New Scenic Café

"What a treat! A wonderful restaurant that lives up to its name. The smorgasbord was the highlight, as was the goat’s milk creme brûlée with lingonberries and a ginger snap. It’s been a year since I visited this restaurant, and I still think about those two dishes. The service was very attentive, and I loved the rustic decor."

"I recently visited the New Scenic Cafe with a friend who was visiting from London, England. I have long visited this establishment when visiting the North Shore and have always enjoyed the unique dining experience New Scenic Cafe offers. However, I must express my disappointment with our recent visit. Our evening was marred by slow and inattentive service, resulting in an unexpectedly prolonged dining time of nearly three hours for just the two of us. Specifically, my order for a bread basket (starter) took close to an hour to reach our table. Furthermore, upon receiving the bill, we were surprised to find a 20% 'fair wage share' added, a detail that was not clearly communicated on the menu or by any staff member during our ordering process. This felt a bit deceptive, as we only became aware of this additional charge when settling the bill. As a small business owner myself, I wholeheartedly support the success of local businesses and understand the challenges they face. However, I believe transparency is key in ensuring a positive customer experience. Discovering the 'fair wage share' only upon receiving the bill felt imposed and did not align with the hospitality I have come to expect from this establishment. In Minnesota, it is not a legal requirement to include a mandatory service charge, and I have always appreciated the freedom to determine my tip based on the quality of service received. While I acknowledge the intention behind the 'fair wage share,' I believe patrons should have the autonomy to decide on their gratuity based on their individual experience. This experience has left me with a less favorable impression of the restaurant, and it gives me pause when considering a return visit. I value the unique atmosphere and culinary offerings at the New Scenic Cafe and hope that future visits can be marked by the exceptional service and transparency I have previously enjoyed."

"I drove for over 2 hrs to get to this little beautiful place, as I'm staying in Minneapolis. Having a spectacular view of Lake Superior made the ride amazing. When I got there, I was so friendly welcomed and taken to my table. A few minutes later the most nice and friendly waitres greeted me and answered my questions about the menu. The food has a touch of Nordic to it, so I was very excited to experience a bit of their cuisine. I had an open-faced sandwich with pork, onions, bacon, apples, a bit of mustard grains and some watercress on top and bread on the side. Let me tell you, it was magnificent. The dish was everything she promissed... and more. The onions and the apple gave it the nice sweet to contrast with the mustard and of course, pork and apples it's an awesome combination. Also, the apple was still crunchy enough to provide another texture to the bite. The watercress was fresh and the pork at the bottom of the cast iron skillet was so tender the knife was not needed for it. Amazing food, awesome view and a great service. Once in a lifetime experience to get there and enjoy a delightful place."

"This is hands down one of the greatest dining experiences I have ever had. The service was impeccable. Everyone was really friendly and attentive. The food is unbelievable. I got the compressed cucumbers, braised lamb with polenta, and a chocolate dessert. The sauce with the lamb was so good that I order bread to be able to clean the plate! Every plate had such a delicious and well balanced combination of flavors. I will definitely need to come back the next time I’m in Duluth!!"