Looking for the best places to eat on the North Shore in Minnesota? Before or after a day of skiing at Lutsen Mountains or hiking at the nearby MN state parks, enjoy fine dining in a casual atmosphere at Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, MN. Moguls Grille & Tap Room is the best restaurant in Lutsen, MN to enjoy while on your North Shore Minnesota vacation or staycation. While Caribou Highlands Lodge and Odyssey Resorts hosted our stay at their fine resort and delicious meal at Moguls Grille & Tap Room, my opinions are always my own.
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Best restaurants in Lutsen, Minnesota: Moguls Grille & Tap Room
Moguls Grille & Tap Room is the best place to eat on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. Conveniently located at Caribou Highlands Lodge, this Lutsen, MN restaurant is less than one-half mile from the Lutsen Mountains ski lifts, alpine slide and the Summit Express Gondola.
Additionally, Moguls Grille & Tap Room is ~10 miles from two of Minnesota’s most beautiful state parks on the North Shore: Cascade River State Park to the north and Temperance River State Park to the south – and several others within a short scenic drive. Learn more about these and other parks in my Minnesota State Park Challenge post.
Open in all seasons, Mogus Grille & Tap Room is a ski-in-ski-out restaurant in the winter and is perfect for solo travelers, couples or families to dine-in or takeout even if you’re not a guest of Caribou Highlands Lodge. Travel tip: You should be a guest. Choose Caribou Highlands Lodge as it is the best North Shore MN resort and the best place for family vacations in Minnesota. See my full review about our incredible stay at Caribou Highlands Lodge – perfect for solo travelers, couples and families.
You’ll find something delicious for everyone at Moguls Grille & Tap Room. Their lunch and dinner menu features appetizer classics like wings and cheese curds to tasty soups, salads and sandwiches to pizza to comfort food like surf and turf with garlic mashed potatoes and Swedish meatballs. Note that some entrees are only offered at dinner.
My favorite menu item at Moguls Grille & Tap Room, however, is the quintessential North Shore entree: Parmesan-crusted walleye with wild rice and grilled asparagus. We also ordered a side of the garlic and cheese mashed potatoes. And while their portions are generous, leave room for dessert. I highly recommend Moguls Grille & Tap Room’s strawberry-rhubarb pie. We earned it after hiking two MN state parks that day.
Moguls Grille & Tap Room also serves hearty breakfasts on the weekend as well as casual lunch fare and features a full bar with beer, wine and soft drinks. Additionally, the Tap Room offers walk-up outdoor service during normal operating hours.
Covid-19 precautions at Moguls Grille & Tap Room
To ensure a healthy and safe dining experience for all guests, Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge follows all Covid-19 CDC recommendations and Minnesota’s executive order. Outlined below are the resort’s and restaurant’s health and safety protocols as of this publication date (see their website for the latest information).
- Reduced-capacity dining room with six-person max.
- Reservations are required by calling 218.663.3020 or booking online or via the Open Table app.
- Pick-up, curbside or lodge-room delivery available.
- You can place your order online or call 218.663.3020.
- If you’re staying in Caribou Highlands’ main lodge, they offer room service. If you’re staying in other lodging on their Lutsen property, you can pick up your order curbside or in the restaurant (which is right downstairs from the main lobby).
- All Caribou Highlands Lodge and Moguls Grille & Tap employees and guests are required to wear face masks inside all public buildings (except when eating).
- You’ll find many hand-sanitizer stations throughout Caribou Highlands Lodge.
- Public health signage posted throughout the Caribou Highlands Lodge property.
- Keep 6 feet apart at all times.
- Avoid touching and crowds.
- Wash your hands constantly.
- Wear your mask so our business can stay open.
Best takeout restaurants in Lutsen, MN: Moguls Grille & Tap Room
Our Caribou Highlands Lodge townhome was a perfect place to dine-in with our take-out dinner from Moguls Grille & Tap Room as it featured a full dining table as well as counter-bar seating. And a refrigerator for those leftovers of generous portions. Except the pie…there were no leftovers!
During nicer weather, you can enjoy al fresco dining on the balcony with a beautiful view. There was a ski run right outside the balcony so it was cool to watch the skiers fly by through our balcony door.
Bonus: Anyone who knows me knows I’ve got a Styrofoam phobia. So was elated when our takeout from Moguls Grille & Tap Room arrived in environmentally friendly take-out containers.
When is Moguls Grille & Tap Room open?
Check the Moguls Grille & Tap Room’s website for the most up-to-date information, their menu and operating hours.
Where is Moguls Grille & Tap Room located?
Moguls Grille & Tap Room is located in the best North Shore, MN resort – Caribou Highlands Lodge; 371 Ski Hill Road, Lutsen, MN 55612. And this best restaurant on the North Shore is near the Lutsen Mountains ski resort (less than a half-mile away). To reach Moguls Grille & Tap Room, go through the front lobby door at Caribou Highlands Lodge and then down the stairs. Reservations are required for dining inside Moguls Grille & Tap Room.
What are moguls?
Moguls are bumps in a ski slope (in a good way). But no bumps in the great service at the best restaurant in Lutsen, MN and on the North Shore: Moguls Grille & Tap Room. Make sure you dine in or take out from Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge when you’re looking for the best restaurants near Lutsen, MN.
What’s the best Lutsen, MN lodging for Minnesota family vacations?
Check out my full review of my sponsored stay with Caribou Highlands Lodge and Odyssey Resorts (which owns several more of the best North Shore cabins and Minnesota resorts). All opinions are my own, and I highly recommend staying at Caribou Highlands Lodge and eating at Moguls Grille & Tap Room for a safe and enjoyable family vacation / staycation on the North Shore near Lake Superior.
I would definitely stay at the Caribou Highlands Lodge and eat that yummy walleye at Moguls Grille and Tap Room!
You would love Caribou Highlands Lodge and that walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap Room was pretty fabulous!
The views from the lodge and grille are amazing. I would love to stay at Caribou Highlands Lodge. It must be beautiful all seasons
Thank you! We loved our meal at Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge. It is a beautiful resort on Minnesota’s North Shore in every season. We’ve also stayed here as a family in the summer.
This is such a helpful and informational article. With how quickly restrictions are changing in all the states, it’s hard to remember where you can/can’t go – nice post!
Thank you! Restaurant openings and closings have been pretty fluid in Minnesota. Love supporting local restaurants especially during this time as they had to adapt quickly to all the changes. We loved our takeout meal from Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, MN.
Thanks for posting the menu. Always helpful!
My pleasure! I always like to know in advance what a restaurant offers. And Moguls Grille & Tap Room offers a variety of different foid that’s amazing. Love their walleye!
I have to admit, I always avoid moguls on the ski hills! BUT Moguls Grille & Tap Room looks way nicer than those bumps in the snow! The whole area looks gorgeous, so it’s good to know you can get decent food there.
Ha! I always avoided the moguls also. But definitely not Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge. They offer fine dining in a casual atmosphere or curbside pickup was great!
I’ve always thought that MN had underrated food but I was thinking more twin cities. This is a whole new world!
The North Shore does feel like a world away. We loved our meals from Moguls Grille & Tap Room especially after full days of snow hiking.
That lodge has such a nice views, and I love how many options there are on the menu at the restaurant too!
Caribou Highlands Lodge definitely offers some great views at Lutsen Mountains and we loved our dinner at their onsite Moguls Grille & Tap Room. Best hotel and best restaurant at the best location – Minnesota’s North Shore.
i have never even heard of a walleye, but i’ll definitely be trying it on a visit to Moguls. i’m also glad to see they are taking such extensive covid precautions. thanks for the great restaurant recommendations.
My pleasure! Walleye is Minnesota’s state fish and the parmesan-crusted walleye from Moguls Grille & Tap Room was so good and the sizes were generous. I greatly appreciated their safety precautions.
Those mashed potatoes sound sooo good! I’ll have to visit on my eventual road trip through the USA.
The garlic and cheese mashed potatoes from Moguls Grille & Tap Room were so good – the perfect comfort food on a February evening after a day of hiking at North Shore state parks. So good I ate them before I could take a pic! Ha!
Looks like a great find! I’m exploring great places for a trip from CA to MD, hope to give Moguls a try!
Awesome! Moguls Grille & Tap Room is the best restaurant in Lutsen, MN and the North Shore in Minnesota is one of my most favorite places in the world!
This article has so much helpful information! Personally, I always appreciate seeing menu photos! I also love that you included the Covid precautions!! So important!
Thank you so much! I love seeing the menus at restaurants also – and Moguls Grille & Tap Room has some amazing food with amazing views. And also appreciated their Covid precautions.
I would definitely eat at Moguls! The menu looks awesome and sounds like they are trying to keep everyone safe with protocols.
Awesome…I know you would love Moguls Grille & Tap Room! It’s the best restaurant on the North Shore of Minnesota and greatly appreciate all their high standards when it comes to quality and health safety.
What a wonderful restaurant! The food looks absolutely delicious! I think I’d be stuffed after the main meal but that pie sounds amazing so I’d have to make space! Thanks for sharing this great gem!
My pleasure! And our meal at Moguls Grille & Tap Room in Lutsen, MN was soooooo good! And definitely very filling.
I have never been to Minnesota’s North Shore. Moguls Grille and Tap Room look awesome! Thanks for the tip!
My pleasure! I know you would love Moguls Grille & Tap Room – it’s the best restaurant on Minnesota’s North Shore and near Lutsen Mountains.
I think it’d be amazing to eat at the Moguls Grille and Tap Room in Minnesota. So that, I could see the view and watch the sunset.
Moguls Grille & Tap Room offers great views of the mountains, woods and sunsets on the North Shore of Minnesota. And their food is amazing!
What a great place to stay and Mogul’s looks like ‘the’ place to hang out after a day on the slopes. I would love to try this fish. Regional specialties are always the best. I was once told, always get the special of the day at a restaurant. It’s the best thing on the menu.
That’s great advice to order the special of the day at a restaurant! And I know you would love Moguls Grille & Tap Room after spending a day skiing at nearby Lutsen Mountains ski resort.
Yum, these restaurants look fabulous! It is nice to have a great meal after playing hard!
Thanks! Moguls Grille & Tap Room was pretty fabulous! Definitely the best restaurant to fuel up after exploring the North Shore – hiking, kayaking, skiing.
Knew you’d find the best places to eat up on the north shore. Parmesan crusted anything is yummy!
I agree. This Parmesan-crusted walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap Room was so good! This is the best restaurant on the North Shore of Minnesota.
What a beautiful area to enjoy a meal! The food looks delicious and I would definitely want to try a piece of that strawberry-rhubarb pie!
Thank you! Moguls Grille and Tap Room is a beautiful restaurant with amazing food. The strawberry-rhubarb pie was so good!
You had me at tap room…
Ha! I can’t wait to return and make full use of that tap room the next time I’m on the North Shore of Minnesota.
What a great place! That walleye looks amazing!
Thank you! The walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge was pretty amazing!
The Moguls Grille Tap Room sounds like the perfect place for dinner. I like that you’ve included the menu. The strawberry and rhubarb pie sounds delicious!
Moguls Grille & Tap Room is the best place to eat on the North Shore of Minnesota especially after a day of skiing or hiking. The strawberry-rhubarb pie was so good!
Everything at the Moguls Grille and Tap Room looks top-notch. You can’t beat a great restaurant near the ski hill. I’m not a moguls fan but I think I’d love this Moguls.
Thank you! Everything was awesome at Moguls Grille & Tap Room! And conveniently located near Lutsen Mountains ski resort.
Ok I’m glad I’m eating lunch right now because that wall-eye looks fabulous! Always good to know some of the best places to visit while travelling 🙂
Ha! The walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap Room is the best! Loved our staycation at Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, MN.
I love that they use eco-friendly packaging!
Me too! Loved everything about Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge…great food and ambiance.
It must be lunchtime. My mouth is watering looking at that delicious food at Moguls. I would definitely stay at the Caribou Highlands Lodge.
Ha! Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge is so good…the best restaurant near Lutsen Mountains, MN.
I have yet to visit the North Shore up there in MN. If I had known about it as a kid growing up in ND, I would have demanded my parents to take us there! I bet that walleye is mouthwatering! Great post!
Ha! I absolutely love Minnesota’s North Shore – it’s one of my most favorite places in the world! And the walleye at Moguls Grille and Tap Room in Lutsen, MN was so good…best restaurant!
I LOVE the windows – what a beautiful view to enjoy while dining. And the food looks delicious too!
Thank you! Moguls Grille & Tap Room has the best views and food. It’s the best restaurant in Lutsen, MN.
Wow, looks wonderful. We snuck through Minnesota in September 2020 during the pandemic on a cross country road trip but only had one take away Thai dinner. I would gladly return (and will) and try the places you list.
Thank you! I highly recommend the North Shore when you return to Minnesota and to stay at Caribou Highlands Lodge and eat at Moguls Grille & Tap Room on Lutsen Mountains.
You had me at best places to eat! This is definitely my kind of place, the food looks great and what a location too!
Thank you so much! We loved Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, MN. Food was amazing and our townhome was cozy and spacious.
The lodge has stunning views, and I love all the options there are on the menu at the restaurant 🙂
Thanks! We loved the variety of menu items at Moguls Grille & Tap Room. It’s the best restaurant and so close to Lutsen Mountains ski resort.
Looks so beautiful! The food should be really good. Would want to stay in the lodge one day. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! Love sharing my experiences and we loved Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Lodge. The best of North Shore!
I would love to here just for the views. The menu has so much to choose from as well.
Thank you! The views of Lutsen Mountains and the ambiance of Moguls Grille & Tap Room are pretty awesome! It’s the best restaurant on Minnesota’s North Shore!
Looks like great accommodations and wonderful restaurant choice! Great to know when in that area! Thank you!
Thank you! We absolutely loved our meal at Mogul’s Grille & Tap Room and our stay at Caribou Highlands Lodge. Best places on the North Shore of Minnesota!
I’ll take the walleye right now! Looks fantastic.
Thank you! The Parmesan-crusted walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap Room in Lutsen, MN was amazing! It is the best restaurant on Minnesota’s North Shore!
Moguls Grille and Tap Room sounds amazing. I love cheese curds and would love to have some of that amazing-looking Parmesan-crusted walleye with wild rice and asparagus.
Thank you! The walleye at Moguls Grille & Tap were amazing! And love me some cheese curds!
Looks like an awesome restaurant! Do they have any vegan options?
Yes! Moguls Grille & Tap Room at Caribou Highlands Grille offers vegan (as well as many vegan upon request) options as well as vegetaria and gluten-free (and several gluten-free upon request). Their attention to all these preferences makes Moguls Grille & Tap Room the best place to eat in Lutsen, MN.
You have us sold Karen. The menu sounds delicious but I’ve never had walleye. Looks like a very tasty plate.
Thanks! Walleye is pretty plentiful and flavorful in Minnesota. And loved ours from Moguls Grille & Tap Room.
Nice write-up on Moguls Grille & Tap Room. Looks like a place people would flock to even if they were not staying at the lodge. That walleye has my mouth watering!!
The walleye is so good at Moguls Grille & Tap Room! One of the best places to eat on the North Shore in Minnesota.