There are few times in my life that I'm an this furious with a restaurant and it's staff. My crew and I waited 45+ minutes for a table; and then proceeded to come inside, wait an hour and a half+, and receive subpar, dry, and unseasoned food. The waitress was extremely slow and rarely checked in on us. This was truly a terrible experience. Sincerely, disappointed read more

The Strand - Sad sauce, terrible place. - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

My husband and I had a recommendation from a local winery to try the strand. It was a Friday night in June. The only thing decent here are the drinks. Crowded, drunk young people running into you. The waitress was nice but slow. The food was 3 out of 10, don't waste your money and experience coming to this place. read more

We are locals and live about 20 minutes from The Strand. We've heard plenty of rave reviews and we were looking forward to a birthday dinner there with friends. The food was good, but it didn't completely blow us out of the water. Everything came as ordered, but it just felt like we were missing something. The burger patties seemed like they were just a typical frozen patty, and the bbq was good, but not amazing. Drinks were good and there seemed to be quite a selection. Our waitress was very soft spoken so it was hard to hear her and she seemed a little disengaged. There was a live musician that evening and he gave a really great performance. All in all, it's a good place to eat, but didn't wow us or or tatsebuds. We'd visit again to give it another shot. read more

It's not every day you find a restaurant with amazing views *and* fantastic food, but here it is. My husband and I celebrated his birthday with dinner at The Strand tonight, and we couldn't have been happier. We shared the buffalo shrimp appetizer, then he had the ribs and I had the Notorious Strand Burger. We both found ourselves saying, "Wow, this is REALLY good!" Note to those who, like me, take their burger without a bun -- they really excel at this. It's not a sad patty floating in grease. They do a lovely lettuce bed and everything. The host was kind and gave us different options for seating; Alicia K was our server and took good care of us. While we had a great experience, I would say to those who compare service at any restaurant to always be what you expected in Summer 2019 or prior, a little patience can go a long way. No one's back to totally normal. My husband and I both enthusiastically recommend The Strand! read more

Horrible service as always, we sat for 40 minutes before putting in a drink order. Our food came out an hour after ordering and incorrect, plus our server was not polite. Do not recommend if you want good food and fast service read more

Dined here on vacation. Everyone in our group enjoyed our food and atmosphere. Nice view of the sunset and lake across the street. Good service. Would return! read more

Great options for food and drinks! They have live bands outside with own separate bar. Gorgeous atmosphere across the street from the lake. We really enjoyed it here!! read more

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Love this waterfront gem of a restaurant and gathering place. Visited Sister Lakes over the weekend and we were happy to settle in for the evening enjoying the sun set over the water while enjoying friends, great food, drinks and live music playing in the background. Loved the The Monster Wake nachos and the Steak Bites! The staff was kind and attentive. Definitely will come back to this place! Nancy D. read more

I want the strand to be good...I just can't give them a good review. I love burgers and the burgers here are awful. I have ordered the burger 4 times medium. It is always well done. As a local I want them to succeed but even when I call and say PLEASE MEDIUM they over cook it. read more

The Strand - Burger - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

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The service is slooooooooooow and it sucks. Nobody knows what's going on; whether the patio is open or if there is a party of 2000 people coming any minute now (who never showed up, for what it's worth). The server didn't bring out the sides that the menu said the dishes came with with ("oh, you wanted the sides too?" Was the waitress response). The food? It's fine. Nothing special. If you like New England IPA style beers, check out the Right Coast IPA; one of the best beers I've ever had. The rest of the beers were good. Also, noticed a lot of reviews mentioning that the kitchen closes at odd hours. Despite the fact that the place was packed tonight, I noticed a sign posted on the front door stating that the kitchen was going to close at 8:45; despite the fact that the posted closing time is 10PM. So you will want to call ahead if you want to eat anytime after 4PM. In summary, come here for a beer and nothing else. This place has a spectacular view of the lake but it's hardly worth the poor service and mediocre food. read more

The Strand - View of the lake at sunset. - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

We've come here a couple times before with sub par service but today our server (i believe it was Robin?) was amazing! She was prompt and super kind! We've thought about not coming back here but Robin changed our minds! Food is okay, nothing to rave over but definitely was happy with our service. read more

The food was OK, but good lord the service was awful. We had two tables with a total of 18 people and they refused to split the bill, even though the menu says they will spilt it up to three ways. The server acted like we were inconveniencing him for anything we asked for. One of our drinks took over 30 minutes to come over, we had to go to the bar and ask for the drink even. The beer was all almost room temperature. For the price this place needs a lot of work. This was our third time coming here, and it's not good enough to be bothered by it anymore. Definitely just go to Sister Lakes' brewery instead. read more

They need to rename the place LOL.or OMFG. Like LOL I actually got some to take my order. Or OMFG I've walked out of this place without being served anything more times than I have even placed an order. Or maybe the Strand is a twisted way to let you know how you'll feel here. Stranded with no choice but to leave? Service redefines horrible here. Legit, I've walked out of this place so many times I cannot count. It's hard to get acknowledged here let alone place an order. I keep saying I'll never go back but they're one of a few options in the area and I always think maybe this time I'll put an order in! Anyways, if you come bring a mirror just.to check to make sure your are not invisible. Perhaps there's a secret password or something? IDK. Latest experience. We walk in, guy stumbles out talking about some x rated stuff and unable to stand.... Just what every date night should start off with. So he was clearly served and over served..I was thinking YES! I'M GOIMG TO PLACE AN ORDER AND GET SERVED!!!! (I literally started humming "We're going to Sizzler..." To myself. Hostess grabs menus takes us to a table which was literally right in the path of EVERY server. Usually I don't like getting a table like this but I thought there's no way the entire staff will blow us off. We sit and the hostess gives us the name of our server! Whaaaaaat!!! A name??? Yeah buddy we are getting served tonight!!!! Nope. We wait and wait and wait. We watch several tables get seated and place orders. Staff flying past us to somewhere (the must be watching their steps because they move around a lot). We watch as servers crowd around and hug people and get drinks with them and we get nothing. Finally we just get up and leave. As we walk out the hostess says Have a good night (this is proof that I am not invisible). I walk home and make a frozen pizza. Most experiences are the same. Never getting served. I have actually eaten there twice. The food is actually good. Sadly I have probably walked out without getting served close to 10-15 times. It's too sad to be a joke. They put a lot of money into a place.that looms cool. Lots of fire pits and wood and steel. But it just falls painfully short. This is obviously one of those places that you go to because your friend works there. Otherwise good luck. BTW my frozen pizza 3 stars, way better than the Strand. Why do I keep going back? 1 it's a short walk. 2. Their kitchen is usually open later (not thG anything comes out of it). 3. It has an "intimate" setting and it's pretty chill. 4. Because I like Greek mythology and feel I can beat Sisyphus... read more

I hear this placed is well-liked, but our experience was poor. Our server was new and struggling to survive. They are short-handed. Waited for a table at the bar and it took at least 15 minutes to get a drink. When seated, our new server was late, apologized, forgot our water. Seemed very frustrated. My brisket sandwich was very good, but 2 people in our party ordered ribs that were not nearly done enough. My sister says they usually fall off the bone. These didn't. Some looked nearly raw. The manager comped us for those. We saw a couple other diners who were not very happy. It's nice inside and outside diners get a good view of the lake. I understand the guy who built it ended up selling it to someone who has run it better. I'll give it another try - but only one more try. read more

The strand is such a fun place! Nestled in Sister Lakes across from Round Lake, my family enjoyed a great Sunday afternoon meal. We covered a good portion of the menu amongst the six of us. The BBQ is phenomenal. I enjoyed a Full Slab which were perfect. The chicken sandwich is quite entertaining, with big salad portions. The chicken platter was a hit as well. I can only imagine this place is packed on any given summer weekend nights considering the reason we went in the first place was to recoup my cousins credit card she left two nights before. They have great cider, beer, and cocktail menu. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Fantastic beer, amazing smoked meats, great view, and attentive and knowledgeable staff. We came to The Strand for Sunday evening dinner because we were looking for a small craft beer brewery/eatery and it did not disappoint. The cherry chocolate stout was smooth and perfect for a cool evening on the large, lakeside patio. Hidden gem on Dowagiac's Sister Lakes! read more

The Strand - Stout beer at The Strand - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

Very spacious brewpub. Loved the modern rustic vibe and staff was friendly and attentive. The food came out amazingly fast. I ordered the half slab of ribs while my partner has the brisket. The food was good but not life changing. Meat was tasty and sauce was a bit sweet but kind of dryer than I'm used to. Cole slaw was delicious and so were the uniquely round fries. The beers and drinks were great! Their wheat was very refreshing and the sangria was oh so tasty. Overall a fun spot fit for family and friends to enjoy a beer and talk. read more

Dined at the strand last weekend with a group of friends after spending a lot of time on the lake. It is safe to say we were pretty hungry. Our group ordered the pretzel bites for an appetizer and for our entrees we ordered the brisket sandwich, mac and cheese, spinach artichoke dip and the chicken tenders. The pretzel bites were delicious as a starter. I ordered the brisket sandwich which I thought was okay. I had about half of the bowl of mac and cheese which was incredible. It is made with a white cheese which is not usually common but this was done right. The spinach artichoke dip was also good and the chicken tenders were....chicken tenders. Overall, The strand is a nice place for lunch or dinner after spending a day at the lake. It is a bit pricey but i'm sure they are still trying to pay off all the construction that went into the building, which looks very nice. 4 out of 5 read more

The Strand - Brisket Sandwich from The Strand - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

The service was good. We had a party of 10 , our server stayed on top of things as best as she could for as busy as they were. Food was great. Drinks were as well. read more

Great atmosphere at the Strand! We had a great time there on a beautiful summer evening. It's right across a lake and has a great outdoor area with fire pits and a bar area with live music on the weekends. On top of all that, the beer options were solid, and we enjoyed everything we ordered. I'd definitely go back to the Strand in I'm ever in the area again. read more

Cute place, great view and the best pulled pork sandwich I have ever eaten! We went at lunch time so it wasn't busy at all. Service was good. read more

Food was fabulous! The atmosphere was great. We sat outside on the patio the fireplaces are a wonderful touch! They have cornhole games for those who just can't sit still while your waiting for your food. The view of the lake was great. But food, the food was ohhhh so good! The whitefish spread for appetizer yum! We had the Brisket sandwich and it was amazing! Our waitress Maddie was a doll!!! read more

I was BLOWN AWAY by this hidden gem. Keep in mind, I did read other reviews and it seems that during the summer months and it can be nearly impossible to get a table/good service. However, I went on a winter Sunday Funday and ran into this place. The decor is amazingly modern and rustic, just the vibe you would want for a beautiful overlook to the lake in this small town. They have a WIDE variety of drink and food selections, with seasonal specials for both. We had drinks and appetizers so I cannot speak to the full scale of food but what we had was simply amazing. We ordered the brisket nachos to share and LET ME TELL YOU....it was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. I was blown away but the sheer simplicity yet wonderful flavors and textures. I would highly recommend this establishment to everyone. I plan to go back in the summer because they have an amazing outdoor area. Here is to hoping their service, food, and drinks remain exceptional in the busy months! read more

I've been a loyal customer since The Strand opened but towards the end of last season and so far this season I am starting to lose faith. Now I realize, The Strand does not want for customers, primarily because they offer something that no one else does in Sister Lakes, which is a cool venue with great views. My complaint is their inconsistency and complacency. More than once we have ordered salad with chicken and a dressing and been served a plate of just lettuce. No chicken, no dressing. Also, every time we order an appetizer, it's just dropped on the table without plates. It happens every single time. When Lee was the bartender, I knew I was guaranteed a good Old Fashioned cocktail. Now, it's always a surprise. You should expect an orange slice and a quality cocktail cherry but last time, I received a lemon and most times I get neither an orange slice or a cherry. I know, first world problems but I'm paying for the cocktail and expect it to be made right. Also, the Tempura Chicken Platter, which used to be delicious, is not a tempura batter any more and shouldn't be on the menu stating that it is. Unfortunate that it has been changed and replaced by something from Gordon Food Service. On a positive note, I have always found the servers to be awesome, even if they are inexperienced they have always been hardworking and extremely friendly. Much of the problem is from the kitchen and management not helping to coordinate. I really want to go back to loving The Strand but I get the feeling that no one really cares because they know that they have the customer volume. But there have been plenty of restaurants which have had volume and suddenly crash, so beware. Quality and service cannot be over looked if you want to go the long haul. read more

It feels like a piece of Chicago's West Loop transplanted to Michigan. Incredible atmosphere. Plenty of outdoor seating and the wide doors that open the bar up to the lake on nice days. The Strand Cider was delicious and not too sweet. Pretzel bites make a nice small plate to share. Will definitely come back to The Strand. read more

The Strand is a great addition to the area! As many have said there are some flaws in general execution - for us it went like this: I called to see how the wait was on a Monday for a party of 8 and was told to basically don't even think about coming in, they were too busy - so we didn't. We did however check it out on a Friday night without calling, with a party of 6 and were seated quickly, service was OK, some lags, but we enjoyed our time there. Burgers were amazing, wings were ok. Good selection of beers for everyone. Views are awesome, and if you can come when the garage doors are open you are in for a really enjoyable dining experience. read more

I called to make a reservation for a table of 8, and was told they only allow reservations of 10 or more. After waiting an hour we were seated at a table for 14+ with zero way of communicating due to being so far separated and next to the band with the garage door closed. We were also given a menu with limited options because they have a policy of a limited menu of party's with 8+, which was never mentioned and we have food allergies within the party that didn't allow some to order anything offered. When asked why, we were told that was the servers discretion. A horrible birthday experience for two people hoping to celebrate with extended family. Sad that it was a cherished spot, but we're treated very poorly. read more

Amazing brisket and barbecue sauce! Their beers are not their strong point, but they carry others as well. Was surprised that they didn't have any IPAs of their own to try. The ribs were overdone and pretty dry but I used that great barbecue sauce to mask it. Fries are very good too. Lots of other good eats on the menu and the bldg is one of their high points also. read more

The good: beautiful setting on the lake. The bad: where do I begin? Service was non existent. We sat at an indoor table on a beautiful sunny day because the hostess said " we are kind of busy out there". It was the first clue to what was to come. We finally moved to the bar because we could not put a drink order in. The bar itself was nasty dirty. The bartender told us he'd wipe it down, but he's been really busy. There were three menu items we ordered that were no longer available. And half of their beers were dry as well. You will be lured to this place because of its beauty. Beauty is only skin deep. Especially at The Strand. read more

Awful! It took 90 minutes to get our appetizer, 2 hours for the meal, they weren't busy, and we got food poisoning, avoid this place!

I've been here approximately 10 times since moving to Watervliet. The atmosphere is a 10. I love the set up, view of the lake and overall feel. Service is average. Waitstaff seems to be very young (read inexperienced). They make an effort and I've never felt ignored or dismissed; just not the best. Ya know? Food is just plain, flat-out disappointing. It's too bad that I can only come here to have a beer. I live so incredibly close that I keep trying different dishes and taking people with me so they can try it too. I really want this place to have good food and be successful but, other than the summer crowd that has very few options, they are going to have to step up the food game in order to make it. I don't know much about the restaurant business however, they seem to have the 'bones' to be a good establishment but, for now, it is really weak. Fix it! Please!! Hire a chef!! Hire my mom! Anyone who can cook and create a good menu. read more

This was a amazing place to be I love the food and the servers where super nice It's also very kid friendly I recommend going here

Spent a few hours on the patio Saturday listening to a jazz band while enjoying cocktails with friends. Perfect setting on such a warm Fall day. Good service and great food too. Our table shared the brisket nachos, they were fantastic. Will return Thursday for the brisket tacos. Can be crowded and there's usually a wait for an outdoor table, well worth it though. read more

The Strand - Overlooking Round Lake - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

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Poor service! Sadly disappointed. 15min from being seated to drinks received, 30min for appetizers and then another 30min for main dish. Plan accordingly if time constraints are an issue. read more

I read all of the reviews before considering taking a party of seven here on an early Friday afternoon. I was a little apprehensive based on the service concerns, and less than enthusiastic remarks about the food. But the setting is irresistible, so we took a chance. We were richly rewarded. All of us were very happy with all of food choices. I won't belabor this review with an account of every dish. But in particular, try the Brussels sprouts and the Manhattan brisket. The beer - being brewed onsite - is top notch, with a good, broad selection. I love the ginger lager. And if beer isn't your thing, the cocktail menu is worthy of Lincoln Park in Chicago, with more friendly pricing. Service was flawless and friendly - no hint of any of the complaints in earlier reviews. And, finally, the setting is perfect for a Summer on the lakes in Michigan. The Strand deserves your attention. And take a growler of beer home with you! read more

Love the ambiance, and the other people in my group loved their meals. But why take the only veggie burger off the menu! Please bring it back, or a Beyond Burger. There needs to be one item for vegan folks, besides a plain salad. I'd come back every week! read more

The "Chicken Tempura Platter" and the "Kids Chicken Strips" are the exact same thing...

I was not very impressed with much of the restaurant. I liked how it looked, the view was beautiful and that about ended what I was impressed with. We had a small group of people, several of us arrived earlier than the rest. After we were seated the waitress would ask if we were okay, but never offered to put in our drink orders. I actually had to stop her after half an hour to come take our orders. After putting our orders in, it took another 15 to 20 minutes for our drinks to come out. After our food came out, we only heard from our waitress one more time. She became involved with a larger party and spent most of her time at the table. We had to get her attention to get our tabs even. After we got our checks and put cards down, she picked the cards up and then went to take care of the table next to us. It's a place I won't go back to. read more

I love this place. I understand they don't allow carry out on busy nights, and service can be a little slow, but the food is amazing! Ambiance A+++ drinks are delish and, lets be honest, not a lot of super fabulous choices around here. However, even if there were....I would still love this place. Try the candied Brussel sprouts. I've been trying to figure out how to duplicate this recipe for years. It's so decadent I want to lick the plate. read more

This place was a great find. Located across the street from Round Lake, the outdoor view is amazing. They had fire pits and chairs set up...can't wait to come back in the winter. The food was the best around. Crispy and flavorful wings (get a side of ranch because the sauces aren't the best...only bad part of the meal) Cobb Goddess was perfect, pretzel bits were like little pretzel pillows, and the curds were solid. Great beers and service. Room design was on point. We will be back. read more

The Strand - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan