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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery
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Former drive-in now a revered local haunt for scratch-made homestyle fare & handmade pies.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 301 Louvingney St, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Phone: (231) 436-5514
Website: http://www.darrowsrestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
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Darrow’s Family Restaurant
O U R H O U R S · We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. · Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. · Lunch and dinner entrees are available from · 11 …
Darrow’s Family Restaurant | Mackinaw City MI – Facebook
We are now adjusting our hours for the first part of the fall. We are now open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on …
Darrow’s Family Restaurant – Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce
Save room for our famous homemade pies! We have over 15 different varieties. 301 Louvigny Street, Mackinaw City, Michigan 49701.
Reviews
Howard Steffey
Mouthwatering, wholesome, delicious dining experience. For our entree, we chose the Cajun Style fresh whitefish, which was lightly buttered, sprinkled with Darrow’s spicy blend of cajun seasoning and topped with diced sweet red peppers. The fish was cooked just right with a flaky and delicate texture delivering a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness while the crusty seasoning provided warm, savory, and nicely balanced vibrant flavors.
For our sides, we ordered green beans, mashed potato’s, and cole slaw. The beef chili provided a savory appetizer. The pies looked incredibly delicious, but we were so full after eating the main course, we couldn’t eat another bite.
Lastly, the service was top notch. NOTE: This is a very popular place to dine, so don’t be surprised if you encounter a line of people waiting to be seated. That said, the staff is so efficient that the wait in line didn’t seem too long.
… moreFor our sides, we ordered green beans, mashed potato’s, and cole slaw. The beef chili provided a savory appetizer. The pies looked incredibly delicious, but we were so full after eating the main course, we couldn’t eat another bite.
Lastly, the service was top notch. NOTE: This is a very popular place to dine, so don’t be surprised if you encounter a line of people waiting to be seated. That said, the staff is so efficient that the wait in line didn’t seem too long.
Debbie Hohn
Darrows Family Restaurant came highly recommended so husband and I decided to have dinner there. Located in Mackinaw City, easy drive. Arrived at 6:30 PM we were immediately seated, this place is a local favorite. Large menu, lots of good choices and lots of dessert choices too! Our waitress was very sweet and friendly, took our order and answered a few questions. Looking around, very nice place, lots of nautical decor, several rooms to sit, very clean. Our food arrived in a timely fashion and both our dinners were generous portions piping hot. Almost forgot to take a picture, too busy chowing down. Had chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and coleslaw , delicious! Husband had the blackened white fish, he loved it. We really enjoyed our dinner, reasonable prices for the amount of food you received!! Too full for dessert, they have a long list of pie, cake, cheesecake selections. Highly recommend this place!! Debbie/ Riverview, Michigan
… moreCamie Fillion
Great experience, will return! Friendly staff and clean atmosphere! Loved the Homemade Corned Hash, came with eggs, sausage gravy and biscuit or toast! Thank you Becca P for your kindness! Damian who cleared the tables was really working hard and was on top of things, just wanted to point that out and give him thanks for it! Hardly any wait time and I believe it’s because of him! Very busy place, food comes out fast!
… moreTerri Grannis
Darrow’s Family Restaurant is a wonderful local eatery that is open seasonally (it closes mid- to late October; check website for exact dates). They offer a wide variety of options on their menu, but the fish is an absolute winner. HUGE portions…like gigantic…next visit my husband and I will split an entree (I believe there may be a “plate” charge for doing so, but not sure). We opted for the fish basket and it was delicious–their creamy coleslaw is a treat. Speaking of treats, leave room for pie! And arrive early if you want the best selection…lemon meringue was already sold out…dang! However, they offer plenty of options and I’ve posted pics of a few of them. They have a complete menu (breakfast, lunch, dinner), with prices, on their website. You can also see their hours, etc.,–check it out! So, we’ve been there, done that, and we’ll definitely do it again! Highly recommend!
… moreDwight Perry
This was our first time eating at this restaurant. When we arrived we could tell it was a great place since the parking lot was full. We waited max 10 minutes. We had Marge as our waitress she was AMAZING. My wife got the Whitefish basket and I got the Roast Beef. My wife had the side of Coleslaw…. This is the BEST coleslaw she had ever eaten. Roast Beef was so tender and broke apart easily. Big portions. We also got the banana cream to share.
… moreRhonda Harris
Of all restaurants I have ever been to, this was by far the cleanest I have ever seen. It was spotless. I found out that they clean weekly as all restaurants should. There were not even fingerprints on windows doors or the dessert case.
The food was wonderful. The pancakes came with a selection of homemade strawberry or blueberry syrup and thick maple syrup.
… moreThe food was wonderful. The pancakes came with a selection of homemade strawberry or blueberry syrup and thick maple syrup.
Steve Smith
Carol was great and the service was amazing! Tied for the amazing service is food so great you will need a hollow leg to put it all. Plus the PIES all the reviews are right DONT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES leave without trying them. Get the butterscotch slightly warmed up you will not regret Carols recommendation. Best ever! 6 stars!
… moreJeremy Beaugrand
Stop at Darrows for lunch before going to Mackinaw island. Never been there before. Great menu. Plenty of good options. I had the chicken strips basket and the serving was huge and my fries and chicken were delicious. Our server was great. Very personable. Answered several questions despite the fact that she was very busy. The decor was very nice great atmosphere. If I’m in the area I will definitely stop by again.
… moreJohn “SEVEN” Malkin
Darrow’s Family Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan is the kind of place that inspires devotion, both from locals and those lucky enough to stumble upon it while vacationing in the shadow of the mighty Mackinac Bridge. When my wife and I pulled into the parking lot and spotted the snake of hungry folks weaving out the door and down the sidewalk, I grumbled about the wait—and even floated the idea of checking out another spot. That’s when a cheerful local, grinning like she was proud to be in on a secret, caught our nervous glances and said, “Trust me, Darrow’s is worth the wait.”
A Warm Welcome, Mackinaw Style
There’s no fancy reservation system here—just old-fashioned faith in folks to remember their place in line. No text alerts, no wait list, just nods, polite smiles, and the living, breathing testament that the best meals are worth a little patience. The sign out front might as well read, “Good things come to those who wait…together.”
Waiting on the sidewalk, we found ourselves drawn into the real Mackinaw tradition: spirited small talk. It turns out, Darrow’s line is just as much a part of the experience as the pie inside. I broke the ice with a couple standing behind us: “So, what’s the secret menu item you wish more tourists knew about?” Moments later, someone offered up, “First time visiting, or are you veterans of the fudge crawl?” Even locals got in on the act, swapping favorite beach recommendations and tips for counting freighters from the bridge.
Homey Comfort and Unbeatable Pie
Once inside, you’re hit with the nostalgia of a true family restaurant: checkered tablecloths, the scent of cinnamon, and the hum of efficient servers who treat every guest like an old friend. The menu is pure comfort—thick, juicy burgers, golden-fried perch fresh from the lake, and the infamous homemade pies aligned like a holy altar behind clear glass.
My wife ordered the whitefish chowder (creamy, loaded with flaky fish) and a crusty slice of coconut cream pie she declared “the real reason folks wait in line.” I dove into roast turkey, hearty and smothered, with stuffing that tasted like it came from a holiday memory. Every bite felt like a celebration of Michigan’s simpler, more genuine flavors.
Final Thoughts
Darrow’s isn’t fancy, but that’s exactly why it sparkles. The friendly local who vouched for the place was right: it’s absolutely worth the wait. No reservations, no frills—just good people, great food, and a slice of pure Mackinaw hospitality cooked fresh every day
… moreA Warm Welcome, Mackinaw Style
There’s no fancy reservation system here—just old-fashioned faith in folks to remember their place in line. No text alerts, no wait list, just nods, polite smiles, and the living, breathing testament that the best meals are worth a little patience. The sign out front might as well read, “Good things come to those who wait…together.”
Waiting on the sidewalk, we found ourselves drawn into the real Mackinaw tradition: spirited small talk. It turns out, Darrow’s line is just as much a part of the experience as the pie inside. I broke the ice with a couple standing behind us: “So, what’s the secret menu item you wish more tourists knew about?” Moments later, someone offered up, “First time visiting, or are you veterans of the fudge crawl?” Even locals got in on the act, swapping favorite beach recommendations and tips for counting freighters from the bridge.
Homey Comfort and Unbeatable Pie
Once inside, you’re hit with the nostalgia of a true family restaurant: checkered tablecloths, the scent of cinnamon, and the hum of efficient servers who treat every guest like an old friend. The menu is pure comfort—thick, juicy burgers, golden-fried perch fresh from the lake, and the infamous homemade pies aligned like a holy altar behind clear glass.
My wife ordered the whitefish chowder (creamy, loaded with flaky fish) and a crusty slice of coconut cream pie she declared “the real reason folks wait in line.” I dove into roast turkey, hearty and smothered, with stuffing that tasted like it came from a holiday memory. Every bite felt like a celebration of Michigan’s simpler, more genuine flavors.
Final Thoughts
Darrow’s isn’t fancy, but that’s exactly why it sparkles. The friendly local who vouched for the place was right: it’s absolutely worth the wait. No reservations, no frills—just good people, great food, and a slice of pure Mackinaw hospitality cooked fresh every day
Rebecca Zuberi
Excellent white fish, food was hot and tasty! Great location close to hotel. Great service. Very clean restaurant. Pies looked delicious and everyone was talking about how great they are. Highly recommend this family style restaurant. HUGE portion sizes.
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