Art & Jake's Sports Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Northville Charter Township

My wife and I were fans of the Washington Twp location, but living in Redford we didn't get out there as much as we'd have liked to, so we were excited when we found out a new location was opening far closer to us in Northville. I can safely say after two visits in as many weeks it has not disappointed at all.

We first went on Sat. 9/30 at around lunchtime and liked what we saw; spacious interior with lots of seating of all kinds: low top, high top and booths. The booths are especially spacious, and I can see seating three people side by side on each side very easily in one booth. Lots of TVs of course and they do Club Keno also. We were seated indoors but the weather that day was nice so their patio with fireplaces was open also and looked like a very inviting space. We perused the extensive menus for both food and drink; the Mrs landed on a Tito's Tropical and I had a tall Sam Adams Octoberfest. Sam was our waitress and was very personable; nice and helpful and answered all our questions. Lunchwise we couldn't quite decide with so many choices so we decided to share the Meat Lovers pizza; so good! We had enough to take home for later, so if prices seem high to some people, I can assure you the quality and portions are price-appropriate. We were very happy with the first visit and decided to return the next weekend with our son for his birthday.

On Sun. 10/8 the three of us visited again and Sam was once again our waitress, a nice surprise and she remembered us from the weekend before. For drinks the son had a Strawberry Spiked Lemonade, the Mrs had a Peach on the Beach and I tried the Bel-Air; all three were very good. The son wanted an appetizer so we shared the burnt ends ... soooooo good, very tender with a sweet sauce and a hint of heat, served with a garlic baguette. This time the Mrs had the chicken fajitas for lunch, I had the Smokey River BBQ burger and rocket fries and the son had the chicken parm grinder ... we were impressed once again at the quality and portions. My wife didn't finish hers only because she was full, and I can easily see two people sharing the chicken parm grinder, its that substantial. Management went the extra mile here as well, as they noticed the lettuce for my wife's fajitas didn't look so good before they brought it out, so they made sure to replace it before service and everything was great. The son got regular fries with the grinder, which were battered and crispy, and the rocket fries are wedges with a sweet/heat dry rub that was tasty. The burger was made to my order, medium well and was great. There was no room for dessert even though they do look very good as well. We left very satisfied with everything from the service to the food to the atmosphere and we'll...

When there is a big game on, the atmosphere seems great and everyone seems to be having a good time. When the place first opened we went about once a month and the food was consistently good. Then we started having small problems with the service and we didn't go as often. Then eating dinner with my family I look at my half drunk coke and see a lemon seed in it. I didn't want to make a fuss with my family there. On the way out I told the manager about it and he said that never happens and the bartender must have dropped that in the ice. I realize mistakes happen but I have to wonder what else is being dropped in there that I didn't see. So we didn't go back for a long time. We went today for dinner and looking at the menu I asked for boneless wings as pictured below. Then in the section labeled "dipping sauces" I asked for sweet-hot. The waitress asked if I wanted ranch and since that wasn't in the list of dipping sauces I assumed it was a standard thing. Then they arrived, they were dry with a crust on them, looking nothing like the picture on the menu. I asked about my sweet and hot dipping sauce and was told that apparently some of the "dipping sauces" are dry rubs that they cook on the wings. So I tried to explain I was expecting a dipping sauce and was told again it's in the dry rub like I am an idiot. So not what I wanted at all. They tasted dry and the ranch was just generic. My wife had the turkey panini which was fine but nothing something we would go back for. So it's going to be a long while before we go back for dinner. If you go, remember you can't go by the pictures on the menu and check for something in your drink that...

Another not-bad but not-great-either sports bar type restaurant. It's a decent sports bar, and if what you're after is drinks and televised sports you'll be well served by Art & Jakes. The "& Grill" part is where they just don't measure up. The menu's a disorganized jumble of pub appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, pasta, and so on... they try to offer a bit of everything, and end up doing nothing particularly well.

I've visited several times, and tried something different on each occasion, but every time I've left thinking I could've gotten the same food prepared far better at any of a half-dozen places nearby.

Given the long delays for service on each visit, I'm assuming they're quite badly understaffed. After my last visit, I suspect some of them just aren't fully trained yet either, as multiple errors were made in our order and the "fresh" iced tea that was served at one point was opaque and sludgy as though it hadn't been brewed properly.

It's not quite in "bar that serves food because they're legally obliged to in order to keep their liquor license" territory, but you can do far better at any of several other restaurants in the area like BJ's...