The Villager Pub — Restaurant in Charlevoix

An absolute embarrassment to Charlevoix. Before I begin, I will disclose this experience was on July 5th (observed holiday.)

Since moving to Northern Michigan, the restaurant scene has simply blown my mind, until today.

As stated, it's a holiday, and town is very busy, but that isn't an excuse. Charlevoix's bread and butter is tourism and that's how we survive here. It started with a line down the sidewalk to check in with the hostess. I fully expected this and it isn't an issue. After the roughly ten minute line to get our name on the list, we asked the hostess for an ETA on a table. Her response was a very stressed out "no idea..can't even say." At first I was irritated that we didn't get a time even if it was a drastic guess. But I later felt for her.

Once called to be seated, the manager (or owner, not sure, but he clearly had authority in the pub) took us inside. A few steps in a couple was walking out an he looks at us and says "Get out of their way," as if we don't have eyes or decency. We got to the table and he frisbees our menus on the table and says "there ya go." Wow.

We waited about 10 minutes to get our drink order taken, but the waitress stopped and said she would be with us in a few minutes, so no real issue. We tried to place our food order at the same time and she said she wasn't allowed to yet because of other tables, so we waited another 15 minutes to order.

After 25 minutes we've finally gotten drinks and ordered. The same manager (or owner?,) is storming around the floor being an absolute a**hole to his employees. Belittling a busser over trash bags, yelling at waitresses for small issues all in front of guests. Absolutely disgusting. There's a time and place to correct your staff, and public embarrassment is never the way. I felt so bad for them. Do you really not realize there are literally thousands of restaurants DYING for staff, and you're blessed with these people working for you as you treat them like garbage.. they can and should leave your establishment and get a job anywhere else.

We waited nearly exactly two hours for our lunch. We came in at 1pm, and got our food after 3. After waiting hours, our sides were all cold and my burger was a burnt frozen patty on a stale, hard bun.

Very long story short, I was embarrassed to take my in-laws to Charlevoix and have this happen. I will never recommend this place to anyone who asks. And the two stars are simply for your staff who put up with garbage leadership and run their tails off, and...

Hello y’all. I am not from here, I do not know anyone that works there. We we passing through to highlands night park. I wanted a proper northern Michigan white fish dinner.

So I happened on to a this place and it was some of the best fried white fish I have ever had. Use the vinegar on the fish!

The tartar sauce tastes home made. The coleslaw is on point. It is the creamy style.

I did go crazy and try the perch too, it was ok, but really don’t even bother. Just get the white fish dinner. The white fish blew it away. The waitress stated they were know for it. I’ve never had white fish so flavorful. Y'all be advised they leave the skin on the white fish, not the scales, the skin and man did it had flavor, I been eating white fish wrong my entire life.

They batter is perfect, not thick, not to thin, and not greasy. There is vinegar on the table. It is northern style batter so y'all might need to season according to taste.

The fries are ok, they could use some spice in my opinion, but they also have Heinz ketchup! Which is the only decent ketchup.

A dill pickle spear would have been sweet.

But reader it was pretty damn good. I did not try the walleye.

They have home made desserts too.

The spaghetti and wet burrito looks like classic northern Michigan style. I’d try them too if I had time.

The music was all 90s stuff it was cool.

I have no idea about the drinks but beer looked pretty popular.

Plenty of free street parking. I think during the day it costs 1.50 per. Two hours. But I am not sure.

They do a clam, trout and fake crab chowder it’s pretty good. But I am not a big fan of fake crab and it kinda stuck together in the soup. The bits of trout wasn't bad... Interesting take on seafood...

We are spending an afternoon in Charlevoix. We chose the Villager Pub for lunch. It is a beautiful afternoon and we have an outside table and are enjoying this wonderful day. Good variety, well, prepared food! I asked our server what was in the fish chowder. And the owner and chef Terry overheard me and offered to bring me a sample. I’m so glad he did because it was very good. I ordered a cup of it to go along with cheese curds with marinara sauce. The chowder is not too thick, perfectly seasoned, and chocked full of fish and seafood, and homemade noodles. My companions had the chicken salad on croissant which they said was wonderful. What is them also ordered the soup of the day, corn chowder. She said it was excellent. The homemade/from scratch quality is worth noting. Terry chatted with us. Terr was very pleasant, friendly, interested in us, asking questions, and it was just an all-around exceptional experience.

We did not order fish except in the chowder, but it is all fresh from this area.

I highly recommend you try The Village Pub. Terry also showed us a menu from his fine dining restaurant called Terry’s. Next year when we’re up here, we will plan to try Terry’s and I already know I plan to order...