A small hometown bar with amazing food and service! We came in on a weekday for lunch so it wasn't too busy, the staff were happy and greeted us with a smile and the food was served hot and quick! The menu is made up of great burgers and sandwiches - perfect spot for a quick lunch. I ordered the cheeseburger, it was perfectly cooked, juicy, good flavor. The fries weren't seasoned, and underneath the juicy burger left them a bit mushy and moist but overall the meal was great and I'd come back to try the Olive Burger our server recommended. We also tried the Patty Melt - it was good, but the burger was better! read more

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Iconic spot in EL. Really great to go with family when back in town. Basics with cool inventions for the menu. People are great. College town with the ability for actual adults vibe. read more

Peanut Barrel - Slawpy Burger - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

The Peanut Barrel is an East Lansing institution, and a place that I love visiting whenever I'm back on campus. I have many memories of warm summer nights on the patio, having a shroom burger on wheat with chips and two long islands. The menu is small and the bar is a bit divey (especially the bathroom), but it's homey and the food is good. There's usually a wait for the patio is the weather is nice, but it's worth it. It's definitely a nostalgic place for me and many other Spartans! On our most recent visit, I didn't want a full meal so we went with a grilled cheese sandwich to share. Our server recommended getting both cheeses, which was a good suggestion (and an up charge). The grilled cheese was pretty basic, but very tasty and I'd get it again. There's easy parking behind the building in a paid lot, or street parking available nearby. read more

Peanut Barrel - Long Island iced tea - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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Peanut Barrel is an East Lansing classic and has been around for many decades. I had many visits here in the mid/late 2000s and again in 2016 with a most recent visit of about a month ago. In the past, there were peanut shells all over the floor as part of the décor/ambiance/brand, but no more. My go-to items are the olive burger and the mushroom burger. This time was no different. The only difference was that the olive burger didn't come on rye bread, which was disappointing. Not sure if they ran out or I have to special request when ordering, but I'll remember for the future. With your burgers, you can choose fries or chips for a side. I opted for chips, which were just plain chips from a bag. In the past, I've gotten fries, pretty standard. There are usually lots of events held at the Peanut Barrel from game watches to live music and everything in between. This time around, I came on a Thursday night and it was trivia night with a MC and everything! Great prizes were at stake, but I didn't participate. Paid parking lot in the back that's shared with other shops/restaurants on Grand River. #32/2023 read more

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Good food. Too much bleu cheese on my salad, but a great hole in the wall bar. I enjoyed the crowds and the food. read more

Peanut Barrel - Pear salad - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

Food was a 3, but service is brutal. After 20 mins of waiting for chili and no one ever coming back had to flag another server down. And yes, it was a real 20 mins, not a seemed like it 20 mins. Food was dropped off and the patty melt did not have the side of 1,000 island dressing. Would have requested one, but no one ever came back and by the time someone walked by it was over 1/2 done. For beverages, closed out the meal drinking the watered down iced tea that was the original from when we sat down (hint, no ones we came back). read more

The burgers are excellent. Service was good although it's quite loud inside. Mostly college students being in a college town MSU. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. read more

Peanut Barrel has a nice patio with lots of tables that have umbrellas for shade. My friend and I were greeted by the hostess outside and got to choose our table. I ordered the Cinfull Coffee for my drink. It's made with Chila, which has a Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor. There was lots of whipped cream on top! I would definitely order it again. Their olive burger is my favorite in the area. It doesn't taste too greasy and heavy, and the bun is excellent. I got chips for my side but they also offer fries and potato salad (which my friend enjoyed) as options. read more

Peanut Barrel - Cinfull Coffee - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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As an MSU grad, I remember a few weekend evenings at the Peanut Barrel. (smile and a wink.) I visited in early Fall of 2023. And true to the statement, "You cannot go home again" things had changed a bit. And why would I expect them not to change? 1) The place is smaller than I remember - I think that they gave up floor space during the COVID era to maintain some semblance of business. I do NOT fault them for this. I do think that Friday and Saturday night in this college or on game days have to be CRAZY!! 2) The beer list seems to be much smaller - again, I could be wrong. 3) Although I was there at lunchtime on the patio, I didn't see any peanut shells on the floor. Did I miss something by sitting outside? Do you have to ask for them/pay for them now? 4) Although polite and friendly, I wish that our server had been a little more attentive. Perhaps she was overloaded with tables as the school hadn't started yet - staff might have accordingly been "thin." But still... All in all, good alumni memories! read more

Outside seating area was nice and staff were very kind. Food took almost 45 minutes to come out, but the burgers were good. Burgers come on 3 options of buns (white, whole wheat, or rye.) You do have to pay a little extra for lettuce & tomato or if you want a side other than potato chips. read more

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My son and I were in town to visit MSU and all the local students said this was the place to try! A local staple for MSU students, the Peanut Barrel is located just across the street from campus. With options to dine inside or outside, the Peanut Barrel offers that young-student vibe that I was looking for to sell my son on MSU. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and found it to be quite tasty. However, they do have some other options that are beyond simple bar food. Service was...good. Not overly-friendly, but efficient. read more

Pretty solid food. Typical bar atmosphere with friendly service. Only disappointed with lack of peanut items on the menu and lack to peanut puns read more

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I miss so many things about my time in school at State, and Peanut Barrel is certainly one of them. The food and atmosphere are second to none when it comes to college town burger joints. The inside often has live music, which is always a hit. They also have three dart boards that get lots of traffic on the weekends. The food here is unreal, you can't go wrong. The burgers are definitely the star of the show. I have always been a fan of the patty melt. There is patio seating outside, which is nice on sunny days. Our server Adam was attentive and took care of us very well. We'll definitely ask to sit in his section next time. Careful we the long islands, they'll catch up to you! read more

Peanut Barrel - Patty Melt - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

LONG ISLAND ICE TEAS!!! It's a college town so they only give you two. Because adults can't hold their liquor. Yep, facts. Patio on a nice day - worth the wait read more

All of us enjoyed the welcoming bar and grill. Burgers and the patty melt were good. They had many TVs to watch sports. Nice place to stop in when in Lansing. read more

It is shocking and embarrassing that I have never been to the Peanut Barrel before. We sat on the patio and truly enjoyed the ambiance of campus while on the patio. The Long Islands are legit. I had the olive burger and the chili. Both were fantastic. I enjoyed this burger way more than Crunchys. The chili was also great for a chilly fall day on the patio. There was one server for the entire patio and he truly did his best and was kind. I will be coming back to try more of the menu and for another Long Island! read more

Peanut Barrel - Olive Burger - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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Best Reuben I've had in Lansing is from this place, service is always great as I often get take out and the staff is nothing but kind. It's got vibes for sure, and a great patio space. Obviously loved by the community and often buzzing with friends and families. read more

If you're considering a visit to The Peanut Barrel in East Lansing, I'd advise you to think twice. Despite being a loyal patron with over 200 visits under my belt, my recent experience was nothing short of disappointing. The bartender--an older gentleman sporting a Hawaiian shirt--exhibited a level of rudeness and unprofessionalism that's simply unacceptable. He scrutinized my valid, state-issued ID for an inordinate amount of time, as if it were a counterfeit, and did so without any courtesy or acknowledgment. His demeanor was dismissive, and he failed to greet or engage with guests in any hospitable manner. It's disheartening to see such a decline in service at a place I once held in high regard. Frankly, it's time for him to consider stepping aside. I love the food but after that i just had to tab out and find myself to a restaurant with better expectations!! read more

We LOVE The Peanut Barrel. This is our "go to" place to Celebrate Family & Friends Birthdays ~ Anniversaries & Graduations... as it's a very Family friendly Pub. The food is always Fantastic & the Waitstaff is very friendly. read more

Went back after 25 years.... Still outstanding! Goodness the beers come fast , outdoor seating, and my o my the burgers might even be bigger now. Always one of my favorite places. Still a must! If it's been awhile, or if you've never been, get to the peanut barrel asap. read more

Perfect spot for drinks, apps or dinner. A staple in EL. Worth a visit if you haven't been before read more

Peanut Barrel - Beer - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

When I heard PB was changing hands, I nearly choked. I was flummoxed at the idea of this downtown staple changing. We lost so many great places like Paul Revere's over the years. Thankfully, the new owner has kept this place intact. The small, but solid menu is still there. The burgers are still hand made (thank-you). The rye buns are still there. The big glasses of beer are still there. Thank-you for not goofing up something so right. . read more

Walking distance from town! And amazingly close to MSU campus! very good burgers! Love the ambiance very comfortable

in for dinner last night (Friday) after a MSU event. Not very crowded and were seated quickly. Live music with an acoustic guitar player was an added bonus. Most of us had burgers and my wiStoppedfe had to try a Long Island (very good). The food was served fast and hot. I was surprised that the $9 to $12 burgers had an extra charge for lettuce and tomato. The burgers were good but the patty was a little small for the bun. Fries were OK and the wife's chili fries were OK. If it wasn't for the good tasting burgers, this would only get a 3 star for being average. I would consider eating here again but wouldn't mind trying the many other eateries in the area. read more

Peanut Barrel - Papa Cheese Burger - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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Great burgers! Terrible chili cheese fries! Lukewarm, fries are too fat, tomatoes...the chili doesn't smother the fries. I suggest that they go to Dan's Coney Island on Pennsylvania Ave and take notes on how to make chili cheese fries. read more

Oh, the nostalgia! Grabbed one of the best Olive Burgers in town and a Long Island at the Peanut Barrel and got all of the feels like I was back in college. It's not fancy and the food is a bit on the pricey side, but sitting on the patio drinking a Long Island across from MSU's beautiful campus... priceless! read more

Peanut Barrel - Long Island Iced Tea - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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A Grand River staple, was back in EL for the first time in a few years and wanted to build a base before tailgating - I figured a couple long islands were the perfect way to start. It was exactly the same as I remember! read more

Peanut Barrel - The famous Long Islands - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

I drove 75 miles from Detroit to get their famed Olive Burger and was told that they were"out of olive sauce"! HOW do they run out of their Signature dish? The dish that they have shown on TV shows like "Under the Radar MI"? There's literally a Target store 100 feet down the street....how hard would it be to grab some more olives & mayonnaise? Just lazy. read more

Back on campus, love this place for lunch. Cheeseburgers are great. Service was fast and friendly. Snowing so we had to eat inside, which was a bit of a bummer as the patio is a great place to take in the Michigan State campus! read more

Peanut Barrel - Inside. - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

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I have loved the Peanut Barrel ever since I was a student at MSU many moons ago...it's just a great bar in a great location with great burgers and beer. Boom. The patio is the best in E.L. and it's a family-owned establishment. "Papa Joe" is 77, and his daughter is now taking over, or so I heard. The service is great, prices are low with excellent happy hour and late night specials, and the burgers are so...well...burger-y! The meat is so flavorful and the rye bun they offer is outstanding. So. Good. My only complaint? No homemade ranch. BUT...still my favorite place in East Lansing. read more

Peanut Barrel - Burger close up! - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

The outdoor seating at the peanut barrel is awesome. The service is always good. Depending on what day you go the wait to sit outside can be a bit long. The drinks are super good and they have great deals during happy hour. The food is also good. read more

Peanut Barrel - Bloody Mary - Burgers Near Me - East Lansing, Michigan

The Peanut Barrel serves one of the best Olive Burger in Lansing! This is also my favorite patio to sip a beer on, with a great location right across the street from MSU campus. read more

This was the first bar that I have ever been to in East Lansing 6 years ago. It is now one of my go-to places near MSU and one of my familiar visits as well. It is on a busy street with plenty of paid parking in available areas. I have had plenty of beers and cocktails as well as shots and surprisingly the first spot ever where I tried a pickle back, not only that but my first white Russian, took me long enough right? The staff here are great and friendly. It's not a huge restaurant but they do have bar seating, regular seating as well as outside seating. Here, they go hard in the bar food with greasy burgers, huge wieners, but they do have salads available. They're meaty and hearty with a touch of home. So, if you're coming in hungry, you're going to leave full. Fancier than a whole in the wall, it has good beer prices with a laid-back atmosphere and if you're a local or even attend MSU, you most likely have already tried this place. read more

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We were sat outside after we were not asked where we wanted to be seated. Where we were sat had a hive of bees, and when we asked to move inside the server/ host told us "well it's nature there's bees". RUDE server. The food runner was nice. We did not wait long for our food. BLT sandwich was fine. Chicken shroom sandwich was exceptional. Shroom burger was okay, there was a large piece of patty paper in the burger. Cheeseburger was very average. We never got refills on our waters, and only one refill for our pops. read more

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This is one of my favorite East Lansing places to eat! It has a really fun atmosphere and a really nice outdoor patio area. Not to mention the food is amazing! I highly recommend a Long Island!! read more

My husband and I visited on a Wednesday night and had a great experience! It was a fun atmosphere without being too loud. We both had cheeseburgers with fries and a Michigan Mule. Everything was SO delicious and fresh. All of the staff were super friendly and attentive. Honestly, we did not have high hopes for this place as it's a bar across from a college campus, but we were pleasantly surprised!! Will definitely return next time we are in town. read more

This is the only restaurant I've been to that won't allow you to exchange an item. This is moreso frustrating because we came to get burgers and they instead gave us a sandwich. The manager was the one to say they wouldn't be willing to do so. This is the stingiest restaurant with TERRIBLE customer service. go to Red Robins instead they at least have been customer service read more

From the first time I ate here nearly 27 years ago, to yesterday's meal, always good!! Great burgers and fun, old-school atmosphere. It is really old-school meets new school!! Old and young alike, all having a great time, laughing, drinking and eating!! The dart board is always in use as well! What is also great- seeing some of the same faces working there as I saw when I was a student at MSU!! It is like a homecoming! Burgers are their claim to fame, and the rodeo burger never disappoints!!! But, come for the food and stay for the fun!! Excellent joint! read more

The service is always good, burgers are delicious, and it's always fun to sit inside or out

We were in East Lansing for the Homecoming weekend, so it is hard to judge the Peanut Barrel based on this experience. The place was packed. That being said, service was slow but we expected that. The place actually looked more clean than I remembered it being years ago when I was a student at MSU. The drinks were fine. We were able to do some good people watching. I will say that we ordered some peanuts and they were rancid. If you are going to call yourself the Peanut Barrel, you need to have fresh peanuts. Overall, this is a good East Lansing staple and I'm glad to see that it has survived over the years. read more