Houghton Restaurants

Suomi is interesting for several reasons. First, the building was built in 1869 and is very attractive. This is also the #1 rated restaurant in town. I warn you though, the smell of the bread may make you overeat. The name of the restaurant is Finnish, as are the words at the top of each category of food, but the items on the menu are mostly American except for desert. The sandwich I had for lunch was very good, and the staff was efficient and friendly. I heard the breakfast here is fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant. Almost a 5!

Favorite Dish: The Hot Meatloaf Sandwich was quite good.

Victoria’s Kitchen, is open for breakfast and lunch. The prices are very reasonable, and the varied menu will offer you items from America, as well as Greek and Lebanese. The breakfast menu is served all day, and you will find many different types of omelets such as Lebanese, Fiesta, Greek, Fruity surprise, Garden, Western, and six others. You will also have a choice of eggs, pancakes, French toast, and stuffed French toast. They have a Finnish pancake, which is quite different from any Finish pancake I have had in Finnish restaurants. This one is a custard like cake. There are also a number of baked goods and lighter fare such as yogurt, which is made fresh daily.

For lunch you will find homemade soups; 17 types of sandwiches, both traditional American choices, and unusual ones such as Lebanese style burgers, which are a home made sausage patty, onion, tomato, and hummus served in a pita bread or on a whole wheat roll. There are also about 11 types of Fatays, which have the fillings baked inside a homemade crust, including the traditional U.P. pasty. Victoria’s also offers a variety of salads. For entrees you may wish to have a Falafil, Gyros, Greek Salad, Middle East meat combination plate, as well as meatless combos such as taboule and hummus, or stuffed pita bread.

The restaurant also offers a menu for small children.

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The Hunan Garden is my favorite restaurant in Houghton, and is run by Hung Fu, who was born in Korea, and his wife Mah Lee, who was born in Singapore. Hung Fu, believes in using good quality ingredients, and had owned a restaurant for 17 years before coming to Houghton. Hung Fu received his training as a chef in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, and because 40% of their customers in Houghton are from China, Taiwan, or India, they try to serve more authentic dishes than you sometimes find in American Chinese Restaurants. You will find a reasonably priced and varied menu including complete dinners that come with soup, appetizers, and entrees. Of course you can also purchase your meal al-la-cart, with a number of soups, appetizers, noodle or rice dishes, vegetable dishes, and main dishes featuring chicken, duck, beef, pork, and seafood. Although there is not a full bar, there are a number of beers and wines to choose from. If you would like something sweet after your main meal, you will find a few desserts, such as Banana in flaming Rum and Apple in Flaming Rum. The Hunan Garden is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM for lunch and dinner, and closed Sundays.

Favorite Dish: There is so much to choose from, that it is hard to say what is my favorite, but so far I have been very impressed with the Mongolian Beef. I have never really been a Mongolian Beef fan, but it is a favorite of my husbands. I tried some of his the first time we ate at the Hunan, and I fell in love with it. The quality of the meat is excellent, tender, and flavorful, cooked just right. If you like beef, you can’t go wrong with this dish. I had Crispy Shrimp last time I was there, and it was excellent. Many of the dishes are labled as spicy hot, but you can ask to have your dish cooked mild or medium if you prefer.

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Gemignani’s was opened in 1982 by Rudy and Celeste Gemignani. In 1994 their son Tony, and his wife Rose took over the restaurant, continuing to serve hearty Northern-Italian style food. Tony’s traditional red sauce is the same recipe that his grandfather and father taught him to make. The small restaurant has a smoke-free, casual atmosphere. The prices are very reasonable, and the food in excellent. You will find a varied menu featuring pizzas, pastas, and traditional chicken entrees such as Chicken Picatta, Chicken Marsala, Alfredo, and Parmigiana. There are also a variety of raviolis, sandwiches, salads, lasagna, shrimp, and homemade Cannelloni, which is a house specialty. If you choose one of the Classic Italian meals, it will come with a choice of garden or Caesar Salad and an Italian crusty roll. Still hungry after your meal? You can top your dinner off a wonderful piece of pie or tiramisu.

Favorite Dish: My husband has tried a number of items, and has liked everything he has had. Last time we were there he had the Chicken Parmesan and said it was excellent. I am not a vegetarian, but I just love the Eggplant Parmesan. It is delicious! The Ceasar Salad, although not quite traditional, is very good. They use to have a wonderful Shrimp Scampi, but now they only have it as a special every now and then. The shrimp is nicely sautéed in a mixture of garlic butter and olive oil, then served over linguini with a wonderful garlic cream sauce.

The Ambassador is popular among locals and college students. Choose a cozy booth in the main dining area and dine in the ambiance of rich, dark woodwork, green glass antique sconces, and murals of merry men dancing on the ceiling. Remember to bring some change for the jukebox.

Favorite Dish: Tostada Pizza- My all-time favorite pizza: thin, crispy crust, warm seasoned taco meat, tomatoes, lettuce, taco sauce and cheddar cheese. The best I've tasted!

I find dining in Houghton to be a frustrating experience. In spite of the fact that it is a real college town, there is a real lack of decent or interesting restaurant options. "The Library" is part of that frustration. It has consistently disappointed me for several years - with a dull, corporate style menu, mediocre beer, and lackluster service. But because it's one of a very few eating options on the main drag in Houghton - and because it has the same name as a widely popular (and much better restaurant) that occupied this space for many years before a devastating fire in the early 1990s, the Library continues to pack in a sizable crowd of Techies and their families.

The fare is pretty much the standard bar cuisine that you would find at any other number of bland "food service" restaurants across the United States. Which wouldn't be so bad if the service and the execution were good. At least "The Library" has a decent view - it helps take your mind off how long you have to wait for your food.

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I am recommending the Library with reservation. At one time it was one of the bests, however, the quality was disappointing the last time we ate an evening meal there. The sandwiches are quite good, but my husband’s steak was not as tender as he would like, and a little over cooked. Three of us had the nut-encrusted walleye, and we all thought the somewhat coarsely cut nut coating was too thick, and two of us scraped it off. My son's fish was dry, so the quality of the fish is unreliable. The Library is a restaurant, bar, and microbrewery. This restaurant has been in business since 1967. Here you can find a choice of sandwiches, steaks, seafood dishes, chicken dishes, pastas, pizzas, salads, Mexican choices, two vegetarian choices, appetizers, and desserts. And for you beer drinkers there are in house made beers and ale. Don’t care for alcohol? Try their draft root beer.

Favorite Dish: I love the homemade Jack Daniels Chocolate Chocolate ice cream for the cost of $2.50. Be aware, however, instead of the typical creamy ice cream texture, this in house made ice cream has a light, almost icy texture.

Tucked away on Isle Royale Street, just a half block below the main thoroughfare is The Library. Not 'the library', that's up hill and a block further west. The Library is a wonderful little restaurant. The building has a long history and you can still see the brickwork, the original beams and the differences between the two buildings that have been joined into this single brew pub.