Hang in there, this is going to be a long one! When thinking of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, great BBQ might not come to mind. Visitors may be surprised to find an amazing BBQ Restaurant nestled on the shores of Lake Superior. Fitzgerald’s Hotel and Restaurant take the cake, or should I say smoked meats, when looking for great BBQ in the remote northern part of the Upper Peninsula. The Fitz, as it is affectionally known by locals, was named Michigan’s best small-town bar. If you are curious what the best small-town bar is in your state, you can check out the entire list on Thrillist.

Whenever I am visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula, The Fitz is always on the must do list. Because of their small dining room, I would recommend calling to make a reservation to ensure getting a seat. I had the opportunity recently to visit with a group of friends, and like so many times before, the food was amazing.

Drinks

The Fitz is know for the large selection of alcoholic beverages, ranging from unique beers to some of the most expensive scotches and whiskeys you can buy. Instead of getting a simple menu when arriving, you are given a clipboard with all the drink options. On average 10-15 pages. You can see part of the tap list below.

The Fitz is known for their large selection of drinks, with the menu consisting of a clipboard worth of drinks.

While visiting, I asked about their Smoked Old Fashioned but unfortunately they did not have the supplies to make them that day. Instead I tried Larry’s Latest Flamingo Fruit Fight Beer. There was a nice summery taste that reminded me of a mimosa. One of my friends opted for the Quadruple Barrel Baptist which was a coffee based barrel aged stout. Both of these were delicious.

Larry’s Latest Flamingo Fruit Fight Quadruple Barrel Baptist

Appetizers

Once you have settled on drinks, it’s time to look at the appetizer list. Now just like the drink menu, these aren’t your traditional apps. The appetizer menu isn’t large, but it is unique. Ranging from Risotto Fritters to Pork Belly French Toast, but we decided to order the Poutine and added Pulled Pork to it. For those of you who don’t know what poutine is; it is fries smothered in gravy, cheese curds, and in our case onions and pork. This was one of the best appetizers I think I have ever had, and I even joked I wanted to put their house made Beer Gravy on everything from now on!

Large portion of Poutine shared between 4 adults



Close up on the deliciousness that is poutine with pulled pork

Main Course

As I mentioned the Fitz is know for their barbecue, so when it comes to selecting a main course be sure to pick one of the smoked meats. Now you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but I would encourage everyone to try at least one of the meats. Normally when I go to the Fitz, I would get the Douglas Houghton Anchor which comes with half rack of ribs, a quarter pound of brisket and pulled pork and two sides. Unfortunately they were out of ribs by the time we arrive, another reason to get their early if you can. Instead I opted for the Hardwood Smoked Barbecue which is beef brisket or pulled pork, smoked fresh daily in limited quantities. If you ask nicely they will even let you do half and half with the brisket and pork. For my side I selected their homemade Mac & Cheese which is phenomenal. All entrees come with a vegetable as well, the day I went it was broccoli. The rest of my group got a brisket sandwich and the Pork Shank. Check out these delicious images below! My mouth is watering just thinking about it…

Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket with Broccoli and Mac & Cheese



Beef Brisket Sandwich with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Mac & Cheese



Pork Shank with Heirloom Beens, Broccoli and Mac & Cheese



Conclusion

When it comes the Fitz, you really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. If you plan to be in the Keweenaw Peninsula or even just the Upper Peninsula in general, consider taking the scenic drive up to Fitzgerald’s for some amazing food and great atmosphere on Lake Superior. As always keep Seeking Discovery and Explore Every Day! You don’t have to go far to explore someplace new, consider trying a new restaurant even close to home. You may be surprised what you can find in your own back yard.

Interested in learning more about the Keweenaw? Check out my Keweenaw Peninsula Travel Guide Video!