Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern
15212 N Red Bud Trl, Buchanan, MI, 49107
Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern Menu
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Soups
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Small Plates
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Big Plates
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern
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Soups
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Small Plates
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Big Plates
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Buchanan for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Buchanan for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
15212 N Red Bud Trl
Buchanan, MI, 49107 - Phone (269) 697-0043
- Website https://www.wheatberrytavern.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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scott B.
We really like this out of the way place. Next time you are headed to Harbor Country, take a beautiful ride through the countryside and treat yourself to a special establishment. The beer list is one of the best around. Outstanding BBQ and cornbread. My wife likes the Three Sisters. Not for me, but to each his/her own. Do yourself a favor and doggy bag part of your generously portioned dinner and have some of their yummy desserts.
(5)Tom C.
Rich smokey flavor , ample selection of craft beer (bottles) in a nice location just north of town on Red Bud Trail along the St. Joe river. I had the full rack of Baby back ribs, sides of sweet potato fries, mac 'n cheese. Ribs were excellent, with some of the best smokey flavor. Two sauce choices, tangy and spicy (red), i preferred tangy. Sweet potato fries are a must, the mac 'n cheese was good but mostly a thick cheese sauce with some noodles. I'd look at getting beans next time. Save room for dessert, the blueberry crumble was delicious.
(4)Steven J.
pleased to find a vegetarian restaurant. Tried the veggie burger yesterday and was surprised when they told me they did not make it in house. AMAZING! and that was yesterday...... today I tried the 3 sisters.....even better. Highly recommend this restaurant....especially to my vegetarian friends!
(5)Loryn J. M.
Great service and yummy food. Had pulled pork, Mac n cheese, and baked beans--so good. Can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu.
(5)S P.
Wheatberry is yummy! I recommend making a reservation, from what i hear it is hit or miss on how busy it may be. Corn bread is so good! Melts in your mouth. Great service with outdoor seating.
(4)Kurt R.
My boss and I decided to make the drive to nowhere land to have dinner at this place. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere but I actually liked that about this place. It's a nice place to get away too. Beer: The beer menu wasn't huge but it was very well rounded. I thought their selection was well balanced. I'm pretty sure they have at least one beer everyone will like. I'm not talking bud light either. I'm talking micro-brews. Excellent. Food: We had the wings for an appetizer and they were good. The sauce itself was great. The wings weren't as meaty as I had hoped but good none the less. My boss and I had the Po' Boys. Shrimp for me, Fish for him. Good portion sizes. I did think they could have given me a few more shrimp on my Po' boy but overall it was good. I think they gave us 2 orders of fries because we had a lot. Service: This place gets knocked on service a lot. Our food came out quick. The waitress was a little slow and just seemed a little confused at times. I'd give the service a 3.5 stars. Prices: It's a little expensive. The beer is $5.00 a pint which I think is just too much. I'd say overall this place is about 10 - 20 percent more expensive than I would have expected. Overall: It's a good solid place to eat, drink, and have a few laughs. I'll go back for sure. A few little changes and this place could easily be a 5 star place. Correcting your service would go a long way for a lot of people. Couple that with lowering your prices a bit and you'll have close to a 5 star.
(4)Jerry M.
Great beers, solid food, friendly service that goes out of their way.
(3)T S.
This was our 3rd visit to Wheatberry. Each time the food, service and vibe improved. This past visit the restaurant was packed. Service was friendly, light hearted and efficient. Staff was really busting it but you could see they were having fun. Our waitress even though she was slammed spent a good deal of time helping me select beers from their excellent beer list on 2 occasions. Food was very good. Our group enjoyed cedar plank salmon, 2 different shrimp dishes and a veggie burger. Great desserts (key lime pie and Texas sheet cake. Service and food both superior to most places in new buffalo area. Hope they can keep it up!
(4)Greg G.
I come here a couple times a summer when visiting from Chicago, and it's by far the best restaurant around. The WINGS are amazing here, seriously the sauce on them is to die for. The ribs, pulled pork, and chicken are all great, you can't go wrong ordering anything off their BBQ menu. They bring out corn bread for free when you sit down, and it's AMAZING, I love restaurants that do little things like this and don't charge you for it. The beer list is very extensive, you can't go wrong, and they usually have some good blueberry cocktails to choose from (hey it's Michigan, you have to get something blueberry!) The service is good as well, the waitresses never hesitate to split a check 5 or 6 ways, which I know is annoying, but they have no problem doing it. I guess I'm subtracting 1 star because I recently ordered fish tacos for like $15 and was not impressed... First of all the tortillas they gave me where almost falling apart, but whatever I made them work. Second of all, the plate came out and it was just a giant fried fish with some salsa and rice on the side, so I had to make all my tacos myself, which is okay.. but the fish just had 0 flavor. It was fried beyond recognition. I guess I've been spoiled by great fish tacos from the west coast and even chicago has great fish tacos. So as long as you avoid the fish from this place, you are all good! Then again it's a BBQ place so you should probably only order BBQ food! I'll definitely be back lots more for the food.
(4)M. T.
Great beer selection, often featuring west coast hits we wouldn't normally get to try in this area; good people working and always treating us great, especially at the bar; unique food choices for this area with a good variety and and ever-evolving menu featuring BBQ, seafood and more. It's a favorite for us to meet friends and relax and have a good time at the bar, or on the patio during the summer.
(5)Pete S.
This place was fantastic. I had a full rack of baby back ribs and garlic fries and cole slaw. Ribs were not fall off the bone tender but the taste was fantastic. No additional BBQ sauce was needed. Fries and slaw were great also. Wife had New Orleans jumbo shrimp on risotto & spinach. Unbelievable taste. For desert we had the blueberry crumble. OMG. Fantastic. Our server was Torr. She was great. Very polite and kept checking to see it everything was ok. Resturant was clean. We would defiantly go back.
(4)Will H.
Great service Great selection beer amazing food. Worth any drive. Try the siren on tsp and have the pork.
(4)Sandra M.
I am so glad I found this place (through Yelp, of course) because it has become my favorite place when I'm in the area. We have a home not too far from here and never knew this place was here. The decor, ambiance, and view is s nice at this restaurant, it would be nice enough for a date and to bring the family. We had the Cooper Canyon salmon with fresh spinach, and the BBQ pit combo. I also had the tomato basil soup. Everything was really good. You may need reservations during the busy season and/or weekends, but we came during the week and had no problem. I can't wait to be back to try other items on the menu.
(5)Dirk H.
we've been about 5 times and will continue to go because their food is delish! wife apparently doesn't love anything here except the smoked salmon with goat cheese and pita, which I also love. but she's really picky. I've liked about everything I've had (brisket dinner was ok, pulled beef. sandwich is awesome) and most of the time service is good. sometimes when they get really busy, the service lacks a little, but for the most part, service is good. BBQ is a special of theirs, and the different sauces are good. whoever makes those big chalk menus on the chalkboard in the main dining area, their lettering and art is fabulous! I wish I could do that. large menu with a different special menu every time we've been. we will go back to Wheatberry, and I will overeat and then go home and complain about how I wish we wouldn't have gotten an appetizer AND the salmon chowder (which is fantastique!) and my wife says "I told you, but you never listen, AND that litter box could use a cleaning" which just makes me want to punch a baby in the face. *no actual babies were harmed in the creation of this review. 4/5 stars
(4)Ken M.
I got ribs and they were tough. They had flavor but were a little tougher than I wanted.
(3)Ryan A.
Excellent Mac and Cheese, the pulled pork on my sandwich was moist, with great BBQ sauce. Service was good and reasonable prices.
(4)John H.
A forty minute drive from La Porte, IN--this place was worth the trip. I was impressed with their beer selection, especially since the place was in the middle of nowhere. The Round Barn Kolsch was a solid representation of the style. Probably the best I've had in the US. The food featured us an array of local nouveau American plus BBQ. I went BBQ and had a decent representation of smoked chicken (the sides of grilled asparagus and Mac n cheese were good quality). The chicken was good (the dark meat) and bad (very dry white meat)--the smoke flavor was solid and it was not over sauced. As far as the service, when I got there, it was ridiculously busy and hard to get any sort of attention to order a drink (seemed a little disorganized). As it got later, I had full attention of the bartender who was very willing to share her opinion on the food / drink and had offered to get me a copy of the recipe for their strawberry rhubarb cumble... ...which was phenomenal... All in all, I'll try and make it back to this remote locale, particularly if I'm in NW Indiana again
(4)Hayden R.
If only this place could figure out its staff. Great food, great menu options, great drinks, TERRIBLE service. Reservations are almost a must if you would like to be seated in a reasonable amount of time. Be prepared to talk loudly, as the acoustics are as bad as the service. Although there is much to complain about, it is still the only decent restaurant for dinner to grace the Buchanan area.
(4)Christiana C.
A-OK is about right on the money for me and Wheatberry. We were super jazzed to come here-it was recommended by our Innkeepers and seemed to have solid reviews. I think we were put off right away when we were being seated. There was 6 of us and we were taken to a table right in the middle of the dining room. When we asked if we could sit at a booth/chair combo table, the hostess told us she was saving those in case they got busy. On a Wednesday night after 8. When the dining room was completely empty. I think this would have been even more fine, except that she proceeded to seat other groups much smaller at these tables. I never really got why it happened that way. Speaking of seating, everyone was mad for the patio (our party was too big to sit out there). If you have the chance to (and don't mind al fresco dining), do. Wheatberry sits back a bit on a road that is just busy enough for intereest, but not too busy where you start snorting exhaust. Anyway, on to the good! Wheatberry smokes its own meats, so barbeque is rampant here. The baby back ribs were just ok for me-I think the smokehouse made me think they would be falling off the bone, but they were more just pretty standard ribs (not that there's anything wrong with that-I love me some ribs). We dug that they used tons of local wines, brews, and liquors locally to make up their alcohol lists. I don't see many places that use ginger beer (which I love), so I was near gleeful at the offering of the Moscow Mule. The cornbread is warm and fresh, but utilizes a decent amount of pepper. I'm not sure I was super into it, but for a pepper lover (like one of our dining partners), this was a pleasant surprise. Beans and garlic spinach sides were just ok for me. I really dug the mashed potatoes side though. If we end up at Wheatberry together, that's the way I'd be steering you.
(3)Brian J.
Great atmosphere, decent BBQ. My ribs were a little under cooked, but other than that everybody liked their choices.
(4)Colleen N.
The beer was good (I had a Lagunitas ale on tap, my husband had a porter on tap), the service was good, the bar was comfortable. We only ordered appetizers--the rib appetizer, cup of salmon chowder for my husband, the Texas toast, I think it was called, brisket with carmelized onions and roasted peppers on toast points. They were both pretty good, although I expected the ribs to be more tender. They didn't knock our socks off, but I would give this restaurant another shot.
(3)Nanci Z.
Highly disappointing! We've been here before so were looking forward to the experience. Things started bad at the hostess station and went downhill from there. We had to ask our waitress for the cornbread that she was providing for everyone around us. I ordered the Chicken Cobb Salad. They actually left the chicken off!! When they brought it out, it looked old and dried out like it had been sitting under a warmer all day. It tasted even worse. I asked the waitress if I could get freshly cooked chicken. The second try wasn't much better -- dry, tasteless and cold. Either they don't cook chicken up fresh or they don't know how to cook chicken. I've had a better meal at Chick-Fil-A and was wishing I had gone there instead! Overpriced, poor service, low quality. Maybe it was just a bad night, but we won't be back to find out..
(2)Jennifer D.
We dined with a group of 7 this evening. We were all eager to have some good smoked BBQ, which it was. The service however was horrendous. We waited about 10 minutes for drinks, I had to remind her after about another 10 minutes that one of our guests needed sugar for his tea, and also suggested that she get the lady a refill on her soda. We asked for more cornbread which she remembered to bring about 20 minutes later. Food was auctioned off at table, at two separate times, which left us waiting for the others food. Although one dish was missing because they had to "dethaw" the tilapia. He said that. The busboy seemed to know more than the waitress. We saw him more too. A bill was given promptly after dinner, no other drinks or desserts were pushed which totally would have been ordered. Not impressed with service at all. Luckily the food saved the day.
(2)Caitlin G.
The baby back ribs I had at Wheatberry are by far the BEST ribs I've ever tasted. The meat was delicious, fell right off the bone and was smoked to perfection. The barbecue sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and smokey. The pulled plates are delicious too, and the sides are great. I personally skip the mac n cheese and opt for more cornbread! Melt in your mouth cornbread that doesn't even need butter. Beer selection is really great, and the Michigan beer flight is a nice local touch. Service has seemed a little scattered at times but is always nice and accommodating. Despite how slammed Wheatberry can get on summer weekend evenings, I've only had to wait once for a table and not for very long. The prices here are super reasonable, the rolling hills and twisting river nestle the venue into a gorgeous spot , and if I could only change one thing, it would be closer to my home!
(5)Patti D.
"Worth the drive. Don't leave until you've had the Texas toast!"
(5)Scott H.
Wheatberry gets four stars for being a great restaurant with top-notch REAL barbecue and a wonderful beer list (draft + bottles) and a BONUS star for taking a chance by opening up in this sleepy little corner of picturesque SW Michigan wine country. I live in Evanston, IL home of 'Prairie Moon' which is a close sibling of 'Wheatberry'. Many of the options are represented on both menus and the beer lists are stellar at both, but the barbecue is unique to Wheatberry. Too bad, because I'm a bonafide barbecue junkie and I'll have a difficult time finding ribs as good as these in Chicagoland. I was here with a group of four who had cedar planked salmon, blackened tilapia fish tacos, a beautiful green salad with a goat cheese crouton and, of-course, my half-rack of pork ribs. All were very happy with their choices and this ended up being our best meal of our weekend in wine country. Please do yourself a favor and seek this place out when you find yourself anywhere between Kalamazoo and New Buffalo. You'll get a beautiful drive down Red Bud Trail as an added reward!
(5)Susan G.
Great Beers + Great Sandwiches = Great Meal. This is a wonderful place to enjoy a solid meal accompanied by a great selection of beer. We have never been here for dinner, but have had lunch here many times. My favorite is still the pulled pork sandwich accompanied by sweet potato fries. Delicious. The beer selection is so large now that it can be a bit intimidating. Had quacamole recently to start our meal and it was good and chunky and served with warm, thin tortilla chips. Service is prompt. One drawback is that the Women's restroom seriously needs updating and better lighting, but I noticed a sign when I was last in there that it is scheduled for rennovation soon. Cost per person for a great sandwich, a shared appetizer and a beer is about $22 including tax and tip.
(4)Patrick and Jes D.
Worth the detour - and we are writing the review while still at the table. that's right, they have wi-fi. We were looking for a quiet place to hang out and relax and the staff here was great for that. We ordered a couple well-priced craft-draft beers and snacked on the guac (kinda bland - add some tabasco) He ordered the half-slab ribs and i ordered the pulled chicken plate - so delish and the sides were killer - fresh steamed veggies and smashed potatoes. the crowd has cycled a lot and the a/c has been kickin' thru a very humid 90. make a point to find this place for a relaxing, delicious stop. Watch out for the local cops they ticket for speeders in the 25 zones.
(5)Jay F.
Craft beer and BBQ are two of my favorite things in the world and wheatberry does both very well. Molly at the bar was very helpfull putting my beers in progressive order for me. I started with north coast scrimshaw pilsner and went heavier and fuller bodied as the night went on. Founders, Arcadia, new holland, and plenty of other good craft beers on tap. Ordered the smoked pulled pork platter and choose the fries and slaw for my sides. Everything was great. It's nice to have beercentric restaurant in the area.
(4)Joe G.
Food: 3/5. Service: 3/5. Fantastic beer list. Brisket special, 3 Sisters (polenta); mashed potatoes, broccoli, garlic spinach, sweet potato fries, coleslaw.
(3)Camden D.
We've been here five times now and have had horrendous service everytime!!! The servers are just plain incompetent. I have been a server before for several years and know what its like, but this staff just has no idea how to give quailty service at all! The food has been very mediocre everytime! I think 5 chances are quite a few to give a place that I really wanted to like! This last time I decided that since they're specialty is BBQ maybe that's what I should go for. So I got the pulled beef sandwhich and once again was disappointed! The beef was so dry that even after I drenched it with the BBQ sauce on the table it was still almost inedible. Gulf shrimp and polenta was bland, flatbread with shrimp and andouille sausage was cold and dry, even the burgers are at best average! Guac app is decent flavor but almost $8 for just guac and a few chips! Calamari actually quite good. I've given this place so many chances because of their great drink options and quaint location, and everytime i've hoped it will be better than the last, but sadly they've disappointed everytime. Especially with at least a $50 bill for two of us I expect a lot more. A good place for drinks while sititing at the bar, but but don't expect quick or efficient service whatsoever and order food items carefully!
(1)Chris B.
Upon walking into the Wheatberry Tavern I sensed that this place was a little confused. Is it a BBQ pit or trendy Michiana restaurant. The identity crisis of the Wheatberry became even more evident by looking at the menu. There were pulled pork sandwiches next to cedar plank salmon. Back to the atmosphere. When we were there the restaurant was empty and felt rather cavernous. It didn't feel intimate in any sort of way. It actually felt more like a Texas Road House that was trying to disguise itself by taking down all the obnoxious neon lights. The food was pretty good, despite a lack of direction. I had the cedar plank salmon and was quite impressed. My wife had a BBQ sandwich which she enjoyed, but didn't seem to love. The one thing that the restaurant did have going for it was a nice long list of Michigan brews. I probably won't be returning to the Wheatberry due to the fact that eating out is more than just about getting full, but rather about experience. If I want the experience that the Wheatberry offers I'll just go to the local Texas Roadhouse.
(3)Elena M.
Even as a vegetarian my husband and I love this place! The Three Sisters dish is absolutely delicious! We get it every time! The portion sizes are also quite large and the quality of the food leaves you feeling very satisfied!
(5)Rick S.
Just ate at Wheatberrys for the first time tonight arrived at 5pm sat in the bar area , Wife and I ordered the scallops special jumbo scallops with garlic mash potato's and asparagus . was brought 4 medium scallops ( if those we jumbo then sams club has monsters)and steamed brocoli . they changed the special board after we ordered and never said a word. the wait staff was more interested in new t-shirts then serving.$17.95 was no special it was way over priced. owners are from chicago . looks like they brought their pricing with them and left the portions and flavor back their. Last $58.00 meal I'll eat their. I can spend that the Bistro on the bluff in Saint Joseph or the grand mire Inn in stevensville. At least their I know I'll get my moneys worth.
(2)Jen R.
Took my boyfriend and some friends here for birthday dinner.... It was amazing .... good service and good food... will be going back definately!!
(5)T M.
Stopped by for lunch on a beautifull late fall day. The crowds of SW Mich are long gone, so we were one of a handfull of tables. Nice bar area, casual open front dining room, and a small outdoor patio. Service was nice, food was quick. We had three lunches, a pulled pork special (spicy) sandwich, the regular pulled pork sandwich, and one of the burgers. We all really liked our choices. Sides were fries, cole slaw, pickles, one had mashed. All good. The beer selection was outstanding. Prices reasonable for quality and quantity. I/we are looking forward to trying more of the menu, the pork was very good cant wait to try the ribs etc. If your near, we recommend this one.
(4)Osmond S.
This place could be better if a) they moved to someplace more accessible b) they had enough parking c) they had competent wait staff d) lower their prices This is the kind of place you really want to love. It's quiet, quaint and supposedly has good food. I say "supposedly" because of all the other positive reviews on here. But personally, when I went here it wasn't all that good. I've had better burgers at Chili's. To be honest, I can't complain about the food too much. Especially since there's so much more to complain about - like the service. Not only was the waitress a dunce, but she didn't even do her job - like get us a bill! 30 minutes after our meal was done and no word from our waitress, I got so frustrated, I decided to walk up to the register and just pay for it right there. Overall this was a farce. If I really wanted averge food with a side of pretentiousness and bad service, I could have just stayed local and eaten at Santianello's in St. Joe.
(2)Andrea B.
So far I have tried two entrees at Wheatberry. Both were not good. The cornbread was decent though. There isn't a lot to offer a vegetarian. If you want good BBQ, I would recommend Charlie's Piggin' n' Grinnin'.
(2)Rich C.
Great place. Lots of unique choices on the menu. they had a fun and impressive mixed drink list. Cute location on the river in a nostalgic rural town. Awesome smoked meat and sauces. Owners were super friendly and stopped by for that personal attention and service.
(5)Levi S.
Very good food and drinks. The staff is very friendly. A great place to eat in such a small town.
(5)Judi K.
We decided to try this based on someone else who had eaten here. The server had such an attitude that we left after appetizers. This is the first time I have left a 10% tip in many years. The soup was good. The ribs were god. The Mac and cheese were way too chessy. Would not go again.
(2)Ruth C.
As a food lover who splits her time between Chicago and a very private parcel of land in a very sleepy part of SW MI, you can only imagine my excitement the first time I saw the billboard for Wheatberry on I-94. "Craft Beers". "BBQ pit". "Fresh local ingredients". Yes, yes and yes! And it's only 15 minutes from my house! My husband I have been going here for about a year - we've taken all variety of visiting friends and family along with us and we've never had a bad experience. The BBQ is finger licking good. The wait staff is always great (surprised to see some negative reviews). The beer list is fantastic. They even have my favorite Lehman's cider in season! In an area somewhat lacking in good eateries, Wheatberry is the business.
(5)Aaron B.
Great food and Drinks. I recommend the coconut shrimp app and the pulled pork. For you bourbon drinkers, the gingerman cocktail is exquisite.
(5)susan v.
So happy we finally discovered Wheatberry! Love the 'small' and 'large' plates -- we've been able to try more dishes by ordering a couple of small and a large and everything's been super delicious! And we haven't even tried the BBQ everyone raves about! Service has been exceptional, as the staff works together well and are very attentive and friendly. A wonderful dining experience! Don't know what has Osmond S's shorts in a knot. He's from IL and is complaining about parking and prices??? Where can you get a small plate of two scrumptions lamb chops with mashed potatoes for $9.95? And when we've been there, no entree was priced over $20! There probably could be more parking, since the place is so popular and busy! But "move to someplace more accessible"? Do that and you'll lose the charm and uniqueness of Wheatberry. WE LOVE IT!
(5)Trista S.
My husband and I took the long way home from Chicago specifically to stop and have dinner here. Boy were we disappointed! There is no where near enough parking first of all. Then, we were seated in the empty back room right underneath the wall air conditioning unit. Brrr!!! Our waitress took our order and she never returned to our table. We would see her walking around, but she never once got us a refill, asked if we needed anything or even brought us our bill! Oh yeah, and did I mention that the back room must be for larger parties? About 5 minutes after we were seated, a large 15-person table sat right next to us. My husband and I couldn't hear each other during the whole meal! In the end, we were left fending for ourselves, and the food was underwhelming as well. We won't be back, and I wouldn't advise anyone else to waste their time.
(1)heidi d.
Love the atmosphere! Love the selection of beer on draft! Have been there several times and the food has been very good each time. The texas sheet cake for dessert...soo yummy! :)
(5)Willow D.
5 visits...first one great, second ok and the last 3 were progressively worse. Tonight had guacamole and chips and the chips were so heavily laden with grease we couldn't eat them. Sent them back and were still charged for them. Food was simply ok but the presentation was messy. Quality was vaguely ok. Dessert looked and tasted like it was a couple weeks old. Just not a good meal. We gave it three more shots before calling it quits, but I'm certain we won't be back. Disappointing because the concept and location are great.
(1)Wink B.
I have a feeling this place will be on the Food Network pretty soon. The BBQ here is so good it makes me cry, or at least utter inappropriate noises. When devouring this sublime meat.It is much less painful to be surrounded by all the brash, self-important Illinois nobodys who seem to be invading the area.
(5)Cory N.
Great BBQ. Had the ribs. They were fall off the bone incredible.
(4)Cara L.
Wheatberry Restaurant is a gem of a restaurant off the beaten path. If someone has not recommended it to you, chances are, you have never heard of it nor would ever visit. Let me tell you - if you do not try this restaurant, you are really missing out on something special! I learned of Wheatberry from a good friend who shares my love of all locally owned restaurants and restaurants that choose to use local ingredients. Wheatberry fills the bill on both counts. Per their website, they purchase local food to support local farmers, community and economies and to ensure to their customers they have the freshest ingredients available. My husband and I arrived and were greeted by a friendly host and server and escorted to a table by the window. You won't get much for a view as the restaurant sits right on the highway but the river is right across the street, though covered by trees. Right away, we were impressed by the atmosphere - casual but upscale with groups of friends sitting around enjoying beers together to couples out for a nice night out together. The next thing that impressed us - their menu! So many things to try, we barely knew where to start but my friend had recommended for our first visit, we MUST try their BBQ. It is what Wheatberry is best known for and they were even voted best ribs by Chicago Magazine. After asking our server for her suggestions, she told us all of the meat is smoked out back fresh every day. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a side of their macaroni and cheese while my husband ordered the pulled beef platter with a site of sweet potato fries. We shared a cup of cream of asparagus soup. It was all wonderful! I would recommend the platters as opposed to the sandwiches - the pulled chicken was served on a rather large, doughy roll which I felt took away from the great BBQ chicken taste so I ended up eating my left over the next day sans roll. The chicken was a little dry but we arrived late in the evening so you might want to try this dish a little earlier in the day. The chicken included both white and dark meat, which I love to see as white meat only gets dried out so fast. My husband's pulled beef was to die for and much more juicy than the chicken. They serve each dish with just the right amount of BBQ sauce already on the dish then bring out containers of their 2 different types of BBQ sauce for you to add yourself. The price for our meals was wonderful - my sandwich with side was only $8.95 while my husband's beef platter with two sides was only $10.95. Their menu has a lot to offer - from unique appetizers to sandwiches, all the way up to steak and salmon dishes with all price ranges to choose from. The other very unique thing about Wheatberry is their extensive local and microbrew beer list. They handed us a full page menu of beers, front and back with nothing but local breweries, speciality microbrews of all different tastes and styles. If you are a Miller or Bud LIght person, you will still find those available though only shown very small in the bottom right hand corner of the menu - LOVE IT! They also offered beer flights of 4 different local breweries for a very reasonable price of only $7. They also offer a great mixed drink and martini list as well as a wine list. I got the Miami Mango Martini and it was out of this world! So, if you have never been to Buchanan, MI . . .maybe never even heard of Buchanan, you now have a new reason to find it on your map and make a visit to Wheatberry soon! So many great things to try, you can visit this place over and over and discover something new every time.
(4)M P.
We have been here three times and really want to love this place. We went again last Friday night. The place has a fancy smoker out back and they feature ribs, pulled chicken and pulled pork, among other options. Here is my problem - they advertise pulled pork on the menu, but what I got was chopped pork. Now, that may seem like a small thing to some people, but when you have a nice smoker and you are trying to properly present barbecue, why would you chop your pork and tell people its pulled? Someone should confiscate their smoker and make them boil their ribs.
(3)rachel v.
We have lived in Buchanan for over two years and we finally decided to try Wheatberry. It was our first date night in nearly a year, so we wanted to try something new. When we arrived at 5pm, the place had only a few tables filled and we wondered about that. The hostess and server were very pleasant and the decor was casual but nice. When we were seated, we were presented with a plate of cornbread, which was sweet and tasted great. I had previously looked at the menu online and was really wanting to try the Chimichurri Steak, so that is what I ordered for my entree. It was listed as a Small Plate (aka appetizer). I was told it was small and for a smaller appetite (which I did not have, as I was STARVING!), but I went with it anyway. We decided to try the Coco Panko Shrimp as a starter, also listed in the Small Plates section. My boyfriend ordered the Booker steak with a Bourbon and Peppercorn sauce listed in the Large Plates section. I ordered a Mochatini (Vanilla vodka, Kahlua, and Bailey's)and my boyfriend ordered a Heineken. Our shrimp arrived and it was delicious. Five (HUGE) jumbo shrimp cradled on a martini glass full of the mango dipping sauce. VERY YUMMY! We were not disappointed. My Mochatini also did not disappoint! It was delicious!! My Chimichurri Steak arrived. I ordered it medium, but it appeared to be well done. But, it was tasty, so I did not complain when the waitress asked if our steaks were prepared to our liking. My boyfriend ordered his rare, but it seemed more RAW in the center. He did not complain either, as he was very pleased with the taste. He will simply order is medium rare next time. Both meals were served with mashed potatoes which were delicious. My boyfriend wasn't thrilled with the pile of cooked spinach on his plate, but otherwise he loved his meal. He also wasn't thrilled when he bit into a solid peppercorn, but noted to himself to NOT do that again. I finished my entree quickly and was still hungry, so I ordered the Crabcakes from the Small Plates section. They were good, though I thought they could have been a little more crisped up. I think I would have preferred my dipping sauce on the side, as it made the cakes a bit soggy. Still no real complaint since they were good! I ate all except a few bites as I was getting full!! I finished my martini and decided another would not be in the cards, as I was REALLY feeling the effects of the first! II ordered some Guacamole and chips to go!! Overall, it was great date night. Our total for the meal including 4 Small Plate selections, 1 Large Plate selections, 2 Heinekens, a $7 Michigan beer sampler (we wont talk about that), and a Mochatini: $85 plus tip. Not bad! We will definitely return to Wheatberry. Oh! Also, as it neared 6pm, the place was PACKED!!! :)
(4)Matt M.
Good food. Good local beer and wine selection.
(4)Eric D.
We ate here about a week ago and it was a very good experience. The atmosphere was really cool and the food was great as well. I had a Pico Di Gallo Burger which was well cooked and the burger literally fell apart. My wife had open faced brisket sandwich that tasted delicious. Service was friendly as well. Would definitely go back again.
(4)A K.
A night when we didn't feel like cooking ended up with us trying this place. Wheatberry Tavern is located in a town not really known as a tourist destination, so this intrigued us. Their extensive beer/draft menu also appealed to my husband. Even though we went on a Saturday night, we didn't think that it would be that busy, as Buchanan is a small sleepy town. So we were surprised when we pulled into the parking lot at 7:30pm and it was full - a very encouraging sign. We only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table despite a full dining room. Wheatberry advertises themselves as 'a regional American restaurant & smoke house', taking pride in using local sources for their kitchen. We were impressed by the interesting mix of main entrees, barbecue items and sandwiches on their menu. Reflecting their slightly quirky sense of humor, the staff dress code consists of casual pants with shirts that remind you of the work shirts worn by car mechanics or gas station attendants. It's a little touch of humor that brings a smile to your face when you walk into the door. Like other Yelp reviewers, attention to service was inconsistent - we sat at the bar before being seated for at least 5 minutes before the bartender took our drink order. And this was despite 1 other waitperson running behind the bar. Table service was also a little lax - we did not have any silverware when we were seated, so when our appetizers came out (a cup of the house tomato soup and crabcakes), we spent at least 5 minutes trying to wave down one of the wait staff for a spoon and fork. Having read several articles on the 2 owners' food philosophy, my expectations were pretty high going in. The tomato soup was very good - it wasn't a sweet soup, but leaning more toward a herb-based/savory soup. No cream was in the soup and I was glad to not get the standard bag of saltines or oyster crackers, as they would have distracted from the flavor. The crabcakes were unfortunately lukewarm by the time we got our silverware, and were heavily mixed with breadcrumbs, creating a very dense bread-y cake. The lemon-chive aioli drizzled on top was very tasty, but there wasn't enough of it. I decided to order one of their signature vegetarian dishes (Three Sisters) and my husband decided to sample their barbecue (beef brisket with sweet potato fries and the house slaw). Presentation was great - my dish was a colorful mix of different local vegetables, and my husband's barbecue was cleanly plated Food highlights included : - Perfectly roasted seasoned veggies in my dish, with a very flavorful light cream garlic sauce. - A coleslaw that didn't hit you over the head with vinegar or mayonnaise, but was lightly seasoned and almost acted like a palate cleanser - The BEST sweet potato fries we've ever had - crispy & crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside and they were fresh-cut vs. formed! There were several hiccups which we could not ignore : - While the roasted vegetables in the pseudo hash in my dish were well cooked and seasoned & the slightly creamy garlic sauce had good body and taste, I was shocked to discover that the polenta cake/frybread had little to no taste. You could see the dried herbs that had been mixed into the polenta mixture, but the other flavors in the dish overwhelmed and created a texture-only item. A newspaper article that published the recipe confirmed the lack of salt in the ingredients list. Which was unfortunate as this little change would have improved the dish immensely and made it a fantastic vegetarian entree. - The brisket slices in my husband's dish had good flavor and were pre-slathered with the house bbq sauce, but it was evident that the beef could have gone several more hours in the smoker, as the individual slices were still chewy despite having been sliced on the bias.
(3)Daria W.
Might look country or mom and pop but the food is top drawer. I was pleasantly surprised at the sophisticated menu. Now dont let me scare you off....kids will find choices they will like. Did I mention food and service wonderful Cornbread to die for..
(5)Tad D.
THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD BAR NONE. The staff tried to force our entrees on us THREE FREAKING TIMES. That's right, before my wife and I finished our salads and appetizers, the staff made three false starts bringing out the entrees. The first time, they only brought one entree, as if we were separate dining parties at a common table. I asked them to take it back and let us finish the salad. A few minutes later, the same person brought both entrees again and we still weren't finished with the salad. A few minutes later, another person brought both entrees and we still weren't finished with the salad. The waitress was nowhere to be found. The potatoes were wrong. The bus boy was snacking next to us. The giant cart of dirty dishes next to us was gross. We waited ten minutes for silverware after being served. I am beyond disappointed. I have had good food here quite a few times but I just cannot fathom how you let service slide like this. I have probably been here 5+ times in the last few years and recommended it to friend but I will have a very hard time justifying a return visit.
(1)Erik M.
We went here last night and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Pluses: - cocktails were strong and they served them in pint glasses #win - ribs were good...nice and smoky flavor; however some parts were slightly too salty - cornbread instead of bread= awesome - waiter was quick and attentive - menu was insanely large and had some solid vegetarian options; however in comparison to the rest of the menu it was limited. - good value for price Cons: - restaurant itself is cool but on a Tuesday it was dead and the ambiance was seriously lacking - too large of a menu...couldn't figure out what to order for the longest time. - mayo based slaw...which I realize is a preference thing
(4)Roger S.
Awesome crab cakes. Dinning room was COOLD. the fire roasted goat cheese crispini was very savory. Very good local wine selection and a some eclectic craft brew selections. Did I mention that it was cold like you an hang meat in the dinning room. The BBQ shrimp and rice was wonderful and the smoked ribs were great. Good bark nice even smoke flavor not tough at all. Good sauce. But wow was that room cold. Overall great experience
(5)Zach A.
Excellent wings, very impressed with the slightly spicy and a bit sweet wings. They have a nice beer selections although I'd like to see more variety in their flights. I like the atmosphere and the staff is great. I recommend it!
(4)Andrew M.
Took the family for a Saturday lunch. I had the brisket, my wife had turkey/avocado club, and my kids split chicken fingers. First, mad props for the chicken fingers, which were lightly breaded in a homemade batter. While they looked spicy with a red hue, they were not hot. Rather, they were tender and full of flavor. My wife's sandwich was so very fresh and my brisket absolutely ruled. It was tender with a wonderful smoky bark. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Sharon S.
Food was good but we froze inside as ac was right by our table. Very busy so expect a wait.
(3)Colin F.
I love Wheatberry. I had a full slab of ribs and a delicious selection of beer. The waitresses I've had have always been friendly and knowledgeable about beer and the food menu.
(5)Linda L.
I love the food, especially considering it is in Buchanan, the service falls short on a few levels. I have been treated rudely on the phone. Staff seems to be better onsite but bringing all the food at once has happened on one or more occasions... I recently had planned a Sunday evening for a special day and restaurant was closed with no notice or mention on the answering machine. Ended up going to Timothy's instead in Union Pier and frankly we had a much better time. The Food gets 5 stars, the dining experience is something more like Quaker Steak and lube.
(2)Diane B.
The reputation of the Wheatberry made for pleasant anticipation. The Texas sheet cake (chocolate) was warm and tasty with a scoop of ice cream. The bit of cornbread appetizer was fresh. The meal itself was so-so. Three large portions of cod were not overcooked or dry in the least, but fries with them were bland tending to cold. Cole slaw was old and tasteless. The cabbage in it had lost any semblance of fresh crispness. Better coleslaw has been found in chain restaurants. No one complained about the hamburger with fresh bun, although it was too large and too $$. One chicken meal with peppers got a thumbs up. Altogether, expensive meal, could use improvements. The special house beer was the best of it, with its crisp citrus highlights.
(3)Robert B.
Really the best restaurant in the Niles Buchanan area. Most of the food is really great. The ribs are not fall off the bone type so if u want tender BBQ to for the brisket which is to die for.
(4)Jennifer P.
This used to be my favorite place, but not anymore. We went there for my sister in-law's birthday and everyone received their food but my three year old son and five year old niece. We kept asking where their food was and was not given an answer. We the rest of the table was almost done with their food I went was told by the waitress that their food was over cooked and had to be put in after an order of twenty-five! By then we were all done eating and I went to see a manager to see what could be done and was told the same thing!!! Only she added, "We're not going to charge you for the food, that should be good enough." Just then the waitress walked by and laughed!!! I have never been treated so poorly by "customer service" in my life! The children received their food well after we were all done eating and their were no apologies! To top it off we waited a long time to pay the bill and all the dirty dishes were left sitting on the table. Needless to say, WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK!!!
(1)Maureen M.
Great place just off US 12. Small plate options range from guacamole to seared salmon with apple cider salsa ( that is what I had). My husband had the BBQ combo. It needed more sauce. Baked beans and macncheese we his sides that he liked. Daily specials as well as daily flights of beer. Corn bread is complimentary that is dessert worthy. Excellent service!!
(4)Loran O.
Visited Wheatberry with a buddy of mine and was encaptured by the tavern's vibe. Mellow with a hint of class. The price of their menu was a bit of a reach, especially since im only a college student but ordered their Red Bud burger, well done with a side of garlic fries ! I appreciated the server's attitude throughout the whole dine-in because we came 20 minutes right before they were closing. Overall, I recommend visiting Wheatberry.
(4)Jan S.
Not impressed with the service. Waited 10 minutes to be seated -- then got attitude from the hostess. Wife wanted to leave -- I had heard there ribs were wonderful -- so we stayed anyway. Food came out fairly quickly -- I got the chicken and ribs combo -- chicken was wonderful.... ribs were absolutely the worst I have ever had. They must use liquid hickory -- it was so strong you could not taste the meat. They did not live up to the hype... will not go back!!
(1)Karl D.
This restaurant is great place to spend an evening with friends. It is a combo of a bar & a restaurant. The place is in the middle of nowhere but there's a nice lake next to the place. I had a great experience eating at this place. We got complimentary corn bread, food came out really fast, the food prices are decent, their burgers are on point!
(4)Cheryl H.
Wheatberry has been our go-to place for years; after our last two visits, we probably won't be going back. The quality of the food has gone downhill. My shrimp po boy came with cold tasteless shrimp and wilted lettuce, and exactly 6 (yes, I counted) French fries. My husband's expensive fish entree consisted of a piece of fish not even half the size of my iPhone, three pieces of mushy broccoli and watery potatoes. Our son's burger was absolutely blackened and we had to dissect the patty to salvage what was edible. The service was just as dismal. A young man brought our orders out and barked the name of each plate so loudly he made our baby cry. When he got to your order he would sling the plate across the table like a frisbee, narrowly missing the drinks. We placed a dessert order and waited 35 minutes before it arrived: two pieces of lukewarm chocolate cake sitting in a sea of melted ice cream, so soggy they required spoons for consumption. We would've sent them back, but our waitress was too busy talking to people at the bar. We paid over $60 for dinner and still walked out hungry- it was just that bad.
(2)Emma D.
Normally I would give Wheatberry 4 or 5 stars as I love the food, atmosphere, and staff. However, our most recent visit left us feeling very disappointed. The service was awful. 20+ minutes for refills, over an hour for our food, lack of attention, and our orders still came out wrong! On top of that they added a 18% automatic gratuity because we had a party larger than six and still asked for an additional tip! Normally this isn't a problem, but to pay that much for terrible service left a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure when we'll be going back, hopefully it will be better.
(2)Kristen F.
Stumbled across this place while at a horse show. Came back the next night, great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, the owner was hanging out at the bar. The Panko coconut shrimp is some of the best I've ever had, rivals that of my favorite sea side restaurant. Mac and cheese is a must. Chicken and baby back ribs combo plate is as good as any I've had. And this Texas girl gives a stamp of approval for their Texas sheet cake. Be sure to try the blueberry crumble too.
(5)Chip M.
Food good, service TERRIBLE. Unfortunately, tonight wasn't the first time. That said, there are several dinners that are worth the trip, but be prepared for inconsistency.
(2)Stacy O.
Despite repeated visits, I cannot figure this place out. The craft beer list is fantastic and boasts some Michigan standouts. The Michigan beer flight is a delightful way to journey your tastebuds through the Mitten state's offerings. The cornbread they bring to the table ahead of your order is hot, buttery, and has just the slightest kick of black pepper. The barbecue is above average. The macaroni and cheese side dish is heavenly. If you make it through dinner and have room for dessert, the blueberry crumble (featuring local blueberries) is sinfully wrong and right at the same time. But the service. Oy, the service. We keep coming back for the beer and the barbecue. And every time we walk out swearing we won't return. But we do. Which is probably the best testament of the food I can give.
(4)Drew S.
My wife and I were given a gift certificate to this restaurant and were told good things, not fantastic or amazing things, but still good none the less. I must tell you, after our visit, I felt as if I needed to ask for my family members money back they'd spent on the gift certificate. We brought my mother, who is not a foodie by any means, and the three of us were all shocked at our experience. First off, we wanted to order an appetizer, but the menu wording with "small plates" and "big plates" was slightly misleading. I say so because the small plates section seemed as though it was a random, nonsensical collection of small entree portions, maybe an appetizer, maybe it's tapas style. But needless to say we picked the Roasted tomato and goat cheese (it seemed as one of two apps in the section). The description states the dish is goat cheese with roasted Roma tomato purée. This looked like someone opened a can of sauce from a can, place it over some goat cheese, put it in the microwave for 4 minutes and topped it with dry oregano. Roasted my butt!! Sadly this was the highlight of our meal! I wanted the house made pastrami sandwich and was informed five minutes after placing the order, that "we are out of pastrami" which lead me to choose a burger. I chose the avocado pico burger. We will get to that soon! Shockingly, five minutes after I was informed they were out of pastrami, our waitress returned to inform my mother they were out of turkey. Out of turkey!!! Who is running this kitchen? Can't be very bright if they can't figure out the basics of ordering product. Now I'm nervous, if you can't order properly, how are you going to cook something properly? Well, they didn't! By this time, not a shocker. My wife got the chimichuri steak with mashed potatoes, again confusing because it's not an appetizer but still on small plates menu. Anyway, the steak was cold upon arrival, the pico de gallo was lack luster at best, but by far the most grievous error of this dish was the "chimichuri". This looked as if someone had taken canola oil and blended 1/2 a sprig of parsley or cilantro into it. I say parsley or cilantro because whatever it was, it was unrecognizable on the palate. The only thing present in this sauce was oil. On to the burgers. My mother and I both opted for burger replacements for our out of stock menu items. I have to say, I have stopped asking how does one screw up a burger, people continue to show me just how good they are at doing just that. First off, if you're gonna ask me how I want it done, MAKE IT LIKE I ASKED FOR IT! Other wise, don't ask and I am subject to chefs preference. Both my mother and I were asked how we wanted them, I chose medium rare and she medium well. Mine was medium at best and hers was well done for sure. Second, think through your entire presentation please! If the burger I ordered has pico de gallo salsa on it, why on earth would you serve a slice of onion and tomato with it!?!?! Pico de Gallo already has both of those things in it!!! Give me more pico and hold the ring-o-onion and ring-o-tomato. Third the burger was so fatty and grease the bottom bun was a soggy sloppy mess and unpleasant to even touch before bite three. I took bite four and said NO MORE! There should be a warning label on the door, "we have a wide variety of beers, liqour, wines, and cocktails to choose from, we suggest you imbibe profusely before you attempt to eat our food" or "we've got an idea of how to do the tavern aspect, but no idea of what to do in our kitchen." My advice, stop serving food, leave that to professionals. Pour beer and make drinks. God I hope you can at least do that right, but I for sure am not willing to find out!
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