Iron Bay Restaurant & Drinkery — Restaurant in Marquette

A Confusing and Disappointing Experience Hidden Behind “Transparency”

We had high hopes for this place — our server was friendly and attentive, and the food was fine. But we were caught off guard at the end of our meal by a mandatory “transparency fund” added to the bill. When we asked about it, we were told it helps pay staff more fairly and shares tips with the kitchen — which we completely support in principle. But it was never mentioned by the server or made obvious to us — apparently it was posted on the front door (which was open, so we didn’t see it) and buried in small print at the bottom of the menu. When we politely said we would have preferred higher menu prices instead, our server replied, “Have you ever worked as a waitress?” and then talked about her long commute and how well the company treats employees. We’re happy the staff is treated well — they should be — but what about the customer experience? Charging us more without clearly telling us upfront, and then making us feel guilty for questioning it, doesn’t feel transparent at all. We won’t be returning — not because we don’t support ethical pay, but because we don’t support misleading practices. True transparency doesn’t come with fine print and awkward conversations after the check drops.

Response to Owner, and to his response to my review:

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate the intention behind your policy and absolutely support fair wages and ethical treatment of staff. That was never in question.

The issue is not the existence of a service charge — it’s the lack of clear, proactive communication about it. Transparency isn't just about having information “at the ready” or buried in fine print — it’s about making sure customers actually see and understand what they’re agreeing to before the bill arrives.

Saying “it’s on the door” (which was open), or suggesting guests should hunt through the menu for disclaimers, shifts the burden to the customer rather than owning the need to communicate openly and directly.

You mention that you “love when people ask about it” — but we only found out after we were charged, not before. That’s the opposite of transparent.

And regarding your comment about my “audible public disapproval” — There was a young couple that overheard, and asked us about it, and they were appalled! it’s unfortunate that instead of listening to valid feedback about how your policy is experienced from a customer’s point of view, you’ve chosen to get defensive and cast judgment. A commitment to transparency should include being open to hearing how things land with your guests — even when it’s uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about $. I’d rather you simply raise your prices and take 4% out of that for your employees—it’s about trust. And when trust is compromised, no amount of good intentions can make up for it. Also, tips are now tax-exempt, which is a big benefit for...

As part of the area undergoing a revitalization, Iron Bay looks great. It's a unique combination of classic brick, retro diner, and modern. While I didn't visit the bar itself, I have heard it utilizes some reclaimed grates from the Mackinac Bridge.

The menu is made to look like a local paper, which was nice (and mildly confusing when I thought they were just giving out papers). There's a wide selection of beers, wines, and cocktails. The menu also has a variety of entrees that are standard tavern items, but also some that reflect the area itself.

The whitefish tater tots as an appetizer were delicious and different. Served with a mayo-spicy dip, they are a great start to a meal. I had the whitefish tacos for an entrée and they were very good. The pico de gallo was a great garnish to the seasoned fish. The fish, I believe, is so local as to come from the supplier literally down the road who gets the fish from his own boat on Lake Superior. Tough to get fresher than that.

The Widow Maker dark ale was a nice pint to have. It's lighter than a Guinness, but heavier than a standard pale ale. If you want something darker, but fear how heavy it is, get this one. It tastes much lighter than it looks, but it's a balanced flavor and not overpowering on citrus or vanilla like so many lighter-dark beers do. It's also not so heavily carbonated as a Perrin Black, so if you like a lighter carbonation, it's also a hit.

The waitress was very prompt and polite as my group took its time to order. This was an excellent stop and if you're looking for a place to go on a solo lunch or with some friends, it's a lively atmosphere in a restaurant that feels both modern and classic at...

The dear camp pie was so good it made the whole trip and the price worth it to me. My only regret is the size of the portion and I was suprised it had no sides. Luckily I didn't go hungry because my children didn't finish their boneless chicken meals. The children's portions for the money seemed like an excellent value. We got the plain chicken nuggets. Probably should have got one of the flavors instead. Really I should have got them the deer camp pie. I also had a cup of the white fish chowder. It was very good as well. Nothing can top the deer camp or though. The view was very nice and peaceful. The atmosphere was very good. My wife got the white fish and chips. Her portion was also large and seemed like a good value. She shared some with me and got a bite of my deer camp pie. She wishes she got the deer camp pie. I don't blame her. I wish I got 2 of the deer camp pies and skipped the chicken nuggets, white fish and fries. The fries were very good. Just not as good as the deer camp pie, and they didn't come with my meal. I got an I cream for dessert and shared it with the kids. The ice cream was good. My wife got a slice of goat cheese cheesecake and shared it with the kids. The ice cream was one scoop of good quality ice cream. The price of the ice cream was very good for a sit down restaurant with a view. My wife said the cheesecake was wonderful and completely worth it. The kids enjoyed the cheesecake too. The service was good. I would very much recommend coming to the Iron Bay restaurant and ordering a deer camp pie or two. The white fish soup as well. It's very enjoyable...