Red Brick Tap and Barrel — Restaurant in Alpena

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and service was swift and attentive. Makenna, our server, was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and on top of everything.

I started with the Peach Bees Knees cocktail, made with gin, a peach liqueur, and honey simple syrup. It was absolute perfection. The gin’s strong bite was hidden under a perfectly balanced mix of flavors—neither too sweet nor too strong. I enjoyed it so much that I drank it quicker than expected and wanted to order a second, but our meals arrived so promptly that I decided to hold off (I personally prefer not to drink cocktails alongside my entrée).

For our appetizer, my friend and I shared the Ahi Tuna Nachos. The freshness of the tuna surprised me, especially considering we weren’t near the coast. Served on large, crisp wonton chips and topped with avocado, cucumber, and a sweet soy glaze, each bite was flavorful and satisfying. The chips were quite large—about the size of my hand—which made them a bit tricky to eat gracefully. When they broke apart, I happily switched to using a fork. Despite the minor messiness, this is a dish I’d order again every time.

For my entrée, I chose the Garlic Soy Salmon served over noodles. While the menu listed udon noodles, they were actually thinner ramen-style noodles. Initially, I was a little disappointed—but that feeling vanished as soon as I tasted them. They were flavorful and cooked perfectly. The salmon itself was fully cooked (not medium or medium-well as I usually prefer), but it was incredibly tender and melt-in-your-mouth soft. I’m still wondering if it was steamed—it was that good. I will say—I think the only thing that could improve is having traditional udon noodles in the meal! (The only reason I rated the food 4-Star is because the menu was a tad misleading about the noodles.)

To end the meal, I ordered the Chocolate Bomb—a rich chocolate cake layered with chocolate ganache and paired with fresh berries. It was decadent and left me wanting just one more bite. I also stole a couple of bites from my friend’s cannolis, which had a whipped filling that was light, smooth, and perfectly sweet.

Overall, I’m impressed with this restaurant. This was actually my second visit in the same week, and both times were equally enjoyable. It’s safe to say I’ll be...

On a recent fishing trip to Alpena, my husband caught tons of lake trout and some steelhead. On the recommendation of his fishing guide, we asked Chef Kevin if he could cook some of our fish for us. He produced the most delicious array of grilled, fried, and blackened fish, along with a creamy polenta (was not a big fan of polenta until this day), and a beautiful bounty of veggies. Along with the Show Me Your Tots appetizer, this was one of the most fun and tasty experiences I've ever had. Chef Kevin prepared these foods in a way that absolutely highlighted the natural deliciousness of the food, without overpowering it with excessive anything (not too salty, not too greasy, not too overcooked, etc.). And the tots! Not only were they crispy and crunchy (a tot must-have), they were clearly handmade and hearty--I thought they were chunks of chicken. Red Brick provided an elevated culinary experience that I was not expecting, but was delightfully surprised by. This little lakeside town is a bit out of the way, but worth the drive for good food, good drinks, and beautiful views....

We came here specifically for the French Dip, as I was craving one. There was an hour and 15 minute wait for a table but we were able to sit at the bar after only about 5 minutes. The atmosphere is very inviting. We ordered the Ahi Nachos and Caprese Salad. We waited at least 30 minutes for these to be served, and while I understand they were busy, these were appetizers that needed no cook time. Both were very delicious, however, so we soon forgot the wait. We ordered the fish & chips and the French Dip with tots. The homemade tots were really good, but the size of the French Dip was very underwhelming. It was average to say the least. The fish & chips were exceptional, aside from getting a plate full of fries and three smallish pieces of fish. For the price we were disappointed with the portions of the main entrees. Our drinks were good but when we tried telling the bar tender the food was delicious but lackluster on the amount,...