Generations

We walked into to an empty restaurant around 11am. Two women were working and told us we could sit anywhere. Very friendly staff. The menu said the Friday fish fry didn’t start until noon, but we were told it was ready if we wanted it. We both had the beer battered cod and it was delicious.
We are out-​of-​towers, camping at Bewabic State Park down the road, and we felt nothing but welcome. Our meal came to just over $ 20, but the portion size and quality if the fish were well worth it. Oh and free wifi — always a plus.
I would recommend this place for sure. And it’s local, which just makes it that much better!

A little pricey but the burger was worth it. Decent cheese curds and mozz sticks as well.
Also, love seeing the typo, «deep dried cheese.»

I was interested in experiencing Generations, because of the older reviews which I realized were under a different ownership. Apparently it changed hands over the winter, or early spring (it is on Facebook as Generations CrystalFalls, but the profile and background pictures have been changed to say Kara’s Generations).
Our experience was similarly disappointing to the July 2015 review posted here by Mike O. First, we went to town on Sunday, when there was reportedly a concert across the street in conjunction with the Fungus Fest. A lot of reasons people might be interested in dining; but sadly as it says here, they are closed on Sunday. You should write down the hours they are open before you go, though, because I could not see them posted anywhere on the outside of the building. So we made an effort to go back later in the week, on Wednesday night. It was unclear at first if we were to be seated, but since nobody approached us we sat ourselves. One woman (I’m guessing she was Kara. She handled the drinks behind the bar) brought us our menus and said our server would be with us. The second woman came to inform us of the available buffet and asked our drink order. My wife had a diet Sierra Mist and I had iced tea. We continued to look at the menu and my wife asked for a garden salad, and I asked for an appetizer platter (the larger sized selection of appetizers).
I should say, I’ve had several years in the restaurant business as a manager for a couple of national restaurant chains who specialize in casual dining. I try to be very observant about the businesses I visit when I get a chance to dine out. My observations for Generations were that a salad (even a dinner plate sized one) and a plate of deep fried appetizers without any sauces (marinara for cheese sticks, ranch for breaded vegetables?) should have taken 10 minutes, maximum, to prepare, but it was 15+ before our food arrived. The hot food was appropriately hot, but all the appetizers seemed to be from frozen, pre-​made, and very salty flavored (which could have been helped with the sauces). Once the food was delivered, we were given a «fly-​by» visit from the server with a «how are you doing» who struggled to stop and change gears when I asked for more tea. One of the most attractive components of the restaurant is the WiFi, and my wife and I were taking advantage as a signal is hard to find around Crystal Falls. So, we presented an opportunity to re-​check how we were doing, offer a dessert, or another drink (the menu only hints that dessert is available, but there is no clue as to what types, prices, etc. Ironically, you are encouraged to ask the server. I did not want to have to trip her for something completely new). The woman who started our visit, if she is the owner, had very inappropriate footwear to be working in a food preparation area (sandal-​like shoes with socks).
We were offered a box for the appetizers I did not finish. Our total bill for two beverages, the dinner salad and appetizer plate was about $ 20. My perception is the business is trying to appeal to the local clientele over people who visit from out of town, and capitalize on the apparent lack of competition currently in town, which I understand to a point (local people represent the steadier stream of income) but it feels like the strategy is to rely on quick and easy (and salty) food, Friday Fish Fry (much of the menu is not available on Friday, to make room for the fish fry. Just be aware) and alcohol sales, to keep the doors open. I’m skeptical whether or not this is a winning plan, if there isn’t more focus on the customer’s experience and ability to feel they’ve received service. When I coach my servers, I challenge them that the way to make money is to offer an experience that exceeds «drive through» dining. If you bring me a drink, take my order and give me food (which you don’t even do with a buffet) and present me with a ticket, you’ve given me the «drive through» level experience of a fast food place. What is my resulting bill and why would I tip? If I can get burgers and a drink for two less than $ 15, why pay $ 20 (and tip, which yes I did) for barely any service? It’s just restaurant common sense. And if I took a day off in the summer, I’d suggest Monday only (it’s a restaurant tradition) and I’d have the hours posted in the window, on the door, and on a sign outside so people will know when I’m open. Otherwise, I’d be surprised if the doors remain open for more than 18 months.

You can age a generation just waiting for your food to arrive here. Since this place changed hands from the original owner to a woman who bought this place, Generations has become a disappointment. For one thing, the menu is smaller with fewer choices. But worse yet is the service. We came in at 5:30, right on time for a reservation we made earlier in the day. At our arrival, nobody was there to seat us and we stood around as even more people came in behind us. We stood around for several minutes, all the while being ignored by the waitstaff and the people in the bar area. Finally, someone took us to our table and said they were going to cancel our reservation if we had been any later. By then it was 5:36, so it took them about 6 minutes to get us seated at a reserved table that was already open and set aside in back.
We ordered our food and then the waiting game resumed. People came in after us and order and managed to get their food before we did. The waitress would just walk by as if we were not there. Finally, my wife asked someone behind the bar what was going on with our order. In less than 5 minutes, the waitress brought out our food — somewhat getting cold. It must have sat there for a while. She claimed someone in the kitchen screwed up, but clearly she was the one who failed to deliver it to our table in a timely manner.
A few people around town told me about the old Memory Lane restaurant in Crystal Falls along US 141 reopening with better menu and service. Generations used to have guitars on the walls and an assortment of guitar accessories on sale when the previous guy owned it. Now it has taken on this girly look, unbecoming of the north woods décor we’ve been used to seeing. I think it is time to abandon Generations and move on. This place is going down.

Used to be Millers in by gone days, it’s nice to see such good food served here. The pizza is outstanding and the wing special is tough to beat. It’s such a rural area that you have to be good to stay in business.

If your in the area try this place. This establishment has character with a large bar, good food and service. They used to have Bell’s Two-​Hearted Ale on tap which was reason enough to go, but the food is also good with a large selection of reasonable priced entrees, and an excellent fish fry. On my recent visit (9 – 13) it was truly a generational experience with kids through senior citizens filling all the available seats.
Leinenkugel (SABMiller) is doing a house beer for them which is passable, but nowhere in the league of Bell’s beers. They also feature some of Keweenaw Brewing Company’s beers on tap. Their fish fry remains the best I’ve had in this region, and the service is excellent. This restaurant/​bar is about the only thriving business on the hill in Crystal — take a walk along Superior avenue after you eat to experience an eerie, ghost town feeling.