The Beacon Bistro

I was at the Bistro this past weekend. This place is absolutely amazing. The view is spectacular. I would say that this restaurant has the best staff I have ever seen. The food was cooked to perfection, and the cocktails are superb. My only regret going here is that any other establishment I go to won’t be able to measure up.

The chef (Mark) came out to greet us and made us feel like an old friend due to meeting him the week prior. I had the sea bass and my wife had the steak and wow it was incredible. The fish dip appetizer was fantastic and the staff added extra bread to share with our friends we came with. I wish I would have took pictures to add to the review.

My hats off to the entire staff at the Beacon and it is my new favorite place in Petoskey. Becca, Peter, Sam and Mark, your service and dedication to your craft makes this place special. Thank you all for a wonderful evening, well done.

The view is incredible. We arrived at 515 and it was not uncomfortable silence, they had nice background music playing.
We had whitefish spread as an appetizer it was very good and an ample portion. By 530 the place was packed.
I had rack of lamb and loved it. My wife had mustard crusted salmon she loved that also. Becca was our server ,was excellent, had a permanent smile, handled multiple tables with no problem, tons of energy!
Had perfect chocolate Martinis and they were excellent also.(Thanks Drew)
This was our first visit but not our last, we could tell the restaurant was managed very well it was packed and was running smooth.

Exceptional! Was seated at the best table ... there are many tho. Started with roasted Brussel sprouts - warm and full of flavor. I can also recommend the Beet salad with goat cheese - there was no skimping on the goat cheese here. Great service 👏🏽

Kale salad topped with Salmon:
When a plate is made with fresh ingredients and is lightly seasoned, it tells me a lot about the quality and the chef’s experience. I asked for the seared salmon to be crisped, it still came juicy on the inside.
The salad was very refreshing and lightly dressed.
The view was breathtaking and best in the city.
Service was exceptional in all aspects.

Wonderful restaurant with stunning views of the lake and sunset. The food was absolutely phenomenal, one of the best french onion soups I've ever had, really good blend of flavor. Deep flavor of the broth paired with the sweetness of the onions in such a great blend.

We had the pork chop and the lamb. Both were incredible. They were tender, juicy, and packed full of flavor. A wonderful dining experience.

Our server, Peter, was fantastic. Would absolutely recommend him. He was fun, insightful and helpful with all menu questions.

A great experience and will return when I'm in town again.

Parking is in the street and I'm sure it can get pretty crowded in peak season be prepared for that.

We were debating between a few highly rated restaurants as we passed through this area. So glad we picked this Bistro! Beautiful modern and clean interior design, excellent steaks, perfectly seasoned and cooked vegetables, and friendly service. The water side view is magnificent.
Only minor concern was the angus skirt steak is a bit on the salty side- still delicious.

They have a lunch menu that is different and mostly sandwiches. I would recommend coming for dinner 4 pm and after.

Parking is by meter 1$/hr 3 hrs max. Nice downtown area to walk around near by.

The restaurant is beautiful! Not one bad seat ! We had a corner table with 2 large windows looking out on the bay. Gorgeous view!
Fabulous service with Peter - very friendly, kind and attentive
Made the meal much more enjoyable and memorable.

Phenomenal meal - Pork chop and Margherita chicken .

It was a wonderful way to spend our anniversary!

Thank you to the kind hostess, bartender , cooks and of course , Peter.

Will definitely come back when visiting Petoskey !

Relaxing enjoyable view of the water while dining. Peter our server was very attentive while serving a total of 12 tables during our
Visit. The food was perfectly presented and served hot. We had the pork chop with an amazing glaze on it. And the lamb chops prepared to the exact temp requested but just slightly salty. Definitely a place you should try if in the area.

Great food, wonderful view. The staff was kind and helpful. We also had the deviled eggs but ate them before I remembered to snap a pic. They were great!!

The Beacon Bistro is a perfect storm of friendly & engaged staff, well-presented & flavorful food, and an absolutely incredible setting. Nestled in the embrace of Little Traverse Bay, this spot boasts some of the most romantic, stimulating views which evoke positive feelings of hope and happiness. When a person can experience such a wonderful balance of staff, scenery, and succulent food, all is well. I chose to get out of the way of my chef by entrusting him to prepare my food in the manner which he himself, would prefer, and it paid off huge! This was the best steak I've ever had the pleasure to dine on, period. To think that I would find it outside of the Detroit Metropolitan area from whence I hail amazes me, but you can't argue with quality...it can be found in all corners of the world. In this particular corner, the Beacon Bistro carries the torch, inviting all to partake in a truly special dining experience! Personal thanks to my server, Peter, and to Chef Brian for helping create this memorable moment.

This place was truly a gem. We looked for a place in Petosky for steak and came across The Beacon Bistro. Our server, Peter, was amazing. He really made us feel welcome and was on top of everything. The white bean chicken chili was hands down the best I've ever had and the skirt steaks we got were cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area.

Wonderful dinner! I arrived, tired and hungry, after a long drive. The kitchen essentially was closed. No problem. Manager Peter made sure there was a wonderful entree (snapper, perfectly prepared). Server Autumn quickly and efficiently brought me a beet salad and a nice glass of wine. Add to that a great view of the bay … am I in San Francisco?

A dinner which exceeded expectations. We will return!

My husband and I had dinner at Beacon Bistro on a Monday night and it was amazing! Peter, our waiter, was very knowledgeable, professional, and fun. We took his recommendations on dinner and dessert and were far from disappointed! We ordered the butternut squash soup, smoked whitefish spread, veal ossobuco, mustard crusted salmon, and limoncello cake for dessert. All of the food was extraordinary and the limoncello cake blew us away! The restaurant had a very cozy setting and great lighting with floor to ceiling windows facing Little Traverse Bay in the back. We will definitely back and recommend this restaurant to anyone.

My husband and I recently stopped in Petoskey for a vacation. On our last evening we had dinner at a restaurant near Little Traverse Bay before heading out on a sunset tour. Our server, Peter, promised us that he could get us in and out in time for our tour, and he certainly delivered. We were seated at a table with a stunning view of the bay, but honestly, I don't think there was a bad view in the entire restaurant.

Peter was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and provided us with fantastic recommendations. As the restaurant got busier around 5 o'clock, Peter continued to be attentive and kept us on schedule. We didn't miss a beat thanks to him.

Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone in the area looking for excellent service. If you go, make sure to ask for Peter - you won't be disappointed. The food was delicious, and the views were unforgettable. Thank you, Peter, for a wonderful experience!

My first visit to Beacon did not disappoint, as my wife and I partook in their 2023 Petoskey Restaurant Week special menu.

The four-course meal offered a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, all of which were excellent. My wife's beef bourguignon and my pork belly were both fantastic, and portions were very generous.

Service was top notch, and the ambiance and setting in downtown Petoskey were lovely. As a local, I definitely plan to return soon!

I have ate in bistros and restaurants all over North America and this is one of the best I have been too. The service was impeccable, the drinks were creative and delicious, the atmosphere was very nice from its bay views to it's outdoor fire pit and seating area in front. Now let's talk about the food: Ten stars if I could give it to them. The menu wasnt too big but yet there was something for everyone. Definitely try the Mahi mahi.

Great night at the Beacon tonight! I had the NY Strip special, and the wife had the salmon. Both were absolutely fantastic. Autumn helped us out for the night, and she also was something special. All this with a great view of the lake. Make sure to pay them a visit when you're in town.
Thanks, Beacon, for a great night...

The olives with bacon and shallots pair well with a vodka martini! The porch is dog friendly and Rusty loves it.
Next time, Pasta Bolognese….

On the second trip we had dinner…
Short ribs and noodles and a tuna poke bowl… Unbelievably good!

Great spot overlooking the bay! Perfect for a nice date night out or a late night with the boys! Pricing is very reasonable compared to the area. Will definitely be back here again!

Great Happy Hour (wasn’t expecting to hit a happy hour so that was a bonus), best views in Petoskey (IMO) and awesome service by Becca! Happy Hour = half off drinks (exc bottles of wine) and 25% off apps.