The Glenwood

This is our goto place anytime were going out in Onekama! Love this place! Right on the water, the food is great, beer selection is on point and prices are reasonable.

We decided on date nite and chose THE GLENWOOD. We had an inside table this time and it was right next to the bar so it was entertaining too. We started with the most delicious crab cakes which were full of lots of crab. The waitress was delightful and was very attentive. I ordered the lobster and shrimp special at $ 34 and it was over the top. I usually do not order a lobster tail as most restaurants because they have no flavor. Not at the Glenwood this tail was sweet and tender and combined with their famous almond crusted shrimp. It was perfect. We also had the lamb which was good but looked Lonely on the plate. Fresh bread was served with dinner and offered to bring out more. The drinks were a nice poor. Dessert was a salted caramel cheesecake and when i requested some chocolate drizzle they were happy to accomodate. Finished dinner with a decaf coffee that was very good. The Glenwood is the most consistent high end yet casual dining experience. Worth every penny and your pallet will thank you.

Wonderful dinner, woodland salad and the scallops with penne pasta. Dessert was amazing as well an oatmeal bar with ice cream.

To celebrate our wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to go to The Glenwood for dinner. We had driven past the restaurant many times, but had never stopped. We tried to call ahead for reservations — but kept getting a «fast busy signal», so we just showed up on a Tuesday evening at ~6:00. I expected there would be no problem getting in — and was very surprised when the hostess told us that we could be seated after 8:15 on the patio — or we could be seated right away, but at a table that was in the center of the indoor dining area (which would have a lot of traffic). We chose to be seated right away at the busy inside table.
The wine list is terrific! There are lots of choices, including numerous local wines, lots of domestic wines, and lots of wine from other countries (including one from South Africa — which I had never before seen on a wine list!) I chose their house-​made white sangria and my husband chose the red sangria. The pours were very generous — and the sangrias were delightful! I would have liked more cut-​up fruit in mine — but other than that, it was perfect! They certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol — one glass was plenty for me.
The scallops were on the «Specials» board — and that’s what I ordered. They were PERFECT. They were fresh, very large, and cooked to perfection. There was no hint of «rubberiness» that comes from over-​cooking the scallops, and the very light seasoning complemented, rather than overpowered, the delicate scallop taste. I felt like I was eating the ocean they were so fresh. And the penne pasta was cooked al dente — and the sauce on the pasta was creamy and tasty. The only downside was that the dish cost $ 28 — and, although they were big, there were only 3 scallops on the plate. I loved every one of them — but was left wanting more when they were gone.
My husband ordered the bleu cheese filet mignon. It was very good — but not great. The meat was tender, and the bleu cheese sauce complemented it well. The fries he ordered with them were very nicely done — nice and crispy, with a light seasoning.
The salads we got before our entrees were good — but not particularly memorable. I thought the portion was too small — and the house-​made dressing on the Up-​North salad was too vinegary. The house salad with ranch dressing that my husband ordered was unremarkable.
The dessert tray was outstanding! There were at least a dozen different choices — making if very difficult to choose one! We finally opted for the triple-​berry pie ala mode… blueberries, raspberries, and cherries in a single-​crust pie with a crumble topping. The filling was great — not overly sweet and busting with berry flavor! The crust was very good too — but not as good as my mother makes! Overall, I thought we made an excellent choice!
Overall, the Glenwood is a lovely special-​occasion restaurant — but a little pricey for everyday. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation — even if it’s mid-​week!

What a find! We’ve driven past this unassuming jewel many times over the past 20 years and never gave it a thought. Built in the early 1900s as an inn, the spaces are intimate. Unless someone you trusted told you about this place, you’d never just stop in … even if you were starving! It’s like the speakeasy during prohibition … «That’s the place?» «They have great food there?» Well yes they do! And great service too! We’ve been there twice this summer, both times we sat on the porch. Jonathan was our server the first time and Shelby the second time. Both had the the professionalism found at the Grand Hotel. The depth of menu, presentation and linens were all top drawer … and the food’s divine. It’s a seasonal treasure, only open from late April to late October. Tip: make a reservation to sit on the porch (don’t worry, it’s screened). The Glenwood has the charm of a forgotten old inn on Mackinac Island. The floors may slope a bit, but everything else is on the level.

Excellent experience. Service is always good. Last visit I had the duck dinner which was good. Others raved about the white fish dinner.

We make plans to come in every year. The food is always fabulous and the cherry mustard vinegarette is a must with your salad. Looking forward to next year!

The Glenwood restuarant has delicious food and is certainly a destination hot-​spot for gourmet cuisine in northern Michigan. Their parking lot is full literally every night (on the weekends at least). However, it is over-​priced for a thifty dutch guy like me who can cook equally or slightly less delicious food from my own kitchen on a budget. However, the experience is very pleasant and the view of Portage lake is enchanting. There is less to be desired in the interior of the restuarant as it just seems old (and not in a cute way). In summary, you won’t be disappointed, but you won’t be blown away either. Thanks for reading!

Best restaurant in northern Michigan. Varied menu uses local food and knows how to present it. Nice wine list at reasonable prices. Well trained staff can tell you every thing about food preparation and wines/​drink menu. I’d go here rather than most expensive place in Traverse City. Pleasant ambiance and friendly people. Have been going here for over 10 years and never a bad experience. Superb Place to dine.

OMG OMG OH Yeah! A delectable delight! Casual ambiance, amazing food (LOVED the horseradish smashed potatoes), BUT the DESSERT S were the highlight. The service was relaxed and delightful, all wrapped up with a view of Portage Lake. Worthy of being the destination, an experience that will bring back wonderful memories for a long time!

Super cute family owned restaurant.
Not THE most rockin’ food… but it was still yummy.
Cute intimate atmosphere — not a lot of tables. Large patio area.
I ordered the lamb chops which were cooked well paired with horseradish mashed potatoes and well. we all know my love for the potato (as do my thighs). My dad got the whitefish which is a HUGE portion — topped with the artichoke dip (which you can get as an appetizer and is delicious — highly recommended). The crab cakes were meh. My cousin got a pasta dish he enjoyed and brother in law got the swordfish medallions which he did NOT enjoy — it was a special that was not so special.
Definitely one of the nicer restaurants in the area — not like there’s a lot to choose from.
They are closed in the winter (Jan-​March maybe?)
I would go if you were looking for a nice evening out.

Great experience and I would go there every week!!!

Great place. Service was excellent. Wine list was varied. It was a charming restaurant and quite surprising to find this restaruant in this quant little town. If you are in the area definitely try to eat at this establisgment

Excellent bone– in ribeye. Delicious drinks & excellent appetizers. the Brie bruschetta & whitefish dip were awesome. Good service & surprisingly deep kids menu. Best restaurant in the area.

Great food great service. Very professional. Close dinning quarters so don’t expect an intimate dinning experience. Homemade desserts. Yum! Perch was good as was the artichoke pasta dish. Perfect portion sizes. loved sitting on the «deck» which is a screened in porch, nice view of the lake with a pleasant breeze. Awkward parking though, the only downfall, and a little one at that.

Great experience. Food was excellent. Rib-​eye was great. Service was great and friendly. Was even better after the awful experience we had at Shay’s Chop, House.

Great food and service. Lamb chops seasoned and done just right. Seasoned fries some of the best I’ve had. Delicious Cesar salad.

We went here after scouring the local area for a good place to eat that was open on a Sat night. Luckily, the Glenwood was open. The menu was classic fine dining american and touted homecooking.
For the price, I would say that it was «on par» but being «city folk» I wouldn’t say this garnered a four or five star rating. Maybe comparing this to the other restaurants in the area it’s the best, but compared to a bigger set, it’s only «OK» especially taking into account the prices.
The view is very pretty, being close to the water and can’t say anything bad about the food, just was not phenomenal to warrant a greater than $ 20 cost per entrée.

We have a summer place in Manistee but always find time to make the trip to Onekama for a great dinner on the porch of the Glenwood. We’ve been going there for over ten years and it’s still the same great place for seafood, pasta and desserts. Excellent appetizers, too.
The waitstaff is good and the co-​owner, Donna, is usually around to inquire if «everything has been prepared to your liking», their trademark phrase. Quite simply we think it’s the best restaurant in the area with very good food and a fun atmosphere. Call ahead for reservations and ask to sit on the porch.

This restaurant is located in the town of Onekama, overlooking Portage Lake in beautiful Northwest Michigan.
The Glenwood has been a big part of Northern Michigan life since 1994. The owners of the Glenwood have developed their own unique array of appetizers and main courses, they cook the meals themselves, and prepare the mouth-​watering homemade desserts fresh every day.
In addition The Glenwood is famous for their Lime Ginger house dressing, which upon demand began selling at the restaurant and in various stores throughout the state.
Even though the restaurant in its present state has only been around for about ten years, the building has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s.
History is important to the residents, and the management have tried to keep the building as it was back in the early days. The historic charm of the restaurant coupled with the great food and friendly service is all for you to savor at The Glenwood.