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The Limberlost

2.6 (147 reviews)
ModerateBars, American
Closed • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
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The Limberlost Photos

THE LIMBERLOST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Live music
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Limberlost

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Reviews With Photos

Italian sub
Bruce B.

Amazing people and views of the lake. Excellent food for their huge kitchen with an awesome chef. The tender at the bar is really good at what she does. Lakeside atmosphere is great inside and out on the patio.

Nachos
Victoria G.

We stopped by The Limberlost during a busy evening, and even with the crowd, the service was attentive. I got the nachos, which were just okay--nothing standout. But the sandwiches definitely made up for it. The Reuben was flavorful and well-balanced, and the French Dip was delicious--especially thanks to the bread, which really elevated the whole thing. As we were wrapping up, a bachelor/bachelorette party rolled in to enjoy drinks at the outdoor bar below, adding a fun, lively vibe to the atmosphere. Overall, The Limberlost continues to be a reliable spot to grab a bite and hang out. We've never had a bad time here, and this visit was no exception.

Mushroom Swiss burger with sweet potato fries
Kelly H.

Great service, good food, nice and warm view of the cold outside. The mushroom burger was cooked to my liking and tasty, although the bottom bun was soggy. The sweet potato fries were really great - 5 stars. The wedge salad was okay, but the bacon wasn't fresh cooked or crispy.

Recommended by the gentleman at the super 8 counter.
Theresa E.

Busters order was prepared on the open grill in the middle of the restaurant in front of a live band. (We ALLLLL live in the wrong city... ) I want to live here with this stunning lake view . I enjoyed the service the food the ambiance. And the view.

Eileen R.

This is the quintessential small town dive bar. Great location and probably an awesome place to party if you are newly 21. If you are coming with low expectations and a desire to get drunk HERE IT IS. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The entrance is a bit odd.. 2 wooded doors greet you which reminds me of a high school auditorium. My husband and I arrived for a late dinner. We live in roscommon about 20 minutes and have never tried this place. The reviews kept us away actually but we decided to try it anyway. Sadly the staff is comprised of employees that aren't very professional and have grown accustomed to customers who come for cheap drinks to support black out drunk evenings. We were greeted from across the bar... sat ourselves... the bartender left the bar to bring us menus and the first question was "eating or drinking?" Which tells me everything I needed to know. The answer is both.... they offer seasonal cocktails with liquor from a local distillery. Very inexpensive. We got our drinks fast then sat awkwardly awaiting the return of our server to place our food. Over 10 minutes. The staff is loud as if they are drinking with the customers. Our waitress smells like she takes constant smoke breaks. This place has massive potential but it's obvious they cater to the out-of-town partiers that clog the area during peak season times. The menus are too large and we're wilted as it they had water damage or many drinks spilled on them when we asked the waitress what craft beer they offered, her response was "like what?"... confused and followed by "we have so many things" I then listed bells and founders to have her offer two hearted which is offered anywhere and doesn't show the range they have.... no beer menu.... we ordered an appetizer platter and then steaks which came with 1 side of our choosing (for the cost it's typical to have 2 sides or bread or salad also) 14 oz ribeyes with a side $23. We watched seemingly a cook approach a fridge on the bar floor next to a claw machine grab what appeared to be our steaks. Quite concerning. It's a tacky interior with black lights rather than proper lighting. There are games, pool tables and a large stage along with a red velvet curtain.... like I said potential. There's even a hibatchi style grill to have items grilled right in front of you... probably super cool during summer. There's lake frontage and outdoor seating also. As I type this actually my husband says to me "I feel like this place could be on an episode of bar rescue" which is super accurate. I just watched 5 young women leave after drinking at the bar.... the bartender right after they left crumbled the receipts. and complained about the tips she received being low. FOOD: appetizer platter included 4 different things with 3 of each. Everything was hot and pretty good in the realm of bar food. Our steaks were totally different sizes. Looked so dry we both put butter on them. My asparagus was for sure over cooked and from a can.. my husbands tator tots were a frost bit... the roll that came with it was microwaved. We sent back both meals which we never do but we could not pay nearly $50 for that. Gross. My 3 star (which was generous) sank to a 2 very quick after this meal. I'm not shocked. I went in knowing but sometimes you have to try so your curiosity dies. You've been warmed.

Amy D.

With much hesitation we decided to eat here. Our first time here and first time in 25 years I've been to Houghton lake. With having a 2 1/2 star rating, I wasn't sure how it was gonna be! Well We had a awesome time! Our server Heather was amazing! So friendly and fast. She did not skip a beat! I had the French Dip and my boyfriend had the 1/2 pound Limberlost. We always order our burgers medrare because they always are sent out well done! Well not the case today. It was a perfect medrare! Beers were very cold! The views were amazing! It's a shame we live so far away! We will differently come back in the future!

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5 months ago

Love the location. Food is pretty good. The downstairs bar area in the summer is great, esp with live music.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Place used to be the place to be when Joe Wagner owned it..This place has Absolutly the worst service and Overpriced food now..DO BETTER

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3 years ago

The food was great, our server was on top of it and they even made sure my toddler had everything he needed

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2 years ago

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10 years ago

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4 years ago

Had beers and bruschetta great scene, great food, great drinks, would come again any day loved it

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3 years ago

Great food. Beautiful view of Houghton Lake! I definitely recommend sitting on the porch. Perfect dinner.

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3 years ago

Insane that an outdoor bar restaurant doesn't allow dogs. They serve dog quality food, but don't allow actual dogs.

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Review Highlights - The Limberlost

“The character of Jessica, Julia and Brandi lit up my day when my family walked into the patio bar.”

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Back Door Saloon - Brisket Egg Rolls

Back Door Saloon

4.0(120 reviews)
1.6 mi
•$

I stopped by Back Door Saloon in Michigan and tried the Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls with Sweet Thai…read moreChili Sauce... and WOW! They were so filling that I almost ordered another round, but honestly, one order was more than enough. I even took two home in a doggy bag and ate them cold later without reheating or even dipping them in the sauce and they were still absolutely delicious! The atmosphere is amazing. There's a beautiful view, a patio, a rooftop, and TVs everywhere on the main floor, so you won't miss a second of the game. Whether you're there to catch sports, enjoy the scenery, or just have a great meal, they've got you covered. The service was friendly, fast, and the restaurant was clean. The staff works hard, so don't forget to tip! Everyone was so welcoming, and the food was delicious at a great price. I seen a Mac n cheese bowl topped with brisket omg sooooo good Pro tip: Check them out on Taco Tuesday! And one thing I really loved it's kid-friendly! I saw families with kids enjoying themselves while others were watching the game and friends were high-fiving over a beer. It truly has that welcoming, family atmosphere that makes you want to come back. I'll definitely be visiting again!

I was in town for a training and went two nights for dinner. The first day, I got a burger and…read morefries. The burger was very flavorful and the fries were tasty too. The second time, I got a chicken cesar salad. The dressing was terrible- watery and an odd taste, and the chicken tasted like the premade kind in a bag. If I was in the area again, I'd definitely go back, but I'll stick with "bar food." Both nights, service was quick, and the person was friendly. Ambience is sports bar and clean. Drinks are good, but the beer selection was lacking.

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Back Door Saloon
Back Door Saloon - Loved their santa fe chicken egg rolls!

Loved their santa fe chicken egg rolls!

Back Door Saloon

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The Limberlost - bars - Updated October 2026

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