Peninsula Grill: an Old Mission Tradition

When two auto industry veterans decided to leap into the restaurant business, little did they realize it was the start of something that would one day include Traverse City and beyond. Jennifer and Mark Davies purchased Molly’s By Golly in the center of the Old Mission Peninsula, changing the name to the Peninsula Grill.

They wanted to seize the chance to rebrand the eatery with the cachet of the celebrated region known for its vineyards and views.

Mark’s brother Matt and his wife Patty soon joined in the fun. Today, the quartet also owns the Bad Dog Deli next door, as well as Riverwalk Grill and Tap Room in Elk Rapids, Union Cantina in downtown Traverse City, and the Western Avenue Grill in Glen Arbor. "My husband and I were in the automotive industry and we wanted to live here," says Jennifer.

So they purchased a restaurant with a longstanding tradition and clientele, and continued to expand the beloved institution and its menu. Today, it serves locals and visitors alike, whether they are touring area wineries or simply enjoying the picturesque scenery of Old Mission Peninsula. "We celebrated our 13th anniversary Memorial weekend," says Davies.

THE SCENE

Located about two-thirds of the way out Old Mission Peninsula, the Grill had served the area for years under a variety of names. Before it became the Irish-themed Molly’s, it was Kelly’s Roadhouse Cafe. Whatever the name, it developed a great reputation, which the Davies say they were more than happy to continue.

"We have a great local following, plus people visiting for wine tastings," she says. "We do a lot of rehearsal dinners, large private parties, business meetings."

The restaurant’s ambience hews toward northwoods casual. Dark and medium-toned woods, industrial-style light fixtures, and plenty of windows make it a comfortable place, day or night.

THE MENU

Standard items like burgers, steak and ribs are complemented by less-ordinary choices. Starters include Tuna Tartare, Red Coconut Curried Mussels, and crab cakes with guacamole. Flatbreads include pulled pork and wild mushroom.

Among the salads, cherry chicken with cherry vinaigrette is served alongside choices like avocado crab salad with poppy seed dressing and tuna nicoise with sliced fingerlings and French beans, topped with a roasted lemon vinaigrette.

Noodles include baked seafood pasta and lobster mac and cheese. Featured fish dishes are not only the expected salmon, whitefish and walleye, but also Prosciutto-wrapped Atlantic cod with edamame and corn succotash.

Herb-rubbed chicken kabobs, a surf and turf combo with beef tenderloin and sea scallops served with leek and truffle butter, and roasted wild mushroom risotto help round out the menu.

On the beverage side, the restaurant celebrates its neighbors with a host of wines from Old Mission Peninsula, as well as some selections from elsewhere. Microbrews and national selections are among the beers on tap and available by the bottle.

THE BEST

The artichoke pita dip is one of the longtime signature items at the restaurant. This Monterey Jack cheese dip is served warm, topped with tomatoes and green onions, and accompanied by flash-fried pita chips. It’s front and center–literally–on the menu.

Among the flatbreads, the wild mushroom is a clear winner. Think of it as a sauce-less pizza. Without the marinara, the earthy flavor of the mushrooms comes through.

Davies says the ribs are always a popular choice, but she also recommends the shrimp and grits and the tuna club. "It’s grilled shrimp and cheesy grits. And the tuna club on homemade focaccia bread–that’s a favorite of mine," she says.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Davies says the restaurant’s location on Old Mission means that, not only does it have ready access to nearby wineries, but customers expect that it will stock them. That, and the ever-expanding beer culture gives the Peninsula Grill a clear indication of what customers want.

"Our wine list is heavy on local wines. Beer consumption is trending up. We want to double the number [of draft beers] by springtime at the latest. We want to offer more regional and Michigan beers. The area is great. The wineries keep multiplying, but the number of restaurants stays the same," says Davies.

While the restaurant’s business decreases during the off-season, that’s balanced by the fact that many of its staff return to college. Davies explains that the loyal locals ensure there are always plenty of familiar faces, no matter the time of year.

THE SKINNY

Prices for appetizers begin at $11.95. Side salads start at $3.50, dinner salads at $12.95. Flatbreads are $12.95. Combo pizzas start at a nickel more, build your own are $9 and up. Entrées start at $15.95.

The Peninsula Grill is open Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, Fridays until 10pm. Saturday hours are noon to 10pm and Sundays, noon to 9pm. The Peninsula Grill is located at 14091 Center Road. Call (231) 223-7300 or visit www.TCGrills.com or their Facebook page.

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