The creamy white wine mussells at the Observatory Lounge. 

HOUGHTON — Perched atop the Hampton Inn in downtown Houghton, the royal green and gilded Observatory Lounge in Houghton is embracing summer by welcoming a native U.P. chef to its kitchen, as well as a delectable seasonal menu.

Executive Chef Trevor Kunnari, who joined The Observatory in late May, grew up in Bootjack. After a stint in dining operations downstate, he has returned to the Upper Peninsula. Kunnari says he got his start when he was young, cooking for his brothers.

“I was making stuff you wouldn’t normally make as a kid,” Kunnari joked. “Pretty good stuff.”

He has introduced several new menu items, including a pound of creamy white wine mussels, specialty tacos, and Lake Superior-caught whitefish. All of the dishes’ savory sauces are made in-house, and the new recipes are the result of Kunnari’s made-from-scratch cooking.

Kunnari said customers can “expect the best quality food” when they visit The Observatory.

Sam Foerster, Observatory manager and mixologist, has been with the lounge since its beginning three years ago. One of his favorite parts of the venue is the beautiful view of the Portage Canal, easily seen through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Customers can often spot sea planes, bald eagles and other wildlife, beautiful sunsets, and more. In the fall, it’s one of the best places to view the fall colors on Mount Ripley.

“The view is to die for,” Foerster said. “I’ve got the nicest office view!”

Foerster also pointed out The Observatory’s welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s a community of wonderful people,” he said. “We see everybody here. Whether it’s for tacos and a beer, or for martinis and wagyu steak.”

Foerster can often be found behind the lounge’s bar, where his skills have been defined as those of a “master mixologist.”

“We do the classics the way they’re supposed to be done,” Foerster said. He added that the lounge’s most popular cocktail is the Old Fashioned. However, that could soon change, as the lounge just debuted their Summer seasonal cocktails.

When asked how customers could best enjoy all The Observatory has to offer, Foerster’s advice was simple.

“Bring good people and you’ll be happy,” he said.

The Observatory Lounge is located on the 7th floor of the Hampton Inn and Suites in Houghton, and is open Monday through Saturday, 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. For more information and to view the full menu, visit observatoryloungehoughton.com.