Bil-Mar Restaurant
1223 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI, 49417
Bil-Mar Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Grand Haven for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1223 S Harbor Dr
Grand Haven, MI, 49417 - Phone (616) 842-5920
- Website https://www.bil-margrandhaven.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Amy H.
I've now been to Bil-Mar a few times and they have a great deck on the beach, but service and food quality is lacking. I will clarify that my experiences have always been on the deck and not in the restaurant. The most recent time was a Sunday afternoon with a group of six adults and two children. There was one open table on the deck so we were told to grab it and a waitress let us know the table next to it was cashing out so we could move them together. We did just that a few minutes later and a different server told us we couldn't because the tables were in two different sections and if she had to take two tables, she would have too many tables. Umm...what's the difference if the eight of us sat around one table (which we did originally) or if we split between two tables. She begrudgingly took our drink order and it explained it would be very slow since she now had too many tables (the deck wasn't even full!). We asked if it would be easier if we went ahead and ordered since we were only doing apps. She sighed and took our order (regular fries, sweet potato fries, nachos and a basket of popcorn). There isn't much to the deck menu - the apps mentioned above, a few sandwiches and burgers. I'm sure it's due to the ease of serving outside, but what they did offer wasn't even that great. Our orders actually came out in a timely fashion despite her warning. Two of us ordered Cosmos which were horrible! It was a neon pink color, served in a wine glass and simply tasted awful. Luckily the guys ordered a pitcher of beer which we ended up sharing as we did not want to upset our waitress (especially since the apps hadn't come out yet). The overall experience was a real turnoff so it's doubtful we'll give it another try.
(3)Laurel C.
Great view and our server was really good... Passing off a precooked, frozen burger, for a $12 prime rib burger is a bit ridiculous. The place was empty, only two other tables, and yet our food came out cold.
(2)Tyler H.
Id rather have defecated my previous meal, and eaten that. My dog wouldn't have even eaten that garbage, and he actually eats his defecated meals.
(1)Amy A.
The location is very nice. We sat inside, though, and it was extremely dark in the lounge at midday. The crab cake sandwich on a pretzel bun was ok. It could have used a more imaginative sauce (it comes with tartar sauce - something spicy would have been better). I couldn't taste any crab, though. It mostly tasted fried. My husband had the beachcomber, and it wasn't anything special. We were surprised that they didn't have any artificial sweetener for his iced tea (just sugar). Our server was very friendly. The entrance is strange - it feels like you're going in the staff door. It's around the left as you're looking at the lake.
(2)Michael R.
We spent a beautiful evening sitting on the Bil Mar deck watching the sunset, having drinks and eating dinner. Although the view is beautiful, the food, as always, was quite bland. The fish and chips looked and tasted like pre-formed fish sticks, my French fries had to be sent back for hot ones, the smoked salmon and the hamburger were both rather tasteless. They won't even give you a glass of water with your meal; you're required to buy their label of bottled water. Pretty cheesy. If you're a tourist and want to sit on the beach for a drink it's okay, but I wouldn't recommend eating here.
(2)Suzanne S.
After living in the area for almost eight years, I decided it was time to try out this Grand Haven institution. We ate lunch on the deck on a Saturday afternoon. The expansive view of Lake Michigan is amazing and you can walk right up from the beach. Worth a stop for this alone! The deck menu is pretty simple: sandwiches, a few entrees, appetizers and drinks. The drink options looked extensive, making me think this deck is the perfect place to spend a long summer evening watching the sun set into the lake while enjoying a few beverages. I had the crab shack burger, which is a crab cake served on a pretzel roll. I'm a sucker for pretzel rolls and enjoyed my sandwich. My companion had a burger with Canadian bacon, cheese and mushrooms. He said the mushrooms were canned and disappointing. In the end this is a place I'll return to for the view more than the food (for the deck anyway, we've never dined inside).
(3)Katharine S.
Why is the food so bad, here? All it takes to have good food is to dump Sysco, buy fresh and make it. This place is so great in location, service and drinks, but the food IS SO BAD. It's just gross. Please hire a new chef!!! I want to love this place!
(2)James O.
You expect so much from the view but you'd be better getting take-out and sitting on the beach. Just not good. Prepackaged food.
(1)Amy S.
I was born in Grand Haven and know that only tourists go here since it is so horrible. It's super expensive with a nice view, but the food is nothing to rave about. The nail in the coffin for me happened after I talked with a chef who used to work in the kitchen, and he didn't want anything to do with Bil-Mar again. Mmm, sounds good, doesn't it?
(1)Andrew W.
This place is the classic tourist trap. We sat on the deck and found the service to be slow, the food to be seriously lacking, and the prices to be outrageous. For two people, it cost $50. Do yourself a favor and steer well clear of this place because it will surely dampen your Grand Haven experience.
(1)McSaddle X.
First, I wish the metrics of Yelp would allow me to give Bil-Mar 2 1/2 and I thought it would be unfair to round down, because you can enjoy yourself here. Just stay away from the food, if at all possible. A scenic walk North toward Downtown will afford many opportunities for food trucks; stands serving ice cream, hot dogs, and full service restaurants with decent views and more agreeable food. At Bill-Mar, stick with familiar beer, wine, and cocktails while you enjoy a superior view of Lake Michigan.
(3)David C.
Over priced and the worst meal I have ever had. Rubber chicken, bland carrots, generic rice and cold rolls in addition slow service. Save your money and have a microwave dinner. I did love the view and the old school vibe. This place could do so MUCH better.
(1)Jill L.
Oh my, no, never again, very bad. Thank goodness we had a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan from the deck outside. The fish nachos were ok, and a mixed drink special was good. One of the few things that we enjoyed! We ordered shrimp cocktail and the shrimp was old, smelled bad and mushy. We sent that back and ordered the fish basket. For some reason, my husband decided to split open a fish piece and it was not fully cooked inside! Sent that back, I drank my 2nd beer on the house and we left! We had a wonderful waitress who was very apologetic. My husband went inside to use the bathroom and said that the interior was old and musty smelling. We spent the rest of the day wondering if we were going to get food poisoning. Not going back, unless we want to drink and sit outside and enjoy the view!
(1)Cherri W.
We read all the reviews. Apparently one loves or hates this place. So we decided, what the heck and gave it a try. We sat outside on the set for dinner and sunset, we celebrated our anniversary. Our service was very good, the sunset and scenery were amazing, and the food was okay. It wasn't fabulous, but the wine (generous pours), the sunset and the service made up for anything lacking.
(3)Jeff R.
It's nice to sit on the beach but not worth it. Overpriced frozen food from Gordon food services. Three dollars for a basket of act one popcorn. And horrible service to top it off. Take the extra five minutes to drive up to Culvers. For six people your bill will be $40 instead of $80
(1)Joan W.
If you want a hot dog after a day at the beach, this is your place. But don't expect a nice dinner on the water. Go to Kirbys for at least a partial view and guaranteed good food. We ordered the "spicy boneless wings" at Bil Mar and they were frozen and deep fried, breaded chicken nuggets. No good. But nice view of the beach and water for sure. Just go with the right expectations so you won't be disappointed.
(2)B. A. V.
Gorgeous location but the food is sub average, though not inexpensive. Sadly, the waitresses are all scared of the large owner, who treats them on a surly manner. Not a great place to have dinner.
(2)Luther Z.
Shockingly horrendous food. Thieves. My son's fried shrimp plate had 6 small pieces that looked like they came from the frozen food section of the grocery store. That's all there was for $12. No sides, though it's on the menu. My pulled pork? What pork? How about a bun full of cole slaw - perhaps the worst cole slaw I've ever had. Oh, & stale potato chips accompanied our meals - at least they were supposed to. My sons meal was supposed to come with grapes & slaw... neither were on the plate or at the table. I was supposed to get onion rings with my pulled pork... never did. Our server could not tell the difference between a fish sandwich & a vegetarian sandwich. Didn't help she spilled water on the sandwich as it sat on the table, then walked away. There were a few other unspeakables that occurred, but the bottom line is this place is an overpriced trap. I'd rather eat sand. Please people, do not let this place continue to be in business any longer. HORRIBLE. I almost called the cops to say I was robbed!
(1)Linda J.
First, I want to say that we used to enjoy date nights at the Bil-Mar and have been going there for almost 40 years. Over time, the building has become run-down and smelly and the food mediocre at best, neither keeping up with the times. We would still go ocassionally from our home in Grand Rapids, hoping that things would improve. We recently visited on a beautiful summer night on their deck. Outside of mediocre service, everything else was horrible. Our salads were a huge plate of iceberg lettuce with a few diced tomatoes (probably from their nachos) and dressing in a sealed cup. I would expect, at the very least, fresh tomatoes from a local farm since this is summer. Local greens would be nice, too. Maybe even fresh, housemade dressing (being on the deck should make no difference). My husband had grilled chicken and pineapple skewers. Though tasty, the pineapple was from a can and the chicken looked like it came from a bag of prepared chicken. I had a chicken wrap. The wrap was dry and the chicken was again pre-prepared. Worst of all...the basket holding my food was falling apart - one side looked like it had been chewed by a dog. I noticed mine wasn't the only one that looked that way. We spent $40 on a meal. We could have gone anywhere else, had a fresh meal and spent less. I am as nostalgic as anyone about this place, but there needs to be changes if this place is to survive into modern times. A little pride in what is served, fresh, housemade, modern foods, and a good upgrade to the facilities is the only thing that will bring us back.
(1)Dave R.
Very good food .. Great hospitality and the most wonderful sunsets in all of Michigan !
(4)Renee P.
The only thing good about this place is the location! The food is like eating at some cheap fast food place however priced like fine dining. Because of the beach location it draws all the vacation people who don't know that this is NOT the place to eat in grand haven.
(1)Jared W.
This used to be a great place to eat but it has gone downhill The view is the best in Grand Haven which is good because the cell service sucks in this area as of 2011 which was the last time I was there. The beer selection is small however they had my Weihenstephaner Hefeweisbier so that was good. The food was just okay but our waitress had fun with our group one night. (Though I have had the lower end service here as well) This place could be amazing with some updates as the view of Lake Michigan (remove the fake palm tree) is great. Plus a walk on the beach after your meal is a great plan.
(3)Christopher H.
View is beautiful....staff was extremely friendly, however service was poor and the deck menu was limited.
(3)Andrew B.
Horrible experience at this place. I sent an e-mail the address on their website about my dining experience on the deck and received an absolute stunning response of immaturity and excuses from the "owner" of 41 years. I will not lower myself to his level of lack of maturity, but I will just give the facts. My family and I had set up a lunch date with our friends from out of town. This was a good middle ground for both of us to meet. We were the first ones on the deck in our party of 7. A total of 4 adults, 3 kids. Menu was very limited and did not have a whole lot of healthy eating choices. NO KIDS MENU to speak of. We essentially had to choose between a chicken finger basket (super greasy) and a hot dog (my daughters was burnt...but she ate since she was SO hungry). Adults ordered a couple salads and I ordered the salmon burger. There was no angus style burger on the menu outside. Come to find out the inside menu and outside menu are totally different...it's the same kitchen! Doesn't make sense to me at all. We also had to order bottled water since they do not have tap water outside. So they force you to pay for something that you were going to have in the first place. I think that's cheap. Back to the food order, the other adults did not have super positive things to say about their salad. One was drowning with dressing and made it all soggy, my wife's was partially covered with the dressing...so there really wasn't enough. For my order, the chef I guess had burnt my burger so they restarted. No big deal. But I waited 20 minutes for anything to happen. Nothing. The rest of the table had already finished their meal and I had nothing. I had to seek out the server and cancel my order. Another server came over and said that the burger was already done and I could still have it. I told him I will eat it, but I'm not paying for it. We had already been there 45 minutes. Then ANOTHER server comes over with the burger and I told her that I had canceled the order. Not in any of this interaction was there a manager apologizing or trying to make things right with me or my family's order. Nothing was taken off the bill and I left there be completely disappointed and frankly pissed off. I then e-mailed the restaurant from their website. The response that I received from the so-called "owner" was nothing short of rude and disrespectful towards me and my family. I urge you to NEVER go to this place of business. This person is not a man of character or integrity and makes excuses of why it was only MY fault I didn't enjoy my dining experience. I only was trying to help him and e-mailed him to try to make it right before I posted a review of his establishment. I gave him a chance and I will never go back again. Reading the other posts, I'm not the only one that has experienced this either. Too bad - great location - bad owner and bad business.
(1)Timothy M.
It seems the Bil-Mar is getting a little bashed up on Yelp. Get over it, it's on the beach. My family has been going to the Bil-Mar for ever. We have had Christmas Eve dinner there for over 20 years. The view is awesome, the owner is a wonderful man, and the food is good. Order a steak and a Red Stripe. After dinner cocktails in the Pirate's Den. Deck burgers. My mom loves the Lake Perch. This past Christmas Eve with the new chef the food was great. I love the Bil-Mar.
(5)Don W.
A horrendous experience ! Chintzy portions at a over- inflated price. My crab cake sandwich came with a brick hard bun with mold on the tomato ! The fish/chips were under cooked and was served in a most unattractive way. I felt like I was mugged after paying the bill !!!.
(1)KAren K.
Took an hour for food and that didn't include the brat which couldn't take more than 15 minutes to cook. Mac and cheese wedges still frozen, spicy pickles had no spice but plenty of grease. Finally told waitress we didn't want the brat any more and she says she wouldn't charge us! No attention from wait staff during the hour we waited for our food. Had great memories of this place but definitely not the same.
(1)Phil N.
Average meal. Service was good view was awesome. A summer night and they shut down the deck at 10:00PM. What?
(3)Corey P.
Awesome view, food is decent at best, server was friendly but did not provide great service. On a scale from 1-10 it's an ehh...
(2)Rachel V.
We went to Bil Mar for my Dads birthday because we walked up on the beach from our boat parked off shore. The ONLY good thing about this place is the view. It's really sad because it has so much potential. People should stop going so it has to be sold to new owners who could make it into an awesome restaurant. It's true they make you pay for water. The three of us ordered a pitcher of sangria. It was $18 and mostly ice.. I had the lake trout. First bite has 2 bones. It wasn't anything special and a very small portion. The fries that came with it were good and super unhealthy. My parents split a salmon burger and got sweet potato fries. Their burger was so-so. The waitress had no personality and like all the others we saw were college students that just needed summer jobs. Do yourself a favor and pack a picnic for the beach and stay away from Bil-Mar.
(1)Tom C.
Despite the old-fashioned decor & BGM, Bil-Mar is a weekend fav of my father & I. Their new chef prepares beautiful & modern looking plates that are absolutely delicious. I always get the salmon though and highly recommend it. They have a stellar wine menu as well. Dining at a nice restaurant with gorgeous view of the beach (especially at sunset) from their wall-sized windows, not more than 10 minutes from home, what more can you ask. Steve, the owner, and Sissy, are usual waitress are both bomb and they know my whole by name.
(5)Lisa B.
After much research, my husband & I opted to have our wedding ceremony and reception at the Bil-Mar on Saturday 7/13/2013. What a great choice this was! Our 40 guests had a fabulous time and raved about the food & personal service! We were able to have our wedding ceremony on the beach in front of the Bil-Mar (lakeside), then had our private reception on the 2nd floor of the Bil-Mar. Our servers & bartender were very attentive and accurate with the orders. The majority of our guests opted for the prime rib. Afterward (even days later) we received many comments that this was by far the best prime rib they've ever had! Several also had the sirloin steaks or whitefish and were equally as impressed. The vast majority of our guests are accustomed to eating out at fine dining establishments, so should be taken as a great compliment! We are so pleased that we decided to celebrate our special evening at Bil-Mar!!!! Many thanks go out to Howard for helping me organize too!
(4)Jack R.
Nothing to see here folks. Just another Grand Haven restaurant that thinks it can scam people by offering them terrible; overpriced food in exchange for a great view. Yes, the restaurant is on the lakefront. Yes, the view is beautiful. But if you're really looking for a beachfront meal, do yourself a favor: get some takeout and have a picnic on the beach. Every restaurant along the lakefront in Grand Haven is terrible. This outdated culinary mastodon called the Bil-Mar is no exception. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun. What I got was sloppy mess of wet underseasoned pork on a yellow-colored circle of bread fresh off the Sysco truck. I could forgive the hockey 1950's décor if the food were up to scratch. But it isn't. It tastes like they're not even trying because they know the view will bring tourists in the door. Only other positive point aside from the lake? The selection of Michigan craft beers is quite good.
(2)Joan R.
I'm really surprised at some of the poor reviews. We've been going there for years and always enjoyed the dining experience. It's like going back in time to the 50s and 60s. Great drinks and good meat, fish. The view is spectacular. The outside eating experience is very different: drinks and bar-type food. It's definitely about the view and watching the sunset.
(5)Mike H.
Unfortunately I was not impressed. As everyone says, beautiful view of Lake Michigan, and some friendly staff... and that puts a cap on the positives. We sat in the bar, the decor was definitely not updated since the early 80's, and tacky at best. We were a little slow to get service, but the bartender apologized for not seeing us and was very polite and prompt afterward, not a problem. The worst part was the loud, intoxicated table in the center who turned out to be the owner and his party. They completely embarrassed themselves acting like it was their own little stuck up hang out. One of the women, extremely intoxicated, went behind the bar to play around making drinks for her table and people seated at the bar, and then followed it up by being rude to a member of the kitchen staff. The whole scene was just a joke. The dining room looked so outdated it was silly, and the servers seemed to have on some sort of pirate shirt which just fit the whole package. Good luck Bil-Mar, you need it!
(1)Meghan C.
I went there last night with my family. It was disgusting! We ordered the oysters Rockefeller which smelled awful. My aunt's roll for her burger was hard as a rock. They couldn't even make a decent salad. Quite possibly one of the worst meals we have ever had, and we are world travelers. I agree with earlier posts, the view is nice, I agree to skip the food and have a drink on the patio.
(1)Doug C.
We went to the Bil-Mar last weekend with family while on vacation. Let me just say that the view from the dining room is spectacular. One of the most breathtaking scenes I have dined by ever. Sunset on Lake Michigan was absolutely spectacular. And there ends the good things I have to say about the Bil-Mar. First, the dining room is shod with mirrors on the ceiling, which give you two views of the 30-year old smoking air purification systems still hanging. There is a definite feeling of eating in your grandmother's basement going on. The host asked if we needed a high-chair for our 18-month old daughter who was with us, and we said yes. They brought out a stamped steel child seat that pre-dated me, and had probably seated someone who now has an AARP membership at some point. Seriously, the wooden chairs in McDonalds are less terrifying. After my daughter slid out the bottom for the second time and almost tipped it over, we got rid of it, and I held her for the rest of the evening. The servers were all well past retirement age, and probably should have considered it a few years ago. They were nice enough, but didn't seem real interested in participating in our dining experience. While they have a bar in the restaurant, they do not have any beer on tap, so don't bother asking. "Just bottles and cans," the waitress said. Classy joint. The food came in a reasonable time. The servers gave everyone at the table the wrong salads, so we had to play a bit of musical salads. They seemed confused after we did that, as if we all changed what we wanted. The food was BLAND, right down to the salad dressing. No flavor--as if the taste had been previously been sucked out. The comment I overheard from my wife was, "old folk's food." When you have to salt & pepper a house salad with ranch dressing, something is missing. I ordered a stuffed chicken entrée for dinner, and it was overcooked on a bed of greasy, undercooked rice. Then slathered in some thick, creamy sauce that once again had no flavor. There wasn't anything worth finishing through the entire meal. The worst part of it, was that EVERYTHING on the menu was really expensive. We were dining on the father-in-law's tab, and we both felt guilty to have ordered anything at this restaurant. This restaurant has a location to end all locations, and has some massive potential to to great things with it. Unfortunately, that means firing the cooks and the wait staff, scraping the entire menu, then gutting the whole place for a complete face-lift inside and out. There is no charm in a dirty, old, musty restaurant that serves bad, tasteless, overpriced food while overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan. I'm shocked they are still in business, but then again, the retired folks who patronize this place must be loyal to a fault. Let's just say that I feel cheated out of a free dinner.
(1)Kathleen K.
Ate here last night with a group of people. We had stopped in during lunch time to check it out, and it looked good. The view is almost unbeatable, but the decor is a little dated, which I guess is kind of expected in a beach/lake town. Our waitress was pretty good, and friendly enough, but I can't say she was super polished. Our table was crammed in a corner, and you could see right away it was a folding table with a table top on top. I thought this was a little odd since they had taken the white table cloths from lunch off. With all of this in mind, the food was excellent. Our group had an array of items, and I had the seafood platter which was great. My friends steak was overcooked, but since he had the last one, he couldn't send it back, but it didn't stop him from eating it all! I would really say 3.5 stars, but I'll say 4 stars because the lunch menu on the deck looked pretty good too!
(4)Rick H.
We decided to give the Bil-Mar another try after my wife's friend said she had recently had a very good hamburger on their deck (it has been many years since we were last here because of the less-than-average experience we had previously) We arrived around 7:00 on a Friday night and were fortunate in that someone was leaving the packed parking lot just as we arrived. The parking attendant pointed out the spot that was about to open, which was very helpful. Our server was friendly and prompt. I asked about the smoked salmon wrap and she said they actually smoke their own fish right at the restaurant! I've had some very good smoked salmon in West Michigan, so was looking forward to trying this. I ordered the smoked salmon wrap, my wife ordered the cheeseburger and our friends both ordered the fish and chips. Unfortunately the smoked salmon had a mild fishy taste, which I've experience before when restaurants serve less-than-fresh salmon. I ate half at which point my taste buds threw in the towel. My wife's cheeseburger was served on a bun that was just stale enough that it crumbled as she was eating it. Otherwise, she said the flavor was good. Our friends commented that their fish was good, but said it was on the same level as Mrs. Paul's frozen fish. The fries came out cold, but the server was prompt in replacing them with hot fries. They have a nice selection of bottled craft beers from around West Michigan and their mixed drinks were tasty and reasonably priced. The sunset was great. It's really too back the food is so lackluster.
(2)F D.
Raw chicken. Horrible service. High waiter. End of story.
(1)Josh P.
My wife ordered the $31 crab legs, it looked like there were maybe 3 on the plate. I had a stuffed chicken breast. It was good, but not $18 good. The dinning room smelled musty, there were stains on the chairs, and while our waitress was friendly the other wait staff seemed upset about something and walked around brooding most of the night. The view is excellent. The dinning I'm afraid, is not.
(2)Tommy P.
Hello 1920, thanks for the visit, time to go.
(1)Mary F.
I love the Bil-Mar!!! Its one of my most favorite places in Grand HAven. Granted its the closest bar we can walk to from our Cottage. I spend about ever day there when Im there. Great margaritas, and good prices on the food and drinks!!! And the view is outstanding! You can always meet nice people there!!!
(4)Michael S.
Visited in august. Met the owner. Or was informed that this was the owner by locals afterward. Biggest jerk I have ever met. Very rude. Walked through front door and was yelled at by owner "can't you read?!" We had missed the small piece of paper taped to door that said "private party". Will food was fair at best and over priced. At least the waiter was nice. View was beautiful. Would not eat here again.
(1)Jim P.
The location is great. That said, the restaurant seems to be in a downward spiral. The menu prices seem to be the only thing that has been updated over the past 20 years. The decor is dated and dirty. The problem with a restaurant that is sliding is that the food isn't fresh. For example, I ordered a bottle of beer from a local microbrewery. It arrived with a thick layer of mold growing around the neck. Another person in our party ordered a glass of Pinot Gris. The waitress came out with a half glass and said that was all they had in the house and she could let us have it for 3 bucks. Very strange. Prime rib was actually pretty good but the baked potato "with the works" had obviously been made well in advance and reheated. Yuck. When we asked the waitress her recommendation between the Whitefish and Walleye, she said 'it depends on how much fishy flavor you can stand'. We ordered the whitefish. It wasn't good. Again, not fresh and camouflaged under a glop of cheesy topping. Oh well. For drinks out on the deck the Bil-Mar is fine. I wouldn't recommend eating in the dining room.
(2)Matt G.
Bil-Mar was an interesting place. On one hand, the view is great; the windows are right on the Grand Haven beach, providing an excellent view of the lake. On the other hand, the interior and food are not so perfect. The interior seems out of date, and, while it may have been fine many years ago, it seems like something out of a bygone age. There's a lot of wood, with something of a nautical theme, accompanied by plenty of mirrors. This is coupled with staff and prices that seem too upper-end for the food and building. The food is fairly normal seafood and steak; nothing terribly modern is offered, and the quality is about as good as what you'd find elsewhere. I had a seafood sampler, which consisted mostly of fried shellfish, frogs legs, and crab cakes. It wasn't bad by any means, but I don't think it justified the high price. I'd really like to say better things about Bil-Mar, since I had heard great stories about the place from at least three decades back, but it seems like it has been left behind in time. I don't think the view can be beat, but the food certainly can. This might be a good place to eat at to mostly enjoy the view, provided you don't mind the cost.
(2)rachel c.
This is a great restaurant for special occasions. I recently went there for an anniversary dinner. It was quiet and intimate. The food was great and service was very friendly. It is right on Lake Michigan and very beautiful at sunset. I would recommend making a reservation. The Host or Manager was very friendly and profesional. We definitely will be back and thought of making it an annual anniversary trip. Most dinners are around $20. If you haven't been there you must try it!
(5)Ashley E.
Lets just say I'm not a fan. While the view is incredible the food is not. I got duck with cherry sauce and it almost ruined duck for me forever. I've also heard rumors that the kitchen is less than 100% when it comes to cleanliness. Go for a drink on the patio, skip the food.
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