Irene's Craft Kitchen + Biergarten — Restaurant in Grand Blanc

I've been to Irene's three times already and I've had mostly a good experience here. The positives is that it's a really lovely restaurant. Whoever designed it did a great job-it's warm, inviting, kinda sexy but still accessible for families. It's huge and has a broad range of uses-bar area, private rooms, little cozy lounge, long tables, the outdoor patio (which is not open yet), and those two golf rooms. The food is mostly good with some exceptions- Pretzel-awesome, would likely get it every time. Chicken shnitzel-it's OK (not super flavorful) and spatzel was also just OK. I'll never get it again. Apple and walnut salad is nice and fresh but TINY for a main entree salad. It was served on their side salad plate and even the server went back to check to see if it was plated correctly because he was like, "Oh wow, that IS small." Bruger was tasty and everything on it seemed fresh and top-quality. I didn't know it was a smash burger though, maybe I just missed that description on the menu but I was surprised when I got my order. Fries were limp and underseasoned. Pass. My friend got the paprika chicken salad and she said it was fabulous but I didn't get a chance to taste it. Looked great, though. Swedish meatballs were good if you like Swedish meatballs-they are not as fluffy as regular meatballs but I've had Swedish meatballs other place and they were very similar. The potato buds were really good-crispy, flavorful, with a nice dip. Dessert-Black Forest Cake is the WAY TO GO here. We had the Paris Brest and the pastry was soggy and not crispy. It had too much whipped cream and the strawberries weren't very flavorful (not their fault, it's winter...but still-maybe don't serve strawberries when they aren't in season). The apple strudel is straight up GROSS-under cooked, not crispy....I mean, it truly didn't look fully baked. The flavor was better than what it looked like but we won't get it again.

Service was a little spotty-some servers were more attentive than others as can be expected sometimes. What was weird was when I was with my friend who is celiac and we asked a bunch of questions about gluten free options but the server didn't know the answers and didn't really engage with us. We had another server come because our original one was a bit behind and we asked her some more questions to which she said, "Why don't I bring you the allergen description menu." Well, that made it easier to navigate the menu and my friend was able to order her meal correctly. I don't know why the original server didn't think to do that and we didn't ask because we didn't think that was an option.

All in all, I still think it's probably one of the better restaurants in the area and we will be back for sure. In fact, I'm bringing my neighborhood friends for a girl's night this coming Friday. I wish them luck in the area and I hope they continue to improve.

Oh, one more thing-the floor in the bathroom is DISGUSTING. The tile is supposed to look old and weathered (it's a choice but that's fine), however the floor had hair and dirt on it. I mentioned it to my husband because I was shocked it was so dirty since it's a relatively new place and he said that the men's bathroom floor was ALSO dirty. My husband literally does not notice dirt so it must have been really dirty for him...

READ THIS REVIEW This was our first visit to Irene's. We weren't sure what to expect after reading most of the reviews, but we were excited to try Grand Blancs newly anticipated Restaurant, after all we've waited years for a worthy Restaurant to come to Grand Blanc! I made a reservation for Valentines day for Hubby and I. When we walked in I was immediately taken by the aesthetics of this establishment. I found it inviting and welcoming yet classy. The Hostess was friendly and sweet, she initially seated us at a small table for 2 I felt was too small for my comfort so I asked if we could be seated at a larger table by the window and she checked to make sure it wasn't already reserved and we were seated there. It was the only table in kind of a nook and it was very comfortable. Once seated we were greeted by our Server, "Joey" he was very nice, personable and attentive and provided great service throughout our visit. We were given both a special Valentines menu and the option of their regular menu. We chose the Valentines menu. We ordered the "Smoked Salmon and Dill Crostini appetizer,, and while the description stated, "fresh dill" we did not have any dill on ours but instead "capers" however it was still excellent! We both choose the "Shopska" Salad and again excellent! For our Entrées we both choose "Seared Scallops" the description states "butternut squash puree & brown butter sage sauce with crispy prosciutto" let me TELL you, this dish was OUTSTANDING! Hubby and I could not stop yumming from the first bite to the last! The flavor profile melded each component in this dish PERFECTLY! Finally we finished with the desert "Black Forest Trifle" that we shared. It was dark and rich in flavor but the cake component of this desert was a bit dry but still tasty and a nice finish to the previous 3 courses. I learned that the items offered on the Valentines menu are not offered on their regular menu which was a major disappointment, because Hubby and I agreed we would come back again and again for that Scallops Entrée! The Owner, Eric came by our table and I was happy to suggest he consider the Scallops Entrée as a regular feature on his menu, what a great seafood offering this dish would be! It was a pleasure speaking with Eric, he was genuinely interested in his customers feedback and I was impressed by his presence, pride in his appearance, a well dressed man with appropriate looking attire for the owner of a very nice Restaurant. Equally, our Server Joey was nicely dressed and took pride in his appearance as well. Very refreshing to see as pride in one's appearance is a long fading virtue" Joey provided us with great service, perfectly timing each course. The only real critique I had was for being Valentines day, the restaurant lacked any Valentines decor" it would have been a perfect touch to add some tasteful decor for the occasion and perhaps a rose for the Ladies as they entered the restaurant" I also mentioned this to Eric the owner and he graciously agreed" I am thankful to Eric and his family for bringing this beautiful Restaurant to...

I had the pleasure of dining at Irenes on its much-anticipated opening night. I was gifted a membership to their Mug Club for Christmas, so was exited to give it a try. The atmosphere and decor of the restaurant was top notch. While the evening wasn’t without its hiccups, it’s clear this restaurant has the potential to become something truly special.

Our meal began on a high note with the pretzel appetizer. Served warm with a spicy mustard mixed with horseradish, it was a fantastic way to kick things off—bold and balanced with just the right amount of kick. Following that, the French onion soup arrived piping hot, with a rich broth and perfectly melted cheese. Both starters set a great tone for the meal.

For entrées, we opted for the pork schnitzel and sauerbraten. The schnitzel was impressively large and cooked beautifully, though we found it slightly under-seasoned for our taste. Accompanied by French fries and spätzle, both sides were enjoyable, but the spätzle would have benefited from a touch of gravy or cheese—a note to ask the server for next time!

The sauerbraten was another highlight, with tender, flavorful meat that delivered on authenticity. However, it arrived lukewarm, a disappointment that we chalked up to opening-night growing pains.

We finished up with the Black Forest cake and the crème puff (the proper name escapes me, but it was heavenly) were both delightful. Rich, decadent, and perfectly executed, they ended the meal on a sweet and satisfying note.

Special mention must go to our server, who was nothing short of fantastic. Despite juggling the role of expo and server, he was attentive, friendly, and professional—a true bright spot in the evening.

It’s clear that Irenes is finding its footing, as is expected on opening night. The occasional mishap—a not-hot-enough entrée, and a little extra patience waiting for drinks and food—didn’t overshadow the overall experience. With time, I’m confident this restaurant will iron out the kinks and deliver consistently exceptional dining.

I consider this a review in progress. I’m giving it a 3 out of 5—noting that I’m hopeful that it’ll improve in the coming weeks. Here’s to many more visits and watching this place grow into its...