Fitzgerald's Restaurant

Excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere. Online reservation is highly recommended. If you make any special request (celebrating an occasion etc), include it in your reservation but also check when you get to the restaurant (element of surprise is lost, but your celebration will be complete!). Sometimes they will miss this little bit of information that can dampen the celebration. The menu includes a few vegetarian and vegan options which is a plus. Desserts are a must!!

This is a nice restaurant, with wonderful staff and delicious food! Plus you can go walk the beach! I also recommend their key lime pie! It's the best I've ever had!

Culinary experience of our dreams. We had the grilled whitefish, garlic udon noodles with brisket, and the best bartender in the U.P. Our bartender Erina not only gave us a full TripAdvisor review of top places in the area but asked around to find us an auto repair shop, and sent us on our way with a bottle of champagne for our engagement. It was the perfect place to have our first meal after getting engaged - drinks were delicious, food was fantastic, and company rocked. We will be back 🙏

The brisket is amazing! All the food we had was delicious with a beautiful view of the lake too. Highly recommend this restaurant. Note that you WILL need to make a reservation.

This place is AWESOME!! Unimpeded views of endless Lake Superior beauty, warm and friendly service, and delicious meals!! I'm a huge fan!

The udon noodles are my favorite thing on their menu, they are always so full of flavor! The 5 layer chocolate cake was amazing. The atmosphere here is really good; The candlelight at the tables, the woodwork, and the large windows that look out onto the water really add to the experience.

Family recommended this to me and I couldn't be more thankful and pleased. Beautiful views of Lake Superior. Very nice atmosphere. Very quickly seated, ordered, and eating! Great "Pit Master's Pie" (think Shepherds Pie except with brisket, pulled pork, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Lemonade from Italy! Large portions; quality ingredients, great flavors; healthy! Really enjoyed it!!

This is the only restaurant for miles around but strangely also excellent. The menu is not extensive as they focus on smoked meats. We had, over two nights, brisket, ribs and chicken — all just superb. We also were surprised to discover two unusual and delicious cocktails (Flowers on a Plane and White Negroni) and a wide selection of draft beer. Did I mention that the windows look right over Lake Superior?

We ate at the Fitz twice during a trip to the Keewenaw and really enjoyed it. The staff is outstanding, treating you like a treasured guest & they were just waiting for you to arrive (both times!). Very hardworking but all smiles. We were seated right by the window, such a gorgeous view, hovering over the beach & the magnificent Superior. We shared an appetizer, first time, the Risotto Fritters, delish, 2nd them the Walleye cake, which knocked us out, so good! Great combination of flavors, sitting on a corn tostada, a little corn & great smoky notes. We each got the whitefish once and ribs once. Both were excellent. We thought the ribs were better than what we'd had in Kansas City! Meaty, tender & smoky. Our second visit, we took after dinner cocktails to the deck, as it was a lovely day to enjoy the view. Oh--inventive delicious cocktails and a very nice wine list. You are wonderful hosts!! Thank you so much for all the kindness & relaxed, happy atmosphere, it was a treat!

Seating available without reservation. Pleasant atmosphere. Waitstaff efficient. Delicious cocktail menu

We batted in at 50% for a table of 4. I had Udon Noodles. Over the top salty, but tasty. I ate it all. Busy day and hiking. Fitgeralds was out of both Ribs and Chicken, my husbands first two choices. It was 6:00 pm. What? How can you be out of two of their top menu items at 6:00? He ordered the Brisket. Tasty but dry. One of our foursome ordered a porchetta sandwich which was inedible as it was seasoned over the top way too spicy hot. The 60% - or more - remainder uneaten sandwich was not taken home. Other friend ordered meatloaf. He liked it. But meatloaf ??? On a special night out , traveling, where you have to prepay for the reservation ---- Come on. Meatloaf? We ate here last year and the year before. I don't remember anything like this menu which I thought was limited. I had whitefish the night before at another restaurant, and did not want that two nights in a row. I gave Fitzgerald's three star because we sat by the window and had a great view. We will not be back.

based off what we ordered i have zero complaints! we walked in and we were sat down immediately (4) ordered the poutine as an appetizer which was amazing and as an entree i ordered the gouda mac n cheese with pork belly and omg so good!! definitely worth the money, the service was great and the view was so pretty (ocean/lake view)

The food was absolutely AMAZING! Loved the decor. Very limited menu, but it is exceptionally delicious!! Service was excellent as well. It's rare a restaurant gets it right in all areas (especially in the Northwood) but Fitz's hits a home run! Mac & Cheese w/pork belly...I'm willing to bet the absolute best you have ever had. Hot Nashville Chicken sandwich is excellent! And there's a wonderful beach and river that you can walk up and down before or after or take your food to go and enjoy on beach or outdoor deck.

We had the most amazing experience at Fitzgerald's! The food was amazing. It was one of the best brisket and smoked chicken dinners we have ever had. The sunset view was incredible and the staff went over and above!

Had heard so much about this place but realized that online reservation needs you to put a deposit. So we stopped by on our drive to the lighthouse and found that you still have to pay a deposit, although it goes towards your dinner. We were seated quick and had we been able to get an earlier reservation, would have been able to see the sunset from our table. For our drinks we had the Vieux Carre and Black Manhattan - both were well made drinks. My son ordered the orange dream soda but wasn't a fan of that style of soda. The umami fries seemed so interesting by its description but unfortunately the appetizer was kinda one dimensional. The gochujang was over powering and definitely some tartness would have helped the dish. For dinner we shared a brisket platter and half rack ribs. My son had the garlic udon with mushrooms and said it was great. Since there were no leftovers I presume it was truly great :). Our brisket was okay - was tender but not a great depth of flavor. The ribs too were just ok. We finished off with the white chocolate vanilla cheesecake and that was very tasty - wiped clean by us all . For us the restaurant didn't live up to the hype with respect to the food...but of course the location is one of a kind.

An excellent little spot which is well worth the visit if you're in the area. My fiance and I came here after we got engaged in porcupine mts, this place was a very special spot to visit after. We were stunned with the quality and taste of the food here. It's not often you find top-notch food in the depth of the U.P. My fiance devoured her brussels sprouts salad and continues to laud it to this day. The location itself is excellent, right on picturesque Lake Superior. The restaurant is right on the water with exquisite views. If I am every near here we will make sure to pop-in.

My family and I visited the Keweenaw Peninsula for a camping weekend and made a reservation for dinner at Fitzgerald's. Appetizers, dinner and beer selection were all amazing. I would definitely return if I was in the area and would recommend this place for great smoky food, excellent craft beer and excellent bourbon selection.

Beautiful location located on shore of Lake Superior. Service was very professional. We stopped around noon on a Sunday so menu was limited to brunch choices and couple sandwiches. I had pulled brisket with side of beans. Excellent. The Bloody Mary was just spicy enough, with a light smoke taste.

Delicious. A small place with an awesome view and fantastic food. Unique dishes! Excellent and friendly service. I noticed all those around us having a great experience. There is nothing better than a restaurant offering an entertainment moment of happiness. Thank you!

Best lunch in the world! From the juicy smoked brisket sandwich to the tasty porchetta sandwich. The beans and Mac n cheese are delicious sides too. All, with a phenomenal view of Lake Superior.

Beautiful view, delicious food, great service. Great adult beverage menu. Friendly staff.

We had dinner there Sunday Oct. 2nd 4:45pm I have a complaint about some of our food. Less of a complaint and more of an FYI. Some things were delicious, some not as good. The Walleye cakes oh my gosh how amazing they were!!! Couple bones were still in the dish. The whitefish dinner was too salty, scraped the seasoning off of the fish and ate as much as we could. The potatoes were not edible at all cause of the salt. Veggies were perfect. I had the udon noodles. At first it tasted ok. Once I mixed it up with the sauce on the bottom it was overwhelming with salt. Even the brisket in it was salty. Smokey and tender but salty. The pie didn't appear to be homemade unfortunately and had a pit in the cherry pie, the apple pie flavor was off. The ribs were perfectly delicious and expertly done, as was the Mac and cheese. Thank you for a good meal despite the fyi. The drinks were delicious and beautiful! The view and ambiance you can't beat. Our service was first class as usual.

TL/DR: This is one of the best spots you'll find anywhere. Eat and drink here. Take in the view. Be happy. It's that damn simple. The longer review for a place that deserves it... It's a smaller place located about 10 feet off Lake Superior, with amazing food, a breathtaking view, and friendly service. Every time I am in the area for work, a stop at the Fitz is on my "must do" list... Get a cocktail and an appetizer. I recommend the brisket nachos. Take your time. Then for dinner get the udon noodles or Nashville Hot Chicken (yeah, its spicy). If it's on the menu, get the meatloaf. Now, I know what you're thinking... No chance you'd order meatloaf at a restaurant... You're wrong. Do it. You will have zero regrets.

Food was pub fare with a good wordsmith behind the menu and design of the entrees and appetizers. Ordered a bunch of the bbq, poutine (worst I have ever had) and the udon noodle dish (peculiar flavors that flat out don't work) Go for a drink and a view of beautiful Lake Superior. Pass on the food and run towards the nearest "bigger" city. My wife called this place a mirage. That's about as accurate as it gets.

The food lived up to the hype. However the service is like a minus 4. We arrived on time. Our first interaction was a waitress telling us we only have 90 minutes to sit and that were already 15 minutes late. I explained we were on time and showed the email that confirms that. Then we order drinks. Wait 15 minutes to get them. Wait even longer to order. Then we order 2nd round of drinks. Wait 20 minutes. We get them and then 10 minutes later, we're told we have to leave bc the next group is here. That's not how you run a place. Won't go back. Food was good. Wasn't worth the hassle.

Excellent food. Great experience. Pork belly, Mac n cheese was excellent. Highly recommend.

Amazing views!!!! Watch eagles and if you're lucky wolves as you dine on food that rivals the views. And the staff are second to none!!!!!

Easily the best dinner we had in the UP and even in the parts of Michigan that we explored on a. two week trip. We started with the risotto fritters, and then moved on. I had the grilled whitefish. I'd had it a few other times but Fitz did the best job - it was very fresh and cooked perfectly. The drinks were great too - they have a nice selection of beer, spirits, etc. The staff were all friendly, cheerful and helpful. It's a bit of a drive from Houghton or other parts of the UP but well worth it. Highly recommended!

Out-of-the-way on the lake nice and quiet waves hitting the rocks ships going by what a nice area they have a steak dinner at Fitzgerald

My husband had one objective aside from his work requirements when we went up to the Keweenaw peninsula: get BBQ at Fitzgerald's. So that's what we did! Due to the pandemic the menu is abbreviated and everything is done outdoors. Walk up, place your order, and in minutes you're eating delicious que overlooking Lake Superior! They have some outdoor picnic tables on a deck in the back but it was a windy evening so we dined in our car. A little challenging with BBQ but we made it work! We ordered the brisket, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, baked beans, and two pieces of pie (key lime and chocolate peanut butter). We also added buns to make our own sandwiches and I piled mine high with pulled pork, the side of pickles, and some of the paired BBQ sauce and it was *chef's kiss*. The Mac and cheese was also great. A little smokey, I think they add paprika? Either way, it was different than I was used to but still so good. The brisket and the beans were also very good but the pork and mac were the winners for me! The pie? OMG. So rich, not too sweet, and the pieces were huge. The chocolate peanut-butter one was my choice and I've been dreaming about it since. Can't wait to come back up here post pandemic and enjoy more from their menu, which I hope will be restored to its fully glory, then! Until that point, tho, don't sleep on them if you're in the area!

The last stop on my up north trip was the the best. Can't wait to come back. I recommend the poutine.

Food was great. Had Sunday brunch. The porkastrami hash was top notch and my girlfriend had biscuits and berries and loved it. Service was great, super nice people, great view of the lake and a calm, nice atmosphere. Would go back 10/10

Highly recommend, your tastebuds will be razzle dazzled! Everything was delicious, so full of flavor. Wonderful, friendly service and staff. You can't beat the view. If it's summer, book your reservation online a few days ahead of time, fills up fast. Looking forward to next time!

Great food and location is beautiful! Service was great as well. Definitely need a reservation so call ahead!

I want to begin by acknowledging the beautiful location of this restaurant. While the ambiance is charming and the food is decent, I regret to say that my recent dining experience fell short of what I'd hoped for. Despite hearing glowing recommendations from a close friend, my visit left much to be desired. This is the same friend that also helped ruin this experience, read on:) Upon making reservations, I encountered some awkwardness, but I managed to navigate through it. However, I found it unusual and uncomfortable to be required to pay upfront for your meal, a practice I've never encountered elsewhere. As someone who dines out frequently and has traveled extensively for both work and leisure. During my visit, I was taken aback by the attitude I received when making a simple request to substitute water for simple syrup in my cocktail. Furthermore, when inquiring about a salad option, I was told there was none. Despite observing other patrons enjoying salads nearby and seeing salads on the menu, online. He took our menu before we ordered and I was struggling with my glasses. I couldn't help but notice the similar treatment of other guests nearby. This leads me to believe that there may be an issue with the service or management. As a patron, I believe it's essential to feel valued and respected during a dining experience. AdditionalIy, my dear friend told me to name drop, but the owner took offensive, yes. I at no point threw out a name and then asked for a favor. We were friends and I was expressing his compliments and that my friend even shared his favorite items on the menu. But the comments I received back from Fitzgerald's owner, this was not appropriate. He has gone on to tell me that my service experience was horrible because I named dropped, (which I was told to) and was done as a compliment. After reflecting on the interaction and observing the owners responses to other customers, along with reviewing past reviews and speaking to members of the community, it has become apparent to me that there may be underlying issues within the establishment has been building over the past few years. It's disheartening to learn about the departure of key staff members. While I understand the challenges that come with running a restaurant, it's crucial to prioritize professionalism and customer satisfaction. A great view, decent food will only work so long when you treat your customers horribly. Especially when its over a compliment from a referral. Even if he did not like the person, who would do that and I don't need to know this. Ultimately, my hope is that they take this feedback constructively and strive to improve both personally and professionally. I believe that every business has the potential for growth and success, but it requires dedication and a commitment to excellence. I understand that if the owner comments to this review, its going to be nasty and my fault. (Look at his past responses) It's a true shame because we were very excited to eat here and have a great experience. The owner literally destroyed our experience, over sharing a friends referral and telling the owner that a mutual friend is doing well, Seriously? https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g42154-d1574611-r938806283-Fitzgerald_s_Restaurant-Eagle_River_Upper_Peninsula_Michigan.html#

This place is the best. Stay here. Ate here. Had a great time. Need to expand more!! Mike the owner was great to talk to.

This was fantastic! Make sure you have reservations. Food and drinks were fabulous. Service was excellent. I will go again though it is so far away!

The service was wonderful. The ambience was very good. It's a nice little place to eat with a view of Lake Superior. The food gets a mixed review. Baked beans, Cole slaw and brisket were very dry. The ribs and pulled pork were excellent.

My husband and I ate here over the Fourth of July and food was good but we hadn't made a reservation so ate at the bar. This trip up we made reservations for 4-on-line--because they don't answer there phone--and they didn't have our reservation, so I showed them on my phone that they still had a table available per their website and the hostess replied nothing available you could sit at the bar.She was rude and not accommodating at all. I said I tried to confirm my reservation by calling and she reiterated that they don't answer their phone. Don't know how you can run a business without answering your phone--we won't be back.

We were lucky to snag seating at the cozy bar on a busy Saturday night in Sept. We were greeted by a friendly young bar staff and treated to expertly crafted gin and tonics garnished with fresh juniper and rosemary which was so refreshing after a long day of hiking and paddling. We knew immediately what we were ordering as we spied it on another diner's plate--the delectable looking white fish with the pickled veggies to begin. Everything tasted as wonderfully as it was plated--deliciously! This was the best meal by far we had on our trip through the UP. Super friendly staff, cozy bar, nicely prepared food!

It looks like a typical up-north restaurant, but both the food and the service is indicative of a big city dining experience. The bar drinks were excellent. I had the whitefish and the peanut butter pie.

Beautiful restaurant on Lake Superior! The food and drinks were amazing. I had a hard time deciding what to get, there was so many great choices. Very unique and innovative dishes ! Will be back!

Very good food and beautiful view. I'd go back. Good service. Found the environment a little loud.

For us this was a hidden gem. I can't believe it took us all this time to get there. Food and drinks were amazing and the staff was wonderful! Can't wait to make it back!

Loved the falafel Good gem in the Northwoods . Will b back. Loved the carrot cake washed down with coffee. Was here to leaf peep for the fall colors

This place is out of the way but DEFINITELY worth a stop if you're anywhere in the Keweenaw!! It's right on the water, with plenty of windows to take in the view while you eat. I bet the attached hotel is fabulous, but unfortunately we were staying elsewhere. Their menu is very small, although I'm not sure if that's a residual covid thing or if that's normal. Their mac and cheese was only offered as a side but it was INCREDIBLE and I would probably ask if I could order it as an entree next time I'm there. It was different than other mac and cheese's I've had, in the best way. The ribs were also great and also came with a side of green beans that wasn't on the menu but was a pleasant surprise, but that mac and cheese really stole the show! They have a nice cocktail menu as well- highly recommend The Last Word.

Should you go to a "southern" restaurant when you're at the northern edge of the continental United States? If you're in Eagle River, the answer is yes! With at least one caveat. Looking over restaurants before we made our trip to the Keweenaw, we knew Fitzgerald's would be a stop. We figured to go on the Thursday of our week up there. Only on Monday did I learn advance reservations were strongly recommended. Tuesday morning around what I thought would be the start of lunchtime I called when I miraculously got a cell signal (rare in the Keweenaw), only to see Fitzgerald's doesn't open until 3. But you can message them, so I did, though never got a reply. Wednesday I got a signal again and tried to call after 3 but got voicemail. Called again a minute later and got a human, who told me that the only open tables for Thursday were for 3:00. Earlier than I wanted to eat so I asked about Friday and was told there was an opening at 4:30. I took it, though after talking it over with my wife, a late lunch on Thursday seemed like it would work better with our hike plans, so I called back, only to get the machine again. 4:30 Friday it was. What I'm saying...if you know you're going to be in the area, call well in advance to reserve a table. When we got there on Friday our table was ready, and the view was wonderful. The beer list is very good, though weighted toward high gravity selections. I ordered a Founders barrel aged quad, my wife got a Founders barrel aged stout. They were both excellent, long sipping beers that complemented our food. Sadly, my food order was a letdown. I got the "Pitmaster's Pie," featuring smoked brisket and pork and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes. I expected this to be something like a shepherd's pie, with a thin layer of potatoes over a bowl full of meat and vegetables. What I got was more like a bowl of mashed potatoes with meat and vegetable accents. The advertised "red wine sauce" was MIA, at least as far as I could taste. Not that the pie tasted bad, but it wasn't something I would have gotten if I had known what I was in for. My wife always seems to get the better entree when we go out, and that happened again here. She ordered the brisket plate, and it truly was excellent. Brisket was tender with just the right smokiness, and the coleslaw on the side was fresh, crisp, and tangy. Service was good throughout our visit. We will certainly go back, and next time I'll stick to the meatier selections. And call a week ahead.

If this review were solely based on the food and the view, it would be a five star review hands down. Unfortunately, the service brought down the experience to a three star. Each time we have visited, we have required a reservation. If a restaurant is using a reservation system, they should be able to accurately staff based on projections or control reservations based on staffing. In a full ten table restaurant, much of which sat parties greater than four, there was only one server tonight. The rest of the team, including the host and the bus boy did help out, 17 minutes into us being sat. Our assigned server never came to our table to greet us and eventually our table was taken over by the hostess. She was very sweet and helped where she could, unfortunately she was being pulled in so many directions, as was the remaining staff. She told us they weren't anticipating such a busy evening and only scheduled one server, which really doesn't make much sense when we have only been able to get in with a reservation. The food, on the other hand, was really great. They offer a large selection of beers and liquors (several local offerings) as well as a classic cocktail menu (no modern drinks on it). We've hoped to try the ribs on both occasions but last time they were out and this time the smoker was down. We instead had pulled pork and brisket. Both were great and we equally enjoyed the sides-- macaroni and cheese (featuring an old bay seasoning) and garlic mashed potatoes. We will be skipping the coleslaw next time as it was vinegar based and we prefer mayonnaise based. Their barbecue sauce offers a nice kick. We especially loved the corn muffin starter and the pickled red onions. We will be back for the food and hope for an improvement in staffing/service.

Always an excellent dining experience and atmosphere. Justifies the trip to the Keeweenaw. Reservations system was great to use.

Great pork bar-b-que! Large portions and the Mac n' cheese deliciously seasoned. Green beans and super good bark on the rib tips appetizer. Great dinner with a view!

Never a bad meal, fantastic location, wait staff for the most part pleasant, and not a huge place. I did speak to a local and it appears that whoever answers the phone gives off this arrogant vibe. "We don't need to do that...etc..."(we get enough business, we don't have to be humble.) So yes, there is something missing about this place. Feels like a city restaurant transplanted in the U.P. If you must go here, drive out to the Jam Pot to feel better about life.

Freaking amazing. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Michigan. Everything on the menu is good. This time around I got a flight of beer and a prime rib sandwich. The wife got a chicken sandwich and kids had mac and cheese and chicken tenders. Everyone was hangry beforehand after a half day in Copper Harbor and we all left The Fitz happy after eating. All of their meats are great, as are the sides. They open a bit late, so plan ahead if you go for lunch. The beach is right next door, so just be sure to wait 20 minutes before swimming.

Interesting place. They design says German food and they have a number of German entrees but they also had an eclectic mix of other items in the menu. We got a ciabatta style roll with spices and oil like you would at an Italian restaurant which I thought was odd. View is great. Pretzel and cheese app was so delicious. I enjoyed the sauerkraut. Smoked chop was cured and a bit too salty for my taste. Wide variety of desserts. I'd recommend it.

We ate here twice during our stay and if I could rate more than 5 stars, I surely would. Starting with the selection from the bar, we were so excited to explore all the different offerings! What a huge, varied selection of beers and spirits! We both tried as much as we were able to. My personal favorite was the Gold Rush (rye, honey and lemon) and my husband loved the 16 year old Scottish ale Ola Dubh. Absolutely glorious stuff We also had Irish Coffee several times, which was perfect for a chilly October afternoon. The food was superb. We had creamy red pepper bisque that was so delicate and full of flavor. The brisket was perfect. I had Pitmasters Pie, which had brisket and vegetables in a red wine sauce with garlic mashed potatoes on top. Absolutely superior. My husband had the special, Filet Mignon with cherry wine butter and claimed it as the best steak he has ever had (he has had a lot of steaks) The staff was attentive and helpful. This experience was one in a million. What a fantastic establishment. We will be back, planning on making this our annual anniversary trip

Absolutely fantastic experience. We were initially disappointed because they did not have indoor dining open but it worked out perfectly. The food was outstanding and the setting cannot be beat. If you are anywhere in the area please go out of your want to come here.

We LOVE this restaurant. The incredible food, the beautiful view, the delicious cocktails, everything about The Fitz is amazing! Whenever we are in town, we make sure to go here as many times as we can.

This is THE PLACE for BBQ in the Copper Country! The service is super friendly and top notch. They currently have a limited menu but it doesn't matter because everything on their is great. Brisket is juicy with just the right amount of fat. It pairs perfectly with their creamy Mac n cheese. Also, make sure to pair it with an Old Fashioned. Then walk it off by taking a stroll along beautiful Lake Superior.