Snacks on Mille Lacs Cafe gets an "A"

Snacks on Mille Lacs Cafe owner Laura Stoothoff

Isle -- If you’re a coffee house lover spending a day, the weekend or most of your time in the southern Mille Lacs Lake area, Isle’s Snacks on Mille Lacs Café is for you. In all seasons!

With a medium-sized snack line, diverse and eclectic lunch specials -- a full array of coffees, espressos, lattes and mochas-- this polished, yet quaint, easy-to-find coffee shop has become a big hit in Isle and word is spreading.

“Being a barista is fun,” said owner Laura Stoothoff who is one of four happy souls you might get to meet, working the place.  She took a couple minutes to chat with us between customers last week. “I like working for myself, interacting with all the people and I really enjoy what I do.”

A group from the Mille Lacs Messenger staff raved about the cinnamon crunch and cranberry orange muffins.  Another customer was sipping an espresso, working on her computer in one of the best-smelling Wi-Fi equipped social fun spots around Mille Lacs Lake.

Stoothoff detailed her establishment’s offerings best:  “Snacks has a friendly, quaint atmosphere offering fresh, quality sandwiches, smoothies, Bridgeman’s ice cream, specialty coffee and more! From a basic cup of “Joe” to a specialty “funky monkey” mocha! Whatever it is you crave we want you to know our ingredients are fresh! Every pot of coffee is ground fresh and every sandwich is made to order. Our quality, artisan breads are baked fresh and our famous coleslaw is homemade here at the shop, brine and all! “Snacks on Mille Lacs” does not offer fried foods, just a different alternative. Coming soon this year also: take-and-go salads, and fruit parfaits.”

With it’s main-street location, Snack’s On Mille Lacs is an easy-in, easy-out operation as well, allowing the passerby or regular resident the next-best-thing to a drive-through coffee experience.  Snacks on Mille Lacs Café is located between Tinshack Company, offering organic knitting needs, and Someday Isle, which has creative arts.  It’s casual so regular, golf or fishing attire is fine.  Did we say the lunch is, well, outstanding?  The most recent Facebook special:  “Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast on fresh European Ciabatto squares.....MMMMM! Served with chips or slaw. *Loaded Potato soup topped with crumbled bacon!”

Open since May 2009, the Snacks on Mille Lacs Café is essentially a “family” coffee shop moved from Duluth.  You’ll have to visit to get that full story. When you are there you will see top-shelf décor, redone hard-wood floors and art work that shouts, “We Care.”  Stoothoff’s  mother, Jean Vandenberg, aunt, Kathy Tate, and Isle High School student Emily Mellon work the various business shifts.  The store is open 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday.

Finally, Snacks on Mille Lacs is mobile in a society that is demanding it! It caters to resorts, fishing launches or special events. Trust us, you’ll be impressed when you stop by Snacks on Mille Lacs and you won’t visit just once.  Call 320-676-3511 or email snacksonmillelacs@hotmail.com to find out how they can serve you.