2022 Best of Lake Erie: Foodie Fun

Fabulous Farm-to-Table Fare: Mustard + Relish
Chow down on a delicious beefy burger at Mustard + Relish, where you can make it your own with ingredients such as local Jensen’s cheddar, bacon onion jam, smoked bacon or house pickled banana peppers. Signature burgers come “as is.” So no messing with the menu. But you won’t mind with choices that include the bull — a grass-fed beef patty with grainy mustard mayo, smoked tomato ketchup, caramelized onion, smoked bacon, gorgonzola and iceberg lettuce crunch. Burgers aren’t the only game. Other sandwich selections include the Rooster, the Lamb, the Fish, the Bison, the Stallion, the Chicken and the Garden.
Port Dover, Ontario, 509-583-3337, mrburger.ca

Chill Bar & Grill: Pete’s Garage
Daily specials range from burgers to tacos to fried shrimp and boneless wings. This authentic sports bar with 25+ beers on tap caters to hungry patrons seeking a satisfying tavern-food fix. And if you’re in a south-of-the-border mood, a generous taco platter and selection of fajitas will fit the bill.
Monroe, Michigan, 734-243-0343, petesgaragemi.com

Late Night Treat: Icing on the Lake
Here’s something that is seriously sweet: a 24-hour ATM for fresh-baked treats. You can find this delightful dispensary of desserts at Icing on the Lake, a cupcake shop in Erie. Inspiration for this destination came from owner Heidi Fette’s desire to curb people’s late-night cravings and earn some money at the same time. 

The refrigerated machine is stocked daily with the bakery’s cookies, cake pops, cheesecake on a stick and six packs of cupcakes, plus some items that are gluten-free. Fette can monitor purchases around the clock. 

“Although we have customers stop by at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, Saturday is the most popular day,” says Fette. “We close on Saturdays at 1 p.m., and by 5 p.m. it’s almost empty, so I will come over and refill it.”
Erie, Pennsylvania, 814-464-0528, icingonthelake.com

Boozy Treats: Fairport Harbor Creamery 

Ice creams and goodies are made in-house, and the “adult menu” of boozy scoops includes yummies like chocolate ice cream infused with peanut butter whiskey, vanilla ice cream with espresso vodka and Kahlua, and mint ice cream melded with whiskey and creme de menthe. 

For the younger set, the curated menu of homemade flavors includes staples and originals such as Lighthouse, which is made up of vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries and soft chocolate flakes.
Fairport Harbor, Ohio, 440-898-0030, fairportharborcreamery.com