Oh fun! I was thinking about doing Tour Da UP this year, but they spend too much time around places I already bike.
I don’t have any suggestions for Gladstone, I just don’t know that area very well.
Good restaurants:
Since you mention Subs - the local Sub Shop is Togo’s, it’s been here forever, it’s not part of the Togo’s chain. Try the #16, very yummy.
Also good and UPish is Jean Kay’s Pasties. Good lunch when you’ve been biking a lot.
Union Grill is a BBQ/Burger kind of place that’s south of town. It’s pretty far from Tourist Park, but I wanted to mention it because it’s really, really good. They have seating, but it’s the kind of place where you order at the check-out and then sit down & they call your number when your food is ready.
Sit-down places:
The Vierling is my favorite for basic grub. The food is not fancy, but what they do is homemade & good. Burgers/Whitefish/etc. It’s also a brewpub, if you’re into such things. Try the blueberry wheat, it’s not sweet like most fruit beers, and it’s served with fresh blueberries in it.
There’s a new Irish pub right on Washington St. that I’ve heard amazing things about. I haven’t been there yet, though. Called the Far Rover or something like that. No liquor license yet, so if that’s important to you, call ahead and see if they have it.
More upscale is L’Attitude, a wine bar that has really nice outdoor seating overlooking the lower harbor. Probably the most interesting food in town - eclectic small plates that include flatbread pizzas, sushi, some steaks, some seafood, hummus, etc etc. A bit more upscale than the other places, but you won’t feel out of place in shorts & a t-shirt.
There’s a new middle eastern place over by the co-op that I can’t remember the name of, but is really, really good if you’re into that kind of food. We also have two Thai places now - one on Third St. that’s more casual, and a new one on Front St. a block up from downtown that’s more upscale and very, very good. Once again, it’s not so upscale that you can’t wear shorts & a T-Shirt.
In fact, noplace in town is fancy enough that you can’t go there in shorts & T. This is da UP, we don’t like dressing up.
Let me know if you want more details on any of this, or anything else about Marquette. Or the names of the places I can’t remember - I’ll look 'em up if you’re interested. We’ve actually got quite a few good places now - not the restaurant wasteland that it was several years ago.
