Barron Lakeside Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Howard Township

Drinks +4.5⭐, Beer +5 Service +4.25⭐ Entertainment 5⭐ Food -1⭐ Final 4⭐ We dined here twice while visiting family in my home town of Niles. I remember when this place was called The Hideaway and the building still looks the same as I recalled from my youth. It's had some cosmetic improvements over the years. It's also more mixed company friendly from it was way back then, but is still not really exactly family friendly after 6 or 7pm. This is because it's still what it always was, primarily a good neighborhood bar, not known for the food exactly. In fact, we tried it twice & it wasn't good either time. I had the perch and fries, a popular MI dish & one I've been relishing to get since my last visit, in 2011. We actually went her for the fish & found it was cold & rubbery, but, wait for it... They served me one of the best bloody Marys I've ever had! 3 of them. They come with a skewer of 2 cubes of cheddar, 3 thick pepperoni slices, 1 pepperoncini pepper and a crisp pickle spear! I didn't need another meal after 3 of these beautiful red ladies. It felt like I was at it ritzy tapas bar, but better. Why? The entertainment. I wish I remembered the artists name because her voice was unbelievable! She sung covers, at least one original, and they were all fantastic. This gave a festive yet laid back vibe & we enjoyed our visit tremendously. There's no smoking, not even on the deck, but you can in the lot & it's just a couple steps out the door. The service was very good, delivered with traditional SE MI friendliness, so remember to bring (or not drink up) enough $ for a 20% tip, they earn it, because the place gets hoping as night comes on. Since my daughter is just 14, I asked a my friends to bring us back home. That was a Saturday. We went back for lunch on the following Tuesday & ordered the mixed fried appetizer: mushrooms, onion rings, fish bites, cheese. It was nearly burnt, tasting like the cook fried it in old oil used for both fish & not fish. That works for crab boils, but definitely not for bar fare. On the bright side, had a beautiful viewfrom outside deck, service was again good & the 🍺 was large & cold & refreshing. So by all means, go, but eat first. Bon...

My wife and I have been here several times with friends. The last time we went we had dinner and drinks with a friend. When it came time to pay the bills, cash was left to pay for our friend's bill including their tip and we paid our bill with a card. When I checked our bank account the next day I saw that we were charged on our debit card for our bill and our friends bill, even though cash was left for theirs. I immediately called the bar to speak with the owner about our card having an extra transaction that didn't belong. The owner said she would call me back after she spoke to her waitress, which would be in 30 minutes when she came in to work. Six days have gone by and she hasn't called me back! We stopped in to see if the owner was there, she wasn't, but the waitress that had waited on us was working. And she happened to be the "manager" so we discussed what had happened the week before. She said we never left cash and that my wife had signed two receipts. We told here no, she only signed ours and she insisted that we were incorrect and my wife signed the second receipt with a squiggly line. We had asked her to show us the two receipts so we could compare signatures, which didn't happen. Probably because she knew the second receipt was not signed by my wife. She was extremely rude and raised her voice at us, making a scene in front of the whole bar. It's a shame the owner and manager are willing to lose regular customers over $10.60 (that was the amount of the extra charge on our card)!! We will not be going back!

Update in response to your reply: It would be very interesting to see the video, since I know my wife only signed one credit card slip because I was standing next to her. While watching the video we would then be able to see that we in fact left $12 cash to pay for the other bill, which your waitress said we never left! The way your manager/waitress treated us when we went back in to discuss this matter is what will keep us from ever coming back again. The sad thing is that this whole thing could have been easily avoided had you called me back when you said you would. Offering a free meal now is a...

I will NEVER go here again! I went alone and I guess that was a mistake. I walked in and the place was pretty empty. I was there a few minutes when another couple came in. They were approached and served LONG before I was even acknowledged! Then my so called server never took my order, another person did, did not bring me my food, another person did. Asked me twice if all was ok and when I asked for another drink, not only was I given a dirty look, it took forever to get it( a coke) and , of course , the server did not serve it! She was downright rude to me. Acted as if I had no business there. Obviously, she didn’t like I was alone is all I can figure! Even though I sat there, a long time , alone, she brought 2 menus an and got pissy when I said it was only me! I had eaten there about 5 years ago and Loved everything, especially the staff! There must be a new ownership and their staff , well the waitress on Friday night, should NOT be representing this place because she was NOT Good representation , and I will Never eat there again and am Telling others of this awful experience! Oh and the couple that came in after me? She waited on them the entire time, they received food, drinks and their bill long before me, who came in first! She would not even bring my check to me, I had to go to the bar to pay it! On the only good note is the food was decent, WHEN someone else finally took my order and brought...