Dining Adventures Found on the Whitefish Chain

PHOTOS AND STORY BY: JEREMY MILLSOP

The epitome of the Brainerd lakes area during the summer might be watching the sunset over Big Trout Lake while drinking sangria and enjoying a delicious meal from Manhattan’s at Manhattan Beach Lodge north of Crosslake.

But with 14 different lakes comprising the Whitefish Chain in northern Crow Wing County, the options to finding your summer taste of the lakes area are abundant.

Maybe it’s lunch at The Wharf while pontoons and other watercraft navigate the channel between Cross and Ruth Lakes.

With breakfast served on the weekends, The Wharf is a perfect place to start your dining adventure around the Whitefish Chain. Boat is the most common form of transportation and the Wharf offers 25 boat slips for those taking to the waterway. But the beauty of the Whitefish Chain can be experienced by car, which opens up more dining experiences.

Plenty of outdoor seating at the Wharf helps with social distancing and the Wharf’s Famous Bloody Mary with the essential garnishes kick starts any dining adventure the right way. For added spice start your meal with the Shrimp Bang Bang appetizer, which is lightly breaded shrimp with a heat-infused sauce drizzled on top.

By boat or by car, the next logical destination on one’s dining adventure around Whitefish has to be Moonlite Bay Restaurant and Bar. With 70 dock slips, there’s plenty of parking for boats and the back deck owns a great view of the bay on Cross Lake.

If one is feeling charitable a must-order is the Bilski burger with donations from every order going to Camp Knudson.

A popular summertime item is the wraps, which are perfect for the boaters on the go. Moonlight has 14 different wrap options to choose from. It also has a heavy appetizer section, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and dinners.

Depending on the time of day or the crowd you’re with, head south to Zorbaz where pizza and Mexican Food rule the route. They have spaghetti, but when you’re craving Mexican food in Crosslake Zorbaz is a must.

Two spots not accessible by boat, but worth a portage are Andy’s Bar and Grill and Riverside Inn. Drop your boat off at the Cross Lake Recreation Area and walk across Highway 3 to get to these long-standing dining spots.

If the daylight hours are winding down after your visit to Moonlight, head north on Highway 66 to the Bourbon Room Saloon and Eatery. The rustic exterior welcomes the hungry adventurers where options are the highlight. Start with a bourbon flight to fit the location and then choose between six different grilled cheese sandwich options or seven different versions of tacos, not to mention nine different burger choices to go with wings and sliders.

Manhattan’s at Manhattan Beach Lodge patio view

Don’t hesitate to order dinner where the smoked barbecue ribs are a highlight. For something lighter, the Caribbean coconut shrimp salad is the perfect combination of flavor and amount. The blood orange vinaigrette accents the mixed greens and shrimp well, while the pea pods and cabbage add texture.

While the Bourbon Room isn’t accessible by boat, Manhattan Beach is and it’s worth the winding route through many of the Whitefish Chain lakes. If at all possible, sit outside and get some fun out of the Tiki Hut which was voted best dockside bar by WCCO. Patio seating at sunset is a must, but even if you're stuck inside, the food is worth the trip.

The cajun pasta is a delicious way to end the day, but small plates, flatbreads, and tacos are a perfect lighter-side option.

Manhattan's legendary walleye continues to be a favorite, but there's scallops, steak, chicken piccata and more to finish a perfect Whitefish Chain food adventure.

There's no perfect route for dining on the Whitefish as Moonlite Bay offers exciting night time entertainment. But the numerous options are why the chain is a popular destination for anybody.