Pak's Backyard — Restaurant in Port Austin Township

This was our first visit to Paks and we had some issues.

We were sat off to the side in the most western table. The waitress came over to take our drink order, we're all hungry and ordered food at the same time. The waitress seemed like a nice girl, but she really needed to speak up more to be able to even hear her over the ambient din of house music and other patrons. We very nicely asked her to speak up as we were having trouble hearing her, she did her best and everything got ordered. Drinks came in a timely manner, and we all began chatting and enjoying ourselves.

A gentlemen, who I assume was a manager asked if he could swap umbrellas so he could provide some shade for the singer that was getting ready to start. We were more than accommodating to his request. We got up and moved our chairs, so he could make the exchange easier. When the exchange was done the new umbrella was much bigger but was not very stable at all we felt really bad that we had to ask for another, more stable umbrella. The manager made the swap again and all was good, and we resumed the table banter.

Shortly after the umbrella swaps were done, the singer started to play some music. It started at a nominal level and was ok, but then she turned it up, it was loud but still in the realm of reason. Then she turned it up even more.. To the point we had to scream so the person across the table could here you. Mind you the singer hasn't even begun to sing at this point. We politely asked her if she could turn it down a little, and she did. We were quickly approached by a lady that said she was and owner and were told that there was going to be live music and that the sing was a local girl and was very talented. But the tone that was used to tell us this was very condescending, as in, how dare we ask to have the music turned down at all... We explained nicely, that we all didn't mind the music, it was just the volume that it was at.

By this time and hour had past and we still hadn't received any of our food...

The singer started here set, and the volume went back up.. Again..

So by now we all are starving and can hold a conversation with the person across the table from us. The owner lady was happily siting over at another table entertaining what looked like her friends. We had to go find out waitress to find out what was going on with our food. She apologized, and the food quickly arrived. We all wolfed the food down because we were starving, and food took much longer than it should have. The food was very good, but at that point I think cardboard would have...

We were there today and were seated immediately outside. Great view. As we waited for our waitress to greet us, we watched more people be seated by the hostess. We decided what to order and put our menus away. Still not acknowledged or greeted or given waters. Watched another table get seated. Still nothing. Watched a table that came in AFTER us get waters and have their drink orders taken. Then watched as a waitress water and serve drinks with our hostess to an eight top. We were certain that we would be next. The hostess went back to the hostess stand. The waitress then went to the table behind us (a six top), which was seated AFTER us, greet them and begin to take their drink orders. So the two tables that came in after us were both greeted, watered and had drink orders taken before us. We decided to leave. As we were leaving there were three hostesses just standing at the hostess stand talking together. I let them know why we were leaving. The hostess replied "it was shift change". If that was an excuse then why did the other two tables that got seated AFTER us get taken care of quickly? As we walked away she sarcastically yelled "hope you gave a great day anyway!" We travel to Port Austin a couple times every summer...will not be returning to...

Food is ok, don't get the fried pickle chips, though! Service was VERY slow. I went 3 diff. Times during our stay in Port Austin. Sad to say, but service lacked on 2 of the 3 visits. We needed to remind our waitress to bring us our drinks several times before she brought them. When my burger arrived well done instead of medium, she offered to take it back and bring another. Since I'd waited 37 minutes for the first, I declined. She did apologize and I ate the overcooked burger. You'd have thought the manager might have come to speak w/me regarding all of this, but no. Nor was any sort of refund offered.

There were 7 of us on this boat trip, and at the 3 meals at Pak's. It's a fun place, on Friday evening, they had a three person band, which was nice, except they played all "downer" songs while we were there.

As I said, food wasn't all bad. Those in my group, and me with the exception of my burger, all enjoyed the food. The beer-battered fries are awesome! As are the pretzel...