Restaurants near Omena

“In matters of taste, sentimentality is a dangerous thing — yet there are moments when even the most disciplined critic must surrender.

At Knot Just a Bar, perched humbly on the edge of Omena Bay, I was served the Famous Fish Kone, filled with beautifully fried pike-perch any trace of skepticism vanished with the first bite.
The fish arrived hot, crisp, and unapologetically golden, its flaky interior reminding me that simplicity, when treated with respect, can be profound. The malt vinegar — sharp, bracing, and utterly necessary — cut through the richness like a well-placed critique, elevating the dish rather than distracting from it.

This was not food that begged for attention. It earned it. No foam, no pretense, no needless reinvention — just expertly fried local fish, served in a cone, beside the water that likely knew it first.

I came expecting “just a bar.”
I left reminded that greatness often hides in paper cones, deck chairs, and a splash of vinegar.
Final verdict: A rare triumph where comfort food and quiet excellence meet. I will return — and next time, I won’t pretend it’s for research.”

“Wonderful spot in our village of Northport Wonderful food, drinks, and service.”

“This restaurant is the best. Everyone has a great attitude, the restaurant is well organized and the food delicious.”

“cool environment n awesome lil scavenger hunt icecream hits just right!”

“Great food and friendly staff!”

“I had a sandwich at Lylah’s today, amazing quality and could easily had fed two people. The flavor was incredible. I am happy to say this is one of my most favorite restaurants in Leelanau county. Staff were very friendly, pleasant environment and clean. Give it a try, don’t think you will be disappointed. Great place!”

“Great new spot! Liked it so much we ate there twice this week. Good wine, great food and wonderful service. Our new favorite place in Leelanau.”

“We stopped in after getting our Christmas tree from Kolariks Christmas tree farm just before noon on a Saturday. Rookie parent move, we had promised our 2.5yr old a sprinkled donut however when we arrived the case had been wiped out by the busy morning rush. The sweet lady working overheard us talking and offered to make our son a fresh sprinkled donut. Her kindness and delicious donut made his day! Also highly recommend the pumpkin cream cheese muffin and lemon poppyseed muffin! Thank you Chimoski Bakery!”

“Love all their goodies and the pizza is to die for. Always make a trip there when we are up in the area on vacation.”

“We stopped in for an after lunch, early dinner. We weren't looking for a spot necessarily but definitely glad we did. Very cozy feel, definitely family friendly. Good drink options and appetizers as well. We had a fish sandwich and a Reuben and both were excellent. Service is super fast and the staff is really friendly.”

“Great people and delicious iced vanilla latte and iced cafe mocha. Highly recommended.”

“Green Bird is a little slice of Heaven! They even practice sustainable farming via their “flerd“ (flock of chickens and herd of sheep) who rotate through each row of vines. I sat down and immediately signed up for the wine club because I knew this was something I wanted to support! And yes, the server was new this season but very knowledgeable and warm. No high-brow wine snobbery here! P.S. wine and cheese pairings are fantastic.”

“This is a favorite of ours! Beautiful grounds, great location between Traverse city and Suttons bay, a wonderful suite we stay in that is on the first floor. Also, it's just like home from the demeanor of the Inn Keeper to access to all areas including the library and pub, with plush leather seating and decor reminiscent of a classic fox hunting lodge. Breakfasts are special and delicious. Wine tasting room next door, grapes growing alongside, view of the horse pasture and great walking trails. What more could you want??!”

“I've been to a lot of breweries but I couldn't wait to leave this one fast enough. The place was very dirty and run down. I'm an outdoor person but I couldn't walk through the joint without nats flying up my nose. There were bags of trash next to our table. The floors were covered in dirt and weeds outside. They obviously take no pride in their bulding and land. The beer was good, but didn't mind the extra protein. I never leave reviews, but I had too. The two stars are for the beer and the pizza looked good. Although there were some definite health code violations with the food. It would take so little to make this place great. Definitely disappointed.”

“My husband and I were warmly welcomed by Brandon, the owner of Yard and Lake, who introduced us to the chef and went over the menu selections. Both were super friendly!! They had a special Valentines menu along with the regular menu. I selected the shrimp and risotto from the special menu and my husband chose the pizza from the regular menu. We also ordered the stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer. WOW is all I can say.. The food was outstanding!!! Everything was hot, and presented beautifully. They came around several times to be sure we were satisfied and to see if we needed anything. This place is worth a drive from Traverse! You won’t be disappointed or leave hungry. The Negronis…yum!!! We will be back for sure! Maybe tomorrow!! Thank you Yard and Lake for a wonderful culinary experience.”

“My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary this past weekend. Beautiful views and great wine. Can’t wait to come back in the summer. Thank you Terry for helping us pick our flights :)”

“Amazing service and flavors”

“Igloos are fun! Good beer and food! Tacos are delicious and the white bean chicken chili is excellent - would love the recipe 😋 Our favorite place to enjoy a good time!”

“Truly a special meal. This was BETTER than the photos. Every single thing we ate (baked mozzarella, parfait, salmon Benedict, apple pancake) was so incredibly delicious. Honestly the best meal of the trip. Service was also wonderful. So glad we made the trip out here.”

“We had Barb’s donuts catered for our wedding this past July and received nothing but positive comments about donuts for dessert! Barb’s has the BEST donuts in northern Michigan and their service is outstanding. We were very impressed with their catering!”

“Black Star Farms & Coordinators Danny/Meghan: Simply the Best Wedding Day!

If you are looking for an effortlessly beautiful, stress-free, and truly amazing wedding experience, book Black Star Farms immediately and ask for Danny and Meghan as your coordinators. Our wedding on September 19, 2025, was flawless, and it was entirely due to this incredible team and venue.

The Venue: Breathtaking Beauty

Black Star Farms provides a setting that is beyond comparison. The sights and views are spectacular—from the vineyard backdrops and rolling hills for our outdoor ceremony to the beautiful spaces indoors. The natural beauty of the property means you need minimal additional decor.

Beyond the visuals, the food was exceptional. Our guests are still talking about the quality and presentation of the meal. The entire experience felt sophisticated, local, and incredibly high-end.

The Team: Danny & Meghan's Excellence

Danny and Meghan, our coordinators, are truly the reason our day was so easy and stress-free. Their amazing communication throughout the planning process kept us organized and calm. They are masters of attention to detail, proactively handling logistics and ensuring every transition—from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception—happened seamlessly.

On the wedding day, they worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring all vendors were supported and that we, the couple, only had to focus on enjoying the moment. They are professional, warm, and absolute experts at what they do.

We highly recommend Black Star Farms, and especially Danny and Meghan, to any couple dreaming of an elegant, smooth, and unforgettable wedding celebration.”

“Went for Steak night on Thursday night and it was delicious! Love how they offer so many "great" specials. Will be going back again for sure!”

“Great food at a great location!”

“We have a family of 6 who are all awestruck by how good the food is and the service could not have been better or more friendly! We may just come back from downstate for the "Frenchie" and the chicken and chips! Thank you to our new friends at Around the Corner! 🤩”

“Anne Popa is very welcoming, and has respectable and excellent customer service! my boyfriend and I have gotten pizza here and we most certainly 110% can taste the secret ingredient which is LOVE. Thank you, BOB for going above and beyond you truly are apart of what makes this community wholesome ❤️‍?”

“Always been my fave since 90’s. Their new deep dish is SO GOOD! Hubz and I really enjoyed it”

“For exceptional sparkling wines in a picturesque setting, look no further than Mawby. They have a truly impressive selection, and all of the wines I sampled (Green, Gold, and Mille 2019) were fantastic. On top of that, the staff are top notch, not just in the service they provide, but also in their knowledge of the many different wines Mawby produces.

And if sparkling wines aren't your jam, their sister winery, Big Little Wines, is on the other side of the building. So if you're in the area, it's definitely worth a stop. You won't regret it.”

“The food was delicious”

“The rooms are filled with a tv, microwave, toaster, utensils, coffee pot, the beds and pillows were comfy and a great nights rest. The view is a 1000% Awesome. The hospitality and generosity was outstanding. everything was clean and well maintained! Highly recommend this place. If money was no object, I would never leave. I fell in love with this place and I definitely will be back!! they trusted us and we trusted them. it's hard to find genuine people these days and the owners definitely showed us that there are still kind people around!! I'd give this place 1 million stars. I miss it already!!”

“We love the nostalgia of this place the decor has a classic up north feel. We have brought our kids here for dinner a few times this past year and they have loved the burgers and pizza! The service and staff are always welcoming and make us feel like we are part of a family every time we come. My favorite is the perch, I personally live the way they prepare it with just a light dusting of batter.”