The Stray Dog Bar & Grill — Restaurant in New Buffalo

A Culinary Ode to The Stray Dog

In the heart of New Buffalo, Michigan, where the waves of Lake Michigan serenade the shores, sits a place of culinary reverence, The Stray Dog. Over the years, my ventures have repeatedly drawn me back to this gastronomic sanctuary, a place where consistency is the norm, not the exception. I've arrived at its doorstep on many a sun-drenched afternoon and moonlit evening, each visit a journey into the heart of simple, yet profoundly satisfying fare.

Ah, but be forewarned, the word of The Stray Dog’s magnificence has spread through the land like wildfire through dry timber, attracting a congregation of food aficionados. Patience, my friend, is the price of admission to this banquet of delights, as waits are as common as the smiles you'll encounter within.

Once you’ve crossed the threshold of anticipation, I implore you to ascend to the higher grounds—the upper deck. It's here that you will be graced with a vista that rivals the splendor of the finest paintings. The marina, a dance of boats swaying gently to the rhythm of the water, extends beneath, while the lake stretches beyond the horizon, its expanse a metaphor for the boundless satisfaction that awaits.

The servers, a brigade of culinary crusaders, navigate the bustling establishment with a blend of grace and efficiency that would have made the knights of old hang up their swords in reverence. They are the silent heroes in this tale, ensuring every gastronomic venture is nothing short of exemplary.

Now onto the sustenance—the food, the glorious food. The Stray Dog doesn’t just serve meals, it crafts experiences that linger on the palate long after the last bite. The flavors are a riot, a celebration of simplicity and quality that sings a song of homage to the essence of good grub.

With the cool breeze from the lake as my companion, and the symphony of satisfied sighs from fellow diners as the soundtrack, each visit to The Stray Dog transcends the mundane ritual of dining. It's a jaunt into a realm where every sense is regaled, every craving satiated.

So, when the road takes you to New Buffalo, let the trail of satisfaction lead you to The Stray Dog. It's not merely a restaurant; it's a chapter in the chronicle of New Buffalo, an ode to the timeless dance of good food, excellent service, and the simple...

I decided to give The Stray Dog Bar & Grill a try since it was in the area and it had great reviews. When it comes to food, cleanliness and the service I can be very particular as far if the food looks presentable, tastes good, if the place looks clean and if the service is professional and nice.

The server was nice, the place was clean and the food was good. The only complaint I have is that a few of the girls at the front checking customers in in which a few were not so friendly towards me. When I came inside and asked said hello, may I get a table for two and she told me it would be an hour wait. Did not greet me at all and asked me if I would like rooftop or inside. I told her whichever is first available. She wrote down my name and number and mentioned that I will receive a text on when the table would be ready. So I told her I will keep on eye out for it and walk around outside since it was a nice day.

I come back inside since it was like already an hour wait and I realized that I don’t have service and went to the front to mention to one of the girls that I don’t have any service to let me know once my table will be ready. She said ok and that I haven’t been called yet. An hour has passed mind you…I go up after waiting an hour and 10 mins. I go up to a different girl and she said that my time was up and that I would wait for a table to be available. I was like I told the other girl that I was here in the building waiting in front of them to let me know. She acknowledged it and would call me if I am called verbally. Never was called and ended up waiting an hour and 20 mins. I went up there for the 3rd time and I had asked how much longer and if I wouldn’t have I would of have been waiting longer and I asked if it will be longer I will then leave because this was ridiculous since I’ve been communicating with the girls at the front that I was in the building and just ignored the whole fact of me mentioning to them that I was here and to verbally call me since I had no signal. It was a frustrating experience. I get that it was busy since it was a Saturday but I feel as a customer I should have not been ignored in the matter of that I was in...

My friend and I visited this restaurant for the first time a few days ago, because we heard good things about it & they always seem to be very busy during the summertime. However, within minutes after we entered the establishment, we were hostilely greeted by one of the managers (short older woman with glasses) who started grilling my friend with very intrusive questions about his service animal & what kind of disability he had, what duties he provides, and how he protects him? Firstly, my friend's dog was clearly a service animal wearing it's special harness, was on a leash, and was very well-trained (not barking or acting rambunctious like other dogs normally do). My friend was very offended by her line of questioning & refused to give specifics as to the nature of his disability cause it's actually illegal to ask those type of personal questions. Once my friend tried to give a clear but evasive answer to this manager, she persisted by repeating her questions in a more derogatory way & implied that she wouldn't allow us to be sat unless we gave her more specific answers. Since we traveled far to dine there & we didn't want to create a huge public scene at the front of the restaurant around a bunch of other people, we answered her questions & were soon seated. Later on during the course of our meal, one of the other managers (really tall gentleman with dark hair) came by to check on us & we expressed to him our dismay about what transpired with the other manager in regards to my friend's service animal. He very politely explained that the reason she was asking those direct questions was probably cause she was training new staff on how to question guests with service animals. We thanked him for his kind patient explanation. But, we still think it's ironic that the name of the restaurant suggests that they take kindly to animals, but appear to be very discrimatory when it comes to...