Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar

Visited there the first time today. The hostess greeted us warmly and had a nice welcoming personality. Our server Maria was very nice and pleasant and answered our questions. The food..holy cow. We had the steak tartare, mussel pasta and the steak. Everything was outstanding! We will definitely be back!

Lake Ave is my family’s go-to spot when we’re celebrating something or just feeling a little fancy on any particular day. I had the steam buns back in December (celebrating holiday break kick-off) and I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. My family was thrilled to see them on the menu when we visited this past weekend (feeling a little fancy on a Saturday). We’ve been many times — I guess we like to celebrate/feel fancy — and we always leave content. Portions are always just right, presentation is supreme, the service is top notch, and despite some low key fancy vibes, it is very much a “come as you are” type of place. I love the menu changes that are made periodically, as it highlights the creativity of the chef and the Lake Ave team. This is especially true for their vegan options (pot pie is 💯, steam buns are dream-worthy). This is a feel-good establishment and I am so glad to have them nearby.

The chef worked with me to develop a lovely and tasty meal that I could safely eat (I have multiple food allergies and intolerances). The staff are great and you feel well taken care of but not hovered over. The restaurant can be very loud when crowded due to all the hard surfaces, which can make it difficult to hear and converse with your dining companions.

Great spot to eat and drink! Unique menu items with friendly service, and bread loafs for sale. We purchased a blueberry sourdough and it was amazing the next day, too. Try the tree sap liqueur!

This was our first trip ever to Duluth, Minnesota and this restaurant makes it all worth it and we've only been here 5 hours! From the combination of items piled on the Lake Avenue burger to the savory blends of spices in the hand-made, local farmed sausage down to the custom created blueberry cake that was not too sweet or too tart. This place is one of a kind. Great atmosphere, decor, ambiance, easing blue and grey color scheme with honey colored wood tables and window frames makes an easy eyed look for the place giving a relaxed feel. Mark, a grey bearded gentleman, was the best server ever! He was very personable, polite, with lots of warmth. The food was served quickly and hot. The coffee kept coming, water was always filled and smiles with genuine conversation were plentiful. His attentiveness made us permanent fans, on only one visit. When we are back to Duluth, we will go here first, and last before leaving.

Great cocktails and delicious food. The staff was so friendly and gave great recommendations.

Cute little place. Not sure what type of food they were aiming for- the menu was a odd mix of cuisines. Food was good but a bit under-seasoned.

Had a great experience going to Lake Avenue on a Sunday evening date away from the kids. The server there named Mark really went out of his way to make sure we had an enjoyable evening together. This is not to mention the food was remarkably flavorful and was just the right portion to enjoy with a glass of wine. We will be back to try some of the other intriguing options on their menu.