Red Mesa Grille, Boyne City, MI: Fantastic Latin Food in the Lower Upper Peninsula

When visiting Boyne City in the upper lower peninsula of Michigan with my family, one restaurant kept being suggested by locals and advertisements alike, Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City, MI. We decided not to ignore the suggestions and give the Red Mesa Grille, located right in lovely downtown Boyne City, Michigan, a try.

A Latin cuisine restaurant, the Red Mesa Grille is small and filled with colorful cultural decorations. The foyer of the restaurant is adorned with thousands of bottles of hot sauce. This display leads to the small bar then opens into the rest of the seating area. The Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City is entirely smoke free.

My family chose to sit on the back patio of the Red Mesa Grille. The warm and comfortable June weather in Michigan is perfect for dining outside. A covered patio with colorful lights and a few fans for comfort made for an excellent place to dine. The patio sits right on a small creek leading out to the bay.

The menu at the Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City, MI is not filled with typical small town Mexican favorites. No, you won't find combination dinner #15 on the menu. Instead, you will find unique gourmet creations such as a chicken quesadilla wrapped in a chocolate tortilla with mole and pumpkin seed chimichurri or Cuban black bean cakes, a top menu item. These unique flavors really intrigued me as I chose what to order.

My husband ended up ordering the Vegetarian Fiesta, a cheese enchilada and a vegetarian burrito with beans and rice, as well as a Cuban black bean cake, salsa, and sour cream. The Cuban black bean cake was the highlight of this Red Mesa Grille entrée. A tasty and crunchy patty of black beans and spices, I would love to have the recipe for. I chose to order the shrimp enchiladas. These seafood delicacies were stuffed with a sauté of shrimp and chorizo, topped with Chihuahua cheese and a tomatillo sauce. This meal was served with smoky refried beans, rice, and salsa and sour cream.

My husband and I eat Mexican and Latin American food a lot; it is our favorite ethnic food. I can say that without a doubt, my meal at Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City, MI is the best Latin cuisine meal I have ever eaten, ever. The creamy mix of shrimp and chorizo with just the right amount of cheese and a completely unique sauce was pure heaven. The portions at the Red Mesa Grille are large and we easily fed our almost 4 year old son off of our plates.

In addition to a wonderful atmosphere and delicious food, the Red Mesa Grilled in Boyne City, MI had some of the best service we have had in a long time. Our waitress was prompt, friendly, and great with our son. In addition to a great waitress, a balloon sculptor was perusing the restaurant creating awesome balloon hats for guests at no charge, and without expecting a tip. Oh, and did I mention the live music? An acoustic guitar with an excellent singer was also present during our visit to the Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City making the atmosphere even that much more festive.

The prices at the Red Mesa Grille are reasonable with most entrees priced $10.99-$15.99. Desserts are in the $4-$5 range. Since it was our first visit to the Red Mesa Grille our waitress offered us a free dessert for our first visit. We chose the coconut bread pudding which was delicious, not too sweet, and a perfect ending to an amazing meal.

If you are visiting the upper lower peninsula of Michigan, whether it be for the awesome winter sports and great summer lake fun, the Red Mesa Grille in Boyne City, Michigan is a must visit. Incredible food at a good price, awesome service, and festive atmosphere make this unique restaurant a wonderful place to eat.