First things first. COVID safe: has outdoor, adequately distanced seating both shaded and sunny. Employees are wearing masks at all times. Beer served in disposable cups.
Just enjoyed lunch there with my best friend this afternoon. It was actually our second visit; we were there...for dinner a year ago on our annual girls’ trip and tbh we were not terribly impressed. The beer was good but the food was nothing to write home about. Let’s just say we’re not in our twenties anymore so the packed dining room and hipster vibe was a bit overwhelming for us.
Luckily, a visit to another local restaurant (JJ’s Steak and Pizza House-shout out to our wonderful server Susan lol) that had Austin Brother 45’er IPA on draft reminded us just how good the beer actually is there. We have been traveling Michigan for many years now and have experienced some of the best beer our state has to offer and this has to be one of my favorite IPA’s of all time (I’m a total hophead and I love the grapefruit/pear notes). On that basis alone we decided to give it another chance.
On this visit we sat outside on the shaded patio where we could enjoy the beautiful day and the fresh air and actually carry on a conversation (there was music but it wasn’t blasting). The food this time was absolutely fantastic. I ordered the Prime Rib Sandwich and it was perfect. The gourmet roll was soft, the meat was seasoned and cooked perfectly and topped with grilled onions, Swiss cheese and their delicious garlic aioli. The fries on the side were nice and crispy and served with their house made ketchup. My friend ordered the Reuben on sourdough bread and loved it. She also really enjoyed the Key Lime Smoothie IPA.
Our server, Derek, was fabulous (I’m starting to run out of superlatives here). I’ve been in customer service/management for a very long time and I recognize excellence when I see it. He was genuinely nice (it’s hard to fake it when you can only smile with your eyes lol), knowledgeable and enthusiastic and a great representative of your brand. I hope if the owners read this they will pass on our compliments.
Looking forward to our next visit!More