Dixie Saloon’s “Northern Pasty”
Mackinaw City isn’t technically pasty land. On the south end of the Mackinac Bridge, it’s a city built on tourism with an identity linked to both peninsulas. Mackinaw City feels mostly like the Lower Peninsula.
Fort Michilimackinac provides a bit of history and activity. The downtown is similar to most lake and tourist-heavy towns in the state. There’s fudge, clothing and a little bit of everything else. A lot of the tourists are simply staying there with the main goal of getting to Mackinac Island via ferry.
Because of that, Mackinaw City isn’t often on my itinerary, so visiting a restaurant isn’t too convenient. However, I finally made it to Dixie Saloon to try a pasty.
The Saloon is a wooden, two-story building on the eastern edge of downtown. They have an extensive menu to appease all tourists and their best thing is probably the beer, since it is a brewery. The waiter warned us that every entree was large, which I guess is a thing tourists like.
The Northern Pasty entree consisted of a large pasty, one slice of toast, and beans, potatoes or veggies. It cost 20 bucks, which, honestly, is a bit outrageous. Remove the toast and a side, and reduce the price by five bucks. It’s not difficult to make it cheaper or more enticing to buy.
Along with an order of Fish and Chips, our food arrived roughly 10 minutes after ordering. Of note, we went in the offseason, so it was fairly dead and not crazy like it can get at its peak.
Since they clearly didn’t whip up the pasty in minutes, it was likely frozen and then reheated for the order. I’m fine with having frozen pasties, but I prefer them to be reheated slowly in the oven instead of something like a microwave. It’s usually noticeable when done quickly.
The pasty looked fine. The crust had some spices, a handle and it was massive. In addition to the sides, two massive cups of gravy were supplied. I had to request the gravy on the side because based off pictures, it comes slathered in it.
I still can’t believe the amount of food they give you for no reason.
The pasty had a bit of a freezer-burn taste to it. The crust was dry and brittle without a ton of flavor. The insides were dry and kind of mushed together, a feature that usually happens when you reheat something quickly.
The gravy gave it a little extra, but that doesn’t change my rating. It tasted exactly how you’d think it’d taste based off the pictures.
It was a bunch of ingredients cooked in a crust, frozen and then reheated. And that was it. I enjoyed my beer and The Pasty Daughter ate everything we put in front of her, but if you’re seeking pasties, Dixie Saloon shouldn’t be on the list.
Taste: 1.5 (out of 5)
Crust: 2 (out of 5)
Pasty Presentation: 2 (out of 5)
The Shop: 3 (out of 3)
Would I come back for Pasties?: 1 (out of 2) Fine, I’ll come back for the beer.
Total Pasty Rating: 9.5 (of 20 points)
Reviewed Winter 2024