Reliable Restaurants: Pickwick Restaurant and Pub

DULUTH - In Part 3 of "Reliable Restaurants," FOX 21's Dan Hanger heads to the historic Pickwick Restaurant and Pub that's celebrating its 100th birthday.  So, what keeps Pickwick so relevant in a business where new restaurants might not make it past two years?

"If you look around here, you can't even redo this. I mean, it would cost millions and millions of dollars," said Dustin Tomasetti, executive chef at Pickwick.

Tomasetti believes creating authentic dishes inside 100 years of history is a pretty special experience that he hopes passes on to customers.

"It's really trying to do something that once everyone sits down, let's say the table we're sitting at right now, they look at it as an experience, not just coming out to eat," Tomasetti explained.

Pickwick is known for its old-fashioned food, sea food and especially the steaks, which are cooked on the only charcoal grill in the Northwoods.
"It's an iconic restaurant. It's been here for exactly 100 years this year," said Amy Wright, co-owner of Pickwick.

Wright and her husband became the new owners in 2010. And while the Pickwick name came with a rich history, it also came with a bit of a challenge.

"There are very few in the county that have lasted that long. It's a dying breed. Family owned restaurant that has somehow made it work over the years; it's not easy to do, especially when you are competing with all the corporate chains," Wright explained.

But the secret to success for Wright has been adapting the menu to the changing demands of customers while never losing the Pickwick way.

"They eat differently. They want different things. They want a happy hour. There are a lot of different things that people are looking for today that they weren't necessarily looking for 20 years ago," Wright said.

But even with the changing needs in this modern-day world, Wright feels nothing can take away from the nostalgia of the Pickwick -- from the paintings, to the European-style architecture, to even the unknown stories.

"Was there alcohol served during prohibition? I'm not really sure. Is there a ghost upstairs? Maybe! I don't know," Wright jokingly said.
It's a one-of-a-kind restaurant and bar that's celebrating history and getting ready to make history as downtown Duluth builds on.

"I think downtown Duluth is growing every day. I think the new image we are going for in the city is something that - it's something to be proud of - and I only see it getting better," Tomasetti said.