Lunker's Angler's Inn, Edwardsburg, MI

We frequently go to Michigan in the summer with friends who have a house in Cass county, and Lunkers is always a high point for Sparky and his little buddies.

Lunkers is the biggest hunting/fishing store I've ever seen - it makes the Bass Pro Shop in Gurnee look like the bait section in a gas station. It used to be that you could enter the restaurant by going past the live bait section and the tiny zoo of local fish and an alligator. (Now you have to go in by the Angler's Inn entrance, thus missing the opportunity to see an example of the food chain at work all the way up to YOU)

Surrounded on all sides by fishing tackle and hunting equipment, the restaurant is a homemade version of the Rainforest cafe, with slightly less subtle decor: artificial greenery covers every inch of ceiling, there are numerous fish tanks sporting all kinds of tropical fish, and to top it off, taxedermied heads and bodies of all kinds of critters. The piped-in birdsong is periodically replaced with an artificial thunderstorm, complete with strobe-light lightning effects.

The menu contains specialties that anglers and hunters might catch for themselves: Blue Gill, Lake Perch, Frog Legs, Walleye; Buffalo, Ostrich and Elk burgers, and duck breast. Appetizers include alligator tail and calamari.

Most food at Lunkers is deep fried and comes with classic sides like french fries and coleslaw. It apparently is coated with "Shore Lunch" brand breading mix, which is a bit too salty for my taste. Our group decided on a mix of game fish: we had bluegill, lake perch and walleye. My favorite'gills were a heaping portion (probably 3-4 fishes worth) of fillets; very tasty - the lake perch was very similar. The Walleye was a monster slab-o-fish. We also had calamari and alligator appetizers; a bit salty and overcooked, but still fun (as you would expect, the kids particularly enjoyed the tentacles) Sparky opted for a corn dog, but the rest of the kids got "trout bites" from the kids menu - fish nuggets shaped like trouts and whales.

They have a fairly extensive bar including Bass and Guinness. We go at least once a year, and enjoy the experience (a little more than the food) very much - especially good on a day when the fish all get away. If you camp, fish, or hunt, definitely make the trip - they have stuff I've only seen online.

Lunker's
26324 U.S. 12 East
Edwardsburg, Michigan
Phone 269-663-3745

I stop in at Lunker's once or twice a year. Food is okay, but not outstanding. They do have some game meats on the menu, mostly burgers from buffalo, elk, and venision. They do have a fairly large selection of outdoor cooking equipment, including wood chips, chunks, and sawdust.

I like the food at Lunker's and go there 4 to 6 times a year. I have found through tasting and trying that the sandwiches are really good at Lunker's!And I still enter through the old main entrance and view the Fish Tank.

My favorites are;

1. Combination Italian Sausage and Beef

2.Club Sandwich


WEBSITE: http://www.lunkers.com/location.htm

Just around the corner going towards Cassopolis is Spicey's restaurant. I at breakfast there several times a few years ago, which was very good for dinter type place. My wife's family has had a cottage on Diamond Lake for around 45 years and they have eaten there many times.

Going on toward's Diamond Lake is Schaefer's Meat Market, great sausage and jerky's made an experienced German usage maker. THe BBQ is okay, but not up to something I would order, but better than many places. He uses Sweet Baby Ray's as his sauce.

Taking M-62 in towards South BendGranger are two restaurants worth eating at. Eddie's Steak Shed and Yesterday's. They are across the street from each other. Eddies has excellent choice steaks, in a casual atmosphere and a reasonable price. Hamburgers are excellent and cooked to order. I have never ordered seafood, but have heard that there offereings are excellent. They are swamped on weekend nights, and pretty busy other nights of the week. They have recently started serving breakfast, which I would expect to be very good. Eddie's has a long and well deserved reputation in the area, going back longer than the 16 years I've lived here.

Eddie's Steak Shed
12685 Adams Road
Granger, IN 46530-6873
(574) 277-1076

Yesterday's Food Spirits has some, if not the best desserts and selection in the area. I find the food rather average, but the desserts alone are worth going. The meals are average, but the desserts... We usually order a couple of appetizers and then dessert.

Yesterday's Food Spirits
12594 Adams Rd
Granger, IN 46530-6873
574-272-7017