CBK — Restaurant in Wayland Township

Our visit to CBK, on a Monday, was generally a positive experience. But, too expensive. Made reservation on-line, since its website says reservations recommended. No phone #, except for parties GT 6. Sports bar type atmosphere, several large screen TVs on the wall, all turned to sports. Noise level: not too loud. Able to have a conversation at the table. Service: great service, prompt. Servers were very busy. Seems like they need to hire more. Tables were available, but not cleared. Beer Wall: saw it advertised on billboard. Absolutely no information about it on the menu or in the restaurant. Waitress did not even give any info about it! I had to ask. You purchase a pre-paid card with a min of $10 on it. A bank of dispensers showing about 50 or so different beers, at least one cider. Take a glass from the storage area beneath dispensers, and place your card in a holder (above the dispenser) that reads your card and shows your balance. Press a button for the beer that you want, holding your glass under the dispenser spout. Each beer clearly lists $/oz (from .40/oz to .75/oz -- I think). Can try 10 or 15 or more different beers with a $10 card. Don't know how often the offerings on the Beer Wall change, but would be good to have posted along with instructions. You can save the balance on your card to use at at a later date. Food: Cheese steak egg rolls were good but too expensive ($10) Crab cakes ($16) were priced too high. Good, not great . 3 smallish crab cakes, not the crispy-on-the-outside kind. Specialty cocktails are priced high at $10 Steak Frites ($19) was OK -- but, a bit odd. The Jenga Fries have a very interesting appearance (logs of potato arranged in a Jenga pattern) The potato logs are about 5 or 6 inches long, about 1.5" x 1.5" rectangular) Basically, taste like baked potatoes, nothing special. Would much prefer regular French fries or a baked potato with sour creme. Perch platter ($17 + $4): Fish was quite good and had good crispy coating. But, my wife did not think it was perch. Truffle fries (+$4) were great. Desert? None is on the menu, and no desert menu was offered. Pricey, no deserts, OK -- but needs improvement. Need to offer instructions for Beer Wall, need to offer Beer Wall on menu, need to get a desert menu, need to lower prices to be more compatible with...

TL;DR Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich was more like dry hot chicken with donuts for bread.

As a rule, I eat the whole thing; I pay for it all; which gives me a right to complain online, if I feel its deserved, which usually it's not. However...

As I've mentioned earlier, the Nashville hot chicken sandwich was bad. Nashville chicken sandwiches are usually wet affairs, but everyone has right to be different. This one was different and in all the wrong ways. First it was pretty plain. The spice level is correct, it's the "hot" of the "Nashville hot" but mine had no sauce to it, and the chicken was itself a little too dry. (Although better than undercooked.) The toppings consist of the most finely shredded lettuce I've ever had. When shredded too fine, there's no water content left, leaving dry leaves on top of a dry sandwich.

Well, that's all that's inside the sandwich, so let's talk about the bun. Clearly CBK is in agreement with me that the bun makes any sandwich. Hell, they even brand the buns with "CBK" they are so proud of them... I am of the opinion that these were the worst buns I've ever had. The sugar content was so high it completely ruined the savory sandwich. It was quite reminiscent of eating two under fried donuts with a dry spicy chicken inside. That might sound good if it was a state fair, but I expected better of a place similar to CBK

The fries remind me of day-old fries which are then reheated in an air fryer. Definitely a precooked from frozen kind of vibe. I don't know that they are... but that's how they tasted to me. As a final note, the presentation of fries in a cup deserves an eye roll. I have this big empty plate with a bad chicken sandwich on it, and then this cup of fries awkwardly thrust at me. I guess I'll just dump these onto the plate then... you can have your cup back?

In conclusion, I would keep driving up to GR or down to Plainwell's old mill to get some better-quality food...

Outstanding beer selection and good beer prices.

Service varies. Sometimes it's good, sometimes terrible. I've had friendly servers/hosts there sometimes, but even when service is good the higher bar of real "hospitality" is lacking. I think this restaurant is mostly concerned with getting the gamblers fed (and tipsy) and not geared towards those who are on dates or meeting friends for dinner.

Philly egg rolls are tasty but the portion is tiny: a good appetizer for one person, a very small app for two. I think it was two egg rolls, presented in such a way to attempt making them look spread out. Not worth the price at all.

Burgers are good, baja tacos are good but small portion, mac & cheese is decent but pricey.

Walleye is affordable but not good. I suspect that's because varied fish sizes make it impossible to know when a big walleye fillet is cooked just right in a deep fryer. Mine was significantly overcooked and also had a stronger & less-pleasant taste than walleye usually does (freshness issue maybe?).

There is ample outdoor seating and also some games outdoors which are especially convenient if you're trying to keep kids occupied while the food...