The North Shore Dish Music with Your Meal By Virginia George
One thing I’ve noticed about those of us who live or vacation in the Northland is that we take our summers seriously. In comparison with Minneapolis, the growing season is a full six weeks shorter, which means six weeks less time between frosts. Call it an accelerated summer. For this reason, we take advantage of the beautiful landscape in every way we can. One of the greatest ways to appreciate the outdoors and food is outdoor dining. Restaurants and brewpubs alike have worked to create beautiful outdoor eating spaces, and some of them also work to usher in our rich artistic community. I don’t know whether the North Shore draws in creative people, or if creativity is a byproduct of our long, cold winters, but I’m here for it either way. The North Shore has a wonderful “home grown” atmosphere that is rich in personal influence, from arts and crafts to food and music. One beautiful blending of these influences and small, craft experiences, is local restaurants who also feature local bands. Sir Ben’s in Duluth, Birch Terrace in Grand Marais, and the Bluefin Grille in Tofte all provide outdoor dining experiences and live music opportunities so you can experience more of what the area has to offer, and the Cascade Restaurant and Pub in Lutsen is a picturesque location for local music and good eats.
Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake, Duluth Sir Ben’s is a quaint little building located right on London Road in the heart of Duluth. The building itself has unique features, with exposed brick and a bright blue roof. The inside of Sir Ben’s is a little disjointed, with a gentle nod to the building’s previous life as a service station. The bar is at one end and piano at the other, and a giant chalkboard kept up to date with current beer, cider and kombucha offerings. Sir Ben’s is an English-style pub, with a menu that favors unique sandwiches, along with house-made pizzas. There are a few vegan and gluten free options as well, and when it comes to beer, Sir Ben’s has an exhaustive tap list that changes almost daily. They keep it well updated on their website, but at any time you can expect to find more than 20 craft beers on tap (there are 27 as I write this).
Sir Ben’s in Duluth is an English-style pub with a menu that favors unique sandwiches, along with house-made pizzas. | SIR BENEDICT’S NORTHERN WILDS
JULY 2022
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