The Dish: Fresh-For-Fall Restaurant News From The County
We’re back with a quick roundup of Leelanau’s latest restaurant news: Some beloved favorites are announcing their last call for fall, with other restaurateurs leaning into the slower season with locals-centric specials.
First up, Garage Bar-B-Q in Northport. Owner Dave Kwiatkowski tells the Leelanau Ticker the barbecue eatery and locals gathering place will “definitely be open through New Year’s Eve,” then will close in January for an over-winter renovation and bar expansion. Kwiatkowski, who is partner/designer with the Detroit Optimist Society (hospitality group behind Detroit-area hotspots The Sugar House in Corktown, the Mutiny Tiki Bar and brunch and late-night joint Honest John’s) explains that the reimagined bar will grow by 12-plus feet and the exterior will gain a covered pergola. The intent to be open as a year-round restaurant, he says, noting that his business partners are now living full-time in the county and he and his family just put down roots in Northport.
Meanwhile, stay tuned to Garage Bar-B-Q’s social media for announcements: Chef Jimmie Stewart is bringing some Mexican flavors to the far-north culinary destination. In addition to the classic Southern barbecue menu, he has added authentic and inventive tacos (pastor, mole, and elote) to the menu. He's also brought the popular French dip to permanent menu status. Stewart, a Great Lakes Culinary Institute grad, spent time in kitchens in Chicago before returning to the area. “He’s absolutely a rockstar,” says Kwiatkowski.
In Glen Arbor, Good Harbor Grill (above left) shifted to off-season hours of 8am to 3pm daily but is now ramping up for its “annual takeover week,” with the kitchen crafting a from-scratch Southwestern menu: fresh guacamole; homemade bean dip and spicy queso; burritos, fajitas, tacos; blackened sea scallops with avocado cream; and vegan options. (The takeover menu will be available October 14: 5-8:30pm; October 15: 11:30-3:30pm & 5-8:30pm; October 16-October 20: 11:30-3:00pm.) Follow on Facebook for more.
Pretzel bread devotees, get a trip to Fishtown on deck: Village Cheese Shanty’s last day for sandwiches is Friday October 21, with the annual cheese sale to follow on October 22. The now-iconic sandwiches celebrated their silver anniversary this season: The Village Cheese Shanty has been operating for over 45 years, but it was after Eloise Telgard Fahs sold her cheese shop and bakery business to Dave Kareck that the salty-sweet, Fishtown-originated pretzel bread become a siren song for so many. With the sandwich throngs thinning, staff has been able to put their all into the daily specials. Check social media for the latest.
The new Polish Countryside Kitchen is open for one last hurrah for the season this weekend, October 15 and 16. If you have not partaken in the authentic Polish delights from Cedar farmer Tom Koch, find the food truck (pictured left) behind the Polish Art Center in downtown Cedar. His wife and business partner Kathleen Koch created the homespun ambiance in the alley with picnic tables, garden lights, corn hole games and polka tunes. The Polish Platter is a great option for newbies: handcrafted stuffed cabbage made with a mix of the Kochs’ Mangalitsa pork and beef locally raised by Dennis Garvin; dilled mashed potatoes; sauerkraut; fresh or smoked kielbasa; pierogi; and rye bread.
And finally, some sweater-weather happy hours on the horizon. Burdickville’s La Bécasse announced the final days of its happy hours on the patio, Fridays and Saturdays 3pm to 5pm for the rest of October. Locals have made La Bécasse happy hours a way to soak up the warm hospitality and a delectably compact sampling of Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux's French cuisine (without a reservation!). The abbreviated menu inlcudes codfish fritters, escargot, oeufs with curry mayonnaise, and duck & pistachio paté. Co-owner Brooke Hazael-Massieux jokes that they are “fair-weather patio hosts,” so watch Facebook for updates. The Burrow in Traverse City launched a new happy hour menu last week, available 3pm to 6pm at the bar, that includes “snacks” ($5) such as falafel, Sicilian style shrimp, and toasts topped with roasted grapes, raclette, and shaved ham. Also check out this week's issue of our sister publication Northern Express for wine trail dining — both casual grazings and full harvest dinners — at Leelanau wineries Black Star Farms and Brengman Brothers at Crain Hill Vineyards.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story included weekly specials this fall at Garage Bar-B-Q. The chef has opted to focus on additions to the regular menu in their place.