Lakes Area Dining Guide - 2020

DINING GUIDE

2020

Lakes Area

• Dining adventures found on the Whitefish Chain • Clarity through creativity for “The Woods” • Dunmire eager to bring his dining experience to lakes area

A PRODUCT OF ECHO PUBLISHING & BRAINERD DISPATCH

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GREAT LOCATIONS

PIZZA

Brainerd/Baxter Westgate Mall

218-829-5804

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Nisswa Main Street

Brainerd Take-N-Bake 409 West Washington

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218-454-9000

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218-692-5505

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Crosslake Town Square

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BEST PIZZA

218-963-3023

ORDER ONLINE AT RAFFERTYSPIZZA.COM

Crosby 30 West Main 218-545-5000

Great Food and Entertainment Year Round ...LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND ...Enjoy Your Favorite Appetizers or a Full Meal – Featuring our Famous Garbage Pizza & Friday BBQ Ribs and Saturday Prime Rib Specials ...Breakfast served daily 6:30am-Noon ...Lunch and Dinner Specials

COMMANDER: Open Daily at 6:30am 1 Block West of Breezy Point Gate 218-562-4198 2 | 2020 Dining Guide |

&

WWW.COMMANDERBAR.COM

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JJ’S PUB: Open at 4pm M-F, Noon on Sat., Closed Sundays Downstairs From Commander 218-562-4600

ON THE COVER:

Contents 2020

G UIDE

a Lakes A re

D

INING

Advertisers Rafferty’s Pizza......................................................... 2 Commander Restaurant & Bar.................... 2

7891 Co Rd 11, Breezy Point, MN 56472 (218) 562-7162 breezypointresort.com

Willard’s Saloon & Eatery................................ 3 Baxter’s Bar & Grill at Arrowwood Lodge........................................... 4 The Wharf..................................................................... 5 Moonlite Bay.............................................................. 6 Big Axe Brewing Co. ........................................... 7

2020

The Pickled Loon Saloon................................. 6

ain Whitefish Ch ture found on ds” • Dining adven creativity for “The Woo area nce to lakes gh rie ou pe thr ex y rit • Cla his dining ger to bring • Dunmire ea

ATCH INERD DISP ING & BRA O PUBLISH T OF ECH A PRODUC

Featured on the cover is Plate 1 of 2 of the Surf & Turf Dinner For Two Served with a bottle of house wine, choice of soup, or salad, and a side for each. Two 6 oz. Filet Mignon and two 5-6 oz. Lobster Tails.

Tasty Pizza North.................................................... 8

Feature Articles:

Breezy Point Resort.............................................. 9 Cedar Chest Restaurant and Bar........................................................................... 9

4 8 13

Norway Ridge.......................................................... 10 Pine Peaks Restaurant...................................... 11 Joe’s Pizza.................................................................... 11 Lost Lake Lodge.................................................... 12 Maucieri’s Italian Bistro, Bar & Deli................................................................... 12 Dairy Queen............................................................. 13

Dining Guide is an annual publication produced by the Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Publising.

Clarity through creativity for “The Woods” Dining adventures found on the Whitefish Chain Dunmire eager to bring his dining experience to lakes area

Publisher: Pete Mohs Advertising Director: Susie Alters Eller

Copy Editor: DeLynn Howard Graphic Designer: Sara Slaby

ff the Located right o

Paul Bunyan Trail!

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| 2020 Dining Guide | 3

CLARITY THROUGH CREATIVITY FOR

The Woods

Baxter’s Bar & Grill at Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes

BY: JEREMY MILLSOP

The trio of Matt Annand and Terri and Luke Ebnet hope to use creativity to turn confusion into clarity.

The confusion stems from the name The Woods, which is what the Ebnets called their 13 acres on Highway 3 between Brainerd and Merrifield, which they purchased six years ago.

Housed on the property prior to the purchase was an event center formerly known as Timbermist. Next to the event center was the bar and grill that used to be called the Chaparral Restaurant. Next to that was the Chaparral Bunkhouse.

The Ebnets believed calling the entire property The Woods would make things easier. In truth, it made things more difficult because people weren’t sure in which of the many buildings an event was taking place or where The Woods was, so the old names kept popping back into use.

So new names, new concepts and new ideas were created and with the help of Annand were implemented this season.

The event center is now called the Gathering on 3. The restaurant is called b*merri gastro pub and the housing is still called The Woods.

For 15 years Annand displayed his creative juices as a former chef and part-owner of 3 Cheers, which owns Prairie Bay, Sherwood Forest and Iron Range Eatery. Annand stepped away from his ownership role to become executive chef and creativity implementation engineer to help the Ebnets’ wild dreams become reality.

“We weren’t short of ideas before, but once Matt came on board it makes it crazier,” Luke Ebnet said. “We’ll throw anything against the wall and see if it sticks. We’ve talked about treehouses in the back, but we can only do so much at a time.

We’re on the right track, though, and this is the shot I’ve been waiting for. We have the right people at the right time.”

4 | 2020 Dining Guide |

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Brainerd Lakes Hidden Gem! Open Wednesday through Saturday 3PM - 9PM for food and bar until 11PM

Daily Dinner Specials!

Baxter’s Bar & Grill (218) 822 - FOOD 6967 Lake Forest Road Baxter, MN www.arrowwoodbrainerd.com

Project manager Sam Hogan (left), general manager Katie Viau and Matt Annand, executive chef sit out on the patio Wednesday, June 10, and discuss the many projects in the works at The Woods between Brainerd and Merrifield.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Home to one of the most elaborate and beautiful bars in the lakes area, b*merri is neither an acronym nor an abbreviation, but perhaps a combination of both. The “b” stands for Brainerd.

The merri is in reference to Merrifield and the star separating the two is the “You are here” icon for where you’re sitting right now.

“Gastro pub means clever food that goes with beer,” Annand said. “We’re sort of beer-centric with the menu. We’re not beholden to that, but we do focus on that a little more. We love local in any way and local beer especially.”

The beer focus also ties in with the creative ideas Luke Ebnet stumbled upon while traveling: a self-tap beer system.

“We discovered it in Kansas City,” Luke said. “They’ve refined it to the point now where it makes a lot of sense from a management standpoint because there is no waste.

“When you come in you submit your card for a tab and you’ll receive a card that initiates the tap system. You swipe the card and you can choose which beer and how much of that beer you

want to try. You pay by the ounce and that way you can sample a beer without committing to 16 ounces.”

The plan is to have 10 different local tap beers on hand with a standing bar to separate the tap from the diners. Plans to incorporate the north side of the dining room with the outdoor patio will be made possible with a 16-foot, insulated glass garage door.

Inside b*merri is the merri*market, featuring locally produced products like eggs, Amish candies, honey and other ingredients as well as take and bake pizzas and other tasty items created in the b*merri kitchen.

The Gathering on 3 event center, which refers to Highway 3, was reimagined, remodeled and ready for business right before COVID-19 closed operations. The center can seat 300 people and so groups of 150 are now able to use that facility. The team will also be doing extensive off-site catering out of that building.

The Ebnets hope to use the event center more as an entertainment center and not just for wedding receptions. They hope to

Come as you are, by boat or by car!

Open Everyday

Open Monday -Friday 11-close and Saturday -Sunday 9am-close Kitchen hours: Sun-Thurs Open til 9pm, Friday-Saturday Open til 10pm

CHECK FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS. # Located 1.4 miles WEST of CR 66 at the Cross Lake Rush Lake Channel

| 218.692.3454

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| 2020 Dining Guide | 5

IT’S BACK!

Now at formerly Granny’s Bar & Grill

“The Great Northwoods Atmosphere”

with Friendly Service, Tasty Food, Great Music, Spectacular Views and Most of all, FUN!

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Check out our entire menu for all our unique dishes and specials

Our Weekly

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Blue Gill

TUESDAY Fajitas

WEDNESDAY

BURGERS - SANDWICHES - WRAPS - PIZZA

The Place to Be Since 1933

Pasta Special

THURSDAY Chef’s Special

FRIDAY NIGHT All You Can Eat

Crab Legs

SATURDAY NIGHT Prime Rib

Located Between Emily and Outing on Hwy 6 44025 State Hwy 6 • Emily 6 | 2020 Dining Guide |

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www.moonlitebay.com • 218-692-3575 Open Daily at 11AM • CR #66 & #16 on Beautiful Crosslake Like us on Facebook for specials and fun events

Executive Chef Matt Annand holds a b*merri gastro pub sign.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

bring dueling pianos, murder mysteries, live music and whatever else they can think of.

“We just need to listen to the community and what isn’t around here that you would like,” Terri Ebnet said. “We have this huge building and so let’s think outside the box. What else can we do with it?”

To highlight the rest of the property, the trio plans to start a drive-in movie theater behind the event center that will utilize a large parking lot for social distancing purposes, but also have patio seating. The movies will have a food theme so patrons can order dinner that coincides with the movie. Annand gave the example of “Kung Fu Panda” with an Asian menu or “The Great Outdoors” with a barbecue menu.

The movies would be family-oriented and the usual movie accompaniments like popcorn and other treats would also be available. The screen would be removable so one night there could be a movie playing and the next afternoon a wedding could take place.

“The governor told us to get creative so we decided to come up with a drive-in movie theater,” Annand said. “Not only is it nostalgic and a unique activity, but it’s

also potentially safe for social distancing if people choose to remain in that mode.

This will be different than any other drive-in. Not that there are a lot left, but this will be a foodie drive-in.”

The hope is for a late July or early August start to the movies.

Terri Ebnet said the drive-in was an old idea that was given new life because of the restrictions around COVID-19.

“With COVID this is a great thing because you’re still with family and you’re still in your car and this gives you an opportunity to come out and do something,” she said.

From the name changes to the different concepts and ideas, the Ebnets and Annand said the focal point was the community. The theater can be used as a community fundraiser or a corporate outing. The market is there for people looking to stay local while eating healthy. The self tap can also be utilized as a fundraiser.

“The community is a big part of our focal point,” Luke Ebnet said. “We’re working with the schools with a couple of programs. Matt has a lot of involvement with the soup kitchens. We are really trying to establish ourselves as part of this community.”

BEER & FOOD PATIO SEATING LIVE MUSIC EVENTS FAMILY FRIENDLY THURSDAY NIGHT TRIVIA OR BARGO

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| 2020 Dining Guide | 7

Manhattan’s Cajun Pasta with Shrimp

DINING ADVENTURES FOUND ON THE

WhitefisH The Wharf’s Shrimp Bang Bang Appetizer

Chain PHOTOS AND STORY BY: JEREMY MILLSOP

Moonlite Bay’s Sunfish Sandwich

Eat In or Pick Up ... or Delivery Available Hours: Tue-Thur - 3-9 pm, Fri & Sat - 11am-10pm, Sun 8-12 (breakfast) - 12-9pm

Gluten Free Items The Bourbon Room’s Caribbean Coconut Shrimp

Zorbaz Chipz, Zalza and Quezo Blanco 8 | 2020 Dining Guide |

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Large Groups Welcome -

Birthdays, Showers, Special Events Lunch Call for & Dinner Availability Specials

ENJOY DINING

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The Wharf’s Famous Bloody Mary

The epitome of the Brainerd lakes area during the summer might be watching the sunset over Big Trout Lake while drinking sangria and enjoying a delicious meal from Manhattan’s at Manhattan Beach Lodge north of Crosslake.

But with 14 different lakes comprising the Whitefish Chain in northern Crow Wing County, the options to finding your summer taste of the lakes area are abundant.

Maybe it’s lunch at The Wharf while pontoons and other watercraft navigate the channel between Cross and Ruth Lakes.

With breakfast served on the weekends, The Wharf is a perfect place to start your dining adventure around the Whitefish Chain. Boat is the most common form of transportation and the Wharf offers 25 boat slips for those taking to the waterway. But the beauty of the Whitefish Chain can be experienced by car, which opens up more dining experiences.

Plenty of outdoor seating at the Wharf helps with social distancing and the Wharf’s Famous Bloody Mary with the essential garnishes kick starts any dining adventure the right way. For added spice start your meal with the Shrimp Bang Bang appetizer, which is lightly breaded shrimp with a heat-infused sauce drizzled on top.

By boat or by car, the next logical destination on one’s dining adventure around Whitefish has to be Moonlite Bay Restaurant and Bar. With 70 dock slips, there’s plenty of parking for boats and the back deck owns a great view of the bay on Cross Lake.

218-562 -7170 62-7ow1n6b1y Dockside Located 218-5 at water d rt so front Onsite re Live bands six nights a week May through September - Outdoors on the Dockside Deck most weekends Tribute to Elvis · Neil Diamond · Johnny Cash · The Beatles PLUS Wyld Ryce · Turtle Doves · One Night Stand · Salute to American Veterans with Penny Gilly Check our website for dates and times.

w w w. b r e e z y p o i n t r e s o r t . c o m

Enjoy Outdoor Dining on our Deck Overlooking Beautiful Big Pine Lake GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND CHECK OUT ALL OUR DAILY SPECIALS MONDAY: Smothered Grilled Chicken Fillet Dinner $11 TUESDAY: $2 off 1/2 lb Burger Basket WEDNESDAY: Chicken Chow Mein, White Rice, and Egg Roll $11

THURSDAY: SATURDAY: Ground Chuck Steak, BBQ Ribs: Regular Size Mashed Potatoes and $16.95; King Size $19.95, Mushroom Gravy with Includes side choices Green Beans $12 SUNDAY: FRIDAY: 1/2 Broasted Alaskan Pollock, Chicken Dinner w/side choices $12 (4 pieces) w/Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Weekly Specials do Green Beans $12 vary with Seasonality

33350 County Road 3 | Crosslake, MN 56442 | 218-692-2657 advertising@brainerddispatch.com • 218-855-5895

| 2020 Dining Guide | 9

Old World Charm in the Great Up North

8 7 2 1 3 4

Location

6

5

Travel By

1

The Wharf

2

Moonlite Bay Restaurant and Bar

3

Zorbaz

4

Drop your boat off at the Cross Lake Recreation Area and walk across Highway 3 to get to these long-standing dining spots:

5

Andy’s Bar and Grill

6

Riverside Inn

7

Bourbon Room Saloon and Eatery *** To get here, need to travel by car, head North on Hwy 66

8

Manhattan’s at Manhattan Beach Lodge

If one is feeling charitable a must-order is the Bilski burger with donations from every order going to Camp Knudson.

A popular summertime item is the wraps, which are perfect for the boaters on the go. Moonlight has 14 different wrap options to choose from. It also has a heavy appetizer section, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and dinners.

Depending on the time of day or the crowd you’re with, head south to Zorbaz where pizza and Mexican Food rule the route.

They have spaghetti, but when you’re craving Mexican food in Crosslake Zorbaz is a must.

Two spots not accessible by boat, but worth a portage are Andy’s Bar and Grill and Riverside Inn. Drop your boat off at the Cross Lake Recreation Area and walk across Highway 3 to get to these long-standing dining spots.

If the daylight hours are winding down after your visit to Moonlight head north on Highway 66 to the Bourbon Room Saloon and Eatery. The rustic exterior welcomes the hungry adventurers where options are the highlight. Start with a bourbon flight to fit the location and then choose between six different grilled cheese sandwich options or seven different versions of tacos, not to mention nine different burger choices to go with wings and sliders.

Don’t hesitate to order dinner where the smoked barbecue ribs are a highlight. For something lighter, the Ca10 | 2020 Dining Guide |

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SMOKED RIBS – WALLEYE STEAKS & SEAFOOD Alaskan King Crab Wednesday & Sunday AYCE of our Famous Home Smoked Ribs Tuesday & Friday Chef’s Choice Thursday Prime Rib Saturday Early Bird Specials from 4:30-5:30pm

The only thing we overlook … is Kimble Lake.

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Moonlite Bay patio view

Manhattan’s at Manhattan Beach Lodge patio view

ribbean coconut shrimp salad is the perfect combination of flavor and amount. The blood orange vinaigrette accents the mixed greens and shrimp well, while the pea pods and cabbage add texture.

While the Bourbon Room isn’t accessible by boat, Manhattan Beach is and it’s worth the winding route through many of the Whitefish Chain lakes.

If at all possible, sit outside and get some fun out of the Tiki Hut which was voted best dockside bar by WCCO. Patio seating at sunset is a must, but

Great classic Pizzas and so much more!!

even if you’re stuck inside, the food is worth the trip.

The cajun pasta is a delicious way to end the day, but small plates, flatbreads and tacos are a perfect lighter-side option.

Manhattan’s legendary walleye continues to be a favorite, but there’s scallops, steak, chicken piccata and more to finish a perfect Whitefish Chain food adventure.

There’s no perfect route for dining on the Whitefish as Moonlite Bay offers exciting night time entertainment. But the numerous options is why the chain is a popular destination for anybody.

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| 2020 Dining Guide | 11

1-800-450-2681 | 7965 Lost Lake Road, Lake Shore, MN www.lostlake.com | vacation@lostlake.com

Award winning Italian Cuisine

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Dunmire lakes area EAGER TO BRING HIS DINING EXPERIENCE TO

Restaurant moves into the former Hassies Saloon location on Highway 210 east of Brainerd

BY: JEREMY MILLSOP

One first must understand Chris before you can understand his concept for Dunmire’s Bar and Grill.

Neither are complicated. In fact, Chris Dunmire describes himself as a regular meat-and-potato type of guy. He talks highly of his family and its history in the restaurant business. It’s that pride that gave him the idea to purchase the old

Hassies Saloon west of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport.

With a bold, new exterior and unique menu inside, Dunmire’s is set to open Wednesday, July 1, with a big grand-opening weekend planned July 3-4.

So what can patrons expect?

“I don’t really have a concept,” Dunmire said. “Lots of people ask me ‘What’s your

Relax and stop in for a special treat.

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PEQUOT LAKES 30699 State Hwy 371 218-568-5440

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| 2020 Dining Guide | 13

theme?’ and I don’t really have one. I work seven days a week “I would have rather have opened up two months ago, but the so when you come in, you get to meet me. The theme is more or one nice thing about that is it has given me a little more time to less the atmosphere you get. It’s just focus on the details instead of rushthat coming home feel. ing the work that we were doing,” “It’s not a sports bar or an Italian Dunmire said. “Obviously, then you joint. We have good food and all sorts get pickier and pickier, which made of stuff from street tacos to pot roast more work, but everything has a pro dinners to steaks, shrimp, walleye and a con so it’s all in how you want sandwiches and burgers. It’s got evto look at it.” erything. I think there are 68 different Dunmire also isn’t deterred from the things on the menu so it’s versatile.” many ownership changes his location Don’t confuse Dunmire’s lack of has seen. In fact, he sees the resurconcept for lack of creativity. While gence of Crosby and the east side of Chris Dunmire sits outside of Dunmire's he has the standard Brainerd lakes Brainerd as reasons he believes DunBar and Grill Thursday, June 25, after a major remodel of the restaurant. The bar menu items, he does show flair with a mire’s Bar and Grill will also succeed. and grill will open Wednesday, July 1, and few plates. If there is one underlying He also believes his work ethic will is located just west of the Brainerd Lakes theme to Dunmire’s, it's that there is be a difference-maker.

Regional Airport on Highway 210.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch something on his menu for anyone.

“I think the location is great,” Dun“I have a lot of new things on my mire said. “A lot of people roll into menu and that’s what separates my this industry believing they can own a menu from a lot of other places,” Dunmire said. “Granted every- restaurant or a bar and not necessarily have to work it. More or one has chicken sandwiches and cheeseburgers and they all less just sit on the other side and expect the money to come generally have a few different varieties of those now, but some in head over heels. In this industry, and especially in a smaller of mine, once they come out and you see them after they are town like this, not having a million population, it’s hard to have plated you’ll be like ‘Oh, I didn’t imagine it being like that.’ It will the consistency of business unless you are doing things right be different than what you’re used to.” and focusing on the quality of food and quality of service.”

Dunmire gave the example of his horseshoe burger that features a light mix of horseradish with a five-cheese sauce. It’s an open-faced sandwich with Texas toast topped with the burger, which is topped with french fries and bacon with the horseradish cheese sauce smothering the entire entree.

“It’s kind of a fork food, but it’s definitely different than what you would get any other place,” Dunmire said. “This is what I strive for. We’ll have your normal menu items that comfort everybody, but we’ll have other dishes where people will say they have never seen that or tried that.”

When asked what he enjoys when he goes out, a large smile spread across his face and he answered, “Everything.”

Which is what Dunmire hopes to deliver from his restaurant -- a little bit of everything with a comfortable, familiar atmosphere.

Dunmire’s first restaurant experience came from his family’s restaurant The Wharf in Alexandria where he graduated. His father then purchased Ron’s Steak House on Gull and turned it into Ernie’s on Gull.

“I grew up with that life, cooking there and cleaning, docking boats, through the stages of my life,” Dunmire said. “I left and went to construction for about five or six years and came back when my father’s health wasn’t the best to help him out and slowly worked up enough money to buy this restaurant.”

He admits the timing hasn’t been perfect with COVID-19 and dining restrictions placed upon restaurants by the state. The young optimist is looking at the positives, however.

Find your next dining experience!

14 | 2020 Dining Guide |

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