If grilled cheese has a perfect mate, it's found lakeside on the shores of Michigan's Clark Lake. You won't find a fryer anywhere inside this family-owned restaurant, but you will find the absolute best tomato soup in Michigan and possibly the world.

RELATED: Michigan Summer Fun: Revealing Clark Lake's Best-Kept Secrets

Located on Ocean Beach Road in Clarklake, Michigan, and looking out onto the waters of one of Michigan's finest all-sports lakes, is a restaurant that is so ingrained in Clark Lake's culture it's impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. Ironically, a place known for summer fun is also iconic for a soup that will warm you to the core on the coldest of Michigan days.

How a Lake and a Restaurant Became Inseparable

Harry and Marie opened the Beach Bar on July 27, 1946. Their son, Tom, and his wife, Peggy, continued the legacy, eventually passing the business on to their son, John, who is still at the helm today.

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The Collins family has consistently satisfied Michigan's year-round cravings for pizza, sandwiches, and, of course, tomato soup for nearly 80 years.

Michigan's Best Tomato Soup

The sign for Clarklake, Michigan's, The Beach Bar is seen as it appears on Ocean Beach Road in Clarklake, Michigan.
Living in the Irish Hills via YouTube / Canva
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I say this with no study or rating to back it up, but I can confidently say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Michigan's Best tomato soup can be found in Clarklake, Michigan, at The Beach Bar. I'll die on this hill. If you don't believe me, try it.

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Growing up in the area, I often heard people swear that they had successfully recreated the Beach Bar's tomato soup, but honestly, nothing comes close. I'm not sure what Collins' secret ingredient is, but no one has figured it out yet. So, until that day, I'll see you at the Beach Bar. I'll be the guy with a tomato soup-soaked Reuben and a smile.

Vintage Photos of Clark Lake, Jackson County: 1900-1950