Angry Trout Cafe

I’ll begin with where it begins: the walk up to the restaurant—yes even that is 5 stars. And then incredible hosts with a very painless process for waiting (we waited about 10-15 minutes), including a text right to your phone if you want to walk around a bit. We ordered a cup of soup to share (salmon and trout chowder) which was incredible. We then ordered the fish and chips and the fish tacos and we will be thinking of those for some time to come. The fish tacos had enough fish on them to really fill you up, and the taste was outstanding. The fish and chips likewise, with the breading not being heavy or greasy, but the fish flaky and delicious. Waffle fries seasoned perfectly, and the house made tartar sauce is exquisite! We will definitely be back on our next trip to Grand Marais! It’s a must-stop-at. I imagine the patio in the warmer months is lovely as well! Last; the small touches such as local art for every part of the restaurant (down to the door, tables and chairs, and pottery for dishes!) made it feel extra homey. All of those details are on the menu!

Stopped at Angry Trout while in Grand Marais — you really can’t beat the location. Outdoor seating right on Lake Superior makes the experience special all by itself. I had the trout chowder and a salad. Both were fresh and well made. The chowder had great flavor but could’ve used a little more fish, and I added some salt and pepper to bring it to life. The salad was crisp and fresh too, though the large-cut pieces made it a bit hard to eat. Dressings are homemade, which is nice, but they weren’t particularly memorable — just okay. The staff was friendly and attentive, and overall, everything felt clean and locally minded. For me, the standout here is absolutely the setting and vibe — dining right on the water is hard to top.

Location! Location! Location! This restaurant is a wonderful spot right in the Grand Marais Marina. The host was welcoming and Sven our waiter was very gracious and attentive. The shitoki mushrooms were absolutely delicious (served with 2 sauces, one spicy, one creamy.. both yummy). We will have to return when we have time for a full meal.

Read a couple reviews here that mentioned rude staff so was a little wary but I'm glad I went! Staff could not have been nicer; the two hostesses and the server were very bright and conversant without seeming phony. The atmosphere was casual and dignified; it was very easy for my mom and I to talk and hear each other. There was plenty of room between the tables and we were seated in a prime spot right on the bay where we could easily see the sailboats and lighthouses. The food was fabulous! One patron who had dined before us said the food really tasted like it was made with love and I completely agree. I had the grilled herring with pasta and a side salad while my mom had the fried trout with soup and waffle fries. My dish was perfect and I'm very picky about eating fish! Mom really liked the soup which was essentially chicken soup with lemon and dill as well as the waffle fries which were very light and fluffy. She did say the fish was a little dry though. Both meals had generous portions which we couldn't finish and brought home. The price came to about eighty three dollars which does include a twenty percent gratuity. So, it ain't cheap! I feel, given the outstanding staff, the overall ambiance, meal quality and portion size as well as the restaurants living-wage policy for its employees that the cost is justified. 11/10 would recommend!

We stopped in here for dinner on a weekday evening and there was a little bit of a wait (nothing terribly long but enough to know it was a good spot). Starting off with the location and views, they are excellent! Amazing views from inside and a nice waiting area outside. Food was pretty good overall, I really enjoyed the pasta and the shrimp. The salad and dressing were fine but not incredible, mostly just a large variety of different fruits/veggies. Definitely a fun dining experience on the north shore. They do include a 20% gratuity in the menu pricing - just something to be aware of. Worth a try if you are in the area.

The best tartar sauce ive ever had! We had a lovely seat outside on a sunny day, the views are spectacular. Service was quick and friendly. Food was delightful. I love that they include information on where their ingredients come from, and fun facts like the chairs are made from old tractor seats. (Super comfy btw!) cant wait to come back!

A great experience sitting on the back deck, right on the water, enjoying fish entrees fresh from the big lake. We had an order of fried white fish, and an order of grilled herring. The herring was an A+ and a beautiful plate. Shout out to the kind staff, and the welcoming vibe. It made this educator smile to see the flags of International students working in the restaurant, too!

Favorite restaurant in Grand Marais. Ordered the soup which was a white fish from Lake Superior. Bonus was the fresh sourdough bread. Very good. It was too early for dinner so faoip was perfect. Fresh. Friendly. Clean. Looking forward to coming again. Chose indoor seating as it looked a bit windy on the deck. Fun view with the sale boats on Lake Superior.

Came here for a quick lunch on a Monday afternoon and wow were they busy! We waited about 15 minutes for a table and ordered the grilled chicken tacos and grilled halibut dinner plate (so cool that you can order from the dinner menu at any time). We really enjoyed the fresh food and the scenic views. What we ordered: - the tacos are more like wraps instead of real Mexican tacos. Flavor is good. - the halibut dinner was the highlight for us. The wild rice was yummy, salad refreshing, and fish cooked perfectly! Would order again.

The ambiance is pleasant, the restaurant is on the lake (although perhaps less attractive during the winter). They have unique handmade pottery I've enjoyed eating from. The food here was okay - healthy and local if not particularly well-prepared. The service, however, was sub-par: we were ignored for a long time (and in retrospect, we should have left). What inspired me to write this review is the unprecedented approach to billing. The 20% service charge is fixed, of course (that explains why they don't care about service). But there was a long list of surcharges: liquor tax, non-cash payment fee, food/sales tax: which in total add to stomach-churning 40% on top of prices you see in the menu!!! (36.05% to be precise in my case) So, be warned.

My family has been coming here for years, and we have always loved it! Never had any complaints until this last trip. No reservations here, get here early to get your name on the waitlist. This last time we waited almost 90 minutes, the estimate for us was 45, they were way off. When we were finally seated, we were starving! But this is were I became more disappointed. Two out of three of our drinks were served to us with either a hair or chunk in them. Gross. I almost lost my appetite then. After getting new drinks, they gave us a refill water container, also wasn't clean, had chunks. So so gross. No mater how busy you are, you should not be serving people unsanitary drinks or food. I got the pan seared fish special, again disappointed. The fish had little to no flavor, the vegetable were not cooked all the way thru, and overall not great. The fish barely had salt and pepper on it. The best thing I ate here was the side salad. Although this place used to be great, I wouldn't come back here anymore. Not worth the wait, not worth the drive.

The food is so fresh and delicious! I love the fried shrimp dinner with the noddle side and salad with their house vinegarette! We visit annually and I think about this dish leading up to our visit every year!!!! They have amazing tarter sauce also. Really delicious. My friend loves their maple cream soda. The service is always great and the ambiance keeps us coming back each year!

The soup/salad combo is the perfect lunch choice on a cold/windy day off the bay. Everything is sourced locally and incredibly fresh. The soup in particular was outstanding - the bits of fish/vegetables were hearty and worth the price. We also tried the grilled fish and chips, but the soup was the star. Our waitress was really nice, knowledgeable, and accommodating, but I can understand how some people might have issues with the service speed. Likewise, it's worth noting a 20% tip is added to every check. It's a busy spot so be prepared to wait! For me the combination of views, portion sizes, and the service we received today made their prices valid.

Amazing view, food was average, great service. Really enjoyed our time here and got to watch ppl polar plunge.

I'll be honest, I didn't read any reviews before visiting here, but it was meantioned in about a dozen TikTok videos I saw when looking up things to do in Grand Marais. TikTok did not steer me wrong , Angry Trout is worth the stop even for the view alone. I was surprised at how fast they were able to seat us during the dinner rush, they gave us a reasonable wait time of 15-20 minutes and we were seated with waters within about 5. We ordered the smoked fish platter and it came with a side of cranberry horseradish sauce. It was so good, I'm convinced I need to make it from scratch and I've never had anything horseradish that I have liked.

Cute place right on the water - big windows with great views no matter where you sit. Simple menu with mostly one kind fish - grilled or fried. It was Herring the night we came. I got the fish tacos and they were tasty! My son said the burger was pretty good. My other son loved the fried fish. I liked that the kids meals were well rounded with protein, veggies, fruit and even a little cookie - which they loved! No cocktails but the house wine was good The napkins are tiny and a little awkward to use. Free parking on the street outside.

Back when we were beasts, we would have fight tooth and nail for our fish. But not here. At the angry trout they do all the hard work for you. I ordered the fish and chips and a beer. Luckily they provided poseidon's trident to help defend my food. To my right was a stained glass picture of a seagull (the apex predator). It was a nice touch and it kicked in my natural instinct to defend my food and eat as fast as I can. It helped that the food was delishious. My adrenaline is still going 3 hours later from the stained glass seagull. Ambiance was a little loud but pleasant.

Great ambience, great customer service. Went to the beautiful city of Grand Marais , during this snowless winter. Even though their was not much tourists around, their was a 15min wait for us in the afternoon.it Seems this is a favorite spot among locals and tourist but if you look around, there are not a lot of restaurants to have many choices. We order the fish sandwich -I had it grilled (choice to fry it or grill) with waffle fries (another way of saying crisscut fries) My lovely partner- Order the fish and chips (white fish was fish of the day) with waffle fries. Appetizer: chowder of the day Drinks: Duluth hard fry cider Service was pleasant quick and attentive. Food : -Grilled fish sandwich was very good. Nicely grilled with lettuce tomatoes and their delicious homemade Tatar sauce. Grill fish was tender but needed some seasoning- was bland -Fish n chips : fish was fried perfectly but it was not seasoned so it it taste bland- salt and pepper would of done it justice or one of my favorite American seafood seasoning-Old Bay would been great. The waffle fries came hot and crispy - was really good Chowder of the day: the soup was very basic - not good or bad. Nice sourdough bread that came with it. Drink: Duluth hard cider was very delicious- nice balance of sweetness to sour and alcohol taste . Overall: very nice cute restaurant- decor and home feeling ambience. Service was great. 3 stars only the food. Every thing else was good. Would try again for the food . Maybe second time around will be better. Highlight of the experience: Can't beat the view we had during the afternoon lunch. Best thing is their homemade Tartar sauce. It is super good must dip fries and fried fish with it.

Best meal of our trip to the north shore. Everything about this place was 10/10 from the ambiance, to the service, to the food. The grilled white fish with wild rice and veggies...must order! Would love to sit on their deck when it's warmer.

FINALLY made it to Angry Trout Cafe! We came for an early dinner on a Saturday in November and were seated right away. What a quaint, cozy spot! They have quite a bit of cute lakeside outdoor seating, but it was cold out so we enjoyed our view from the windows inside. Lots of "window seats" here! Their menu really focuses on what they do best: local fish and other organic or locally-sourced products (like wild rice and seasonal vegetables). I opted or the fish soup of the day, which had herring and trout. They were able to get me gluten-free bread for the side. My parents both opted for the fish of the day dinner platter - both got herring grilled, and chose the wild rice for their side (along with salad and seasonal vegetables). Their platters were HUGE - three large herring filets, and plentiful portions! I was glad to see the price matched the quality and portions. We got a bottle of wine to split as well, and were too stuffed for dessert. Service was helpful, honest and efficient. We loved the portion of the menu that talks about where they source all of their ingredients: organic produce, fish from right out of the lake, maple syrup from Grand Marais, wild rice from MN, coffee from a local roaster, etc. Their interior decor all has a local touch from MN artists too, and even the dinnerware pottery is locally done! I commend the commitment to supporting local - it's not always the cheapest option, but it's the best option. Thank you!

The menu didn't have a huge selection, so I just went with a cheeseburger. The staff weren't super friendly, but professional. I had to ask for water multiple times and the food was OK. I did love their back patio that overlooks the water, we would have eaten out there except it was a bit windy.

The location is excellent with a patio and great views. Service is quick and reliable. All the staff are friendly. The menu is locally sourced as are the serving dishes and other restaurant items. The menu has a variety of choices and the food quality is excellent. We cannot wait to return!

Passing through Grand Marais and this restaurant came highly recommended. Wow the food was amazing!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The shiitake mushrooms were so good with the special sauce. It was my first time having herring and I really enjoyed it. Also the views of Lake Superior from the restaurant are stunning. The waitress was lovely and engaging. The Ancient Traditions Herbal Infusions Tea came in a special tea pot. The cup was made of pottery and you could purchase it if you wanted to, but unfortunately they were sold out. Will make a point to come back around the next time we are in town!

A cute little place with a great view of the lake. The catch of the day was Herring which was good but they didn't have very many vegetarian options, I had their pasta which was good but nothing special. I tried their house made soda but wasn't too impressed, though their tea is very good. Salmon chowder was delicious and service was good, casual place with pretty good food, the view makes it all worth it.

Incredible waterfront views, delicious food and good service too! I took guests from out of town here and we all enjoyed our food very much. I loved the zucchini fritters on a pita - it's so delicious, especially with the pickles added in (they're great! Bread and butter pickles with a kick.) Great place!

No not the cheapest joint around, but hands down great local food, great space and usually great service. Get the fish chowder to start your meal, share with your partner and go from there.

Really I want to give it a 2.5 but it won't let me... Okay let's get into this... so our wait time was 1.5 hours but managed to get us in u set that. Found that slightly odd.. once in we were brought to our table and they just pointed and said you sit here... after that we didn't see our server for another 15-20 minutes. When he did show up took our drinks and our oder and poof gone again. Food drinks all showed up at the same time. The food was good but definitely not worth the hype. Also the side salad came on the same plate as my spaghetti and meatballs. The menu is hard to navigate and at times vague about what's in the dishes. My salad had beats it and I absolutely hate beats... I know sounds petty.. They also add a tip onto the bill. I've never been one to hold back a tip but this pretty much sets it up to you get what you get. Over all food is good... but you are also limited to what you can eat in this area.

What a lovely experience. We stopped in on the recommendation of friends. It was a Tuesday evening in the summer and there was a wait for a table. The host offered to serve us a beverage that we could take with us to sit on the beach. We chose local beers and enjoyed the spectacular view and sea breeze. Our wait wasn't out of line, and then we were seated outside. Since a larger table was available than was needed for the two of us, the staff suggested we both eat on the same side of the table and enjoy the view - so lovely. We had the smoked fish platter appetizer (SO GOOD!) and each had a fish of the day platter. I was somewhat disappointed that the fishes of the day were Lake Superior Whitefish and Herring, but I was SO wrong. I had the grilled whitefish with the wild rice. It was amazing. The salad, veg, protein and carb were all served on the same large plate. Half the plate was covered in a lovely salad with all kinds of special touches: yellow tomatoes, red onions, strawberries, a slice of mellon etc. A bottle of dressing was placed next to me so I could add exactly as much as I pleased. The wild rice was fantastic. There were just a few green beans, but they were very flavorful green beans. My husband had the fried herring, WOW. It was so delicate and flavorful. The tartar sauce was made with fresh herbs. Now, all this loveliness does come at a cost - our friends warned that we should expect $50 per person. Including a beverage, appetizer and entrée, we did exceed that, but it was worth it.

Angry Trout Cafe was a perfect place to have lunch the day we were exploring Grand Marais. The view was spectacular from our table. We wanted to dine on the deck, but the flying insects were annoying, so we opted for inside. We appreciated the hostesses honesty and giving us the heads up. There were four of us and we all ordered the same, Fish & Chips. Their chips were Waffle Fries, which I found to be odd. However, they were crisp and went well with the the crispy fish. The breading on the fish was thick and seasoned well. The piece of fish was also a hefty thick slice of meat, so they complimented each other. The cole slaw was creamy, which I prefer over a vinegar & oil. If I lived up here during Lent, this would be a go to for my Friday Fish. Three of enjoyed a glass of white wine and the fourth went for a soda. The wine was a nice pour, so one glass was enough for our meal. The service was friendly and quick. The staff was hustling, it was peak season when I was there. I told our server that I was not a fan of tartar sauce and she encouraged me to try theirs. I did and I was blown away, it was the first tartar sauce I have ever liked. Not being a tartar sauce fan, all I can tell you is that its flavor was more flavorful. They do charge a service fee for using a plastic card and they do not allow dogs on the patio or deck. No emotional support dogs allowed. Only dogs allowed are service animals. Only reason I am sharing this, is they had multiple signs up telling guest the rule.

The treatment on the way in makes the quality of the food irrelevant. Unnecessarily off-putting and, possibly unintentionally, rude. A case of policy over people. It's too bad, because the experience would otherwise have been memorable for completely different reasons.

A great spot to have dinner while you're visiting Grand Marais. It's in a cute, cozy building right on the water so while you're dining you can see beautiful views of the lake. Their menu is seafood heavy with a few other offerings mixed in. I was bummed they had just sold the last Bison so I couldn't try that but everything else we ate was really good. Beer and wine served here but not a full bar. The salads are delicious and packed full of colorful, fresh ingredients and served with your choice of homemade dressings - you have to try the Maple Mustard!! Their Bleu cheese was also really nice as a creamy option and light on the Bleu flavor. Their soups were flavorful, we have both the Spicy Chicken and Salmon chowder and both were fantastic. The main dishes are all served with either wild rice or pasta and I tried both and enjoy them both but think the pasta may have been my favorite over the two. Wild rice is just classic for the area. Our only complaint would be some of the main proteins were a little under-seasoned but easily remedied with salt and pepper. We also brought the dessert of the day back to our condo to enjoy both nights and yum! One night featuring a Mexican Hot Chocolate Cake and then Honey Pie, both served with delicious homemade whipped cream. Service was prompt and knowledgeable. Only odd thing we're the miniature lap napkins they offered which didn't quite fit your whole lap. We dined here two of our evenings because it's, in our opinion, the nicest dinner offering in all of Grand Marais and we'll certainly be visiting again when we're back in town!

We stopped in about 5:30. We had a wait, but there's an outside lounge area, where we sat lake side. Then seated in the back of the restaurant in the patio. It was a lovely night. This place was highly recommended and highly suggested the Swedish Cream! They were right. The staff is busy and friendly!

Our last night in the Grand had us finally stopping here for dinner. What a treat! From start to finish they did everything right. The flavors and freshness were off the charts. Everything was cooked to perfection. The views are stunning. The service was a good presence. What a special restaurant to end our wonderful trip with.

What? Automatically add a tip charge. Pricks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5hteMNgSMY

Been here a number of times over the years and only once did we have decent service. This is last time I spend my hard earned money in an establishment that looks down their nose at you for troubling them with your business. Not to mention that their food is marginal at best and over priced to boot. Also, note to families with kids, don't bother unless you are a glutton for being shamed for having children in tow. The service and staff will amplify their unprofessionalism because they, from what we've experienced, find your well behaved kids as an inconvenience.

This is truly a great experience when I came here with my two buddies. First thing first let's talk people. People is what matter in this world. Everything else is like a goldfish compared. Jolene was our waitress. She gets it. I can't explain too much about her, but she was just awesome. Good vibes, chill, fun, impressive, she laughed at some of the things I said which was nice, not all people laugh at my jokes, when they do I like them more, that isn't the only reason I really liked her, but it is something that was nice, it makes you feel good when people think you are funny, I hope I think my wife is funny. She really was great. I got the fish tacos. I got fried (it is a light fry which is nice I didn't want anything too heavy). I got herring. Some of the best fish tacos I had in a while.

Sven was great! Beer and food recommendations were spot on. The cream ale and stout were exactly what we wanted. The salad and dinner with the fish of the day (herring) were perfect. And the wild rice side is sooo good.

When they said our dog couldn't be on the patio, we said OK. When they said they couldn't do take out for our party, we said OK. When they said we had to split our group with one person eating take out with the dog outside and the rest dining in, we said OK. When they said that the person eating take out with the dog couldn't even sit at the separate beach because the dog would be visible from their patio, we'd had enough.

The Angry Trout has been a staple of my north shore experience since I was a kid. My family spent many summers spending a long weekend camping and adventuring in Lutsen and Grand Marais. The food is always delicious and the view is unbeatable right on the edge of Lake Superior. The staff are always lovely too. I love getting the fresh fish chowder of the day, but I'm not sure that you can pick a wrong dish! I love that they are open year round now too. In the summer, chances are you'll be waiting a bit so make sure to get your name on the list and grab a spot to sit on the beach.

We waited over an hour for our table.... it's a busy place, I get it. I understand that many places have issues getting employees, I try to be sympathetic to that. Once we were finally seated we waited 10-15 minutes for our wait person to acknowledge us (a bit of a language barrier with all the staff). We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and were hoping to have a romantic and special evening. That didn't happen because #1 the menu was very limited, #2 we heard the cook "yell" when an order came up, #3 once we ordered our food it came within 5 minutes and felt like it was pre-prepared. The only good thing to about this place is the view was beautiful. Not impressed. :-(

What a wonderful view of Lake Superior! The service was wonderful. We decided to eat here both days that we were in the area. Fish and chips were what we both ordered. The fish can be either grilled or fried! The second day I ordered a cup of chowder instead of the waffle fries (chips).

Favorite place to eat in Grand Marais! The food, views and service are all excellent. Do not take reservations..be prepared to wait..it's worth it!

Back in Minnesota! And visiting the north shore where I grew up! Angry trout has done it again!!! It is my favorite restaurant here on the north shore. The staff were all super friendly, it's right on Lake Superior which is beautiful, and the food was to die for! I had the Catch dinner platter. Which had grilled white fish, garlic pasta (which was awesome), and a spring salad! Lexi had fish and chips which were also very good! They make all of their sauces, vinaigrettes, and even some sodas in house! I highly recommend if you're in the area and want some good fish! Dan & Lexi

It's a nice place to eat with a view of the lake. The food was very disappointing! I ordered the fish sandwich with grilled salmon. The salmon had absolutely no flavor at all! I won't be back.

I have tried Angry Trout a couple of times before going this summer, and have always been underwhelmed (granted-I had never liked fish as much as I do now, which has nothing to do with the restaurant's food or service, just my personal preference at the time!). I decided to give it another try since I was in town for the week, and I thought the food was good! I ordered the Fish Sandwich and added waffle fries, I asked for the sauce on the side, it also came with a side of coleslaw. The service when I was there seemed to be a little slower than normal, but my server was very apologetic and you could tell it was beyond his control- he gave us updates and kept checking in which was very nice. The atmosphere is similar to your typical restaurant, and there are windows and outdoor seating that all have great views of Lake Superior. It's a classic stop to make when visiting Grand Marais, and it was a good experience overall!

Cute restaurant on the lake with a beautiful view. Service is good but our server should be told to PUT ON A BRA OR CAMISOLE! The food was marginal, at best, and overpriced considering the quality. Last, the rims of the cups and bowls were so badly chipped it was difficult to find an area to drink/eat from.

The food was ok - short staffed and was disappointed. The herring was less than satisfying. If they don't have the white fish- hard pass!

Continues to be an enjoyable part of any trip to Grand Marais. Love the herring and pasta combo. My spouse opts for the herring and wild rice... but we are herring people all the way. It truly does have more flavor and better texture if you are going the grilled way. As for dessert, if they have cardamom rhubarb, you'll have to get that AND a piece of the chocolate pie as well. You can't pass up either. I know you may be full... it's ok. Push through. My only critique, the outside chairs. I mean, y'all might have a booty butt that conforms nicely to those metal tractor seats for over an hour, but my wife and I are of the Norwegian Flatt Butt clan. We are inside sitters unless it's ridiculously busy... like 6:00 on a Friday in the summer.

The food and the service that we had was amazing I loved it if I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life it would be this one

Marginal food. 20% gratuity charged on everything. Only house made soda that was $3.50/glass and not good.

We came here after dog sledding - was excellent . Good menu options and flexible options.

New hostess very rude. Food was okay waiter was very nice started out very rude. Will not recommend to anyone.

We have eaten at the Angry Trout twice this week because the food, service and ambience is outstanding. Yes, we had to wait both times--almost an hour. But well worth the wait. Highly recommend this restaurant

A standout along our route around Lake Superior. Fish chowder, herring fritters, and a wonderful smoked fish plate with local cheeses. Thank you, Angry Trout, for the great opportunity to enjoy your beautiful waterfront spot and delicious foods!

Food was excellent!! The service was incredible and the restaurant was beautiful. It overlooks Great Superior and has a wonderful patio.

Every time I go up north, Angry Trout is a must! I bring all of my friends here because the food is just sooo soooo good! My friend and I both had the clam chowder and it was amazing! We both wanted a second round! My friend got the Herring burger and I got the Salmon burger. Both were delicious! The fish was cooked just right and the sauces complimented the burgers so well. And oh! They give you a generous amount of waffle fries too! Can't wait to return to my favorite little cafe up north!

After a few days on the superior hiking trail, I probably would have eaten anything but this was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in awhile. Basic but my friend and I split the fish and chips and a veggie burger. Fish was fresh and waffle fries and house made tartar sauce were bomb. Also, it's really hard to beat having a local cider on the deck. I'll be back to try more!