Water Tower Grille and Smokehouse — Restaurant in Belding

We were in her hometown. Not mine. I’d never been to Belding before, but she knew every curve of the road, every crack in the sidewalk. We were visiting her parents for the weekend, and before the introductions and small talk, she wanted to stop at her favorite place to eat—Water Tower Grille and Smokehouse.

The restaurant was warm and familiar, like a childhood blanket pulled from storage. She ordered the blooming onion with a kind of reverence, and when the brisket arrived, she smiled like she was home. I watched her talk to the server like they were old friends. Maybe they were.

After dinner, we walked the Flat River Trail. She insisted we stop at the Veterans Memorial Bridge. “It’s where I used to go when I needed to think,” she said. “Where I left pieces of myself.”

I didn’t ask what that meant.

The bridge was quiet when we arrived, the river below pulsing with late-summer light. But as we stepped closer, the candle in her hand flickering against the breeze, we saw it.

Graffiti. Everywhere.

Not just names or hearts or nonsense. It was targeted. Decades of cruel scrawl berating her childhood. Names twisted into insults. Accusations. Lies. The kind of words that make you feel like the world has teeth.

She froze. I reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “How could they,” she whispered. “How could they.”

She dropped the candle. I dropped the box of leftovers. And then, as if our bodies couldn’t hold the weight of it all, we both vomited. Side by side. No drama. Just devastation.

We sat on the edge of the bridge afterward, silent. The candle rolled into the river. The graffiti stared back. And somewhere in the distance, a dog barked like it knew.

Final thought: Water Tower Grille and Smokehouse serves comfort on a plate. But if you follow it with a walk to the bridge, be prepared. Some places don’t just hold...

The atmosphere here fits into a classic Golf Course Clubhouse. It all looked clean, but it did seem a little worn down. Plus it felt like they were trying to hide that with dim lighting. On a plus side they have a couple of live edge tables for sale that are really nice.

I ordered a 3 Choice Bbq smokehouse combo ($27). I got Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Shotgun Shells. The ribs tasted decent, but were not tender at all, in fact I had to use my knife to separate the ribs. The Pulled Pork was very good. The Shotgun Shells, which are a group meat in a pasta shell wrapped in bacon and covered in bbq sauce, were good. However, the pasta shells were dried out and tough. The bbq sauces were very good. For the sides I got baked beans and deconstructed street corn. They were both very good, probably the best part of the meal. The person I was with ordered the Burger ($12). It was declared to be very good.

The service was friendly, but not very efficient. Long periods of the waitress vanishing or talking with other waitresses.

Overall a 3 1/2 star review. However I'll be rounding up to 4 stars, due to the sides, the pulled pork, the sauces, and the burger. Would I return? If I was in the area, then yes,...

Edit: We visited again a while ago. I ordered one of the same itwms form the first time because it was delicious. After eating it it really wasnt verh special, and I was told after by our waitress (who was very sweet) that one of the main ingredients that made it so good (beer cheese) was not in ours. The chefs ran out so they judt made it without, and didnt tell us, and then we were charged for the normal dish even though it was not what we ordered or as advertised on the menu.

Original review: (5 stars) The waitress, Chrissy, was absolutely wonderful, attentive beyond necessary, and very kind!

She set up a perfect table off to the side that worked with our baby's carseat.

She let me taste test an item off the menu.

And brought me containers to take home extra barbecue off the table containers.

The food here was amazing barbecue.

Mac and cheese was a bit greesy but the flavor of it was unique and very delicious.

Prices are a little bit high but nothing crazy. Definitely some good value inexpensive appetizers at the least.

Would...