Duluth Minnesota Restaurant Guide

One of the most inviting aspects of visiting a new town is the food. Exploring new restaurants and discovering what a new place excels at can be a delightful experience. Here's a warm invitation to explore a few restaurants around Duluth, Minnesota.

Best Overall: Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar

Lake Avenue is my favorite restaurant, located in the heart of Canal Park within the historic Dewitt-Seitz building. This establishment offers a casual atmosphere with a fine dining touch, making it perfect for a fancy dinner out. Their impressive wine list complements the creative and high-quality dishes. The restaurant's interior is elegant yet cozy, with warm lighting and comfortable seating. Additionally, Lake Avenue hosts specialty theme dinners roughly once a month, showcasing the chef's creativity and culinary skills. These events are a treat for those looking to experience something unique and innovative.

Most Interesting: Northern Waters Smokehaus

Do you want to have the best sandwich of your life? Check out Northern Waters Smokehaus, located just below Lake Avenue in the Dewitt-Seitz building. This renowned spot has recently moved into a larger space to better accommodate its growing fan base. What makes it the 'Most Interesting' is its unique approach to sandwiches, using artisanally cured meats and smoked fish to create a wide selection of intriguing flavors. My personal favorite is the Cajun Fin, but you can't go wrong with any choice. Be sure to check their schedule for live music events to enhance your dining experience even further.

Best View: Va Bene

Va Bene, the quintessential Italian restaurant, is renowned for its house-made fresh pasta, bread, and gelato. While the food is exceptional, the real star here is the view. Perched over Lake Superior, the restaurant offers several dining options with breathtaking views of the water. On Wednesdays, you can enjoy half-price bottles of wine, coinciding with regatta night, perfect for watching the boats sail by. It's essential to make reservations, especially during summer, as walk-ins are rarely accommodated. Also, ignore what anywhere else says: you need reservations. Do not try to walk in, especially in the summer.  

Best Breakfast: Duluth Grill

Duluth Grill is a double-edged sword. While they boast one of the most exciting breakfast menus and consistently deliver delicious meals, the service can be hit or miss. The restaurant is bustling, often resulting in a rushed and sometimes inattentive dining experience, even with good servers. They don't take reservations, only a waitlist, which can extend to two hours or more. For the best experience, visit on a weekday as close to the opening as possible to avoid the long wait times and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

Best Drinks: Vikre

Vikre Distillery boasts a stunning taproom located right by the iconic lift bridge in Canal Park. Known for producing high-quality spirits using local ingredients, Vikre specializes in gin and aquavit, but also offers exceptional vodka and whiskey. The dog-friendly tasting room features a range of innovative seasonal cocktails, each designed to highlight the best tasting notes of their spirits. While the taproom is light on food, there are plenty of dining options in the nearby Canal Park area.

Also the Best Drinks: Jade Fountain

I had to include Jade Fountain as well. It's a divey, fun, and kitschy spot that used to be a Chinese restaurant, and if you didn't know it was now a cocktail bar, you might think it still was. This tiki bar rivals those you'll find in San Francisco, offering an authentic and unique experience. You can trust the bartender to choose your drink, and it will always be fantastic. The interior, with its black walls and red lights, creates a moody and chic atmosphere that feels delightfully out of place in West Duluth. It's truly a hidden gem and something unique.

Best Pie: Rustic Inn Cafe

There is a heated debate among North Shore travelers about who makes the best pie: Betty's Pies or Rustic Inn Café. Let me settle this once and for all: it's Rustic Inn Café. There's no question, no debate—Rustic Inn Café takes the crown. For more details on why I firmly believe this, check out my post, where I directly compare the two.

Are you visiting Duluth soon? Let me know what you think of these places. Duluth has a small food scene, but there's some treasure still to be found!