Frankenmuth, a.k.a Michigan’s Little Bavaria, is full of German history with visible reminders. Throughout the village, German-style facades are present in the downtown, most notably with the famed Bavarian Inn Restaurant. While the Bavarian Inn is well-known for its family-style chicken dinners, there’s another great dining option on site: Michigan on Main. According to Great Lakes Bay Magazine, this restaurant was even voted the Most Unique Menu in the region. Offering casual fare, Michigan on Main offers a delectable menu influenced by seasonal Michigan products.
Per Phil Fahrenbruch, Executive Chef, the restaurant is dedicated to using as much Michigan-grown and locally produced products as possible. “Sourcing locally has been a part of our company’s history for nearly 135 years,” says Chef Fahrenbruch. “We sourced locally before it was the ‘cool thing to do’.”
The kitchen at Michigan on Main sources from over 50 farms and producers, including in their fan favorite “The Grand” burger and their Backwoods Farm BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. Michigan provenances are proudly labeled on Michigan on Main’s menu, including Fred Weiss Family Farm in Frankenmuth, Zwerk Farms in Vassar, Styma Potatoes in Posen and Michigan Craft Beef in Zeeland.
“In Michigan, we are so fortunate to have such a plethora of diverse goods in our state to pick from and we plan to continue that tradition in Michigan on Main and Bavarian Inn for many years to come,” Fahrenbruch says.
Visitors can wash down their meals with their tap list of 17 Michigan craft beers, as well as their signature bourbon selections. In partnership with Maker’s Mark, the Bavarian Inn Zehnder family created 2 unique recipes for bourbon whiskey: the Bavarian Inn Private Select and the Matriarch Legacy 100. The latter celebrates co-founder Dorothy Zehnder’s 100th birthday in 2021. Today, four generations of the Bavarian Inn Zehnder Family are proudly involved in the management of Michigan on Main and its family of restaurants.
Michigan On Main, 713 S Main St, Suite 2, Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734
Learn more at https://www.bavarianinn.com/dine/michigan-on-main/
(989) 480-5012
Emma Beauchamp is the former Editor in Chief for Taste the Local Difference.