Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Ely Steak House
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ElyisHome |
When I first started lurking, I lived in Michigan, but I knew I would live in Ely some day. I am not really a BWCA girl -- not, er, athletic -- but I found this board and reading the posts made me feel closer to where I wanted to be. I knew there were other people who shared my dream of being there, my goosebumps over pulling into town, I had the worst homesickness ever over for a place I'd never officially lived. Periodically, I search for a mention of my restaurant here, because it makes me feel like I've made it if any of you have visited. It's the little things. Anyhow, I love the Steak House! It's my preferred karaoke spot, and they're great people. A lot of restaurants here struggling with the small pool of employees, and the reduced traffic in the off season. We all get kind of creative. As some of you have noticed, we had/have 3 fewer restaurants this year, but a lot of us are still in the game. I once saw a proposal at the Steak House. I've often had 1 too many at the Steak House. People there pretend my singing is better than it is. The Steak House is an Ely, MN mainstay. Thank you for visiting Ely, thank you for keeping a girl's dream alive until she could make it a reality, although calling her a girl these days would be stretching it. If this post crosses any lines, I'll understand it's deletion. |
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The Great Outdoors |
Certain groups give a false impression that Ely and surrounding area is July traffic year around, and that is where they get the inflated figures about the economic impact that tourism has on northern Minnesota. |
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ozarkpaddler |
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ElyisHome |
ozarkpaddler: "Seems like the steakhouse has a lot of fans here so I may have to try it one of these days? But, Sir G's, well that pizza and the service just cannot be beat!" Sir G's actually has new owners! |
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TominMpls |
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podgeo |
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andym |
Also had a couple of lunches at the Front Porch because we both needed to get some work done. So we enjoyed the good food and excellent internet access. And as Bogwalker said, it’s a lot quieter than the summer and I imagine it gets even quieter once actual winter sets in. |
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Jaywalker |
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scat |
Cheers, scat |
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Bogwalker |
Truth be told Ely is pretty quiet after the canoe season. As a resident of Ely we look forward to less traffic, getting into restaurants quickly, no lines and plenty of parking at Zups and finding a place to park on Sheridan any time we want with no time restriction after Labor Day and before Memorial Day. During the off season Ely businesses have a hard time justfying being open long hours and every day based on just the local customers. Many businesses close all winter and if anyone has been to Ely lately you can see all the vacant store fronts and many others up for sale. If the tourist economy was as good as some state there would be more business and longer hours even in the off season. It's a tough place to do business with pretty much the entire year made on what you do from Memorial Day to Labor Day or just 4 months. |
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scotttimm |
ElyisHome: "The Great Outdoors: "Elyishome-Could your place be Gators???? (sp?)" If there is one piece of advice I'd give to restaurants in Ely - for those of us who have dietary restrictions in our families - we have to research ahead of time which restaurants have food that we can eat...so note it on your website! I looked at Gator's online before our trip and it didn't say anything about GF bread available. As we came out the BWCA and were starving, we realized quickly that there was only one restaurant open that had advertised GF bread or GF options online. I called Gator's just to check, and indeed they had GF bread...but apologized that they had just run out! Bummer! Now that we know, we will indeed visit next time, for sure! |
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Bogwalker |
Plan ahead if you need a Bucky Burger fix. |
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ElyisHome |
scotttimm: "ElyisHome: "The Great Outdoors: "Elyishome-Could your place be Gators???? (sp?)" I imagine Gator's will be updating their site shortly. I imagine. As well as having gluten-free bread, I've heard a rumor you can get any sandwich made into a salad or served on a potato, and that there's a cauliflower crust option for the pizza. |
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LindenTree3 |
The Great Outdoors: "Hmmm, perhaps it was your playing that started the Exodus out the door and hasn't stopped yet!! Very possible if you would ask my piano teacher :-) That is probably why I started tuning piano's, I actually make money doing that. |
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Moosepatrol |
It is hard to hire "good" people to work three hours on Friday and Saturday for only three months a year. If crowds, waiting and people bother you go out to eat early, late or even better during the week. It works for me. Sometimes Ely moves at a more relaxed pace. That's part of why I love Ely. |
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andym |
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scat |
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nctry |
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Zwater |
The Great Outdoors: "Amen Bro!!! I'm not from Ely, and I love the BWCA, but maybe a new economic resource could help the town.... |
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scotttimm |
ElyisHome: "scotttimm: "ElyisHome: "The Great Outdoors: "Elyishome-Could your place be Gators???? (sp?)" Those are great things to hear, thanks for passing that along! We look forward to trying out Gator's next time, and recommending them to others! |
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LindenTree3 |
I used to play that regurlarly when I visited Ely from Isabella, havn't been to the Steak House in 10 - 15 years. |
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The Great Outdoors |
Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! :) |
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ElyisHome |
andym: "I’ve shopped at Organic Roots but haven’t eaten there. It's a different experience this time of year, for sure. We've had a busy fall, but busy is a relative term. I love the spanokopita/spinach pie at Front Porch. |
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yogi59weedr |
I've had record label's approach me but I choose to remain retired .that was at the Steak House.. |
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ElyisHome |
The Great Outdoors: "Elyishome-Could your place be Gators???? (sp?)" Anything is possible. ;) |
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Hawbakers |
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The Great Outdoors |
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ElyisHome |
andym: "Well Elyishome, I’ve eaten at the Boathouse and Insula the last two nights. Maybe one of those helps you feel better. As a vegetarian, the Steakhouse is not my place and karaoke isn’t drawing me in either. " Ha, when people spend time and money in Ely, I'm happy. Have you eaten at Organic Roots? I think it gets less attention because it's on Chapman, but good place for a vegetarian. I genuinely like all the restaurants in Ely. 3 restaurants closed recently -- Two Gringos, Taste of Ely, and Chocolate Moose -- but there are still nice options. |
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The Great Outdoors |
Even the tourism industry has been severely hampered by legislation over the last 60-70 years, so it is a mere shadow of what it used to be. Interestingly enough, one of the leading advocates fighting increases in tourism, had a father that owned a Canoe Outfitter with about 1,000 canoes in the woods on his best weekend. He owned 650 of his own canoes, and borrowed the rest when needed. She never quite seems to acknowledge that fact. |
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Cretbo |
ElyisHome: "Hi, I just wanted to share my Steak House thoughts. I own another restaurant in town, but not here to promote that. I've been casually reading this board since the turn of the century. ;) Thanks for sharing your partial story! I hadn't been to Ely in 20 years and came up late August, been back 2 more times since camping. Absolutely loved it. Was in my blood also and like it brought me back. Will be making a late fall / winter trip. Never realized how much i missed just breathing the air and driving around Ely area!! Thanks again for sharing your story Bob |
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jcavenagh |
Thanks for spending the time... |
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ghamer |
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Spartan2 |
ElyisHome: "The Great Outdoors: "Elyishome-Could your place be Gators???? (sp?)" We have eaten there. Cute place, good food. Our granddaughter loves cheese, so it fits for her. |