A Local Guide to Where to Eat in New Buffalo
Find The Best Restaurants In New Buffalo Michigan
New Buffalo may be small, but I’ve never had trouble finding somewhere worthwhile to eat here. The choice can actually be a little surprising if it’s your first visit. You can grab a burger at Redamak’s, settle in for a casual meal at Stray Dog, go Italian at Brewster’s, or choose Bentwood Tavern when you want dinner to feel a little more special without turning the evening into a formal affair.
I wouldn’t rank these restaurants from one to ten because that really doesn’t help you much. Where I’d send you depends on who you’re traveling with, how much you want to spend, and what kind of evening you have in mind. A family coming in hungry after a day out is looking for something very different from a couple celebrating an anniversary.
If you’re still putting the rest of the trip together, my New Buffalo Michigan travel guide can help you plan the rest of your time in town.
Best Restaurants in New Buffalo at a Glance
When friends ask me where they should eat in New Buffalo, I usually answer with another question: what kind of meal are you looking for? I wouldn’t send a family wanting burgers to the same place I’d suggest for an anniversary dinner, and that distinction matters more to me than trying to declare one restaurant the best in town.
| Restaurant | Best For | Cuisine | Price | Area |
| Bentwood Tavern | Waterfront dinner | Contemporary American | $$–$$$ | Harbor |
| Brewster’s New Buffalo | Italian dinner | Italian/Pizza | $$ | Downtown |
| Stray Dog Bar & Grill | Casual vacation meal | American | $$ | Downtown |
| Redamak’s | Burgers | American | $$ | East Buffalo Street |
| PostBoy | Creative dinner | Contemporary/Global | $$–$$$ | Downtown |
| Beer Church Brewing Co. | Beer and casual food | Gastropub | $$ | Downtown |
| Copper Rock Steakhouse | Special occasion | Steak/Seafood | $$$ | Four Winds |
| Skip’s Restaurant | Traditional steakhouse dinner | American/Steak | $$–$$$ | Red Arrow Highway |
If you want the classic, casual New Buffalo experience, I’d start with Redamak’s or Stray Dog. For Italian, Brewster’s is the easy place to put on your shortlist. Bentwood is where I’d look when you want a nicer dinner and the marina setting is part of the evening, while PostBoy makes more sense when you’re interested in a more contemporary meal.
Then there are nights when dinner itself is the occasion. That’s when I’d start comparing Copper Rock and Skip’s. They offer quite a different experience from grabbing a burger downtown, which is exactly why I don’t think a simple numbered ranking works particularly well in New Buffalo.
Best Overall Restaurants in New Buffalo
If you only have a couple of meals in New Buffalo, these are the restaurants I’d put at the top of the list. Which ones make the cut depends on the kind of meal you want.
Bentwood Tavern — Best for Waterfront Dining
I’d choose Bentwood Tavern when you want dinner to feel like part of the evening rather than simply somewhere to eat. It sits on the docks at Marina Grand Resort, so the marina setting is genuinely part of the experience.
The menu is seasonal and contemporary with a tavern approach, and the overall feel lands in a useful spot between casual dining and formal fine dining. That makes Bentwood particularly easy for me to recommend to couples or adults who want a nicer evening without feeling as though they need to dress up for it. Weekend brunch gives you another option if your dinner plans are already spoken for.
My advice is not to choose Bentwood just because you want a table near the water. I’d choose it when you want the food and setting together. And if you’re visiting during a busy period, this is one of those dinners I’d rather reserve ahead than leave to chance.
Brewster’s New Buffalo — Best Italian Restaurant
Brewster’s is the restaurant I’d suggest when you want to go out for a proper dinner but nobody in the group wants anything particularly formal. Its downtown location also makes it easy to fit into an evening without planning your whole day around dinner.
The menu centers on Italian food, including pizza, pasta and more contemporary Italian dishes, and there’s a patio for those times when eating outside sounds better than staying indoors. I think Brewster’s works particularly well for mixed groups because a family can feel comfortable here, but it doesn’t feel like you’re settling for a basic family restaurant.
If you’re staying in New Buffalo, I’d keep Brewster’s high on the list for Italian. If you’re traveling around the region and Italian food is one of the things you actively seek out, my Italian restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide gives you more places to compare before deciding where to spend an evening.
Stray Dog Bar & Grill — Best Casual New Buffalo Experience
If someone told me they wanted to eat somewhere that actually feels like they’re on vacation in New Buffalo, I’d probably send them to Stray Dog before I sent them anywhere else.
This is a casual American restaurant, and a big part of its appeal is the atmosphere surrounding the meal. It’s busy, social and one of the more recognisable places to eat in town. There is also a seasonal rooftop, but there’s an important distinction for families: the rooftop is for guests 21 and older.
I also think it’s worth setting expectations correctly. I wouldn’t tell a friend to go here because Stray Dog automatically beats every other restaurant in town on food alone. You go because the restaurant, location and energy all come together into a very New Buffalo kind of meal.
That popularity has a downside. During busy summer periods, waits can become substantial. If you’ve got tired kids or somewhere you absolutely need to be afterwards, I wouldn’t build a tight schedule around getting seated immediately.
Redamak’s — Best for Burgers
Redamak’s is easy for me to explain: if you came to New Buffalo wanting the classic burger stop people have been making for years, this is it.
The restaurant is known for its char-grilled burgers, and the atmosphere is unapologetically casual. I wouldn’t dress this one up into something it isn’t. Redamak’s makes the most sense when you’re hungry, you’re traveling with family or friends, and a burger sounds considerably better than a carefully planned dinner.
There are two details I’d know before going. Redamak’s operates seasonally, so check that it is open for your trip. It doesn’t accept credit or debit cards; payment is by cash or check, and there are ATMs inside if you arrive without either.
And if you’re the sort of traveler who will happily drive a little farther for a good burger, my best burger restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide gives you more places to consider.
PostBoy — Best for a More Creative Dinner
PostBoy is the one I’d bring up if you told me, “We’ve done the burgers and casual places. Where can we go tonight that feels different?”
It’s downtown, with a chef-driven approach, globally influenced food and cocktails, plus indoor and outdoor dining. More importantly, it fills a gap in New Buffalo’s dining choices. You can have a more contemporary dinner without automatically moving into the traditional steakhouse category.
I’d consider PostBoy for a date night, an adults’ evening or simply the night when you’re ready to be a little more adventurous with dinner. That’s really the reason it earns a place among my overall recommendations: it gives you a different kind of evening from Bentwood, Brewster’s, Stray Dog or Redamak’s rather than trying to compete with them at what they already do well.
Best Restaurants in New Buffalo for a Special Dinner
For a special dinner, I’d narrow the choice to what kind of evening you want. Copper Rock fits an upscale steakhouse night, while Skip’s is the better match if you prefer a more traditional steak-and-prime-rib dinner.
Copper Rock Steakhouse
Copper Rock Steakhouse is inside Four Winds New Buffalo, away from the downtown restaurant cluster, so I’d treat this as a dinner destination rather than somewhere to stop while you’re already exploring downtown. It’s a good fit for an anniversary, birthday or another night when you’re comfortable spending more on dinner. Guests must be 21 or older to dine at Copper Rock.
Steaks and seafood are the focus, and the price reflects the more upscale experience. I mention that because I wouldn’t send you here just because somebody in the family says, “I feel like steak.” There are less expensive ways to have a good dinner in New Buffalo. Copper Rock makes more sense when you actually want dinner to be one of the main events of the evening.
For a couple celebrating something, that extra expense may be completely worthwhile. For a family trying to keep a weekend budget under control, I’d think twice unless everyone really wants the steakhouse experience. New Buffalo has too many good casual choices to spend more simply because you think you’re supposed to have one fancy dinner while you’re here.
Skip’s Restaurant & Catering
Skip’s is where I’d look if your idea of a special dinner leans more traditional. This long-running restaurant is on Red Arrow Highway, with steaks, prime rib and seafood among the choices that define the experience.
I know plenty of travelers who would choose that over a newer, more contemporary restaurant every time. There’s something comfortable about knowing exactly what kind of evening you’re signing up for, particularly if you’re celebrating with parents or a group whose tastes lean toward a classic steakhouse or supper-club dinner.
If you asked me to choose between the two, I’d keep it simple. Go with Copper Rock when you want the more upscale experience and don’t mind the higher bill. Pick Skip’s when you’d rather have a traditional steak-and-prime-rib kind of dinner. I wouldn’t choose either based on which one sounds more impressive; I’d choose the one that sounds more like the people sitting around your table.
Best Casual Restaurants, Breweries and Quick Meals
Some days I want lunch to be quick or dinner to stay casual, especially when I’ve already spent most of the day out exploring. These New Buffalo spots work well when the meal doesn’t need to become the main event.
Beer Church Brewing Co.
Beer Church Brewing Co. is one I’d suggest if you enjoy breweries and want to try somewhere you’ll actually remember after the trip. It’s in a former church in downtown New Buffalo, which gives you a pretty good clue that this isn’t your standard taproom.
There’s craft beer and casual food, so you can make it a lunch or an easy dinner instead of treating it strictly as a drinking stop. I especially like it as an option for adults traveling together who want to sit down, have a beer and eat without making reservations or dressing the evening up.
But I wouldn’t send you here just because Beer Church is unusual. If nobody in your group cares much about craft beer, I’d choose the restaurant that better matches what everyone actually wants to eat. The brewery and former-church setting are a big part of why I’d pick this one.
Rios Mexican Grill
Rios Mexican Grill is the kind of recommendation I make when a friend tells me, “We’ve already had two big restaurant meals. Where can we just grab something?”
This is where tacos, burritos and a counter-service setup become an advantage. You can get lunch or a casual dinner without making the meal the center of your day, and sometimes that is exactly what you need on a trip.
I’d especially keep Rios in mind for lunch or a day when you already have plenty planned and don’t want another sit-down meal eating into your time. It also gives you a break from the burgers, pizza and pub food that can start piling up during a weekend away.
If tacos and Mexican food are something you’re actively hunting down during the trip, rather than just needing an easy meal, I’ve covered more options in my Mexican restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide.
Casey’s Bar & Grill
Casey’s is a useful downtown choice when you want a casual lunch or dinner without making another big dining plan. The menu goes beyond basic bar food, with signature burgers and sandwiches alongside choices such as Great Lakes perch, fish and chips, ribs and mac and cheese.
I’d especially keep Casey’s in mind when different people in the group want different things. Its location on North Whittaker Street makes it convenient when you’re already downtown, and there’s an outdoor patio when the weather cooperates. This is the kind of restaurant I like having in my back pocket: straightforward, flexible and easy to fit into the day.
Best Breakfast and Lunch in New Buffalo
Breakfast is one of those meals I plan around the day ahead. If I’ve got an early start, I’m perfectly happy with coffee and something I can take with me. Give me a slower morning, though, and I’d much rather sit down and have a proper breakfast. New Buffalo gives you good choices for both, and you don’t need to make this decision complicated.
Angela’s Provisions
Angela’s Provisions is a good one to remember when you wake up ready to get going. Breakfast choices include stuffed biscuits, croissants and bagels, while sandwiches, salads and other grab-and-go choices make it useful later in the day too.
I especially like this option on a day when I’m heading out early or checking out and continuing through Southwest Michigan. You can get everyone fed without turning breakfast or lunch into another long stop.
Jackie’s Cafe
Jackie’s Cafe is where I’d go when I actually want breakfast to be breakfast. If I’ve got time to sit down, order a proper meal and talk about what we’re doing that day, this makes more sense to me than grabbing a pastry on the way out.
I’d also keep Jackie’s in mind if you’re traveling with someone who has dietary preferences that can make breakfast a little harder to plan. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices give a mixed group more room to find something that works.
This is the choice I’d make on a morning when there’s no reason to rush. Sometimes an extra cup of coffee and a slower start are worth more than squeezing one additional stop into the day.
David’s Delicatessen
David’s Delicatessen makes sense to me for a different reason: convenience. It’s downtown and serves breakfast and lunch, so it can fit into the day without requiring much rearranging.
For lunch, the deli sandwiches are the obvious draw. I’d keep David’s in mind when you’re already downtown and hunger catches up with you sooner than expected. Instead of getting back in the car or spending twenty minutes debating restaurants, you can keep the day moving.
That’s often how I use a good deli when I’m traveling. I don’t necessarily plan the whole day around eating there. I’m simply very glad I know where it is when lunchtime arrives.
Best New Buffalo Restaurants by Occasion
If you already know what kind of meal you want, this is how I’d narrow the choices.
| What You Want | Where I’d Send You |
| Best waterfront meal | Bentwood Tavern |
| Best burger | Redamak’s |
| Best Italian | Brewster’s New Buffalo |
| Best casual vacation atmosphere | Stray Dog Bar & Grill |
| Best creative dinner | PostBoy |
| Best upscale steakhouse | Copper Rock Steakhouse |
| Best traditional steak dinner | Skip’s Restaurant |
| Best brewery experience | Beer Church Brewing Co. |
| Best quick Mexican meal | Rios Mexican Grill |
| Best breakfast or lunch to grab and go | Angela’s Provisions |
What to Know Before Eating Out in New Buffalo
A little planning goes a long way with New Buffalo restaurants, especially on summer weekends. I’d pay attention to three things: waits, reservations and seasonal schedules.
Summer Can Mean Long Waits
New Buffalo gets busy on summer weekends, and the restaurants you’ve heard about before your trip are often the same restaurants everyone else is thinking about.
If Stray Dog or another popular spot is high on your list, I wouldn’t wait until the family is starving to decide where you’re eating. Give yourself some flexibility and have a second choice in mind. That’s especially important with kids. I’ve found that adults can tolerate a restaurant wait considerably better when there isn’t a hungry child reminding them about it every five minutes.
Make Reservations When Available
I’d reserve the dinner you really care about when the restaurant accepts reservations, particularly on a busy weekend. If you’ve chosen a nicer restaurant for a celebration or date night, lock that meal in and leave the casual lunches and burger stops flexible.
Check Seasonal Hours Before Going
Always check current hours before heading to a restaurant, particularly outside the busiest summer months.
That’s a rule I follow throughout Southwest Michigan. Some restaurants operate seasonally, and schedules can change during quieter parts of the year. Redamak’s is a good example of why this matters because it operates seasonally. Five minutes spent checking before you leave can save you a pointless drive and the inevitable discussion about where everyone wants to eat instead.
Downtown Is Easy to Combine With the Rest of Your Day
When I’m already spending time downtown, I prefer choosing a restaurant there rather than moving the car just because lunch has arrived. Several of the places in this guide are around the downtown area, so it’s easy to let a meal fit into what you’re already doing.
You don’t need to decide at breakfast exactly where lunch will happen. If you’re planning the rest of the day around downtown, my things to do in New Buffalo Michigan guide can help you decide what else is worth fitting in.
Where to Eat During a New Buffalo Weekend
For a weekend in New Buffalo, I’d plan one dinner I really care about and let the other meals fit around the trip.
For breakfast, I’d stop at Angela’s Provisions when I want coffee and something I can take with me. For lunch, Redamak’s would be my pick if you’ve never had the classic New Buffalo burger experience. If you’ve already done Redamak’s—or you’d rather sit down and soak up some of New Buffalo’s busier vacation atmosphere—I’d go with Stray Dog.
I’d put more thought into dinner. Bentwood Tavern is where I’d send you when you want the marina setting to be part of the night. If somebody says, “Italian sounds good,” Brewster’s is an easy choice downtown. And if you’ve already had burgers and casual food and want something different, I’d look at PostBoy.
Staying another night? That’s when I’d start looking beyond town. You can use my best restaurants in Southwest Michigan guide to decide if there’s somewhere nearby worth making the drive for.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Buffalo Restaurants
What are the best restaurants in New Buffalo, Michigan?
If you asked me for five places to start, I’d give you Bentwood Tavern, Brewster’s New Buffalo, Stray Dog Bar & Grill, Redamak’s and PostBoy. Bentwood is my choice when you want a nicer waterfront dinner, Brewster’s for Italian, Stray Dog for a lively casual meal, Redamak’s for the classic burger stop and PostBoy when you want something more contemporary.
What is the best waterfront restaurant in New Buffalo?
I’d choose Bentwood Tavern. It sits on the docks at Marina Grand Resort, so the marina is part of the experience rather than simply a nice view somewhere in the background.
This is the one I’d save for an evening when you have time to sit down and enjoy dinner rather than rushing off to the next thing.
Where should families eat in New Buffalo?
I’d start with Redamak’s, Stray Dog or Brewster’s. Redamak’s is the easy answer when burgers sound good, while Stray Dog gives you a livelier casual meal. Just remember that Stray Dog’s seasonal rooftop is 21 and older.
Brewster’s is where I’d look when the family wants pizza or Italian and you’d like a sit-down dinner that feels a little nicer without making the evening formal.
I wouldn’t plan Copper Rock for a family dinner with children, since guests must be 21 or older to dine there.
Do I need restaurant reservations in New Buffalo?
For every meal? No. For the one dinner you really care about? I would, if the restaurant takes them.
That matters most to me on busy summer weekends and for special dinners. I’d rather know my important meal is taken care of and keep the rest of the weekend flexible. For casual restaurants that can develop a wait, have a second choice in mind. Sometimes changing restaurants is a much better use of vacation time than standing around hungry for an hour.
Final Thoughts on the Best Restaurants in New Buffalo
New Buffalo has enough variety that you can eat very differently across a weekend without spending the whole trip chasing restaurant reservations. I’d choose the one or two meals you care about most, plan those ahead when necessary, and leave some flexibility for the rest.
Once you’ve sorted out where you want to eat, my New Buffalo Michigan travel guide can help you plan what to do with the rest of your time in town.