3 Best Restaurants in Duluth, Minnesota

Across the street from Lake Superior, this café embraces the farm-to-table concept, organic wherever possible, including sourcing from herb and vegetable gardens on the property. Locals have been flocking to this cozy place, where work by local artists graces the wide-plank wooden walls, since its opening in the late 1990s. Starters like duck-confit spanikopita or curried blue mussels are perfect to share. Exotic artisanal accents drive the entrées, such as pork tenderloin served with port-fortified cherries, chorizo, and corn-bread stuffing. Down-home desserts include a grasshopper terrine.

Dark wood and antique beer steins create an old-time pub atmosphere here. A Duluth landmark since 1914, it was founded in 1888 as a tasting bar within Fitger Brewing Company and in 2010 its new owners completed an extensive renovation. Lunch and dinner menus feature a dozen sandwich choices, plus ethnic twists like jambalaya pasta, and plenty of salmon dishes, such as roasted-pear-and-seared-salmon salad. Nearby waters are highlighted with Lake Superior smoked whitefish piccata and pan-seared Lake Superior trout. Wine lovers will rejoice at 14 by-the-glass choices. Live music fills the pub on Friday and Saturday nights.

Part supper club, part Italian eatery, Valentini's serves hearty portions in an intimate environment. After sampling from a lengthy menu, guests are encouraged to linger over coffee and dessert. Using modern culinary trends, owner-chef Carol Valentini is also inspired by family recipes in use since the 1930s—as in Nello's marinated kabobs skewered with bacon and vegetables—and the Italian-themed breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are named after family members. Check the events calendar for news of live-music, theater, opera, and comedy performances.