The Gathering Place — Restaurant in Bad Axe

Normally, I would not rate any place this low. However, the main reason was the service was the issue! 1st, I must admit there was one server. She was covering six tables, and the bar area where appropriately six people sat. Once we arrived, there was one couple who sat down before us and three other couples who sat after us! Within five minutes, the server checked on the couple before us. She then checked to see what we wanted to drink. We ordered one beer and two glasses of water with fried mushrooms. Then she checked with the other tables to see what they wanted to drink / eat. The couple in front of us received their food. The two couples who came in after us received their orders. Our appetizer finally came with the beer and water. We ordered our main dish! While waiting for the main dish, the first couple paid for their meal. The couples that arrived before us were getting refills for their drinks. Our sever dropped the food off, salad, and flatbread for wife (she said it was good), hamburger for me (pretty good). A few minutes later, the server asked if everything was ok and if my wife wanted another beer! My wife said no thanks and asked for some more water. Within the next 20 - 30 minutes, the server walked by us to give the other two couples to go boxes, I again asked her for water, I sat my empty glass at the end of the table. I observed our server refilling other customers' glasses in front of us. Our server came to get checks from the couples who came in after us, and then they got up and left. The server eventually got us some water. We paid our bill, and...

Great for lunch or dinner. Avoid before noon. They suffer from Rural Restaurant Atrophy.

Went here for breakfast at 11:20 on a Sunday morning. Got a Reuben, bowl of French Onion, Coffee, and water. Coffee served in a glass beer mug? That'd be fine if the coffee wasn't weak and reheated. (To be fair, it may have been instant. My nose is a bit off these days.) No sugar/creamer served with coffee. No fried foods because the friars hadn't heated up since opening. (They aren't the first thing you turn on before you open?!) Also got to listen to the waitress flirt with the Firemen while my transparent coffee mug sat prominently on the edge of the table for ~10 min. Got my food, and that was fine. If I would've had fries, I probably would've shut up, enjoyed my meal, and been done with it. But then the waitress asked IF I needed change....

Miss? If the food you're serving is "not quite ready for showtime" and you're slow getting the coffee and you're focused on hanging out with non-paying firemen instead of your customers? Don't be shocked if you get stiffed on the tip. Calling me "darling" and "honey" only works if you meet the minimum service qualifications. (Like keeping my coffee full and not also calling the firemen "darling" within earshot.) And asking about WHETHER I want change on my bill? That is the definition of tasteless. I will happily tip 20% when I'm good and ready. Don't get greedy and jump the gun. It can make customers vindictive.

TL:DR Good food when they have a chance to get ready for customers. Very local service standards. Go...

We stopped here for dinner since it was past 8pm and there were very few options for dinner after 8pm in the Thumb area.

The atmosphere is super cool with old school stadium chairs at the entrance and different styles of license plates on the wall. Free indoor shuffle board to occupy your time. A self serve frozen yogurt bar with fresh fruits/candy/nuts/drizzles. They even had tropical flavored gummy bears which as my favorite. Service was great and our waitress was training a new girl and juggling everything very well. TVs well positioned for easy viewing.

I got a margarita, chili, and French onion soup. While the French onion soup was good, the onion flavor tasted a little burnt. The chili was AMAZING! I could eat that everyday. Margarita was solid as well.

My husband’s quesadilla was just eh…lots of tortilla and not as much filling as one would hope but still good tasting. My kid and his friend got the Sunday pizza special and they enjoyed it very much! Our waitress also made sure to let us know that the pepperoni was under the cheese so we didn’t get confused.

They also have two pinball machines in the “game room”…that could use a little more to complete the vibe. Maybe some cards or tic tac toe , etc. Calling two pinball machines a game room is overselling it. But overall a great little place to stop and...