You pay for all-you-can-eat and get rushed out after one plate. No refills (at least not from the server I had) and poor treatment overall. When you bring it up, they just say “What can we do?” — but when you give them solutions, they do nothing. I will not be back and do not recommend this place. They come across as a money-hungry “family business.” Hopefully, they treat their family better than they treat their customers.
Debbie Sharlow
We were in last week for a DELICIOUS CHICKEN DINNER. This was our first time and we will be back. Our server Mamee(?sorry on spelling).. I do have to say I have never had anybody as delightful as her! A jewel! 😊
The atmosphere was great. Enjoyed the whole experience!
kevin mil
I cannot say enough about the food. This blows Frankenmuth out of the water. Our server Tom did a great job and boxed up our leftovers for us. We will return, worth the drive.
Atmosphere: 5
Alec Woods
best dining experience in northern Michigan
Brad The Wizard
We got to the Dam site in just as they opened. The chicken was recommend to us by friends. Its an old school place that knows how to cook chicken right. The fried chicken outside was perfectly crispy & inside tender and moist. Seasoned right & was quality chicken. Couldn't and wouldn't ask for it to better. We went to Zehnders the next evening and I had the fried chicken there as well. Zehnders is not recommend in my opinion there seasoning is off & chicken was low quality. Dam site inn cooks the chicken the way its susposed to be done.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle Leazier
We have driven past the Dam Site Inn hundreds of times through the years. Saturday evening we decided to give it a go. Wow. Impressed and we will be back. It is homemade deliciousness! The fried chicken is like how grandma used to make it. Oh and the perch…ahhhmazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The buttery homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, chicken gravy…it was all delicious.
What made our visit exceptional was our server, Matt. He told us the history, we chatted about concerts! He was so personal and Dam good at his job. We did not have to wait for anything.
We will see you soon!!
Syd Electric
Greatest combination of Family and Fine dining. Hidden in the woods is a plus. All staff was remarkable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Antenna Man
Classic dining Indian atmosphere that is clean and airy and frozen in time. The damn side in is a restaurant from the good old days with good food served in a fine environment. Service is good to acceptable but not great. This probably has to do with the availability of the labor at the end of the season. This place is a must for us at least once a year. Fantastic decorations at Halloween.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Relish Tray, All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Halloween Table Setting
Lori H
We live nearby and dine here at least once a year when it's not too crowded with tourists. Love to visit in the fall and view the pumpkins. Broiled whitefish is lovely as is the chicken of course. Excellent service and such a nice iconic restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Hoekstra
The atmosphere here is an upscale house feel. Warm and inviting on the inside. However since they removed the Dam years ago the outside view is a little, blah.
We ordered the all you can eat Pan Fried Chicken Dinner ($30). This consists of a Salad or Cole slaw, Assorted crackers with butter, Buttermilk biscuits with honey, Buttered Noodles, Buttered Peas, Creamy whipped potatoes, Golden chicken gravy, and of course platter of chicken. Lets start with this warning there is a lot of butter on everything. Lets now go with the positives: the Salad was excellent and the French dressing was perfect. The mashed potatoes were extraordinary, in fact my favorite thing. The noodles were good. The biscuits were good and honey was excellent, I would have preferred yeast rolls, but still above average. Now for the bad: The Chicken was ehh. Supposedly the best chicken in Northern Michigan and made a bunch of lists. However, it was kinda dry and the coating was bland. I've had some truly delicious fried chicken in Frankenmuth and South Haven and this chicken doesn't come even remotely close. Also the crackers and butter is just strange. I don't like peas so I have no opinion on them. The person I was with had an even lesser opinion of the meal. The mashed potatoes and salad should not be the best part of the meal. That all being said the value was excellent.
The service was very friendly and happy, just not efficient. The waitress kept forgetting things and maybe waitressing isn't for her. She was very pleasant though.
Overall a 3 star review. Would I return? No! Not worth the drive for average chicken.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner
Dinner was delicious as usual. Our server George was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Relish Tray, All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner
MrToad TreeBark
Disappointing meal with friends. I had the chicken dinner (for $30). The chicken was inferior to that which can be bought at any of the local groceries. We had tepid mashed potatoes, some peas from a freezer bag, and a small salad. My drink was small, mostly crushed ice, and expensive. The men’s room smelled of urine, the windows are dirty, and the decor tired. I don’t mind paying for a quality meal and dining experience. But - personally- I can make MUCH better at home. Frankly, I feel ripped off.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Brian Gabourie
Classic... Get there and see for yourself
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Hogrebe
Not the quality I expect for the money. Advertised as fine dining but serves instant whipped potatoes instead of homemade. Peas were cold. Chicken was good but needed a little seasoning but good quality.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Fried Perch
TAB
Not just my favorite restaurant in northern Michigan, it’s my favorite restaurant anywhere and ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Fried Perch
You pay for all-you-can-eat and get rushed out after one plate. No refills (at least not from the server I had) and poor treatment overall. When you bring it up, they just say “What can we do?” — but when you give them solutions, they do nothing. I will not be back and do not recommend this place. They come across as a money-hungry “family business.” Hopefully, they treat their family better than they treat their customers.
We were in last week for a DELICIOUS CHICKEN DINNER. This was our first time and we will be back. Our server Mamee(?sorry on spelling).. I do have to say I have never had anybody as delightful as her! A jewel! 😊 The atmosphere was great. Enjoyed the whole experience!
I cannot say enough about the food. This blows Frankenmuth out of the water. Our server Tom did a great job and boxed up our leftovers for us. We will return, worth the drive.
Atmosphere: 5
best dining experience in northern Michigan
We got to the Dam site in just as they opened. The chicken was recommend to us by friends. Its an old school place that knows how to cook chicken right. The fried chicken outside was perfectly crispy & inside tender and moist. Seasoned right & was quality chicken. Couldn't and wouldn't ask for it to better. We went to Zehnders the next evening and I had the fried chicken there as well. Zehnders is not recommend in my opinion there seasoning is off & chicken was low quality. Dam site inn cooks the chicken the way its susposed to be done.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We have driven past the Dam Site Inn hundreds of times through the years. Saturday evening we decided to give it a go. Wow. Impressed and we will be back. It is homemade deliciousness! The fried chicken is like how grandma used to make it. Oh and the perch…ahhhmazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The buttery homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, chicken gravy…it was all delicious. What made our visit exceptional was our server, Matt. He told us the history, we chatted about concerts! He was so personal and Dam good at his job. We did not have to wait for anything. We will see you soon!!
Greatest combination of Family and Fine dining. Hidden in the woods is a plus. All staff was remarkable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Classic dining Indian atmosphere that is clean and airy and frozen in time. The damn side in is a restaurant from the good old days with good food served in a fine environment. Service is good to acceptable but not great. This probably has to do with the availability of the labor at the end of the season. This place is a must for us at least once a year. Fantastic decorations at Halloween.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Relish Tray, All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Halloween Table Setting
We live nearby and dine here at least once a year when it's not too crowded with tourists. Love to visit in the fall and view the pumpkins. Broiled whitefish is lovely as is the chicken of course. Excellent service and such a nice iconic restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The atmosphere here is an upscale house feel. Warm and inviting on the inside. However since they removed the Dam years ago the outside view is a little, blah.
We ordered the all you can eat Pan Fried Chicken Dinner ($30). This consists of a Salad or Cole slaw, Assorted crackers with butter, Buttermilk biscuits with honey, Buttered Noodles, Buttered Peas, Creamy whipped potatoes, Golden chicken gravy, and of course platter of chicken. Lets start with this warning there is a lot of butter on everything. Lets now go with the positives: the Salad was excellent and the French dressing was perfect. The mashed potatoes were extraordinary, in fact my favorite thing. The noodles were good. The biscuits were good and honey was excellent, I would have preferred yeast rolls, but still above average. Now for the bad: The Chicken was ehh. Supposedly the best chicken in Northern Michigan and made a bunch of lists. However, it was kinda dry and the coating was bland. I've had some truly delicious fried chicken in Frankenmuth and South Haven and this chicken doesn't come even remotely close. Also the crackers and butter is just strange. I don't like peas so I have no opinion on them. The person I was with had an even lesser opinion of the meal. The mashed potatoes and salad should not be the best part of the meal. That all being said the value was excellent.
The service was very friendly and happy, just not efficient. The waitress kept forgetting things and maybe waitressing isn't for her. She was very pleasant though.
Overall a 3 star review. Would I return? No! Not worth the drive for average chicken.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner
Restaurantji Recommends
Dinner was delicious as usual. Our server George was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Relish Tray, All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner
Disappointing meal with friends. I had the chicken dinner (for $30). The chicken was inferior to that which can be bought at any of the local groceries. We had tepid mashed potatoes, some peas from a freezer bag, and a small salad. My drink was small, mostly crushed ice, and expensive. The men’s room smelled of urine, the windows are dirty, and the decor tired. I don’t mind paying for a quality meal and dining experience. But - personally- I can make MUCH better at home. Frankly, I feel ripped off.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Classic... Get there and see for yourself
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not the quality I expect for the money. Advertised as fine dining but serves instant whipped potatoes instead of homemade. Peas were cold. Chicken was good but needed a little seasoning but good quality.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Fried Perch
Not just my favorite restaurant in northern Michigan, it’s my favorite restaurant anywhere and ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner, Fried Perch
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