Vernales - Harbor Springs

The food and service at this restaurant were amazing, and to top it off, they gave me a free dessert for my birthday!

We have ate here in the past (3+ years), but our latest trip was definitely not as enjoyable. Food was nothing exciting. Calamari was rubbery and breading was just ok. Tortellini was good, but not amazing for almost $30. Be careful with theadd-on 's. We thought that a side add-on of lobster mac n cheese was $12, but it is actually the regular mac n cheese price$11.85 PLUS the add $12 for upgrade...so $24 for a tiny ramekin serving with a few bits of lobster! After arguing with theserver, the manager took it off the bill, which was the right thing to do. We really appreciated that. My question is why notjust advertise a side of lobster mac n cheese for $24 instead of doing the add marketing trick? Service was slow, as ourserver kept hanging out at the hostess desk. We had to ask a different server for some things because ours was nowhere to befound. They definitely have plenty of room for improvement.

Today, I went to the restaurant for lunch. I inquired with the waitress about the fat content in the brisket, to which she responded that it may have a little but customers typically do not have any complaints. However, I found the brisket to be excessively fatty and the sandwich was subpar. The only highlights of the meal were the tasty coleslaw, delicious fries, and the pleasant outdoor seating. Unfortunately, the service was lacking, as the waitress was not friendly and seemed robotic in her interactions. Despite the nice ambiance, the mediocre food and service left much to be desired.

I had a wonderful birthday dinner at Vernales. Located just a few minutes outside of Petoskey in Harbor Springs, this restaurant was a tasty choice. I ordered the New York Strip which was excellent. My companion had the Sea Bass, also excellent. Our server Grady provided excellent service. I highly recommend stopping by when you're in the area.

Everything we ordered (appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts) at this restaurant was outstanding! The main steaks and crab legs were delicious, and they had a lovely wine selection. The kids' meals were also well-cooked, not like the typical overcooked microwave dishes. Our waitress, Becky, was fantastic with our children, and the rest of the staff were very accommodating.