I always stop at the Brewpub for lunch when exiting the BW. What's everyone elses go to spot for lunch in Ely? Also are there any recommendations for a good breakfast when we go in?

Stony Ridge for burgers. Hands down.

Ely Steak House

Dairy Queen for a quick lunch
Ely steakhouse for a good meal/beer
Brittons for breakfast

Brittons - but pace yourself, especially if it is for breakfast on put-in day
Ely Steak House - go twice: the Bucky Burger and the Prime Rib Crisper are both worth the stop. Accompany either with a Steer Beer
Insula - a bit foodier than others, but excellent. I wish they would expand their beer tap list
Northern Grounds - coffee, beer, wine, small bites, sometimes some music, good atmosphere

We stop at the Ely steakhouse if around supper time, Steer Beer and a Bucky Burger. Brittons if it Breakfast time, lumberjack breakfast.

One summer a bunch of us (Boy scouts and leaders) had lunch at DQ. Place was packed. They took our order and it came correct and prompt. I was totally impressed.
Ely Steak house has a great feed bunk....

dr bob

We really enjoyed Sir G's Italian restaurant and the food and the service was exceptional even though they were very busy. We also hit Sven & Ole's in Grand Marais that trip and experienced surly service and mediocre fare; Sir G's was the polar opposite!

ozarkpaddler: "We really enjoyed Sir G's Italian restaurant and the food and the service was exceptional even though they were very busy. We also hit Sven & Ole's in Grand Marais that trip and experienced surly service and mediocre fare; Sir G's was the polar opposite!"

Sven and Ole's is ... suboptimal.

In Grand Marais, it's either Hughie's Taco House for puffy tacos, or the Crooked Spoon.

Post-trip stops in Ely are limited to the Ely Steakhouse, and a Bucky burger.

We always eat sir g's if in ely. On the way home, it is always taco John's in cloquet.

Sir G's is great. A friend and I pulled up maybe 20 minutes before closing and they acted like we were the first customers of the day. Good food and good people. Have been to Boathouse brewpub several times and it has been good American style pub food. Ely steakhouse very good. +1 on Stony ridge for burgers!

Nobody’s mentioned it yet so I’ll plug Insula. Great food and the drinks were made with a loooong pour. My wife recommends the Mexican joint in town, I don’t know the name. I also frequent the DQ post trip when I’m too ripe for a sit down restaurant. One of these days maybe I’ll pay for a shower at VNO.

Britton's for breakfast and Ely Steakhouse for a Bucky Burger post trip.

DeanL: "Britton's for breakfast and Ely Steakhouse for a Bucky Burger post trip."

Yup. Ely Steakhouse for a Bucky Burger.

Breakfast Brittons and Lunch or Dinner Ely Steakhouse

+ 1 on Bucky burger

Britton's for breakfast.
Front Porch if you want something a little lighter, with good coffee.

Liked the burgers at Chocolate Moose.
Only ate at Ely Steak House once, as I recall it was decent.
Always have liked Sir G's.
Boathouse Brewpub - or whatever the former Cranberry's is called now - is a good place too.

icefishbaby: "Stony Ridge for burgers. Hands down."

Oh yeah!

And Britton's in the AM.

Insula is a great restaurant with great food and exceptional drinks. It is my new favorite place to eat while in town.

Last time we were in town we ate at the Rockwood. We were all satisfied. I would definitely go there again. The brewpub, steakhouse, and Sir G's are also good.

Hex

DrBobDg: "One summer a bunch of us (Boy scouts and leaders) had lunch at DQ. Place was packed. They took our order and it came correct and prompt. I was totally impressed.
dr bob"

+1 The best DQ service I have ever had in 50+ years.

Some suggestions here.

icefishbaby: "Stony Ridge for burgers. Hands down."

+1

Sir G's for awesome pizza when we get to town.
Britton's for an awesome breakfast before we hit the entry point.
Ely Steakhouse always has awesome food. When I lived in Ely, I used to hit open mike night on Sundays to enjoy $1 tappers and live music. Bucky Burger is excellent...the Newcastle lovers can shove it. Gross! Try the Steer Beer, Much, much better!
Grand Ely Lodge has great food and atmosphere! Don't visit much anymore, but lunch and dinner is fantastic!
Stoney Ridge. Best burgers you will ever eat! If you have the time, and the stomach to finish all of it!
Every other place is okay.
But who doesn't crave a Blizzard after a trip!

I like Dairy Queen just fine, but I can get that anywhere - so I will almost always opt for Red Cabin Custard if I'm in an ice cream mood. Fantastic. (Previously "Shari's Northwoods")

Heheheheh, I've had no appetite since I got out of the hospital, but you'all are definitely stimulating it with this thread (LOL)!

Well, no one has mentioned my favorite place. It's a place to go once you have cleaned up and want a classy dinner in the evening. Burntside Lodge is my favorite dining venue in all of Minnesota, maybe even more so than Naniboujou, for a relaxing upscale dinner in casual clothing. We haven't been there in a long time, but we already have our August reservation made for this year. Looking forward to it, and to introducing Anna to this wonderful dining experience!

For lunch, we enjoy the Chocolate Moose, or even DQ sometimes. For pizza, Sir G's, have to agree about the good food and good service there. If we are in GM at lunchtime we like Crooked Spoon or Angry Trout. Breakfast at Britton's was nice before a trip, but of course we don't usually do breakfast "out" when we are up there at a cabin. If we do, we are usually on the Gunflint, and it would be Trail Center.

En route we try to stop in Cloquet at Gordy's Hi-Hat. I think it was ArkansasMan who originally put us onto that place--great burgers and the best onion rings I think I have ever eaten, plus some wonderful milk shakes! Not diet food, but oh, so good!

AmarilloJim: "

DrBobDg: "One summer a bunch of us (Boy scouts and leaders) had lunch at DQ. Place was packed. They took our order and it came correct and prompt. I was totally impressed.
dr bob"

+1 The best DQ service I have ever had in 50+ years. "

Last year I exited EP 22 very late. Strapped the canoe to the truck racks right at nightfall. By the time I drove into Ely everything was closed. I believe it was a Sunday night. Except for the DQ. Eureka! Two cheeseburgers + 2 malts later my cravings were satisfied.
Will have to check out the Stoney Ridge in September.

icefishbaby: "Stony Ridge for burgers. Hands down."

+2

Brittons for breakfast.

If we're in town for lunch we usually have lots of time so we'll wander and have a beverage and an appetizer at a few different locations. We especially like the walleye cakes with our favorite brew of the day at the Chocolate Moose.

Sadly the Mexican Restaurant Two Gringos has closed. :)

No one has mentioned my fav place to eat
breakfast or lunch in Ely!
Gator's is a must stop!
6am - 3pm.
955 E. SHERIDAN St.
Delicious home cooking!
Very generous portions! Fantastic!!
Outdoor dining as well. Your dog can join
you on the deck with water provided.
Relaxed atmosphere!
You won't be disappointed. ????
PS. Sadly the Chocolate Moose is for sale and
Closed up!

The Boathouse is my favorite place to stop for a bite
The duck wings, walleye sandwich & a Blueberry ale...oh, yeah

Northern Expressions for ice cream, cute little store & lots of creative hard ice cream flavors.

Plum Bun nosh.

ozarkpaddler: "We really enjoyed Sir G's Italian restaurant and the food and the service was exceptional even though they were very busy. We also hit Sven & Ole's in Grand Marais that trip and experienced surly service and mediocre fare; Sir G's was the polar opposite!"

Kids love pizza at Sir G's, great/fast service to boot..

As for Sven & Ole's, myself and the then freshly anointed firemedic had the misfortune of eating there once on our honeymoon.. The pizza was soggy and I assume tasted the same - 1990 it was. What stands out in our mind was the aftermath,,,, Lucky our condo at Bluefin had two bathrooms, as the both of us had it pouring out of both ends at the same time... Yup, that's the last time we have set foot in there... We do joke about going back for an anniversary dinner..

When I'm coming out with Scouts in tow, we hit the DQ..

Both of these were recommended here so we checked them out a couple weeks ago. We went to Sir Gs pizza the night before put in. That is some good pizza. Great thin crust and sauce. We just had a cheese pizza, but it was tasty. I’m usually good after two slices but I was racing to the end to get the last corner of that pie. Went to Ely steakhouse. It was ok. Good burger. A little dated perhaps. Musty. No complaints, but I’m not giving it five stars. Next time I think we’ll try Rockwood and sit outside.

We've had good meals at the Ely Steakhouse and the Chocolate Moose (looked like it closed recently). Britton's for breakfast - no doubt. On the way up to Ely, it's always Gordy's Hi Hat in Cloquet for a burger.

Someone reviewed the Chocolate Moose on tripadvisor just a week ago. It's perennially for sale but that doesn't mean it is closed. Do you know something solid?

andym: "Someone reviewed the Chocolate Moose on tripadvisor just a week ago. It's perennially for sale but that doesn't mean it is closed. Do you know something solid?"

The Chocolate Moose did not open this year. Perhaps the reviewer was reviewing the I-falls restaurant of the same name.

andym: "Someone reviewed the Chocolate Moose on tripadvisor just a week ago. It's perennially for sale but that doesn't mean it is closed. Do you know something solid?"

I was in Ely on Memorial day and it was closed. Looked out of business.