About Northern Grill & Pub

- We are now celebrating our 26th season of great food and fun!
- Locally Owned

- Gift Certificates Available

The Next Generation is Rising At the Northern Grill and Pub

Northern Grill & Pub building with red umbrellas and outdoor patio seating

In 1997, the year Ron and Lisa MacDonald launched Northern Grill and Pub, there were plenty of places to get a pizza in northern Door County. But the MacDonalds had a few aces to play when they opened their doors in Sister Bay.

As one of the Bayside Tavern MacDonalds, Ron already had over 20 years of restaurant and bar experience. He had a hunch that his preferred pizza style – a hand-tossed pie with plenty of garlic and a thin crust made from fresh dough – would be a hit.

Four people posing at a bar with a “Northern Grill” sign and bottles displayed behind them.

And it was. But what really set the Northern Grill apart from the competition had nothing to do with pizza.

“We had outdoor seating – something that really wasn’t a thing here 30 years ago,” Lisa said.

In those early years, the Northern Grill was a magnet for families looking for a casual meal while the kids played nearby with toys the MacDonalds provided. With two toddlers of their own, the MacDonalds understood the need for a kid-friendly spot where parents could socialize.

The MacDonalds’ daughter, Lena Eckhardt, has fond childhood memories of racing around the expansive restaurant and upstairs living quarters.

Warmly lit Northern Grill bar with shelves of liquor bottles and wooden counter פנים

“It was wild growing up here,” Lena said with a smile. “I remember being fascinated by things like watching my Dad make the dough every morning. Not the typical kid experience.”

In addition to pizza, the Northern Grill’s menu includes burgers, steaks, locally caught whitefish, and pasta dishes with house-made meat sauce and bread.

Outdoor table with assorted plated dishes and drinks, including a cocktail and a dessert glass.

“We’ve got everyone covered with this menu, but at its heart, it’s Italian-American with a Door County influence,” Ron said.

After nearly 30 years of morning-to-midnight shifts, Ron and Lisa are scaling back their hours at the restaurant to pursue their love of outdoor activities and motorcycle riding. Lisa is an avid community volunteer and puts in many hours making several hundred pies and 250 gallons of spiced wine for Christkindlmarkt, the annual Christmas market in Sister Bay.

The restaurant is in good hands as Ron and Lisa step back. Along with her husband, Charlie Eckhardt, Lena has taken over the management role at the Northern Grill. Lena handles front-of-house operations, and Charlie is the bar manager.

This next generation knows the recipe that made the place a success, and no major changes are planned – especially not for the pizza dough, which Lisa or Ron can be found mixing and rolling out in the kitchen most mornings.

Two people smiling and standing together outdoors in front of a dark wooden building.

During her high school and college years, Lena learned how to spot and recruit talent to work at the Northern Grill.

“On campus, I’d talk up the restaurant all year long, and when the spring semester ended, my friends and I would pack up and head to Sister Bay,” she said.

Like many local businesses, the Northern Grill has a complement of J-1 workers to help with the heavy summer load. Some years back, Lena came up with a way to express appreciation for their help: the weekly Karaoke Club Night, a late-night party catering to over-21 J-1 workers.

On Mondays from 10 pm to 2 am, the bar is packed with young people ready to belt out songs and perform dance routines from their home countries. Lisa described the scene: “These kids dress up to the nines and dance as we used to when we were young – when there used to be live music until 2 am.”

“It’s wonderful to see the joy of these kids – they work so hard, and when they get together, they really know how to blow off steam,” Lena said.

Northern Pub and Grill is located at 10573 Country Walk Dr. in Sister Bay.