Hercules Bar & Grill
236 Culver St, Saugatuck, MI, 49453
Hercules Bar & Grill Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Saugatuck for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saugatuck for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saugatuck for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
236 Culver St
Saugatuck, MI, 49453 - Phone (269) 455-5112
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Dawn L.
Service - great. Food - great. Vibe - great. Yep - I'm a fan.
(4)Julie W.
Great food, great service. Place is popular (!), so if you're there during busy times on busy days of busy months (tourist season) yes, they get busy but do their utmost to provide a great dining experience. It's local restaurant with quality food where they strive for excellence; it's not McDonalds. They have a fabulous patio area that's beautifully landscaped for days when weather permits eating outdoors.Highly recommend. Please notice the majority of mediocre or bad reviews are from people from Illinois. And some more specifically from Chicago. I live in this area and am a West Michigan native. People in southern Michigan don't like Illinois tourists, have nicknames for those people that tell just how we feel about them, and if people here see an Illinois license plate or can tell you're from there - and usually we can - you're not apt to get the warmest reception. Why? Too many of us have had the misfortune of encounters with too many of you who are rude, loud, the worst drivers on the planet, and entitled. In your little world in Illinois you may be some big deal. Here, you're not. You're just one more rude, pushy tourist The service here has always been great. One evening we had dinner here, it was very hot out, we'd been out walking in the heat, and suddenly I wasn't feeling well - head spinning, too much heat, etc. We asked the waitress for our check and she was even so thoughtful to drop off a couple pieces of peppermint gum she got out of her own pack of gum for me, saying the peppermint might help me feel better - how sweet is that??? Richard has been our waiter several times. Yes, he's muscular and tall, and will ask patrons their names after he introduces himself by name. This is meant to provide good service by addressing patrons by name as opposed to "Sir" or "Ma'am." It's known in Michigan as being personable. We like charm here. And friendly people. For those who came in ordering ice water and asking to split one entree after surely showing displeasure - be it through body language, facial expression, or something you said - because he offered you a bottle of wine or introduced himself and asked your names in turn, he may have thought you were too unpleasant to deal with - and he's a very popular, professional waiter who is one of the few in a position to not have to put up with people acting that way in a restaurant where he is well liked and a successful part of the business. You might want to ask yourself if your behavior had any part in what you received back from him. My guess is it did. And if you ordered ice water and one entree for two, you may have seemed annoyingly cheap. It's a restaurant, if you're not there to EAT - stop at a snack shop and get a 99-cent bag of chips and drink water from the public water fountain. In Michigan, what you did would be seen as bad behavior. We have consideration for people who make their living owning or serving at restaurants. If you're going to order water, you should at least order food (2 people, 2 dishes). If you're going to split an entree, order a Pellegrino or something that adds to the tab. I would have never done what you did, and if I did? I would expect to tick off my server and probably have my service reflect that. Servers make most of their money in tips, and are often tipped on percentage of the total tab. Your $10 tab at one of his tables probably resulted in a $1-$1.50 tip (if you do tip, that is) when every other table at dinner probably ran up a $30-100 tab for which he'd get a $5-$15 tip. From a Michigander's perspective, you were wasting his time -and talent. For those people who got the manager and griped over the way the fish was prepared, your waiter made a mistake, apologized, explained it was his first day. Have you never been on a first day at a new job? You probably really embarrassed him and left him feeling his job was in jeopardy because of you making a point to get his boss and b*tch about him. I'm not surprised at all the manager pointed to a place down the street. That wasn't a social faux pas. That was likely a clear message. I chuckled when I read he did that. Remember, by the time he's having to deal with your kvetching, he's already dealt with several dozen other demanding, obnoxious Illinois people over the past many days, weeks, months. It gets old. Could you maybe have handled it differently? Been kind to the person trying to do a good job on his first day at a new job? That might have turned your night around. That's how Michigan people handle it - a little kindness and understanding go a long way here. Without it, well... you're likely to be sent down the street to another establishment, and in such a case, it's likely to be a place known for it's poor quality food and service because you're being shown a lesson.
(5)Barbara S.
We made reservations for our anniversary based on recommendations. We were seated byt the front door and it is extremely loud and disruptive as people walked in the door and were greeted by the manager. There was a large table on the other side of the door and they were having fun but they were loud. It took several minutes for the waiter to take drink orders. It took many more minutes to get the drinks. The waiter did not return for an extended period of time and was not in the least attentive. The service was terrible; my entree was very fishy and not edible; others in the party enjoyed theirs. It was over an hour from the time we ordered to the food being served. My husband asked the manager what was wrong with our order since it had been so long from the time we ordered. When the manager served the food he said that the pork chop takes a long time. That could have been mentioned when we ordered. When the waiter picked up my uneaten plate he did not ask what was wrong - just asked if we were done. We were there for over two hours and spent a good amount of money for poor service and for me, no dinner. Not one apology. Not ever going back. I have never written a negative review but with a bill approaching $300 this is simply wrong.
(1)Jessica H.
Great place with delicious food and excellent service; we dined in a large group and the server was so fun and personable while also not minding splitting our checks - - which I know is a pain. The Kobe burger was EXCELLENT as is their saganaki. The lemon chicken is also very good - - no one in our group had anything but excellent comments re: the food and, again, you would be hard pressed to find better service.
(4)Shayna L.
This review is not really about the food, but about the service. I asked our server how the house special, the haddock, was prepared. He replied char-grilled & I said perfect. The haddock came & wasn't remotely grilled, was over-cooked & had a strong, pesto sauce on it. I told him that he had incorrectly described the dish & I would prefer something else. He apologized profusely & said it was his first week there. We also suspected he had never been a server before, too. In any case, I replied no problem & ordered something else. My husband had been served his food & of course, proceeded to eat while it was warm. 35 minutes later, I still did not have my dinner & by this time, my husband was long done with his. Our server had not returned, even 1 x, not even to refill coffee. We decided to just leave. My husband went to the manager & explained the situation. The manager said, while he was sorry, the kitchen was busy with a party of 14. I mentioned that usually, a re-order gets pushed ahead, in order for the party to eat somewhat together. No response except another apology. I even told him that I would still have to seek dinner elsewhere AND he pointed to another restaurant down the street!!?? I gave him every opportunity to at least offer to get me something that would be fast, like an appetizer or 'something'. We still cannot believe he told us to go somewhere else. To top it all off, he only took my unreceived dinner off the bill & didn't even offer to take our appetizer or beverages off, as a courtesy. Having been in food service for 27 years, I can assure one & all, that this is not how you treat unhappy customers under any circumstances, especially when it's not through any fault of their own.
(2)Michael C.
Food and ambience--4 stars. Service--0 stars. Averages out to 2 stars. Our first night in Saugatuck, our host recommended Hercules. The owner/manager was very pleasant, but our waiter, Richard was just weird. The first thing he asked (in a very aggressive way) was "a bottle of wine?" And when we said that we just wanted a glass each, he looked disappointed. It go weirder after that--he asked our names and was very pushy about saying the names repeatedly. He's also a very big, muscular guy, and he stood uncomfortably close and stared at us in an overly familiar way. What was most distressing was that we decided that we weren't that hungry, and asked to split an entree. After that, Richard disappeared--he was clearly disappointed that we weren't going to order more and felt that we weren't worth the bother. The manager brought our food, and we didn't see Richard again until he brought the check. Then, he disappeared again. One of the waitresses picked up the credit card and brought us back the receipt to sign. It was very disturbing and off-putting. The food was good, but the evening was very unpleasant.
(2)Mike D.
We just had dinner at Hercules cafe. Richard is the best server I have had in years. I'm a seasoned restaurant professional and highly recommend this establishment for anybody who wants good authentic Greek food served with a tremendous amount of style and cachet
(5)Susan G.
Ask To Sit in the Garden This restaurant is a lovely place for lunch whatever time of the year you visit, but in nice weather it has a lovely garden in back with about 10 tables. The landscaping is beautiful, the area is quiet, and the food is very good. My husband and I just had lunch here recently and this continues to be one of our favorite spots in Saugatuck because the food is always good quality and the servers are friendly and attentive. We had saganaki to start and then each had a gyros sandwich. I had a glass of rose and my husband had a beer and with tax and tip it came to about $25 each.
(4)Julia J.
I really liked the garden area in the back of the restaurant. All the servers were very friendly, but the actual service was a bit off. It felt like they kept forgetting our table! (Maybe it was because we were outside?) At any rate, the food was good but on the heavy side. My husband ordered the artichoke chicken with the sauce on the side. The chicken looked like it was slightly breaded and pan-fried but that wasn't mentioned in the menu. Gluten-free freaks beware. I ordered a greek salad. My only complaint was there wasn't a good house dressing. When you go out to eat, who wants plain old oil and vinegar? But, the ingredients on my salad were fresh. Next time we visit, we will sit inside and see if that makes a difference on our drinks and table being cleared.
(3)Lisa S.
Fabulous place with great food and I overheard a nice couple say that they've been here several times and always enjoy the food.
(5)Chuck G.
Great food good service!! Bartender/owner a bit cranky! Richard is awesome! You need to try his famous Crab Cakes!
(4)Michelle T.
One of my favorite places to dine in the area. The food is simply amazing.
(5)Peter B.
Went for the 3rd time this past weekend, and have yet to be disappointed. The food is fantastic, and the service is the best in town. If you love a good steak you will love this place especially, but the menu is varied so there is plenty to offer for every taste. They have real servers taking care of you, not teenagers who can't wait to get off work - a real plus in Saugatuck. They also take reservations - one of the few places in town that does. A bit pricey for an everyday dinner out, but for those special occasions - this is the place to go.
(5)Shelley G.
Nice atmosphere and very friendly service. They did not rush is for a single second. We (four women) spent over two hours there and enjoyed every minute thanks to our hilarious server, George. The saganaki, Greek salad and gazpacho were all wonderful. The grouper special was salty, but decent. The Roasted duck was overdone, which was a disappointing bc it had very good flavor. I would return and try something else.
(4)Nancy K.
Love the new addition of saginaki on the menu. Hercules and their staff never disappoint us. Had steaks today they were cooked perfectly service was superb
(5)Aimee H.
I love Greek food! Yet another stop on our tour-de-Michigan, The Hercules didn't let us down. We stopped in for a quick drink and appetizer and we ended up staying for an hour. The staff is very nice and friendly, all the guests seemed to k now each other, its a small town so I guess that makes sense. We got this appetizer sampler thing, and it was soooo good! You have o try it! It has Greek cheese, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, peppers, pita, and all kinds of goodies. We all fought over each bite. The ambience is great, simple but elegant, and a nice coat rack up front. Again, another awesome looking patio, that I would have loved to sit on, had it not been sub zero temps outside. I for sure recommend Hercules for anything you are looking for.
(4)Rob R.
Good food and great service. The waitstaff is wonderful. You can tell they enjoy working there and enjoy each other. As for the food, Get the walleye it is delicious. I had the lemon chicken which was really good but the walleye is better. Also try the crab cakes for an appetizer. My only issue was they ran out on Lienenkugles Summer Shandy that night. But can't wait to go back.
(5)George B.
This has become the best restaurant in Saugatuck. The potato encrusted walleye and the lemon chicken are to die for. The service is excellent and the garden setting is perfect. Unlike its nearest competitor food-wise in Douglas, they take reservations so there's no logjam of people at the bar waiting for a table. As a martini lover, I only wish they carried Hendricks gin, my only quibble.
(5)Matthew S.
Had a great experience there with Richard (our waiter) who remembered all of our names throughout the evening. The ribeye special was done perfectly. While the wine list was short, it had some good options on it. The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere and was well decorated.
(5)Linda S.
Food was very good. Portions were very generous. The service was excellent. The garden was beautiful. Highly recommend.
(4)Wayne P.
Richard was the most knowledgeable and friendly waiter we have ever had! Food and atmosphere were great! Our friend is a local and recomended Hercules and we were not disappointed!
(5)David P.
We wanted lake fish and we were not disappointed. The walleye and Perch were fresh, flavorful and flakey. Add to that a Greek salad, sweet potatoes and some wine and we were quite pleased. Dining in their outdoor garden room on a beautiful summer evening completed this evening as a winner.
(4)Dale S.
Very disappointing experience at this restaurant. In a word. . . Chaos. We ordered and waited forever for salads, and then even longer for entrees. Waitress was unattentive and our glasses were empty most of the time. At one point, we heard the bartender (John, who also seems to be the owner) ask a waiter what's going on, no one has food. Yet, he never approached tables with any acknowledgment or apology. As we were sitting near the bar, we got to witness an evening of his interaction with staff. He had a surly personality and it was almost like the staff were hesitant to communicate with him, even when asking for drinks to be prepared for their tables (remember, he was bartender). At one point, we heard him tell a patron "I've had it with this place." As we walked out, our unattentive waitress and John were standing near the exit and we heard her say "they arent happy either.". I understand this place is under new ownership. Definitely not the place we experienced when there a year ago and I'll be shocked if it remains in business with this poor leadership. On a positive note, the place was clen and the facility is quite beautiful. One of our two dishes (chicken) was good, but the salmon was lack luster at best. We won't be back.
(2)Dan B.
This is a review I don't often get to write. My partner and I had the pleasure of dining at Hercules during a busy summer weekend in Saugatuck. The restaurant is a renovated turn-of-the-century house that has many warm details that the owner has surely taken great pride in transforming. We were seated outside, in what was a beautifully cared-for garden complete with amazing surroundings, ambience and artful sculptures. The weather was a clear beautiful summer evening while the uplit lighting in the garden added even more charm to the experience. It was an unexpected wonderfully romantic evening dinner. We began dinner with a delicious Chilean red wine that was both a nice lushness, medium body and terrific finish. Our appetizers, was the Quinoa Tibbouleh which was both fresh and tastey, and had gazpacho soup which was probably the best I've had in years. For dinner entrees, we both ordered steaks and like them medium rare. Unusual for many restaurants, the steaks were cooked perfectly with a crispiness on the outside but perfectly cooked medium rare inside; the quality was obvious and it was melt in your mouth tender tasty. We come from big city Chicago where there are many nice places, but Hercules easily rivals some of the best. The service was impeccable and our dinner was memorable. It was the highlight of our trip and summer. Dan Berger
(5)Karen M.
I took my husband to Hercules for his birthday. We had reservations for 6 30 pm. We were seated on time. Our table was right by the window, it was nice. We ordered a soup and a salad to start, then my husband ordered fish and I ordered lamb chops. It took 30 min. for the soup and salad to arrive ... 30 minutes!!!! Then when we were done with those, it took about 40 min to get our entrees ... Service is very slow ... granted they are busy but 30 minutes for soup and salad is too much. Food was Amazing, really fantastic BUT the wait was too long. We will not be coming back.
(3)Donald Z.
Our favorite in saugatuck for a nice meal. Richard is our favorite waiter and always makes us feel at home! Just wish they were open for early dining in the winter!
(5)Colette H.
My husband and I are vegans and we WERE fans of Hercules. Last year, they offered a Veggie Burger and we liked it. We returned to Saugatuck this past weekend and called to make sure they still offered Veggie Burgers. Unfortunately, the answer was NO. They decided to offer Portabello Burgers instead. Portabello Burgers are OK but (1) husband doesn't like them and (2) they don't stick to your ribs like Veggie Burgers. So, bottom line, we won't return to Hercules by ourselves or with friends until the Veggie Burger is back on the menu. I understand that restaurants need to limit their menus, but vegans are a growing population and it would be nice if restaurants offered us more than salads, portabello burgers, and maybe potatoes, rice, or pasta and veggies. A few other restaurants in Saugatuck do offer great veggie burgers -- Monroe's, Mermaid, and Wicks Park Bar & Grill that I checked so far.
(2)Doug M.
The biggest drawback to this restaurant is it's poor wine list. The ambiance is nice, the food decent. But the wine selection is minimal and the choices very poor
(3)Steven L.
Do not miss out on Hercules. Great food, outstanding staff and one of the best restaurants in town. Owners Skip and Johny do a great job and put their heart and sole into their business. When open for lunch, try their home made chicken salad. Chicago quality steaks and great cocktails too!
(5)Steven M.
This is a great little place for a quick bite. I had the chicken wrap with chips. Very good and lots of meat. The servers were on top of each other trying to take care of us. That is a first. The place was spotless as was the experience.
(5)Dawn L.
Service - great. Food - great. Vibe - great. Yep - I'm a fan.
(4)Kees v.
We just happened to come across Hercules Hot Dogs when visting the town of Saugatuck, MI this past summer. As with most resort towns there are many eating options however it just so happened that the owner was outside when we were looking at the menu on the front window and he convinced us to come in. To be totally honest the name of the place threw us off a bit since we were not intested in a hot dog however the menu was well rounded, I had a gyro and it was excellent.. As a bonus we were able to sit outside and there was no one smoking which made this dinner very enjoyable.
(4)D F.
In Saugatuck, Hercules has become our favorite restaurant. Wonderful food, competent service (but remember, many are young folks working for their summers, so don't get huffy if they miss a beat here or there!) This summer, they've had Rainbow Trout featured a number of times and it is just terrific. Ambiance is pleasant, not too noisy. If you haven't been here since the place was in its earlier incarnation*, you MUST go now. White table cloths, restful, relaxed surroundings (try the garden out back in good weather), and terrific food. At the very top of my list! (* If you read the old reviews that include "hot dogs," that's what I'm referring to. No more hotdogs, thank goodness!!)
(5)RFBK K.
There were four in our party and three of us got the perch. We each got 6 pieces of fish and we each left four on our plates. The fish was overlooked and was tasteless. Our boiled new potatoes had nothing on them and were hard and dry. Our salad was very good and so was the soup. Our waitress was friendly but did not comment on all of the fish we had left on our plate. When we arrived at 7:15 on a Sunday evening for our reservation we were told they were closed. Once we said we had a reservation, we were seated. I think we must have been the last customers of the night and everyone wanted to go home. We would not return.
(1)Ryan B.
Excellent service, excellent food! My wife and I ate here for our anniversary dinner. She had the lemon artichoke chicken, which she loved. I had the Salmon Plaka which was amazing. We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Kt F.
Just awful service and food! Went we with a party of seven and the food took forever. When it did finally arrive, it was cold, greasy and bland. We asked to speak to the manger/owner who did not seem to care and made us feel like all the money and time we spent in this miserable place was for nothing. Go to another restaurant in this cute town, you will be glad you did!!!
(1)Tracey M.
Went there with a large group of folks for dinner. Despite the large numbers, I think the service was good. The food was good as well. There were a handful of us that wanted an item that was only on their lunch menu and they were kind enough to accommodate our request which was very nice of them! Will definitely have to try it again the next time I'm in Saugatuck!
(4)Rakesh M.
Solid grill, great for kijds, garden is nice in summer. Ask for the tatoos for the little ones.
(4)David R.
The food was good, but the service was awful. We went for dinner with a table of 12 people (but only eight were adults) and the meal took 2 hours. They brought the kids dishes early as we asked but brought the adult food 45 minutes later. Those of you without kids won't understand the ticking time bomb that this creates, but those in the restaurant that evening now understand. That said, the seafood was amazing. Just wish they could figure out how to time the meals in their kitchen.
(3)Yelper Y.
We've been to Hercules Hot Dogs a number of times and have never been disappointed. The quality and preparation of their food is excellent. We love their brats, stadium hot dogs, beef hot dogs, turkey dogs, and breakfast links. An order of fries is generous. Sometimes they have really good soup. They always have the best blueberry pancakes, (literally, Hercules Hot Dogs serves their breakfast items all day). They've applied for a liquor license so hopefully they'll have a selection of quality beer soon too. During the summer Hercules Hot Dogs has a beautiful fenced in garden area out back under the cover of trees that you can eat in. Dogs are welcome in the back patio, (if well-behaved/trained), just enter through the back gate accessable from the parking lot behind the building.
(5)Paul R.
Casual fine dining at its best. This is definitely not a hot dog place, perhaps it was back in 2009. Today it is an incredible restaurant. The back room looking out to the patio is beautiful. The service and food is superb. Our waiter Richard was one of the best severs we have ever had, even with all of the fine dining we have in Chicago. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)James E.
Came here last weekend for a quick bite. Was surprised that they had table servers at a hot dog joint, but it was pretty nice. We sat out front as the hoards of people went by, enjoying the day. We got the Chicago dog and the chicken souvlaki. Both of which looked like they came out of a photoshoot - they looked perfect. And they tasted perfect too! Soooo yummy. Also got a side order of fries to split between the two of us - which was just the perfect size for two people. Great place to go for a quick and easy bite at reasonable prices. The service was good too and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Scott H.
My wife and I love this place for three reasons: Great food, Great Atmosphere, and a dog-friendly, yet elegant patio. We have a small 10lb, well-behaved dog, and we were able to bring her with us to Hercules back patio. The service was great (even ice water in a bowl for our dog), the food was very good - we had steak and salmon, and the cocktails were cool and delicious on a hot summer day. Well done!
(5)James L.
Had dinner there before a concert. The service was friendly. Food was decent, but not special. I had a Greek pasta dish which appeared to be a special of theirs. It was good, but really heavy.
(3)Karen J.
Good service, decent food. My hot dog was tasty, my partner's fish was meh. The bar could use an upgrade in beer quality, too. Still, it was a good place for a quick bite.
(3)Aimee H.
I love Greek food! Yet another stop on our tour-de-Michigan, The Hercules didn't let us down. We stopped in for a quick drink and appetizer and we ended up staying for an hour. The staff is very nice and friendly, all the guests seemed to k now each other, its a small town so I guess that makes sense. We got this appetizer sampler thing, and it was soooo good! You have o try it! It has Greek cheese, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, peppers, pita, and all kinds of goodies. We all fought over each bite. The ambience is great, simple but elegant, and a nice coat rack up front. Again, another awesome looking patio, that I would have loved to sit on, had it not been sub zero temps outside. I for sure recommend Hercules for anything you are looking for.
(4)Rob R.
Good food and great service. The waitstaff is wonderful. You can tell they enjoy working there and enjoy each other. As for the food, Get the walleye it is delicious. I had the lemon chicken which was really good but the walleye is better. Also try the crab cakes for an appetizer. My only issue was they ran out on Lienenkugles Summer Shandy that night. But can't wait to go back.
(5)George B.
This has become the best restaurant in Saugatuck. The potato encrusted walleye and the lemon chicken are to die for. The service is excellent and the garden setting is perfect. Unlike its nearest competitor food-wise in Douglas, they take reservations so there's no logjam of people at the bar waiting for a table. As a martini lover, I only wish they carried Hendricks gin, my only quibble.
(5)Ryan B.
Excellent service, excellent food! My wife and I ate here for our anniversary dinner. She had the lemon artichoke chicken, which she loved. I had the Salmon Plaka which was amazing. We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Kt F.
Just awful service and food! Went we with a party of seven and the food took forever. When it did finally arrive, it was cold, greasy and bland. We asked to speak to the manger/owner who did not seem to care and made us feel like all the money and time we spent in this miserable place was for nothing. Go to another restaurant in this cute town, you will be glad you did!!!
(1)Tracey M.
Went there with a large group of folks for dinner. Despite the large numbers, I think the service was good. The food was good as well. There were a handful of us that wanted an item that was only on their lunch menu and they were kind enough to accommodate our request which was very nice of them! Will definitely have to try it again the next time I'm in Saugatuck!
(4)Rakesh M.
Solid grill, great for kijds, garden is nice in summer. Ask for the tatoos for the little ones.
(4)Matthew S.
Had a great experience there with Richard (our waiter) who remembered all of our names throughout the evening. The ribeye special was done perfectly. While the wine list was short, it had some good options on it. The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere and was well decorated.
(5)Julie W.
Great food, great service. Place is popular (!), so if you're there during busy times on busy days of busy months (tourist season) yes, they get busy but do their utmost to provide a great dining experience. It's local restaurant with quality food where they strive for excellence; it's not McDonalds. They have a fabulous patio area that's beautifully landscaped for days when weather permits eating outdoors.Highly recommend. Please notice the majority of mediocre or bad reviews are from people from Illinois. And some more specifically from Chicago. I live in this area and am a West Michigan native. People in southern Michigan don't like Illinois tourists, have nicknames for those people that tell just how we feel about them, and if people here see an Illinois license plate or can tell you're from there - and usually we can - you're not apt to get the warmest reception. Why? Too many of us have had the misfortune of encounters with too many of you who are rude, loud, the worst drivers on the planet, and entitled. In your little world in Illinois you may be some big deal. Here, you're not. You're just one more rude, pushy tourist The service here has always been great. One evening we had dinner here, it was very hot out, we'd been out walking in the heat, and suddenly I wasn't feeling well - head spinning, too much heat, etc. We asked the waitress for our check and she was even so thoughtful to drop off a couple pieces of peppermint gum she got out of her own pack of gum for me, saying the peppermint might help me feel better - how sweet is that??? Richard has been our waiter several times. Yes, he's muscular and tall, and will ask patrons their names after he introduces himself by name. This is meant to provide good service by addressing patrons by name as opposed to "Sir" or "Ma'am." It's known in Michigan as being personable. We like charm here. And friendly people. For those who came in ordering ice water and asking to split one entree after surely showing displeasure - be it through body language, facial expression, or something you said - because he offered you a bottle of wine or introduced himself and asked your names in turn, he may have thought you were too unpleasant to deal with - and he's a very popular, professional waiter who is one of the few in a position to not have to put up with people acting that way in a restaurant where he is well liked and a successful part of the business. You might want to ask yourself if your behavior had any part in what you received back from him. My guess is it did. And if you ordered ice water and one entree for two, you may have seemed annoyingly cheap. It's a restaurant, if you're not there to EAT - stop at a snack shop and get a 99-cent bag of chips and drink water from the public water fountain. In Michigan, what you did would be seen as bad behavior. We have consideration for people who make their living owning or serving at restaurants. If you're going to order water, you should at least order food (2 people, 2 dishes). If you're going to split an entree, order a Pellegrino or something that adds to the tab. I would have never done what you did, and if I did? I would expect to tick off my server and probably have my service reflect that. Servers make most of their money in tips, and are often tipped on percentage of the total tab. Your $10 tab at one of his tables probably resulted in a $1-$1.50 tip (if you do tip, that is) when every other table at dinner probably ran up a $30-100 tab for which he'd get a $5-$15 tip. From a Michigander's perspective, you were wasting his time -and talent. For those people who got the manager and griped over the way the fish was prepared, your waiter made a mistake, apologized, explained it was his first day. Have you never been on a first day at a new job? You probably really embarrassed him and left him feeling his job was in jeopardy because of you making a point to get his boss and b*tch about him. I'm not surprised at all the manager pointed to a place down the street. That wasn't a social faux pas. That was likely a clear message. I chuckled when I read he did that. Remember, by the time he's having to deal with your kvetching, he's already dealt with several dozen other demanding, obnoxious Illinois people over the past many days, weeks, months. It gets old. Could you maybe have handled it differently? Been kind to the person trying to do a good job on his first day at a new job? That might have turned your night around. That's how Michigan people handle it - a little kindness and understanding go a long way here. Without it, well... you're likely to be sent down the street to another establishment, and in such a case, it's likely to be a place known for it's poor quality food and service because you're being shown a lesson.
(5)Barbara S.
We made reservations for our anniversary based on recommendations. We were seated byt the front door and it is extremely loud and disruptive as people walked in the door and were greeted by the manager. There was a large table on the other side of the door and they were having fun but they were loud. It took several minutes for the waiter to take drink orders. It took many more minutes to get the drinks. The waiter did not return for an extended period of time and was not in the least attentive. The service was terrible; my entree was very fishy and not edible; others in the party enjoyed theirs. It was over an hour from the time we ordered to the food being served. My husband asked the manager what was wrong with our order since it had been so long from the time we ordered. When the manager served the food he said that the pork chop takes a long time. That could have been mentioned when we ordered. When the waiter picked up my uneaten plate he did not ask what was wrong - just asked if we were done. We were there for over two hours and spent a good amount of money for poor service and for me, no dinner. Not one apology. Not ever going back. I have never written a negative review but with a bill approaching $300 this is simply wrong.
(1)Jessica H.
Great place with delicious food and excellent service; we dined in a large group and the server was so fun and personable while also not minding splitting our checks - - which I know is a pain. The Kobe burger was EXCELLENT as is their saganaki. The lemon chicken is also very good - - no one in our group had anything but excellent comments re: the food and, again, you would be hard pressed to find better service.
(4)Susan G.
Ask To Sit in the Garden This restaurant is a lovely place for lunch whatever time of the year you visit, but in nice weather it has a lovely garden in back with about 10 tables. The landscaping is beautiful, the area is quiet, and the food is very good. My husband and I just had lunch here recently and this continues to be one of our favorite spots in Saugatuck because the food is always good quality and the servers are friendly and attentive. We had saganaki to start and then each had a gyros sandwich. I had a glass of rose and my husband had a beer and with tax and tip it came to about $25 each.
(4)Shayna L.
This review is not really about the food, but about the service. I asked our server how the house special, the haddock, was prepared. He replied char-grilled & I said perfect. The haddock came & wasn't remotely grilled, was over-cooked & had a strong, pesto sauce on it. I told him that he had incorrectly described the dish & I would prefer something else. He apologized profusely & said it was his first week there. We also suspected he had never been a server before, too. In any case, I replied no problem & ordered something else. My husband had been served his food & of course, proceeded to eat while it was warm. 35 minutes later, I still did not have my dinner & by this time, my husband was long done with his. Our server had not returned, even 1 x, not even to refill coffee. We decided to just leave. My husband went to the manager & explained the situation. The manager said, while he was sorry, the kitchen was busy with a party of 14. I mentioned that usually, a re-order gets pushed ahead, in order for the party to eat somewhat together. No response except another apology. I even told him that I would still have to seek dinner elsewhere AND he pointed to another restaurant down the street!!?? I gave him every opportunity to at least offer to get me something that would be fast, like an appetizer or 'something'. We still cannot believe he told us to go somewhere else. To top it all off, he only took my unreceived dinner off the bill & didn't even offer to take our appetizer or beverages off, as a courtesy. Having been in food service for 27 years, I can assure one & all, that this is not how you treat unhappy customers under any circumstances, especially when it's not through any fault of their own.
(2)Michael C.
Food and ambience--4 stars. Service--0 stars. Averages out to 2 stars. Our first night in Saugatuck, our host recommended Hercules. The owner/manager was very pleasant, but our waiter, Richard was just weird. The first thing he asked (in a very aggressive way) was "a bottle of wine?" And when we said that we just wanted a glass each, he looked disappointed. It go weirder after that--he asked our names and was very pushy about saying the names repeatedly. He's also a very big, muscular guy, and he stood uncomfortably close and stared at us in an overly familiar way. What was most distressing was that we decided that we weren't that hungry, and asked to split an entree. After that, Richard disappeared--he was clearly disappointed that we weren't going to order more and felt that we weren't worth the bother. The manager brought our food, and we didn't see Richard again until he brought the check. Then, he disappeared again. One of the waitresses picked up the credit card and brought us back the receipt to sign. It was very disturbing and off-putting. The food was good, but the evening was very unpleasant.
(2)Mike D.
We just had dinner at Hercules cafe. Richard is the best server I have had in years. I'm a seasoned restaurant professional and highly recommend this establishment for anybody who wants good authentic Greek food served with a tremendous amount of style and cachet
(5)Julia J.
I really liked the garden area in the back of the restaurant. All the servers were very friendly, but the actual service was a bit off. It felt like they kept forgetting our table! (Maybe it was because we were outside?) At any rate, the food was good but on the heavy side. My husband ordered the artichoke chicken with the sauce on the side. The chicken looked like it was slightly breaded and pan-fried but that wasn't mentioned in the menu. Gluten-free freaks beware. I ordered a greek salad. My only complaint was there wasn't a good house dressing. When you go out to eat, who wants plain old oil and vinegar? But, the ingredients on my salad were fresh. Next time we visit, we will sit inside and see if that makes a difference on our drinks and table being cleared.
(3)Lisa S.
Fabulous place with great food and I overheard a nice couple say that they've been here several times and always enjoy the food.
(5)Chuck G.
Great food good service!! Bartender/owner a bit cranky! Richard is awesome! You need to try his famous Crab Cakes!
(4)Michelle T.
One of my favorite places to dine in the area. The food is simply amazing.
(5)Peter B.
Went for the 3rd time this past weekend, and have yet to be disappointed. The food is fantastic, and the service is the best in town. If you love a good steak you will love this place especially, but the menu is varied so there is plenty to offer for every taste. They have real servers taking care of you, not teenagers who can't wait to get off work - a real plus in Saugatuck. They also take reservations - one of the few places in town that does. A bit pricey for an everyday dinner out, but for those special occasions - this is the place to go.
(5)Shelley G.
Nice atmosphere and very friendly service. They did not rush is for a single second. We (four women) spent over two hours there and enjoyed every minute thanks to our hilarious server, George. The saganaki, Greek salad and gazpacho were all wonderful. The grouper special was salty, but decent. The Roasted duck was overdone, which was a disappointing bc it had very good flavor. I would return and try something else.
(4)Nancy K.
Love the new addition of saginaki on the menu. Hercules and their staff never disappoint us. Had steaks today they were cooked perfectly service was superb
(5)David R.
The food was good, but the service was awful. We went for dinner with a table of 12 people (but only eight were adults) and the meal took 2 hours. They brought the kids dishes early as we asked but brought the adult food 45 minutes later. Those of you without kids won't understand the ticking time bomb that this creates, but those in the restaurant that evening now understand. That said, the seafood was amazing. Just wish they could figure out how to time the meals in their kitchen.
(3)Linda S.
Food was very good. Portions were very generous. The service was excellent. The garden was beautiful. Highly recommend.
(4)Wayne P.
Richard was the most knowledgeable and friendly waiter we have ever had! Food and atmosphere were great! Our friend is a local and recomended Hercules and we were not disappointed!
(5)Dale S.
Very disappointing experience at this restaurant. In a word. . . Chaos. We ordered and waited forever for salads, and then even longer for entrees. Waitress was unattentive and our glasses were empty most of the time. At one point, we heard the bartender (John, who also seems to be the owner) ask a waiter what's going on, no one has food. Yet, he never approached tables with any acknowledgment or apology. As we were sitting near the bar, we got to witness an evening of his interaction with staff. He had a surly personality and it was almost like the staff were hesitant to communicate with him, even when asking for drinks to be prepared for their tables (remember, he was bartender). At one point, we heard him tell a patron "I've had it with this place." As we walked out, our unattentive waitress and John were standing near the exit and we heard her say "they arent happy either.". I understand this place is under new ownership. Definitely not the place we experienced when there a year ago and I'll be shocked if it remains in business with this poor leadership. On a positive note, the place was clen and the facility is quite beautiful. One of our two dishes (chicken) was good, but the salmon was lack luster at best. We won't be back.
(2)RFBK K.
There were four in our party and three of us got the perch. We each got 6 pieces of fish and we each left four on our plates. The fish was overlooked and was tasteless. Our boiled new potatoes had nothing on them and were hard and dry. Our salad was very good and so was the soup. Our waitress was friendly but did not comment on all of the fish we had left on our plate. When we arrived at 7:15 on a Sunday evening for our reservation we were told they were closed. Once we said we had a reservation, we were seated. I think we must have been the last customers of the night and everyone wanted to go home. We would not return.
(1)Doug M.
The biggest drawback to this restaurant is it's poor wine list. The ambiance is nice, the food decent. But the wine selection is minimal and the choices very poor
(3)Steven L.
Do not miss out on Hercules. Great food, outstanding staff and one of the best restaurants in town. Owners Skip and Johny do a great job and put their heart and sole into their business. When open for lunch, try their home made chicken salad. Chicago quality steaks and great cocktails too!
(5)Steven M.
This is a great little place for a quick bite. I had the chicken wrap with chips. Very good and lots of meat. The servers were on top of each other trying to take care of us. That is a first. The place was spotless as was the experience.
(5)Yelper Y.
We've been to Hercules Hot Dogs a number of times and have never been disappointed. The quality and preparation of their food is excellent. We love their brats, stadium hot dogs, beef hot dogs, turkey dogs, and breakfast links. An order of fries is generous. Sometimes they have really good soup. They always have the best blueberry pancakes, (literally, Hercules Hot Dogs serves their breakfast items all day). They've applied for a liquor license so hopefully they'll have a selection of quality beer soon too. During the summer Hercules Hot Dogs has a beautiful fenced in garden area out back under the cover of trees that you can eat in. Dogs are welcome in the back patio, (if well-behaved/trained), just enter through the back gate accessable from the parking lot behind the building.
(5)D F.
In Saugatuck, Hercules has become our favorite restaurant. Wonderful food, competent service (but remember, many are young folks working for their summers, so don't get huffy if they miss a beat here or there!) This summer, they've had Rainbow Trout featured a number of times and it is just terrific. Ambiance is pleasant, not too noisy. If you haven't been here since the place was in its earlier incarnation*, you MUST go now. White table cloths, restful, relaxed surroundings (try the garden out back in good weather), and terrific food. At the very top of my list! (* If you read the old reviews that include "hot dogs," that's what I'm referring to. No more hotdogs, thank goodness!!)
(5)Dan B.
This is a review I don't often get to write. My partner and I had the pleasure of dining at Hercules during a busy summer weekend in Saugatuck. The restaurant is a renovated turn-of-the-century house that has many warm details that the owner has surely taken great pride in transforming. We were seated outside, in what was a beautifully cared-for garden complete with amazing surroundings, ambience and artful sculptures. The weather was a clear beautiful summer evening while the uplit lighting in the garden added even more charm to the experience. It was an unexpected wonderfully romantic evening dinner. We began dinner with a delicious Chilean red wine that was both a nice lushness, medium body and terrific finish. Our appetizers, was the Quinoa Tibbouleh which was both fresh and tastey, and had gazpacho soup which was probably the best I've had in years. For dinner entrees, we both ordered steaks and like them medium rare. Unusual for many restaurants, the steaks were cooked perfectly with a crispiness on the outside but perfectly cooked medium rare inside; the quality was obvious and it was melt in your mouth tender tasty. We come from big city Chicago where there are many nice places, but Hercules easily rivals some of the best. The service was impeccable and our dinner was memorable. It was the highlight of our trip and summer. Dan Berger
(5)David P.
We wanted lake fish and we were not disappointed. The walleye and Perch were fresh, flavorful and flakey. Add to that a Greek salad, sweet potatoes and some wine and we were quite pleased. Dining in their outdoor garden room on a beautiful summer evening completed this evening as a winner.
(4)Karen M.
I took my husband to Hercules for his birthday. We had reservations for 6 30 pm. We were seated on time. Our table was right by the window, it was nice. We ordered a soup and a salad to start, then my husband ordered fish and I ordered lamb chops. It took 30 min. for the soup and salad to arrive ... 30 minutes!!!! Then when we were done with those, it took about 40 min to get our entrees ... Service is very slow ... granted they are busy but 30 minutes for soup and salad is too much. Food was Amazing, really fantastic BUT the wait was too long. We will not be coming back.
(3)Donald Z.
Our favorite in saugatuck for a nice meal. Richard is our favorite waiter and always makes us feel at home! Just wish they were open for early dining in the winter!
(5)Colette H.
My husband and I are vegans and we WERE fans of Hercules. Last year, they offered a Veggie Burger and we liked it. We returned to Saugatuck this past weekend and called to make sure they still offered Veggie Burgers. Unfortunately, the answer was NO. They decided to offer Portabello Burgers instead. Portabello Burgers are OK but (1) husband doesn't like them and (2) they don't stick to your ribs like Veggie Burgers. So, bottom line, we won't return to Hercules by ourselves or with friends until the Veggie Burger is back on the menu. I understand that restaurants need to limit their menus, but vegans are a growing population and it would be nice if restaurants offered us more than salads, portabello burgers, and maybe potatoes, rice, or pasta and veggies. A few other restaurants in Saugatuck do offer great veggie burgers -- Monroe's, Mermaid, and Wicks Park Bar & Grill that I checked so far.
(2)Paul R.
Casual fine dining at its best. This is definitely not a hot dog place, perhaps it was back in 2009. Today it is an incredible restaurant. The back room looking out to the patio is beautiful. The service and food is superb. Our waiter Richard was one of the best severs we have ever had, even with all of the fine dining we have in Chicago. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)James E.
Came here last weekend for a quick bite. Was surprised that they had table servers at a hot dog joint, but it was pretty nice. We sat out front as the hoards of people went by, enjoying the day. We got the Chicago dog and the chicken souvlaki. Both of which looked like they came out of a photoshoot - they looked perfect. And they tasted perfect too! Soooo yummy. Also got a side order of fries to split between the two of us - which was just the perfect size for two people. Great place to go for a quick and easy bite at reasonable prices. The service was good too and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Scott H.
My wife and I love this place for three reasons: Great food, Great Atmosphere, and a dog-friendly, yet elegant patio. We have a small 10lb, well-behaved dog, and we were able to bring her with us to Hercules back patio. The service was great (even ice water in a bowl for our dog), the food was very good - we had steak and salmon, and the cocktails were cool and delicious on a hot summer day. Well done!
(5)James L.
Had dinner there before a concert. The service was friendly. Food was decent, but not special. I had a Greek pasta dish which appeared to be a special of theirs. It was good, but really heavy.
(3)Karen J.
Good service, decent food. My hot dog was tasty, my partner's fish was meh. The bar could use an upgrade in beer quality, too. Still, it was a good place for a quick bite.
(3)Kees v.
We just happened to come across Hercules Hot Dogs when visting the town of Saugatuck, MI this past summer. As with most resort towns there are many eating options however it just so happened that the owner was outside when we were looking at the menu on the front window and he convinced us to come in. To be totally honest the name of the place threw us off a bit since we were not intested in a hot dog however the menu was well rounded, I had a gyro and it was excellent.. As a bonus we were able to sit outside and there was no one smoking which made this dinner very enjoyable.
(4)