Buddy's has been a one of my favorite places to go for many years. Whether you're looking for a drink, dinner with friends, or looking for a place to watch the game. The food is always good, the specials keep things interesting, and best of all is the staff... they're always friendly and attentive. My favorite entrees include: fajitas, nachos, any burger, tacos, chicken breast dinner, all the pizzas, and dinner salads. I recommend the following appetizers: hog wings, Mexican dip, artichoke dip, and especially the Monday night chicken wings (best in town). Drink specials are are great, especially the Bloody Mary's on Sunday's. Buddy's is a great local pub.
(5)
Michael C.
There's nothing really exceptional about this place, except they have good nachos served just right in enormous quantities. As best I can recall, that's all I've ever actually eaten here. So I can't speak to anything else, but this at least kept it in the rotation when I lived in Michigan. And even earned it a return trip if I'm passing through.
(4)
Amy G.
Great service and great food. Our waitress ,Brit, was fantastic. The kids menu has many options and the kids get a scoop of ice cream. I love the nachos. All around great experience.
(5)
daphne r.
Stick with fatty bar food here. This place went back off my list after being put back on due to a really good blackened salmon salad. Off again because today's: 1) salmon wasn't blackened 2) it was well done when I ordered med rare to rare 3) much of the greens had spots that looked wet? Icky- looking. 4) ingredients listed in the menu were missing. I left most of my $11 salad.
(2)
Tim G.
Nice bar/restaurant. We have always liked the food from the menu here and the nachos are HUGE! The afternoon pizza buffet is not the same quality as the food ordered from the menu though and I would not have it again. They have good burgers, steaks, chicken and Mexican food. They have some very long booths! The service is sometimes great, other times a bit on the slow side. There is also a bar side and they have or at least used to have live music some nights.
(4)
Tracy R.
Eaten here for years....my last meal sucked! Husbands burger was supposed to be Ned well it was RAW and my wet burrito was NOTHING like it used to be! I am very disappointed as this was one of my favorite places to eat. Won't be back.
(1)
Lori M.
The bourbon salmon is my favorite! Especially with sweet potato and broccoli. they will fix anything the way you want!! The soups and dressings are home made. Definitely my favorite!
(5)
Richard H.
Decent basic bar... Pretty good bar grub and well made drinks. Decor was pretty generic and service was pleasant.
(3)
Joshua P.
Pretty good selection of craft brews and decent bar food. Service was awful, we were there for a Lions playoff game but the place wasn't too full and she didn't seem too busy, just uninterested in helping us have a good experience. Craft beers were supposedly $1 off but after my first beer she didn't ask whether I wanted a pint or a mug (22 oz), just brought the mug every time. She also offered no guidance on pricing, so I ordered one of my favorite beers not knowing I would be charged $8 for it. I usually drink craft beers so it wasn't that big of a deal just surprising that she would allow me to order a beer that was $3 more than everything else on the menu without telling me that. I might go back but definitely prefer other places in the area and definitely don't order craft beers that you can get for half the price across the street (Old Chicago).
(2)
Peggy B.
I enjoy going to Buddies, except when they have trivia night! They reserve tables for people so no one else can eat in the bar. Bad move Buddies , you had all of those empty tables and we were not allowed to sit down. The waitress was so rude we left and went somewhere else.
(1)
Solnichka F.
Gross and cheap: the only two words to describe this place. The tables and chairs are like something you'd see folded up in the corner of your grandparents' garage. No ventilation that works, which sucks because everyone smokes here. If you don't smoke, you're gagging on other people's fumes. The food is non-descript, which means it isn't bad -- but I have no idea what I ordered, because the waitress brought me the wrong meal. They do have Buzztime trivia, though, if you're in to that.
(2)
Jessica H.
Buddies gets four stars for one main reason: Nachos. Some of the best ever. Being honest, they sometimes are off, not sure if a new cook was on the premises, but worth the gamble. The new updates have helped a lot. Looking forward to the no smoking law passing, because smoking is popular here.
(4)
Bruce S.
a pub in a stripmall? yeah, the concept confuses me too. especially since there is not too much left in this particular strip (which also means there is plenty of free parking for you, haha). not expecting much, we walked into Buddy's (near corner of Grand River & Marsh). they had part grill on one side and pub on the other, seperated by a wall. the bar is in the back, which is a little weird. it also seems like they've got half the bar (and its supplies) in a closet. WTF?! it seems like their target market is to be a neighborhood place to stop for a quick drink on your way home, and nothing much else. they actually had a good selection of food on their menu. we had salads to go, but had to wait at the bar while they were made. average place, average rating, 3 stars it is.
(3)
Gloria C.
Yikes. This is the type of place you go for beer and beer only. And maybe some fried bar snacks. And only if you're really reallyyyyy hungry. The dark carpet and wood accents give off an old-school hotel restaurant vibe, and the food is about on par with what you might receive through Holiday Inn room service. Sorry to bring you into this, Holiday Inn. I love simple fried things smothered in cheese just as much as the next American, but my roast beef wrap with queso was borderline inedible. The beef had zero flavor whatsoever (save for the mounds of Velveeta it was paired with) and was terribly chewy. The baked potato soup I ordered was a-okay, although needed some spicing up and could've easily come from a can. Oy. The waffle fries were good though - perfectly crisp, substantial little salty guys that saved me from crying into my plate. Oh, and service was friendly and speedy.
(2)
Jim F.
Sorry to say that last night I had a very bad meal at Buddies. I ordered the chicken breast dinner with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetable. The potatoes were stone cold. Evident they had just been taken out of the refrigerator and plopped on the plate with no attempt at warming and the grilled vegetables were swimming in grease. I left most of the dinner on the plate. What a disappointment! To be fair, the manager did take 50% off the meal but that did not quite make up for the lack of quality in the food.
(2)
Brandon S.
This place usually has decent bar food. On this trip I ordered the mini beef nachos. I have ordered them in the past and had been happy with them. This time i was disappointed. There was not near enough cheese and beef distributed through out the nachos. Our server appeared to be upset about working or just did not like us. A live band was performing. They were awful. Normally i prefer the juke box, but that is bad here as well. It has a horrible selectioin of music, and it all appears to have come from the Disney channel.
(2)
Maureen M.
Great menu, lots to choose from. We had a party of 15 and they had a really cool booth that fit us all and you could still talk to everyone. Only one waitress for us all...understandable little slow service. But overall experience very good and recommended! Chicken veggie pita with a side of sour cream!! Sooo good!
(4)
Rachel L.
I live pretty close to Buddy's and go fairly often. The food is always good, the staff friendly and the bill is never a shocker. The decor is nothing to write home about but if you're looking for a good, filling meal that won't break your bank this is the place to go.
(4)
Ruben L.
I'm an East Lansing native, and I love to ask people not from the area where they like to eat in my surrounding area. My former boss (originally from St. Johns) told me his favorite place to go was Buddies Pub and Grill. Oddly enough, in my 20 some years in East Lansing, I had never been there, so I figured I'd go check it out. Buddies Pub and Grill is pretty much what you would expect- a pub and grill. I was actually surprised that their menu was as large as it is. Typically you see most pub and grills with a rather limited number of menu items. This place seemed less pub and more grill. The server we had was pretty nice, and made a few recommendations for us. When we got our food, I was happy to see that the portions were pretty generous. However, with mediocre food, whether you get a lot or a little, it's still mediocre food. I tried the meatloaf and was underwhelmed. I went back with a co-worker on a different occassion and found myself asking why did I agree to comeback. I guess the morale of the story is don't let recommendations get you too hyped up. This place was probably a 3 star, but lost a star when it failed to meet expectations, which still means its average at best.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : DJ, Live, Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
John G.
Buddy's has been a one of my favorite places to go for many years. Whether you're looking for a drink, dinner with friends, or looking for a place to watch the game. The food is always good, the specials keep things interesting, and best of all is the staff... they're always friendly and attentive. My favorite entrees include: fajitas, nachos, any burger, tacos, chicken breast dinner, all the pizzas, and dinner salads. I recommend the following appetizers: hog wings, Mexican dip, artichoke dip, and especially the Monday night chicken wings (best in town). Drink specials are are great, especially the Bloody Mary's on Sunday's. Buddy's is a great local pub.
(5)Michael C.
There's nothing really exceptional about this place, except they have good nachos served just right in enormous quantities. As best I can recall, that's all I've ever actually eaten here. So I can't speak to anything else, but this at least kept it in the rotation when I lived in Michigan. And even earned it a return trip if I'm passing through.
(4)Amy G.
Great service and great food. Our waitress ,Brit, was fantastic. The kids menu has many options and the kids get a scoop of ice cream. I love the nachos. All around great experience.
(5)daphne r.
Stick with fatty bar food here. This place went back off my list after being put back on due to a really good blackened salmon salad. Off again because today's: 1) salmon wasn't blackened 2) it was well done when I ordered med rare to rare 3) much of the greens had spots that looked wet? Icky- looking. 4) ingredients listed in the menu were missing. I left most of my $11 salad.
(2)Tim G.
Nice bar/restaurant. We have always liked the food from the menu here and the nachos are HUGE! The afternoon pizza buffet is not the same quality as the food ordered from the menu though and I would not have it again. They have good burgers, steaks, chicken and Mexican food. They have some very long booths! The service is sometimes great, other times a bit on the slow side. There is also a bar side and they have or at least used to have live music some nights.
(4)Tracy R.
Eaten here for years....my last meal sucked! Husbands burger was supposed to be Ned well it was RAW and my wet burrito was NOTHING like it used to be! I am very disappointed as this was one of my favorite places to eat. Won't be back.
(1)Lori M.
The bourbon salmon is my favorite! Especially with sweet potato and broccoli. they will fix anything the way you want!! The soups and dressings are home made. Definitely my favorite!
(5)Richard H.
Decent basic bar... Pretty good bar grub and well made drinks. Decor was pretty generic and service was pleasant.
(3)Joshua P.
Pretty good selection of craft brews and decent bar food. Service was awful, we were there for a Lions playoff game but the place wasn't too full and she didn't seem too busy, just uninterested in helping us have a good experience. Craft beers were supposedly $1 off but after my first beer she didn't ask whether I wanted a pint or a mug (22 oz), just brought the mug every time. She also offered no guidance on pricing, so I ordered one of my favorite beers not knowing I would be charged $8 for it. I usually drink craft beers so it wasn't that big of a deal just surprising that she would allow me to order a beer that was $3 more than everything else on the menu without telling me that. I might go back but definitely prefer other places in the area and definitely don't order craft beers that you can get for half the price across the street (Old Chicago).
(2)Peggy B.
I enjoy going to Buddies, except when they have trivia night! They reserve tables for people so no one else can eat in the bar. Bad move Buddies , you had all of those empty tables and we were not allowed to sit down. The waitress was so rude we left and went somewhere else.
(1)Solnichka F.
Gross and cheap: the only two words to describe this place. The tables and chairs are like something you'd see folded up in the corner of your grandparents' garage. No ventilation that works, which sucks because everyone smokes here. If you don't smoke, you're gagging on other people's fumes. The food is non-descript, which means it isn't bad -- but I have no idea what I ordered, because the waitress brought me the wrong meal. They do have Buzztime trivia, though, if you're in to that.
(2)Jessica H.
Buddies gets four stars for one main reason: Nachos. Some of the best ever. Being honest, they sometimes are off, not sure if a new cook was on the premises, but worth the gamble. The new updates have helped a lot. Looking forward to the no smoking law passing, because smoking is popular here.
(4)Bruce S.
a pub in a stripmall? yeah, the concept confuses me too. especially since there is not too much left in this particular strip (which also means there is plenty of free parking for you, haha). not expecting much, we walked into Buddy's (near corner of Grand River & Marsh). they had part grill on one side and pub on the other, seperated by a wall. the bar is in the back, which is a little weird. it also seems like they've got half the bar (and its supplies) in a closet. WTF?! it seems like their target market is to be a neighborhood place to stop for a quick drink on your way home, and nothing much else. they actually had a good selection of food on their menu. we had salads to go, but had to wait at the bar while they were made. average place, average rating, 3 stars it is.
(3)Gloria C.
Yikes. This is the type of place you go for beer and beer only. And maybe some fried bar snacks. And only if you're really reallyyyyy hungry. The dark carpet and wood accents give off an old-school hotel restaurant vibe, and the food is about on par with what you might receive through Holiday Inn room service. Sorry to bring you into this, Holiday Inn. I love simple fried things smothered in cheese just as much as the next American, but my roast beef wrap with queso was borderline inedible. The beef had zero flavor whatsoever (save for the mounds of Velveeta it was paired with) and was terribly chewy. The baked potato soup I ordered was a-okay, although needed some spicing up and could've easily come from a can. Oy. The waffle fries were good though - perfectly crisp, substantial little salty guys that saved me from crying into my plate. Oh, and service was friendly and speedy.
(2)Jim F.
Sorry to say that last night I had a very bad meal at Buddies. I ordered the chicken breast dinner with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetable. The potatoes were stone cold. Evident they had just been taken out of the refrigerator and plopped on the plate with no attempt at warming and the grilled vegetables were swimming in grease. I left most of the dinner on the plate. What a disappointment! To be fair, the manager did take 50% off the meal but that did not quite make up for the lack of quality in the food.
(2)Brandon S.
This place usually has decent bar food. On this trip I ordered the mini beef nachos. I have ordered them in the past and had been happy with them. This time i was disappointed. There was not near enough cheese and beef distributed through out the nachos. Our server appeared to be upset about working or just did not like us. A live band was performing. They were awful. Normally i prefer the juke box, but that is bad here as well. It has a horrible selectioin of music, and it all appears to have come from the Disney channel.
(2)Maureen M.
Great menu, lots to choose from. We had a party of 15 and they had a really cool booth that fit us all and you could still talk to everyone. Only one waitress for us all...understandable little slow service. But overall experience very good and recommended! Chicken veggie pita with a side of sour cream!! Sooo good!
(4)Rachel L.
I live pretty close to Buddy's and go fairly often. The food is always good, the staff friendly and the bill is never a shocker. The decor is nothing to write home about but if you're looking for a good, filling meal that won't break your bank this is the place to go.
(4)Ruben L.
I'm an East Lansing native, and I love to ask people not from the area where they like to eat in my surrounding area. My former boss (originally from St. Johns) told me his favorite place to go was Buddies Pub and Grill. Oddly enough, in my 20 some years in East Lansing, I had never been there, so I figured I'd go check it out. Buddies Pub and Grill is pretty much what you would expect- a pub and grill. I was actually surprised that their menu was as large as it is. Typically you see most pub and grills with a rather limited number of menu items. This place seemed less pub and more grill. The server we had was pretty nice, and made a few recommendations for us. When we got our food, I was happy to see that the portions were pretty generous. However, with mediocre food, whether you get a lot or a little, it's still mediocre food. I tried the meatloaf and was underwhelmed. I went back with a co-worker on a different occassion and found myself asking why did I agree to comeback. I guess the morale of the story is don't let recommendations get you too hyped up. This place was probably a 3 star, but lost a star when it failed to meet expectations, which still means its average at best.
(2)