The Small-Town Restaurant That Is Worth A Visit From Anywhere In Michigan
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published February 13, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
Everyone knows that the Great Lakes State boasts an array of incredible restaurants. When we think of superior dining, it’s tempting to associate the bustle of big cities with the biggest talent. But, in the quaint town of Frankenmuth, one restaurant is turning this assumption on its head. For over a decade, Station 100 has been delighting diners and winning awards for its old-world service, purveying fine-dining classics to patrons who travel cross-state for the privilege. There’s no doubt it’s one of Michigan’s best restaurants, and it deserves a spot on your bucket list.
If you think Frankenmuth seems like an unlikely spot for an upscale blockbuster restaurant, you wouldn't be wrong. Though this Bavarian-influenced town is considered one of Michigan's most charming, its year-round population is less than 5,000 residents, only swelling with the seasonal influx of tourists.
Yet it was the community's storybook looks that attracted Station 100's owner and culinary director, Barbara Romer, a transplant from Switzerland. With its pastiche of a Swiss alpine town, it's easy to see how Frankenmuth might've made her feel at home. Far from a die-hard restauranteur, Romer started her business to display her collection of antique Christmas ornaments, adding an attached bakery to help fund the enterprise.
If you visit Station 100 today, you'd never guess it occurred by chance. That said, Romer worked hard to learn the ropes of hospitality and dining. While the recipe for the business' success includes a dose of serendipity, it includes even more grit.
Since it debuted in 2013, Station 100 has become one of Michigan's premiere fine-dining destinations, winning prestigious accolades, including the OpenTable Diner's Choice Award for the best food in the state.
This success leans heavily on the talented kitchen, which churns out innovative takes on European classics. Romer cites her childhood abroad as a source of inspiration, noting that her family never ate processed foods. This same philosophy guides Station 100's cuisine, where quality and old-world technique sing.
There is something fuddy-duddy about the presentation— like you could've ordered it from a high-end Swiss restaurant in the '20s— but the flavors are modern. The combination is alchemical, imbuing the menu with a timeless quality.
Visit Frankenmuth for one of Michigan’s best restaurants, Station 100. Whether you’re arriving from out-of-state or a lifelong Michigander, this beloved institution deserves a pilgrimage.
