The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Benzonia Township

Before reading my review, I think it’s important to factor in that I am not the primary audience for this restaurant. I do not live in the area, I only stopped in while visiting. I am also very different from the local demographic. I still believe my review may helpful to other people like me who may choose to eat at the Roadhouse while visiting the area.

Overall, the experience was alright for me. To me, it is important to note that the food is a strong departure from traditional Mexican food. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s bad, but if you’re looking for authentic, this is not the place to find it. I will review the food agnostically of this. However, to me, the authenticity is the most important part of dining at restaurants which identify themselves with any given culture.

The chips were very good. The salsa I would say is again not quite traditional, but still very good. Our table also ordered the bean dip and queso appetizers. The bean dip was the highlight of our dinner, it was genuinely exceptional. The queso however was a big letdown. It was concerningly similar to what you’ll get from the jar in the grocery store. For drinks, I ordered a patron margarita with tajin rim, which was great and tasted genuine, not like a premade margarita mix. I was happy with my drink.

For entree, I ordered the queso chicken. The chicken was described as jerk chicken on the menu. I don’t think this is the correct adjective for the chicken I had. What I was served had a greenish color to the outside of the chicken pieces, which was interesting to me. It was again definitely not a traditional preparation of Jamaican jerk chicken. Not sure what made it green, maybe chimichurri was the marinade? Nonetheless, the chicken was well seasoned and the flavor was good. It was a bit dry, which I hoped the queso would resolve - however the queso itself was quite thick almost like a spread rather than a sauce. My entree was definitely a bit dry even with the queso. I don’t have much to say about the rice. It was there on the plate and I ate it all. I unfortunately don’t feel it added anything flavorwise.

My wife had a wet burrito which I had a couple bites of. That was substantially better than my queso chicken order and I wish I had gotten that myself.

Service was great. Our server was attentive and handled our large party well. All of our requests were well met. Only ding here is that we had a party of 10 and they squeezed us into a table that would normally seat 6. Fortunately most of us were not large people - if we had any more large people in our group the table would have been inadequate.

The experience was alright overall. If I were a local, I’d swallow my expectations and eat here often. I just can’t look past the feeling that ‘Mexican’ is not an appropriate...

Pulled up to the restaurant at 5pm on Tuesday evening and found no parking right in front... Either this place is that good or people are parked here for something else. We pulled into the parking spaces just down the way on a side street and walked to the restaurant. We had to put our name in for a 30 minute wait, so apparently it's that good!

We were told we could order a drink from the bar and sit outside at the high top tables to wait, which we did. I ordered the frozen strawberry margarita and hubby ordered a strawberry daiquiri, both delicious, and chips and salsa (spicy so watch out for the kick at the end!).

We enjoyed the beautiful weather under a gorgeous pergola covered in vines. It wasn't long before our buzzer went off and the hostess met us on our way in to seat us outside! I waswas thrilled to be able to stay outside. Inside seemed a bit dark and closed in but outside was perfect!

Our server came to take our drink and food order. She seemed a bit quick on getting us to order but we slowed her down! I ordered another margarita and we ordered the bean dip appetizer. While we were waiting the server came back to our table and asked if we wanted to put in our dinner order, she said the bean dip was up but wanted to see if we'd like to order...nope, just bring the bean dip and we'll let you know when we want to move forward with the meal!

Before finishing the bean dip I did order another margarita, if you're counting that's 3 and each one was delicious!, and we ordered dinner.

Hubby ordered the quesadilla with a request for half chicken half shrimp. Server (sorry I don't call her by name, she never gave it and unfortunately we never asked) said she'd check if they could do that (she came back later and said they could). I ordered the Baja shrimp bowl.

Both were very good, tasty and seasoned well. Price point for both was around $13-$15, so not bad at all.

So for 4 cocktails, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees we got out of there for around $50.

So was it worth it to park on the side street and walk? Was it worth the 30 minute wait? Was it worth sitting outside in the gorgeous weather waiting for our table? I'd do it again in a heartbeat and...

I've been in the area for approx 6 mos, and pass this place daily in the to and from work route. After 4pm, there is ALWAYS a long time of people waiting to get in. So, thought, this must be a phenominppal.place to eat. In fact, most people who have been there, think very highly of the food there. So, I thought, GREAT! Let me try it before I leave town.

I have been twice now. I went again last night, in an effort to give full opportunity to find a reason to think this as great in food flavor as I was expecting feom both the line outside I see everyday, and feedback from those I know who love the place.

I just can't find it, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

It's very noisy, but that's just a fact if alot of people.packed into a small place. I get it.

But the food. Nothing really stands out as just 'popping' for me with a phemoninal blend of 'ka-pow' in how flavors and spices have been used to just make it 'pop' with "DAMN! That's good".

I'm disappointed by that, because due to the lines and feedback, I had had such high hopes.

I won't say the food is bad, it just doesn't go 'pow' in my mouth. And, for me, that is about the way flavors and spices have been put together.

I also found inconsistency in the flavor of the food between 1 visit and 2 in both the salsa that comes with the chips and the Arnold Palmer drink I had both times I was there.

Certainly not traditional Mexican food. A mixing of alternative flavors.

I had the Melt the first time, and the chicken chimichange last night with wings as an appetizer.

I'd say out of thw two meals, my favorite item was the wings appetizer with the special house sauce, which is a spicy Buffalo sauce- again, not traditional flavors, but a mix of flavors that tho decent, doesn't blend so smoothly as to just make one for WOW. And while the wings were good, the blue cheese dressing was watered down, dripping, and was frothy on top when brought to the table. Just odd, and lacked as much flavor as it could have had had it not been made basically runny/watery in texture.

I probably won't be back, because it just doesn't blend and pop in a way that makes me want to spend more...