Karl's Cabin Restaurant & Banquets in Plymouth — Restaurant in Salem Township

We loved the rustic decor of Karl’s Cabin. It resembles those old log cabins often found in Northern Michigan. Although the restaurant is spacious, it feels very cozy and homey. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and were immediately seated at a nice booth near the window. Our waitress quickly greeted us at our table and was very attentive throughout our lunch. As we settled in to look over the menu, she offered to start us off with a plate of their warm bread (and we happily accepted).

I ordered a cup of their broccoli cheddar soup. It had a rustic texture with more bits of broccoli and other veggies than the typical factory-manufactured soup served by the majority of restaurants in the Detroit area. The ‘cheese flavor’ was strong and distinctive. It tasted like they used a good amount of fresh, grated, aged cheddar. I really enjoyed the soup.

That plate of their rustic, sliced bread brought by our waitress was a perfect compliment to the soup. The bread had a crunchy outer crust and a warm, soft interior. YUMMM. Although I loved the soup, the next time I visit Karl’s Cabin I want to try their ale & onion soup! From what I could see, it seems to be similar to a crock of traditional french onion soup. Their ale & onion soup was pricey ($13) but I noticed a lot of diners eating it, so that makes me think it must be pretty special.

Next, before my entree, I enjoyed a cold, crisp house salad. The salad was a bed of mixed greens, loaded with sliced and diced veggies. Wait? Are those radish slices? YEP! Obviously, Karl’s Cabin likes to put a little extra effort into their presentation. The ranch dressing they served was also delicious. You could tell almost instantly that it was not that thick, icky bottled dressing but rather the smoother, tastier, ‘homemade’ version that most people prefer! YUM.

I ordered their chicken piccata as an entree and it was very tasty! Tender chicken cutlets were lightly floured and sauteed, then tossed in a lemony piccata sauce. The sprinkle of capers added a nice sparkle of brine to the dish. This version of chicken piccata had artichoke hearts that perfectly enhanced the taste of the lemony piccata sauce. MMmmm. Two lightly breaded, FRIED artichoke hearts garnished the dish. The first one I ate was a little overdone. The leaves of the artichoke were dry and as I swallowed, it felt like I might choke! In my opinion, those fried artichokes weren’t necessary. The dish is awesome without them. Next time, I'd pick them off.

All of this deliciousness was served over a bed of creamy, freshly-mashed potatoes that I swear tasted like the mashed potatoes my grandma used to make for Thanksgiving dinner. (She was an excellent cook!) More please.

I was a little disappointed with the side of green beans almandine I was served. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like several times this summer, I've been served undercooked green beans! Is this a new thing? UGH. I like fresh, cooked green beans but these were SO ‘fresh’ they were squeaking when I bit into them. If the cook was going for a ‘tender-crisp’ sautee, he missed the mark on the ‘tender’ part! GACK.

Overall, I enjoyed Karl’s Cabin. The warmth of their cabin vibe was quirky and comforting. The waitress was awesome. The menu had a lot of great options. Obviously this place is doing a lot right! Everyone should try Karl’s at least once! I’m going to try it twice, because I still want to try their Ale...

7/3/25

I came here today because I came across an advertisement two weeks ago and the food looked amazing. IT WAS!! I'm somewhat dumbfounded that in all my years, I had never heard of Karls. I'm wondering if my Parents had ever been here while they were still living but I'll never know. At any rate, let me tell you about an Incredible experience that all of you should try for Yourselves. I arrived and entered this enormous and wonderfully landscaped venue and was greeted immediately by two precious young ladies, one of whom guided me to my table. My waiter, Thomas, was an Amazing Young Man who knows his stuff. I ordered a cocktail while I browsed the Wonderful Menu options. Thomas returned to take my order and I inquired if he has made my cocktail 🍹 since I had observed him behind the bar. He said that he had and I then complemented him on my PERFECTLY Balanced drink 🍷 (Amaretto and Cranberry). I placed my order for the Barbeque Platter which consist of Mac & Cheese 🧀, Barbeque Ribs, Smoked Brisket, Smoked Sausage 🌭, Cold Slaw, and some Outstanding Fresh Baked Bread 🍞🥪. Where do I start......this Bread was Awesome. Nice and warm with a Crust that has a distinct "Crunch" as you take a bite. It reminds of a Deli that I frequent, and have reviewed, that utilizes "Twice Baked" Bread. The Mac & Cheese 🧀 was Outstanding and gave me flashbacks to my mother taking her freshly baked Mac & Cheese out of the oven when I was young. Baked and not like the instant stuff you get at most places. They utilize a blend of cheese's that creates an Amazing Flavor. And I asked how they get the slight "crunch" on the top and was told they use a sprinkle of bread crumbs on top. Awesome 👍. The Ribs were so tender that they, Literally, fell off of the bones. The Smoked Brisket and Smoked Sausage were Fantastic with a robust Smokey Flavor. The Barbeque Sauce was a Tangy Blend. I prefer a sweeter blend but that is a "personal" flavor choice. But this Sauce was Outstanding as well. Thomas checked up on me regularly and provided exceptionally Great Service. Alas, I couldn't eat everything but this Young Gentleman provided me a container to take the rest home. The ambiance of this Establishment is a Wonderful, Rustic, "Cabin up North" feel which is my kind of place. I can't recommend it enough and encourage Everyone to come and enjoy Karls...

Our excellent experience started with the staff's willingness to help when we messed up an online reservation. Even though the reservation mistake was all on us, they got us a table on the patio as we intended, and were gracious about it.

The service was excellent. Our server, Laura, was personable, professional, attentive, and efficient. And people, in this time when restaurant staffing is so challenging, servers of this caliber are hard to find. Please consider tipping a minimum of 20%, and 30% is appreciated.

The menu is varied, and the food compositions work. Have you ever been to a restaurant that tries to convince you that slathering peach barbecue sauce on salmon is sophisticated? Not here- the menu works and you'll find compatible flavors and components.

Technical execution was perfect. We were there at the dinner hour and the place was getting slammed. Only a great restaurant ensures that the cooking is perfect even when the place is hopping. Everything in our four-top came to the table perfectly done and cooked. Karl's supports the hiring of local Culinary program graduates, and this back-of-the house investment pays off and is evident.

Food quality is also excellent. The scallops were pan roasted with a perfect crust. That tells me they go to the extra expense to obtain dry-pack sea scallops. Other indicators of the high-quality ingredients and the time they take to prep right are noticeable. There weren't any bones in the walleye, vegetable sides were perfectly cooked and very fresh, and sauces were done right (buerre blanc isn't a cinch to make).

I highly...