Vintage Chophouse

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The Setting

Vintage Chophouse | Wine Bar sits within the Inn at Bay Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan in Bay Harbor, Michigan — part of the greater Petoskey area. The room is welcoming and stately, drawing on the tradition of the classic all-American steakhouse while layering in the ease of an upscale lounge. In summer, a waterfront patio opens up, putting guests directly in view of the Inn's grounds and the lake beyond.

The Food

Executive Chef Tony leads the kitchen with a focus on prime steaks and seasonal ingredients. The lunch menu reads like a confident American chophouse: a Bay Harbor Burger built on a short rib blend with Vidalia onion jam and truffle jack cheese, a Prime Rib French Dip with aged Gruyère and rosemary jus, and Great Lakes Walleye on brioche — a nod to the region's freshwater bounty. Starters like Maryland Crab Cakes, Steakhouse Lamb Pops with demi-glace, and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with Bloody Mary sauce round out a menu that takes American cuisine seriously without overcomplicating it.

Salads show the same care — dried cherries, apple slivers, and fig vinaigrette in the Vintage Salad; maple-bourbon pork belly in the BLT Wedge. The French Onion Soup, built on beef short rib and finished with aged Gruyère, is a house statement.

Full Moon Dinner Series

From June through November, Chef Tony crafts a rotating multi-course menu tied to each full moon, served communally with an optional wine pairing. The series moves between Bay Harbor Golf Club in summer and the Inn itself in autumn — a seasonal rhythm that suits the northern Michigan setting.

The Wine & Recognition

Wine Spectator awarded Vintage its Award of Excellence in 2023, a reflection of the depth and curation behind the wine program. The bar side of the operation earns its place alongside the food, making this as much a destination for the glass as for the plate.

Who It's For

Vintage is the kind of place that works for a leisurely lunch on the patio, a proper dinner before a northern Michigan evening, or a slow drink at the bar. The American cuisine is grounded and generous, the service unhurried, and the lake view does the rest.