The Perch

Lost potential on this beautifully located restaurant. Great views. Maybe if you're close by go for the cheese curds, but everything else we got was sadly unimpressive. They opened at 11, and we got there around 11:45. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, 10 minutes later our server came out to tell us they didn't have that item. And reasked drink orders. Overcooked smash burgers that weren't flavorful or juicy. Dry French dip. Pasta Primavera came out with completely different vegetables than on the menu and was more like a soup consistency-not a rich creamy dish. Onion petals had thick breading and mouthfuls of dry corn meal. No changing table in either restroom. Good signage to find the place. Overall a poor experience and failed to meet our expectations.

Driving thru Ludington and decided to come here to this brand new restaurant on Hamlin Lake. Food was very good. As an appetizer , we did have the street corn and that was fantastic!! I had the Perch Sandwich and my wife had the Fish Reuben. Only complaint is that the seasoned fries weren't that seasoned but they were still good. The view of the lake is very nice, even on this cloudy, windy day. If you're in the area, you need to give The Perch a visit.

We came here after hiking all day as it was the closest restaurant that sounded good to where we were - what a nice place! The food is higher priced but worth it - we didn't have a single dish in our party of 8 that wasn’t delicious. Our food came out really fast as well. The cheesecake is soooo good, can’t go wrong with the perch dinner, and the salads were fresh and yummy. The noise level was high due to the echoing with the high ceilings but not unbearable. I will say if you plan to go here - the majority of the guests seemed to be dressed nicely and maybe higher class - but as I said we had just finished hiking all day (after camping for 4 days) and were preparing for the 4 hour drive back home and were still met with smiling faces and great service. They were out of a few things but it didn’t deter us from having a full quality meal. My only suggestion for the restaurant manager would be to take the berry crisp off the menu when you’re out of ice cream - it’s very dry and plain without that extra touch but I’m sure awesome when it has all the parts!

The first time I came with a large group and was told it would be an hour and fifteen minute wait so we decided to come back earlier another day. The next time, we came at open and still had a 45 minute wait. The view and atmosphere is great and I liked that you can sit in the deck below and get a drink while you wait for your table. I ordered the smash burger and it wasn't very good. The patties were 1/4 inch wide and overcooked. Other food that people ordered looked good, so next time I would definitely order something else. There is limited boat parking so arrive early

The best thing about this place is the view. Beyond that? There isn’t much to write home about. We got there exactly at 4 and they were already taking names for a waitlist-we had no problem with that and went downstairs to the bar to wait. We waited about 40 minutes and were sat in the LOUDEST dining room. If you look at other reviews, this is clearly a problem. We couldn’t hear each other, we couldn’t hear the waitstaff. The restaurant can seem to decide if it’s a bar or an actual restaurant and the food reflects this. Overall our food was bad. It was cold, tasteless-or in the case of my steak, waaay too over seasoned. It was a cross between some weird BBQ and sweet seasoning-overall, not good. It came with 4, yes, 4 tiny potatoes and a small side of asparagus. My husband got the French dip-it looked cold and old with very little fries on the side. Our friends had other sandwiches and only ate half of each because they were so bad. Understand that we wanted to like this place as we live in Ludington but we cannot get over the high prices for less than mediocre food. Perhaps we’ll take friends for a drink and the view, but we’ll definitely eat dinner somewhere else.

Beautiful panorama of Hamlin Lake on the deck! Smash burger was excellent, Caesar salad and clam chowder also very good. Great destination restaurant. We’ll be back.

We had a fantastic experience at The Perch! The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The atmosphere was inviting and relaxed, perfect for a night out. Our server, Danielle, made the evening even better with her friendly and attentive service. She was knowledgeable about the menu, had great recommendations, and made us feel truly welcome. We’ll definitely be back!

Tried this place out for dinner last night! Great food, drinks and service! It was their last night for the season! Fun date night!

Beautiful ambiance. Right on the water, beautiful drive to the restaurant. We are here in October with the pretty fall colors.

hostess = 1 for continually on phone, fixing hair, looking confused and literally responding with "huh?" when she was asked "can we sit at the bar". I guess she did not understand or hear the question? I guess 'huh' is acceptable form of communication to paying clientele in her mind? server = 5 for personality and general helpfulness, 4 for the times spend on the phone and once meal was served: 2 for not including silverware and side plates and only napkins but only when specifically asked food and drinks = 5 for taste, presentation and execution menu = 5 for inspired and varied yet delightful choices, 4 for misspellings and errors atmosphere = 5 This review although honest might be a bit harsh as I realize this is a new place and they are still trying to get the kinks worked out. Given some minor adjustments as outlined above, a better trained hostess and less phone-play for everyone, this has the potential to be a phenomenal place. Even given all the above - I'll be back for sure as I'm looking forward to trying more of the exciting menu items.

New restaurant for Peggy on Hammond Lake. Very pleased to see another option. The only thing that would've been better if we had a boat to come up to the dock with. But there was plenty of parking. Peggy and I ate at the bar And had an awesome time. The food was outstanding and will definitely come back the next time. If you haven't checked it out you should. They have perch on the menu unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try it tonight but we'll do it next time. As I looked around the bar everything looked great.

Service was good. Waitress answered my questions concerning gluten free items. I loved the view of the water from both the waiting area and the eating area on the balcony. The food unfortunately wasn't all that amazing. My husband got the perch and it wasn't worth the price. The sauce was bitter. Flavor wasn't really there My daughter had the flatbread pizza. They forgot the pepperoni which wasn't the end of the world, but the garlic flavor was overpowering and just gross. Streetcorn dip was good Gluten free French dip was good, but potatoes were plain Kids smash burger was good I think they have potential with such an awesome location.

Pains me to give less than 4 stars to any business but the experience was just okay. General info: parking is plentiful unless they are busy. It's one way for driving in so you'll have to U turn if it's full. They do not take reservations. You can check in at the host stand and they will take your #. They ask that you wait downstairs on the lower level where there is a bar window and plenty of seats/tables and a nice view of the lake. Food we tried: - homemade clam chowder tasted great, interesting mix between a traditional New England and manhattan chowder. Not creamy, more brothy but not red. Overall good flavor and amount of clams. - perch dinner: Fine, but for the price, you can get better elsewhere in town - Mussels: broth was delicious, the amount they give you is quite generous (nearly 20 on mine!). That being said, to improve, they should be careful not give you unopened mussels on your plate. I had 3. Ambiance: - I would say it's worth it to sit outside if you can. The way the sun shines in the evening, the back is quite shaded and it's not as loud - we were seated inside near their big window and due to the way the sun hits their upper skylights, it was blinding for half our table. It was extremely unpleasant though we didn't get the full extent of it until we were seated and ordered. When we asked about changing the tables, the staff just said sorry, no can do, and asked just to rearrange ourselves awkwardly around half the table to 2 people per side. Very disappointed with this "solution". - its very loud inside - they have high top tables which looked proportional to their chairs. The lower tables are actually quite tall and are paired with normal chairs so it's a very awkward fit Families: they do have high chairs, boosters, and a kids menu that is not posted online. Due to height of low tables that are actually tall, the high chair does not reach. Overall, if you need a sit down restaurant to eat fish and chips/seafood or to accommodate a group and you're willing to come early since there are no reservations, this would fit the bill. But there's definitely room for improvement.

Love the newest place to eat in the Ludington area. The view from the dining room is clearly the best from around town. Great find with the Street corn pasta (added chicken for a protein). They still need a good, on the rocks rum, but I was informed that the staff is working on it. Look forward to having this on the rotation. PS - the French Dip sandwich makes for a great meal.

The Streetcorn Pasta was delicious. The Ribeye was delightful, and cooked as requested. The HoneyLime Shrimp Salad was excellent. The pulled pork sandwich was tasty but I did need to ask for more bbq sauce. The decor is charming and the view of the lake is spectacular. Our new favorite restaurant in Ludington!

Hamlin Just Got Classy. Let's be clear: this isn't some big-city scene--and thank God for that. It's The Perch on Hamlin Lake, and it's bringing something fresh, fun, and a little bit fancy to our backyard. We ordered like we meant it: Gator Bikes (snap), calamari sticks (a little limp, still went fast), street corn pasta (bold and downright seductive), mussels (briny, garlicky perfection), ribs (solid), and of course--the perch, because when in Hamlin... Little Miss Doctor corrected us immediately: "Don't misquote me. I loved the mussels. And that street corn pasta? That's my partner in bed tonight." Little Teacher said everything was solid--he's not wrong. Little Mister? Honestly, no one asked. And then we did and he said he's just happy he doesn't have to do the dishes. And just when we thought we were tapping out, someone gasped, "Wait--they have Perch Cheesecake?" Not perch-flavored. Just the Perch Cheesecake. And yes, it was worth staying for. Five stars. Zero regrets. Paddle in, stumble out, come hungry.

Very loud. Tables are close. But the owners are amazing. Food is good.inside for sisters out side for the people camping there

Beautiful setting, efficient and friendly service and great food! Loved our dessert selections.

Ambiance and service were great. While we waited for our table, went downstairs and had a drink. All folks we encountered were very friendly. Food was ok. Smash burgers were not very smashed. 2 of us ordered them with sides other than fries and both came with fries. They brought our ordered sides with no issues. Veggie pizza was good. Watermelon feta salad yummy. Chicken sandwiches were more like 2 chicken tenders. Just ok. Drinks were good and reasonable prices. Only open for 2 months, so would def give them another shot.

Service was slow, appetizers came about 5 minutes after our entrees arrived. When I mentioned we no longer wanted it our waitress suggested we could take it home and airfry it, not exactly the response I was looking for. Mediocre would be a generous description of the food, I ordered the fish Ruben, it appeared to be two Mrs Paul's fish sticks on split open marble rye, basically uneatable. I attempted to reach out to the person who appeared to be the owner/manager but she was too busy cleaning tables and drinking pop. Not once did I see her talking to customers. I gave it 2 stars because the drinks were good and the views are beautiful, but I won't be returning.

If visiting the Ludington Michigan area, this restaurant is a 'don't miss' spot for dinner! Good food, reasonable service, and a great view.

Food is good but expensive Service poor, no experience staff Beautiful surroundings, good decor, quality furniture.

If you're looking for a memorable dining experience, The Perch is an absolute must-visit. With a breathtaking view of Hamlin Lake, this charming restaurant offers a perfect blend of fantastic food, great service, and an unbeatable atmosphere.

The location is great and it's the only place like it in town. The drinks were very delicious, I could have had a few while sitting out in the deck and watching the lake all evening. We had a little wait to be seated which was expected on a summer weekend, my child liked playing in the grassy area out front, however there were no changing table in the bathroom when that was needed. The service was fine but a bit slow (which can be understandable with someplace new as they are establishing their staff). The food was a bit of a disappointment. The onion petal appetizer was good but small portion for the price. They were out of stock of the other two apps we wanted to try. I liked my street corn pasta but my husband's salmon had a few bones in it and it was over a small scoop of dry rice and not risotto as listed.

The atmosphere is nice, good view of water. But the menu needs to be revamped. Our fish tasted like it was frozen. My wife's salmon looked & tasted like it was frozen from Walmart. I got the perch...same thing. My friend pointed out that they have 3 big TVs yet none had football on even though it was opening college football Saturday. But I'm more concerned with the food. I always forget once I get into the northern Michigan area the restaurant food quality drops way off.

tldr: might as well stay with Stix. Was pretty hyped to try this place out but sad to say it was pretty mid. Food was decent and portions were good, but for the price I hope for higher quality. In terms of the perch itself, there are multiple better options in town (at least in terms of value/taste). What really hurt it was the experience. Service was ok - not horrible but not friendly in any way and certainly not accommodating. Atmosphere was really loud and the sun shining through the windows at dinnertime makes some parts of the restaurant miserable. Parking was also tough. Overall, just not worth the wait or the price. There are more enjoyable ways to spend an evening in Ludington with better food and better environments.

The waitress Maddie was fantastic. She was kind and nice, food was great . Lamas and the kids had been great too so

First meal there last Sunday at open. My smash-burger was OK, though I should've opted for the usual condiments instead the aioli sauce. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich and the meat proved inedible, resulting in paying $17 for half a plate of fries. Wont be hurrying back. The view from the deck however is lovely.