Paradise is a small town in the Upper Peninsula nestled along the shores of Lake Superior. While small in size, Paradise offers several tasty dining options showcasing fresh regional fare. Here are the best restaurants and eateries to try during your visit to Paradise.
1. Main Street Pizza & Pub
For delicious pizza in a welcoming pub atmosphere, Main Street Pizza & Pub is a local favorite. Their pizza is made New York style with a thin, crispy crust and generous toppings. I love their Greek pizza topped with gyro meat, feta, olives, onions and tzatziki sauce.
Their pepperoni pizza piled high with slices and spicy Cup & Char pepperoni is delicious too. Main Street’s menu also has burgers, sandwiches, wings and salads if you’re not in the mood for pizza.
As for drinks, they have a nice selection of Michigan craft beers on tap. With its laidback vibe, Main Street Pizza is a great casual dining spot after a day of exploring Paradise.
2. The Galley Restaurant
Attached to the popular Berry Patch Inn, The Galley Restaurant serves homestyle meals in a cozy diner setting. For breakfast they make fluffy pancakes, giant breakfast burritos, and loaded three-egg omelets cooked to order.
I always get their corned beef hash – crispy corned beef mixed with potatoes, onions and peppers. Their lunch and dinner menu includes burgers, sandwiches, fried chicken, pot roast dinners and daily specials like meatloaf and lasagna.
I recommend trying their chicken pot pie baked fresh daily. With friendly service and generous portions, The Galley is a tasty local spot for comfort food any time of day.
3. Thai Paradise
For excellent Thai food in Paradise, Thai Paradise’s authentic dishes are sure to satisfy your craving. Their pad thai has the perfect balance of savory, sweet and spicy flavors with rice noodles, egg, peanuts and your choice of chicken, shrimp or tofu.
I love their panang curry simmered in a rich coconut sauce with your pick of meat. Thai Paradise’s appetizers like crab rangoon and fresh summer rolls make great starters too.
The dining room is small but nicely decorated with Thai art and decor. Take-out is popular as well. For a taste of Thailand, Thai Paradise’s flavorful curries and noodles hit the spot.
4. Upper Crust Bakery & Coffee Shop
For freshly baked breads, pastries, coffee drinks and breakfast fare, Upper Crust Bakery is a Paradise gem. Their glass case overflows with giant cinnamon rolls, muffins, scones, cookies and more. Everything is baked from scratch on-site.
I love starting my morning with one of their muffins and an iced vanilla latte. Their breakfast sandwiches on fresh croissants or pretzel buns are delicious too. Upper Crust also offers soup, salads and sandwiches at lunch like their turkey pesto panini.
With its cozy seating area, Upper Crust is a great spot to meet friends, get some work done or just enjoy an expertly crafted cup of coffee.
5. Howie’s UP Pub & Pizza
Popular with both locals and tourists, Howie’s provides a welcoming neighborhood pub atmosphere with great food and drinks. They serve a nice selection of craft beers on tap along with cocktails.
Howie’s menu features oven-baked pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. I always get the buffalo chicken pizza topped with their signature spicy buffalo sauce, chicken, onions and cheese – so tasty! Their burgers are juicy and cooked just right too.
Howie’s has pool tables and shuffleboard for casual entertainment. With its lively yet laidback vibe, Howie’s is one of my favorite places to go in Paradise for pizza and a pint.
6. The Cedar Inn
Situated on the outskirts of Paradise, the historic Cedar Inn first opened in 1947 and continues to serve hearty comfort food. Their menu features steaks, chicken, burgers, sandwiches and daily specials like pot roast and fried chicken.
I always get their tender broiled whitefish with rice pilaf and steamed veggies – so fresh and flavorful. I also love their 8oz sirloin steak cooked to order. Be sure to save room for pie – they bake them in-house daily.
The Cedar Inn’s rustic knotty pine interior makes for a cozy dining experience. With welcoming service and generous portions, it’s a quintessential UP eatery.
7. The Landing Restaurant
Connected to the Landing Hotel, this welcoming restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. In the morning, fuel up on omelets, pancakes, breakfast burritos and eggs Benedict.
At lunch, they serve soups, salads and sandwiches like their popular pastrami on rye. For dinner they offer pub favorites like burgers, fish and chips, steak dinners and pasta. I always go for their Lake Superior whitefish – light and flaky with just the right amount of breading.
With reasonable prices and friendly service, The Landing Restaurant is a solid choice when you’re exploring Paradise.
8. Lakeside Diner
Lakeside Diner is a charming retro eatery serving up hearty meals since 1965. This unassuming diner boasts a packed parking lot daily as both locals and visitors flock for the homemade comfort food.
Open for breakfast and lunch, Lakeside Diner specializes in stick-to-your-ribs classics like fluffy pancakes, loaded omelets, and their famous pasties. Giant three-egg omelets packed with your choice of meat, veggies and cheese provide a savory way to fuel up for the day.
At lunch, Lakeside Diner serves up juicy burgers, hot sandwiches, salads and Lake Superior whitefish. Their breaded perch sandwich delivers a pile of crispy fish paired with crunchy slaw and fries. The homemade soups showcase local ingredients like smoked whitefish chowder and chicken dumpling.
9. Northern Waters Smokehaus
Specializing in artisanal smoked fish, meats and cheeses, Northern Waters Smokehaus produces incredible local flavors that foodies flock to sample. This smokehaus located right along the highway slow-smokes Lake Superior fish like whitefish, trout and salmon along with meat and cheeses using local maple and fruit woods.
Before buying, you can try enjoying slices of pastrami bread, smoked pepperoni and even scrumptious sausages. And their smoked cheddars and goudas like UP Sharp and Cherry Maple Cheddar impart incredible smoky depth.
Northern Waters also offers grab-and-go smoked fish sandwiches, wraps, salads and sides so you can enjoy their products easily while exploring Paradise. Their smoked whitefish salad sandwich delivers a pile of flaky fish blended with dill, celery and mayo. Combining smoked meats and cheese, their pastrami grilled cheese oozes with flavor.
10. Fitzgerald’s Pub
Fitzgerald’s Pub offers classic pub fare and the area’s most extensive selection of Michigan craft beers on draft. The menu features all the greasy, hearty grub you crave after a day of exploring Paradise.
Wings are a specialty, with flavors like garlic parmesan, sweet chili, and Fitz Warrior sauce to choose from. Their crispy chicken tenders deliver crunchy breading enveloping juicy meat. Upgrade to buffalo-style tossed in spicy hot sauce.
Fitzgerald’s also plates up hand-pressed burgers sizzling hot off the grill. Create your ideal burger with toppings like bacon, sautéed mushrooms, crispy onion rings and different cheeses.
Their pizza baked in a stone oven boasts a chewy crust with chunky sauce and gooey cheese. Options like the bacon cheeseburger pizza allow you to enjoy two classics in one.
The small town of Paradise, Michigan punches above its weight when it comes to tasty dining options. Pizzerias, brewpubs, bakeries and lakefront eateries offer both variety and scenic dining. With its mix of locally owned eateries and hospitality, Paradise provides a memorable foodie destination in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
