We wanted to get away for the weekend and decided to head south and visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We were invited by The Hotel H to visit and experience a luxury stay at the hotel (part of the Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham®). What we found were great restaurants in Midland Michigan all in one hotel complex. The stay was AAA 4-Diamond worthy but it was the food that blew us away.
Three Great Restaurants in Midland Michigan
Café Zinc
When we wrapped up our weekend, my husband and I said, we would come back to Café Zinc for the hashbrowns at breakfast and the Lobster Thermador for dinner. That particular dish holds a special place in our hearts as it was what we ate on our first date and as our meal at our wedding. It is very hard to top the Lobster Thermador made by my father, a chef de cuisine in his own right, but Café Zinc was a true contender.
Designed after a traditional French Bistro, Café Zinc had three things going for it: (1) a French pastry chef (from France), (2) a spectacular patio facing the beautiful flower beds on Main Street and (3) the best selection of desserts this side of the Atlantic. I have to say the pictures do not do them justice. The variety and flavour were exquisite. Having lived in Paris for a year, I can assure you the bread was spot on and the desserts classic. We brought a sleeve of macarons and a loaf of bread home – it was that good!
My husband enjoyed his dinner of Parmigiano-Reggiano Frites (fresh thyme, rosemary, truffle aïoli) and Angus NY Strip Steak with potato espuma and romanesco, chimichurri. I enjoyed the Escargot a la Bourguignonne (trumpet mushrooms, garlic butter, parsley, white wine, puff pastry) and the Lobster Thermidor (mushrooms, shrimp, bread crumbs) over parmesan risotto.
Paul loved the steak and found it to be better than the filet mignon he had the next night at Table. The portions were large enough to keep us from ordering dessert. I am sure the extra bread did not help in this cause!
We also had breakfast at Café Zinc as well as ordered room service (which was also from Café Zinc ). Sitting on the patio on a beautiful summer day was the perfect way to start the day. Overall both breakfasts were exceptional, we fell in love with the super-crispy hashbrowns.
I ordered the very rich but tasty Gravlax Benedict (grilled asparagus, poached egg, béarnaise sauce, ciabatta toast, hash browns) and Paul had the Marsala Mushroom Skillet (chicken sausage, sautéed spinach, poached egg, hash browns). Both of these dishes were enough to keep us going for the day ahead walking around the Farmers Market and the Dow Botanical Gardens and Canopy Walk ( to read more #ontheblog click through on the link).
great restaurants in midland Michigan
Oxygen Lounge
Another reason to return would be to go through the unique cocktail list offered at the Oxygen Lounge. Our dinner was so filling the night before, we decided to defer dessert to the next day for a pairing with cocktails.
We were glad we did as our conversation with the bartender was both informative and entertaining. He told us about the region, what is local to eat and trips a short distance from The H Hotel. An avid hunter and fisherman, he let us know about small local lakes in the area. All around he was a great mixologist and tour guide.
It’s hard to narrow down both the cocktails and the desserts. We opted to try the Blackberry Bulleit (Dark and flavorful with Bulleit Bourbon, Fresh Blackberries and Lemon Juice) and the Paloma (a classic tequila cocktail made with Patron Silver, Grapefruit & lime juice topped with soda). There were a few other cocktails that look appealing and I did notice that the new bar menu has a few fall offerings including and apple cider mimosa, blueberry-rosemary Gin & Tonic and a spiked orange tequila cocktail. Yum.Yum.
Though the Oxygen dining menu had a variety of quick bites (chicken wings, burger, quesadilla and a hard cheese board). Although tempting, my suggestion is to go the dessert route. Walk across the hall to Café Zinc and pick out one of their many assorted French pastries. One is just not enough (of cocktail or dessert).
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Table
When we visited in the summer, Table was still opened and was a fine dining experience. We loved the elegant setting with a lounge to have cocktails or finish off dessert and coffee.
A very sophisticated menu, we chose to order the crab cakes and lobster with the filet mignon. I loved the lobster (brought in from the coast). The atmosphere and the service were impressive. We reflected on the fact that we did not feel there was as good a restaurant in London. The calibre truly was exceptional.
The sommelier provided a selection of wines for us and we opted to go with an Italian bottle of Pinot Grigio (Fattori Valparadiso, 2019) to complement our seafood choices. We started with the crabcakes (large, flavourful and full of chunks of crabmeat and no filler).
Paul’s seafood choice was Scallop Carbonara. I wasn’t taken with this dish but my husband did enjoy it.
What was very impressive was the wine choices. I loved that the bottles were all displayed for you to have a closer look. It added to the sophisticated ambience of the restaurant. This is just another reason this was one of the great restaurants in Midland Michigan.
Although there is a change for Table coming in early 2020, I want to tell you about it because the experience was A-1. I expect that the new restaurant will be just as great. In September 2019, The H Hotel, a Dolce Hotel, announced the creation of a new and exciting restaurant concept scheduled to open in Downtown Midland in early 2020.
Changes coming in 2020 …
The yet-to-be named restaurant will welcome the local community with a modern, mid-century inspired ambience; handcrafted cocktails, local seasonal menu and new indoor and outdoor spaces fit for everything from date-night dinners and family outings to group dining and celebratory events. “The restaurant pays homage to the history of mid-century modernism in Midland in a setting that inspires connectivity with friends, colleagues and the community,” said Derek Grimaldi, General Manager of The H Hotel. “This fresh new concept along with the reimagination of the H’s courtyard reinforces our commitment to the continued growth of downtown Midland and the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
With seating for 110, the space will feature a new eat-in bar, two private dining rooms and a 40-seat outdoor patio in the courtyard. Designed as a gathering place on Main St for locals and travelers alike the restaurant menu features American comfort food with dishes that are recognizable, imaginative, approachable and designed with the entire region in mind.
Handmade cocktails, craft beer, a robust wine program along with a balanced menu of traditional favorites and new offerings form the basis of this energetic addition to the downtown landscape.
Overall, our stay at The H Hotel was a welcome break and a fabulous birthday celebration. We enjoyed everything that Midland had to offer but every getaway is just a little bit better when the food stands out. The service was A1 and we are already planning a return in the spring to see the Dow Gardens in their spring glory. I can’t wait.
Disclosure: We were the guests of The Hotel for a weekend. We were offered a #giftedexperience. All opinions are truthful and our own. We don’t recommend places we don’t love!
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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.