Went here in August with my family, child, and dog. With no signs saying no dogs, we entered the outside area and sat down under the tiki umbrellas. We sat for a little over 5 minutes, patiently waiting for a waiter. Finally, we got one to acknowledge us, who told us they were not our waitress but she would find him. Gone for another 4ish minutes, comes back and tells us we are not allowed to sit in that spot due to my dog- whom was patiently laying at my feet. I asked where we should sit. She claimed there was two tables for dog owners but both were in use- by people with no dogs. She told us we would have to leave the area and wait outside the restaurant opening. It was very unwelcoming and a long wait on a hot day to be kicked out.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 1
Marcia Hough
After reading so many bad reviews we just had to stop in for lunch to check it out! The service was very good, the food was also good, the view was excellent sitting next to the water! But I have to say it was very much over priced, Holy Moses! It's very touristy and tacky , would we go back...yep definitely.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Joshua Greiner
Downstairs has different menu than upstairs. Prices are a bit high even for tourists
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Andy Kunkel
At first I was disappointed to see how small the menu was with this place. But I was very happy with the grilled chicken sandwich.
Our server, Mileja, was incredibly attentive and quick. I was shocked with how quickly our food arrived.
Recommend this place for the food and the views.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Deborah Nash
Nice spot right on the lake and river. I'm vegan and I didn't expect they'd have anything for me, but the bartender served me a really nice quinoa and bean burger on a sourdough bun. Very good!
Jessica Provoast
We enjoyed sitting right along the river. Server was efficient. The place was very dirty. Our burgers were significantly undercooked.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Matt Hardesty
No one wanted to wait the tables. Terrible service, go somewhere else
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jan Loridas
Seated quickly in view of the waterfall. Served incredible smoked whitefish Caesar, (my new favorite! )
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Parker
We ordered - last Monday 7/21/25 - the $12.00 cherry pie just to say we had tasted Michigan cherries. The pie was way overpriced to begin with but was delicious.But BEWARE - the waitress added a mini scoop of ice cream for both pieces of pie at $4.00 a scoop. I am one of those weird people that don’t even like ice cream. This was HIGHLY dishonest and we are VERY disappointed the waitress snuck that in on the bill - probably for a higher tip at 20% - or $.80 more so $4.80 for that mini mini scoop we neither asked for or wanted.
Timothy F
Rick’s Cafe in Leland delivers a truly memorable dining experience, especially if you love eating outdoors with a beautiful view. Sitting outside overlooking the fish area creates an amazing vibe that enhances the meal. The atmosphere is casual and perfect for a relaxed outing. The food is decent with good flavor, and the portions are satisfying for the price. Although service can be a bit slow at times, the staff is friendly and attentive when they are around. The outdoor seating makes it a standout spot in Leland for those who appreciate waterfront dining. I highly recommend Rick’s Cafe for anyone wanting a unique Northern Michigan experience with a lovely riverside setting. It’s definitely worth visiting for the ambiance alone. A solid five-star rating from me!
We had to try a little bit of everything here. We had the seafood chowder, chubby bloody which was an experience, white fish pate and chicken sandwich. Everything was so delicious. You walk in and sit where there is an available seat, the server comes over shortly and starts your order. Nice dam in the background for visual satisfaction.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I am Someone
Great food, great view, and friendly staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Cove's Famous Seafood Chowder, Cherry Chicken Salad Wrap
Abu S Chowdhury
Nice environment great place good service yum food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Heather Morrison
A great place to grab a bite to eat. We were just getting back from an island trip to South Manitou and needed to grab a bite before heading home. The service was speedy and sitting right next to the dam was awesome.
The menu is very limited. Only a hot dog or Mac n cheese for kids and roughly ten items for adults. This contributes to the speediness but if you are traveling with a picky eater, this might not be the place for you.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Lan
Rick’s Café is the laid-back counterpart to The Cove—perfect for adult-friendly hangouts by the water. The entirely outdoor setup comes with beautiful dam views, misty breezes, and seasonal live music, but also means you’ll want to pack sunscreen, bug spray, or a cozy layer depending on the weather. The menu is smaller and may not suit all dietary needs, but if you’re after drinks and light bites in a casual, social setting, this is a charming summer stop in Fishtown.
Went here in August with my family, child, and dog. With no signs saying no dogs, we entered the outside area and sat down under the tiki umbrellas. We sat for a little over 5 minutes, patiently waiting for a waiter. Finally, we got one to acknowledge us, who told us they were not our waitress but she would find him. Gone for another 4ish minutes, comes back and tells us we are not allowed to sit in that spot due to my dog- whom was patiently laying at my feet. I asked where we should sit. She claimed there was two tables for dog owners but both were in use- by people with no dogs. She told us we would have to leave the area and wait outside the restaurant opening. It was very unwelcoming and a long wait on a hot day to be kicked out.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 1
After reading so many bad reviews we just had to stop in for lunch to check it out! The service was very good, the food was also good, the view was excellent sitting next to the water! But I have to say it was very much over priced, Holy Moses! It's very touristy and tacky , would we go back...yep definitely.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Downstairs has different menu than upstairs. Prices are a bit high even for tourists
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
At first I was disappointed to see how small the menu was with this place. But I was very happy with the grilled chicken sandwich.
Our server, Mileja, was incredibly attentive and quick. I was shocked with how quickly our food arrived.
Recommend this place for the food and the views.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice spot right on the lake and river. I'm vegan and I didn't expect they'd have anything for me, but the bartender served me a really nice quinoa and bean burger on a sourdough bun. Very good!
We enjoyed sitting right along the river. Server was efficient. The place was very dirty. Our burgers were significantly undercooked.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
No one wanted to wait the tables. Terrible service, go somewhere else
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Seated quickly in view of the waterfall.
Served incredible smoked whitefish Caesar, (my new favorite! )
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered - last Monday 7/21/25 - the $12.00 cherry pie just to say we had tasted Michigan cherries. The pie was way overpriced to begin with but was delicious.But BEWARE - the waitress added a mini scoop of ice cream for both pieces of pie at $4.00 a scoop. I am one of those weird people that don’t even like ice cream. This was HIGHLY dishonest and we are VERY disappointed the waitress snuck that in on the bill - probably for a higher tip at 20% - or $.80 more so $4.80 for that mini mini scoop we neither asked for or wanted.
Rick’s Cafe in Leland delivers a truly memorable dining experience, especially if you love eating outdoors with a beautiful view. Sitting outside overlooking the fish area creates an amazing vibe that enhances the meal. The atmosphere is casual and perfect for a relaxed outing. The food is decent with good flavor, and the portions are satisfying for the price. Although service can be a bit slow at times, the staff is friendly and attentive when they are around. The outdoor seating makes it a standout spot in Leland for those who appreciate waterfront dining. I highly recommend Rick’s Cafe for anyone wanting a unique Northern Michigan experience with a lovely riverside setting. It’s definitely worth visiting for the ambiance alone. A solid five-star rating from me!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We had to try a little bit of everything here. We had the seafood chowder, chubby bloody which was an experience, white fish pate and chicken sandwich. Everything was so delicious. You walk in and sit where there is an available seat, the server comes over shortly and starts your order. Nice dam in the background for visual satisfaction.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, great view, and friendly staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Cove's Famous Seafood Chowder, Cherry Chicken Salad Wrap
Nice environment great place good service yum food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
A great place to grab a bite to eat. We were just getting back from an island trip to South Manitou and needed to grab a bite before heading home. The service was speedy and sitting right next to the dam was awesome.
The menu is very limited. Only a hot dog or Mac n cheese for kids and roughly ten items for adults. This contributes to the speediness but if you are traveling with a picky eater, this might not be the place for you.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Rick’s Café is the laid-back counterpart to The Cove—perfect for adult-friendly hangouts by the water. The entirely outdoor setup comes with beautiful dam views, misty breezes, and seasonal live music, but also means you’ll want to pack sunscreen, bug spray, or a cozy layer depending on the weather. The menu is smaller and may not suit all dietary needs, but if you’re after drinks and light bites in a casual, social setting, this is a charming summer stop in Fishtown.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
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