Antlers Kitchen + Wine Bar: A Stop That Belongs On Your List
- Camp Nisswa
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
We are not restaurant connoisseurs.... If you know us, you know that already. We are not walking into places pretending we know every perfect wine pairing or every technical detail behind a sauce. We are just people who love exploring the Lakes Area, meeting the people behind local places, taking photos, and sharing the stops that make this area feel special.
And after spending time at Antlers Kitchen + Wine Bar (Located in the Whitebirch Golf Course), which is part of Breezy Point Resort, this is one we wanted to share.
We got to walk around the property, explore the restaurant, see the patio, check out the bar, talk with the team, and try a few dishes from the kitchen. We saw a group of golfers at the bar laughing and celebrating after their round. We took in the flowers, the golf course views, the warm wood inside, and that classic Lakes Area lodge feel that makes Antlers stand out before the first plate even hits the table.
It was a great visit, and Antlers is the kind of place that can fit a lot of different moments.
After golf. Lunch. Patio drinks. Date night. A celebration. A nice dinner. Or one of those evenings where you just want to go somewhere that feels a little extra without making it too complicated.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There is something about Antlers that feels very Lakes Area right away.
The building is tucked away from the highway, surrounded by trees, stonework, landscaping, and greenery. Before we even got inside, we were already stopping to take photos. The property has those little details we always love finding, from the flowers and walking paths to the water features around the patio area.
Inside, Antlers has that warm up-north feel with big beams, wood ceilings, large windows, antler chandeliers, and a bar that immediately caught our attention.
And honestly, that bar is exactly the kind of bar we can see ourselves sitting at.
Order a beer. Have a conversation. Grab a burger and a few apps after golf. Watch a group of golfers laugh their way through a post-round recap. That is the kind of setting Antlers has. It can feel like a nice night out, but it still feels easy to walk into and enjoy.
That is a pretty good combination.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLACE
One of the best parts of our visit was learning more about the people who help make Antlers what it is.
We had the chance to meet Front of House Manager Jessica Burton, who has been with Antlers for almost 21 years.
That kind of history matters.
When someone has been part of a restaurant for that long, they know the regulars, the stories, the rhythm of the place, and the little details that make guests want to come back. You can feel that care at Antlers.
We also learned more about Head Chef Alec Fitch, who joined Antlers last summer.
Alec is working on a balance that is not always easy: keeping the long-time Antlers favorites that people know and love, while also bringing in new, bright, and exciting dishes for people who want to try something different.
That is a smart direction for a restaurant like this. Antlers has history, loyal guests, and a setting people already love. But it also feels like there is fresh energy in the kitchen and on the menu.
THE BAR HAS A STORY OF ITS OWN
Last year, Antlers fully remodeled the bar to create more cozy and casual bar seating, and that space really adds to the restaurant.
While we were there, a group of golfers was gathered around after their round. Drinks were out, stories were being told, and there was plenty of laughter. It was one of those simple scenes that says a lot about a place.
You could tell they were not in a hurry to leave.
That is what we liked about the bar. It does not feel like just a spot to wait for your table. It feels like a place to settle in for a while. The kind of place where you could stop after golf, order a beer, split some apps, maybe grab a burger, and end up staying longer than you planned.
And really, those are usually the best stops.
THE PATIO IS A SUMMER MOVE
The patio at Antlers might be one of the biggest reasons to visit this summer.
It sits in a beautiful part of the property with golf course views, mature trees, blooming perennials, and water features nearby. The landscaping has that full summer feel, with different flowers blooming throughout the season, so it will not look exactly the same every time you go.
We love spots like that.
It feels relaxed, scenic, and very Lakes Area. You can sit outside with a drink, order lunch, enjoy dinner, or just slow down for a bit and take in the setting.
And really, that is what summer in the Lakes Area is supposed to feel like.
WHAT WE TRIED
We got to try a few dishes during our visit, and this is where we will remind everyone again, we are not food critics.
We are just people who like good food.
And this was good food.
JERK SHRIMP
The Jerk Shrimp was probably the dish that surprised us the most.
It had a little heat, a little sweetness, and a lot of flavor. The jerk sauce is made in-house by their Jamaican cooks, and it really stood out. You could tell this was not just something tossed on at the end. It had flavor all the way through.
It came with mango salsa, parmesan polenta, toasted coconut, and seasonal vegetables.
We loved this one. It was bright, fresh, and just different enough that it made us want to keep going back for another bite.
PORK PORTERHOUSE
The Pork Porterhouse is the one you order when you are hungry.
This is not a tiny little dinner plate. This is a 16 oz pork porterhouse with bourbon glaze, apple slaw, golden mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables.
It looked great when it came out, and it ate even better.
The glaze had that sweet, rich flavor, the apple slaw gave it a little crunch and freshness, and the mashed potatoes were exactly what you want sitting next to a big pork porterhouse.
This was a full meal in the best way.
CRAB CAKES
The Crab Cakes were another favorite.
They were pan seared, made with blue crab, and served with artichoke tartar and herb oil.
We liked these because they were not too heavy. They had a nice crisp on the outside, good flavor inside, and the artichoke tartar worked really well with them.
This is the kind of appetizer we would order for the table and then immediately wish we had ordered another one.
BREAD SERVICE
And then there was the bread service.
All dinner entrees come with bread service, and Antlers serves it with two rotating house-made butters, plus olive oil and balsamic glaze.
When we visited, they had apricot butter and tomato olive butter.
We are not going to overcomplicate this.
The apricot butter was so good.
It was one of those little things at the table that everyone ends up talking about. You try it once, then you go back for more, then you start wondering if it is socially acceptable to ask for extra.
The tomato olive butter was also really good, and we love that the butters rotate. It makes something as simple as bread service feel fun and a little different.
Also, all dinner entrees include your choice of soup or salad, which is always a nice bonus.
WINE, COCKTAILS, AND DAILY SPECIALS
Antlers is leaning more into the wine bar side of the restaurant, and Jessica has put together a large and diverse wine list.
Whether you know exactly what you like or you are just looking to try something new, there are plenty of options. They also have craft cocktails, which makes Antlers a good stop even if you are not planning a full dinner.
Another thing to keep an eye on is the specials.
Antlers has a dinner special basically every day, and on Saturdays they rotate seafood and beef tacos, served with fresh fried chips and house-made salsas available all day.
That sounds like a pretty solid Saturday patio plan.
HAPPY HOUR
Antlers has also started happy hour Monday through Thursday.
Monday through Thursday
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Enjoy half off wine and tap beer, along with an early evening menu featuring steak, seafood, and pasta.
NIGHTCAP SPECIALS
Monday through Thursday
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Purchase a bottle of wine and receive half off select appetizers, including bruschetta, charred sweet corn dip, fried artichoke, and mussels.
LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO
Antlers will also have live music on the patio this summer with Sophie Diumenti on three Thursdays:
July 2
July 16
August 27
Music will be from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
More details are expected, so follow Antlers on Facebook for updates.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What we liked about Antlers is that it has options without losing its feel.
You can make it a full dinner. You can make it a patio drink. You can make it a date night. You can make it an after-golf stop with a beer, a burger, and a few apps. You can make it wine and appetizers at the end of the night.
But more than anything, it feels like a place with real people behind it.
Jessica has been part of Antlers for nearly 21 years. Alec is bringing new energy to the kitchen. The bar has life to it. The patio has the setting. The property has those little Lakes Area details we love finding. And the food gave us plenty to talk about.
We left glad we stopped in.
And yes, we are still thinking about the apricot butter.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Antlers Kitchen + Wine Bar
Located in: Whitebirch Golf Course
Address: 7891 Co Rd 11, Breezy Point, MN 56472
Camp Nisswa Note: A big thank you to Antlers Kitchen + Wine Bar and the entire staff for welcoming us, walking us through the property, sharing more about the restaurant, and letting us get a real feel for what makes this place special.
We always appreciate when local spots take the time to show us the people, the story, and the little details behind what they do. Antlers gave us a great visit, a great meal, and another reminder of why we love exploring the Lakes Area.
