan | Eater Detroit

"Anyone who has visited Walloon Lake recently knows that “the foot,” as the Village of Walloon is known to residents of the lake, has changed significantly in the last 10 years. During that time, the Walloon Lake Inn received a makeover, Hotel Walloon was added and, most recently, the general store was completely rebuilt. Barrel Back Restaurant first ignited this recent shift when it opened on the top floor of an old marine building back in 2013. The restaurant boasts three walls of garage-door style windows for a true fresh air experience, an open-air deck, a shaded bar on the dock itself, and even a food truck in the adjacent park. Barrel Back is one of the few restaurants where you can boat to breakfast, lunch, or dinner but it’s a sunset visit that’s especially magical. Grab the buffalo chicken dip, smoked barbecue wings, or some other snack from the appetizer section, a pint from the smart list of beers, and watch the sun sink over Ernest Hemingway’s childhood lake." - Stacey Brugeman