Restaurant of the Week: Raven’s Nest

CRYSTAL FALLS, Mich. (WJMN) – The Raven’s Nest Bar and Grille has been a staple in the U.P. trail riding culture for years. But 7 years ago the business changed hands and developed into a hometown, family destination.

“It’s a local bar,” said an employee and daughter of the owner, Amyree Jeffers. “But we get a lot of tourism, like, snowmobile and hunting season, especially our busy times. We have actually, we’ve had a lot more business since we started doing breakfast because it’s cheap. It’s still cheap. Like you can get a lot of different things for a very good price.“

While raising their own families the owners picked up new additions to the family every day with their regular customers.

“It’s kind of like a really big family. That’s all I can say. Like, we have our moments where even, like, there’s a couple, like, brother and sister some days, and then we’re best friends”

Since the new breakfast menu has been added Raven’s Nest has seen a huge rise in their customer base.

“There are two bartenders here that were here before my mom bought it that I work here, but they’re their family and they’ve cooked here since before that.” said Jeffers “But when I started here, we only needed one bartender per shift who could cook and waitress and bartender and do all that. But now we’re so busy we have to have at least two people all the time.“

Some customer favorites include a deep-fried chicken sandwich, a classic Philly cheese steak sandwich, and a Philly cheese steak Omelette. And who can turn down a good pizza? Especially one for the kids. The Ravens Nest is partnering with a nearby church to provide 5 pizzas for a free summer lunch program provided to the kids in the community. This program is called “The Lunch Box”.

You can tell that this eatery has developed into a home away from home for many people. Former Children’s illustrator, Mike Delbridge, has created personalized comics over the years about the stories he’s heard and lived here at the Raven’s Nest.

“All of us are in one or more of these. Every bartender, even a lot of our customers, every one of us is in some of these.” Jeffers said when asked about the comics stretching across the walls.

Open from 7 am to 2 am the Raven’s Nest is more than happy to welcome you into their flock.

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