Unearth The Voyage
Just outside Traverse City, there is a restaurant locals consistently point to for prime rib worth the drive. Located on Secor Road along the lake, it has built a reputation for large portions, reliable quality, and a setting that keeps people coming back.
What makes it stand out is the combination of a focused menu and a location that does not feel overrun by tourist traffic. The prime rib is the main draw, but the overall experience, from service to pacing, is what turns first-time visitors into regulars.
If you are planning a stop near Traverse City, this is one place that earns its spot on the list.
The Address, Location, and Getting There
Not every great restaurant is easy to stumble upon, and that is part of what makes this one feel like a discovery. Boone’s Long Lake Inn sits at 7208 Secor Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685, just a short drive from downtown Traverse City in the heart of Northern Michigan.
The road leading out to the restaurant winds through trees and quiet countryside, giving you the sense that you are heading somewhere worth the trip. The parking lot is generously sized, so even on a busy Friday or Saturday night, finding a spot is rarely a struggle.
The restaurant opens at 4 PM on weekdays and stays open until 9 PM Sunday through Thursday, and until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, doors open at noon.
Reservations are a smart idea during peak hours, especially on weekends when the dining room fills up fast. The short drive from downtown is absolutely worth every minute.
A History That Started With a Log Cabin
Long before Boone’s Long Lake Inn became one of the most talked-about steakhouses in Northern Michigan, this property had a story rooted in simpler times. The original inn was built in 1949 by William R.
Bellaw and was known back then as Bellaw’s Log Cabin Inn.
That founding spirit, a place built for hearty meals and genuine hospitality near the water, never really left. Over the decades the restaurant evolved, changed hands, and grew in reputation, but the bones of that original cabin charm stayed intact.
You can feel it the moment you walk through the door.
The taxidermy on the walls, the wood-heavy interior, and the overall sense that this building has seen a lot of good meals and good company all speak to a history that runs deep in this community. More than 75 years after its founding, the inn still draws loyal regulars who have been coming here for generations, and that kind of loyalty says everything.
The Rustic Cabin Atmosphere Inside
The inside of Boone’s Long Lake Inn has a personality all its own. Wooden walls, mounted wildlife displays, and warm lighting create that unmistakable up-north cabin feel that Northern Michigan does so well.
Tables are spread across a large dining room, and the space is genuinely big, so even when the parking lot looks packed, there is usually more room inside than you expect. Near the fireplace, the atmosphere gets especially cozy, and on a cool Michigan evening that spot feels like prime real estate.
The overall vibe is casual but not sloppy, rustic but not rough around the edges. Guests show up in everything from flannel shirts to business casual, and nobody looks out of place.
The restaurant is family-friendly and welcoming, the kind of setting where a couple celebrating an anniversary and a family celebrating a birthday can both feel equally at home. And once the food arrives, the decor becomes a pleasant backdrop rather than the main event.
The Prime Rib That Keeps People Coming Back
There is a reason the prime rib at Boone’s gets mentioned in nearly every conversation about the restaurant. It arrives juicy, tender, and cooked exactly as ordered, with a richness of flavor that makes the drive out to Secor Road feel completely justified.
The key, according to those who know, is ordering it medium rare. That is when the prime rib reaches its full potential, with a rosy center and a crust that holds just enough seasoning to complement the natural flavor of the beef.
Going beyond medium risks losing that tenderness, so take the advice seriously.
Portions are generous, as they are with everything on the menu here. A surf and turf combination pairing the prime rib with the perch is a popular move, and it is easy to understand why once both arrive at the table.
The prime rib is not just the most popular item on the menu; for many regulars, it is the entire reason they make the trip.
Steaks, Seafood, and Everything in Between
Prime rib may be the headliner, but the full menu at Boone’s Long Lake Inn is worth a closer look. The ribeye steak has earned serious praise, with the cut arriving flavorful and perfectly seasoned, cooked precisely to order in a way that suggests the kitchen takes its craft seriously.
Seafood lovers have plenty to celebrate here too. The lobster tail has drawn strong reactions, the perch is a Northern Michigan classic done right, and the smoked salmon and whitefish pate makes for a genuinely impressive starter.
A surf and turf combination is one of the most satisfying ways to explore both sides of the menu in a single sitting.
Side dishes hold their own as well. The mashed potatoes are fluffy and rich, the garlic bread arrives crispy and generously buttered, and the onion rings have been called the best some diners have ever tasted.
Every plate feels like it was put together with the intention of leaving you fully satisfied, and that intention clearly delivers.
Salads, Starters, and the Classics That Round Out the Meal
Every dinner at Boone’s Long Lake Inn comes with a choice of soup, house salad, or coleslaw, which gives each meal a satisfying sense of completeness from the very first course. Guests can also upgrade to a Caesar dinner salad or a bowl of homemade soup, both of which are worth the small extra step.
The entree salad options, including the Caesar, Gorgonzola, and Cherry Chicken Salad, offer a lighter path through the menu without sacrificing flavor or care. Homemade croutons add a satisfying crunch to the salads that store-bought versions simply cannot match.
The starters set a tone of generosity that carries through the entire meal. Nothing feels like an afterthought here; even the bread basket gets attention, arriving with real flavor that makes it hard to stop at just one piece.
The only minor complaint some diners have raised is that the butter could be served a little warmer, but that is a small note against an otherwise strong opening act.
The Long Lake Views and Outdoor Patio
The restaurant’s position on Long Lake is one of its most appealing features, especially during the warmer months when the outdoor patio opens up. The expansive deck is surrounded by trees and offers a pleasant, shaded retreat that feels genuinely relaxing on a summer evening in Northern Michigan.
Dining outside here is a different kind of experience than eating indoors. The sounds of the lake, the canopy of trees, and the easy pace of a warm evening combine to make the meal feel more like an occasion than just a dinner out.
It is the kind of setting where conversation flows easily and nobody is in a hurry to leave.
Even from inside the restaurant, the lakefront setting gives the whole place a retreat-like quality that is hard to manufacture. That natural backdrop is part of what makes Boone’s feel like more than just a steakhouse.
Come for the prime rib, stay for the view, and you will understand immediately why this place has been drawing visitors and locals alike for decades.
Live Music on Weekends
A great meal deserves a great soundtrack, and Boone’s Long Lake Inn delivers on that front too. The restaurant features live music on weekends, adding an extra layer of energy to the already lively atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights.
The music fits the setting naturally, filling the dining room with sound without overwhelming conversation at the table. It gives the weekend experience a celebratory quality that makes the meal feel more like an event, and it is one of those details that regulars genuinely look forward to when they plan a visit.
For first-time visitors, the live music on a weekend night can come as a pleasant surprise. The dining room does get noisier as the evening fills up, which is something worth keeping in mind if you prefer a quieter setting.
But for most guests, that lively hum is part of the charm, a sign that the room is full of people who came here for a good time and found exactly that.
Desserts Worth Saving Room For
After a meal this size, most people assume they could not possibly eat another bite. Then the dessert menu arrives, and that assumption quietly falls apart.
The cheesecake at Boone’s Long Lake Inn has developed a reputation that is hard to argue with once you have tried it.
Topped with cherries or strawberries, the cheesecake is rich, creamy, and just sweet enough to feel like a proper reward after a big meal. It is the kind of dessert that gets remembered and talked about on the drive home.
The Grand Traverse Pie Company also supplies pies to the restaurant, giving guests another solid option when the cheesecake has already been claimed by the table.
The servers at Boone’s have a way of describing the dessert options that makes saying no feel genuinely difficult. There is a certain gleam in the eye when cheesecake gets mentioned, and if you catch it, take the hint.
Ending the meal on a sweet note here is never a decision anyone seems to regret.
Service That Makes the Experience
Good food is only part of what makes a restaurant worth returning to, and at Boone’s Long Lake Inn, the service is consistently one of the most praised parts of the experience. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm in a way that feels natural rather than rehearsed.
Servers here take the time to explain specials, share personal recommendations, and make sure each table feels looked after without hovering. On busy nights, particularly during large group events or holiday gatherings, the team handles the volume with an impressive sense of calm.
That kind of steady professionalism under pressure does not go unnoticed.
For a table of ten or a solo diner at the bar, the level of care tends to stay consistent. The bartenders are known for being especially personable, making the bar area a genuinely fun spot to sit on a busy evening.
At a restaurant this popular, strong service is what separates a good night out from a truly memorable one, and Boone’s clearly understands that.
Practical Tips Before Your Visit
A few things are worth knowing before you head out to Boone’s Long Lake Inn for the first time. The restaurant is priced at the higher end, with most guests budgeting around $40 per person at minimum, so it is best enjoyed as a planned occasion rather than a casual drop-in.
Making a reservation is strongly recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings or during the busy summer season. The parking lot is large enough to handle the crowd, but the dining room fills quickly during peak hours.
Arriving without a reservation on a busy night can mean a longer wait than expected.
The restaurant opens at 4 PM most days, with Sunday service beginning at noon, which makes it a solid option for an early dinner or a Sunday afternoon meal. You can reach Boone’s at 231-946-3991 or visit their website at booneslli.com to check hours and plan ahead.
Going in prepared means you can focus entirely on enjoying the meal, which is exactly what this place deserves.
