The Rowe Inn
6303 E Jordan Rd, Ellsworth, MI, 49729
The Rowe Inn Menu
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Address :
6303 E Jordan Rd
Ellsworth, MI, 49729 - Phone (231) 588-7351
- Website https://roweinn.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Marilyn W.
On Friday evening last, my husband and I decided that we would like to dine out on our last evening in the Charlevoix area. We had passed by your restaurant a couple of times in our travels around the area and thought that perhaps we would like to try it for dinner. We arrived, parked and walked up to the front of the restaurant. There was a party of perhaps 6 people dining ourside to our left. A woman, I assume your hostess or wife, came up to us...looked us up and down carefully, and scurried off to get menues saying that she knew we were looking for "lighter fare". To us, lighter fare means a less filling meal, to her it meant that we were not the kind of people that were your customers. She shoved the menus at us as we stood there. We were both stunned to have been treated so rudely and so, we decided to leave. We could hear her and the other customers laughing as we left. In these times, as you should know, you need all of the business that you can get if you are to continue to survive. Even the rich are feeling the pinch. Insulting potential customers is not the way to go anymore. We will be sure to spread the word. Word of mouth matters in a business. Marilyn and Paul Wilkie Dexter, Michigan
(1)Howard N.
Best restaurant in the Charlevoix, Petoskey and Boyne City area. It really is a great country french inn with a warm inviting atmosphere and no pretense. They are almost always open so you can count on them. That isn't always true of restaurants in our area in the off season. Laurel, aka "The Wine Dummy" is a great sommelier with an amazing sense of humor. She knows her stuff and is very helpful. We rarely pick anything from their very extensive wine list instead letting her choose . She never lets us down. The Rowe directly imports some wine and stocks tons of wine from all areas. They also sell bottles/cases to take home at reasonable prices. If you want a great dinner in this area of the world, don't miss it.
(5)Bob B.
I'm too lazy to write a long elegant review that this restaurant deserves, especially since so many others have done so before me. But I fully concur with the rave comments - the food, ambience, service, wine selection, and value are outstanding. My wife and I live in Chicago and are committed foodies so I don't make these comments often. We were dressed in jeans, others were wearing shorts, so don't be dissuaded by the reviewer who felt dissed.
(5)Mark B.
If this place doesn't turn you on, your switches are broken. The food was perfect (I had the pork, duck and pistachio terrine appetizer and the grilled pork tenderloin entree. I finished up with a crème brulee.). They bent over backwards to make us comfortable and to ensure that we enjoyed our meal. The sommelier (wife of the owner) kept bringing sips of different wines that she thought I would appreciate...she was correct. In the end, it was not only one of the best meals I have ever had, but it was also one of the most enjoyable eating experiences I have ever had. Expensive? Yes; but worth every penny.
(5)Genovese J.
Throughout the years we have had many great meals at the Rowe Inn. However lately the quality and creativity is just not there. Sad to say. Not sure why things have changed.
(3)Jim M.
Have been to the Rowe numerous times over the years. It has been and remains one of the best restaurants in northern Michigan - better than Tapawingo (before it closed) and on par with Chandlers. The ambiance is northern cottage, the service is informal but attentive, and the food is spectacular. I have never had less than great service or wonderful food. My most recent meal was on Christmas eve 2010 and everything was just great. Dress code is what you want it to be - business casual to jeans. Don't go in with an attitude or drama and you'll have a dinner that'll you'll remember for a long time.
(5)Thomas B.
Don't get here often enough, but when we do....food and wine are always spectacular! Can count on The Rowe to always be open no matter the weather. We had lamb rack with cassoulet and it was superb and Laurel's wine suggestion was exactly right. The Rowe just keeps the tradition alive. Don't miss!
(5)J H.
Way overpriced for food quality. Huge disappointment compared to our prior experience
(1)Robin S.
Yet another fantastic dining experience from the Rowe... We were lucky to be in "morel season," so were able to enjoy some morel-infused dishes. The pasta with morels, asparagus and garlic pesto was incredible!!! The wait staff is always attentive and personable. In 20 years, we've consistently had excellent (and often entertaining) service. Laurel (aka Wine Dummy) recommended a great wine at a reasonable price point. Her sense of humor makes a fun and approachable experience out of the sometimes stressful task of choosing wine. Their wine list is extensive and she's never disappointed us. Reservations are recommended as they can be quite busy in the summer / visitor seasons. Highly recommended and don't skip desert...
(5)Kevin O.
Absolutely delicious food. Quaint little spot overlooking beautiful landscape. If you go at the right time the sunset is spectacular. The waitress was very nice, attentive, and personable without being overbearing.
(5)Anna J.
We went to this place on a recommendation.....It was hard for me to rate the restaurant because I was torn. The food and our waitress were wonderful. It was good food, but not overly flavored. However, the reason for the low rating is because of the sommelier. Never have I ever felt so insulted at a restaurant by the staff. She was condescending and arrogant. I have been to MANY upscale restaurants and have drank expensive wines.....but I will never forget how this woman made us all feel.
(2)Kelly M.
The Rowe Inn was so good the first time dining that we ended up dining here two evenings in a row(e) (get it?) Everything is locally grown or caught from Lake Michigan, the wine list is perfectly picked (and I was given a perfect suggestion based on a few details I said I craved in a wine), and the service is lovely, though small staffed (well it IS a tiny place!) Their hours are based on reservations, which are highly recommended. Also, be sure to order the chestnut soup with creme fraiche if your are visiting in the winter season.
(5)Mike B.
The "wine dummy" rocks. Sweet lady and great coach. Meal was awesome, waitress was attentive and the owner is an experience all alone. Well worth the drive. Thank you !!!!!
(5)John C.
As the wine list has grown, so have the meal prices. And the food and service just ain't what it used to be.
(2)T. K.
This restaurant is awesome. I've visited three times over the years now, most recently two weeks ago. The drive is worth it. The wines are amazing, in every price range on their list. We've had pretty much everything on their regular menu, and it is to die for. Presentation is impeccable. Service was humble, professional. Owners are awesome. Will without a doubt continue coming here.
(5)Clif P.
I enjoyed my visit at Rowe Inn. I had the seared scallops, which were cooked perfectly. They had tasty sauce that brought out the flavor of the flavor of the scallop. The roasted pepper & wild boar soup was good, but a little misleading. I see 'roasted pepper' in a soup, and I think of it more like a puree or bisque. This was more of a traditional soup. I liked it, but next time I would opt for a salad instead. For my entree I had a asiago encrusted Chicken Breast. It was prepared perfectly. The chicken was cooked just right. The asiago crust was able to stay dry and crunchy, even with the moist chicken and sauce. The sauce with the chicken could use a little spice in it, but that might just be my tastebuds. I enjoyed the local Shorts brews as well. For desert the Bourbon Creme Brulee was fantastic, but I was so full I only ate half of it. A recommendation would be to have a larger round table, our group of 10 had to sit at a long rectangle.
(4)Michael L.
We felt that The Rowe Inn was the best restaurant we have ever been to. There is no other restaurant in northern Michigan that offers the attention to detail in regards to the cuisine (that had featured local ingredients) with stellar recommendations of wine pairings. The cellars at The Rowe offer an exceptional experience. Thank you Laurel and Wes for your genuine passion of preserving authenticity in a quality dining experience!!! We can't wait to see you again. Michael and Melissa
(5)Melissa W.
When I asked our half-time-local cousin where she'd recommend for a great meal, I never expected to hear about a fine-dining place in the middle of nowhere (sorry Ellsworthians). The cousins have impeccable taste, but I was resigned to hear about the very best of Northern Michigan, likely a steakhouse with a pretty good whitefish and a respectable wine list. The Rowe is not that. The Rowe is great cuisine in a warm tiny dining space with an outstanding wine list and the very best of service. Yes, it's the best of the lower peninsula that I've had. But The Rowe could hold its own in Chicago or New York or some time town in the environs of Paris. It's THAT good. The location is perfect -- a far enough drive over the river and, well, you know, to get your head in a good space for a great meal. A little time to daydream about the last time you'd been to France. Or, in my case, the last time I'd been to an outstanding wine-tasting at Binny's (you don't have to be a world traveller to dream about great food!). Set the iPod to your fine dining playlist and enjoy the ride. The Rowe is a roadside restaurant in the sense that parking is along the road. The place is beautiful in the summertime -- flowers blooming and green green green surrounding a tiny brown country house that looks like it's added a room or two or three over the years. There are a couple of tables on the covered patios, both within a small space where you can eyeball who is coming and going from the front door. Even though it was a beautiful evening, we wanted to spend dinner time inside. We had such a warm greeting from the owner, the hostess, and our waitstaff. We were provided menus and a wine book (seriously, pages and pages), and left to enjoy our cozy window table for 2 with a small selection of herbed crostini and a tiny pat of warm butter. My husband zeroed in on the duck entree, and the pork tenderloin was calling to me. We are not wine experts, so we asked our waitstaff (I am so terrible at name but she was a warm lovely woman with dark brown hair) for a suggestion by the glass. She obliged, suggested a pinot noir for me and another red for my husband, took our order, and left us with our crostini. She did offer a tasting of both wines, but we opted to just bring on the goblet! Both choices were outstanding picks. Shortly following a wonderful young girl with a warm smile brought a baby-greens salad with warm bacon dressing for me (I was all about eating the pig that night) and bean soup with fennel sausage for my husband, along with two buttery dinner rolls. The salad, specifically the dressing on the salad, was so creamy and smokey and luscious drizzled over the baby greens it tasted like more. My husband enjoyed the soup and shared a spoonful with me. I'm a bean lover so I've had bean soups everywhere, but this was in a whole different class of peasant food. Very creamy, with just enough bite from the sausage to let your tongue know this wasn't your mama's leftover-ham-and-12-bean concoction.We finished our first course, had a few minutes to enjoy the sophisticated country ambiance and warm staff (and another glass of that wine), and at the perfect lull in the conversation our entrees arrived. The coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin with fig demi-glace was perfect. The assertive coffee played wonderfully against the sweet sauce, while a tiny tower of a grilled sweet potato provided smooth counterpoint to the pork. My husband enjoyed the duck, but, honestly, I was so engrossed in my pork tenderloin I missed most of what he said about the duck except the "mmmmm" part. As a bonus, I watched yellow and blue finches on an outside bird feeder the entire evening. We wanted dessert, really really wanted it, but were so stuffed we had to pass. Next time...... We have two small kids (that did not accompany us) so we won't afford another meal like this for a while. But the experience at The Rowe will hold me a good long while... maybe until the some day that we can go to France to try to hunt down a meal as wonderful as the one we had that night at The Rowe. Go, spend, drink, eat, and buy some wine to bring home. You'll love it all,
(5)Mitch C.
To help celebrate both my birthday and that of my partner, we dined with friends this past Friday at the Rowe Inn. I have honestly eaten at the Rowe at least 20 times over the past 15 years - our experience there this past weekend was as good as ever. I went from the fois gras app to sorbet to morel stuffed veal... all courses were hot or cold as they should have been... and quite tasty. Honestly, Laurel (the sommelier and as I learned wife of the owner) really made the night.... She was funny and perhaps more importantly, helped me make good wine choices on a pretty modest budget with no attitude... she also steered me to a great deal on a take home case (their wine list - both retail and dine in is AMAZING!.... some real splurges and super values).... Laurel and Wes (the owner) know their stuf... I'll be back next time I'm anywhere within 50 miles of Ellsworth.
(4)Peter S.
The Rowe Inn is located...in the middle of nowhere. From Petoskey we headed through Charlevoix and beyond to end up at The Rowe. We were out in search of a fine dining experience while up north. I am told that The Rowe is one of the top rated restaurants in Northern Michigan (northern lower peninsula). The idea was to sample, and if need be, go out on a limb for a menu item you would not necessarily order otherwise. This only went so far. There were certain things some of us could not pass up. I started with the Lobster Corn Chowder which was very good. My mom had a tomato salad (tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinaigrette) which she enjoyed. My dad had the venison sausage which he liked. We could not help ourselves at this point and had to order the mushroom pierogies which were also very good. They were a little expensive, but you have to expect that for a meal like this. Each entree comes with a salad. There were options for the salads. There was a blackberry sorbet, which I had. My mom had what I believe was their signature salad which was a simple presentation of lettuce, walnuts, dried cherries and a delicious bleu cheese dressing. Dad had their "house cole slaw" or something to that effect. It was sour kraut, apples, celery and who knows what else. It was not something I would have ordered, but he really liked it. Our main courses were rather unique. My mom opted for their "vegetarian" dish which was sort of an egg souffle. She liked it a lot. Dad had the parmesan encrusted chicken which came with some type of a scalloped potato. He also like his a lot. I apparently was the adventurous one at the table (for once) and had the duck magret with a fresh strawberry Marsala. I am not a big fan of duck, but you only live once, right? My main course was good. Not great. Dessert was a must after a meal like this. We all decided to try something. When in Rome, as they say. Dad had a four berry cobbler I think. Mom had their signature white brownie. I had their homemade Bailey's chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream was three large scoops, much more than I had anticipated getting at a more upscale restaurant. It was very good. The white brownie was made with Khalua, which turns me off, as I do not like the flavor of coffee, but my mom said it was good. The bite I tried was too much for me. Pricing was not outrageous and they apparently also have one of the best wine selections in the entire state. All in all it was a neat place. There are only about thirteen tables, so the restaurant is by no means large. It was a little out of the way, but if you are looking for a different atmosphere than many of the restaurants up north, it is worth it. Overall, I am afraid that I have to say the food in Northern Michigan is not good. The Rowe was an exception to that. I could see myself eating there again. It was a nice place to go with family, but could also be a fun date spot (as long as she is paying ;) ).
(4)michael b.
pretentious place which has no reason to be. food is ordinary. staff is rude and unhelpful. we were there for an anniversary dinner and the staff said they were too busy to snap a photo of our table for us. even with tapawingo closed this place isn't likely to prosper.
(1)