Yankee Rebel Tavern — Restaurant in Mackinac Island

On July 18, 2020 we waited about 20 minutes to be seated. There was no social distancing. The place was packed. We received a booth on the left side, about half way back. Another 15 minutes and our server showed up and asked rudely what we were drinking. We ordered our drinks, 3 tea and one lemonade. We told her we were ready to order, and she cut us off and said, "not so fast, I have a table before you and I am only getting drinks at this time. About 10 minutes later she brought our drinks wrong. She took our order, but didn't fix the drinks. We then got one salad, 10 minutes later one appetizer. She fixed the drinks after asking if we needed refills. By this time the place was clearing out and they were putting signs back on tables for social distancing (It was close to 2pm). We than, 45 minutes after we arrived started getting our food, one plate at a time. Half way through we got the 2nd appetizer. The server than came and refilled the ice tea, which had been empty since before the meals slowly started to arrive. At no time was the lemonade offered a refill, and one of the teas, was returned as a soda. We decided to leave when another server came by and filled ever glass on the table with water. Too bad a tip was included. Rude server, ridiculous the plates were not brought together, especially since the restaurant was basically less than half full. Total time from in to out was an hour and forty-five minutes. The food was horrible which made it even worse. We left...

We visited this restaurant last week during our second family trip to the island this summer with a large group of 17 people — 7 kids at one table and 8 adults at another, right next to each other. Our server, John, made it very clear from the start that he was not happy to serve us.

From the moment we began figuring out who was on which check, he snapped at us multiple times about not caring about that and he’d figure it out. When my mother-in-law asked if the steak appetizer was enough for a meal, he seemed confused. She clarified by saying, “The steak, it’s the appetizer,” to which he responded, “I’m aware that the steak is an appetizer, I know the menu ma’am— what is your question?”. When we got our food instead of asking if there was anything we needed he just kept yelling at the group “what else can I drag, people? Come on, come on”

Two of the kids’ meals never arrived. By the time we were all finished eating, my sister-in-law asked to have them removed from the bill. Instead of apologizing, he argued and said he’d bring them out, and when she declined (since her child had already eaten a sibling’s meal), he rolled his eyes and mumbled something about having to ask the manager as he walked away.

The entire experience felt like we were at one of those restaurants where the staff is intentionally rude — except this wasn’t meant to be part of the fun. It was simply horrible service. The food was okay, but the service from our waiter was obnoxiously...

What a fantastic dining experience! We were recommended to try Yankee Rebel by another chef on the Island, and we are thankful he did.

First, the hostesses, and in particular Nikki are the best. In addition to watching Nikki do about every job in the joint, she is just the most friendly and personable person, and really sent our experience over the top. I would probably have given 4 stars without nikki, but because of Nikki I would give 6 if it was an option.

Our server was very very nice, but I think he may have been a little overworked or something. However, at the risk of sounding like a Nikki worshipper, she stepped in so that we never waited for anything we needed. Maybe that is the system? Either way, the service was seamless and top notch, because of the team effort between the server and the hostesses.

The good was fantastic. My daughter got ribs, after as a family, we had some terrible ribs at another restaurant the day before. Let me tell you, these were on my Mount Rushmore of ribs! Fall off the bone, great flavor, texture, I mean, really really great. My wife got the scallops, and declared them to be the best scallops she has ever had. I had a chicken bacon swiss sandwich which was also very good.

If friends or family were asking, I would highly reccomend Yankee Rebel, really a great...