The New Blue

About 18,000 years ago, when the last glaciers invaded this area from the north, creatures of every type were living and enjoying life in gorgeous Northern Michigan. However, as the severe cold persisted and dropped the thermometer well below the zero degree temperature level, a massive amount of the creatures either migrated south or sadly became extinct. A very minute, yet resilient, grouping remained able to withstand the cold of Michigan winters and refused to flee their home.

One of the minorities remaining was an introverted pelican who struggled with the resolution of packing and leaving or whether he should hunker down and combat the elements. This pelican decided that Northern Michigan was his home and that he would indeed reside. Observer’s testimony states that during the first winter the temperatures were so bitter that the pelican’s feathers actually turned blue. Today, on the shores of Torch Lake, residents frequently report seeing the silhouette of a very cold and lonesome Blue Pelican silently gliding above the surface of the shores. Thus, the Blue Pelican was established.

The Blue Pelican Restaurant and Inn is located at 2535 North Main Street Central Lake, MI 49622 Phone: 231-544-BLUE (2583). They serve lunch Friday and Saturday 11:30-2:00, supper Sunday thru Thursday 5:00-8:00, expect Wednesdays. Tuesdays is the two fer Tuesdays, which is always jammed packed with the locals. Hungry locals dine on $2.00 drafts, wine, margaritas and hotdogs, sodas for a dollar and mouth-watering, slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches and juicy cheeseburgers for $3.00.

We dined there Saturday, October 10, 2009 around 6:00pm. It was Polish Festival night. As we walked up the stairway, the autumn leaves were falling. The sun was just about to set and sounds of Neil Young were in the air. I entered to be greeted by a young blonde lady with a smile a mile wide. “Good evening and how may we help you this evening?” I told her our name and she seated us most sweetly. To the left was a cozy bar area and to the right a fine wine display. A young gentleman was singing and playing the keyboard, which set a relaxing cozy mood, just like you would expect in Northern Michigan. The dining room was quaint, but nothing spectacular. An assortment of tables with white linens and candle light for all to enjoy. The entire establishment was clean, fresh and welcoming.

We ordered cocktails and reviewed the appetizers, all were in the price range of $8.00-$12.00, mostly seafood related. We decided on the fire cracker shrimp and crackling crab cake to start. The shrimp was crispy with a tangy peanut sauce, cooked perfect and served fresh, hot and plated lovely with a fresh purple flower. Next came the crab cake. They said it melted in your mouth, served with an array of fresh dipping sauces. Again, presentation was lovely.

Fresh fish will cost you $18.00-$22.00 a plate. The crab stuffed walleye was moist and flakey, served with tossed seasoned vegetables. It needed a bit more spice for our liking. The shrimp linguine for $22.00 was bland as well. Vegetables were crisp, just not enough spice. The seared teriyaki tuna melted in your mouth, quite the deal for only $8.00 a plate. The steak was tough and thin. Not the place to go for a great piece of beef and especially for $22.00, not the best deal in town. Now, the pan fried perch was flakey and fresh a wonderful dish for only $18.50.

The Polish buffet was tasty and fresh. It started off with a green salad and applesauce to temp your pallet. Trays of spicy bratwurst that burst with juice as you cut into them, mounds of warm German potato salad--tangy yet sweet, fresh purple cabbage and sour kraut, slow roasted pulled pork—seasoned to perfection, stuffed cabbage smothered in tangy tomato sauce and of course crispy potato perogies--smothed in white onions. Then, to top it off, slices of fresh baked black forest cake, German chocolate cake and buttery apple streusel for all to enjoy—they were all moist, sweet and a fantastic ending to a tasty meal. All for the low price of $15.00; by far this was the best tasting deal in the house.

The managers were in the dining room greeting and chatting with customers to ensure satisfaction. Wait staff were prompt, kind, and knowledgeable of the menu. Water glasses and cocktails were always full and the food was served in a timely manner. Reservations are taken and recommended for peak times of the year, which would be summer and fall. Overall, it was a wonderful meal, enjoyed by all. I would say they earn two point five stars out of a five star rating scale. We had a party of six and all stated they would return for their specialty theme nights, seafood appetizers or the “two fer Tuesday.” If you are ever in Northern Michigan stop in and try it out, you may even see the Blue Pelican.