Looking for a place to eat for a group of friends and everyone wants something different? Try this place. It's got something for everyone! I've been here a handful of times, and it's consistently good. It does EXACTLY what it's suppose to do. Mondays are great for specials for those who are on a tighter budget but want to go out to eat. $6 sandwiches or burgers, $7 salads, $8 appetizers and $9 entrees. You can't beat that... (and if I messed that special up...please let me know GT. lol.) The Grand Tavern offers a variety of options (from avocado fried rice, grilled chicken, pasta to burgers) for their clientele and I love how innovative they've become. They just incorporated a black bean goat cheese quesadilla. I loved it. My vegan friend ordered it as is, butI think it would be tasty with chicken or beef if you want to pay up the extra dollar or two. They have even updated their old fashioned book menus to a more modern, sophisticated menu that is less overwhelming and easier to read. I've come here on dates, double dates and parties for 11. Each time, the service was on point. Drinks were refilled and the food was filling. Try their fried pickles, they are pretty good. Their burgers are pretty massive (they have so many to choose from like: breakfast burger (burger with a fried egg), california burger (guac on a burger) etc.) This is a good hangout place with friends and a good place for a small birthday dinner. :) Good job GT! You got my vote. I like what you do.
(4)
Marisa D.
Went here for happy hour. They have awesome deals for it. It was super packed but managed to find a high top table near the bar. Drafts are only $3 and they have a decent selection. House wine was $3 as well. Appetizers are 2 for 1 until 6 pm. Happy hour itself ends at 7:00. Place seemed to empty out once happy hour was over. Stayed for an extra hour and prices still were reasonable. For four beers.. total came to $16.
(4)
Amy H.
Came on trivia night for a bit just to check out the trivia guy for a friend's restaurant. They switch to the Late Night Specials Menu at 10pm - still a decent selection. I just had a glass of the house cab, will have to come back to try the food. Service was decent.
(3)
Raquel C.
Came in because of the Trivia Night. Service was good, but food was only so-so. Had a great time playing trivia, though, and would return for that.
(3)
Andy S.
I work nearby Grand Tavern, and it is the perfect lunch spot for when you have a large group that can't agree on where to go. They have a good sandwich menu with a lot of old standbys -- BLT, Italian, Club and Reuben. The sandwiches are always good and priced below $10. The service is solid and they are always willing to split checks individually. Sure, it's nothing spectacular but you could do a lot worse. Grand Tavern is always a safe bet.
(3)
Kelli S.
You know what's awesome about the Grand Tavern? Their beer selection. You wouldn't expect a decent brew or two on tap at a bar like this, but they rarely disappoint! Unfortunately, the bar stools fill up quickly and it's the best (and only) place worth sitting. Pass on the food. It's mediocre at best and not worth your time.
(2)
Lauren C.
Well I use to love this place and I have no idea what happened to it in the last few months. My and my boyfriend went their for dinner few months ago service completely sucked even though there was barely anyone there and my bf ordered the buffalo chicken dip well after we got home he was really sick like food poisoning well we ended up giving this place another try a few weeks ago not sure if he got sick from the food or not. So me and my bf and friends went there and got all different food and order the buffaloe dip again well service sucks again and there was no one in there we ate and were on our way out and our friends didn't even make it out of the restaurant and started throwing up my bf just barely made it home and got sick. I got sick later that night. The food and quality alon with servic sucks now don't go there unless you wanna get sick and have terrible servic
(1)
Dipti R.
The food was bad. My husband had salmon burger which he could not finish. I had a fajita, rice and tortillas were uncooked. The potato fries were not crispy. The bar is good but the ambience was not great and we found the place smelly. We live one block away and would not visit the place again
(1)
Charlene B.
My husband and I stopped in for a beer and an appetizer to check this place out in the afternoon. We ordered two beers and the pretzels with the jalapeño dip. While we were waiting for the food, the regulars sitting across the bar from us were having a drunken moronic conversation that was WAY too loud to ignore. We tried to talk and tune them out, but the place was so dead you couldn't. Our pretzels were good, but the dip was not. It had no flavor to it, and you would think a jalapeño dip would have some taste. Needless to say, we finished our one beer each and got the hell out of there! We will NOT be going back.
(1)
T-rex M.
Coworkers swung in after work for beers and drinks during happy hour. Thursday is apparently 2 for 1 burger night in addition to the 2 for 1 happy hour special on appetizers. Great, right? Nine of us, drinks, snacks, or burgers all around. When it came for the tabs, waitress comes out apologetic saying she can only honor one special discount per table per management. She's sorry, she'll honor it, she'll pay the difference. I'm outraged for her and for the shyster promo policy, we demand manager Mike to make a visit. He insists the restaurant will honor it this, that the waitress (who admirably up sold as she is probably expected) will not be punished, but in the future only one person can get a happy hour special. Seriously? Seriously. Then he tells one of the women at the table to smile now. RUDE! The place is a charmless old Applebee's with no remarkably great thing, except maybe the happy hours which are very conditional. She got a great tip; I can't remember the last time I felt so bad for a waitress or saw one so badly hung out to dry by mgmt. There are however, other bars.
(1)
Rick S.
The Grand Tavern...what can I say about the Grand Tavern...it's REALLY okay. The food is pretty good. The specials are very good. The service is hit 'n' miss. It's been pretty good lately. You do have to ask about the specials...they aren't very forthcoming about them. I've been coming here for a couple years, and it's okay. We come here in a pinch when we realize it's 2 for 1 day...or sometimes on Monday for $5 sandwich day. The service has improved a lot since I first started coming in. It used to be AWEFUL. Sometimes I wonder why I kept coming back...but I did. Anyway, if you want a decent special, the happy hour is decent and they ALWAYS have $2 PBRs. I wouldn't make a great ad for this place... The Grand Tavern...It's okay!
(3)
Jeff H.
Mmmm. Fries! Yes, they're extra, and yes, they're worth it. I've never had a problem with any of their burgers here (usually Mike's Pick or a Southwestern Burger), but one time I actually ventured off the burger path and had their Southwestern Steak Salad (or whatever they call it). I was not disappointed. My favorite part were the mini fried pepper-jack balls. I've heard from my company that the turkey burger here is also pretty good. #goodforgroups 10 visits (Apr. 18, 2013)
(5)
Bryan M.
Decent service and food. Could be cleaner with better food. Ok for a sports bar I guess. I've had better. A lot better.
(2)
Steve P.
My wife and I went last night and met up with my sister for dinner. They have weekly happy hour specials and some daily specials. We went to get the 2 for 1 salads. We arrived before 6 and were going to order a 1/2 off appetizer. We were told that you can only order one special - if we ordered the app we could not get the 2 for 1 salad. When I told them that only 2 were getting the 2 for 1 and I would be paying full price it didn't matter - only one special per table. My sister shows and now we want 2 bills because we both order the steak salad and my wife orders the chicken salad. When the bills come I tell them I will pay for both with the same card - the waitress says we can combine them because it took off the cheaper salad and charged me full price for one of the 2 for 1 steak salads. Reason - only one check per table. This place seems to have a lot of "rules" that are made up on the fly. What if I sat at the bar and ordered an app - then everybody at the bar cannot get the 2 for 1? Not sure but will not be going back anytime soon.
(1)
Patrick F.
I felt like I was on an episode of "Bar Rescue." Place was not terribly clean. The food was average at best. My wife's Long Island had a dead bug in it. The waitress was nice and apologized but I didn't see anyone there resembling a manager. This was a first time, last time visit.
(1)
Sean H.
I have been going to Grand Tavern for years (ever since they opened) and have always had a good experience. I enjoy that they have a good food menu and they are constantly running specials that enhances the food menu. They have a great selection of beer on tap, especially if you are a fan of Michigan beers or micro-brews. Service has always been friendly and timely. It is a great place to go hang out and watch a game on the many TVs and they are always willing to change a set for you if you want to watch something specific. Just an all-around great place to hang out and have a beer and some food.
(5)
Rebecca B.
I am keeping my rating for now. The manager reached out to me and wanted me to give it another try, so I will give it another go. Good work on the manger's part to respond!
(2)
Jason S.
Some friends and I came for drinks. Michigan craft beers were $3! Service was friendly and prompt. We got hungry and ordered food and enjoyed it. Pretzel dip was awesome. I liked this place, it had a nice inviting appeal to it
(5)
Kensey W.
i came here with a friend to have a late lunch and it was okay. it's not a bad place to hang out for a bit, but it's not a place to go if you feel like having good food. we got burgers because it was buy-one-get-one burgers - not a bad deal! the burgers were the frozen kind that's a perfect circle and a little overcooked. i ate it because i'll eat anything, but i wouldn't recommend it if you care about having a good burger. i think the place used to be an applebee's so everything is still kind of applebee's-ish. the day i was there, the tap was broken and they were out of the bottled beer i asked for so i ended up getting wine. so maybe this review isn't completely fair because a lack of beer with burger makes me pretty sad. that being said, they do have a surprisingly nice selection of beers on tap. our server was really nice and patient with us. and we had called ahead to see if it was accessible and they knew we were coming and had set up a table for us. i think i want to come back here for their trivia night. like i said, not a great place for food, but a place i would hang out to get away from all the hipness sometimes.
(3)
Ray A.
My wife and I had the burgers and chips. Burgers were big and were very good. The chips were a little burnt. The service was great. Will be back again.
(4)
Crystal F.
This is my first review and I really hate that I can't give this place any stars, but I have to give it at least one star to post my review. I was there for a party and unfortunately their staff can not handle a large amount people. It took the waitress over 30 minutes to take my order for a drink, (before that I went to the bar and I waited there for like 10-15 minutes and still no service) not only did it take so long for a waitress to come and take my order but it took just as long to receive my drink. When I got my drink which was a Ciroc Berry and lemonade it was terrible, there is no way they gave me Ciroc it was just the worst, it took a while for the waitress to come back I told her I did not want my drink it's terrible so I decided to get something else instead and it was just as bad. Safe to say that the Grand Tavern left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Though the staff seems to be nice but highly untrained, when they can clearly see you come in sitting at a table look your way and no staff stops by the table at all to say it will be a moment. I thought it was very unprofessional and in very bad taste. I do feel they need better training for their staff plus they need to take the pictures they added theirselves off on Yelp and let the customers put theirs on cause their food does not look like how the pictures show on here. So unless they changed or trained their staff and stop using cheap liquor this place is simply terrible.
(1)
Magnus L.
Sunday morning, you're hungry and nothing in the fridge appeals to you. What do you do? Why go to the Grand Tavern breakfast buffet! They have a really nice selection of items and you can also get them to make you an omelet for you. The omelet is quite big! You won't leave this breakfast buffet hungry.
(4)
Tom F.
Definition: Tavern; a public house for travelers and others; inn. Grand; BIG, huge, large. This definitely is a public house for weary travelers, it's just not real large. It's a fair size, has a DJ, lots of TVs and a decent selection of beers. I met up with a buddy of mine to toss a couple of beers and grab some food while watching some sports, MSU Basketball, Red Wings and Spartan Bowl game( two out of three wins...not bad). Early on there is a different type of crowd, maybe a little older(who, not me). Later when the DJ shows up, it's a little younger, music is louder, and it seems to rock a little more. The food was pretty good. Burger Boy had: The Tavern Burger w/cheese and fries. Good burger, better than average. Fries could have been a little warmer. Chase down a half pound of ground sirloin with a couple(several) brews and this looks like a good hang out. The service was pretty, Stacey did a good job keeping the beer cold and full. Good: Non-smoking section before 10:00pm. (Not too bad) Bad: All smoking after 10:00pm (Real bad..terrible ventilation) I will be frequenting this establishment in the future to toss a couple(burgers and fries) and maybe enjoy some music or sports.
(4)
Nancy M.
Not a large place, nicely decorated. I have had better food for less money. I would label them a trendy wannabe place where the customers are a bit snooty. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Mark Z.
They have a good selection of draft beers, but the food is average standard bar food. I ordered the soup and it was nothing special.
(3)
Alissa H.
We went later on Saturday night and the place was only about half full. Our waitress could not have made more clear that she did not care in the least about providing any service. They were out of 3 things (ribs and steaks) my husband tried to order and the waitress thought it was hilarious. He wound up not getting anything. The calamari was alright, but literally 10 small pieces for $9. The other two people with us ordered the chicken stir fry and enjoyed the entree, but their salads came out 10 minutes after getting the entrees. When we asked about the salads, the waitress again apparently found it quite funny that she hadn't brought them out. I ordered the portabella "burger" and the mushroom cap was about 1/3 the side of the bun so it was basically a bun with lettuce, tomato and some onions. No barbecue sauce as stated on the menu. In my second bite, I got a mouthful of hair (mine was up in a ponytail and there's no way it could have gotten into my food) and spit it out, and didn't eat any more of it. When the waitress physically moved me aside to get to my plate to clear the table (even tho no one had eaten even half their food), she didn't ask if anything was wrong with the food either. We will most definitely not be returning.
(1)
Rachel C.
I kept wavering between 3 and 4 stars for this place...I can't put my finger on why. I'd been there before and would probably go back. We ordered the appetizer sampler with cheese sticks, zucchini slices and fried pickles. The batter on almost every pickle except one was falling off...was not impressed with those pickles! The zucchini slices were awesome though. Hey, it's deep-fried stuff....what do you expect? I got the cheese tortellini with chicken - I wasn't sure how this place which was seemingly more of a burger and sandwich type place would do with pasta but I was in the mood for pasta. Friend had sirloin steak and it was a nice portion - for some reason she got 2 filets so either they made a mistake, or they serve up some good portions there. It was cooked nicely and tasted good when I sampled it. My tortellini was very good too, nice portion size, good sauce. The service was very good also, although I was annoyed at the end when we were clearly still eating and she kept asking us if we wanted her to take that plate away. You know when there are just a few bites of something left on the plate that you know you are too full for and probably shouldn't eat but you still continue to pick at it anyway? And the appetizer plate with one piece left on it that no one wants to scam so it sits there uneaten? I just felt rushed at the end of the meal and I get annoyed if service is too in your face. There's an art to knowing how much is too much or too little. Pricing ranged in the $8-15 range depending on what you order. They also seem to have beer and food specials every day of the week - like Saturday ladie's night and I think Wednesday half off bottles of wine and Thursday buy one get one free burgers - according to the table cards anyway.
(4)
Brett P.
This was my second time in this place and MY LAST!!!!! First off I was hardly acknowledged by the hostesses who seemed to be to busy talking with one another to greet me. Finally greeted by a server who called me "honey". Ok... I understand that is a friendly term used by my wife, grandmother or even a friend but not by a server. Really unprofessional. Second our waitress thought she must of been an elephant because she found no need to write down my order. Well how does someone screw up a bowl of onion soup and a quesadilla. Fail!!!!! She forgets to bring me the soup which she never ordered in the first place. She then tells me Ill take the soup off your bill not asking me if I still wanted it. Ummmm thanks????? On top of that the food came out a bit cold. At this point I was aggravated as I had to go find my own fork and knife. Finally I took my credit card and placed it on the table before the bill came the waitress not asking if we were ready to pay snatched my credit card and ran the check before we saw the bill. WTF???? If the owners of this restaurant see this Yelp review.... Well you should come up with a customer service plan. Your place is awful and your staff is a terrible reflection of your business. Looking at the other reviews it looks like I am not the only one. Damn shame!
(1)
andrea s.
After each visit to Grand Tavern I find myself wanting more. Everything from the menu to the decor is plain and unsatisfying. I have sampled several meals and have yet to find a signature item that justifies the crowds during dinner and game time. One bright spot for Grand Tavern is the service. The prompt and friendly attitude of the servers along with reasonable prices will earn at least one more visit when I'm looking to eat close to home.
(2)
Carissa S.
My 4-year-old son and I went back today for our fave lunch at Grand Tavern: Chicken Fingers & Fries. Simply put...AWESOME! We were there during the Lions game and there were plenty of locals at the bar that seemed to be regulars clapping and cheering (probably for the Tigers), which showed the comfort and familiarity of this bar continues to draw a friendly crowd. I also wanted to write an update to give a higher rating due to my last carryout experience. It was nice to be greeted by name when arriving (obviously the only carryout order because they do not know who I am YET). The food was ready within the 10 minutes that was stated on the phone when I ordered and when I left the bar area, the door was being held open for me as I left with a friendly greeting. Thanks guys! I am a fan!
(4)
Carrie K.
The Grand Tavern is located in the old Apple bee's building on Drake and Grand River. It pretty much looks the same inside except for all the movie posters on the walls in the old Apple bee's days but you just get the feel of a friendly neighborhood bar/restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. The menu isn't huge but that's okay. I'd rather they do a few things right than take on too much and get it all wrong. David had the fish & chips which were perfect. I had the chipolte burger which I asked for medium but it came out rare. I normally wouldn't have complained and tried to suck it up but the blood running around the plate forced me to send it back. They were very apologetic about it and had a new fresh burger out to me in no time with fresh fries and it was excellent once it was cooked. It lost one star because I had to send it back but it was a good experience and we'll go back.
(3)
Brian M.
I was pretty disappointed this place. I expected it to be more of an upscale pub with good food, but it reminded me of a cheaper version of Applebees. The food was pretty bland and boring. On the possitive side, they have a decent beer selection and plenty of tv's for watching the game. The service was good also. Overall, I probably wouldn't come here again unless I lived next door (which I don't).
(2)
Steven S.
Great beer specials during d town sporting events on tv. Good food and freindly service.
(4)
Edmund C.
This focus is more on the bar than it is on the kitchen. Tonight I had the Steak Marsala. I asked if I could sub veggies for the mashed potatoes. I was told "it wouldn't taste right." They did the substitution, for a charge of $2.15. The Steak Marsala was topped with blue cheese for some reason. The Marsala sauce had no hint of Marsala wine. It was a warm, tasteless, watery beef broth. There were a few tiny mushroom splinters thrown in (each less than half the size of a pencil eraser). Daughter's turkey sandwich came in a pita (turkey was like the cheapest bargain lunch meat you can get at the grocery. Atmosphere here is supposed to be sports bar, but an older man sitting next to us saying "f***" as often as he could in a foreign accent spoiled whatever atmosphere they were trying to set.
(2)
Rebecca B.
A bunch of us went here after a work function merely for convenience.. We were having a good time and needed to continue the party elsewhere. Grand Tavern is an old Applebees, but not as nice. We did not eat here, only had drinks so I can't comment on the food. I ordered a Stoli raspberry with Sprite, well there was no carbonation..it was awful, way too strong. I'm not sure it was the booze I even wanted..We did however do some shots - one being a Washington Apple and that was most delicous... We had excellent service, but the place was also dead. Not sure if I'll be back.. It's a good meeting point, but nothing exciting going on here..
(2)
Joe B.
This spot seems like your typical bar and grill located off the Grand River/Drake corridor. The layout is focused around a horseshoe bar with additional high-tops and booth seating beyond the bar for family dining. They have some decent beers and a full bar that ran smoothly. Motorcity Trivia with Pepper is Thursday nights at 9 and draws a familiar crowd of trivia regulars since she's such a kick ass MC. The menu is pretty standard but it all looked pretty good with some notable options like the Mac and Cheese, Irish Nachos, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Quesadillas and the Corned Beef or Pulled Pork burgers. The service was good and I can say that Kalyn, my server, was impeccable and very attentive. I can't speak to the food other than the chicken fingers which are always good most anywhere. So if you're in the area and you're thirsty for a drink and need some thing to chew on this is as good a place as any to stop in. They've got a ton of TV's and a few arcade games for the kids.
(3)
Nancy R.
Boring. Noisy. Greasy. That pretty much sums it up.
(1)
Debapriya S.
Its an OK place but i havent been there in the best times either like when it was a bit more crowded. will return.
(3)
Peter M.
It's a barstaraunt. The inside looks nice. Lots of TV's. Honestly, I am having a hard time coming up with anything groundbreaking to say here. The service was mediocre as was the food. If the place was wiped off the face of the planet tomorrow I don't know that anyone would notice which tells me they aren't doing anything innovative here worth remembering or returning for unless it's convenient.
(2)
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Address :35450 Grand River Ave
Farmington, MI, 48335
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Cindy A.
Looking for a place to eat for a group of friends and everyone wants something different? Try this place. It's got something for everyone! I've been here a handful of times, and it's consistently good. It does EXACTLY what it's suppose to do. Mondays are great for specials for those who are on a tighter budget but want to go out to eat. $6 sandwiches or burgers, $7 salads, $8 appetizers and $9 entrees. You can't beat that... (and if I messed that special up...please let me know GT. lol.) The Grand Tavern offers a variety of options (from avocado fried rice, grilled chicken, pasta to burgers) for their clientele and I love how innovative they've become. They just incorporated a black bean goat cheese quesadilla. I loved it. My vegan friend ordered it as is, butI think it would be tasty with chicken or beef if you want to pay up the extra dollar or two. They have even updated their old fashioned book menus to a more modern, sophisticated menu that is less overwhelming and easier to read. I've come here on dates, double dates and parties for 11. Each time, the service was on point. Drinks were refilled and the food was filling. Try their fried pickles, they are pretty good. Their burgers are pretty massive (they have so many to choose from like: breakfast burger (burger with a fried egg), california burger (guac on a burger) etc.) This is a good hangout place with friends and a good place for a small birthday dinner. :) Good job GT! You got my vote. I like what you do.
(4)Marisa D.
Went here for happy hour. They have awesome deals for it. It was super packed but managed to find a high top table near the bar. Drafts are only $3 and they have a decent selection. House wine was $3 as well. Appetizers are 2 for 1 until 6 pm. Happy hour itself ends at 7:00. Place seemed to empty out once happy hour was over. Stayed for an extra hour and prices still were reasonable. For four beers.. total came to $16.
(4)Amy H.
Came on trivia night for a bit just to check out the trivia guy for a friend's restaurant. They switch to the Late Night Specials Menu at 10pm - still a decent selection. I just had a glass of the house cab, will have to come back to try the food. Service was decent.
(3)Raquel C.
Came in because of the Trivia Night. Service was good, but food was only so-so. Had a great time playing trivia, though, and would return for that.
(3)Andy S.
I work nearby Grand Tavern, and it is the perfect lunch spot for when you have a large group that can't agree on where to go. They have a good sandwich menu with a lot of old standbys -- BLT, Italian, Club and Reuben. The sandwiches are always good and priced below $10. The service is solid and they are always willing to split checks individually. Sure, it's nothing spectacular but you could do a lot worse. Grand Tavern is always a safe bet.
(3)Kelli S.
You know what's awesome about the Grand Tavern? Their beer selection. You wouldn't expect a decent brew or two on tap at a bar like this, but they rarely disappoint! Unfortunately, the bar stools fill up quickly and it's the best (and only) place worth sitting. Pass on the food. It's mediocre at best and not worth your time.
(2)Lauren C.
Well I use to love this place and I have no idea what happened to it in the last few months. My and my boyfriend went their for dinner few months ago service completely sucked even though there was barely anyone there and my bf ordered the buffalo chicken dip well after we got home he was really sick like food poisoning well we ended up giving this place another try a few weeks ago not sure if he got sick from the food or not. So me and my bf and friends went there and got all different food and order the buffaloe dip again well service sucks again and there was no one in there we ate and were on our way out and our friends didn't even make it out of the restaurant and started throwing up my bf just barely made it home and got sick. I got sick later that night. The food and quality alon with servic sucks now don't go there unless you wanna get sick and have terrible servic
(1)Dipti R.
The food was bad. My husband had salmon burger which he could not finish. I had a fajita, rice and tortillas were uncooked. The potato fries were not crispy. The bar is good but the ambience was not great and we found the place smelly. We live one block away and would not visit the place again
(1)Charlene B.
My husband and I stopped in for a beer and an appetizer to check this place out in the afternoon. We ordered two beers and the pretzels with the jalapeño dip. While we were waiting for the food, the regulars sitting across the bar from us were having a drunken moronic conversation that was WAY too loud to ignore. We tried to talk and tune them out, but the place was so dead you couldn't. Our pretzels were good, but the dip was not. It had no flavor to it, and you would think a jalapeño dip would have some taste. Needless to say, we finished our one beer each and got the hell out of there! We will NOT be going back.
(1)T-rex M.
Coworkers swung in after work for beers and drinks during happy hour. Thursday is apparently 2 for 1 burger night in addition to the 2 for 1 happy hour special on appetizers. Great, right? Nine of us, drinks, snacks, or burgers all around. When it came for the tabs, waitress comes out apologetic saying she can only honor one special discount per table per management. She's sorry, she'll honor it, she'll pay the difference. I'm outraged for her and for the shyster promo policy, we demand manager Mike to make a visit. He insists the restaurant will honor it this, that the waitress (who admirably up sold as she is probably expected) will not be punished, but in the future only one person can get a happy hour special. Seriously? Seriously. Then he tells one of the women at the table to smile now. RUDE! The place is a charmless old Applebee's with no remarkably great thing, except maybe the happy hours which are very conditional. She got a great tip; I can't remember the last time I felt so bad for a waitress or saw one so badly hung out to dry by mgmt. There are however, other bars.
(1)Rick S.
The Grand Tavern...what can I say about the Grand Tavern...it's REALLY okay. The food is pretty good. The specials are very good. The service is hit 'n' miss. It's been pretty good lately. You do have to ask about the specials...they aren't very forthcoming about them. I've been coming here for a couple years, and it's okay. We come here in a pinch when we realize it's 2 for 1 day...or sometimes on Monday for $5 sandwich day. The service has improved a lot since I first started coming in. It used to be AWEFUL. Sometimes I wonder why I kept coming back...but I did. Anyway, if you want a decent special, the happy hour is decent and they ALWAYS have $2 PBRs. I wouldn't make a great ad for this place... The Grand Tavern...It's okay!
(3)Jeff H.
Mmmm. Fries! Yes, they're extra, and yes, they're worth it. I've never had a problem with any of their burgers here (usually Mike's Pick or a Southwestern Burger), but one time I actually ventured off the burger path and had their Southwestern Steak Salad (or whatever they call it). I was not disappointed. My favorite part were the mini fried pepper-jack balls. I've heard from my company that the turkey burger here is also pretty good. #goodforgroups 10 visits (Apr. 18, 2013)
(5)Bryan M.
Decent service and food. Could be cleaner with better food. Ok for a sports bar I guess. I've had better. A lot better.
(2)Steve P.
My wife and I went last night and met up with my sister for dinner. They have weekly happy hour specials and some daily specials. We went to get the 2 for 1 salads. We arrived before 6 and were going to order a 1/2 off appetizer. We were told that you can only order one special - if we ordered the app we could not get the 2 for 1 salad. When I told them that only 2 were getting the 2 for 1 and I would be paying full price it didn't matter - only one special per table. My sister shows and now we want 2 bills because we both order the steak salad and my wife orders the chicken salad. When the bills come I tell them I will pay for both with the same card - the waitress says we can combine them because it took off the cheaper salad and charged me full price for one of the 2 for 1 steak salads. Reason - only one check per table. This place seems to have a lot of "rules" that are made up on the fly. What if I sat at the bar and ordered an app - then everybody at the bar cannot get the 2 for 1? Not sure but will not be going back anytime soon.
(1)Patrick F.
I felt like I was on an episode of "Bar Rescue." Place was not terribly clean. The food was average at best. My wife's Long Island had a dead bug in it. The waitress was nice and apologized but I didn't see anyone there resembling a manager. This was a first time, last time visit.
(1)Sean H.
I have been going to Grand Tavern for years (ever since they opened) and have always had a good experience. I enjoy that they have a good food menu and they are constantly running specials that enhances the food menu. They have a great selection of beer on tap, especially if you are a fan of Michigan beers or micro-brews. Service has always been friendly and timely. It is a great place to go hang out and watch a game on the many TVs and they are always willing to change a set for you if you want to watch something specific. Just an all-around great place to hang out and have a beer and some food.
(5)Rebecca B.
I am keeping my rating for now. The manager reached out to me and wanted me to give it another try, so I will give it another go. Good work on the manger's part to respond!
(2)Jason S.
Some friends and I came for drinks. Michigan craft beers were $3! Service was friendly and prompt. We got hungry and ordered food and enjoyed it. Pretzel dip was awesome. I liked this place, it had a nice inviting appeal to it
(5)Kensey W.
i came here with a friend to have a late lunch and it was okay. it's not a bad place to hang out for a bit, but it's not a place to go if you feel like having good food. we got burgers because it was buy-one-get-one burgers - not a bad deal! the burgers were the frozen kind that's a perfect circle and a little overcooked. i ate it because i'll eat anything, but i wouldn't recommend it if you care about having a good burger. i think the place used to be an applebee's so everything is still kind of applebee's-ish. the day i was there, the tap was broken and they were out of the bottled beer i asked for so i ended up getting wine. so maybe this review isn't completely fair because a lack of beer with burger makes me pretty sad. that being said, they do have a surprisingly nice selection of beers on tap. our server was really nice and patient with us. and we had called ahead to see if it was accessible and they knew we were coming and had set up a table for us. i think i want to come back here for their trivia night. like i said, not a great place for food, but a place i would hang out to get away from all the hipness sometimes.
(3)Ray A.
My wife and I had the burgers and chips. Burgers were big and were very good. The chips were a little burnt. The service was great. Will be back again.
(4)Crystal F.
This is my first review and I really hate that I can't give this place any stars, but I have to give it at least one star to post my review. I was there for a party and unfortunately their staff can not handle a large amount people. It took the waitress over 30 minutes to take my order for a drink, (before that I went to the bar and I waited there for like 10-15 minutes and still no service) not only did it take so long for a waitress to come and take my order but it took just as long to receive my drink. When I got my drink which was a Ciroc Berry and lemonade it was terrible, there is no way they gave me Ciroc it was just the worst, it took a while for the waitress to come back I told her I did not want my drink it's terrible so I decided to get something else instead and it was just as bad. Safe to say that the Grand Tavern left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Though the staff seems to be nice but highly untrained, when they can clearly see you come in sitting at a table look your way and no staff stops by the table at all to say it will be a moment. I thought it was very unprofessional and in very bad taste. I do feel they need better training for their staff plus they need to take the pictures they added theirselves off on Yelp and let the customers put theirs on cause their food does not look like how the pictures show on here. So unless they changed or trained their staff and stop using cheap liquor this place is simply terrible.
(1)Magnus L.
Sunday morning, you're hungry and nothing in the fridge appeals to you. What do you do? Why go to the Grand Tavern breakfast buffet! They have a really nice selection of items and you can also get them to make you an omelet for you. The omelet is quite big! You won't leave this breakfast buffet hungry.
(4)Tom F.
Definition: Tavern; a public house for travelers and others; inn. Grand; BIG, huge, large. This definitely is a public house for weary travelers, it's just not real large. It's a fair size, has a DJ, lots of TVs and a decent selection of beers. I met up with a buddy of mine to toss a couple of beers and grab some food while watching some sports, MSU Basketball, Red Wings and Spartan Bowl game( two out of three wins...not bad). Early on there is a different type of crowd, maybe a little older(who, not me). Later when the DJ shows up, it's a little younger, music is louder, and it seems to rock a little more. The food was pretty good. Burger Boy had: The Tavern Burger w/cheese and fries. Good burger, better than average. Fries could have been a little warmer. Chase down a half pound of ground sirloin with a couple(several) brews and this looks like a good hang out. The service was pretty, Stacey did a good job keeping the beer cold and full. Good: Non-smoking section before 10:00pm. (Not too bad) Bad: All smoking after 10:00pm (Real bad..terrible ventilation) I will be frequenting this establishment in the future to toss a couple(burgers and fries) and maybe enjoy some music or sports.
(4)Nancy M.
Not a large place, nicely decorated. I have had better food for less money. I would label them a trendy wannabe place where the customers are a bit snooty. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Mark Z.
They have a good selection of draft beers, but the food is average standard bar food. I ordered the soup and it was nothing special.
(3)Alissa H.
We went later on Saturday night and the place was only about half full. Our waitress could not have made more clear that she did not care in the least about providing any service. They were out of 3 things (ribs and steaks) my husband tried to order and the waitress thought it was hilarious. He wound up not getting anything. The calamari was alright, but literally 10 small pieces for $9. The other two people with us ordered the chicken stir fry and enjoyed the entree, but their salads came out 10 minutes after getting the entrees. When we asked about the salads, the waitress again apparently found it quite funny that she hadn't brought them out. I ordered the portabella "burger" and the mushroom cap was about 1/3 the side of the bun so it was basically a bun with lettuce, tomato and some onions. No barbecue sauce as stated on the menu. In my second bite, I got a mouthful of hair (mine was up in a ponytail and there's no way it could have gotten into my food) and spit it out, and didn't eat any more of it. When the waitress physically moved me aside to get to my plate to clear the table (even tho no one had eaten even half their food), she didn't ask if anything was wrong with the food either. We will most definitely not be returning.
(1)Rachel C.
I kept wavering between 3 and 4 stars for this place...I can't put my finger on why. I'd been there before and would probably go back. We ordered the appetizer sampler with cheese sticks, zucchini slices and fried pickles. The batter on almost every pickle except one was falling off...was not impressed with those pickles! The zucchini slices were awesome though. Hey, it's deep-fried stuff....what do you expect? I got the cheese tortellini with chicken - I wasn't sure how this place which was seemingly more of a burger and sandwich type place would do with pasta but I was in the mood for pasta. Friend had sirloin steak and it was a nice portion - for some reason she got 2 filets so either they made a mistake, or they serve up some good portions there. It was cooked nicely and tasted good when I sampled it. My tortellini was very good too, nice portion size, good sauce. The service was very good also, although I was annoyed at the end when we were clearly still eating and she kept asking us if we wanted her to take that plate away. You know when there are just a few bites of something left on the plate that you know you are too full for and probably shouldn't eat but you still continue to pick at it anyway? And the appetizer plate with one piece left on it that no one wants to scam so it sits there uneaten? I just felt rushed at the end of the meal and I get annoyed if service is too in your face. There's an art to knowing how much is too much or too little. Pricing ranged in the $8-15 range depending on what you order. They also seem to have beer and food specials every day of the week - like Saturday ladie's night and I think Wednesday half off bottles of wine and Thursday buy one get one free burgers - according to the table cards anyway.
(4)Brett P.
This was my second time in this place and MY LAST!!!!! First off I was hardly acknowledged by the hostesses who seemed to be to busy talking with one another to greet me. Finally greeted by a server who called me "honey". Ok... I understand that is a friendly term used by my wife, grandmother or even a friend but not by a server. Really unprofessional. Second our waitress thought she must of been an elephant because she found no need to write down my order. Well how does someone screw up a bowl of onion soup and a quesadilla. Fail!!!!! She forgets to bring me the soup which she never ordered in the first place. She then tells me Ill take the soup off your bill not asking me if I still wanted it. Ummmm thanks????? On top of that the food came out a bit cold. At this point I was aggravated as I had to go find my own fork and knife. Finally I took my credit card and placed it on the table before the bill came the waitress not asking if we were ready to pay snatched my credit card and ran the check before we saw the bill. WTF???? If the owners of this restaurant see this Yelp review.... Well you should come up with a customer service plan. Your place is awful and your staff is a terrible reflection of your business. Looking at the other reviews it looks like I am not the only one. Damn shame!
(1)andrea s.
After each visit to Grand Tavern I find myself wanting more. Everything from the menu to the decor is plain and unsatisfying. I have sampled several meals and have yet to find a signature item that justifies the crowds during dinner and game time. One bright spot for Grand Tavern is the service. The prompt and friendly attitude of the servers along with reasonable prices will earn at least one more visit when I'm looking to eat close to home.
(2)Carissa S.
My 4-year-old son and I went back today for our fave lunch at Grand Tavern: Chicken Fingers & Fries. Simply put...AWESOME! We were there during the Lions game and there were plenty of locals at the bar that seemed to be regulars clapping and cheering (probably for the Tigers), which showed the comfort and familiarity of this bar continues to draw a friendly crowd. I also wanted to write an update to give a higher rating due to my last carryout experience. It was nice to be greeted by name when arriving (obviously the only carryout order because they do not know who I am YET). The food was ready within the 10 minutes that was stated on the phone when I ordered and when I left the bar area, the door was being held open for me as I left with a friendly greeting. Thanks guys! I am a fan!
(4)Carrie K.
The Grand Tavern is located in the old Apple bee's building on Drake and Grand River. It pretty much looks the same inside except for all the movie posters on the walls in the old Apple bee's days but you just get the feel of a friendly neighborhood bar/restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. The menu isn't huge but that's okay. I'd rather they do a few things right than take on too much and get it all wrong. David had the fish & chips which were perfect. I had the chipolte burger which I asked for medium but it came out rare. I normally wouldn't have complained and tried to suck it up but the blood running around the plate forced me to send it back. They were very apologetic about it and had a new fresh burger out to me in no time with fresh fries and it was excellent once it was cooked. It lost one star because I had to send it back but it was a good experience and we'll go back.
(3)Brian M.
I was pretty disappointed this place. I expected it to be more of an upscale pub with good food, but it reminded me of a cheaper version of Applebees. The food was pretty bland and boring. On the possitive side, they have a decent beer selection and plenty of tv's for watching the game. The service was good also. Overall, I probably wouldn't come here again unless I lived next door (which I don't).
(2)Steven S.
Great beer specials during d town sporting events on tv. Good food and freindly service.
(4)Edmund C.
This focus is more on the bar than it is on the kitchen. Tonight I had the Steak Marsala. I asked if I could sub veggies for the mashed potatoes. I was told "it wouldn't taste right." They did the substitution, for a charge of $2.15. The Steak Marsala was topped with blue cheese for some reason. The Marsala sauce had no hint of Marsala wine. It was a warm, tasteless, watery beef broth. There were a few tiny mushroom splinters thrown in (each less than half the size of a pencil eraser). Daughter's turkey sandwich came in a pita (turkey was like the cheapest bargain lunch meat you can get at the grocery. Atmosphere here is supposed to be sports bar, but an older man sitting next to us saying "f***" as often as he could in a foreign accent spoiled whatever atmosphere they were trying to set.
(2)Rebecca B.
A bunch of us went here after a work function merely for convenience.. We were having a good time and needed to continue the party elsewhere. Grand Tavern is an old Applebees, but not as nice. We did not eat here, only had drinks so I can't comment on the food. I ordered a Stoli raspberry with Sprite, well there was no carbonation..it was awful, way too strong. I'm not sure it was the booze I even wanted..We did however do some shots - one being a Washington Apple and that was most delicous... We had excellent service, but the place was also dead. Not sure if I'll be back.. It's a good meeting point, but nothing exciting going on here..
(2)Joe B.
This spot seems like your typical bar and grill located off the Grand River/Drake corridor. The layout is focused around a horseshoe bar with additional high-tops and booth seating beyond the bar for family dining. They have some decent beers and a full bar that ran smoothly. Motorcity Trivia with Pepper is Thursday nights at 9 and draws a familiar crowd of trivia regulars since she's such a kick ass MC. The menu is pretty standard but it all looked pretty good with some notable options like the Mac and Cheese, Irish Nachos, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Quesadillas and the Corned Beef or Pulled Pork burgers. The service was good and I can say that Kalyn, my server, was impeccable and very attentive. I can't speak to the food other than the chicken fingers which are always good most anywhere. So if you're in the area and you're thirsty for a drink and need some thing to chew on this is as good a place as any to stop in. They've got a ton of TV's and a few arcade games for the kids.
(3)Nancy R.
Boring. Noisy. Greasy. That pretty much sums it up.
(1)Debapriya S.
Its an OK place but i havent been there in the best times either like when it was a bit more crowded. will return.
(3)Peter M.
It's a barstaraunt. The inside looks nice. Lots of TV's. Honestly, I am having a hard time coming up with anything groundbreaking to say here. The service was mediocre as was the food. If the place was wiped off the face of the planet tomorrow I don't know that anyone would notice which tells me they aren't doing anything innovative here worth remembering or returning for unless it's convenient.
(2)