With all the lovely natural beauty we have to boast about in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it should come as no surprise to anyone that we are home to a lot of awesome eateries that offer amazing vistas. Across the state, you'll find dining rooms with skyline river views, sweeping vistas across rolling hills, and of course lakefront grills. Even with all these wonderful options to consider, there probably isn't a restaurant with more stunning views in Minnesota than Angry Trout Cafe in the charming town of Grand Marais.

Grand Marais is a small former fishing village (although some commercial fishing still goes on here, as the Angry Trout's menu attests) turned art colony, turned tourist gateway. It's located on the North Shore of Lake Superior, about half an hour south of Minnesota's border with Canada. With its gorgeous setting, historic buildings, and beautiful harbor, Grand Marais is, without a doubt, one of the most picturesque towns in the entire state.

For more than 30 years, Angry Trout Cafe has taken full advantage of this setting. It started as a small shack at the end of a row of fishing docks, with a deck right on the harbor. Heck, not long after it opened, I rented a sailboat from a shack in front of the restaurant, and Capt. George (I believe that was his name) launched us from a dock right behind the eatery. Today, though, the restaurant and the deck have both expanded quite a bit (and the sailing charters shuttered long ago).

And the expansion was necessary. I've never been to Angry Trout when there wasn't a wait, and the restaurant doesn't accept reservations. The staff will, however, put your name on a list, put a local IPA (or wine or cider) on your tab, and send you to wait in an Adirondack chair by the harbor... and you may be almost disappointed when your table is ready. Just sayin'.

Whether you sit inside or outside, you will enjoy incredible views. Even chairs facing inland at the most interior tables can sneak a peak of the scenic harbor. And the wait will be worth. The fish is often fresh-caught from Lake Superior by local anglers, and everything else - right down to the pottery you eat off of - is as locally-sourced as possible.

A true testament to the beauty of Angry Trout Cafe's setting is that even when the whether may be less than ideal for other endeavors, inclement conditions don't affect diners' enjoyment of views.

One rainy evening, I had dinner at the Angry Trout, and the scenery did not disappoint - even through a window, fog, and precipitation.

Not only has Angry Trout Cafe expanded physically, this once-seasonal restaurant is now open throughout much of the year - which is awesome for folks like me who love this part of the state in the winter, as well. Before you mosey over to Angry Trout, you can enjoy coffee with a view from Java Moose or grab a smoothie bowl from Shook and eat it on bench in the harbor-front park. Need a place to stay? No worries - there are plenty of nearby accommodations.

Have you been to Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, MN? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to share your favorite restaurant views in Minnesota.