The Boat Club Restaurant
Fantastic Food, Service, Ambiance and Entertainment
On the Sparkling Shores of Lake Superior
The Boat Club Restaurant, located in the lower level of Duluth’s historic Fitger’s Brewery Complex, is a nautically simplistic space inspired by the amazing view of Lake Superior right out the dining room windows, and the rich Duluth boating and shipping history.
Submitted photo.
Jason Vincent and Jeff Anderson began their restaurant journey in July 2014 when they purchased the Vanilla Bean Restaurant in Two Harbors. Over the years, the two made significant improvements to the restaurant, establishing it as a North Shore destination for locals and tourists.
In February 2018, they opened their second location of Vanilla Bean Restaurant in the Mount Royal Shopping Center in Duluth. “We often say Vanilla Bean is an upscale diner - we prepare great, made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch entrees in a clean, comfortable environment,” Vincent noted.
In January 2017, Vincent and Anderson also acquired the former Midi Restaurant space inside Fitger’s and created their latest brand – The Boat Club Restaurant and Bar.
Jeff Anderson and Jason Vincent, Co-owners of The Boat Club Restaurant and Bar. Submitted photo.
“Jeff and I had heard the previous restaurant, Midi, would be closing in Fitger’s, and the owner was looking for someone to take over her lease and buy her out of her inventory. We had always loved dining at that restaurant, and thought we could really bring a great, unique restaurant concept to Fitger's that tied in perfectly with the space,” Vincent said.
He added, “We are one of the only restaurants in Duluth focusing our menu offerings on fresh fish and seafood, along with high-end, hand-cut steaks and unique pasta dishes. We love being the restaurant you choose to celebrate life's special occasions or take family, friends, or colleagues to showcase the best of what Duluth has to offer.”
Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner daily, they have an extensive menu with something for everyone. Their breakfast menu includes eggs, breakfast meats, salmon, hash browns, home-fried potatoes, fruit, pancakes, omelets, skillets, crepes, a few varieties of Eggs Benedict, and more.
For lunch, diners can select from an equally wide menu, including Boat Club’s signature clam chowder, salads, crab cakes, wraps, tacos, lobster BLTs, walleye, chicken and burgers.
Crabby Benny at The Boat Club. Photo from their Facebook page.
The dinner menu starts with a great selection of appetizers, soup, and salads, and entrees focusing on surf and turf with seafood linguine, lobster primavera, and other seafood options including walleye, salmon, halibut, sea scallops, king crab, sautéed shrimp, coconut shrimp and grilled lobster tail. Their juicy and delectable steak offerings include New York Strip, Filet Mignon, Ribeye and Steak Tip Alfredo.
The Boat Club’s drink menu includes an impressive list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, hand-crafted cocktails and craft beers. They have Happy Hour daily from 4pm-6pm.
When the weather allows, they also have outdoor seating with an even more closeup view of Lake Superior. The Boat Club was an Open Table Diners’ Choice for 2022 and a Traveler’s Choice on Tripadvisor. They also host special events and banquets for parties, conferences, wedding receptions and more.
In addition to the restaurant, as part of their lease agreement, Anderson and Vincent manage the Spirit of the North Theatre on the third floor and determine what programming takes place there and in the next-door August Fitger Room.
“We thought it would be great for our community to have another local, professional theatre company, so we began Boat Club Productions,” said Vincent. “The charm of the Spirit of the North Theatre is its size, as it's only 144 seats, and you feel fully immersed in the theatrical experience.”
He noted, “We had a wonderful first full season of productions in the Spirit of the North Theatre. We opened the season with “Tuesdays with Morrie,” a touching, intimate production that really took audiences on an emotional journey. We followed that up with “Nunsense, A Musical Comedy,” our first musical production since Boat Club Productions began. We had a tremendous show, with great audience reviews.”
Nunsense, A Musical Comedy at the Spirit of the North Theatre at Fitger's
Vincent explained, “We will wrap up the 2022 season with “A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol,” (December 9-18), a hilarious spoof on the Charles Dickens’ classic set in a rural Minnesota bar haunted by the ghost of Christmas past. All of our productions have exceeded our expectations for attendance, and we hope to continue growing upon them as the word spreads.”
Boat Club offers a family holiday experience with “Breakfast with Santa” on December 10, 11, 17 and 18. Tickets are available online at Breakfast With Santa
Boat Club Productions also features monthly Stand-Up Comedy in the Fitger's Comedy Lounge in the August Fitger Room, with appearances from professional comedians from across the nation.
Stand-up comedy is offered at the Fitger's Comedy Lounge.
“We are planning our first-ever Boat Club Productions Gala in the August Fitger Room and Spirit of the North Theatre on Saturday, January 21,” said Vincent. “All proceeds will benefit our theatrical performances, including production team and actor salaries, theatre upgrades and production expenses.”
Vincent concluded, “Fitger’s has old-world charm and sophistication, which fits perfectly with our restaurant. We are so proud to help elevate the experience for guests when they visit Fitger's and The Boat Club Restaurant. Our productions are an extension of that experience. We are giving our guests not only a fantastic dining experience at The Boat Club, but an opportunity to sit back and take their mind off the stress of daily life with a top-notch theatrical production.”
For more info and reservations, visit their Facebook page, their website at boatclubrestaurant.com or call (218) 727-4880.
