First timer. Drove past this place about a billion times. Under-whelming experience. Couldn't pay me to come back. Service was slow and confused--had to keep checking in on if the server remembered to place appetizer and drink orders. ‍‍ Food was overpriced and un-flavorful--is it an Asian restaurant? A Mexican restaurant? Or a pizza restaurant? Figure it out. Decor was cute enough--which is why I think they can get away with charging highway robbery for sub el-taco tasting food. Zero stars if it was an option read more

Nice conversational spot in the front area. Back room gets a bit too noisy to chat with your friends. The food is ALWAYS top notch. Menu had changed since I was last there - but so have my dietary needs - so I was happy for the options that fit! Service was great too! read more

Food was awful and overpriced. The vibes are cute, but that's not enough! Will not be coming back

I truly enjoyed seeing the precautions this place took for C19. Along with that, the ambiance was super cozy when I visited on a cold fall evening. The rice bowl is a unique creation, a blend of different types of foods and it was absolutely super tasty. Some things I would try are - the nachos, the shrimp tacos, the rice bowl and the margs. My experience was great and I hope to go back soon! I want to try the coffee and the sweets. read more

Gran Castor - Rice Bowl and La Flaca (Skinny Marg) - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

See all

My wife and I finally tried this place after living in Troy for for a year and a half and continually hearing we need to try this place. It was so good! I got the Elote pizza and my wife got the Mac and cheese and some tacos. For an appetizer we also tried out the queso and some nachos. Elote pizza:stellar, I would get a protein on it next time though. Mac & Cheese:stellar Tacos:good Nachos:good but different, they have pickled carrots Queso:this was the only thing we didn't like, not to say it was bad it just wasn't for us. It is more of a cheese dip and an actual queso sauce When everything opens up 100% we will be returning for date. The interior looked really cool when I went to pick up the food. Great place, worth the money. read more

See all

AMAZING FOOD and Margaritas!!! House margarita pitcher 10/10 Blueberry infused margarita 10/10 Tacos: Hancho Hot 9/10, shrimp po boy 8/10 , and bahn mi 9/10 are on the first plate. Tacos: Baha'i mi 9/10 carne asada 8.5/10 and ahi tuna 4/10. read more

See all

Nice atmosphere and good service. I love their infused margaritas!!! One of my favorites

We like coming here for a late night snack, and a cocktail. There is a great lounge area near the bar, but you can only order appetizers and drinks if you sit in the lounge. It's a wonderful spot to snuggle up next to the fireplace when the weather is cold. My favorite thing on the menu is that chips with queso they also have monthly specials for margaritas. They're usually pretty good! read more

Gran Castor - Nacho Margarita - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

A favorite spot for drinks, food, and a fun environment! I've been coming here for a few years and love how lively and festive the ambiance is. There's lots of different seating options, an indoor fire pit, as well as outdoor seating. There's also been wonderful service every time I've come in. The menu offers Mexican inspired dishes with a fun twist. I've tried a few different dishes but the elote pizza keeps me coming back! It's definitely a unique item and might not be everyone's favorite but I am personally a huge fan! read more

Very slow service. Dirty tables. Bathroom out of paper towel and air dryer didn't work. Salsa bottles at the table were dirty...the bottles looked (and felt) like they haven't been wiped in over a month. read more

YUM! The tacos were to die for. The burrito was also very good. I was full after just two tacos! Server was very kind and attentive. Definitely suggest paying a couple more $$ for the specialty drinks instead of the margaritas... I started with a marg and didn't taste any tequila, but was very pleased with my next cocktail. Will definitely be back for those tacos!! Also very much enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

First time trying this place out based on a recommendation from a friend and our group was impressed. Very cool place to have drinks. Food was fantastic. Burrito was perfectly made and filled with flovor and even the black beans and rice were also amazing. Oh and the Mac and cheese..... read more

I've waited and waited to try this place, mostly waited because we just never got on that side of Rochester? Or because that corner is always so busy.. But finally after heading to the grocery store we decided it was now or never! We walked in on a Sunday afternoon. They had the doors open and the big windows for the patio and there was a nice breeze coming through the restaurant. Felt like a vacation, really! Anyways, we walked in and immediately greeted. We sat at the bar and looked around to see what all the fuss was about. It was nice. Our bartender server went over drinks and food and we ordered. I got a castor margarita to get the full experience!! It was good but went down super fast.. I then ordered a house margarita and I actually enjoyed that margarita better. I could taste the tequila in it which, I've come to realize I'm a tequila on the rocks girl. Our food: we decided to make a pizza and breadsticks. Who doesn't order pizza at a latin restaurant? The server/bartender told us that they were great as a light bite and made fresh as you order in a wood-burning oven. Here's the thing- the bottom always gets done before the rest of the pizza in a wood burning. So here we are with a pizza with a burnt bottom or so it was for us and breadsticks. Honestly the breadsticks were enough for me and those were the shining star of our experience. The sticks are also made in the same oven but they were perfect, not burnt like that pizza. We did order the donuts and let's be real, that's all I really wanted going into this place. I've read about those donuts. I've seen pictures of the donuts and who doesn't like little donuts!! (Remember the donut place in Gibraltar? Almost like that!!) There are many places along Big Beaver, many. The drinks were good, dessert was better. I'd go back but it wouldn't be my first choice. I think you have to try it, but, maybe next time no pizza and stick to what they are known for: tacos and burritos, salsa and guacamole. read more

See all

Honestly, I was so looking forward to going back to Gran Castor. Pre-pandemic it had a chill vibe with good food and great service. What happened?? My husband and I went in today for a cocktail and dinner. There was one couple at a booth and another pair at a small table. There were employees everywhere, but when we asked for a booth because my husband is 6'5", we were told we couldn't have one because of potential large parties (again... there were 4 people there). We decided to sit at the bar instead and were ignored before finally getting up to leave. I'm not sure anyone even noticed as they were too busy having personal conversations in the open air kitchen. We aren't going back and, based on how the staff treated us, nobody will care anyway. read more

Perfect girls night destination. Very cute atmosphere and very tasty food! Service was excellent!! Go now

Party of 2 on Tuesday @ 7 PM - We were seated immediately but Gran Castor was packed! SERVICE = ***** Joshua was our (fantastic) waiter and he was the perfect balance of attentive yet not smothering :) (Alcoholic) BEVERAGES = ***** Their margaritas are amazzzzing - which for me means tastes delicious but you can taste the alcohol too. TACOS = ***** PIZZA = ***** Perfect! Made in a wood fired - Nom DONUTS = *****(*) Melt in your mouth!!! All in all - I'm going to become a regular PS Nearly all pizza is "brick oven" but often use electric cooking methods which takes away all the taste I love. Also, since the wood fired pizzas cook MUCH quicker/evenly, any produce on it (in theory) retains more of their nutrients. read more

Modern Mexican. This place has got a good vibe and great food. Happy hour is also pretty good.

This place was awesome! The aesthetic gets a 10/10 and so does the food. HIGHLY recommend the ahi tuna tacos. When I go back I will for sure be getting three of those. The pizza was surprisingly very good too. Only thing I will say is their tres leches is definitely not tres leches. It is a good dessert! But for sure not tres leches lol. Tastes more like cheesecake read more

See all

The first time here I wasn't a fan. Due to convince near work, I found myself here for a business lunch meeting. Whether it was a different choice in my order or a better chef, who knows, but I've changed my opinion and found a go to lunch option. I'm a big fan of the elote especial pizza, while my colleagues order rice bowl and a selection of the tacos. I am anxious to make my way back after work and give the margaritas with a side of chips a try. The queso dip and house salsas look delicious. Look forward to seeing you at the next table. read more

Brunch was good. Prices a bit expensive. Wait staff friendly. Music way too loud, especially for Sunday brunch. We asked to have music turned down, but someone kept turning it back up. Atmosphere is cozy with the fireplace and would be even better if you could hear the person next to you. read more

Second time going - the food did get better, but still not amazing. The pizza oven was down on a Thursday evening. The donuts are a MUST...best thing they have on their menu. 5-8 on a Thursday I was shocked at how busy it was. read more

A fantastic Cali Mex restaurant. The vibe and atmosphere is not something I normally call out at a place, but it is a particular highlight. All the food was terrific. Be warned, the hot chicken is volcano lava hot. read more

We've been wanting to try this spot since it opened and we finally had a chance this week. We are fans of the other Union Joints, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately it ended up being a bit of a disappointment. My wife and I both tried different items from the taco menu and were unimpressed. Mine was pretty dry and lacked much flavor. I asked for some sour cream to help it out...and was promptly charged $1.50 for it! I also had the taquito appetizer and had a similar reaction - dry, not very flavorful. I suppose we could go back and try some other stuff...but I'm not in a big hurry to do that. read more

Figured I'd give this place another shot but after my 3rd visit this place just kept on missing on the food. Cons: The tacos really lacked the flavor in the meat that you would expect from having some sort of element of authentic preparation....just bland. Nachos was always something my friends happen to order and it just became very inconsistent. Sometimes it would be salty, sometimes not at all. Not sure what was happening there. Pizza's were average so I hope things change from here on out. Pros: One bright side is the margaritas were decent and the servers have been always pleasant. Decor is great and the different seating areas were a nice touch. Conclusion: I get that this is more of a Mexican fusion place but if you're hungry or maybe craving tacos I would suggest going to Detroit for food. If you're looking for just a place to have some drinks this place could do. read more

Gran Castor - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

Good and welcoming atmosphere, amazing drinks and service. The food is good not great but would definitely go again for drinks! Bar staff is exceptional read more

I had a great experience here today! The interior of this place is awesome. I love the "Hola Folks" sign at the entrance. The coffee nook, Honcho, that is connected was also a lovely surprise. My lunch party started with the chips and salsa. We each ordered two items a piece. I got the half chopped salad and the side of the union mac and it was the perfect portion! The salad was excellent. The dressing was on point. I had to get the mac and cheese because it is my absolute favorite. We ended the meal with a coffee to go. I got the Americano and it was seriously delicious coffee. I will be back here for sure! Also, there's a cool fire pit in the middle and patio seating outside!! read more

Gran Castor - Hola folks! - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

See all

I love this place!! Great food, bomb margaritas, great atmosphere, and killer staff. Great for date night, but also kid friendly. read more

Gran Castor - Lounge Area of Gran Castor. - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

Last week on Wednesday I took my girlfriend out to this beautiful new restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, we waited up front for someone to greet us as it was our first time in. We waited 8-10 minutes before we decided to look for open seats at the bar. We unfortunately didn't find seats and made our way back to the front. The host wished up a good night which we corrected her and said we were looking for a seat for 2. Right as we explained that 2 guest left the bar and she informed us 2 seats opened up there. So we made our way to the bar and sat in the seats with dirty glasses. Waited for 15 minutes for Eric the bartender to acknowledge us but he was busy so we waited patiently. Eric asked one of the servers to clear the area for us and get us started off with some waters. In that time I saw an older man (we will call him Paul) with black shorts, shirt and hat grab a what looked like a cigarette from Eric. Eric greeted us with speed, I almost thought he had wheels on his shoes. He took our food and drink order, my girlfriend got the classic margarita and I got the spicy margarita and they were fantastic. Not too long after we got another round of drinks and received our food. I got the pulled pork burrito and my girlfriend got the chicken tacos and it was so good, I didn't need a box. But wanted to order one more drink, unfortunately Eric went on a break and a server stepped in and couldn't make the drinks. We were pretty upset at this point and asked to speak with a manager. Ironically Paul came out and told us that they were short staffed on servers. From our perspective none of the servers seemed stressed at all, one got us started and another stepped up into the bar. So my girlfriend and I were confused then. We mentioned a manager should be a bit more observant on the dining room when it's short staffed and Paul cut us off stating "you're right it's all my fault" and walked away. My girlfriend and I were in shock by the childish response paid cash for our bill and left. On our way out Eric apologizing and we ensured him he was working as hard as he could. We noticed he was cutting lines to order and we apologized that he wasn't getting the support he needed. Although he did waste a good amount of alcohol by leaving a tap running in my picture. Overall great food, drinks, concept and ambiance although the service and management were atrocious. If Paul is the type of manager who represents this business then we will not be returning which is unfortunate because the food and drinks are to die for. read more

Food was delicious, a little over priced...$9.50 for a small dish of queso.. Server Ray was knowledgeable and professional! We'll be back for sure! read more

Gran Castor - Table times are 90mins due to capacity restrictions - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

I'm not sure what the dining room is like. We sat in the bar on our visit to Gran Castor... the bar was nice and cozy with a fire place and lounge vibe. The drinks were good and the food delish! The staff was friendly as well. read more

We ordered the house salsa with a small side of the sweet pea guacamole, 3 honcho hot as the house, not hot with the dorado and the pollo asado as the champ. I got the jackfruit carnitas as the house, dorado and the champ tacos. The Peruvian green chili salsa is the best, the guac was a bit too vanilla and tasteless to me, not loving it topped with the honey roasted nuts much either, would be nice to have a spicy and savory version of the guac, that's my thing. The house salsa is okay, but nothing special and the salsa verde is okay as well. It would also be nice if it were possible to put the jackfruit carnitas on the honcho nachos, I would have ordered that for sure as our starter. The chips aren't homemade, not bad, but not as good as I had hoped. We both liked our respective champ tacos, loved the crunchy corn taco, but it was nicely contained by the corn soft shell. The tacos were better with the Peruvian green chili salsa and some Cholula on them for us both. The tacos weren't bad without the Peruvian green chili and cholula, but they were heads and shoulders better with the 2 condiments on them. As a result the tacos need a bit more flare and kick to them next time for me if I am to not have to add anything on them. Still it's great that they offer jackfruit for the vegetarian in me. Not a ton of taco options for me usually otherwise. read more

See all

Great place to watch football and eat some delicious food. Queso and sweet pea guacamole perfect starters. Tacos full of flavor, chopped salad full of veggies. Tortilla soup was so filling could've been a meal. Kids loved the pizza. Al staff were friendly and super helpful. Waitress Sarah attentive and had great good recommendations. Thanks read more

Good food, our waiter was nice. The house music was techno-ish and didn't fit the Mexican theme.

Finally had a chance to come in and give this place a shot - we have been to Honcho numerous times, so we were excited for Gran Castor opening up closer to our home. When we visited, it happened to be Troy Restaurant Week, so I took advantage of that to try various items on the menu. The Sticky Ribs we're prepared very well, had lots of meat that fell right off the bone. However, I felt that this dish lacked flavor so I wouldn't rush back for this app. The Grilled Avocado Salad was awesome! Super fresh, and a decent sized portion that I really enjoyed. Everything in this salad cake together really well - I would highly recommend this dish. The star of my meal was the Chopped Brisket Taco (Champ style). I would come back to this place just for this taco. Meat cooked to perfection, full of flavor, and a nice kick from the pickled veggies and fried onions (love the crunch from those!). This is a must get in my opinion, as long as you can handle a little bit of heat. My wife ordered the Pizza Pastor.....yummmmmm! The crust on their pizza is incredible - some of the best we've had in a while. For the price, you definitely get your money's worth. We couldn't finish it all, and it tasted just as good heated up the next day!! The atmosphere here is superb, although the music does tend to get pretty loud. Interior is awesome, especially with the fireplace and decor - job well done! Only reason I gave this place a 4 instead of a 5 was because of the lack of flavor on the sticky ribs, and the service was not the greatest. Our waitress was not very attentive, but we did see other wait staff doing an excellent job so we just happened to not get a good draw. Also, we were very pleased with the draft beer selection. Great craft beers on tap is always a plus!! read more

Gran Castor - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

I thought this was going to be a lot better than it was. I'm never a fan of having to order and pay for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant but the red salsa was really good. I didn't order a margarita but my friends said theirs was amazing. I didn't love the menu and the three tacos I ordered were not good and cold. It has a cool atmosphere.. just thought the food could have been A LOT better. read more

Gran Castor is an excellent addition to the Troy community. Troy has been in need of more creative restaurants and this is the perfect fit! I had high expectations coming in, especially because I have been to Honcho in Clarkston. If you appreciate beautiful decor, this space will not disappoint. I came with a colleague for lunch on Monday at noon and expected a wait, but we were pleasantly surprised with no wait and very attentive service. We both ordered the chop salad and an appetizer of the pea guacamole. I would highly recommend it all. Great prices, high quality food, vibrant atmosphere. I'm looking forward to going back for their coffee! read more

Gran Castor - Beautiful atmosphere - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

See all

This was our first time going, after being a frequent visitor of the other franchise restaurants. We waited almost an hour and a half, not realizing they took reservations. The bar area was nice and the staff friendly and accommodating. Queso, chicken and steak tacos, Caesar salad - everything was a hit. We loved the experience and plan to return with a reservation. I have since gotten a carryout and they have a coffee / carryout area that was easy to navigate. The queso is unique and the best we ever had. read more

We came here to eat during the soft opening on one of the first days Gran Castor was open. A few of the menu items were limited. Gran Castor is at the location of the former Hooters at Rochester and Big Beaver rd in Troy, Michigan. It's operated by the same group that runs Vinsetta Garage and the Clarkston Union, which are some of our favorite local restaurants. They gutted the old building and replaced virtually all of the fixtures. (It appears they even took out the modern-style windows and replaced them with some old, weathered frames). It has a large bar but somewhat limited seating table wise. Gran Castor has a large fire place in the middle of the restaurant with an exhaust vent that kind of reminds me of what you'd find in a ski lodge. I am pretty sure it is for decoration only but who knows? Here is a description of the items we ordered today: Mango frozen margarita: Sweet and sugary. If there was alcohol in it, I could not taste it. Must have been some though because I was a little wobbly on the way out. Queso dip: They queso came in a little cast iron tray which itself was in an aluminum tin full of tortilla chips. The queso was browned on the top and garnished with green onions. It was OK but I feel like they could tone down the sour cream to cheese ratio. Very sour creamy. Maybe I am more of a queso traditionalist. Still good. Bahn Mi taco: Was piled with a heaping quantity of pulled pork, but the meat it self was quite bland and could have used more seasoning. It was topped with shredded red cabbage and some pickled carrots and jalapeno. Menu claims it was also topped with Korean BBQ sauce and cilantro-sesame aioli, but I couldn't really taste either. When I am thinking Bahn Mi, I am thinking cilantro. You could upgrade this dish by adding some fresh cilantro onto the taco. Brisket burrito: Large burrito stuffed full of brisket, lettuce, black beans, lettuce, cheese, lettuce, etc. Yes, lots of romaine lettuce. Too much. Every bite chock full of lettuce. Fortunately, the outside of the burrito was coated in thin layer of fried cheese. Wasn't enough to save this dish. The sides of rice and black beans that came with it were alright though. (The brisket burrito was listed as $13.95 on the menu but billed through as $15.95 which was also pretty annoying). Overall: Gran Castor is one of the fancier venues to get Mexican food in the area. The prices are high, the food is average. I'll visit again in six months to see how they have tuned/tinkered the menu to get the kinks out. read more

See all

My wife and I decided to try Gran Castor tonight for the first time. My review is mixed and to be continued. After 30 days of being open, they are still serving from their "soft opening" menu. It seems like the good stuff is greyed out on the menu and not available. Quite disappointing. Upon arrival, we were ushered to a room in the back. The room has 2 long tables with maybe 20 or so chairs. I'm not sure why we were tucked back there when there were plenty of other tables and booths available in the main area. We were the only ones in there when we sat down, but soon thereafter, a birthday party showed up. It was so incredibly loud in there that we could not have a conversation. We started off with the chips and queso appetizer. The house made chips are VERY good and the queso is not bad. It lacked flavor, but was made better by mixing in some of the table-available hot sauce. I'll give the chips and queso a B-. My wife and daughter split a cheese pizza which they found to be quite good. I ended up having a slice, but more on that in a moment. I ordered the Gran Castor Burrito with the Taco Night beef. To say the burrito was disappointing is an understatement. It didn't taste horrible, it didn't have any flavor - AT ALL. Cutting into the burrito, I discovered there was very little beef inside. It was completely loaded with black beans, lettuce and tomatoes. Not to mention, half of the plate was loaded with flavorless black beans (and a scoop of rice). I mean, if you're looking to get your GI tract moving, this is the meal for you. I couldn't eat it and sent it back. Not wanting anything else, I had a slice of the pizza my wife and daughter split. I have to agree with them, it was very good. The pizza gets an A! Our server, Jennifer, was great. She was attentive and we never had to ask for drink refills, which in my book, is an A+. Even though I told her it wasn't necessary to remove the burrito from the bill, she did. I still tipped her for the full bill amount. The biggest question I have is this: What the hell is this picture doing in a restaurant, especially in a private dining area. I nearly lost my appetite. Unless you are serving Moose Knuckle, the picture (see attached) probably doesn't belong here. This all said, we will be back when they have a full menu so we can try some of the unavailable items ... whenever that is. read more

Gran Castor - Latin American Near Me - Troy, Michigan

We weren't sure if this location was open or not but decided to take a chance to travel to Troy. It was worth the drive. Parking lot was full but we we were able to find a parking spot in the lot over. I knew this location as Hooters. It may be doctorate differently but the essence of it remained the same. The entrance and the front with the center with a fireplace with comfty seating and the eating bar with white comfortable bar seats. It was familiar yet it had changed. The second part past the bathroom was where the bar was located (it used to be the game room when it was Hooters). We had a pitcher of Sangrias. We inquired about the menu and was pleasantly surprised that it was Mexican entrees. Not the typical Mexican restaurant with the fajitas, no, no, no. Wrong place. We the had the appetizers pork ribs and the bread with beef. We also ordered the rice bowl with pulled pork. We added more kimchi and fresh cilantro to our bowl. Delicious. Our favorite was the rice bowl. I circled it in the pictures we attached. We decided we wanted to finish our Sangrias in a more comfortable seating so we asked to have our drinks moved to the center. Very comfortable and relaxing. Our bartender/server made sure to check in with us often. Our experience was very pleasant, the food was every bit Union quality. We will be back. I had asked our bartender what the name of Gran Castor meant as we were having a difficult time remembering/recalling it. Gran Castor translate to Big Beaver. Ahhhh, perfect. Much easier to remember. We left with a big smiles, a full belly and good vibes of this gem. It's going to a favorite. read more

See all