Tucked along Highway 2 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this not-so-hidden restaurant gem is serving up good food and good vibes.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
You won’t see any billboards for U.P. eatery Moofinfries. No TV spots or newspaper ads. And no, they don’t have a website.
What they do have: a sleepy Facebook page with occasional updates (mainly when their fridge is stocked with whitefish), and hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, Reddit posts, travel blog mentions and social media shout-outs.
To the complete surprise of owner Wayne Flatt, Moofinfries didn’t need golden arches or a bat signal to draw in the masses; travelers from far and wide have found this humble fish and burger joint off of Highway 2 all on their own.
And now, it’s a destination.
“We get people driving from Gladwin, Gaylord, Traverse City, Marquette—two, three hours away,” Wayne says. “I just can’t believe it. It’s crazy.”
Photo by Allison Acosta
Turns out, when you’re serving up locally sourced grass-fed beef burgers and fresh-caught Great Lakes whitefish, the people will come. And they’ll tell their friends. (This author can attest to that.)
Wayne gets the beef for their burgers from his brother’s farm, and the whitefish comes from a local commercial fisherman. When ingredients like lettuce and onion are in season, he sources those locally, too. The fries are hand-cut, the tartar sauce is homemade, and the ice cream comes in 16 flavors. (Wayne’s favorite is Michigan Pot Hole, “It’s like chocolate on steroids.”) Other can’t-miss items: the poutine—fries smothered in gravy and mozzarella—and an out-of-this-world chocolate malt.
But the magic of Moofinfries stems from more than just really good food. It’s the heart that Wayne brings to the business—a business he had never envisioned.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in Engadine, just west of Naubinway, Wayne went into welding, working on commercial fishing boats in his shop for 25 years. But that came to an end in January 2013, when, on a dark winter night, Wayne stopped to help a fellow motorist who had slid into a ditch. While assisting, Wayne was hit by an oncoming semi-truck. Lucky to survive the collision, he lost his right arm, and consequently, his welding certifications.
But Wayne didn’t let the loss get him down. “I thought, ‘You know what, I can still flip a burger!’” And so Moofinfries—a whimsical name his wife came up with—was born. Wayne still resides with his family in neighboring Engadine, and wanted the restaurant to become a place for the community, where “people come to have a good time and a good meal.” “I wanted to support our locals,” he says.
Each day Wayne walks the walk—he visits with customers and makes sure their meals are to their liking. And he also proudly mentors local youth—Moofinfries employed 16 kids this past summer, and over the last five years, 60 young people have come through the restaurant.
“We’re actually the largest employer of youth in the area,” Wayne says. “We teach them how to work, to have respect for each other, how to communicate with the customer, and the main thing is just to have fun. Because if they’re having fun, that carries over from the kitchen into the dining room.”
Know before you go: Moofinfries is open year-round, Thursday through Monday in the off-season. Memorial Day through Labor Day, they’re open seven days a week. Pro tip: If you’re planning on dining during the lunch rush, call in your order ahead of time.