Redamak’s Tavern
616 E Buffalo St, New Buffalo, MI, 49117
Redamak’s Tavern Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in New Buffalo for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in New Buffalo for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in New Buffalo for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
616 E Buffalo St
New Buffalo, MI, 49117 - Phone (269) 469-4522
- Website https://www.redamaks.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 9:00pm
- Mon : 12:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Adam P.
I could care less that they greatly overcooked the bison burger - what upset me was that I asked to substitute fries for the chips that came with it. My server said "Sure!" Then, when the food was brought out she brought both, explaining that it only came with chips but she wanted to bring both since i asked for the fries. I thought that was a nice gesture until there was an extra $4.25 on my bill. I even inquired about it and she did nothing. VERY unprofessional.
(1)Tima D.
Do youself a favor and get the double velveta cheeseburger! YUM! The food was served at a rapid rate which was great because we were definitely hungry. I would also recommend the sweet potato fries but the tots looked great too. Was it the best burger In the U.S? No, but it was still really good. I would say they are slightly overrated. This place is super crowded. If you go with a group be prepared to WAIT. It was just my husband and I so we sat right away but larger groups really hate to sit around for a while. This place takes Cash only which is good for them but bad for everyone else. The prices are great though. You definitely get more than what you pay for! Service was okay. Nothing spectacular. They kind of just want to get you in and out.
(3)Shannon M.
Who would have thought velveta cheese on a burger could be sooooo good?!!! This place makes an outstanding burger!!!! The atmosphere feels like a summer camp... It is big and crowded at times. Worth the wait or get it to go. It's is must when in town!!!
(5)Chelsea A.
Of course I had yelped this spot before coming here so I had anticipated greatness. Aside From the place being cash only, I have no complaints. The burger was cooked well and my selected trimmings made it even better. I was a little worried about the velveeta cheese at first, but it actually tasted good. It wasn't until I heard someone else sub it for another cheese that I even knew that was an option. Glad I didn't though. I enjoyed the chili cheese fries. It was too much food but I rather that than too little. The chili meat was actually seasoned, not just drizzled with sauce like some chilis I've had. My husband ordered a banana strawberry cheesecake and it was food too. I only wish it was a little thicker but the taste was good. If I have to have one issue, my side salad was full of wilted, almost old lettuce. I imagine it's the same lettuce for the burgers, only when it's in a salad it definitely should be crisp. Overall, if you're in. New Buffalo, you HAVE to eat here. It's a no brainer.
(4)Tyler L.
Redamak's has been a tradition in my family every summer for 20+ years. Pricing is a little high for the area, wait is a little long, but in a big group you hardly notice. *Working Person Special is a must; go for refillable pitchers of "pop" or beer with greater than 4 people; the arcade is fun for kids; seating is pretty open in the main hall but there are more intimate booths tucked away elsewhere. Staff are very helpful and friendly, atmosphere is jovial, boisterous, and loud. The food quality is on par with home-cooking--this is not a gourmet restaurant. It's a place you come to "eat", not "dine", and have fun with friends and family. Be careful not to over-eat!
(5)Katie C.
We never miss a chance to stop here. Awesome burgers, great service, and totally worth the wait. Do believe they hype!
(5)Kim S.
Don't believe the hype. Burger was dry and tasteless; no flavor from the meat. The onion rings were stale and the fryer oil needed changing. Husband wasn't impressed with his meal either. Fish dinner was bland and boring. You would think the fries would be home made, but everything had an institutional taste...think cafeteria museum food. Staff was friendly, but rushed. Bring cash; no credit cards. Don't waste you're time, since there are a lot better places to go.
(2)Renita M.
The cheesecake milkshakes were super tempting, but we were saving room for Oink's later. So we just stuck with the basics: two burger specials - a single for me, a double for him. Fries and water. The atmosphere is definitely taverny, and a bit kitchsy. It's clearly very popular. They are speedy -- our burgers came out in about five minutes. These burgers are clearly made with love. They are big and juicy and taste homemade. The cheese was gooey, the pickles were tart, the onion was crisp. It was a very solid burger. Next time we're in New Buffalo, I would certainly return for another one. And maybe a milkshake, too.
(4)Rick B.
I've seen the other reviews ... some of which say this place is the best and others that say it is a dump. It seems the Redamak haters don't like the hamburgers being wrapped in paper or the paper tray it is delivered in. Plastic cutlery also seems to be a bone of contention. Come on now ... what did you really expect? This place is exactly what it bills itself - a good hamburger joint. It doesn't hold itself out to be a fine dining experience ... just a good hamburger and a beer. Yes, it has loud kids all over the place in various family units. That is to be expected - the entire New Buffalo area is a summertime beach town resort - and they all eat here. Anyway ... if you want a good hamburger and a beer, this is a good choice. I have been here a half a dozen times - never had anything but a burger and some of the fried appetizers ... give them a try. If I want fish or a salad or something else - I'll go somewhere else (remember this place is known for its hamburgers). Open from March 1 through mid October, it is the stop in the New Buffalo area for families and large groups looking for good burgers.
(4)Missy T.
First visit this year. Something has changed. Ordered takeout and my burger was dry and tasteless and cold and french fries where cold. Miss the old Redamak's.
(2)TR M.
We were driving through Michigan today and stopped at Redamack's for lunch. We haven't been here for at least 7 years, and it is still a great little burger spot. The food is all very fresh, the menu has a lot of options to choose from, although most of it is fried, and the service is good. We had forgotten that they only accept cash. Luckily we had enough to spare us from having to do dishes.
(4)Karma K.
This is one of the those places that exists only because of it's reputation by people who don't know any better. It's not a horrible place. Their burgers are OK. They skimp on things though. I don't find the charm in the prepackaged condiments or cash only. Folks from the North shore and western burbs of Chicago think this place is the knees bees. Trust me, it's not.
(3)Nancy D.
Best cheeseburger in the state!! The meat is cut and ground there and the have Velveeta cheese!
(4)Corinne R.
Have been a regular for many years, this year will be my last, sadly. Prices have gone up ridiculously and I can no longer afford it. Had 2 dry overlooked double chz burgers and when waitress asked if we wanted fries, we said yes, one regular and one with curly. Little did we know that fries were extra now so regular fries were $3 extra and curly were $4.25. We would have split a fry had that been mentioned. Prices are alittle cheaper on the weekdays, guess you are out of luck if your not a local. With a family with kids, I don't see how you can come here and feed everyone. Portions of fries were small also for what you paid for. Burger was not what we've had in the past, juicy and delicious. It was really dry and terrible. We have called and talked to a manager, Mike. He says he will pass on our complaints. Maybe more people need to voice concerns if you end up feeling how we do... The review posted right before mine either had to be on a weekday or wrong for the total because you can look up prices on web, burgers do not come with fries and no way on a weekend that would be their bill, just sayin
(1)Ryan G.
Love this place. I stop here often during my commutes to and from Chicago and Ann Arbor. Almost always busy and always a great home made burger. Wish it was open year round.
(4)Steve W.
Don't believe the hype.... overpriced, CASH ONLY (really?? - c'mon it's 2015 for crying out loud get with it people) fries need to be ordered a la carte, and are nothing special. Burgers are OK but, just OK. I can make better ones at home. Don't plan on stopping in the winter because they are closed too. Do yourself a favor and keep driving into New Buffalo for better options.
(2)Mz C.
Good burgers & shakes. Be prepared to wait if in peak season, worth the wait for delicious burger goodness.
(4)Denise P.
You know the old saying... There is Good, Fast & Cheap and you can only have two. You can have good and fast but it'll cost more. You can have good and cheap , but it'll take longer. You can have cheap and fast, but it'll be a Redamak's burger. Just so so. Bring cash.
(3)Dorin P.
This place is a joke. White Castle makes better burgers. Meat was always overcooked, fries soggy and their cash only policy is ridiculous. That is why we dont go there anymore. Go to Milda's Cafe or better yet Luisa's in Harbert for a great burger. If you want to put a little more work into your burger experience, go to LOCAL in downtown New Buffalo, pick up some ground chuck and be the master of your own domain!
(1)Bob K.
I am a local that lived in Chicago. I am still amazed that people actually wait in line for this food. And now I read how people think this is the best burger they have ever had! Please. Maybe if I was starving. This is a totally over rated place. Good for them that there are lines waiting for them to open but it confuses the hell out of me. I would rather have mcdonalds or burger King and I never eat that crap either. Hey they have been around a long time and people seem to love them so what do I know.
(1)Greg S.
Have been going here for years. Went this March when they opened. The burgers looked smaller and the buns stuck to the paper wrap. The worst is the Dry, Dry, fries. I think they cook them all first thing and let them sit under a heat lamp. Why on earth don't they take cards? Most of the customers are out of town so this is always a problem with me. ATM in front hits you twice for not being your bank.
(2)Buckeye D.
First trip to the famed Redamak's Tavern. First thing you see as you come in the door is a large, prominently placed sign advising that they don't accept credit cards. Strike one. Reeks of being cheap. We ordered burgerr (no fries included, seriously?) And the fiance had jalepeno poppers. Food is literally served in paper boats and the burgers are wrapped in paper. No plates in sight Strike Two. Burgers are good but the portions are very small and the prices are not reflective of that. This place is packed in the summer. Someone is making some serious cash but plates would be nice. Credit cards would be even better. Probably not high on my list of places to return to.
(2)Sam H.
Would rather get Ebola than eat here again. Ate here once when I was 5, back at 24 for redemption...worse than 19 years ago....probably my fault for giving them another chance. Actually tried to make myself vomit, wish I had succeeded. Ordered sliders-all cold, replacement burger-blackened and inedible. Eat at own risk
(1)Becky T.
We've been coming here for years and always look forward to the opening in the spring. We made our trek there today and we're disappointed. The burgers were thick and dry without much flavor. They also swapped out the Canadian bacon for regular bacon and didn't mention that on the menu - I didn't know until it showed up. My husband had the new buffalo Italian beef sandwich and it was dry and also had zero flavor. Not sure if it was just an issue of the season still getting started so we'll be back for another try with our fingers crossed.
(3)Mitch B.
My wife and stopped in for lunch at this place on a Wednesday on our way to our hotel in New Buffalo based on all the signage: "the legend continues...we put New Buffalo on the map..." I ordered a triple burger with everything and sweet potato fries. They brag about the beef being fresh and that they grind it in house and you can definitely tell because it comes through in the taste-delicious. However, the patties were all dry and the sweet potato fries were not cooked all the way through. When we sat down our server greeted us immediately and took our order and we had our food in front of us in less than 5 minutes after we ordered. They only take cash, which is sketchy, but they are up-front about it. They have it written in several places in the restaurant. The prices are reasonable based on the quality of the beef, the service was great, but I like my burgers juicy and my fries hot and cooked thoroughly, so the best score I can give is 4 stars.
(4)Kevin R.
Been some time since I've been here. But there was something different. The burger was good. Wasn't over cooked or under cooked. It just wasn't as good as I remember. Also had the onion petals. They were very good, but at $5.75 for a single order, I believe it was overpriced. Wait staff was friendly & attentive. No problems there. I will go back. I won't make a special trip to visit it. If I'm in town, hungry and other people are going, I'll stop and just have a burger & drink.
(3)Allison K.
Just ate their "Legendary" burger. The burger meat tasted so fresh, juicy & satisfying! I wish we had one of these near me in Chicago!
(5)Caroline D.
Been going here since I was a little kid in the mid-sixties, when sawdust was on the floor and we ordered grape Nehi by the bottle. Back then, they had a sawdust bowling game and it wasn't the smoke-free environment it is today. I still feel nostalgic and love this place for its consistently delicious food and friendly service.
(5)Daniel D.
The place was packed, so I wouldn't wait, rather just get it to go. Not a big fan of the fries, but the hot dogs are served on a pretzel bun, which is a nice touch. The burgers were quite good, and nicely cooked despite their thickness. Very juicy despite the thickness of the patty.
(4)Rachael Z.
If you're staying anywhere in New Buffalo (not like there's many choices), this is a must stop if you're a burger fan. Don't expect anything lean here - and roll up your sleeves when you eat, because you will have grease stains otherwise! Also word to the wise - you do NOT need a double or a triple (gross). The burgers are deceivingly filling and you can get stuffed on the large order of fries. It's a quick stop with a good burger - we always try to visit (if they're open) when we're here!
(4)Abigail D.
Redamaks was and is a favorite of mine. Since they are only open a few months, you have to squeeze it in as often as you can. We used to countdown the days until it opened when I was growing up. They also used to sponsor lunches at my grade school. Needless too say the only day I wouldn't ever want to be sick. Burgers are amazing. They keep it simple. Don't waste your time asking to hold this or add that. They do it right. Burgers with the standard fixings. The mini tacos are awesome. During the week they have the working mans special. Milkshakes are so good and a great beer list. Indoor and porch seating available. Even if there is a wait, don't get frustrated because they move fast. This place is a must.
(5)Steve D.
As a life long resident this is one places that has always amazed me that they stay in business. If you like greasy overpriced burgers made their way, not yours, and enjoy standing in line with tourists that have nothing else to do this is your place. A step above McDonalds in flavor, leaps above in price. Not worth the hype. Seriously a tourist trap and gets by on the nostalgia factor of those who went there years back and have memories to show their kids....
(1)Tyktaksyk K.
I have no idea why this place has such a following. The burger is crap. They serve you food wrapped in paper and give you plastic forks. If I want to get a crappy burger wrapped in paper I'd go to a fast food place. They serve you hot soup in a plastic disposable bowl with a plastic spoon. This place is masquerading as a pub burger place and its no better than a drive thru. Save your money. Go down the street to the grocery store and grill your own at the beach. I asked if they maybe have a healthier burger for the health conscious, like a buffalo burger or grassfed. They looked at me like I was from Mars. Wow! What a concept. Having a buffalo burger in New Buffalo!?! This is a tourist trap! The location is great, and maybe getting plates and silverware would go a long way. And possibly a higher quality meat for the person who is looking for a gourmet burger.
(1)Marco A.
Great burger. Pretty damn packed, but it's worth the wait. Service is good. Who cares that they take credit cards.
(5)Amanda B.
hands down the best burger/milkshake I've ever had! Best hangover cure! FYI - This place only accepts cash.
(5)Toni F.
I had been to Redmaks awhile back and never understood what all the fuss was about. It's been two years since our last visit. We decided to give it another try on a drive home from the lake - we were hungry and Redamaks was on the route home. I'm very glad we did. The burgers were tasty and they extended their "Working Man's" lunch to dinnertime during the off season so they came with fries. We also tried the chili which was good. I don't know if I would go out of my way to come here, especially with all the boutique burger joints popping up everywhere nowadays but I would absolutely come again if I'm in the area.
(3)Carter T.
Velveeta cheeseburger is the best!!! Only negative is ALWAYS a wait unless you get lucky and find a seat at the bar.
(4)David B.
Decided to review a hometown favorite. We ordered the cheeseburger and the Walleye both of which were good. You can't go wrong with cheeseburgers at Redamak's and Walleye anywhere. BTW, the cole slaw was just ok. Have to mention though, for long time Redamak's fans, we remember when the burgers came deliciously overloaded with cheese. We really miss that!
(4)Rachel L.
If you are in the New buffalo area this place is a must. The Maui madness chicken sandwich was on point. Sweet potato fries were fairly good. Unique atmosphere, great food. Check it out
(5)Dan S.
I was lucky enough to stay at a nearby resort for a friend's wedding recently & stumbled across Redamak's. In a seasonal small town like this, Redamak's was like an oasis in a desert. Many other establishments in the area were either closed for the season or closed for good so needless to say, I was pretty excited to find this place. If the "legendary" name for their burgers wasn't enough to get my attention, the positive reviews did the trick. The place was packed 30 mins after opening but I was able to snag a table with my buddy & checked out the menu. Just about everything on the menu sounded good but I went with a single velveeta burger with a side of regular fries even though the tots & curly fries were tempting. Every bite of my burger was so soft & just melted in my mouth, fries were ok but nothing special. I will definitely return here if I'm in the area again!
(4)Dave K.
After two trips I'm Not sure what all the hype is about. Had an average burger the first visit and an average turkey Reuben on the second. There is a cool atmosphere and very prompt service so those are two plusses but the food is just OK in my opinion.
(3)Carolyn E.
HOT TIP: It's CASH ONLY. Solid burger place with some vegetarian options. Everyone who got Velveeta on their burger admitted they could have used "more Velveeta," so ask for extra if you hate your arteries?
(3)Jessica N.
I'm surprised at the reviews for Redamark. Was driving by with a large group, and we ordered in advance so we could take the burgers to go. Ordering before 5 we got the workman's special which was $5 for burgers and fries. The burger was AWESOME. Perfect bun, delicious flavor, you can tell it's a freshly made patty. Chocolate shake was also off the hook. I'll definitely be back next time I'm driving past!
(4)Cathy K.
Good quality food at an institution. Husband has the cheeseburger and I had the caprese salad with broiled chicken. Also ordered the fried green beans which were just ok. Service is great. Wait was only 15 minutes.
(4)Marie P.
So Much Hype...Not worth it at all!!! Overpriced small burgers! Can't believe they sell overpriced frozen crinkle cut fries out of a bag!! You think they could cut fries from potatoes! The Cash ONLY thing is ingenious on their part because they have a ATM on site , so imagine how much they make off that? How can these big groups of families dine out and try to calculate how much cash they should bring??? That is what Redamaks wants to happen, not enough cash so they have to withdrawl from ATM. Ca-Ching! Ca-Ching! Will never understand what anyone see's in this place.
(1)JR W.
Epic joint. Very unique summer vibes here. Very family based and good lunch specials. Burgers are delicious! A bit greasy for me, but a good place to splurge here and there! --esp with family
(4)Julie P.
The food here was gross. Nothing was made in-house, not even the ranch dressing that was served with the fried green beans. My Caesar salad was wilted and served in a disposable plastic bowl, likely the one Sysco delivered it in.
(1)Stephen R.
Best cheeseburgers I have ever had! The secret is the Velveeta cheese sauce they use on the burgers. My wife has tried to replicate these fantastic burgers at home, but you can't really beat the original! Excellent cheese fries as well, same deal.
(5)Melissa C.
I first went to Redamak's long, long ago, way before some yelpers graced the Earth. Definitely on my list of best burgers and best memories of childhood. I grew up near New Buffalo and always loved going here. I think my love of green olives stems from their olive burger, which was my favorite. Always a good idea to support local business.
(5)Stephanie S.
One of the best burgers anywhere. It's touristy, but it's good. We never miss it when we're in the area. Just get the cheeseburger and fries - you'll be pleased. Great mini corn dogs too. Make note of their hours and be sure to account for the time change if you're coming from Chicago. Beware, it's cash only, but there's an ATM on site.
(4)Matt B.
Fair price but we were not very impressed with the food at all. I ordered a grilled chicken wrap that consisted of chicken that was not grilled or seasoned, canned mushrooms, and the veggies seemed boiled and mushy. For some reason the food came on disposable plastic plates also. The rest of the table ordered burgers that were so nasty that we would have been better off at mcdonalds. I'm sorry for a poor review but I feel there is no reason to serve crap.
(1)Roland S.
Great burgers, unremarkable fries, slow service. Someone said these were the best burgers anywhere. They weren't amazing, but they were very good. The menu had plenty of interesting options, and the place has an interesting aesthetic. This is a bit of an aside, but you should know this before you go. They only take cash but offer an ATM in the lobby. Okay, that's fine. I always have enough cash on me for a decent lunch. But it is a bit of scam. Basically, they're shifting the cost of the transaction on the customer. Instead of paying a credit card processor 4-5%, they're making you pay 10% in ATM fees. (If you take out $20 and pay a $2 transaction fee at the ATM, you're paying a 10% fee.) So, not only are you and the restaurant paying twice as much in fees as necessary, you're the one paying it. Not cool.
(3)Cody S.
Love the burgers and the cheese fries. Service is always good. Down fall is it is cash only and I don't ever have cash on me so I don't go as much as I want to. Overall great place to eat!
(4)Kylie S.
I've been coming to Redamak's for as long as I can remember. I've always loved the vibe, but usually ate very little as a vegetarian. Back in the day I believe they used to have a cheese quesadilla on the kid's menu that they made for me. But in recent years they've really added to their menu and I'm a happy girl. There is not veggie burger - woohoo! There's also a turkey burger for those who still want meat, but want to be a bit healthier. If you do eat meat, though, you better just get the burger and be done with it. It's famous and people will look at you like an idiot if you don't order it. Awesome screened porch to enjoy during the summer months. Easy peasy parking situation. Bathrooms are tenable. 70s style decor, but still fun.
(4)S S.
Redamaks is a tourist attraction. Don't even attempt to get a table on the weekend during the summer. They offer fast take out. I recommend that and enjoying your burger somewhere else. Also, it is cash only. They do have an ATM in the front though I am pretty sure. Not the best place for alcoholic beverages. The burgers are pretty tasty though.
(4)Cynthia S.
WOO-HOO!!!! Lettuce and tomato added for your comfort food pleasure! The purist in me still passes on the addition. I don't want to alter a single euphoric bite of my annual nostalgia trip.
(4)Brooke ..
It was okay....not the best burger I have ever tasted. Would try it again but not the Velveta burger. Tried Red's chips pretty good......gets kinda soggy tho! I guess I expected more since I have heard this place was amazing!
(3)Ericka A.
"Bite into a legend." - I dunno about that. I really like the Yukon Gold Potato Cheddar Soup and the Fried Cauliflower was decent. The double burger was good, but I think the novelty lies mainly in the fact that you'd need to unhinge your jaw to take it down. The burgers aren't particularly huge. They are just incredibly, almost annoyingly thick. I pulled it apart and ate half of it there and the other half as a snack down the road. This place is geared toward families and it is packed around lunchtime. The good news is that the turnover rate for tables is pretty decent, but our giant booth was kind of sticky when we sat down. I am also amazed at how quickly they seat people when it took forever and a day to get our meal. The appetizers came out fast, but it felt like an eternity before the burgers showed up. It took so long that I actually forgot if I had ordered or not. I went with a build-your-own burger. I'm under no false belief that Velveeta is fresh, but I wanted it. I got it and I think it helped the burger a lot. I also ordered the bacon, which I was expecting to be from the area and quality. It's listed as "round bacon." It wasn't all that great and as we left, I saw the GFS truck pulling up to deliver goods. So, I'm pretty sure I know where that bacon came from and I know for a fact that it's as far from fresh as you can get. As disappointing as finding that out was, it pales in comparison to my hatred of the lackluster, dessicated, tasteless fries that they served as a side. I came, I saw, I tried it. I can check it off my list and continue the search for amazing burgers. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with them, but I'd much rather not deal with the long wait for food or have to put up with screaming children.
(3)Jill M.
Redamak's is a MUST every time we're in the area! They accommodated our large party of 23!!! The server was very friendly and helpful --and even willing to provide green leaf lettuce as a substitute for a hamburger bun since I'm trying to eat minimal carbs. :)
(5)Amanda Z.
We were prepared to wait in line for a table, but didn't have to...score, right? Eh. We were seated immediately, our waitress was great, but seemed overwhelmed. This place was packed, as it is every day, according to the locals during the summer. When our food finally came (we're talking at least a 25 minute wait from when we ordered...for three hamburgers and two sides of fries), it was good, but nothing extraordinary. The bathrooms in this place are ridiculous. There are three dining rooms in this huge, packed restaurant and two bathrooms, each with two stalls in them. I waited 15 minutes and had to stand cramped behind the door to wait in line because on top of there only being two stalls, there is almost no where to stand in either bathroom. We paid $50 for three pops, three hamburgers, two sides of fries, and a little quesadilla kid's meal. Way too much, if you ask me.
(2)Tom Z.
How does a restaurant on the coast of Michigan offer local caught yellow perch and then accompanies it with PACKETS of tartar sauce. Really??? In business since 1946. "Our Tradition is our Legend" - this is their mission statement. Swing and a miss. I hate those nasty little packets, they are a B!T#% to open. When you do get them open the TS resembles Elmer's glue with numerous chemical-laden ingredients/stabilizers, all of which I cannot pronounce. Packet tartar sauce didn't exist in 1946. I don't have a copy of the Redamak's menu from back then but I'm guessing they had home made TS. Why the change? To save money? They don't serve coffee at Redamak's because they fear a child might get burned. What about them choking on those vicious little packet corners as they use their teeth to tear it open? They need to take a cue from the Old Boys Brewhouse in Spring Lake, MI - they have a homemade balsamic TC that's out of this world. Or maybe that's too gourmet for this burger joint. Is their profit margin so thin that they can't accept credit cards. Really??? They need to get their act together...
(1)Sarah C.
I grew up in this area and used to love these burgers. But, I have to say, I came in for the first time this year when I was in from out if town and it was awful. It's slowly went down hill each time I've been there and it's really too bad! The burger was dry and flavorless, fries were cold, server was rude. Too bad. Used to be a classic in my book. I'd put up with all the chaos, screaming kids, wait times, cash only and rude servers, but if the burgers are going to suck--it's definitely not worth it!
(1)Kolyan D.
Came close to giving 2 stars, but the burger was actually pretty good. First, places that don't accept credit cards annoy me and tend to not get repeat business from me. Second, if you're going to ask me if I want fries with the burger, let me know it will be a basket of fries. My wife and I found ourselves with baskets of fries that we couldn't finish. Yeah, the place is loud, but you have to expect that in a roadhouse that caters to tourists and families in particular. The burger itself was good, but greasy. I had the Velveeta cheeseburger and it was tasty, but legend? Not really. BTW, Christiana had to know the cheese would be Velveeta because it clearly states that on the menu. I convinced my wife to go because of the hype, but I don't know if we'll be back, especially with the credit card issue.
(3)Jeremy C.
Despite the line and my reference to the Yelp reviews my party decided that we had to eat here. It was a burger. Seriously, nothing special about it. It was good, but not better that any other random sit down burger joint. The meat wasn't anything special, the toppings were the norm and the bun was actually a bit weak. Couple that with the fact that you don't get fries with your burger and you end up with a resounding "meh". I did however try the Sloppy Waffle Fries, which is waffle fries with sloppy joe and cheese. It was different. It wasn't bad, but it was definitely something else I am still not sure whether or not I recommend them. I'm not going to avoid this place, but if there is a choice, I don't need to come here again. I've had much better with much less hassle. As stated in every review, it is cash only. So be forewarned. They are busy as hell and I would imagine the ATM runs out fairly often.
(3)Chad M.
Average grilled food. Took too long to bring the order. Bread was unbuttered dry toast and they had no butter.
(2)Darci S.
I'll make this brief - Redamak's is a bit over-hyped, but the cheeseburger was pretty delicious. Fries, average. Service, decent. I wouldn't have been thrilled if we waited to eat here but for a walk in Sunday afternoon early dinner, it was good. Definitely worth a trip if vacationing in the area.
(3)Christopher B.
I have been hearing about this place forever. I actually have had their hamburgers but it's been years but I've never actually been here in person. It finally happened... it was super hot out to I opted for a shake, too. Very good and recommended! The burger was excellent, too. It was juicy, I loved the onion they put underneath the patty, and the size was perfect. Although it may not have been the best burger ever there was something that made this one different that many others I've had and probably why this place has been in existence for such a long time! I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come here but if you happen to be in the area you should definitely give it a go! It's pretty light and modern inside and it has a lot of TV's for sports and a bar so if you're not hungry the option for a beer is always there! ;)
(4)Brandy W.
I was a little disappointed..... that it wasn't more greasy like all these people are writing! I pictured some little shack with poor lighting and wood paneling just dripping with grease. Not the way it went down, folks. It's an enormous, airy joint that has obviously been there for the 70ish years they tout. Their menu was huge, filled with a bunch of All American classics. You can ordered fried things, but that's only part of the menu. The rest of the menu does have things like veggie trays and grilled veggie sandwiches and chicken sandwiches and turkey burgers. How is that any different than any other joint? They even had a vegetarian burger option! People. This is obvi not the grease joint you may be anticipating. You choose just how greasy you want your meal to be. Our table ordered the following: 2 Redamak's burgers, 1 turkey burger, 1 veggie sandwich (that came a bit bland but on the most amazing, fluffy bread and chock full of peppers and onions) and a bucket of fries. The turkey burger and veg burger already came with fries... I left feeling no less healthy than eating at most other restaurants. We'll definitely be going back again and making it a tradition.
(4)Dominic R.
I love "Biting into a Legend". Good Burger, solid burger!! NOTE: The place gets PACKED on weekend's the mid afternoon's!!!! AVOID!! People sit around outside leaning against poles, walls, sitting on the grass.........serious people...get a life!! Best times are before lunch time and for dinner on a random weekday night! I've been here a handful of times now, and have always had the burgers and fries.....which have always been flavorful and juicy......the burgers ooze with grease and flavors and it all goes down so good!! If you're in the area, check it out and make sure to get a Redamaks T shirt......on your way out!!! Chicks dig my shirt when i wear it out!
(5)Christiana C.
Redamak's was just ok for me. Maybe it's set up for tourists and locals, but I just could not get into this place. I got a hot dog with cheese-little did I know it would be velveeta. In a divey middle-of-nowhere diner, I'd expect this, but I guess I was hoping for something a little better than that. A couple of guys at our table got the burgers. Maybe it's just overhyped, but "legendary" is definitely not the word I'd use to describe it. This place can seat 400 people, so we got a seat right away. However, it was probably a good 15 minutes before someone even came over to get drink orders and longer to get food. And seating 400 people means not quiet. I'm not a senior citizen, but I could hardly hear anyone at my table over the general din of the room we were seated in. Truthfully, nothing was wrong with this place, it just wasn't anything special. If you want fast, Redamak's may work. If you want a dining experience to remember, Redamak's wouldn't be the first thing in the area to come to mind.
(2)Cat C.
Went here with a friend who RAVED about it. I don't know. the burger and fries were good... but I don't think I'd go out of my way to go, unless I had the kids with me. it's very campy, and I can see it being fun for them. The decor is definitely fun. Cash only. OK food. wouldn't drive to Michigan just for it. I'm not cray-cray.
(3)Angie S.
My co-worker said we had to visit this "best greasy burger joint." We were told by our b&b host not to get our hopes up, and to just expect a good, plain burger. Considering that, we thought the food was delicious! My husband enjoyed the velveeta burger with fries, and as I can't eat gluten, they happily gave me a bun-less burger with Swiss and mushrooms. Somehow they didn't have curly fries, so the perky server said "we'll make 'em extra crispy and just pretend!" Which we thought was hilarious. The burgers are cooked just right, juicy and tasty, nothing complicated, and it was just greasy burger heaven. I had all the ketchup and mustard I needed right at the table, and the fries were pretty good too. Definitely happy to have visited while in the area.
(4)Ralph E.
Seems to be an icon in Southwest Michigan. Passing by the billboards a few time a year, I decided to stop in and get a carry out order. I expect if one has been coming here for years, this is a destination. Personally, I don't get it. The burgers were fine. Fries hot. People at the counter ok---they seem to think everyone is a repeat customer and were a little put out when I requested something they don't put on their burgers. Bottom line is that I can say: "I've been there." Probably won't make it a point to go back soon as I don't see this a a special place to rave about.
(2)Tim R.
I would rate this a 4.5 stars but rounded up because the burger meat was PERFECT! I wrote a review on my blog cheeseburgertime.blogspo… but repeating some of it here. The restaurant was clean, spacious and the tables were stocked with napkins and condiments. The staff was great. They were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant and the surround area. I ordered a double cheeseburger. The presentation of the burger was just a tad bit messy but don't let the appearance fool you because the hand pressed, fresh juicy beef made this burger one of the best burgers I've ever had anywhere in the world. The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. It came out hot and had a good amount of cheese and toppings. The bun tasted fresh as well. I drove over 250+ miles just to go here for lunch and it was worth every minute. I highly recommend this place. I've had their wings, hot dog and salads on previous visits and they too are worth mentioning. The fries were good too. Hot and crunchy! If you are ever in the New Buffalo area, check this place out.
(5)Jan S.
I feel like I am betraying my childhood bc I frequented it often, as I lived in the area growing up. Honestly, I thought/think it was mediocre at best. Overpriced and small fry portions. I've had a stale bun on more than one occasion. Not accepting credit cards in this day n age is inconvenient and frustrating.There are no other competing burger joints in the area, so that is why all the hype. Plus it's been around for years and years. It is a good hangout for families living or visiting the area. The atmosphere is indeed lively. The burgers are good. But the fries look/taste like they are straight out of a frozen bag. It is cool to say you ate there, but if you want to-die-for burger and fresh cut fries at half the cost...go straight to 5 Guys. I think Chili's burgers and fries are better than Red's also.
(2)Kelly K.
Redamaks is delicious. The burgers are always juicy and I love the melted velveeta. The fries don't disappoint and the homemade chips are also tasty. This season they've cleaned up the menu a lot, making it much easier to decide and order. You can now pick and choose your appetizers as well as the quantity which is helpful for smaller parties. Also new to the menu is lettuce and tomato! I'm personally a fan of a bare bones burger (meat, cheese and bun), but I know this will make many people (my MIL included) happy. Is it as good as a 5 guys burger? No, but it's pretty darn close and not as expensive. The service has always been great and we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table.
(5)Andrew D.
Although the New Buffalo locals hate the place, it's been a favorite memory in my family since I was very little. We would drive up from South Bend, IN and I still get a hankering for it when I fly in to visit family in the area. I agree with another Yelper that most of the ingredients are probably frozen but when eating at Redamak's, healthy choices get checked at the door. It' still my favorite burger I've ever eaten. My buddies and I have ridden our road bikes from South Bend all the way to New Buffalo and back multiple times to make an adventure out of it.
(5)Jeffery S.
Ever see that movie "The Great Outdoors" starring John Akroyd and John Candy? This place reminds me of that. Back in the day when Chicago was young and Indiana dunes were considered expendible, people used to get away from the big city and get back to nature by driving to this area. Highway 12 around the Indiana-Michigan border is loaded with places that have seen their glory days pass by. Some places, like Redamak's, try to keep it going by perpetuating the feeling you're getting away from it all. Redamaks decor is Early North Woods, kind of like a dark cook shanty in some camp. One part of the place is a bar, and then theres the dining area. Food is heavy on burgers and fried foods. For those who abstain from eating burnt animal flesh, I did notice some fruit, veggie and salad options so apparently they listened to you whining tree huggers. But I came here for the Burger that made New Buffalo famous so I ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a beer which was really excellent, but I can't for the life of me remember what brand it was. The burger was OK, likewise the fries. Burger is cooked on a griddle and placed on a fresh white bread bun. I asked for onions and pickles and got it. Fries are standard "from the bag" krinkle cut fries. Nothing special really. Service was friendly although a bit slow, thats because this place is usually busy. The northwoods thing was fun in a kitschky way, but hell, they got this kind of stuff in Chicago. I guess if you wanna "wow" the kids while on the road, this place would fill the bill. They even sell T Shirts up front for the family. But beware, no credit cards, cash only. But the food? It's OK. Standard bar food in my opinion. If I go back, it would be because I've changed my mind and want one of those T Shirts.
(3)Kari C.
Had the "legendary" cheeseburger. It was amazing! The burger was cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of toppings. It was super cheesy and delicious, didn't even need the chili cheese fries- although they were also delicious. Highly recommend a local legend
(4)Kristy D.
This place has such a following because it is cheap. Remember you get what you pay for! Went here once and will never go back. It is a cash only restaurant with very little overhead as everything is served in or on paper/plastic. Not enough bathrooms for the size of the place. Loud with kids running all over the place. If you are a couple, this is NOT a place for you.
(1)Beth P.
Why had we not been here before?!?! My husband and I stay in the New Buffalo area every spring to do some winery tours and we have driven by this place a million times but never went in. I think it speaks for itself that we arrived in the parking lot a little earlier than when they opened and there was already a line at the door! The place is huge so we had no problem getting seated though. Got an amazing burger and split some yummy cheese fries. Great burger joint!
(5)Jacob J.
She said.. " you'll love this sandwich".. it's Lent so I ordered their fried fish sandwich. It was horrid. Think two layers of mahi mahi fish sticks covered in cheese like cheese whiz and sandwiched in wheat bun. Half of it was enough to know, I didn't like it. I've had a better fish at McDonald's, but it's good measure. You cannot order food so different at a place made popular by their burgers! This during my first trip to Redamak's. The next & my last trip I enjoyed a burger. Can't say much about it except I wonder if I would've loved it more during my trips to Mi when I was in my teens far before ever trying burger bars. Only because it's nothing like what you'd expect to get at a burger bar. Food enthusiasts or chefs may bask about the freshness of the burger. It's a touristy thing to do and it's a love of the locals. Due to the area, I would assume they don't get very many Asians through here, so there was an amount of wonder in the looks I got while eating. Not off putting, but for mentions sake. They have a game room for the kiddos, which includes my very favorite line of shooters, Big Buck Hunter Safari and another title of the same line I want to say is called BBHP "World".
(3)Kat k.
I don't understand the haters here- the service is quick, the burgers are juicy and perfectly cooked, the prices are reasonable and the place has milk shakes, fried food of every kind, and beer. They have an ATM because its cash only. Easy for two people to eat for $20.
(4)Sam C.
I ordered a double burger with pepper jack cheese and sliced Jalepenos which came with fries. The burger was above average, juicy and tender. The fries were tasteless, clearly frozen.The service was good, I would come again.
(3)Lisa L.
Great food always go when in town.
(5)Jessica B.
Awful. Yep, I said it. This place is awful. Crap burgers served with crap fries (if you order them) in a crappy restaurant with no AC and super slow service. Honestly, this place is on the top of my "tourist trap" list. If you don't go, the only thing you aren't missing is a crappy meal. The burgers are average at best, and most likely fall closer to sub-par. Avoid at all costs!
(1)Michelle S.
Food: Don't get the boneless wings. They're really just processed chicken pieces that are the size of McNuggets. For the price, order a burger or something else. Service: The service was ....meh. I was in a group of 12 and I needed to make a phone call before the server came to take orders. So I wrote down my order on a napkin (so that my friends could order for me) and the order included a margarita. I left my driver's license at the table in case she was checking. When I got back my friends said that the server wouldn't accept my ID within me being there with it. I get it but, who would leave their license if they weren't them?! This irked me but whatever. I showed that I was me and I got the margarita. But I thought it was pretty stupid. and yes I still left a respectable tip, but I won't be back.
(2)Kelly B.
Nothing special. Mediocre burgers. No seasoning at all. Not even salt. Fries were good. Customer service was also lacking. Disappointed.
(2)Matt M.
After going to Redamak's unmteen times as a kid in the 80's, I dragged my family there on the way home from Michigan. I've got to say, I'm thoroughly disappointed. The burger was good. They've got a good mix with the meat. That is the only thing that gets the single star. I agree with another reviewer though, the chain Five Guys does have a better burger. There's absolutely no need to put up with Redamak's for their burger, it's not that good. 3 items were screwed up in our order. It took a good 40 minutes plus to get our food. My 22 year old cousin was brought a mini-kids meal. Rather than correcting it and letting him have something to eat, the waitress begrudgingly said she could take it back to get it fixed. My cousin sat for another 20 minutes until his proper order arrived. When we ordered in the first place we asked if we could get the little kids (1,3, and 5) food up asap. It was past dinner time and they were all pretty cranky. The waitress gave us a look and mumbled something inaudible, which I admit isn't that hard to do because the noise level in there is similar to the Pratt & Whitney jet engine factory. When we all got our food after waiting 40 mins, guess who had nothing to eat. The kids! Guess how long it took to "rush" some chicken fingers? 20 minutes. Zero attempt was made to deal with the problems, no apology, no free food, no smile, no humility, nothing. Just an "ok, we'll put the order back in for your crappy food that we forgot so we can legally still charge you for it and I don't have to go change the bill". Also I overheard at the table next to us how items were forgot in their order as well. I normally don't bother with bad reviews. Either I see things as honest mistakes or I just don't care enough to take the time to write about a bad experience. In this case though, I want to do my part to make sure no one goes back to Redamak's. This place as a business is such a horrible fail. They are trying to coast on their previous reputation and must know how bad things are. It seems obvious to me that the owners are totally absent and the place is run by people that couldn't care less. There is no leadership there and certainly no sense of responsibility. Horrible, horrible place. Stay away. I wish we had just gone to Rio's Mexican Food. Redamak's is a Turd.
(1)Karen M.
Redamak's is one of those places that everyone says you "have to" go to if you're in New Buffalo, mostly for its burgers. Unfortunately, everyone does go there and it's almost too famous for its own good. I think this place is over-rated and has become a pricey tourist trap. Was it a good burger? Yes, but I've had burgers just as good in cheaper places. Was it worth the 45-minute wait for a table and service? No, not in my opinion. The whole experience was okay but I don't feel any burning desire to go there again. I prefer the ambience at The Stray Dog on Whittaker Street.
(2)Mike S.
Gotta stop by here if you're passing through the small town of New Buffalo (or anywhere near the west side of the state). The way these burgers are made started by accident (at least that's what the server told me my first visit there a couple years ago). They steam the burgers for efficiency. What really put Redamak's on the map is the way the Velveeta cheese melts whilest being steamed. Be prepared for a stomach ache because you'll want to finish the burger you get. I made a mistake and got a double cheeseburger. The regular cheeseburger is really all you need. I recommend just mustard on the burger, but all the fixins are really good too!
(4)Jess K.
I was starving by the time we decided to pull over on our drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Rockford, IL. We randomly chose this exit for finding lunch and when we saw the huge billboard for this place we decided to be potential chumps and check it out. It was definitely good, perhaps not legendary, but good! When we walked in there were so many people waiting! But the place is HUGE and we only had to wait maybe 10 minutes to be seated. But that is impressive that they can keep such a large restaurant that full on a weekday. We each got a milkshake because that's what happens when you're starving. I got chocolate and boyfriend got strawberry. I initially thought I liked his more but I changed my mind when I tested it again. A little overwhelming to have an entire milkshake of the strawberry. We each got a single cheeseburger (although the double deckers looked ridic and of course yum). A cheeseburger with fries for $4.75? Awesome. Especially being a New Yorker...that is practically unheard of! I wish it came with a few more french fries and I felt like I might have still been hungry if I didn't go for the milkshake. So, not legendary but still, a solid choice for lunch on a road trip. And I felt so "in the know" when I saw this the other day! aht.seriouseats.com/arch…
(4)Jim V.
The place has a ton of hype, and is a great place to go if it is your first visit to New Buffalo. Be prepared to be underwhelmed by the food and lack of service. Definite tourist trap
(2)Tracy W.
First off, this is a cash or check only business which they don't really tell you until you pay. There is no sign on the door alerting you. I ordered the Lake Perch and it was superb. Lightly breaded and simply delicious. Another favorite at our table was the Reuben, which was pretty large and tasted great. The hamburger was a disappointment, a bit dry and underwhelming. We ordered the Apple crescents for dessert and they were great! Overall, some hits and some misses but overall good and the service was nice and friendly and our food was served fast. I am giving it 4 stars just because the perch was that good.
(4)Alexa E.
When visiting family in New Buffalo, MI, Redamak's has become a traditional food stop for years! The family that lives in town is plain sick of this place, so when I ask some cousins to join me they usually reply *sigh* "Okay..." As a kid, I remember thoroughly enjoying this place for their chili cheese fries and burgers. Now, as a young adult, I STILL enjoy the chili cheese fries and burgers. There are some other (fried) foods I've tried on their menu, but it's about as fast and casual as you can get. I've heard the fish is pretty good, but I shy away from anything with gills that comes from the lake/ocean. I'd say Redamak's could benefit from; 1) An improved and expanded beer list 2) Make more of the food from scratch, as I think there's a good chance most of it is frozen If you're not a local, it's still a good place to grab a quick bite to eat. =)
(4)Nari H.
Great joint with pretty good burgers and sweet potato fries. This is a classic stop in New Buffalo, Michigan if you're in this area. Tips for this place: - Cash Only. They have an ATM machine, but today it was out of order. - Opens at noon - Burger prices aren't too pricey, but if you want to get anything else but regular fries, it's a full-price-extra-fee (i.e. sweet potato fries are $3). - Side portions are relatively sizable - Sweet potato fries are good and come with honey. Pretty good.
(4)Noel T.
You need a great bun to even get in the conversation about a great burger, and Redemak's doesn't have it. Little better than wonder bread, it just fell apart as I was eating the burger. The burger itself was fresh and hand formed... but over cooked and lacking in flavor. The fries were average at best. The service was great, even on a very busy summer weekend and the prices reasonable. Despite the hype I didn't really believe that I would get a GREAT burger but I was hoping for a good one. I was disappointed. Legendary burger? No.
(2)Jen A.
So after seeing this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and driving by it over 25 times in the last year, my husband and I decided to give it a try. Pulling up, the line was wrapped around the door (as it always appears to be), but we were actually seated in under 30 minutes. Our waitress was very nice, fast, and kept our drinks filled. We both ordered burgers - my husband ordered a cheeseburger with Velveeta and no lettuce or tomato (which they DO serve as of this season), while I ordered a regular hamburger, no cheese, with everything and lettuce and tomato. We also ordered jalapeno cheddar bites and onion rings. I was pretty disappointed when our food arrived. I was expecting a "Burger," but what we received was a rather small burger on a regular white hamburger bun (small like Wendy's junior burger). The meat itself was cooked perfectly, but it was the exact same thing I could have made at home on the grill. My husband's cheeseburger was the same thing, but with cheese. And again, while they weren't bad, they weren't great either. They were definitely not worth the 25 minute wait. And the onion rings were just plain old onion rings, and the jalapeno cheddar bites were just regular poppers. Nothing fancy, just regular food. Would we ever go back? Probably, if we were in the area and wanted a decent non-fast food burger, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one, either. The prices were ok ($29 for both of us, including drinks and a beer - and the beer was good). But I would take a Schoop's burger over Redamak's any day.
(2)Todd H.
Burgers were really good, fries we just the right kinda crispy, the sweet tea was meh... Service was good and the place was busy. They don't take credit, that's my 1 down check. There is a ATM in the building though.
(4)Amanda F.
Thank you for adding veggie options!!! The veggie flatbread is very tasty! Service was swift and prices are good.
(5)Geoff M.
I wanted so badly to rate this five stars to block out some of the snobby bad reviews but there are a few things that just don't quite work. For one we had a 20 minute wait all of which was outside due to how full it was inside and for two it is CRAZY loud when you are actually inside the place. This sounds like a bad review but it isn't. The double patty melt was a ridiculous amount of classic greasy american food. The cheese was melted perfectly and it was on a great marbled rye bread, I don't care how much of it was fresh or homemade because I'm not a snob I just want food to taste good, and this did. The price came in at a very good 74$ for 8 people which was 6 adults and two kids. All in all if im ever within 20 miles of this place I'm for sure coming back.
(4)Tobin h.
Great burgers and fries, horrible shake. The burger itself lived up to the hype and the effort to pull off 94 was no waste of time as we called ahead for a take out. However, if I were one of the masses waiting an hour to be seated I would have been greatly disappointed. If I have a few extra minutes during my frequent trips to Michigan I will go out of my way to call in a burger and chili order but you won't see me in line waiting and if you were smart, you'd be right behind me at the take out counter salivating as the grease stained bag comes strutting out of the grill!
(3)Angela P.
First time eating at Redamaks and really enjoyed it. It was the last day of serving for the season it was very busy with lots of familes, people at the bar, etc. As others have said, they take cash only which wasnt a problem. The atmosphere is lively and bustling with lots of interesting things on the walls. It sort of reminds me of a big mess hall at a summer camp... but in a good way. It takes a lot to impress me with a burger. I often think, "Its just a burger", but I thought this one was noticeably very good. Only problem was that I ordered it with chili and they forgot to put it on. No problem, I just ate it without. Our server was nice enough, though was very busy. We didnt see much of her. The meat had a really great flavor, like an old-fashioned burger. I wasnt huge fan of the sides. The sweet potato fries were a bit greasy and limp and the onion rings seemed like the boring, frozen version. As a side note: I wasnt a fan of all the screaming babies and children having temper tantrums surrounding me, but of course that wasnt the restaurants fault. People! Control the children!
(4)Marie B.
You should try it once...at least that's what all billboards say. It's Tradition! Not the best burger, actually quite average to below average. Portillo's burger is better. Try it to say you did.
(2)Phil A.
This is a one year update. My double chili cheeseburger had almost no cheese. It had almost no chili. The burger patties had gristle. The onion rings I quit getting because their quality went down, now I got a $7.50 double cheeseburger plus $1.00 chili. TOTAL rip-off now. I don't know where the quality has gone but for 25 years I've bragged about these burgers and I've had 2 below mediocre trips. :-( And I cannot stress what a MINISCULE amount of chili and cheese I got with a NOT miniscule amount of gristle.
(2)Ritu R.
The food is not the best! My husband has been going here his entire life and its not about the taste of the burger but the history! You are biting into a LEDGEND! They do not take credit card but do have an ATM. Worth a try for sure. There are lines and they are not open until the spring.
(3)Amy P.
Velveeta. This was the first item listed under choices for cheese. It's either a case of a place not taking itself too seriously or just going along with what people really want: fake food. It boasts legendary hamburgers. "Forgettable" would be a better a description. The fries are awful. GFS crinkle cut, mealy, and lukewarm. My companion had the flat bread fish sandwich. I guess you get what you pay for, and at least this place was cheap. Atmosphere was fun, and the place is incredibly popular, especially with people from Chicago, which is confounding--surely they can find a better burger in the big city? Redamak's has been a local tradition since 1946. I'm glad I finally got to see what the fuss is about (didn't figure out the fuss), and although I'll never go back, I can't imagine Red Arrow Highway without Redamak's.
(2)Matt B.
What's the big deal? I don't know. Let's all just agree that cheeseburgers are delicious. This place makes cheeseburgers.
(4)Jenny K.
Having heard the hype that is Redmak's Tavern, I had to try it when I was in New Buffalo. The burger was greasy, which is expected, and the fries were hot and crispy. Service was okay. Overall, it was a typical burger joint with typical qualify food. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way and drive 2 hours from Chicago to come here and have a juicy burger. There are other places in Chicago we can go for that. For the little cute town of New Buffalo, this is not a bad place to eat lunch, but that's about all.
(3)Greg L.
This little gem located on red arrow highway is a tradition of the locals as well as travelers. I used to like going here as a youngster, and I like it even more now that I can drink beer. In the last year the menu has had a few welcomed additions. My favorite is the turkey burger. Additionally, there is a veggie burger. There are also salads. However, the burger or double is still a crowd favorite. The portions of fries are generous, I recommend sharing one basket between two people. The patio can be noisy, but it drastically reduces your wait time. There are video games for kids and a bar with limited seating for adults.
(4)Andrea B.
The service was very good here, with a friendly waitress and no wait on a Saturday night. As for the food, it was just ok. I got one of their "legendary" burgers, their claim to fame. It was cooked well, and was nice and moist, but with a thick layer of American cheese (possibly Velveeta, I'm told) and a sesame seed bun, it tasted like a glorified McDonald's burger. If that's what you're craving, I'd say this will knock your socks off. I also ordered sweet potato fries, which were pretty good, but came with...honey? I gave it a shot, thinking that there must be a reason they included it. Conclusion: vile.
(2)Jen M.
This was one of the times were Yelp failed me! Sigh. I came to Redamak's with a turned up nose because of the negative reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised!!!! First of all - the service is incredibly efficient. We arrived at 12:30 on a Saturday, 30 minutes after they opened and there was already a wait. We waited 15 minutes, and our server got our drinks and food orders quickly. Burgers came shortly after and we were on our way after devouring some delicious beef... Next, the burgers were so good! Back to basics - good quality beef, cooked perfectly, minimal seasoning, juicy, all the right condiments. Finally, the sloppy joe waffle fries. Eat them with a fork and all will be right in the world.
(4)Kady K.
I do love Redamaks don't get me wrong, but I just wish the service was more consistent! The food is always great and the hostess is always friendly, but the servers themselves need a little work when it comes to consistency. There are several amazing waitresses who handle the stress of a busy summer night very well. On the other hand there are some waitresses who can barely hold down a couple tables. I do love Redamaks and recommend it often, I just wish the service was more consistent.
(4)Jen P.
OMG this is in the top 10 of burgers I've ever had. I gorged myself here because after reading some of the negative reviews about the burger saying it was tiny we ordered an appetizer sampler *also YUM* I thought the burger was a great size, I loved the velveeta on it. It was perfectly cooked, juicy and delicious. If I didn't reside in Chicago I would have a hard time staying away from this place.
(5)Steve W.
Terrible. The burger was a C. The fries horrible. Service mean and neglectful. Can't understand the god ratings.
(1)Tim S.
First off, if you have to wait a few minutes for a table, that's because it's worth it. People drive here from miles around when they get a craving for a burger for two reasons...1) They have been doing so since they can remember, & 2) Once you have one of Redamak's burgers, there's no other substitute. App's are average...good beer selection.... And thy finally offer lettuce & tomato for your burgers
(4)Max S.
Love this place. Great burgers. Really fresh ingredients. Fries included free during lunch with burger. The only downside is that it's cash only. There is an ATM on site, but always a bit jarring.
(4)Ian E.
Came here because of the yelp reviews, a little aged, but has the option for lettuce as buns! A life saver as my family doesn't eat wheat! Burgers are pretty good. I don't quite understand, like some of the other reviewers, why they are so legendary though. If I am in the area again, I'll stop on in.
(4)Shaun H.
Not a spot for locals to eat...I'm sure the weekenders (FIP's) will find it hip and trendy, but once you get over all that, the food is just nasty... your food there is straight form the freezer or out of a can. Pre-packaged yuck in a basket... Enjoy
(1)Lisa C.
Have been passing this place for years on our annual Michigan vacations but finally went for the first time. We have young teens and like casual, family-friendly places with a little atmosphere. While I wouldn't go out of my way for the food, my family really enjoyed the ambiance and the prices are reasonable. We got there at about 6:50 p.m. and although the place was fairly full, we didn't have to wait for a table at all. So maybe it's best to go a little later like we did. The regular burger is not large and it is greasy, but in a good-tasting way. The crinkle-cut fries are nothing special. The soft drinks are very large and the beer prices are good though they could use a wider selection. Our boys were a bit too old to care about this, but they have two arcade game rooms if you have little ones who get bored easily. There's also several rooms to choose from for seating. Overall, a good time in a friendly place with fun decor and above average food. If I could give 3 1/2 stars, that's what I'd do.
(4)Candice G.
I have a real urge to just write "See Reuben H's Review" for my review. He has stolen the words out of my mouth. This is totally a place that rocks as a kid, but then as you get older you can see all it's wrinkles and flaws. If you are not a vegetarian, go with the burger- it's quality and totally something I miss now that I'm a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian... I hope you love fries and corn on the cob because that's about all you're in for. And for drinks... don't try to get daring or creative and order one their mixed cocktails even if it is called something really cool and is named after a color AND a natural disaster exp: Green Tsunami or Blue Tornado... trust me, skip it and get a sodie pop or a beer.
(3)Jenna S.
It really seems like I was the last person in Chicago to have heard about this place, and it's not even in Chicago! My family weren't summer Michiganders, so we never spent time there at all when I was a kid. However, I totally agree with most of the reviews that this place would have been absolutely awesome when I was a kid. Tons of noise, people, games, little horse ride-y thing in the front and TONS of fake cheese on everything. That sounds like heaven to a young chap. However, as an adult, this place is just a pretty average move-it-quickly burger joint. Everything is served on paper, so if that's not your thing, don't even bother. You won't enjoy it. The wait was OK (about 20 minutes) - we spent our time looking at all of the Chicago nostalgia around the place. The restaurant is huge so the wait usually isn't that long. Seats are comfortable and I didn't feel crowded, which is a good thing. Food? Pretty good. I mean, it was a burger. It wasn't the best nor worst - just a burger. I got mine with cheese and chili, so it was pretty tasty and totally fatty. Mmmmmmm. Pretty good combos for burgers and everything is super cheap. We got cheese fries to split which are always a great idea. Oh, and the shakes. They were delicious! I got a chocolate shake and my boyfriend got the Chocolate Monkey (chocolate and banana). Definitely worth ordering because who doesn't love a shake? All in all, it was pretty good. I'd probably go back if I were in the area just because it's a local staple and it seems to have achieved a relative level of fame and it was pretty nice. And it was insanely cheap - we spent like $15 on our entire meal. That's pretty awesome. I mean, this is the place that put New Bedford on the map. You can't come here and not make a stop at Redamak's.
(3)Joe C.
First, let me say that I have been coming to Redamak's for nearly 30 years. I love the place. I can say that in all that time I've never been disappointed with the food or the service. I hear that everything on their menu is good but I can't get myself to order anything besides burgers and fries. I drive nearly 50 miles one way to get there so I get what I go there for. I understand what some reviewers mean when they say they don't get the big deal. I just like the atmosphere and the food. I love coming up to the lake and Redamak's is normally a part of that trip. Even when I'm bringing my boat, we place carry out orders..which by the way is very quick..much faster than when you sit down. The burgers are fresh, hand pattied and pan fried. The quality is consistent. I love the crinkle cut fries. The velveeta cheese is my favorite cheese choice. Do I wish they accepted debit cards? Yes, but there is an ATM there if you forgot to bring sufficient cash. They are closing for the season this year on October 20 so you still have a week to get your fix...or wait until March 1, 2014
(5)Philip P.
Pretty good burger. Fries were tasty. Food came out quickly, but staff seemed very uninterested in the customers or promoting the restaurant in general.
(3)Nick H.
Mt friends, family, and I love this place. The burgers are pretty good (certainly not legendary) and the Red's Chips are fantastic. I have had quite a few different items off the menu and none of them have disappointed. The bar is well stocked and the beverages prices are pretty fair for the area. The services is always fast and friendly and I can't remember any bad experiences at Redamak's over the years. Since the place is always busy, it is always crazy loud but that is to be expected. I highly recommend Redmak's if you want a tasty burger and a good time. Oh, Redamak's DOES NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!! Now you know.
(4)B C.
Best Burger's in the United States. Period. Anyone giving less than a 5-star rating is insane. Again, Period.
(5)Jason M.
The burgers here were good, but not anything special. Really the burger and bun were similar to Five Guys which I can get anytime near my house. We first tried to visit on a Saturday and there was a huge crowd waiting outside so we decided to come back. Came back on a Wednesday and there was no wait. The sweet potato fries were terrible. Some of the worst I've ever had. Undercooked and soggy. The regular fries and zucchini sticks were good. I'd go back if I was in the area and in the mood for a burger, but I would not go out of my way.
(3)Deirdre M.
Almost left as soon as we were handed the menus and saw that they don't take credit or debit cards....say what?! Then, we read they don't have basic toppings like tomatoes or lettuce on the burgers...wth? Decided to stay anyway and see what all the hype was about. The burgers were just okay but quite greasy, and not even served on plates! Fries were "ehh" -- like the burgers, not memorable. The topper was that there were only TWO stalls in a tiny bathroom for a place that easily should have had MANY more. No hook to hang a purse on either. Atmosphere is okay and we didn't have to wait as nearly as long as we were told, but we'll not return.
(2)David B.
Epically, astonishingly, mind-blowingly bad. Enticed by the claim that the beef is ground in-house every day, I took the advice on the menu and ordered a burger. (But without tomatoes, of course, because Redamak's doesn't do tomatoes. It says so right on the menu, basically: "We don't serve tomatoes so don't even bother asking". [Huh? Who doesn't serve tomatoes?]) What I was served was three hockey pucks sandwiched between two pieces of soggy bread. These patties put "well-done" to shame. I'm talking pound-a-nail-through-a-two-by-four. And this culinary delight was accompanied by a "side" of potato wedges -- perhaps 12 of them -- covered in Cheez Whiz (which, incidentally, are offered at the low, low price of $4.50). Two bites into the burger, I was so angry that I could only focus on getting the hell out of there. It certainly didn't help that the atmosphere is cafeteria-meets-McDonald's. Only dirtier. Note: Yeah, I get it; if you grew up coming to this place, it still holds a special place in your heart. But for the rest of us, it's grossly overrated. Strike that. It's just gross. @Ethan: Asking folks not to listen to other reviewers? Not at all cool.
(1)Linda M.
I've been coming to Redamak's all my life, and still go every chance I get. Don't be fooled by the presentation, which reflects the laid back beach lifestyle of its most loyal seasonal patrons. Unwrapped, the quality of the meat and the unique preparation deliver a melt in your mouth burger orgy unlike anything you've ever experienced! Sad that they're now closed for the season. Can't wait until March and my next Redamak's fix.
(5)Allan M.
I don't mind Redamak's. My lovely girlfriends passionately hates it. In fact, she is having a conniption as I type for not giving it one star. Redamak's burgers are advertised as ground fresh in house, I have my doubts. Burgers are NOT cooked to temperature, weak sauce if they're actually grinding their own beef. Burgers are cooked on a flattop grill, not a broiler, which is my preference, but is not ideal for everyone. Burgers come with Velveeta cheese, I like this, but I am gross. The girlfriend hates Velveeta, rightfully so, it's fucking gross! Swiss is also an option. No lettuce or tomato in the building! I'm fairy sure that onion is the only fresh ingredient used in their kitchen. That's messed up. Don't get the chicken fingers. According to the girlfriend, they will make it impossible to hold any food down for three days and possibly poop your pants. The chicken fingers looked like the cheapest chicken finger product available and were probably thawed and refrozen. Nasty. Great prices on MI microbrews. They have Two Hearted which is a enough to get me in for a greasy burger and a beer. Service has proven to be poor 75% of the time, not an exaggeration. Exactly 75%. Does not compare to 'In n Out Burger' or '5 guys', not even close, if this gives you any kind of scale.
(2)Mike K.
Legend? How? I suppose I don't get it. Redamak's isn't close to being a "legend." It's not even close to being a good burger, if you ask me. Some of the local fast food options in Chicago are better. But hey, they have fried cauliflower, which is extremely rare, and I absolutely love it. That's enough to salvage an extra star. Don't go to Redamak's expecting Kumas (whatever that is). Don't go to Redamak's expecting Five Guys. Don't go to Redamak's expecting Steak 'N Shake. Go to Redamak's with expectations somewhere around high school cafeteria grub. That's the only possible way you'll ever refer to it as a "legend." Two very disappointed stars. Fool me once...
(2)Gary R.
I went to Redamaks in 1987. It was pretty awesome. For some reason, it is less awesome in 2011. It has changed. It's bigger and more bonkers. There are lines to be seated, and for the terlets. The food was pretty decent as far as i was concerned, but my wife said that she hated me and was considering bobbitting me for taking her to this establishment. Thankfully, I still have my Wang. She got a bloody Mary, which she felt did contain human blood. She sent it back. The spinach dip was lewdly small in stature. My 4 year old housed it in about 3 minutes. The burgre I had was good. It wasn't snobby or pretentious in any way. It did leave me indigested and feeling like i might need a new jejunum and maybe need to purchase a new toilet. The place is goodish for kids. Violently crowded, and large. Be prepared to wait in line, deal with meltdowns, and an increase in your plumbing expenditures.
(3)Chad K.
Redamak's has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. I have great memories of spending the day at New Buffalo beach and then going to Redamak's for dinner. In the summer time on weekends they are always busy so prepare for the wait. It is well worth the wait though!! The are closed during the winter months as well. If you go during the week for lunch you will be shocked by how cheap their lunch specials are! They aren't expensive as it is but you can really get a great deal at lunch. They call it the working persons special. Out of all the times I have gone there I can't say I have tried everything on the menu. When you love something so much it is hard to get anything else. You definitely have to get a cheeseburger (they have multiple cheeses now but you have to get the original which is Velveeta) and a side of cheese fries. We normally get an order of the mini tacos and onion petals with it. We always get a red cream soda as well! Just remember they only take cash so make sure you have some on you. They have an ATM inside as well.
(5)Neri B.
I really don't know what the big deal is about this place. The burgers are good, but not that extravacant. The potatoe fries were really good though and so was the chilly. We tried the dreamsicle and were not very pleased with it. It was o.k. Overall, the food was good, but nothing to rave about.
(3)Nan R.
If ur looking to wait in a long line for an average burger this is the place for you.
(2)Reuben H.
Redamak's is a perfect example of just how much tastes can change in one's life. The place itself, for as long as I have gone there (I am dating myself, but for over 20 years, no more than once a year, but still fairly consistently) has not changed probably at all. If anything, the staff has changed a bit (cycling out local teenagers as waiters for a decent summertime job) along with the video games being updated, but otherwise the place is the same. I remember as a kid coming here and thinking that the food was just really good. I loved their chili dogs and they seemed to offer cheese on everything. As a kid- what more could you ask for? Plus for my parents it was a great option being so cheap. So with nostalgia deeply set in, I took my wife here (back in the days when we weren't yet married) promising something that I remembered as really tasty fast food. Unfortunately, what we had was mediocre. Not bad- but nothing like how I remembered it, which is to say- really good in memory. Could it be my refined and deeply sensitive palate? OK- not true, considering one of the "finer things in life" for me is a paper bowl of Harold's fried chicken (remember kids- MILD SAUCE, FRIED HARD). Maybe they didn't make the food the same way? No, not that either. As soon as I bit into all the things we ordered, the same tastes popped back in my mind from before. I truly believe they are doing things the same as they always have. I think the answer lies somewhere between the above two questions. What has changed is my palate, which isn't necessarily refined, but just has experienced more. Which is a good thing in my book. For that reason alone, I can't hate on Redamak's. The food is OK, just not great by my standards. It offers up a bunch of fried, fast food in a comfortable family atmosphere- and has been doing so for a very long time. Good for them! Every town/neighborhood could use a place like this.
(3)N J.
I'm so proud to say that my uncle's family owns the business. The Maroney's! My aunt and uncle always talk about how great Redamak's is. They aren't one to like very greasy food, so this is one of their very few exceptions. New Buffalo is a rural town, and the 40's-70's atmosphere of the restaurant adds to the good experience. Plus, it's right next to Lake Michigan and there's a road to Chicago by its side -- can it get any better? The food there is made fresh (yes, some are frozen, what do you expect in a small Midwest town miles from the big city?). The workers care about all their customers and try their best to make their stay worthwhile. The restaurant is only opened from March to October -- 8 months. There's a lot of tourists who come to the lake, as well as nearby locals. Everyone in New Buffalo knows about the Maroney's and Redamak's, seriously. All the workers get proper training (it's not like the training here in California, they are made to know their role very well), and I tell you, you will always have someone to greet you and the customer service will never be unsatisfactory. Additionally, just to add to the peaceful feel of New Buffalo, there is no line of 30+ people in the DMV (which they call the BMV, B for "Bural"). Plus, someone will greet you when you walk into their WalMart. YOU DON'T GET THAT IN THE BAY AREA. A lot of things will surprise people who are from big cities. They're all comfortable, friendly, and compassionate people. I strongly recommend the restaurant. Have a good time in Michigan!
(5)nida d.
I have no idea why this place is always packed and has people circling the building to get in. It's got to be people who come to vacation in New Buffalo or surrounding areas (like myself) and go ONCE because they see the billboard that claims this place is a legend. I know I will not go back. I was not prepared for the paper plates, plastic silverware, super casual and loud atmosphere of this place. For some reason, I thought it would be a nicer restaurant, I guess, because when I think of a good burger, I think of a BIG, juicy, ground sirloin or Kobe beef burger. This not what I got at all! We got chicken wings as an appetizer, and right away I knew the quality of the restaurant by what was served. They were greasy and limp, and must have been prepared earlier only to be heated in the microwave before serving. And the sauce, probably just Tabasco - could be a bit more creative. The burgers were small and greasy, basically over priced sliders. Sure they tasted okay, but in southeast Michigan we have better offerings for sliders. And the fries were just so-so. Oh, and they won't give you lettuce or tomato for your burgers, even if you ask nicely many times. And be sure to bring cash; they don't take any plastic. But they do have an ATM on the premises, which of course charges an additional $3 if it's not your bank. This was a big disappointment.
(2)Geo P.
We were here today and ordered their burgers, They were fantastic !! It's been a few years since we were here. It was a great choice !! We ate outside, the three of us including our dog , was great !! I'd recommend !!
(5)Joe E.
My family and I have been going to this area for years and I keep thinking we should stop. You know, its a "Legend". So finally, I just drive the family there thinking this was going to be the start of a tradition. Oh, its the start of one...the one where i don't get to pick the lunch places anymore. My family, 5 of us, had a variety of delights. I opted for a basic cheeseburger with....velveeta. I was really looking forward to this. Yeah I know velveeta is gross, but I like SPAM too, so that's where I'm coming from. Let me tell you, either the cheif chef was gone that day or my burger was left over from yesterday's lunch rush. It was just gross. How can such a drippy fatty burger seem dry? Beats me, but dry dry dry. I think it all drained to the smashed bun. I chocked that bad boy down, I wasn't going to let my kids see me NOT eat that gem...no way. My wife ordered the fish sandwich. Almost inedible. Way too long under the heat lamp. Asked without tartar sauce...now I think she might mumble sometimes, but she was pretty clear on this. Nope, slathered with that white puss. Ewwwww. Fries...not bad. As compared to my burger. Mostly cold, spongy fries are right up my alley. Crinkled too...mmmmmm. Seriously? But my beer was cold, the service was meh, and the line moved right along. Time has passed this place by, even for a Legend.
(2)Brittany C.
My favorite burger joint in the whole world happens to be 1.5 hours away from my residence and only open partial year. Thank God. I love this place. It's easygoing, it doesn't try too hard. It has cheap food and beverages, it's casual but clean. It provides many side options. And it serves up a burger to rival any on the "top burger" lists. Cash only. A single WILL fill you up. Beer served.
(5)Oscar the Death Cat B.
Something I observed during my stay in New Buffalo was that there are a small handful of eateries that seem to have a devoted following and are constantly busy, while every place else in the area is nearly dead (especially on weekdays). Redamak's is one of them always-crazy-popular places. Their dining rooms are huge and cavernous, definitely geared towards families. The chatter and screams of children are constant - not a great "date" destination unless you are with someone that you never want to see again. Once seated you will be presented with a gigantic circular menu, which features burgers and a bunch of other "stuff". Unless you are a burger-hater who has been forcefully dragged to Redamak's, go with the burger. It's not bad, several steps above Wendy's in terms of meatiness and juiciness. Not terribly expensive either, though there are upcharges to add goodies like bacon. If you are considering appetizers, your best bets are anything deep-fried. They have several variations of deep-fried cheeses, veggies, ravioli, clams, as well as several combo platters. My surprise favorite was deep-fried mini tacos, they look like nothing more that petrified corn chips stuffed with a wad of ???? but were so delicious that I almost consumed an entire order of them by myself. Can't give more than three stars, as Redamak's atmosphere reminded me of a crowded mall food court with a northwoods theme, but it's definitely worthwhile if you seek a filling, greasy meal.
(3)Vanessa F.
I was very excited to go on a "date" with my boyfriend and drive up scenic Rt 12/Rt 20 to New Buffalo MI to eat a Redamak's. This was our first time going, and everyone I spoke with said they have great burgers. Arrived around 3pm on Saturday, had minimal wait, opting for first available. Sat in a booth in the bar area. Ambiance was okay, kitschy with your old antiques placed in a "haphazardly" way, similar to other establishments. Reviewed menu, and I have to say that this place is for the person who enjoys the unhealthy side of life ...like me :-) Both of us were really hungry, ordered a combination fried appetizer; with fried jalapenos, fried raviolis and mozzarella sticks. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. I ordered double cheeseburger w/bacon, regular fries and boyfriend ordered triple with bacon and fries with cheese and chili. Once again, nothing really special. I'm not sure if I would make a special trip to go back again, seeing as this is similar to other burger restaurants. Service was okay, not exceptional, pricing was a little inflated seeing as they only accept Cash (no credit card - don't have to pay credit fees), no table cloths, no actual plates, use all plastic, no lettuce/tomato (not sure if goes bad too fast or it costs too much). I think this is a place that could become a part of a yearly routine with families, but in my case, I would choose another memorable restaurant. BTW: Has a antique barn/store right next to it. Great pieces, from vases to sofas. Of course looking at the card, it's also owned by the Maroney family who own Redamak's.
(2)Matt T.
This place is a fried food lover's dream. No disrespect but every person in this place was overweight - and not slightly. I love burgers so I finally had a chance to come here on a rare hot day in April. My fiancee made the good call to take a trip up to New Buffalo to hit Redamk's up and go to some antique stores (that were all closed on Sunday) and walk the beach. The tavern is huge, crowded and loud with lots of tourists. I figured the wait would be long. We sat right away and were presented with a menu the size of Oprah's head. Four million things on the menu, much of it fried, with crazy crazy things like deep fried waffle fries with Redamak's sloppy sauce and mild cheddar sauce with sour cream for dipping! Obviously, this place is known for their burgers and that's what is the center of attention. We had to try these sloppy fries, just had to. Today was my fat day (it was really a fat weekend) and I've never been here so why not go all out. These fries were so damn good. Great crispy seasoned waffle fries drowned in Redamak's sloppy joe sauce (nice and tangy sloppy joe with the ground beef) and then topped with nice mild cheddar cheese sauce. My fiancee does not like cheese sauce but really like the combination. Slapped on some sour cream and booyah! Meanwhile, as we finished our burgers came. My dumbass ordered a double cheeseburger not thinking to look to see how big the patties were. I'm pretty sure they are between 1/3 and a 1/2 lb each so I had a good 3/4 to 1lb of beef between a bun. Damn, way too much. I took some out and took a bite and soon realized why these burgers are considered great. They cook them one way (medium - medium well) but they were juicy with great flavor. But, one patty is more than enough. Redamak's grinds their own beef in house and you can tell. This was not the best burger in the world (Top Notch, Bad Apple and Grafton are better) but for a greasy spoon, busy, touristy, neighborhood tavern place they were good. The burgers arrive in the wax paper type paper (don't know what it's called) and when you unravel the burger it's grease heaven! If you get the burgers with pickle and onion beware they really give you an entire slice of onion with two pickle chips. Also beware, my fiancee got a single with swiss and mushrooms. The mushrooms are of the canned variety - disgusting! Jenna is so grossed out by canned mushrooms all she could was gag a bit as she quickly scrapped them off and then hid them in the wrapper. And, $1.25 for these things and the server said they were "steamed mushrooms." GTFOHWTBS! So, with all that greasyness I ordered a diet coke. Kanye woulda hated on me with "all that food and a mutha-effin diet coke". Yeah, I ordered a diet coke to wash down 10k in calories. I do that often but thinking about that Kanye line, it's is kind funny how people do that. As if another 150 calories is gonna do anything. Anyway, the shakes looked good too but we didn't go that route. The place is definitely a tourist destination as New Buffalo is only 1.5-2 hours outside the city. They have a t-shirt stand with other novelties. This place has a bar too with a couple TVs and beware, cash only! One thing that irked us besides the canned mushrooms and the cost of such (we paid more than that entire can cost for a stack of nastiness) was the server got a little snippy when we asked for 5 ones instead of a five so I could leave her 20% tip. She obviously wanted me to leave the five which woulda been 25%. I actually thought of that but when she replied to Jenna that if I had the five singles I woulda gave it to you with a bit of snarkiness I was a bit miffed. I won't go out of my way to come back here but next time we come out for the beach or dunes I'll be sure to come here for a burger.
(4)Todd R.
Great burgers. They formerly didn't offer tomatos on them, but now they do. Velvetta cheese on cheeseburgers is unique. Boisterous, crowded place. Two negatives: (1) Fish and chips had only 4 small pieces of fishes buried in a lot of potato chips. (2) They don't accept credit cards.
(3)Sarah R.
I've never understood the hype that surrounds this place. I've eaten here a time or two and to me it's just average. I've had better burgers at other places, so I can take it or leave it. Redamak's is always crowded, though, probably by tourists.
(3)Jonathan M.
A great place in a lakeside town just inside the Michigan border. My family took a trip up north to gain our sanity in the early fall this year to Western Michigan. I had heard a few things about Redamaks and when I told some others I was headed to New Buffalo they highly recommended it. We went on a Friday night, in the off season, and were blown away at how many cars where in the parking lot. We were thinking, we are going to wait forever. We walked in and were greeted by a hostess and were immediately seated! The place is huge! There is a lot of nostalgic signage everywhere. I really liked the feel of it. We were seated in the huge back "porch" area. There were probably 20-30 tables in there. It was screened in but had windows for chillier nights like we were having. The menu is very extensive. Fried veggies, wings, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. But what we were there for was the burger. I got the double cheese with fries. All burgers may be dressed with Ketchup, Mustard, Crosscut Dill Pickles and Raw Onion (What they call Everything) served on a Sesame Seed Bun. Lettuce and Tomato available upon request. I got it all with cheddar cheese. This burger instantly became one of my favorites. I have had alot of burgers, all over this nation, and I can say this is a fantastic one. Juicy and cooked perfect. The fries were hot and fresh as well. We loved it so much that on our way back down from Grand Rapids, we stopped in again for lunch. From noon to 4PM Monday-Friday, they have their famous working person's special. This gets you HAMBURGER w/Fries $4.75,CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $5.00, DOUBLE HAMBURGER w/Fries $6.00, DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $6.50, TRIPLE HAMBURGER w/Fries $6.75, TRIPLE CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $7.50. This basically gives you free fries because outside of those hours you pay that price for the burger and $2 additional for fries. The second time I went I got Velveeta on the burger and it was ooie gooie delicious. Take my word, this place is the truth!
(4)Chad M.
Burgers melt in your mouth. No reservations, first come first serve. Gets busy fast. No air conditioning. Cash only.
(5)F P.
March 1st 2013, had dinner on opening night for the new season. New menu, can't believe they served a new burger, half the size; small, burnt to death, was like eating a hockey puck. What the hell happened???
(1)Kristin S.
The burgers really are FANTASTIC. Get them with everything and you won't be disappointed. The fries are just "eh" but the fried zucchini and the apple crescents and onion peels are delicious. My best advice? DON'T go on a Saturday in the summer, when it's too crowded. Service is not quick during those times. If you show up on a weekday, your experience will be excellent, no doubt.
(4)Heather L.
Pretty much everything on the menu here is battered and deep fried. And I mean everything. There are no salads or pastas or even a club sandwich. In fact the only thing that isn't fried are the burgers which they are known for. "The burger that made New Buffalo famous!" one sign said. Now my husband said his was great so I will take his word for it. I wasn't in the mood for a burger and ordered the fried fish sandwich which was ok - how about a lettuce leaf or something people? The jalapeno cheese poppers were pretty tasty but the combination of the two has me feeling nauseous and bloated even after driving the two hours home. Now they say this place is legendary and it does have an old school appeal. I am not sure how long its been around but the vacationers, of which I was one, are lined up around this huge edifice looking as if they just walked over from the beach. It's definitely family friendly if your kids don' t mind the wait. Try and go during off times and it might not be too bad. But bring cash, cause they don't take plastic and the ATM inside the building charges $3 service fee. The service is not overly friendly but they are efficient. This is a volume business. I am often in the mood for this kind of food but it was 95 degrees today and it just didn't hit the spot for me. But I don't want to skew the stars. The place has a charm all its own so I'm sure I will be back at some point with the kids.
(3)Bella D.
This place has really gone down hill in the past couple of years. I raved about this place to my husband, who is from India. I said, "This is the greatest place in the United States, you'll love it!" So, we get there, we order, and I just wanted to cry over my food. My husband was like, "What the hell is this shit?!" I ordered a grilled chicken dinner and for some reason, my grilled chicken was as flat as the plate they served it on. On top of that, my fruit had MOLD ON IT! Seriously?! The menu said, "Fresh fruit". Yeah right. Some of it was even still frozen. I think they found my cup of fruit when they dug up the ice man. And they didn't even bother to refund the fruit! Verdict: Overrated P.S. DO NOT get the milkshake! I repeat, DO NOT get the milkshake. It is NOT, NOT, NOT a true milkshake! It is literally ice milk with a little vanilla.
(1)josie w.
3 stars for a 3 star on a 5 star scale burger and ok fries...restaurant and ambience is really high but the food itself is pretty hotdog stand...
(3)Diablo L.
Very good hamburgers if you are in the area, does not disappoint , I still remember when they used to be on Well's street in Chicago many years ago, burgers are still wonderful now as they were back then.....
(3)Edward B.
Enjoyed a burger here a couple of times. Absolutely great and very affordable. Would definitely stop by again when I'm in the area.
(4)Michael G.
This place is great the shakes r unbelievable!!!!!! Try strawberry even if your not a strawberry fan try it. Amazing place for kids to waste money on video games hahahahahah
(5)Erinn F.
The Velveeta cheese is the way to go! I have never had a better burger than here at Redamak for the price. Very family friendly, happy place with the most amazing burgers! The fries are good too and the shakes are quality. Just don't forget your cash, they don't accept CC's. However, if you are cash-less there is an ATM.
(5)Monica G.
First time my family and I came here. The wait was about 30min to get in and sit down. The place was full. I liked that it was a family friendly place, except for the lack of baby changing tables. The husband and I ordered burgers and sloppy waffle fries. The burgers were good, juicy, small but the patties were thick. They were served in paper baskets, nothing fancy. The sloppy waffle fries were waffle fries with sloppy joe meat sauce, cheese and served with sour cream. They were good, but I wouldn't want to eat them again. One of my kids had chicken nuggets with fries. The other one had mac and cheese with fries. DO NOT ORDER the mac and cheese. It was a microwaveable mac and cheese bowl with fries. Over all the burgers were good, the rest was average. The service was alright, don't know if we had to wait a long time for our food cause their was 7 of us or what, but it took awhile. The prices were good, about $5.25 for a burger and about $5.00 for the kids baskets. My family was a family of 5 and paid less then $40.00 with tip. I don't think I would ever want to go back, but it's better then a regular fast food burger place. FYI they only take cash, the bathrooms are so small and gross the plus side to the bathrooms is that they have a Dyson hand dryer. = /
(2)Scott B.
This place would probably struggle to stay open in a larger city. I can think of at least a dozen burgers in Chicago that blow these out of the water.
(2)Jim T.
2nd time there in a month. If I didn't live 150 miles away I would be there once a week. the food is great and the staff so far is good. The pulled pork sandwich is a little light on the serving size so ask for more. I couldn't see the meat for the bun.
(5)Albert K.
Overhyped and overpriced. The service is poor. Burgers are good but nothing else is.
(2)Susan F.
Huge menu! Huge restaurant! I got the chicken pita with a fruit side. you get the offerings off fries, potatod wedges, fruit salad, salad, cottage cheese, apple sauce, etc. I have never seen so many choices of sides! That being said, the sides are pretty low budget, but huge. Everything comes in pre wrapped containers, except the fries of course. The chicken pita was huge and reallly good. The burgers looked awesome. Glad I finally got the eat at the legendary Redamak's! Next time I'll get a burger, fo sho.
(4)Mike S.
we really wanted to try this place out due to all the hype and variety of yelp reviews. i am not sure what all the fuss is about in terms of the negative reviews. yes there are no plates provided. yes the french fries are soso. yes the meat doesnt have much flavor. yes this place is huge and the patio seems to be all familys. but at the end of the day sit inside, try to avoid peak meal times (else prepare for a wait), and enjoy a pretty decent burger. two burgers, two sides, and two beers for $20 cant be beat. servers seemed friendly and toppings were fresh so no complaints here. i was very unsure of the velveeta cheese but it was actually quite good. redamaks is worth a stop in.
(4)rachel v.
Ehhh...I REALLY do not see what all the hype is about!! The food was ok, but the burgers are about on the level as Wendy's or Burger King to me.
(2)Victoria O.
As many have said here, nostalgia plays a part in any review of Redamak's. Illinois natives, on their way to the lake, to pick apples or to get Halloween pumpkins often stop here. It's fun. It's tasty. The drinks are good; the employees friendly. And there's an antique dealer next store that is worth a look. I have many good memories related to this place. But my recent visit irritated me, primarily due to the pricing of some items. I don't mind paying for good food. Further, I expect that any restaurant should price their products to make a profit. However, I expect fair value. In other words, the portions should reflect the prices, which wasn't the case in more than one instance here. First, we ordered deep fried green beans. They were quite tasty, hot, crisp, and fresh, however, for 6 dollars I expect more than approximately 15 green beans. Second, I ordered the fish and chips as an entree. I got a basket of chips and three very small pieces of fish. Three. Small. Pieces. Eight bucks. Really? I could go to any VFW on any given Friday and get all you can eat Fish and Chips for the same price. Redamak's, we love you. Don't abuse our love. We know what products cost. We can estimate the markup. And we can see when we are being taken advantage of. Think about it.
(2)Jason L.
Great burgers. Sides were adequate. Full bar.
(3)CJ Q.
In/out quicker than expected. Its huge - can seat 400 people?! Anyway, GOOD burger, but chintzy bun made it messy to eat. Cash only?!?!? Nice step up from fast food without expensive or drawn out experience of typical "sit down" place.
(4)Jessica D.
Chili cheese fries are delicious and pretty much a must when you go here! I also had a cheeseburger and I must say it was a bit of a greasy one, but that might be because of all the cheese piled high. What's wrong with a greasy burger though every once and a while? The atmosphere was definitely a small beach town kind of feel. The restaurant is located on the main drag of New Buffalo and it kind of has that summer camp lodge kind of feel upon entering. Definitely recommend this place at least once in a lifetime!
(4)Jay n.
Redamak's is a tradition in Southeastern Michigan. Known for it's burgers, the other items on the menu are pretty darn good too. They have been doing it the same way for almost 75 years, and the current owners have run the place for almost 40 years.......they do burgers and fries like nobody else. We go a few times a year, usually sping and summer, or whenever we are in the New Buffalo, Grand Beach or St. Joe area for a weekend. The food is not fancy. This is an old fanioned style tavern that is now more of a family restaurant - wooden booths and tables, a small bar area near the entrance. It seats 400 people, and on weekends in the summer the can be a wait.....that's a testament to their good food. Double Cheeseburger is highly recommended. But also the chicken strips, beef sandwiches, fish, jumbo shrimp, etc. They have a daily selection of soup, and all kinds of sides.....just about anything that can be fried: onion rings, fries, clam strips, fried mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, zuchini sticks, chicken wings, egg rolls, etc. I can't even name them all. If you have a group, I highly recommend that everyone order a burgur to their liking, and then share a bunch of side orders and fries.........OH, and get the CHEESE FRIES.
(5)Gwen P.
Redamak's is a favorite stop on the way up to our family lake house. It's about 1 1/2-2 hours outside of Chicago, depending on how bad weekend traffic is around the lake, and it's placed at that exact part of the drive where it sounds perfect to get out, stretch and grab a bite. Redamak's is basically a big log cabin with a huge covered porch that hasn't changed since 1975. It's everything you want from a vacation pit stop: awesome burgers, crispy french fries, cheap beers and a waaaaaaaaaaay casual atmosphere. This is the kind of place where the "no shoes, no shirts, no service" rule is pretty flexible...most patrons have flip flops, shorts, tank tops and swimsuits on. The burgers are fresh, served up quickly (no plates, just wrapped in paper) and have every possible topping to add (except for lettuce and tomato- they don't serve 'em...never have, never will) . They start at $5 and range up to $9 depending on how much crap you want to pile on top. Make sure you have cash (or your ATM card, for the machine) because they don't take cards. Sorry for my lack of normal description...these aren't anything fancy, they're just BOMB. French fries are the crinkle ones that everyone seems to love (especially good when smothered with neon-orange toxic cheese...a guilty pleasure). Beers are standard American brews, a couple of Michigan micros and a huge selection of blender drinks. If you're in New Buffalo passing through or if your there to spend the weekend, Redmak's is a great place thats a town staple. Like the sign says, REDAMAK'S-BITE INTO A LEGEND.
(5)Virginia L.
Went to Redamak's (legendary) burger place today. The burger was very good, in a classic, old style way. They have lot's of other options though. We also had an order of red chips. Which were deep fried potato chips (excellent) with bacon bits (excellent quality), cheese (sauce, not cheese, yuk) and a side of sour cream. Tasty except for that cheese sauce. But the real hit is the burger. Service just OK. Lot's of regulars makes newcomers feel a bit out of place. Good ambiance. Will come back for great burgers.
(3)Allison V.
I love this place. I have been going to this place for years. The burgers are great. The people are great. The whole experience is great. i have pulled up a stool at the bar and eaten a burger and had a can of beer with women in their 70s. i have eaten inside and outside. This place is closed in the winter. It is a must-stop in the summer when driving back to Chicago from Michigan.
(5)Justin O.
Read: Tourist Location. My memories of going to Redamak's as a kid left me with high expectations when I recently visited. I was certainly brought back to reality. For less than $10/person, it isn't bad, but it doesn't deserve the fan fair it receives based upon the food quality.
(3)Julie O.
The wait takes forever, but the cheeseburger is fantastic. Get it with Velveeta cheese, sounds crazy, but it's delicious.
(3)Aaron A.
Single, Double, and Triple Chesseburgers Over 20 side items including Home made potato chips with bacon and cheese on them. About 6 to 7 dollars a burger. They only take cash!! What more could you want? One Tip: We got there around 530 pm on a friday and it was quite busy. The waitress said that most nights from 7pm on there is a line outside waiting to be seated and they often have to turn folks away at 10pm before closing. My Wife and I loved it.
(5)Dennis M.
For kid-friendly summer fun. You can't go wrong at redmaks. BEST FOOD WITHIN 40 MILES. CASH ONLY. cheeseburgers are schoops like without the crunch. They have beer and fun drinks. Shakes are good too. Always crowded. Only open spring summer and fall. Don't miss it when driving to michigan. it's only 5 minutes off 94.
(5)flash j.
This place was great and funky in its time. Now I don't know why you'd pay so much for a small burger wrapped in wax paper and grease. And pay in cash, no credit cards accepted. Does not sell cider. ATM near the front door. I love burgers and have eaten my weight in them twice over. Redamak's burger from 10 years ago was in my top ten. Today's burger, not even on the list. Nostalgia ain't what it useta be.
(3)Tommy L.
If you give this place any less than 5 stars then you are a communist. Redamaks is more American than a bald eagle with breast implants. The cheeseburger here is so awesome. When I take a bite I start to hallucinate images of George Washington playing baseball with Elvis Presley. If you love America then this is the place for you.
(5)Julie O.
Came here on a Friday night and did not have to wait. The burgers are tasty. Not gourment by any means, but enjoyable. The pickles are excellent. I went for the cheddar burger with grilled oninons. Yum. The chips were enough for two people to share. Decent beer choices. Really don't like that it is cash only. Free parking.
(3)John S.
Another trip to Warren Dunes, another stop at Redamak's. Best thing I had was the Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. Decent price for an excellent, hop-y beer. First thing I have to say: Redamak's, LOSE THAT MASCOT KID! Holy Crapoli, I can't even look at the fugly kid, makes me sick. This will not be my last time patronizing Redamak's, but the thrill is gone for me. I've been eating here since the mid-'80's, and wow, has it become mediocre. I ordered only appetizers: seasoned curly fries (with a cup of "cheese" on the side) and an order of onion rings. Both were fine, but I was put off that the ranch dressing accompanying the rings was, well, just a single serve tub of Hidden Valley Ranch, label and all. C'mon. Wifey ordered the burger. I took two small bites. Meh. I think my 4 year old can season and cook a burger more interesting than this thing. I guess for the price it's OK, but I'm done with the burgers here. Which leads me to my next point. I thought that besides the burgers and apps I ordered, everything was overpriced. I cannot recall specifics, but I just remember thinking, "No effing way". Friend ordered the Tuna melt, which she gave me the doggie box when we left. The tuna concoction was not "right" at all. It is served open-faced, on a thick, substantial bread (two pieces). The bread was good. Kids had grilled cheese baskets (with a container of Mott's applesauce), and for kids, it's fine. No problems with service. I guess I'm just disappointed that the burgers really don't taste any different than the shite you get at Culvers, etc. In fact, I'd take a BK Whopper over a Redamak burger anyday. Sad, used to be better.
(3)Dale S.
Best Burger anywhere on the planet I used to live in the NW burbs of Chicago absolutely worth the 100 mile drive now I'm between Ann arbor and Detroit still best Burger is 200 miles from me!!!!
(5)Tom V.
Great burger, good fries, all-around good local burger joint. I would say don't miss.
(3)Alex G.
Second visit for us. Saturday around 5. No line so we chose the enclosed porch. By the time we left around 5:45 the line was starting to form. Noisy? Yes. Juicy burger? Yes. Gooey cheese? Yes. Would I change a thing? Nope!! Great burgers, simple crinkle cut fries, nostalgic atmosphere, in a summer resort community. And a full bar. Like a trip back in time. A must stop for a burger fanatic like me.
(4)Martin R.
WOW! Talk about overrated. They claim to be famous for their burger. What they failed to mention is that they are famous for their burgers being so bad...the rest of the food was even worse!
(1)Richard Y.
In the mood for a burger and anything fried? This landmark restaurant serves up a simple, delicious 1/3rd lb. burger with yummy sides and tasty beverages. Two families on vacation with 9 kids under 14 enjoyed every bite!
(5)Ethan D.
Please reader, I beg you, DO NOT LISTEN to anyone who gives Redamaks less than four stars. They are either snobby, disgruntled, or too stubborn to appreciate Redamaks for what it is: a vacation destination. Redamaks legendary burger is not gourmet, it isn't a harmony of the choicest high-brow ingredients, it isn't some snobbish "Kobe-beef, truffle oil, maytag blue-cheese" rubbish. It's a greasy, cheesy, perfectly delicious meal that you consume after a long, sunny, sweaty day at the beach. Some people below complain that this isn't the "best burger" they've ever had. I can safely say that it IS the best burger that I've ever had. I am a Midwesterner who currently lives in Los Angeles. Upon moving here, I had no idea that LA has such a "burger culture", with several restaurants battling over the title "Best Burger in LA." I have eaten at most of these establishments, and I can tell you in all seriousness that none of them come even close to Redamaks. True, the kobe-beef, truffle butter, maytag blue cheese and carmelized onion burger at Umami Burger is very good. But it also costs $15 and is hardly a "burger" in the strict sense of the word. A burger is supposed to be a dive-bar, hole-in-the-wall, greasy, middle-class man's food, not a gourmet menu item! And that is why nobody will ever beat Redamaks in my opinion. Redamaks perfected the "burger" the way it is supposed to be done: a cheesy, greasy slab of red meat oozing ketchup and mustard and wrapped in wax paper. And I wish to say another thing. I see that some people complain that Redamaks does not offer lettuce and tomato on their burgers. I, for one, "get it." The folks at Redamaks truly believe that a burger is supposed to have nothing more than ketchup, mustard, raw onion, and pickle in order for it to be perfect. I agree. For those of you who frequently eat at Subway let me ask you this: does every sandwich taste great with everything on it? No. Just because you CAN dump whatever you want on a sandwich doesn't mean you should. Any true chef knows that certain flavors compliment each other, while other flavors, when combined, do not work well with each other. For this reason, I appreciate Redamaks for sticking to their belief on the recipe for the perfect burger. To this day, I go to In-N-Out Burger here in LA and order my burger the exact same way a Redamaks burger comes out- because Redamaks nailed it right on the head- ketchup, mustard, cheese, raw onion, and pickle makes the PERFECT BURGER. For any of you who throw the book at Redamaks, go back to the city, to your $15 gourmet burgers, and quit criticizing a restaurant that sells the PERFECT food to consume after spending a vacation day or weekend of swimming and walking up and down the beaches of Lake Michigan. That is what Redamaks is all about. You have to take it in the proper context. And as far as "vacation-food" goes, you will not find a better place than Redamaks, especially in a place like southwestern Michigan. I want to go on record for saying that since having a Redamaks burger for the first time, I have been trying and trying and trying and trying to find a burger that is better than Redamaks. I have tried "the best burger of....." LA, Chicago, and several cities in between, and I have yet to find it. Personally, I don't think it exists. I think Redamaks has the best burger in the United States, which probably lends it the title of Best Burger in the World. Nothing closes a day at the beach better than a Redamaks burger or two. And if you order an ice cold Old Style to wash it down, they will serve it to you in a frosted, heavy glass goblet. I beg you, reader, to ignore those reviews below mine who give Redamaks a low score. This IS the best burger in the world. Even if you don't think so right away, you will find yourself craving a Redamaks burger months from the first time you have one, I guarantee it. This is coming from a guy who has been on a decade long mission to find a burger that is better than Redamaks. Honestly, the day I moved to the west coast was a very happy day for me, but it was also a very sad day, because I did not know when the next time was that I would have a Redamaks burger. That is half the reason why I am trying to find a burger out here, in California, that is as good as Redamaks. But nothing will ever be the same. Redamaks is the working man's burger, not the flamboyant, city-slicker gourmet burger so many people tend to compare it to. Redamaks makes burgers the way they are supposed to be made: gooey, greasy, cheesy, oozy, and soggy. This is the burger of the American Family Vacation, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
(5)Amber P.
I have been coming to Redamak's since I was a baby and it's a staple in New Buffalo. In thirty years, I don't think they have changed anything which is actually sort of refreshing. The one thing I wish is that they would start accepting credit cards! You must try the velveeta cheeseburger. Even if you don't like velveeta, it truly makes this burger. They over do the everything with onions and pickles but those are easy to take off. The burger is moist and flavorful. I would not say it is the best burger but it sure is tasty. Their fries are crinkle cut and yummy with cheese. I have to say to venture out and try something with your burger as their sides and wings are great, too. Don't forget your cheesecake or milkshake for a decadent treat! Expect for it to be slammed and take a long time. It's a staple that is only open 9 months a year and New Buffalo is a resort town now. The tables are smashed together and the servers are friendly but you do not see them very often. Make sure to stop here next time you are in town for a fun and tasty experience!
(4)Rawlins R.
Again, who tricked me? How was I convinced? I must have been sick. But I was here. I told those who I was dining with that I would not be paying for my meal. Here is why. Woody Hayes on recruiting trip in TSUN. One night on a recruiting trip in the state of M!ch!g@n, an assistant noticed that the car he was driving was going to run out of gas. He let Woody know, who was dozing in the passenger seat, that he had to pull over for gas. Woody refused, and the assistant drove on. The assistant, who saw the weather was starting to get bad, began to become worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, and once again stressed his desire to pull over and get gas. Woody erupted: "No, goddammit! We do NOT pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and PUSH this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!" The assistant knew he wasn't kidding, and they barely made it across the border and sputtered into the first gas station they found in Ohio. This is how I live my life. I started with a tomato soup. I also ordered the burger which was enough, a double was not needed. Big, greasy, and served in a bag. I had a chocolate shake with my meal that served me well.
(3)Eliza E.
Blech! We waited way too long to eat a bunch of pre-frozen food. Everything was fried, tasteless, and just poor quality. Would it be so hard to make fries in house rather than serving the frozen, bagged stuff? The servers are clearly overwhelmed and service is therefore pretty bad. Add a bunch of screaming kids running around and there is really nothing to come back for.
(1)Shanna M.
This place reminds me of summer. At this point I have decided I don't actually love the food here. I like the food. Cheeseburgers and chilli-cheese fries are always delicious but I am not going to tell you that the ones are Redamak's are the best you will ever have. I can however tell you that going to Redamak's after a trip to the beach is a time honored tradition for my friends and family. When Redamak's opens in the spring it is as much of a sign of summer beginning as a Memorial day barbecue. If you live in Northern Indiana/Southern Michigan you should definitely make a stop here after a day at the beach. It is the American thing to do. Also, bring cash! They don't take cards.
(3)Matt G.
OK, I've been coming into this place every summer since I was in diapers. The place has changed very little in the last 40 years, but the quality isn't quite the same as it once was. That being said, it's still a great burger in a fun atmosphere. If you come, you must get the burger. Available in single, double, and triple, with our without Velveeta. This is the only time I eat Velveeta cheese, and to me, it makes the burger. Fries are served with the burger, and they give you more than you could possibly eat. Service is good- the waitstaff are really nice. Waits are always long, so don't come in famished. There's a good selection of beer and drinks at the bar, and prices are reasonable. Only caveat- they don't take credit cards, so bring cash. I actually appreciate this- it keeps the costs down. Plus, there's an ATM onsite. Overall a must-have when in New Buffalo
(4)Mick B.
We visited Redamak's on a weekend- the "working man's specials" as mentioned by other reviewers are only available during the week. I felt that other reviewers that mentioned the small portion size of the fries is misleading- we asked for two orders of fries expecting small portions... but that was not the case. Neither of us were able to finish our fries and felt that they were certainly a reasonable portion for the money. We probably could have easily shared one order. We both tried the Velveeta cheeseburger and found it to be juicy and tasty. Well worth trying if you like a good cheeseburger. I was also confused by other reviewers comments about the food being overpriced- we both felt that prices were average if not somewhat under-priced based on similar meals in taverns in the Chicago area. The prices at Redamak's are not in the same league with the McD's "Dollar Menu" but by the same token, McD's isn't serving beer/cocktails. There is quite a bit of NHL memorabilia in the bar area (check photos) including a corner dedicated to the Chicago Blackhawks. Worth checking out by hockey fans. Service was friendly and efficient, food was tasty and priced right- when we are in the area, we will be back.
(4)Cher C.
Been hearing about this place for years. Finally around the area so we took a short drive from Michigan City to experience this joint. The restaurant was pretty busy, but we were seated promptly. We were here around 2PM eastern time on a Wednesday so we made it for their working man's special which was a burger and fries combo for just a burger's price. This made the meal very reasonably priced. Got the Velveeta Cheeseburger with everything on it plus lettuce and tomato. Delicious!The fries that came with were a hefty portion and the perfect consistency and crunch. Left very full and very happy. One downside: it's cash only.
(5)melissa m.
This place is known for burgers, get the burgers, they are very good. Don't get anything else. Everything else comes from the Sysco food truck. I guarantee from appetizers to desserts nothing else is homemade. They don't even use real ice cream for the milk shakes. One thing they do have that you never see on a menu is fried clam strips, get those, and the burgers. Cash only and they don't give you plates or silverware, which I resent, but what are you going to do? Service is always good though and that matters.
(3)Vickie R.
It's blasphemous that I've been here so many times now and just realized I've never written a review for it. I would say Redamak's has one of the best burgers in MI, especially southwest MI. No matter what time you go, there's a wait, and it's not like it's because the restaurant is tiny and can't hold more than a handful of people, the food is just THAT good that everyone comes here. If you've never been here, you must try the Velveeta Cheeseburger. It is what they're known for. After having been here so many times, I did decide to venture out and try a cheeseburger but with colby jack cheese, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, and tomato. It is now my new favorite. We love their cheese fries, fried mushrooms, wings, and mozzarella sticks as well. But the thing I've discovered at Redamak's is the banana cheesecake milkshake. It probably has 10,000 calories in it, but it's so worth it. It's basically crack. Their menu is actually quite big and has a lot of other items, but getting something other than burgers is like ordering a steak at a vegan restaurant.
(4)Christiana S.
Tommy L. Says "Redamaks is more American than a bald eagle with breast implants." And he's right. Right down to being over-the-top cheesy, tacky, fake, and living off reputation rather than delivering where it counts. It's OK. Really, it's just OK. I don't mind going when family wants to. Staff is friendly enough, even if service can be a bit slow (even in the middle of the afternoon when it's slower). But the food is so....average. Underwhelming. I'd rather cook at home, to be honest, and even have to deal with cleaning up. The cream cheese shakes, however, are rich and decadent. But be sure to get the cream cheese one, because the regular one is rather boring and...underwhelming. Just like everything else on the menu.
(3)David M.
"The Legendary" VELVEETA CHEESE BURGER w/Fries - $5.25 If you've ever driven Interstate 94 Eastbound toward Detroit, you've seen the billboards for Redamak's as you enter into Michigan from Indiana. For years, I had driven by, always seeing this billboard which talks about their "legendary" food. I had no idea their slogan was "The "Hamburger" that made New Buffalo, MI famous". Well, Redamak's will ALWAYS have my vote. And I will ALWAYS make time as I drive through. New Buffalo, MI is one of those sleepy little beach towns. It's located just over the Indiana/Michigan Border on Lake Michigan itself. Just like any beach community, there's not much going on in the winter; however, once the summer hits, look out! Whether you're a beach bum, water baby or just enjoying the sites, hit up Redamak's. The roadside diner, was, and still is, known for it's family atmosphere, value, service, and quality.
(3)Kat K.
Redamac's is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world. Their burgers are melt in your mouth good, and I LOVE their fried clams. I could eat a bucket of them. It is a classic restaurant, and I've been going there for food as long as I can remember. My family has a cottage around here, and whenever we go up we come here. To finish this off I am just going to say the following: I've eaten cheeseburgers my entire life. From all over the place. I've got to say that Redamac's burger is #1 on my list.
(5)Michael G.
Same old Redamaks:) crowded but worth the wait for good burgers! Cub game was on and service was quick!!!
(3)Ben B.
Overpriced. And cash only. My first visit to Redamak's actually occurred on the first day they were open for the year (March 1, 2015). If you're traveling through during the winter, this place is shut down. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed. A good sign. There's a ton of seating. It's casual dining for sure. The walls are paneled with wood. There's no discernible decorating scheme. Anything and everything is slapped on the walls. Here's what we ordered... * Onion Rings ($6) - Nothing special and an absurdly small portion for that much money. * Curly Fries ($4.25) - They were supposed to have been seasoned, but they were pretty bland. Tasted like they were just frozen Ore-Ida variety. * Cheeseburger with provolone ($5.75) - This was the best thing I tasted at Redamak's. Nothing amazing, to be sure, but pretty good. They don't ask you how you want your burger cooked, they just fire it up and cook it to eliminate any pink. They also put an entire cross-section of an onion on your bottom bun. That was interesting. * Six Boneless Chicken Wings ($6.50) - Pathetic and sad. These were dry little nuggets. Definitely not worth more than $1 each. Total ripoff. * An Oreo Blast ($3.75) - This is their version of the Dairy Queen Blizzard, except Redamak's ice cream was really soupy and watery to begin with. They do get points for having the Oreo pieces still be crunchy, though. If you want a frosty treat in this area, drive a little south to Oink's Dutch Treat. You'll be happier. I feel like the only reason Redamak's exists is because there's a vacuum for this kind of family dining in the New Buffalo area. The food isn't special and the sides are wildly overpriced. The menu is huge, which may be a plus for picky eaters. But as you'd learn from any episode of Restaurant Impossible or Kitchen Nightmares, a giant menu is also a sign that there's very little care put into any one dish. Most things are simply frozen dishes reheated before serving. I believe that's the case with Redamak's. Mostly bland food at absurd prices. I won't return.
(2)Bill P.
My wife left me and our kid in Mears, Michigan because I wouldn't share more of the bed in my drunken slumber....then I lost my wallet in the ensuing chaos. Me and the little one were able to scrape together a ride and just enough cash to buy 3 double cheeseburgers for the minivan and live to fight again. Gay was pivotal in making this shit happen!
(5)Dione B.
5 1/3# pre cooked weight of the burger. Cheeseburger comes with melted velveeta..GROSS!!!! $1 EXTRA FOR A SLICE OF REAL CHEESE. $2.50 for a basket of fries. They only take cash and don't have coffee!!!! Let's get in the right century people who doesn't take credit/debit cards????. The burger was Ok. Didn't taste any different from a quarter pounder from McDonalds. Glad we were just passing threw. Wouldn't go back.
(2)Scott S.
Absolutely horrible on every level. I'd say "I just don't get it", but that would assume that there's something to "get" and that I'm somehow at fault for missing it. And let me be clear: I am not at fault. This atrocious insult to dining is at fault. Let me start by saying that my expectations are not unreasonable. I understand that some restaurants can hold unique places in certain peoples' hearts because those people made great memories there. And maybe those places don't have to have THE BEST food, or THE BEST service, but those places are still special. This place is special for having THE WORST food and THE VERY WORST service of any restaurant to which I've ever been. I literally don't understand why anyone would ever go there more than once, but if I ever again have a craving for dry burgers and stale fries I now know where I can have it satisfied. And if you ever long to be treated like a second-class citizen, Redemak's can introduce you to just such profound experience. If you're lucky enough to be reading this review, and you are yet to visit the joyless culinary wasteland that is Redamak's, save yourself now. There are other places to eat in the New Buffalo area where they will actually treat you well and serve you edible food. I personally love Casey's. They are very nice.
(1)Ramsey B.
Poor service, good food. Yesterday, I stopped in with my family of 7 for an early dinner. We agreed to be seated in back to back booths in order to decrease the time to be seated. From the moment our server (Kathy) approached us, I knew the service would be painfully slow. After indicating she would allow for us to settle in our seats (we had been seated and waiting to place our beverage order), she waited about 25 minutes to take our beverage order. Then another 20 minutes after that to take our meal order. She was better with refills during this dining experience. Finally, our meal arrived after 45 minutes of placing the order. My primary issue with Kathy was her attitude. She doesn't belong in a position where she interacts with customers. Simply put, she should not be serving. Her emotions are worn on her sleeve. She can be nice one moment and then feisty the next moment. She lacks the ability to explain how an item can be served in detail. For instance, when I ordered the chili, she said she would bring it to me plain. I had to inquire if the chili came with additional toppings or if I had the option to order additional toppings to my plain chili. Thankfully, I asked. I evaluated her interaction with other customers, and it was similar to the interaction she displayed with our party of 7. She becomes overwhelmed rather easily. I purposely left an 11% tip. She was not happy. She tossed the receipt on our table with disgust due to the tip. Her true colors were displayed during the entire dining experience; hence I was not surprised with her reaction. The food is great. The burgers, shrimp platter, chili, soup, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and everything else we ordered tasted great.
(3)Joyce R.
I was so impressed with the look of this place- so very clean! They have a staff that is top notch! Hubby had been a frequent visitor here back in '92, and had always wanted to show it to me. (Only 23 years late) We started with an appetizer, the fried cauliflower - yum! Not too greasy tasting. I had a strawberry cheesecake shake that was out of this world! Hubby had a double velveeta cheeseburger and I had a single. Fantastic! They Come with fries!! Wow!! When the bill came I was ready to fall out of my seat! Hubby had an Oreo shake too- and All of that food for only 26 bucks!! Holy cow! I felt I'd better run to the car because I was ripping them off- hahaha!! I can't wait to come back another time!! Everyone should give them a try- you won't be sorry!!
(5)Cory K.
So I've heard great things about this place. And I still didn't go. I got it carry out. For me. So I still need to make it here. But, I did have the velveeta triple cheeseburger. And it was amazing. 100% amazing. Legit the best burger I have ever eaten. Good size, great cheese/bun/toppings, and juicy and flavorful burgers. I will go here every time I'm in the area. Oh, and it's cash only.
(5)Amanda P.
I don't think I'd normally be so harsh in my rating but I had such high hopes for this place. Why do people give this joint 5 stars??? Do you have such limited access to good food in New Buffalo that you have to consider this place noteworthy? The wait was long, our waiter was a bit of a nincompoop, the burger was ok at best & they don't let you order more than 3 drinks while there... even if you've literally been stranded there for hours between waiting for a table and waiting to be served. Don't waste your time. If you're looking for a good ol' fashioned American burger, set up a grill on the beach. Even if you suck at grilling, you'll still come out ahead.
(1)William E.
Great spot that deserves your money much more than Applebee's or Chili's. This place makes a solid burger....but I was really impressed with the hot dog. Served on a pretzel bun... Fat Tire on draft is nice too. Note: CASH ONLY....there's an ATM on site.
(5)Veronica P.
Great milk shakes. And the burgers are great, about as good as you will get this far away from Chicago. The sweet potato fries were just ok. They serve alcohol and it is priced right which is a plus. Service was great.
(5)Lisa K.
I love Redamak's! To be honest, I probably love it because of the memories attached to going there every summer during my childhood more than actually for the food. But I love burgers, Velveeta cheese and introducing my kids to a small piece of my childhood so it gets 5 stars from me!
(5)Jonny S.
Hmmm...appears to be a place getting by on reputation rather than current food quality. The service was good and there's certainly a wide variety of things on the menu from burgers to clam strips. However they tout themselves as a burger place and my burger was bland as all get out. I don't think they seasoned it at all.
(2)Anne V.
Nothing good about this place - not the food, not the service, and not even the atmosphere. Not sure how this place got a famous reputation for burgers. The food was nothing special; just the opposite. I could make a better burger on my grill. The patty was very thin and not very tasty. The bread was cheap, and the toppings no better than from a fast food The waitress seemed to be in a hurry when she came by. And she only came by our table twice - to take our order, and to hand us the check. In fact, all of the staff acted like we were a bother - they spilled water all over when refilling our drink and seeming exasperated when we asked for ketchup with our fries. All this to say that I was much happier when I walked in than when I walked out...
(1)Matt H.
Redamak's is a great place to eat. They have the best burgers, and great crinkle fries. You can get the burgers with everything (ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion), and they now offer lettuce and tomato. I would recommend you stop in and "Bite into a Legend" next time you are in New Buffalo.
(5)Joanna D.
I grew up visiting my grandma for months on end in the neighboring town and we've always seen huge lines at this place on weekends. This summer, when I came back to visit, we decided to grab a quick bite to eat here. The girls at the front here nice. We decided to order to go. I got the Reuben & my Dad got the Italian Beef Sandwich. My Reuben was pretty good, nothing to write home about & if I came back I wouldn't order it okay. I had a bite of my Dad's Italian Beef and our mutual opinion: it didn't have any flavor. It was very bland and could use some spices. The crinkled fries were just okay, kinda boring too & didn't seem cooked enough. I gave my cole-slaw to my Dad (who usually eat EVERYTHING) and he didn't finish it. Not our favorite spot - it wasn't bad, but wasn't good. We probably won't come back here.
(3)Betsey K.
I'd like to give this place less stars, but really, I have to recognize the absolute genius of their marketing.... I drive to Chicago at least three times a year and am saturated with ads for Redamak's legendary burgers. The burgers are fine. Not really special. The fries were served cold. It was overall just "meh". That is sad because after all of those ads I wanted a really incredible burger.
(2)Meredith L.
Absolutely horrible food!! So disappointing. Kids apple sauce comes out in the store bought cup that you have to peel the top back. Salmon dinner had no flavor and served on a plastic plate. Chicken wings were gross, how do you screw up fried wings with sauce on top? They can't even get a basic Caesar salad to have flavor, I wonder which bottle of dressing on the shelf they poured on it? I assume if we had ordered a greasy burger we might not have been disappointed...highly doubt it (they can't even get fries right). How have they stayed open this long?
(1)T L.
I've been visiting Redamak's each summer for five years now and have never had a bad experience. The burgers are flavorful, hearty, and most importantly FRESH. These are easily the best burgers in Southwestern Michigan. Also five years in a row, our server was amazing. We like to grab a booth in the bar area because screaming brats aren't typically doing their thing in there. Today, our server, who was swamped with tables, did the most awesome thing any server could do: Four Fibs (I'm sorry fellow Chicagoans, but sometimes we do deserve that title), ignored the four open bar stools and decided to stand right in front of our table--because, ya know, people who are eating find it appetizing watching jackasses adjusting their khaki wedgies and flip flops. Our server walked right up to this group and said "Please don't stand next to someone's table while they are eating, k? Thanks." They moved, we said "Oh my god, thank you." She winked and said "I gotchu, fellas. I gotchu." Redamak's, no matter how far I stray, I will always come back because I love you the most.
(5)Yvonne O.
Still as good as ever - stopped-in on our way home from a trip to MI last weekend with the babies and dog in tow. Managed to feed both and let the dog out while the husband waited for our order, then ate while we got back on the road - the way they wrap the burgers is perfect for travel. A little disappointed in the fries being unsalted and overcooked and the strawberry shake not having a cherry, but the burger is the draw and that was perfect!
(4)John T.
Solid cash-only place. Although everyone claims it is the best burger they have ever had, someone with extensive research in the matter could easily argue that is simply a lie. Nonetheless, it is a solid burger. I think most people buy into the aura surrounding this place as it certainly my does demand attention. Rightfully so, as it is an old business that has been serving up good food for quite awhile. The service is wonderful and the wait is never too long as it is a stadium in this place (so much seating). Try the chili!
(4)Michelle N.
Food was good, we thought is was very reasonably priced. The sides were a little small, but still fair. I have been coming to New Buffalo my whole life because my dad was born and raised there, but moved away. Every summer we would visit and we never went to Redamaks but I always heard of it. On our last trip, we went and we loved it. Very cute, small town, touristy place. Velveeta hamburger.....OMG, we have never heard of something like this in the west. It was awesome. We will make it a tradition to visit every time we are in New Buffalo.
(4)Paul K.
Just because you can sit 400 people in your restaurant doesn't mean you should. After a 40 minute wait we were finally seated. It took another 45 minutes to get our meal...three hamburgers. And the bun on one of the burgers was burned. All this at 2:00 in the afternoon. Hardly rush hour. Stay away!!!!
(1)Dan B.
Waited 45 minutes for a table in 90+ degree weather, only to find out they had no AC in the restaurant and it was even hotter inside. Finally got called for our party, then stood around the bathroom watching them bus the table supposedly for us our table, then sat for 20 minutes until we got some water (We never got another one until we finally asked for a pitcher of water about an hour in.) and the waitress finally asked if we wanted any appetizers. We ordered Cheese fries, which we waited another 20 minutes for at least. Then finally about an hour and a half in we were able to order, which we then waited another 40 minutes for, and they brought my wife fries when she ordered chips. We paid $7 for a double cheeseburger, no fries, no nothing. Just a burger. It was okay. The cheese had mostly all melted off into the paper wrapper they put it in though. Also, they're cash only, so don't expect to be able to pay any other way. We arrived at 6, and ended up leaving after they closed at 9:30 and only had a cheeseburger and some cheese fries. It used to be great when I was a kid, now it's garbage. Just go anywhere else.
(1)David N.
Surprisingly quick wait considering the lunch rush. Only about fifteen minutes around 1:45 pm on a Sunday. Had to grab the Triple Velveeta Burger on my first and only visit, and it certainly did not disappoint. $8 was well worth this legendary burger. Juicy beef, creamy cheese, mustard, ketchup, onions, and pickles...freaking divine. I almost ordered a second one, but I went the hot dog route instead. Tried the New Buffalo Hot Dog, which was in essence your run-of-the-mill Chicago Dog. A bit on the small side for $4, but a well put together doppelganger to the South side favorite. Yeah, there's going to be a wait, and your waitress might be a B, but f*** it, its Redamak's, and for burgers it won't disappoint.
(5)Bobblehead B.
This place has a tremendous psychological pull. It has Summer, warm weather, vacation and childhood all wrapped up. Even driving past it makes a lot of people smile. Great memories of a lunch with Grandparents or a favorite Aunt, Uncle or Cousin run through peoples' minds. The decor is 60s 70s cars, sun and beach. The food is fine. Beach Resort fare. Amazing how people can walk up to the place and even dream of getting a "gourmet burger". The physical appearance of the establishment is screaming for families and you should be able to tell by looking at the building that the food will be served fast and reasonably priced. The full parking lot indicates high volume. I guess some folks wander the planet in a "FOODIE FOG". Looking for that GOURMET BURGER. This is not WICKER PARK or STREETERVILLE. The Burgers are served piping hot. They are delicious. There are no surprises here. The place is popular for good reason.
(3)Sharon S.
Great new menu and good burgers. Sodas and shakes are wonderful. My daughter said the veggie burger was good too.
(5)Kelsey Y.
Well well, ol' Kelsey here had one hell of a cheeseborga, actually a double cheese borga. Kelsey liked.
(5)Diana C.
For what it is (small beach town burger joint), it rocks. Yeah, it's cash only, but so are a lot of other spots in town. Two choices of cheese: Velveeta or Swiss. This ain't fancy, folks. The burgers are good and they come out quick, and you really don't need anything more than a single. They must be doing something right, as they're only open during the "season" and have been in business for years. And it's a "must have" for me when I'm on the "other side" of the lake!
(4)Bill M.
I've been coming to Redamak's since I was probably 8 and have amazing memories of this place for the past 20 years. Begging my parents for quarters when I was a kid to go play video games in the arcade was my favorite past time when we were done boating for the weekend. I love the burgers here. The servers are always friendly and the huge outdoor patio area that has been added since I came here is a great place to relax and enjoy their food. The burgers are legendary and what they're known for, but I've never had anything on the menu that wasn't good. Whenever I'm in the area, I have to stop here for food. I wish I still got to go boating every weekend in the summer, but I have taken trips here just for the food. It's definitely worth the trip!
(4)Greg L.
The burgers are just terrific if you are into steamed burgers with lots of cheese. Not a fancy place, we have been coming here for the last 35 years and cannot pass by without stopping. Unless you are eating for two or have a wooden legg, I cannot imagine eating a double so try and stick with a single. I especially love the green olives and horseradish on it----it is a great combo. You will have some room so go for the waffle fries with chili and cheese, or the cheese fries or onion rings. They are fantastic. My only complaint is that they no longer have the green pepper rings as an appetizer. They were the best thing on the menu. Be prepared to wait. It can get quite busy. Oh---and they take CASH ONLY! There is an ATM on site.
(4)Greg F.
i'm not exactly from the area but did eat here once. i had a longing to try redamaks, driving interstate highways for many years and seeing their trademark roadside signs as i passed in the unlikeliest of areas. finally driving nearby earlier this year for other purposes gave me this opportunity. with that long-winded preamble i'll just say redamaks is a very nice looking, clean, and friendly restaurant. inviting, and if i was closer feel could easily get accustomed to making it a habit. the hamburgers are decent, juicy, and satisfying. IMO a very suitable family dining restaurant choice. remember redamaks when driving up lake michigan east shoreside edited postscript: redamaks closes for winter, and they're last open day for this season is at end of october
(3)Matt B.
Always a very crowded place but they move you through real quickly. It's famous for a reason. The best burger you'll ever have, hands down!!!
(5)Jason R.
Redamak's is as much a part of summer as the Cubs being out of the pennant race by June. I grew up in the area and it was always a treat to make the 1 hour road trip to Redamak's. Back in the day they had the x-wing fighter arcade came, which I fed quarters into, while waiting for the table. I love the double burger with swiss. Is it the best burger I have ever tried? At the time it usually is, after I take the first bite among my family and/or friends. Going to Redamak's is an event. It's a fun place, that I will always associate with summer and my childhood. I've passed the torch to my son, who loves it, too. Is it the best food I have ever eaten? It's good, consistently good. Food always taste better with a sprinkle of nostalgia, good company, and a warm summer day. If you are looking for gourmet fare, this is more along the lines of casual, with sand between your toes and a sunburn on your neck.
(4)matty z.
This place is all about tradition for me and my family. And we love it! There's nothing that reminds me of good summers much more than taking the drive down Route 12 and crossing into Michigan-- and stopping at Red's. Great burgers, crinkle fries (!!), and a fun atmosphere. Love it and can't wait (one day) to take kids of my own there to keep the tradition going!
(5)Carly L.
While in New Buffalo, it was almost a must to stop at Redamak's. I was told by everyone to stop here. Redamak's is definitely a good bang for your buck. My boyfriend and I had the following: he had a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke, I had a single cheeseburger and fries with a strawberry shake. Our bill was just under $20. You can definitely tell that the cheeseburgers are fresh and not frozen. The cheese is ooey gooey and tastes great. Also, I highly recommend the strawberry shake (also recommended by the waitress). It is definitely a pleaser. The waitress was very friendly and our food came out super quick. This is a New Buffalo legend and I would recommend it as a quick , nostalgic, and cheap spot for lunch.
(4)janice m.
Ok, so this is a burger place, right? And of course the Burger hound saw the billboards for this restaurant and insisted we go and sample the burgers and other delights promised. We ordered burgers, fries, onion rings, a shake and a coke. The best thing was the shake, and the hound was drinking that! The burgers were over cooked and extremely greasy, the fries were pretty standard, the onion rings were good. The shake was awesome, gotta give them that. Noise levels were beyond the normal human range, what with the shrieking kids in the dining room and parents to intent on visiting with one another than to control their little darlings. The dining room is set up like a summer camp dining hall, and that might attribute for the noise levels. All in all it was an ok experience for this type of restaurant, but I think there are way too many other better places than this to try!
(2)Chris F.
I am not sure the hamburgers are "legendary" but they are pretty good. I am pretty sure Five Guys tastes better. They would be a lot better if you could get lettuce or tomatoes on them. The beach atmosphere is great and after a long day of swimming or fishing this is a great place.
(3)Erin K.
Redamak's is one of the three reasons I love coming to New Buffalo. (The other two are the beach and Oink's). They make kickass cheeseburgers. Just thinking about them is literally making my mouth water. Get the Working Person's Special with a cheeseburger and green olives. You will be happy. Okay, so waiting here sucks. Come when they open. If you time it right, you won't have to wait outside for the doors to open, and you won't have to wait to be seated. By the way, you should check out the arcade area. I spent a good portion of my childhood there waiting for my burger. God, how I love Redamak's.
(5)chas d.
this place was OK, their burgers were real good along with their shakes and cocktails. It's been a landmark for a long time and is pretty much set up as a " parents bring your kids here " kind of place.. I didn't like the fact that on the weekends your burgers don't come with fries and you don't get any plates or silverware.. Your burger comes wrapped up in paper and you eat it just like that.. I do have to give props on the food, it was quite good, i just wasn't impressed by the way things were served when I'm dropping almost 7 bucks on a burger.
(2)Mike B.
This is old school New Buffalo. If you haven't been here, you've got to stop. The burgers are great, but the cheeseburger is fantastic. It had something like Velveta cheese sauce on it. I know, it sounds wierd. Trust me, it is amazing! Go during a weekday to avoid the crowd and take advantage of cheaper "working man" prices. The decor reminds me of the movie "The Great Outdoors." I stop here every time I'm in New Buffalo. Head a few blocks south to Oink's Dutch Treat for a little dessert after. They serve the world's best Sherman's ice cream.
(5)Tee K.
It was our first time eating at Redamak's and it just didn't do anything for me. Perhaps it was because I received a cheeseburger instead of a hamburger or that I wanted lettuce and tomato (yea, I'm one of those...). One thing's for sure, 80% of the adult customers were borderline obese - seriously, I counted all of them while we were there seated by the front door. I fear that they should have a portable defibrillator in the front lobby *just in case*. On the plus-side, this is a classic fried-food burger joint geared for families and great for kids. We must have driven by the restaurant a dozen time between Lakeside and New Buffalo and saw lines out the door almost every night. Fair warning for those who don't know...there are no fresh veggies in the building except onions. btw, what IS that cheese they put on their cheeseburgers? I'm sure it tastes pretty good but it totally grossed me out.
(3)Abby G.
Boy is this place popular!!! I felt sorry for the place across the road, no one was there and Redamack's had a wait. It is great fun. Everyone at my table got a burger and loved it, I got the Patty Melt and really enjoyed it. Onion Chips are a great addition!!! Five stars if the burgers were served on plates(you have to have standards:).
(4)Beth M.
I read the reviews and expected a good bar burger. I have had amazing burgers and went in with relatively low expectations. I was seriously uderwhelmed. Nothing special...barely decent. I was starving after a weekend of camping / beaches and didn't even finish my burger or fries. My two yr old and four year old barely touched the fries. What kids don't love fries? Save some cash and spend less at stake and shake for far better shakes, burgers and fries. The service was poor (not as disappointing as the food). We asked for a box for our mounds of Gordon food service frozen fries and the server passed our table multiple times before finally bringing our change ... But no box. My husband was fine, but me and my 4yr old were freezing. The AC was blowing right on us and our food. Seriously go somewhere else...even the beach cafe probably serves a better burger.
(1)Chris S.
Burgers are greasy goodness, the interior is some sort of woodsy-kitsch, the service is friendly, and the beer is cheap - Bell's for $1.50 less than I'd pay for a bottle in Chicago. I don't know about anything being legendary at this place, but with the above factors being as they are, I'd definitely go back if driving by and hungry.
(3)David H.
I have been coming to this place my whole life, as I grew up taking summers in Grand Beach, just a few miles away from here. I remember this place being always crowded, and I even saw Gene Siskel there once, that had to be in like '86 or '87! Awesome, unhealthy, and totally satisfying fast food. Go for the cheeseburger, and let me tell you I hate velveeta, but somehow they make sense of it. Also tons of video games while you wait and people watching, living in New York makes this place seem super cheap, but apparently not everyone agrees with me on that.
(5)Jerri M.
Let's face it, this isn't the best burger you've ever had but there's just something to this place. The service is usually quick once you get seated. For smaller parties, if it looks crowded, try it anyway. The crowd is usually made up of larger parties, and they can seat 4-5 quickly. Great shakes!
(3)Norris A.
Redamak's is the most popular restaurant in New Buffalo during the summer season. Expect to wait if you really want to eat there. I'd recommend it if you need something(anything) in your stomach, don't want to spend a lot and there is no line. You'll probably order a burger as that is what they say they are famous for. You won't get lettuce or tomato on it, so the burger will be a flat patty and the word "juicy' won't immediately spring to mind. The burger will be served in a paper wrap to save on dishwashing. The frozen crinkle cut fries don't get a lot of color during their brief visit to the fryer so "crispy golden brown" isn't going to describe them. They'll come in a plastic basket. You won't find any plates or flatware, such as you would in say a Steak and Shake and if you order a bottled beer don't forget to ask for a glass otherwise you'll be sucking from the bottle. The food isn't going to cost you much but it won't leave much of an impression either and you'll definately think twice before standing in line again. Stray Dog is just down the road and is a better option.
(2)John H.
Why did they ever leave Chicago? I often think about quitting my job and starting up a franchise in Lakeview. I'd be a goddamned millionaire overnight. There are few finer establishments cut out for the American proletariat quite like this one. For starters, might I suggest Red's Chips, as described on the restaurant website: "deep fried, thinly sliced potato chips smothered with mild cheddar cheese sauce and bacon bits, served with sour cream." Good greasy grief. If you managed to read that without dying of consecutive massive heart attacks, you need to get a burger here. They're pretty simple--no pretzel buns or crazy ass toppings--but consistently magnificent. Lest any of the burger's precious heat be lost between grill and table, it comes wrapped in paper, and in a basket, not some gaudy square plate. Perhaps the finest testament to the burger's supremacy, though, is the very average nature of the fries. They're standard crinkle, usually undersalted and occasionally not cooked well enough. You won't notice that at all, though, once you bite into the burger. Service has been fine. It's nothing to me the blotto bachelor, but it should be noted that this is a very family-friendly atmosphere. And finally, before you make the pilgrimage, give them a call to make sure they're open. This is a seasonal establishment.
(5)Grace L.
Let's get this straight...we are in New Buffalo, MI. Not the biggest gastronomic-centered city here. For this small town, they make a fine burger...no lettuce, tomato, but no fuss either. It's juicy and tasty and cheap. Good old fashioned no nonsense burger. We also ordered the curly fries...it's fine, nothing special...Arby's has better curlies! To be a bit different, I ordered the Sloppy Mak with red potato salad and the mac salad. The sloppy was more BBQ with a kick and less the tomato flavor I grew up with. Our potato salad was a no-no, do not get it! The mac salad was okie dokie. So, yeah, there is a crowd, but the wait is short, the food is cheap, and the environment is laid back. Great place for groups.
(3)Andrew G.
I will never be able to understand the local area's obsession with this place, although I go at least once a year to try yet another burger combination to try to create this awesome experience everyone is always talking about... I just don't get it. Their burgers seem bland and ordinary to me, not even as good as I make at home and they certainly can't top a Red Robbin which is odd for a community burger joint known locally for being the best burger place around.
(2)Emm M.
Frozen fries. Cash only. The burger was decent which kept me from giving it one star. Go to five guys instead they use fresh potatoes.
(2)Megan M K.
Best burgers and cheesy fries on the planet. I only wish they weren't seasonal. This place is to die for
(4)Chuck R.
Good, but nothing I would go out of my way for again. The place is huge and it was packed full, but we only waited five minutes for a table. The service was excellent, which surprised me considering the size of the place and the number of servers I saw. The burger was good, but I've had better at any number of places. The patties reminded me of Wendy's (not saying that's a bad thing) and I had no problem with the lack of lettuce or tomatoes. Next time, I think I'd order the burger with swiss cheese, though, as I'm not a big fan of American (or Velveeta, I'm not sure what it was, exactly). Also ordered the sloppy waffle fries, which were waffle fries with sloppy joe meat/sauce and cheddar cheese sauce. I liked those a lot and once my wife got a taste, we polished them off pretty quick. The wife ordered the Italian beef, which is served dry but with a cup of juice, another cup of peppers and a half-dozen pepperoncini peppers. Good food, good service, good price. I'd come back here, but I'm not honestly sure what all the hype's about.
(3)Daniel F.
This is a local and tourist (especially) tradition, judging from the number of out of state plates, including mine. Large space with many dining rooms, but open seasonally - closed during winter. As others have mentioned, cash only, which seems a bit parochial to me. Anyway - the burgers are solid, nothing revelatory. The place can get crowded at peak times, so travelers beware. A decent choice in Harbor Country to get away from the chains, esp. if heading to points north or south on I-94. Otherwise, there are many other choices in the area that I would prefer, including Brewster's.
(3)MARK P.
Maybe you can't go home again. We used to go here often, when my (now) wife lived just across the border. It was a nice, cheap burger and beer joint. Sure, summer weekends were packed with the Chicago crowd, but they seemed handled to handle that well, and the food was really good. 15+ years later--geez, what happened? We dropped in after attending the Notre Dame game last weekend. The burgers were blah x 3, and upcharging a buck for a teaspoon of grilled onions was a ripoff. My main problem was the chili. It tasted like they forgot to put *any* seasoning in it at all--salt, chili powder, whatever. Just bland tomatoes/beans/meat mixed. Adding salt, pepper and some hot sauce almost made it edible. Almost. I added a star for the onion rings, which were excellent. We should have gone to Wagner's Ribs down in Porter..I know they still do it like they used to. Next time.
(2)Todd M.
I really didn't know what to expect from this place. The times we drove past it, the parking lot was full and people were outside waiting, so I figured it would be really good with a long wait. Then reading mixed reviews on here I started to wonder. All in all our experience was good. We arrived at about 7:30pm on a Monday. Lot was full and people were outside as we saw before, however, we had no wait for a party of three. The service was good, waitress was friendly. The food was average, burgers were not "legendary" but we're pretty good, a bit on the greasy side, but still pretty tasty. Had we had a long wait I probably would have been disappointed, but given our no wait time and cordial service we left satisfied.
(3)Bill M.
Can something really be called comfort food if you're anchored down well over two hours away? I'm going to make the bold step of claiming yes, yes you can. I recently made a return visit to Redamak's for the first time in quite a few years. A very good friend's mom had died and the funeral was being held in Jackson, MI at 10 AM EST. Being that all of us that were carpooling up were broke we had no choice but to wake up SUPER early and trek it out that morning (Some other bourgeoisie friends went up the night before and rented a hotel room. They do not jam econo). Running on less than two hours of sleep, we left my apartment in Chicago at 4:55 AM CST, drove straight through to the funeral/gathering afterward, then turned almost right back around to head back into the city. By the time we hit New Buffalo, it was safe to say the entire car was exhausted both mentally and physically. I was so happy, maybe a little slap happy and probably slightly delirious, to walk in and see that little to nothing had changed in Redamak's since my youth and coming in with my parents, driving home after a weekend at whatever relative owned/rented the cottage we flocked to that summer. Same circle menu, same t-shirt counter, same patio set up, same atmosphere; the only stuff that had changed were the arcade games. Bummed as I was, I didn't have any quarters to waste on the Die Hard arcade game anyway. Just like old times I ordered the swiss burger with bacon and ketchup; it made me feel like a seven year old again for a couple minutes. Two of the four people had never been before and came out as fans. Inconvenient comfort is sometimes the best.
(5)Anthony M.
How can you pass this place up? We always stop by when going to our summer house in Stevensville. They got some good burgers (not as fantastic as everybody makes them out to be, but still tasty) and Red's Chips which are chips covered in cheese and bacon! The combo of the burger and the chips makes the meal the best! The prices are also pretty good, but they only take cash and only open seasonally. Heed the billboards and jump off for a quick lunch!
(4)Adrienne V.
I have never had a better burger! Not even the ones I make myself at home!. The fries are meh, but the chips are good. The service is a bit spotty but the food is so good, you don't even notice. You will always have a wait, but it is usually short and well worth it. And very inexpensive, a family of 4 and we ate for under $40. Downside? CASH ONLY
(5)Robin G.
Redamaks, what happened? You were always a 5 star establishment in my eyes. Every drive through New Buffalo resulted in a stop at Redamaks, often bringing my "to go" order down to the lake and having lunch hanging out with the pooch (my copilot). So on Good Friday, I - despite having abstained from meat on Fridays through all of Lent - stopped in with a friend for a burger and some fries. I thought it would be worth it, and I had been praising your establishment to my friend for awhile now. The burger was decent, but it just didn't seem the same. The waffle fries I had, and fries my friend had, were soggy and gross. We didn't eat them. Even the pooch refused. My friend was not impressed. This was a two star visit, but I'm giving three stars because I'm hoping I just caught you on a bad day. PLEASE get it together, because if I have another experience like this I may just pass you by the next time I'm in town.
(3)jessie l.
Ok. Take this place for what it is! It's a burger joint. So don't order anything else from their bizarrely huge menu. And don't expect anything but a $4.25 kind of burger, either! I am not a huge fan of hamburgers... I haven't had a mcdonald's/burger king type burger since I was a kid (and reluctantly, even then). I'm not a huge beef-eating person, but I do enjoy a quality homemade burger now and then. That said, on my scale of fastfood/burger joint burger enjoyment, my Redamak's cheeseburger with grilled onions was slightly above In-n-Out, and a few notches below The Habit. Sorry, I don't have a lot of good local comparisons to make, but the bottom line is this: The fries, onion rings, and every-goshdang-thing else on the menu is bought frozen from Gordon's (our waitress was good enough to warn us when someone in my group questioned her about something), the ONLY thing 'worth a hoot,' as my grandma might say, is that cheeseburger. But it's most definitely NOT gonna save your soul, and it's probably not worth waiting more than an hour's wait in line for. Also, pretty ok beer selection. Bell's on tap. Yes.
(3)Moe f.
The burgers are pretty good but this place is a total tourist trap that has somehow put some chemical in it's food to keep luring these people in there to wait 30 minutes for a burger., And the parking lot is a total mess. And what's with the crappy processed cheese on the cheese fries? And if I dropping $6 on a burger, give me some lettuce and tomato on it. And my biggest of all pet peeves, cash only!! And didn't really see any signs when I was walking in to warn me. So I got dinged for $4.50 being forced to use my ATM card there because these cheap ass's don't want to pay a credit card fee.
(2)Charles S.
Cute and crowded, but just a burger. We wanted it to be better, but now understand why it's not on Roadfood.com .
(2)Eric S.
This place never disappoints. The cheeseburgers are yummy. Yes, you may have to wait, but big deal. There is an impatient Chicago crowd during the busy summer weekends, who apparently do not like to wait or eat out of plastic baskets. This is not fine dining people, it's a burger joint -- a superior one. If you do not want to wait sit at the bar; that's what we do and usually sit right away.
(4)James O.
I really wanted to like this place. I went there because they have a huge billboard on I-94 advertising their great burgers. Burger was way too greasy, bread and fries were soggy, and there was nothing special about it at all. If you like your burgers thin and dripping with grease with not much flavor to them, then maybe this is the place for you, but I was not a fan at all. I do not plan on going back.
(1)Amy T.
Overrated tourist trap. I have to admit burgers are good but insane prices for what you get. I only go for their 'working person's special'. I have to laugh when I see all the tourists literally lined up for this overpriced junk food. No lettuce, tomato, coffee or credit cards! Don't expect much.
(2)Q C.
Good family restaurant, but not sure what all the fuss is about ("Bite into a legend"). Food is decent but there is usually a waiting list. The service was friendly and effecient. Sweet potato fries were good. Burgers juicy. Average milkshakes. Bring cash. No credit cards accepted.
(3)J T.
Best burgers ever!
(5)Craig S.
Great burgers and atmosphere. While the burgers don't come with fries and come wrapped in paper, the price price also reflects that. I'm happy to pay less for a burger and not get fries that I won't eat because I'm too full than pay more and get food that I won't eat. It was a little like Five Guys, but with booze! We will return.
(4)Walt M.
You bunch of nit-picky, murse-wearing, klondike-bar-eating, fly-in-the-open-mouth-having, nancy-pants so-and-sos. This place is classic shtick with the wooden booths, old toys, signs, vending machines, and other classic items littered everywhere around the restaurant. If you don't like this place, it's because you don't appreciate classic nostalgic places like Redamak's that have a great history and tradition of classic home-made food and a great unpretentious , laid-back atmosphere. It is a great place after a long day at the beach. The burgers are so juicy and mouth-watering that after the first bite, they melt like butter...excellent! The potato wedges are awesome! The shakes are thick and tasty! Every time I go to New Buffalo, this is a must visit to keep the tradition alive! Thank you Redamak's for being consistent throughout the years!
(4)J K.
I've been coming here with out of towners for years and with my last visit I just can't do it anymore. I really don't understand the love affair with this mediocre burger joint. Really, Redamak's? You can't sub a different side if you don't want fries...you cant give a person lettuce on their burger even though you serve salads...what a bunch of greedy a--holes. Not only is the food mediocre the service is poor, not sure if it's because it's a seasonal restaurant but very inexperienced staff, pray your server doesn't get double sat.
(2)Peter F.
been coming here for years when i pass through town. Last weekend, we did a trip to the Dunes with friends... The Dunes were a bust but the stop at Redamak's saved the trip. Our friends had never been there before and loved it... one of them so much that he ordered another burger. We had a table of 11 (5 kids) and had to wait 15 mins for a table (4:30 on Father's day) but once we were seated, our server took good care of us. Oh and yes the Chili Cheese Fries are awesome.
(3)Noel M.
Redamak's is tourist-trap hell and I just don't understand the obsession.
(2)Kevin A.
NO LETTUCE AND TOMATO? Who ever heard of a place that refuses to serve lettuce and tomato? Not in your burgers, forget about having a salad, and a BLT?...totally out of the question. Huh? On the plus side, my friends and I dodged the tomato/salmonella scare, but it was still just odd. But I digress... Well I shocked to see so many excellent reviews because everyone in my group had a shitty meal. My "Sloppy Mak" was a $8 mess on a bun that any lunch lady with a can of Manwich could top. The fries weren't crisp and the macaroni salad was simply foul. Other misses were the "imported ham" sandwich (imported from where? Illinois?) and the tuna melt. The only thing edible was the potato wedges which still weren't that great. Perhaps the burgers are good, but I won't be back to find out. P.S. That logo is creepy.
(2)Dain H.
Not gonna write a bashing review but I decided to stop at this place that I haven't eaten at since a road trip with my family and friends in the late 90's. I didn't remember why people were so excited about the place when I was a kid. I remember a s a kid the burgers were good but I couldn't remember it very well. Its a weird looking restaurant and advertising all over I 94 brought back memories so I decided to stop here on a business trip. The reason I couldn't remember the burgers is because they're forgettable. They're not bad but DEFINATELY not legendary. Service and everything else about the place was fine but it really is nothing special.
(3)Kristie n scott V.
We stop here after a day at the Warren Dunes. We love the burgers. They taste like you are having them off the grill in the backyard. Can't help but note they don't have tomatoes or lettuce at all, and while you can get raw onion, a grilled onion will cost a buck more. Also, you must have cash. If you want fries, that is another 2 bucks. Nickels and dimes aside, we still can't pass it up after a day at the beach.
(3)A A.
Great burgers, good crinckle fries. Friendly, quick service. Also good Italian beef sandwiches. Comfortable atmosphere.
(4)Matthew P.
Food is good but the wait is a bit long....
(4)Spenser K.
Love the burgers here. Such a classic place to go on a warm summer night. I love the atmosphere and the location in New Buffalo. Make it a night by treating yourself to ice cream afterwards with a walk on the beach.
(4)Jennifer G.
Much like quite a few of the other reviewers, I just don't get it. This place is average at best. There are so many cons on the list, it is not worth the visit, including the cash only issue and the usual wait. Unless you are already in love, don't bother.......Schoops is 10 times better
(2)Frankie J.
Ya, well, ya know, if dis here tavern were in Canada, eh, this would be a hoppin' joint, eh? AMBIANCE This is your after-a-long-day-at-the-beach-or-on-the-boat-Âswimmin'-and-waterskiing-with-your-cousin-Joe-and-Âyou-really-didn't-like-your cousin-but-you-love-going by-the-lake-come-by-and-have-a burger-and-other-deep-fried-ex-vegetables-and-Âanything-else-you-can-batter-and-wash-it-down-Âwith-a-real-coke,-or-a-fancy-drink,-or-heck-just-Âa-beer-ya-know kinda place. No ties, no formal jackets, no reservations, and no credit cards. FOOD If you're gonna chow, you should try: Burger - Good, fried, real meat and no fillers, pick your toppings, but no tomato and lettuce Sloppy Waffle Fries - I only eat fries once a year, and this is the place. Wafflr fries, hand-cut, with a large helping of sloppy joe sauce (more like meat cut with a little sauce) topped with cheese. If you're gonna get billed by the artery, you might as well go ALL HEART. BIG Hot dogs - any way you like em, you can get em DRINKS These guys boast a completely separate drink menu, with drinks like Windex (blue hawaiian), Frozen Banana, etc. This is girl-drink drunk heaven. Beer, cocktails, all reasonable - with a designated driver. CAVEATS - No credit, CASH ONLY - No plates, you eat on a piece of paper for the burgers, fries are in a basket - Healthy? No, not even close. Oh, and no lettuce or tomato. But after a long day out in the sun, this is the ONLY place to go to within a 10 mile radius.
(4)Rich A.
Been coming up to New Buffalo since the 1970's, and always stop at Redamak's. Great burgers, great appetizers, good beer on tap. It's a must do restaurant if you eat red meat.
(4)Brian B.
I'm rating 5 because 3.5 stars is too low of an aggregate rating. Probably overall a 4, but the burgers are fabulous. They are by no means gourmet, but they are really really good (especially after a day at the dunes). The fries, etc are good, not great. Strawberry milkshake is pretty good as well. Overall it is one of my favorite spots just because the burgers are so very delicious.
(5)Josy W.
We went here for a quick lunch while we were vacationing in Southern Michigan. It is a huge restaurant with tons of seating. Only downfall - they don't open for lunch until noon. I thought this was strange, but there were probably 10-15 people waiting outside to get in when we arrived at 11:50, so I guess it doesn't keep the patrons away. I loved all of the fried food choices on the menu as I was able to create my own appetizer sampler platter as my meal by picking and choosing from their options. My husband had a burger - he wasn't overly impressed as it was a little over-cooked for his liking and they don't ask you when ordering how you'd like it cooked. But the service was great - food came quick and the waitress was wonderful to our 2 year old son. We would definitely return if in the area again.
(4)Dave A.
This is a good place to grab a quick meal but not worth the hour wait on busy days
(3)Tammy D.
Best burger I've ever had! Simply amazing! After we finished we were already thinking about our next visit!!! The place is packed but moves very quickly! We drive past New Buffalo on the way to my parent's summer home, but hadn't stopped before. Now it will be a regular stop :)
(5)Meow P.
I've been to New Buffalo numerous times, and wouldn't you know it, I've never been to Redamak's. I know. It's probably a crime in those parts since it looks like half of Southwest Michigan spends their meals sitting in the booths of this restaurant. So I finally stopped by this weekend. This place is pretty good (I wouldn't say spectacular), but it's expensive. I'll just break it down for you in a handy pro/con list: Pros 1. Cheeseburgers are awesome, especially with the grilled onions! 2. They have free refills. 3. They have an obscenely large menu so you'll find something for everyone! 4. They have outdoor dining so you can enjoy the lovely lake breeze. Cons 1. Their burgers are rather small for their price. A single patty, which is about the size of a Wendy's patty, except round, rings in at $5.50. Any additional patty after that is $1.00 more. 2. EVERYTHING IS A LA CARTE. I hate that! Give a girl her fries for free! 3. Burger toppings cost $1-$1.50 for each additional topping. 4. They don't have plates. They just hand you your burger wrapped in some paper, like a McDonald's burger. 5. Service is rude. But what can you expect from stupid college kids that need summer jobs? 6. They have Coke products---bad if you're a "diet" fan, because Diet Coke just isn't good. 7. They have those large oversized annoying menus that get in the way of everything. 8. It's swarming with people at all times. 9. They don't take credit cards. 10. The fries are average at best. They're the crinkle-cut ones that come straight from the frozen foods aisle. I'm probabaly missing some things. Feel free to add on to the list at your own risk! In the end, though, if you want to grab a burger and check out the local flavor, then Redamak's is probably the place. If you're looking for a better deal/better food, I'd suggest going to Hannah's about a block away.
(3)Dave G.
Good burgers, and specialty sandwiches. everything else is O.K. little over priced kind of a tourist trap, get the cheeseburgers to go and you can't go wrong
(3)Nick P.
An absolute MUST go to place!!! If you are in New Buffalo and have not been to Redamaks then you pretty much haven't been to New Buffalo. Get the cheeseburger and don't mess around with it by changing the cheeses. The cheese it comes with is perfect. I sometime like to add a little chili to my burger and wash it down with a Red Cream Soda. Love it. Staff is always great. Stop in today!
(5)Maria S.
To set expectations - this is not a fancy place. Most meals come in a plastic basket and the burgers are wrapped in paper. The burgers are fantastic. Exceptional. The best I've had. I don't like the cheeseburger with velveeta but yum on the regular burger. The onion rings are fabulous. The prices are reasonable. The beer is cold. This place is an institution so if you are in the area you gotta go! Be prepared to wait on warm summer weekends or go early. And they only take cash so be prepared.
(5)Em J.
Leave it to the FIPS to stand in line just because everyone else is. Like lemmings to the sea. The burgers are okay - just okay (fries suck), and not worth standing in line to eat a burger out of a paper wrapper. Geeze people, throw some business to the place across the street. If you have to eat Redamaks to be "cool" like all your friends, maybe you ought to reevaluate your life.
(2)Darlene L.
Stopped here for a quick lunch while spending a few days in the area. Have always been curious due to the long lines observed from the road. My party of two was quickly seated in this enormous room after room establishment. The BBQ grilled chicken sandwich with fresh fruit as a side was moist and tasty. My friend liked her burger and fries. We both missed lettuce and tomato which is not offered. Without asking, server was astute enough to present one check with a split identified including each person's share of the tax.
(4)Nomad M.
go there for the working mans special during the week before about 4 pm. Neat history on the walls, no plates or silverware and no extras added on to the hamburger.
(3)Shane R.
it may be a tourist trap, but i thought the burgers were really fresh and juicy. area is beautiful. i didnt know michigan could be beautiful. apparently, people go to michigan to vacation. i learn something new everyday.
(4)Ryan B.
My favorite burger on the planet. I stop through every trip from Chicago to Michigan. Bring cash the don't take cards.
(5)Deirdre H.
My sister and I ate at REDAMAKS last weekend,I had'nt eaten there in 20 years and I was really disappointed,the cheeseburgers were good(NOT GREAT),the french fries were cooked frozen fries, and I thought it was quite pricey,it was 35 dollars including tip,for cheeseburgers and fries and a bowl of soup. The place was jammed,but the wait for a table was'nt that long and service was good but I felt ripped off I won't be back as far as I am concerned Redamaks is coasting on their former reputation I won't be back!
(1)Angela P.
Just went back for the first time in about 5 years...and really all I have to say is PERFECTION!! Everything was great! Especially the burgers and the Sloppy Joe Waffle Fries!! OMG...amazing!! It's worth the trip from Chicago to try this place...you WILL NOT be sorry!
(5)EdWord E.
I absolutely love this place and have returned MANY times. One of my favorite burger joints and I have been to A LOT. Fun atmosphere, great for big groups of friends or family. A must go if you are into good burgers.
(4)Deborah B.
seriously, I don't know how there can be bad reviews for this place.
(4)l g.
besides Billygoats, Redamak's is THE most over rated burger in the world. not worth the drive, not worth the wait, not worth the price. lousy cheese, lousy condiments, lousy bun, small patty, limited menu, loud and not that clean.
(1)Giselle S.
If yelp would allow half stars I would give this place a solid 3.5 stars. Driving around the new buffalo area on a Sunday afternoon, none of the businesses were busy looking but when you pull up to this place the lot is packed flanking both sides of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant patrons are greeted with a NO CREDIT CARDS, ATM INSIDE sign, and line forms to the hostess. I was shocked to hear options for smoking or no smoking seating, and had to give myself a reality check. --I'm in Michigan. It's one hour ahead in these parts. 10 minute wait for the main dining room (vs enclosed patio). but numbers were being called frequently. The claim to fame of this place are the burgers. The meat is freshly ground and made to order. As previously reviewed, the burgers do not come with lettuce or tomato. I ordered my Cheeseburger with grilled onions ($1) extra and Mushrooms ($1.25) extra. And I got to try just a Cheeseburger with their "everything" fixings that includes raw onion ketchup and mustard. I enjoyed both burgers. My onion and mushroom burger added extra flavor. The cheeseburger also had fresh taste and was good. But I can't say it was my best burger. I think it was weird that my burger was served in wax paper and then 'plopped' down in front of me. Believe you me I'm not at all for formality. But I don't like that my food touches the table, and when the wax paper is wet from grease, it provides a medium for bacteria from the table to transfer to my food. Easily remedied by placing the extra thick napkins down underneath the food. I shared my son's fries that came with his grilled cheese, and we were given extra pickles when my son dropped his on the floor. Leaving the place, I could not help wondering where the name of the establishment came from, but I kept thinking to myself, you are a city gurl , in what I felt like was the country.
(3)Laurel W.
A trip to New Buffalo is not complete unless you go to Redamak's at least once. The cheeseburgers are amazing, and the drinks were pretty good too! Basically, every time I go to Redamak's, I wet my pants...just a little bit. That's how good it is! :)
(5)c d.
Love this place, though I hate the wait. I tend to hit it at lunch to avoid the crowds. The burger are delicious. Though be sure to check out the tuna melt that can feed a crowd, the Reuben, the cheese fries, the corn dogs, and so much more. But really the burgers are the best and hit the sport every time. If you are not up for the crowds then avoid at dinner time, especially on the weekends. Though the food is served quickly and accurately and they don't balk at splitting a bill for you. Old school food and fun.
(4)Ryan D.
Best.Burgers.Ever. I could die and go to Heaven after devouring one of their cheeseburgers. Enough said!
(5)Matt M.
I don't normally eat burgers, but I'll go out of my way to eat at Redamak's.
(4)S. M.
The burgers are OK, but the fries are not very good at all. Really hit-or-miss. The whole things seems to have a cult following, but I can't figure out why. Perhaps their hostility to anything not deep-fried or grilled.
(2)Wade M.
Oh snap, it's my childhood's ultimate summer oasis here on yelp! Julia W's review below mine is pretty accurate, but it's difficult to convey exactly how perfect this place is at the end of a summer day. We always went up to this area for vacations when I was a kid, staying in nearby Union Pier, and my favorite part of every trip was going to Redamak's. It's been several years since I've been, but as a kid I swore by these burgers as the greatest thing I'd ever eaten. I think this place is mostly perfect for families, but even if you have no kids and you just love a good burger this place will still satisfy. Also there's an arcade, which my sister and I always stormed in the waiting period between ordering our food and getting it. Go, go every year after that, then go back years later and buy a t-shirt. Your children will thank you.
(5)elsa m.
I might eat a cheeseburger once or twice a year. If so, I'll eat one here. Rumor is, they boil their burger meat so the cheese melts into every nook. Sit outside in the summer if you can grab a bench seat.
(5)Katie H.
That IS a tasty burger! My pops, lover of all things cheese coated, introduced me to this place when I was about 5 years old and I've been a devotee ever since. If you don't eat cheeseburgers there's really no sense in you coming here. But if you do enjoy a giant greasy clod of beef smothered in American cheese wrapped up in wax paper.... make this your lunch stop on your way into Michigan from Chicago. I love the circular menus, the massive porch, the WWII posters, the arcade etc. If Redamak's was open year round they would easily get 5 stars from me.
(4)Brandon H.
I think this place might have been over-hyped by the time we got to it.. They claim their burgers are what made New Buffalo famous.. on that point, I think I'd disagree. They are good, but I'd rank them up there with Billy Goat or Culver's butter burgers. The fries are great, you can get curly or waffle, and cheese sauce (the good ballpark kind) on the side. The appetizers were good sized portions. Overall the food was a notch above a standard greasy spoon diner, but the northwoods feel was a nice touch. Hardly the best burger I've ever had, but with the drink selection and prices, it's worth trying at least once!
(3)L. R.
The draw is it is a tourist place. There is a long wait, uncomfortable wooden benches, and at the end, no plate, just a burger wrapped in paper. I say, leave it to the tourists. But I'm happy they have a veg option now in case I ever go there again.
(2)Julia W.
Ooh, the cheeseburgers are so damn good. Redamak's is a legend for those who visit the tourist town of New Buffalo, MI. It's got its fair share of fried things and various sandwiches, but I'd be lying if I told you I knew what they were... I come here for the cheeseburgers and the cheeseburgers only. They are big, they are juicy and they have the best cheesy mess on them. Probably not for the folks who prefer an aged cheddar, but even they should give 'em a whirl. A fully-dressed cheeseburger includes only ketchup, a fat pickle and a nice, crisp slice of onion--a sure-fire way to stink up your breath, but for such delicious reasons, it hardly matters. I remember my first Redamak's cheeseburger fondly--the combination of textures with the sizzling beef, gooey cheese and cool, crisp pickle and onion... yum. Visiting Redamak's is a perfect way to end a long day at the beach--no need to dress up, just kick back in the screened-in patio and enjoy. Be prepared to wait, though--only open during the fair weather months, Redamak's fills up fast during high season.
(4)Matthew P.
Food is good but the wait is a bit long....
(4)Paul K.
Just because you can sit 400 people in your restaurant doesn't mean you should. After a 40 minute wait we were finally seated. It took another 45 minutes to get our meal...three hamburgers. And the bun on one of the burgers was burned. All this at 2:00 in the afternoon. Hardly rush hour. Stay away!!!!
(1)Dan B.
Waited 45 minutes for a table in 90+ degree weather, only to find out they had no AC in the restaurant and it was even hotter inside. Finally got called for our party, then stood around the bathroom watching them bus the table supposedly for us our table, then sat for 20 minutes until we got some water (We never got another one until we finally asked for a pitcher of water about an hour in.) and the waitress finally asked if we wanted any appetizers. We ordered Cheese fries, which we waited another 20 minutes for at least. Then finally about an hour and a half in we were able to order, which we then waited another 40 minutes for, and they brought my wife fries when she ordered chips. We paid $7 for a double cheeseburger, no fries, no nothing. Just a burger. It was okay. The cheese had mostly all melted off into the paper wrapper they put it in though. Also, they're cash only, so don't expect to be able to pay any other way. We arrived at 6, and ended up leaving after they closed at 9:30 and only had a cheeseburger and some cheese fries. It used to be great when I was a kid, now it's garbage. Just go anywhere else.
(1)David N.
Surprisingly quick wait considering the lunch rush. Only about fifteen minutes around 1:45 pm on a Sunday. Had to grab the Triple Velveeta Burger on my first and only visit, and it certainly did not disappoint. $8 was well worth this legendary burger. Juicy beef, creamy cheese, mustard, ketchup, onions, and pickles...freaking divine. I almost ordered a second one, but I went the hot dog route instead. Tried the New Buffalo Hot Dog, which was in essence your run-of-the-mill Chicago Dog. A bit on the small side for $4, but a well put together doppelganger to the South side favorite. Yeah, there's going to be a wait, and your waitress might be a B, but f*** it, its Redamak's, and for burgers it won't disappoint.
(5)Bobblehead B.
This place has a tremendous psychological pull. It has Summer, warm weather, vacation and childhood all wrapped up. Even driving past it makes a lot of people smile. Great memories of a lunch with Grandparents or a favorite Aunt, Uncle or Cousin run through peoples' minds. The decor is 60s 70s cars, sun and beach. The food is fine. Beach Resort fare. Amazing how people can walk up to the place and even dream of getting a "gourmet burger". The physical appearance of the establishment is screaming for families and you should be able to tell by looking at the building that the food will be served fast and reasonably priced. The full parking lot indicates high volume. I guess some folks wander the planet in a "FOODIE FOG". Looking for that GOURMET BURGER. This is not WICKER PARK or STREETERVILLE. The Burgers are served piping hot. They are delicious. There are no surprises here. The place is popular for good reason.
(3)Sharon S.
Great new menu and good burgers. Sodas and shakes are wonderful. My daughter said the veggie burger was good too.
(5)Kat K.
Redamac's is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world. Their burgers are melt in your mouth good, and I LOVE their fried clams. I could eat a bucket of them. It is a classic restaurant, and I've been going there for food as long as I can remember. My family has a cottage around here, and whenever we go up we come here. To finish this off I am just going to say the following: I've eaten cheeseburgers my entire life. From all over the place. I've got to say that Redamac's burger is #1 on my list.
(5)Adam P.
I could care less that they greatly overcooked the bison burger - what upset me was that I asked to substitute fries for the chips that came with it. My server said "Sure!" Then, when the food was brought out she brought both, explaining that it only came with chips but she wanted to bring both since i asked for the fries. I thought that was a nice gesture until there was an extra $4.25 on my bill. I even inquired about it and she did nothing. VERY unprofessional.
(1)Tima D.
Do youself a favor and get the double velveta cheeseburger! YUM! The food was served at a rapid rate which was great because we were definitely hungry. I would also recommend the sweet potato fries but the tots looked great too. Was it the best burger In the U.S? No, but it was still really good. I would say they are slightly overrated. This place is super crowded. If you go with a group be prepared to WAIT. It was just my husband and I so we sat right away but larger groups really hate to sit around for a while. This place takes Cash only which is good for them but bad for everyone else. The prices are great though. You definitely get more than what you pay for! Service was okay. Nothing spectacular. They kind of just want to get you in and out.
(3)Shannon M.
Who would have thought velveta cheese on a burger could be sooooo good?!!! This place makes an outstanding burger!!!! The atmosphere feels like a summer camp... It is big and crowded at times. Worth the wait or get it to go. It's is must when in town!!!
(5)Chelsea A.
Of course I had yelped this spot before coming here so I had anticipated greatness. Aside From the place being cash only, I have no complaints. The burger was cooked well and my selected trimmings made it even better. I was a little worried about the velveeta cheese at first, but it actually tasted good. It wasn't until I heard someone else sub it for another cheese that I even knew that was an option. Glad I didn't though. I enjoyed the chili cheese fries. It was too much food but I rather that than too little. The chili meat was actually seasoned, not just drizzled with sauce like some chilis I've had. My husband ordered a banana strawberry cheesecake and it was food too. I only wish it was a little thicker but the taste was good. If I have to have one issue, my side salad was full of wilted, almost old lettuce. I imagine it's the same lettuce for the burgers, only when it's in a salad it definitely should be crisp. Overall, if you're in. New Buffalo, you HAVE to eat here. It's a no brainer.
(4)Tyler L.
Redamak's has been a tradition in my family every summer for 20+ years. Pricing is a little high for the area, wait is a little long, but in a big group you hardly notice. *Working Person Special is a must; go for refillable pitchers of "pop" or beer with greater than 4 people; the arcade is fun for kids; seating is pretty open in the main hall but there are more intimate booths tucked away elsewhere. Staff are very helpful and friendly, atmosphere is jovial, boisterous, and loud. The food quality is on par with home-cooking--this is not a gourmet restaurant. It's a place you come to "eat", not "dine", and have fun with friends and family. Be careful not to over-eat!
(5)Katie C.
We never miss a chance to stop here. Awesome burgers, great service, and totally worth the wait. Do believe they hype!
(5)Kim S.
Don't believe the hype. Burger was dry and tasteless; no flavor from the meat. The onion rings were stale and the fryer oil needed changing. Husband wasn't impressed with his meal either. Fish dinner was bland and boring. You would think the fries would be home made, but everything had an institutional taste...think cafeteria museum food. Staff was friendly, but rushed. Bring cash; no credit cards. Don't waste you're time, since there are a lot better places to go.
(2)Renita M.
The cheesecake milkshakes were super tempting, but we were saving room for Oink's later. So we just stuck with the basics: two burger specials - a single for me, a double for him. Fries and water. The atmosphere is definitely taverny, and a bit kitchsy. It's clearly very popular. They are speedy -- our burgers came out in about five minutes. These burgers are clearly made with love. They are big and juicy and taste homemade. The cheese was gooey, the pickles were tart, the onion was crisp. It was a very solid burger. Next time we're in New Buffalo, I would certainly return for another one. And maybe a milkshake, too.
(4)Rick B.
I've seen the other reviews ... some of which say this place is the best and others that say it is a dump. It seems the Redamak haters don't like the hamburgers being wrapped in paper or the paper tray it is delivered in. Plastic cutlery also seems to be a bone of contention. Come on now ... what did you really expect? This place is exactly what it bills itself - a good hamburger joint. It doesn't hold itself out to be a fine dining experience ... just a good hamburger and a beer. Yes, it has loud kids all over the place in various family units. That is to be expected - the entire New Buffalo area is a summertime beach town resort - and they all eat here. Anyway ... if you want a good hamburger and a beer, this is a good choice. I have been here a half a dozen times - never had anything but a burger and some of the fried appetizers ... give them a try. If I want fish or a salad or something else - I'll go somewhere else (remember this place is known for its hamburgers). Open from March 1 through mid October, it is the stop in the New Buffalo area for families and large groups looking for good burgers.
(4)Missy T.
First visit this year. Something has changed. Ordered takeout and my burger was dry and tasteless and cold and french fries where cold. Miss the old Redamak's.
(2)TR M.
We were driving through Michigan today and stopped at Redamack's for lunch. We haven't been here for at least 7 years, and it is still a great little burger spot. The food is all very fresh, the menu has a lot of options to choose from, although most of it is fried, and the service is good. We had forgotten that they only accept cash. Luckily we had enough to spare us from having to do dishes.
(4)Karma K.
This is one of the those places that exists only because of it's reputation by people who don't know any better. It's not a horrible place. Their burgers are OK. They skimp on things though. I don't find the charm in the prepackaged condiments or cash only. Folks from the North shore and western burbs of Chicago think this place is the knees bees. Trust me, it's not.
(3)Nancy D.
Best cheeseburger in the state!! The meat is cut and ground there and the have Velveeta cheese!
(4)Corinne R.
Have been a regular for many years, this year will be my last, sadly. Prices have gone up ridiculously and I can no longer afford it. Had 2 dry overlooked double chz burgers and when waitress asked if we wanted fries, we said yes, one regular and one with curly. Little did we know that fries were extra now so regular fries were $3 extra and curly were $4.25. We would have split a fry had that been mentioned. Prices are alittle cheaper on the weekdays, guess you are out of luck if your not a local. With a family with kids, I don't see how you can come here and feed everyone. Portions of fries were small also for what you paid for. Burger was not what we've had in the past, juicy and delicious. It was really dry and terrible. We have called and talked to a manager, Mike. He says he will pass on our complaints. Maybe more people need to voice concerns if you end up feeling how we do... The review posted right before mine either had to be on a weekday or wrong for the total because you can look up prices on web, burgers do not come with fries and no way on a weekend that would be their bill, just sayin
(1)Ryan G.
Love this place. I stop here often during my commutes to and from Chicago and Ann Arbor. Almost always busy and always a great home made burger. Wish it was open year round.
(4)Steve W.
Don't believe the hype.... overpriced, CASH ONLY (really?? - c'mon it's 2015 for crying out loud get with it people) fries need to be ordered a la carte, and are nothing special. Burgers are OK but, just OK. I can make better ones at home. Don't plan on stopping in the winter because they are closed too. Do yourself a favor and keep driving into New Buffalo for better options.
(2)Mz C.
Good burgers & shakes. Be prepared to wait if in peak season, worth the wait for delicious burger goodness.
(4)Denise P.
You know the old saying... There is Good, Fast & Cheap and you can only have two. You can have good and fast but it'll cost more. You can have good and cheap , but it'll take longer. You can have cheap and fast, but it'll be a Redamak's burger. Just so so. Bring cash.
(3)Dorin P.
This place is a joke. White Castle makes better burgers. Meat was always overcooked, fries soggy and their cash only policy is ridiculous. That is why we dont go there anymore. Go to Milda's Cafe or better yet Luisa's in Harbert for a great burger. If you want to put a little more work into your burger experience, go to LOCAL in downtown New Buffalo, pick up some ground chuck and be the master of your own domain!
(1)Bob K.
I am a local that lived in Chicago. I am still amazed that people actually wait in line for this food. And now I read how people think this is the best burger they have ever had! Please. Maybe if I was starving. This is a totally over rated place. Good for them that there are lines waiting for them to open but it confuses the hell out of me. I would rather have mcdonalds or burger King and I never eat that crap either. Hey they have been around a long time and people seem to love them so what do I know.
(1)Greg S.
Have been going here for years. Went this March when they opened. The burgers looked smaller and the buns stuck to the paper wrap. The worst is the Dry, Dry, fries. I think they cook them all first thing and let them sit under a heat lamp. Why on earth don't they take cards? Most of the customers are out of town so this is always a problem with me. ATM in front hits you twice for not being your bank.
(2)Buckeye D.
First trip to the famed Redamak's Tavern. First thing you see as you come in the door is a large, prominently placed sign advising that they don't accept credit cards. Strike one. Reeks of being cheap. We ordered burgerr (no fries included, seriously?) And the fiance had jalepeno poppers. Food is literally served in paper boats and the burgers are wrapped in paper. No plates in sight Strike Two. Burgers are good but the portions are very small and the prices are not reflective of that. This place is packed in the summer. Someone is making some serious cash but plates would be nice. Credit cards would be even better. Probably not high on my list of places to return to.
(2)Sam H.
Would rather get Ebola than eat here again. Ate here once when I was 5, back at 24 for redemption...worse than 19 years ago....probably my fault for giving them another chance. Actually tried to make myself vomit, wish I had succeeded. Ordered sliders-all cold, replacement burger-blackened and inedible. Eat at own risk
(1)Becky T.
We've been coming here for years and always look forward to the opening in the spring. We made our trek there today and we're disappointed. The burgers were thick and dry without much flavor. They also swapped out the Canadian bacon for regular bacon and didn't mention that on the menu - I didn't know until it showed up. My husband had the new buffalo Italian beef sandwich and it was dry and also had zero flavor. Not sure if it was just an issue of the season still getting started so we'll be back for another try with our fingers crossed.
(3)Mitch B.
My wife and stopped in for lunch at this place on a Wednesday on our way to our hotel in New Buffalo based on all the signage: "the legend continues...we put New Buffalo on the map..." I ordered a triple burger with everything and sweet potato fries. They brag about the beef being fresh and that they grind it in house and you can definitely tell because it comes through in the taste-delicious. However, the patties were all dry and the sweet potato fries were not cooked all the way through. When we sat down our server greeted us immediately and took our order and we had our food in front of us in less than 5 minutes after we ordered. They only take cash, which is sketchy, but they are up-front about it. They have it written in several places in the restaurant. The prices are reasonable based on the quality of the beef, the service was great, but I like my burgers juicy and my fries hot and cooked thoroughly, so the best score I can give is 4 stars.
(4)Kevin R.
Been some time since I've been here. But there was something different. The burger was good. Wasn't over cooked or under cooked. It just wasn't as good as I remember. Also had the onion petals. They were very good, but at $5.75 for a single order, I believe it was overpriced. Wait staff was friendly & attentive. No problems there. I will go back. I won't make a special trip to visit it. If I'm in town, hungry and other people are going, I'll stop and just have a burger & drink.
(3)Allison K.
Just ate their "Legendary" burger. The burger meat tasted so fresh, juicy & satisfying! I wish we had one of these near me in Chicago!
(5)Caroline D.
Been going here since I was a little kid in the mid-sixties, when sawdust was on the floor and we ordered grape Nehi by the bottle. Back then, they had a sawdust bowling game and it wasn't the smoke-free environment it is today. I still feel nostalgic and love this place for its consistently delicious food and friendly service.
(5)Daniel D.
The place was packed, so I wouldn't wait, rather just get it to go. Not a big fan of the fries, but the hot dogs are served on a pretzel bun, which is a nice touch. The burgers were quite good, and nicely cooked despite their thickness. Very juicy despite the thickness of the patty.
(4)Rachael Z.
If you're staying anywhere in New Buffalo (not like there's many choices), this is a must stop if you're a burger fan. Don't expect anything lean here - and roll up your sleeves when you eat, because you will have grease stains otherwise! Also word to the wise - you do NOT need a double or a triple (gross). The burgers are deceivingly filling and you can get stuffed on the large order of fries. It's a quick stop with a good burger - we always try to visit (if they're open) when we're here!
(4)Abigail D.
Redamaks was and is a favorite of mine. Since they are only open a few months, you have to squeeze it in as often as you can. We used to countdown the days until it opened when I was growing up. They also used to sponsor lunches at my grade school. Needless too say the only day I wouldn't ever want to be sick. Burgers are amazing. They keep it simple. Don't waste your time asking to hold this or add that. They do it right. Burgers with the standard fixings. The mini tacos are awesome. During the week they have the working mans special. Milkshakes are so good and a great beer list. Indoor and porch seating available. Even if there is a wait, don't get frustrated because they move fast. This place is a must.
(5)Steve D.
As a life long resident this is one places that has always amazed me that they stay in business. If you like greasy overpriced burgers made their way, not yours, and enjoy standing in line with tourists that have nothing else to do this is your place. A step above McDonalds in flavor, leaps above in price. Not worth the hype. Seriously a tourist trap and gets by on the nostalgia factor of those who went there years back and have memories to show their kids....
(1)Tyktaksyk K.
I have no idea why this place has such a following. The burger is crap. They serve you food wrapped in paper and give you plastic forks. If I want to get a crappy burger wrapped in paper I'd go to a fast food place. They serve you hot soup in a plastic disposable bowl with a plastic spoon. This place is masquerading as a pub burger place and its no better than a drive thru. Save your money. Go down the street to the grocery store and grill your own at the beach. I asked if they maybe have a healthier burger for the health conscious, like a buffalo burger or grassfed. They looked at me like I was from Mars. Wow! What a concept. Having a buffalo burger in New Buffalo!?! This is a tourist trap! The location is great, and maybe getting plates and silverware would go a long way. And possibly a higher quality meat for the person who is looking for a gourmet burger.
(1)Marco A.
Great burger. Pretty damn packed, but it's worth the wait. Service is good. Who cares that they take credit cards.
(5)Amanda B.
hands down the best burger/milkshake I've ever had! Best hangover cure! FYI - This place only accepts cash.
(5)Toni F.
I had been to Redmaks awhile back and never understood what all the fuss was about. It's been two years since our last visit. We decided to give it another try on a drive home from the lake - we were hungry and Redamaks was on the route home. I'm very glad we did. The burgers were tasty and they extended their "Working Man's" lunch to dinnertime during the off season so they came with fries. We also tried the chili which was good. I don't know if I would go out of my way to come here, especially with all the boutique burger joints popping up everywhere nowadays but I would absolutely come again if I'm in the area.
(3)Carter T.
Velveeta cheeseburger is the best!!! Only negative is ALWAYS a wait unless you get lucky and find a seat at the bar.
(4)David B.
Decided to review a hometown favorite. We ordered the cheeseburger and the Walleye both of which were good. You can't go wrong with cheeseburgers at Redamak's and Walleye anywhere. BTW, the cole slaw was just ok. Have to mention though, for long time Redamak's fans, we remember when the burgers came deliciously overloaded with cheese. We really miss that!
(4)Rachel L.
If you are in the New buffalo area this place is a must. The Maui madness chicken sandwich was on point. Sweet potato fries were fairly good. Unique atmosphere, great food. Check it out
(5)Dan S.
I was lucky enough to stay at a nearby resort for a friend's wedding recently & stumbled across Redamak's. In a seasonal small town like this, Redamak's was like an oasis in a desert. Many other establishments in the area were either closed for the season or closed for good so needless to say, I was pretty excited to find this place. If the "legendary" name for their burgers wasn't enough to get my attention, the positive reviews did the trick. The place was packed 30 mins after opening but I was able to snag a table with my buddy & checked out the menu. Just about everything on the menu sounded good but I went with a single velveeta burger with a side of regular fries even though the tots & curly fries were tempting. Every bite of my burger was so soft & just melted in my mouth, fries were ok but nothing special. I will definitely return here if I'm in the area again!
(4)Dave K.
After two trips I'm Not sure what all the hype is about. Had an average burger the first visit and an average turkey Reuben on the second. There is a cool atmosphere and very prompt service so those are two plusses but the food is just OK in my opinion.
(3)Carolyn E.
HOT TIP: It's CASH ONLY. Solid burger place with some vegetarian options. Everyone who got Velveeta on their burger admitted they could have used "more Velveeta," so ask for extra if you hate your arteries?
(3)Jessica N.
I'm surprised at the reviews for Redamark. Was driving by with a large group, and we ordered in advance so we could take the burgers to go. Ordering before 5 we got the workman's special which was $5 for burgers and fries. The burger was AWESOME. Perfect bun, delicious flavor, you can tell it's a freshly made patty. Chocolate shake was also off the hook. I'll definitely be back next time I'm driving past!
(4)Cathy K.
Good quality food at an institution. Husband has the cheeseburger and I had the caprese salad with broiled chicken. Also ordered the fried green beans which were just ok. Service is great. Wait was only 15 minutes.
(4)Marie P.
So Much Hype...Not worth it at all!!! Overpriced small burgers! Can't believe they sell overpriced frozen crinkle cut fries out of a bag!! You think they could cut fries from potatoes! The Cash ONLY thing is ingenious on their part because they have a ATM on site , so imagine how much they make off that? How can these big groups of families dine out and try to calculate how much cash they should bring??? That is what Redamaks wants to happen, not enough cash so they have to withdrawl from ATM. Ca-Ching! Ca-Ching! Will never understand what anyone see's in this place.
(1)JR W.
Epic joint. Very unique summer vibes here. Very family based and good lunch specials. Burgers are delicious! A bit greasy for me, but a good place to splurge here and there! --esp with family
(4)Julie P.
The food here was gross. Nothing was made in-house, not even the ranch dressing that was served with the fried green beans. My Caesar salad was wilted and served in a disposable plastic bowl, likely the one Sysco delivered it in.
(1)Stephen R.
Best cheeseburgers I have ever had! The secret is the Velveeta cheese sauce they use on the burgers. My wife has tried to replicate these fantastic burgers at home, but you can't really beat the original! Excellent cheese fries as well, same deal.
(5)Melissa C.
I first went to Redamak's long, long ago, way before some yelpers graced the Earth. Definitely on my list of best burgers and best memories of childhood. I grew up near New Buffalo and always loved going here. I think my love of green olives stems from their olive burger, which was my favorite. Always a good idea to support local business.
(5)Stephanie S.
One of the best burgers anywhere. It's touristy, but it's good. We never miss it when we're in the area. Just get the cheeseburger and fries - you'll be pleased. Great mini corn dogs too. Make note of their hours and be sure to account for the time change if you're coming from Chicago. Beware, it's cash only, but there's an ATM on site.
(4)Matt B.
Fair price but we were not very impressed with the food at all. I ordered a grilled chicken wrap that consisted of chicken that was not grilled or seasoned, canned mushrooms, and the veggies seemed boiled and mushy. For some reason the food came on disposable plastic plates also. The rest of the table ordered burgers that were so nasty that we would have been better off at mcdonalds. I'm sorry for a poor review but I feel there is no reason to serve crap.
(1)Roland S.
Great burgers, unremarkable fries, slow service. Someone said these were the best burgers anywhere. They weren't amazing, but they were very good. The menu had plenty of interesting options, and the place has an interesting aesthetic. This is a bit of an aside, but you should know this before you go. They only take cash but offer an ATM in the lobby. Okay, that's fine. I always have enough cash on me for a decent lunch. But it is a bit of scam. Basically, they're shifting the cost of the transaction on the customer. Instead of paying a credit card processor 4-5%, they're making you pay 10% in ATM fees. (If you take out $20 and pay a $2 transaction fee at the ATM, you're paying a 10% fee.) So, not only are you and the restaurant paying twice as much in fees as necessary, you're the one paying it. Not cool.
(3)Cody S.
Love the burgers and the cheese fries. Service is always good. Down fall is it is cash only and I don't ever have cash on me so I don't go as much as I want to. Overall great place to eat!
(4)Kylie S.
I've been coming to Redamak's for as long as I can remember. I've always loved the vibe, but usually ate very little as a vegetarian. Back in the day I believe they used to have a cheese quesadilla on the kid's menu that they made for me. But in recent years they've really added to their menu and I'm a happy girl. There is not veggie burger - woohoo! There's also a turkey burger for those who still want meat, but want to be a bit healthier. If you do eat meat, though, you better just get the burger and be done with it. It's famous and people will look at you like an idiot if you don't order it. Awesome screened porch to enjoy during the summer months. Easy peasy parking situation. Bathrooms are tenable. 70s style decor, but still fun.
(4)S S.
Redamaks is a tourist attraction. Don't even attempt to get a table on the weekend during the summer. They offer fast take out. I recommend that and enjoying your burger somewhere else. Also, it is cash only. They do have an ATM in the front though I am pretty sure. Not the best place for alcoholic beverages. The burgers are pretty tasty though.
(4)Cynthia S.
WOO-HOO!!!! Lettuce and tomato added for your comfort food pleasure! The purist in me still passes on the addition. I don't want to alter a single euphoric bite of my annual nostalgia trip.
(4)Brooke ..
It was okay....not the best burger I have ever tasted. Would try it again but not the Velveta burger. Tried Red's chips pretty good......gets kinda soggy tho! I guess I expected more since I have heard this place was amazing!
(3)Ericka A.
"Bite into a legend." - I dunno about that. I really like the Yukon Gold Potato Cheddar Soup and the Fried Cauliflower was decent. The double burger was good, but I think the novelty lies mainly in the fact that you'd need to unhinge your jaw to take it down. The burgers aren't particularly huge. They are just incredibly, almost annoyingly thick. I pulled it apart and ate half of it there and the other half as a snack down the road. This place is geared toward families and it is packed around lunchtime. The good news is that the turnover rate for tables is pretty decent, but our giant booth was kind of sticky when we sat down. I am also amazed at how quickly they seat people when it took forever and a day to get our meal. The appetizers came out fast, but it felt like an eternity before the burgers showed up. It took so long that I actually forgot if I had ordered or not. I went with a build-your-own burger. I'm under no false belief that Velveeta is fresh, but I wanted it. I got it and I think it helped the burger a lot. I also ordered the bacon, which I was expecting to be from the area and quality. It's listed as "round bacon." It wasn't all that great and as we left, I saw the GFS truck pulling up to deliver goods. So, I'm pretty sure I know where that bacon came from and I know for a fact that it's as far from fresh as you can get. As disappointing as finding that out was, it pales in comparison to my hatred of the lackluster, dessicated, tasteless fries that they served as a side. I came, I saw, I tried it. I can check it off my list and continue the search for amazing burgers. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with them, but I'd much rather not deal with the long wait for food or have to put up with screaming children.
(3)Jill M.
Redamak's is a MUST every time we're in the area! They accommodated our large party of 23!!! The server was very friendly and helpful --and even willing to provide green leaf lettuce as a substitute for a hamburger bun since I'm trying to eat minimal carbs. :)
(5)Amanda Z.
We were prepared to wait in line for a table, but didn't have to...score, right? Eh. We were seated immediately, our waitress was great, but seemed overwhelmed. This place was packed, as it is every day, according to the locals during the summer. When our food finally came (we're talking at least a 25 minute wait from when we ordered...for three hamburgers and two sides of fries), it was good, but nothing extraordinary. The bathrooms in this place are ridiculous. There are three dining rooms in this huge, packed restaurant and two bathrooms, each with two stalls in them. I waited 15 minutes and had to stand cramped behind the door to wait in line because on top of there only being two stalls, there is almost no where to stand in either bathroom. We paid $50 for three pops, three hamburgers, two sides of fries, and a little quesadilla kid's meal. Way too much, if you ask me.
(2)Tom Z.
How does a restaurant on the coast of Michigan offer local caught yellow perch and then accompanies it with PACKETS of tartar sauce. Really??? In business since 1946. "Our Tradition is our Legend" - this is their mission statement. Swing and a miss. I hate those nasty little packets, they are a B!T#% to open. When you do get them open the TS resembles Elmer's glue with numerous chemical-laden ingredients/stabilizers, all of which I cannot pronounce. Packet tartar sauce didn't exist in 1946. I don't have a copy of the Redamak's menu from back then but I'm guessing they had home made TS. Why the change? To save money? They don't serve coffee at Redamak's because they fear a child might get burned. What about them choking on those vicious little packet corners as they use their teeth to tear it open? They need to take a cue from the Old Boys Brewhouse in Spring Lake, MI - they have a homemade balsamic TC that's out of this world. Or maybe that's too gourmet for this burger joint. Is their profit margin so thin that they can't accept credit cards. Really??? They need to get their act together...
(1)Sarah C.
I grew up in this area and used to love these burgers. But, I have to say, I came in for the first time this year when I was in from out if town and it was awful. It's slowly went down hill each time I've been there and it's really too bad! The burger was dry and flavorless, fries were cold, server was rude. Too bad. Used to be a classic in my book. I'd put up with all the chaos, screaming kids, wait times, cash only and rude servers, but if the burgers are going to suck--it's definitely not worth it!
(1)Kolyan D.
Came close to giving 2 stars, but the burger was actually pretty good. First, places that don't accept credit cards annoy me and tend to not get repeat business from me. Second, if you're going to ask me if I want fries with the burger, let me know it will be a basket of fries. My wife and I found ourselves with baskets of fries that we couldn't finish. Yeah, the place is loud, but you have to expect that in a roadhouse that caters to tourists and families in particular. The burger itself was good, but greasy. I had the Velveeta cheeseburger and it was tasty, but legend? Not really. BTW, Christiana had to know the cheese would be Velveeta because it clearly states that on the menu. I convinced my wife to go because of the hype, but I don't know if we'll be back, especially with the credit card issue.
(3)Jeremy C.
Despite the line and my reference to the Yelp reviews my party decided that we had to eat here. It was a burger. Seriously, nothing special about it. It was good, but not better that any other random sit down burger joint. The meat wasn't anything special, the toppings were the norm and the bun was actually a bit weak. Couple that with the fact that you don't get fries with your burger and you end up with a resounding "meh". I did however try the Sloppy Waffle Fries, which is waffle fries with sloppy joe and cheese. It was different. It wasn't bad, but it was definitely something else I am still not sure whether or not I recommend them. I'm not going to avoid this place, but if there is a choice, I don't need to come here again. I've had much better with much less hassle. As stated in every review, it is cash only. So be forewarned. They are busy as hell and I would imagine the ATM runs out fairly often.
(3)Chad M.
Average grilled food. Took too long to bring the order. Bread was unbuttered dry toast and they had no butter.
(2)Darci S.
I'll make this brief - Redamak's is a bit over-hyped, but the cheeseburger was pretty delicious. Fries, average. Service, decent. I wouldn't have been thrilled if we waited to eat here but for a walk in Sunday afternoon early dinner, it was good. Definitely worth a trip if vacationing in the area.
(3)Christopher B.
I have been hearing about this place forever. I actually have had their hamburgers but it's been years but I've never actually been here in person. It finally happened... it was super hot out to I opted for a shake, too. Very good and recommended! The burger was excellent, too. It was juicy, I loved the onion they put underneath the patty, and the size was perfect. Although it may not have been the best burger ever there was something that made this one different that many others I've had and probably why this place has been in existence for such a long time! I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come here but if you happen to be in the area you should definitely give it a go! It's pretty light and modern inside and it has a lot of TV's for sports and a bar so if you're not hungry the option for a beer is always there! ;)
(4)Brandy W.
I was a little disappointed..... that it wasn't more greasy like all these people are writing! I pictured some little shack with poor lighting and wood paneling just dripping with grease. Not the way it went down, folks. It's an enormous, airy joint that has obviously been there for the 70ish years they tout. Their menu was huge, filled with a bunch of All American classics. You can ordered fried things, but that's only part of the menu. The rest of the menu does have things like veggie trays and grilled veggie sandwiches and chicken sandwiches and turkey burgers. How is that any different than any other joint? They even had a vegetarian burger option! People. This is obvi not the grease joint you may be anticipating. You choose just how greasy you want your meal to be. Our table ordered the following: 2 Redamak's burgers, 1 turkey burger, 1 veggie sandwich (that came a bit bland but on the most amazing, fluffy bread and chock full of peppers and onions) and a bucket of fries. The turkey burger and veg burger already came with fries... I left feeling no less healthy than eating at most other restaurants. We'll definitely be going back again and making it a tradition.
(4)Dominic R.
I love "Biting into a Legend". Good Burger, solid burger!! NOTE: The place gets PACKED on weekend's the mid afternoon's!!!! AVOID!! People sit around outside leaning against poles, walls, sitting on the grass.........serious people...get a life!! Best times are before lunch time and for dinner on a random weekday night! I've been here a handful of times now, and have always had the burgers and fries.....which have always been flavorful and juicy......the burgers ooze with grease and flavors and it all goes down so good!! If you're in the area, check it out and make sure to get a Redamaks T shirt......on your way out!!! Chicks dig my shirt when i wear it out!
(5)Christiana C.
Redamak's was just ok for me. Maybe it's set up for tourists and locals, but I just could not get into this place. I got a hot dog with cheese-little did I know it would be velveeta. In a divey middle-of-nowhere diner, I'd expect this, but I guess I was hoping for something a little better than that. A couple of guys at our table got the burgers. Maybe it's just overhyped, but "legendary" is definitely not the word I'd use to describe it. This place can seat 400 people, so we got a seat right away. However, it was probably a good 15 minutes before someone even came over to get drink orders and longer to get food. And seating 400 people means not quiet. I'm not a senior citizen, but I could hardly hear anyone at my table over the general din of the room we were seated in. Truthfully, nothing was wrong with this place, it just wasn't anything special. If you want fast, Redamak's may work. If you want a dining experience to remember, Redamak's wouldn't be the first thing in the area to come to mind.
(2)Cat C.
Went here with a friend who RAVED about it. I don't know. the burger and fries were good... but I don't think I'd go out of my way to go, unless I had the kids with me. it's very campy, and I can see it being fun for them. The decor is definitely fun. Cash only. OK food. wouldn't drive to Michigan just for it. I'm not cray-cray.
(3)Angie S.
My co-worker said we had to visit this "best greasy burger joint." We were told by our b&b host not to get our hopes up, and to just expect a good, plain burger. Considering that, we thought the food was delicious! My husband enjoyed the velveeta burger with fries, and as I can't eat gluten, they happily gave me a bun-less burger with Swiss and mushrooms. Somehow they didn't have curly fries, so the perky server said "we'll make 'em extra crispy and just pretend!" Which we thought was hilarious. The burgers are cooked just right, juicy and tasty, nothing complicated, and it was just greasy burger heaven. I had all the ketchup and mustard I needed right at the table, and the fries were pretty good too. Definitely happy to have visited while in the area.
(4)Ralph E.
Seems to be an icon in Southwest Michigan. Passing by the billboards a few time a year, I decided to stop in and get a carry out order. I expect if one has been coming here for years, this is a destination. Personally, I don't get it. The burgers were fine. Fries hot. People at the counter ok---they seem to think everyone is a repeat customer and were a little put out when I requested something they don't put on their burgers. Bottom line is that I can say: "I've been there." Probably won't make it a point to go back soon as I don't see this a a special place to rave about.
(2)Tim R.
I would rate this a 4.5 stars but rounded up because the burger meat was PERFECT! I wrote a review on my blog cheeseburgertime.blogspo… but repeating some of it here. The restaurant was clean, spacious and the tables were stocked with napkins and condiments. The staff was great. They were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant and the surround area. I ordered a double cheeseburger. The presentation of the burger was just a tad bit messy but don't let the appearance fool you because the hand pressed, fresh juicy beef made this burger one of the best burgers I've ever had anywhere in the world. The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. It came out hot and had a good amount of cheese and toppings. The bun tasted fresh as well. I drove over 250+ miles just to go here for lunch and it was worth every minute. I highly recommend this place. I've had their wings, hot dog and salads on previous visits and they too are worth mentioning. The fries were good too. Hot and crunchy! If you are ever in the New Buffalo area, check this place out.
(5)Jan S.
I feel like I am betraying my childhood bc I frequented it often, as I lived in the area growing up. Honestly, I thought/think it was mediocre at best. Overpriced and small fry portions. I've had a stale bun on more than one occasion. Not accepting credit cards in this day n age is inconvenient and frustrating.There are no other competing burger joints in the area, so that is why all the hype. Plus it's been around for years and years. It is a good hangout for families living or visiting the area. The atmosphere is indeed lively. The burgers are good. But the fries look/taste like they are straight out of a frozen bag. It is cool to say you ate there, but if you want to-die-for burger and fresh cut fries at half the cost...go straight to 5 Guys. I think Chili's burgers and fries are better than Red's also.
(2)Kelly K.
Redamaks is delicious. The burgers are always juicy and I love the melted velveeta. The fries don't disappoint and the homemade chips are also tasty. This season they've cleaned up the menu a lot, making it much easier to decide and order. You can now pick and choose your appetizers as well as the quantity which is helpful for smaller parties. Also new to the menu is lettuce and tomato! I'm personally a fan of a bare bones burger (meat, cheese and bun), but I know this will make many people (my MIL included) happy. Is it as good as a 5 guys burger? No, but it's pretty darn close and not as expensive. The service has always been great and we've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table.
(5)Andrew D.
Although the New Buffalo locals hate the place, it's been a favorite memory in my family since I was very little. We would drive up from South Bend, IN and I still get a hankering for it when I fly in to visit family in the area. I agree with another Yelper that most of the ingredients are probably frozen but when eating at Redamak's, healthy choices get checked at the door. It' still my favorite burger I've ever eaten. My buddies and I have ridden our road bikes from South Bend all the way to New Buffalo and back multiple times to make an adventure out of it.
(5)Jeffery S.
Ever see that movie "The Great Outdoors" starring John Akroyd and John Candy? This place reminds me of that. Back in the day when Chicago was young and Indiana dunes were considered expendible, people used to get away from the big city and get back to nature by driving to this area. Highway 12 around the Indiana-Michigan border is loaded with places that have seen their glory days pass by. Some places, like Redamak's, try to keep it going by perpetuating the feeling you're getting away from it all. Redamaks decor is Early North Woods, kind of like a dark cook shanty in some camp. One part of the place is a bar, and then theres the dining area. Food is heavy on burgers and fried foods. For those who abstain from eating burnt animal flesh, I did notice some fruit, veggie and salad options so apparently they listened to you whining tree huggers. But I came here for the Burger that made New Buffalo famous so I ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a beer which was really excellent, but I can't for the life of me remember what brand it was. The burger was OK, likewise the fries. Burger is cooked on a griddle and placed on a fresh white bread bun. I asked for onions and pickles and got it. Fries are standard "from the bag" krinkle cut fries. Nothing special really. Service was friendly although a bit slow, thats because this place is usually busy. The northwoods thing was fun in a kitschky way, but hell, they got this kind of stuff in Chicago. I guess if you wanna "wow" the kids while on the road, this place would fill the bill. They even sell T Shirts up front for the family. But beware, no credit cards, cash only. But the food? It's OK. Standard bar food in my opinion. If I go back, it would be because I've changed my mind and want one of those T Shirts.
(3)Kari C.
Had the "legendary" cheeseburger. It was amazing! The burger was cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of toppings. It was super cheesy and delicious, didn't even need the chili cheese fries- although they were also delicious. Highly recommend a local legend
(4)Kristy D.
This place has such a following because it is cheap. Remember you get what you pay for! Went here once and will never go back. It is a cash only restaurant with very little overhead as everything is served in or on paper/plastic. Not enough bathrooms for the size of the place. Loud with kids running all over the place. If you are a couple, this is NOT a place for you.
(1)Beth P.
Why had we not been here before?!?! My husband and I stay in the New Buffalo area every spring to do some winery tours and we have driven by this place a million times but never went in. I think it speaks for itself that we arrived in the parking lot a little earlier than when they opened and there was already a line at the door! The place is huge so we had no problem getting seated though. Got an amazing burger and split some yummy cheese fries. Great burger joint!
(5)Joe C.
First, let me say that I have been coming to Redamak's for nearly 30 years. I love the place. I can say that in all that time I've never been disappointed with the food or the service. I hear that everything on their menu is good but I can't get myself to order anything besides burgers and fries. I drive nearly 50 miles one way to get there so I get what I go there for. I understand what some reviewers mean when they say they don't get the big deal. I just like the atmosphere and the food. I love coming up to the lake and Redamak's is normally a part of that trip. Even when I'm bringing my boat, we place carry out orders..which by the way is very quick..much faster than when you sit down. The burgers are fresh, hand pattied and pan fried. The quality is consistent. I love the crinkle cut fries. The velveeta cheese is my favorite cheese choice. Do I wish they accepted debit cards? Yes, but there is an ATM there if you forgot to bring sufficient cash. They are closing for the season this year on October 20 so you still have a week to get your fix...or wait until March 1, 2014
(5)Philip P.
Pretty good burger. Fries were tasty. Food came out quickly, but staff seemed very uninterested in the customers or promoting the restaurant in general.
(3)Nick H.
Mt friends, family, and I love this place. The burgers are pretty good (certainly not legendary) and the Red's Chips are fantastic. I have had quite a few different items off the menu and none of them have disappointed. The bar is well stocked and the beverages prices are pretty fair for the area. The services is always fast and friendly and I can't remember any bad experiences at Redamak's over the years. Since the place is always busy, it is always crazy loud but that is to be expected. I highly recommend Redmak's if you want a tasty burger and a good time. Oh, Redamak's DOES NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!! Now you know.
(4)B C.
Best Burger's in the United States. Period. Anyone giving less than a 5-star rating is insane. Again, Period.
(5)Jason M.
The burgers here were good, but not anything special. Really the burger and bun were similar to Five Guys which I can get anytime near my house. We first tried to visit on a Saturday and there was a huge crowd waiting outside so we decided to come back. Came back on a Wednesday and there was no wait. The sweet potato fries were terrible. Some of the worst I've ever had. Undercooked and soggy. The regular fries and zucchini sticks were good. I'd go back if I was in the area and in the mood for a burger, but I would not go out of my way.
(3)Deirdre M.
Almost left as soon as we were handed the menus and saw that they don't take credit or debit cards....say what?! Then, we read they don't have basic toppings like tomatoes or lettuce on the burgers...wth? Decided to stay anyway and see what all the hype was about. The burgers were just okay but quite greasy, and not even served on plates! Fries were "ehh" -- like the burgers, not memorable. The topper was that there were only TWO stalls in a tiny bathroom for a place that easily should have had MANY more. No hook to hang a purse on either. Atmosphere is okay and we didn't have to wait as nearly as long as we were told, but we'll not return.
(2)David B.
Epically, astonishingly, mind-blowingly bad. Enticed by the claim that the beef is ground in-house every day, I took the advice on the menu and ordered a burger. (But without tomatoes, of course, because Redamak's doesn't do tomatoes. It says so right on the menu, basically: "We don't serve tomatoes so don't even bother asking". [Huh? Who doesn't serve tomatoes?]) What I was served was three hockey pucks sandwiched between two pieces of soggy bread. These patties put "well-done" to shame. I'm talking pound-a-nail-through-a-two-by-four. And this culinary delight was accompanied by a "side" of potato wedges -- perhaps 12 of them -- covered in Cheez Whiz (which, incidentally, are offered at the low, low price of $4.50). Two bites into the burger, I was so angry that I could only focus on getting the hell out of there. It certainly didn't help that the atmosphere is cafeteria-meets-McDonald's. Only dirtier. Note: Yeah, I get it; if you grew up coming to this place, it still holds a special place in your heart. But for the rest of us, it's grossly overrated. Strike that. It's just gross. @Ethan: Asking folks not to listen to other reviewers? Not at all cool.
(1)Linda M.
I've been coming to Redamak's all my life, and still go every chance I get. Don't be fooled by the presentation, which reflects the laid back beach lifestyle of its most loyal seasonal patrons. Unwrapped, the quality of the meat and the unique preparation deliver a melt in your mouth burger orgy unlike anything you've ever experienced! Sad that they're now closed for the season. Can't wait until March and my next Redamak's fix.
(5)Allan M.
I don't mind Redamak's. My lovely girlfriends passionately hates it. In fact, she is having a conniption as I type for not giving it one star. Redamak's burgers are advertised as ground fresh in house, I have my doubts. Burgers are NOT cooked to temperature, weak sauce if they're actually grinding their own beef. Burgers are cooked on a flattop grill, not a broiler, which is my preference, but is not ideal for everyone. Burgers come with Velveeta cheese, I like this, but I am gross. The girlfriend hates Velveeta, rightfully so, it's fucking gross! Swiss is also an option. No lettuce or tomato in the building! I'm fairy sure that onion is the only fresh ingredient used in their kitchen. That's messed up. Don't get the chicken fingers. According to the girlfriend, they will make it impossible to hold any food down for three days and possibly poop your pants. The chicken fingers looked like the cheapest chicken finger product available and were probably thawed and refrozen. Nasty. Great prices on MI microbrews. They have Two Hearted which is a enough to get me in for a greasy burger and a beer. Service has proven to be poor 75% of the time, not an exaggeration. Exactly 75%. Does not compare to 'In n Out Burger' or '5 guys', not even close, if this gives you any kind of scale.
(2)Mike K.
Legend? How? I suppose I don't get it. Redamak's isn't close to being a "legend." It's not even close to being a good burger, if you ask me. Some of the local fast food options in Chicago are better. But hey, they have fried cauliflower, which is extremely rare, and I absolutely love it. That's enough to salvage an extra star. Don't go to Redamak's expecting Kumas (whatever that is). Don't go to Redamak's expecting Five Guys. Don't go to Redamak's expecting Steak 'N Shake. Go to Redamak's with expectations somewhere around high school cafeteria grub. That's the only possible way you'll ever refer to it as a "legend." Two very disappointed stars. Fool me once...
(2)Gary R.
I went to Redamaks in 1987. It was pretty awesome. For some reason, it is less awesome in 2011. It has changed. It's bigger and more bonkers. There are lines to be seated, and for the terlets. The food was pretty decent as far as i was concerned, but my wife said that she hated me and was considering bobbitting me for taking her to this establishment. Thankfully, I still have my Wang. She got a bloody Mary, which she felt did contain human blood. She sent it back. The spinach dip was lewdly small in stature. My 4 year old housed it in about 3 minutes. The burgre I had was good. It wasn't snobby or pretentious in any way. It did leave me indigested and feeling like i might need a new jejunum and maybe need to purchase a new toilet. The place is goodish for kids. Violently crowded, and large. Be prepared to wait in line, deal with meltdowns, and an increase in your plumbing expenditures.
(3)Chad K.
Redamak's has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. I have great memories of spending the day at New Buffalo beach and then going to Redamak's for dinner. In the summer time on weekends they are always busy so prepare for the wait. It is well worth the wait though!! The are closed during the winter months as well. If you go during the week for lunch you will be shocked by how cheap their lunch specials are! They aren't expensive as it is but you can really get a great deal at lunch. They call it the working persons special. Out of all the times I have gone there I can't say I have tried everything on the menu. When you love something so much it is hard to get anything else. You definitely have to get a cheeseburger (they have multiple cheeses now but you have to get the original which is Velveeta) and a side of cheese fries. We normally get an order of the mini tacos and onion petals with it. We always get a red cream soda as well! Just remember they only take cash so make sure you have some on you. They have an ATM inside as well.
(5)Neri B.
I really don't know what the big deal is about this place. The burgers are good, but not that extravacant. The potatoe fries were really good though and so was the chilly. We tried the dreamsicle and were not very pleased with it. It was o.k. Overall, the food was good, but nothing to rave about.
(3)Nan R.
If ur looking to wait in a long line for an average burger this is the place for you.
(2)Reuben H.
Redamak's is a perfect example of just how much tastes can change in one's life. The place itself, for as long as I have gone there (I am dating myself, but for over 20 years, no more than once a year, but still fairly consistently) has not changed probably at all. If anything, the staff has changed a bit (cycling out local teenagers as waiters for a decent summertime job) along with the video games being updated, but otherwise the place is the same. I remember as a kid coming here and thinking that the food was just really good. I loved their chili dogs and they seemed to offer cheese on everything. As a kid- what more could you ask for? Plus for my parents it was a great option being so cheap. So with nostalgia deeply set in, I took my wife here (back in the days when we weren't yet married) promising something that I remembered as really tasty fast food. Unfortunately, what we had was mediocre. Not bad- but nothing like how I remembered it, which is to say- really good in memory. Could it be my refined and deeply sensitive palate? OK- not true, considering one of the "finer things in life" for me is a paper bowl of Harold's fried chicken (remember kids- MILD SAUCE, FRIED HARD). Maybe they didn't make the food the same way? No, not that either. As soon as I bit into all the things we ordered, the same tastes popped back in my mind from before. I truly believe they are doing things the same as they always have. I think the answer lies somewhere between the above two questions. What has changed is my palate, which isn't necessarily refined, but just has experienced more. Which is a good thing in my book. For that reason alone, I can't hate on Redamak's. The food is OK, just not great by my standards. It offers up a bunch of fried, fast food in a comfortable family atmosphere- and has been doing so for a very long time. Good for them! Every town/neighborhood could use a place like this.
(3)N J.
I'm so proud to say that my uncle's family owns the business. The Maroney's! My aunt and uncle always talk about how great Redamak's is. They aren't one to like very greasy food, so this is one of their very few exceptions. New Buffalo is a rural town, and the 40's-70's atmosphere of the restaurant adds to the good experience. Plus, it's right next to Lake Michigan and there's a road to Chicago by its side -- can it get any better? The food there is made fresh (yes, some are frozen, what do you expect in a small Midwest town miles from the big city?). The workers care about all their customers and try their best to make their stay worthwhile. The restaurant is only opened from March to October -- 8 months. There's a lot of tourists who come to the lake, as well as nearby locals. Everyone in New Buffalo knows about the Maroney's and Redamak's, seriously. All the workers get proper training (it's not like the training here in California, they are made to know their role very well), and I tell you, you will always have someone to greet you and the customer service will never be unsatisfactory. Additionally, just to add to the peaceful feel of New Buffalo, there is no line of 30+ people in the DMV (which they call the BMV, B for "Bural"). Plus, someone will greet you when you walk into their WalMart. YOU DON'T GET THAT IN THE BAY AREA. A lot of things will surprise people who are from big cities. They're all comfortable, friendly, and compassionate people. I strongly recommend the restaurant. Have a good time in Michigan!
(5)nida d.
I have no idea why this place is always packed and has people circling the building to get in. It's got to be people who come to vacation in New Buffalo or surrounding areas (like myself) and go ONCE because they see the billboard that claims this place is a legend. I know I will not go back. I was not prepared for the paper plates, plastic silverware, super casual and loud atmosphere of this place. For some reason, I thought it would be a nicer restaurant, I guess, because when I think of a good burger, I think of a BIG, juicy, ground sirloin or Kobe beef burger. This not what I got at all! We got chicken wings as an appetizer, and right away I knew the quality of the restaurant by what was served. They were greasy and limp, and must have been prepared earlier only to be heated in the microwave before serving. And the sauce, probably just Tabasco - could be a bit more creative. The burgers were small and greasy, basically over priced sliders. Sure they tasted okay, but in southeast Michigan we have better offerings for sliders. And the fries were just so-so. Oh, and they won't give you lettuce or tomato for your burgers, even if you ask nicely many times. And be sure to bring cash; they don't take any plastic. But they do have an ATM on the premises, which of course charges an additional $3 if it's not your bank. This was a big disappointment.
(2)Geo P.
We were here today and ordered their burgers, They were fantastic !! It's been a few years since we were here. It was a great choice !! We ate outside, the three of us including our dog , was great !! I'd recommend !!
(5)Joe E.
My family and I have been going to this area for years and I keep thinking we should stop. You know, its a "Legend". So finally, I just drive the family there thinking this was going to be the start of a tradition. Oh, its the start of one...the one where i don't get to pick the lunch places anymore. My family, 5 of us, had a variety of delights. I opted for a basic cheeseburger with....velveeta. I was really looking forward to this. Yeah I know velveeta is gross, but I like SPAM too, so that's where I'm coming from. Let me tell you, either the cheif chef was gone that day or my burger was left over from yesterday's lunch rush. It was just gross. How can such a drippy fatty burger seem dry? Beats me, but dry dry dry. I think it all drained to the smashed bun. I chocked that bad boy down, I wasn't going to let my kids see me NOT eat that gem...no way. My wife ordered the fish sandwich. Almost inedible. Way too long under the heat lamp. Asked without tartar sauce...now I think she might mumble sometimes, but she was pretty clear on this. Nope, slathered with that white puss. Ewwwww. Fries...not bad. As compared to my burger. Mostly cold, spongy fries are right up my alley. Crinkled too...mmmmmm. Seriously? But my beer was cold, the service was meh, and the line moved right along. Time has passed this place by, even for a Legend.
(2)Brittany C.
My favorite burger joint in the whole world happens to be 1.5 hours away from my residence and only open partial year. Thank God. I love this place. It's easygoing, it doesn't try too hard. It has cheap food and beverages, it's casual but clean. It provides many side options. And it serves up a burger to rival any on the "top burger" lists. Cash only. A single WILL fill you up. Beer served.
(5)Oscar the Death Cat B.
Something I observed during my stay in New Buffalo was that there are a small handful of eateries that seem to have a devoted following and are constantly busy, while every place else in the area is nearly dead (especially on weekdays). Redamak's is one of them always-crazy-popular places. Their dining rooms are huge and cavernous, definitely geared towards families. The chatter and screams of children are constant - not a great "date" destination unless you are with someone that you never want to see again. Once seated you will be presented with a gigantic circular menu, which features burgers and a bunch of other "stuff". Unless you are a burger-hater who has been forcefully dragged to Redamak's, go with the burger. It's not bad, several steps above Wendy's in terms of meatiness and juiciness. Not terribly expensive either, though there are upcharges to add goodies like bacon. If you are considering appetizers, your best bets are anything deep-fried. They have several variations of deep-fried cheeses, veggies, ravioli, clams, as well as several combo platters. My surprise favorite was deep-fried mini tacos, they look like nothing more that petrified corn chips stuffed with a wad of ???? but were so delicious that I almost consumed an entire order of them by myself. Can't give more than three stars, as Redamak's atmosphere reminded me of a crowded mall food court with a northwoods theme, but it's definitely worthwhile if you seek a filling, greasy meal.
(3)Vanessa F.
I was very excited to go on a "date" with my boyfriend and drive up scenic Rt 12/Rt 20 to New Buffalo MI to eat a Redamak's. This was our first time going, and everyone I spoke with said they have great burgers. Arrived around 3pm on Saturday, had minimal wait, opting for first available. Sat in a booth in the bar area. Ambiance was okay, kitschy with your old antiques placed in a "haphazardly" way, similar to other establishments. Reviewed menu, and I have to say that this place is for the person who enjoys the unhealthy side of life ...like me :-) Both of us were really hungry, ordered a combination fried appetizer; with fried jalapenos, fried raviolis and mozzarella sticks. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. I ordered double cheeseburger w/bacon, regular fries and boyfriend ordered triple with bacon and fries with cheese and chili. Once again, nothing really special. I'm not sure if I would make a special trip to go back again, seeing as this is similar to other burger restaurants. Service was okay, not exceptional, pricing was a little inflated seeing as they only accept Cash (no credit card - don't have to pay credit fees), no table cloths, no actual plates, use all plastic, no lettuce/tomato (not sure if goes bad too fast or it costs too much). I think this is a place that could become a part of a yearly routine with families, but in my case, I would choose another memorable restaurant. BTW: Has a antique barn/store right next to it. Great pieces, from vases to sofas. Of course looking at the card, it's also owned by the Maroney family who own Redamak's.
(2)Matt T.
This place is a fried food lover's dream. No disrespect but every person in this place was overweight - and not slightly. I love burgers so I finally had a chance to come here on a rare hot day in April. My fiancee made the good call to take a trip up to New Buffalo to hit Redamk's up and go to some antique stores (that were all closed on Sunday) and walk the beach. The tavern is huge, crowded and loud with lots of tourists. I figured the wait would be long. We sat right away and were presented with a menu the size of Oprah's head. Four million things on the menu, much of it fried, with crazy crazy things like deep fried waffle fries with Redamak's sloppy sauce and mild cheddar sauce with sour cream for dipping! Obviously, this place is known for their burgers and that's what is the center of attention. We had to try these sloppy fries, just had to. Today was my fat day (it was really a fat weekend) and I've never been here so why not go all out. These fries were so damn good. Great crispy seasoned waffle fries drowned in Redamak's sloppy joe sauce (nice and tangy sloppy joe with the ground beef) and then topped with nice mild cheddar cheese sauce. My fiancee does not like cheese sauce but really like the combination. Slapped on some sour cream and booyah! Meanwhile, as we finished our burgers came. My dumbass ordered a double cheeseburger not thinking to look to see how big the patties were. I'm pretty sure they are between 1/3 and a 1/2 lb each so I had a good 3/4 to 1lb of beef between a bun. Damn, way too much. I took some out and took a bite and soon realized why these burgers are considered great. They cook them one way (medium - medium well) but they were juicy with great flavor. But, one patty is more than enough. Redamak's grinds their own beef in house and you can tell. This was not the best burger in the world (Top Notch, Bad Apple and Grafton are better) but for a greasy spoon, busy, touristy, neighborhood tavern place they were good. The burgers arrive in the wax paper type paper (don't know what it's called) and when you unravel the burger it's grease heaven! If you get the burgers with pickle and onion beware they really give you an entire slice of onion with two pickle chips. Also beware, my fiancee got a single with swiss and mushrooms. The mushrooms are of the canned variety - disgusting! Jenna is so grossed out by canned mushrooms all she could was gag a bit as she quickly scrapped them off and then hid them in the wrapper. And, $1.25 for these things and the server said they were "steamed mushrooms." GTFOHWTBS! So, with all that greasyness I ordered a diet coke. Kanye woulda hated on me with "all that food and a mutha-effin diet coke". Yeah, I ordered a diet coke to wash down 10k in calories. I do that often but thinking about that Kanye line, it's is kind funny how people do that. As if another 150 calories is gonna do anything. Anyway, the shakes looked good too but we didn't go that route. The place is definitely a tourist destination as New Buffalo is only 1.5-2 hours outside the city. They have a t-shirt stand with other novelties. This place has a bar too with a couple TVs and beware, cash only! One thing that irked us besides the canned mushrooms and the cost of such (we paid more than that entire can cost for a stack of nastiness) was the server got a little snippy when we asked for 5 ones instead of a five so I could leave her 20% tip. She obviously wanted me to leave the five which woulda been 25%. I actually thought of that but when she replied to Jenna that if I had the five singles I woulda gave it to you with a bit of snarkiness I was a bit miffed. I won't go out of my way to come back here but next time we come out for the beach or dunes I'll be sure to come here for a burger.
(4)Todd R.
Great burgers. They formerly didn't offer tomatos on them, but now they do. Velvetta cheese on cheeseburgers is unique. Boisterous, crowded place. Two negatives: (1) Fish and chips had only 4 small pieces of fishes buried in a lot of potato chips. (2) They don't accept credit cards.
(3)Sarah R.
I've never understood the hype that surrounds this place. I've eaten here a time or two and to me it's just average. I've had better burgers at other places, so I can take it or leave it. Redamak's is always crowded, though, probably by tourists.
(3)Jonathan M.
A great place in a lakeside town just inside the Michigan border. My family took a trip up north to gain our sanity in the early fall this year to Western Michigan. I had heard a few things about Redamaks and when I told some others I was headed to New Buffalo they highly recommended it. We went on a Friday night, in the off season, and were blown away at how many cars where in the parking lot. We were thinking, we are going to wait forever. We walked in and were greeted by a hostess and were immediately seated! The place is huge! There is a lot of nostalgic signage everywhere. I really liked the feel of it. We were seated in the huge back "porch" area. There were probably 20-30 tables in there. It was screened in but had windows for chillier nights like we were having. The menu is very extensive. Fried veggies, wings, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. But what we were there for was the burger. I got the double cheese with fries. All burgers may be dressed with Ketchup, Mustard, Crosscut Dill Pickles and Raw Onion (What they call Everything) served on a Sesame Seed Bun. Lettuce and Tomato available upon request. I got it all with cheddar cheese. This burger instantly became one of my favorites. I have had alot of burgers, all over this nation, and I can say this is a fantastic one. Juicy and cooked perfect. The fries were hot and fresh as well. We loved it so much that on our way back down from Grand Rapids, we stopped in again for lunch. From noon to 4PM Monday-Friday, they have their famous working person's special. This gets you HAMBURGER w/Fries $4.75,CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $5.00, DOUBLE HAMBURGER w/Fries $6.00, DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $6.50, TRIPLE HAMBURGER w/Fries $6.75, TRIPLE CHEESEBURGER w/Fries $7.50. This basically gives you free fries because outside of those hours you pay that price for the burger and $2 additional for fries. The second time I went I got Velveeta on the burger and it was ooie gooie delicious. Take my word, this place is the truth!
(4)Chad M.
Burgers melt in your mouth. No reservations, first come first serve. Gets busy fast. No air conditioning. Cash only.
(5)F P.
March 1st 2013, had dinner on opening night for the new season. New menu, can't believe they served a new burger, half the size; small, burnt to death, was like eating a hockey puck. What the hell happened???
(1)Kristin S.
The burgers really are FANTASTIC. Get them with everything and you won't be disappointed. The fries are just "eh" but the fried zucchini and the apple crescents and onion peels are delicious. My best advice? DON'T go on a Saturday in the summer, when it's too crowded. Service is not quick during those times. If you show up on a weekday, your experience will be excellent, no doubt.
(4)Heather L.
Pretty much everything on the menu here is battered and deep fried. And I mean everything. There are no salads or pastas or even a club sandwich. In fact the only thing that isn't fried are the burgers which they are known for. "The burger that made New Buffalo famous!" one sign said. Now my husband said his was great so I will take his word for it. I wasn't in the mood for a burger and ordered the fried fish sandwich which was ok - how about a lettuce leaf or something people? The jalapeno cheese poppers were pretty tasty but the combination of the two has me feeling nauseous and bloated even after driving the two hours home. Now they say this place is legendary and it does have an old school appeal. I am not sure how long its been around but the vacationers, of which I was one, are lined up around this huge edifice looking as if they just walked over from the beach. It's definitely family friendly if your kids don' t mind the wait. Try and go during off times and it might not be too bad. But bring cash, cause they don't take plastic and the ATM inside the building charges $3 service fee. The service is not overly friendly but they are efficient. This is a volume business. I am often in the mood for this kind of food but it was 95 degrees today and it just didn't hit the spot for me. But I don't want to skew the stars. The place has a charm all its own so I'm sure I will be back at some point with the kids.
(3)Bella D.
This place has really gone down hill in the past couple of years. I raved about this place to my husband, who is from India. I said, "This is the greatest place in the United States, you'll love it!" So, we get there, we order, and I just wanted to cry over my food. My husband was like, "What the hell is this shit?!" I ordered a grilled chicken dinner and for some reason, my grilled chicken was as flat as the plate they served it on. On top of that, my fruit had MOLD ON IT! Seriously?! The menu said, "Fresh fruit". Yeah right. Some of it was even still frozen. I think they found my cup of fruit when they dug up the ice man. And they didn't even bother to refund the fruit! Verdict: Overrated P.S. DO NOT get the milkshake! I repeat, DO NOT get the milkshake. It is NOT, NOT, NOT a true milkshake! It is literally ice milk with a little vanilla.
(1)josie w.
3 stars for a 3 star on a 5 star scale burger and ok fries...restaurant and ambience is really high but the food itself is pretty hotdog stand...
(3)Diablo L.
Very good hamburgers if you are in the area, does not disappoint , I still remember when they used to be on Well's street in Chicago many years ago, burgers are still wonderful now as they were back then.....
(3)Edward B.
Enjoyed a burger here a couple of times. Absolutely great and very affordable. Would definitely stop by again when I'm in the area.
(4)Michael G.
This place is great the shakes r unbelievable!!!!!! Try strawberry even if your not a strawberry fan try it. Amazing place for kids to waste money on video games hahahahahah
(5)Erinn F.
The Velveeta cheese is the way to go! I have never had a better burger than here at Redamak for the price. Very family friendly, happy place with the most amazing burgers! The fries are good too and the shakes are quality. Just don't forget your cash, they don't accept CC's. However, if you are cash-less there is an ATM.
(5)Monica G.
First time my family and I came here. The wait was about 30min to get in and sit down. The place was full. I liked that it was a family friendly place, except for the lack of baby changing tables. The husband and I ordered burgers and sloppy waffle fries. The burgers were good, juicy, small but the patties were thick. They were served in paper baskets, nothing fancy. The sloppy waffle fries were waffle fries with sloppy joe meat sauce, cheese and served with sour cream. They were good, but I wouldn't want to eat them again. One of my kids had chicken nuggets with fries. The other one had mac and cheese with fries. DO NOT ORDER the mac and cheese. It was a microwaveable mac and cheese bowl with fries. Over all the burgers were good, the rest was average. The service was alright, don't know if we had to wait a long time for our food cause their was 7 of us or what, but it took awhile. The prices were good, about $5.25 for a burger and about $5.00 for the kids baskets. My family was a family of 5 and paid less then $40.00 with tip. I don't think I would ever want to go back, but it's better then a regular fast food burger place. FYI they only take cash, the bathrooms are so small and gross the plus side to the bathrooms is that they have a Dyson hand dryer. = /
(2)Scott B.
This place would probably struggle to stay open in a larger city. I can think of at least a dozen burgers in Chicago that blow these out of the water.
(2)Jim T.
2nd time there in a month. If I didn't live 150 miles away I would be there once a week. the food is great and the staff so far is good. The pulled pork sandwich is a little light on the serving size so ask for more. I couldn't see the meat for the bun.
(5)Albert K.
Overhyped and overpriced. The service is poor. Burgers are good but nothing else is.
(2)Susan F.
Huge menu! Huge restaurant! I got the chicken pita with a fruit side. you get the offerings off fries, potatod wedges, fruit salad, salad, cottage cheese, apple sauce, etc. I have never seen so many choices of sides! That being said, the sides are pretty low budget, but huge. Everything comes in pre wrapped containers, except the fries of course. The chicken pita was huge and reallly good. The burgers looked awesome. Glad I finally got the eat at the legendary Redamak's! Next time I'll get a burger, fo sho.
(4)Mike S.
we really wanted to try this place out due to all the hype and variety of yelp reviews. i am not sure what all the fuss is about in terms of the negative reviews. yes there are no plates provided. yes the french fries are soso. yes the meat doesnt have much flavor. yes this place is huge and the patio seems to be all familys. but at the end of the day sit inside, try to avoid peak meal times (else prepare for a wait), and enjoy a pretty decent burger. two burgers, two sides, and two beers for $20 cant be beat. servers seemed friendly and toppings were fresh so no complaints here. i was very unsure of the velveeta cheese but it was actually quite good. redamaks is worth a stop in.
(4)rachel v.
Ehhh...I REALLY do not see what all the hype is about!! The food was ok, but the burgers are about on the level as Wendy's or Burger King to me.
(2)Victoria O.
As many have said here, nostalgia plays a part in any review of Redamak's. Illinois natives, on their way to the lake, to pick apples or to get Halloween pumpkins often stop here. It's fun. It's tasty. The drinks are good; the employees friendly. And there's an antique dealer next store that is worth a look. I have many good memories related to this place. But my recent visit irritated me, primarily due to the pricing of some items. I don't mind paying for good food. Further, I expect that any restaurant should price their products to make a profit. However, I expect fair value. In other words, the portions should reflect the prices, which wasn't the case in more than one instance here. First, we ordered deep fried green beans. They were quite tasty, hot, crisp, and fresh, however, for 6 dollars I expect more than approximately 15 green beans. Second, I ordered the fish and chips as an entree. I got a basket of chips and three very small pieces of fish. Three. Small. Pieces. Eight bucks. Really? I could go to any VFW on any given Friday and get all you can eat Fish and Chips for the same price. Redamak's, we love you. Don't abuse our love. We know what products cost. We can estimate the markup. And we can see when we are being taken advantage of. Think about it.
(2)Jason L.
Great burgers. Sides were adequate. Full bar.
(3)CJ Q.
In/out quicker than expected. Its huge - can seat 400 people?! Anyway, GOOD burger, but chintzy bun made it messy to eat. Cash only?!?!? Nice step up from fast food without expensive or drawn out experience of typical "sit down" place.
(4)Jessica D.
Chili cheese fries are delicious and pretty much a must when you go here! I also had a cheeseburger and I must say it was a bit of a greasy one, but that might be because of all the cheese piled high. What's wrong with a greasy burger though every once and a while? The atmosphere was definitely a small beach town kind of feel. The restaurant is located on the main drag of New Buffalo and it kind of has that summer camp lodge kind of feel upon entering. Definitely recommend this place at least once in a lifetime!
(4)Jay n.
Redamak's is a tradition in Southeastern Michigan. Known for it's burgers, the other items on the menu are pretty darn good too. They have been doing it the same way for almost 75 years, and the current owners have run the place for almost 40 years.......they do burgers and fries like nobody else. We go a few times a year, usually sping and summer, or whenever we are in the New Buffalo, Grand Beach or St. Joe area for a weekend. The food is not fancy. This is an old fanioned style tavern that is now more of a family restaurant - wooden booths and tables, a small bar area near the entrance. It seats 400 people, and on weekends in the summer the can be a wait.....that's a testament to their good food. Double Cheeseburger is highly recommended. But also the chicken strips, beef sandwiches, fish, jumbo shrimp, etc. They have a daily selection of soup, and all kinds of sides.....just about anything that can be fried: onion rings, fries, clam strips, fried mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, zuchini sticks, chicken wings, egg rolls, etc. I can't even name them all. If you have a group, I highly recommend that everyone order a burgur to their liking, and then share a bunch of side orders and fries.........OH, and get the CHEESE FRIES.
(5)Gwen P.
Redamak's is a favorite stop on the way up to our family lake house. It's about 1 1/2-2 hours outside of Chicago, depending on how bad weekend traffic is around the lake, and it's placed at that exact part of the drive where it sounds perfect to get out, stretch and grab a bite. Redamak's is basically a big log cabin with a huge covered porch that hasn't changed since 1975. It's everything you want from a vacation pit stop: awesome burgers, crispy french fries, cheap beers and a waaaaaaaaaaay casual atmosphere. This is the kind of place where the "no shoes, no shirts, no service" rule is pretty flexible...most patrons have flip flops, shorts, tank tops and swimsuits on. The burgers are fresh, served up quickly (no plates, just wrapped in paper) and have every possible topping to add (except for lettuce and tomato- they don't serve 'em...never have, never will) . They start at $5 and range up to $9 depending on how much crap you want to pile on top. Make sure you have cash (or your ATM card, for the machine) because they don't take cards. Sorry for my lack of normal description...these aren't anything fancy, they're just BOMB. French fries are the crinkle ones that everyone seems to love (especially good when smothered with neon-orange toxic cheese...a guilty pleasure). Beers are standard American brews, a couple of Michigan micros and a huge selection of blender drinks. If you're in New Buffalo passing through or if your there to spend the weekend, Redmak's is a great place thats a town staple. Like the sign says, REDAMAK'S-BITE INTO A LEGEND.
(5)Virginia L.
Went to Redamak's (legendary) burger place today. The burger was very good, in a classic, old style way. They have lot's of other options though. We also had an order of red chips. Which were deep fried potato chips (excellent) with bacon bits (excellent quality), cheese (sauce, not cheese, yuk) and a side of sour cream. Tasty except for that cheese sauce. But the real hit is the burger. Service just OK. Lot's of regulars makes newcomers feel a bit out of place. Good ambiance. Will come back for great burgers.
(3)Allison V.
I love this place. I have been going to this place for years. The burgers are great. The people are great. The whole experience is great. i have pulled up a stool at the bar and eaten a burger and had a can of beer with women in their 70s. i have eaten inside and outside. This place is closed in the winter. It is a must-stop in the summer when driving back to Chicago from Michigan.
(5)Justin O.
Read: Tourist Location. My memories of going to Redamak's as a kid left me with high expectations when I recently visited. I was certainly brought back to reality. For less than $10/person, it isn't bad, but it doesn't deserve the fan fair it receives based upon the food quality.
(3)Julie O.
The wait takes forever, but the cheeseburger is fantastic. Get it with Velveeta cheese, sounds crazy, but it's delicious.
(3)Aaron A.
Single, Double, and Triple Chesseburgers Over 20 side items including Home made potato chips with bacon and cheese on them. About 6 to 7 dollars a burger. They only take cash!! What more could you want? One Tip: We got there around 530 pm on a friday and it was quite busy. The waitress said that most nights from 7pm on there is a line outside waiting to be seated and they often have to turn folks away at 10pm before closing. My Wife and I loved it.
(5)Dennis M.
For kid-friendly summer fun. You can't go wrong at redmaks. BEST FOOD WITHIN 40 MILES. CASH ONLY. cheeseburgers are schoops like without the crunch. They have beer and fun drinks. Shakes are good too. Always crowded. Only open spring summer and fall. Don't miss it when driving to michigan. it's only 5 minutes off 94.
(5)flash j.
This place was great and funky in its time. Now I don't know why you'd pay so much for a small burger wrapped in wax paper and grease. And pay in cash, no credit cards accepted. Does not sell cider. ATM near the front door. I love burgers and have eaten my weight in them twice over. Redamak's burger from 10 years ago was in my top ten. Today's burger, not even on the list. Nostalgia ain't what it useta be.
(3)Kelsey Y.
Well well, ol' Kelsey here had one hell of a cheeseborga, actually a double cheese borga. Kelsey liked.
(5)Diana C.
For what it is (small beach town burger joint), it rocks. Yeah, it's cash only, but so are a lot of other spots in town. Two choices of cheese: Velveeta or Swiss. This ain't fancy, folks. The burgers are good and they come out quick, and you really don't need anything more than a single. They must be doing something right, as they're only open during the "season" and have been in business for years. And it's a "must have" for me when I'm on the "other side" of the lake!
(4)John S.
Another trip to Warren Dunes, another stop at Redamak's. Best thing I had was the Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. Decent price for an excellent, hop-y beer. First thing I have to say: Redamak's, LOSE THAT MASCOT KID! Holy Crapoli, I can't even look at the fugly kid, makes me sick. This will not be my last time patronizing Redamak's, but the thrill is gone for me. I've been eating here since the mid-'80's, and wow, has it become mediocre. I ordered only appetizers: seasoned curly fries (with a cup of "cheese" on the side) and an order of onion rings. Both were fine, but I was put off that the ranch dressing accompanying the rings was, well, just a single serve tub of Hidden Valley Ranch, label and all. C'mon. Wifey ordered the burger. I took two small bites. Meh. I think my 4 year old can season and cook a burger more interesting than this thing. I guess for the price it's OK, but I'm done with the burgers here. Which leads me to my next point. I thought that besides the burgers and apps I ordered, everything was overpriced. I cannot recall specifics, but I just remember thinking, "No effing way". Friend ordered the Tuna melt, which she gave me the doggie box when we left. The tuna concoction was not "right" at all. It is served open-faced, on a thick, substantial bread (two pieces). The bread was good. Kids had grilled cheese baskets (with a container of Mott's applesauce), and for kids, it's fine. No problems with service. I guess I'm just disappointed that the burgers really don't taste any different than the shite you get at Culvers, etc. In fact, I'd take a BK Whopper over a Redamak burger anyday. Sad, used to be better.
(3)Dale S.
Best Burger anywhere on the planet I used to live in the NW burbs of Chicago absolutely worth the 100 mile drive now I'm between Ann arbor and Detroit still best Burger is 200 miles from me!!!!
(5)Tom V.
Great burger, good fries, all-around good local burger joint. I would say don't miss.
(3)Alex G.
Second visit for us. Saturday around 5. No line so we chose the enclosed porch. By the time we left around 5:45 the line was starting to form. Noisy? Yes. Juicy burger? Yes. Gooey cheese? Yes. Would I change a thing? Nope!! Great burgers, simple crinkle cut fries, nostalgic atmosphere, in a summer resort community. And a full bar. Like a trip back in time. A must stop for a burger fanatic like me.
(4)Martin R.
WOW! Talk about overrated. They claim to be famous for their burger. What they failed to mention is that they are famous for their burgers being so bad...the rest of the food was even worse!
(1)Richard Y.
In the mood for a burger and anything fried? This landmark restaurant serves up a simple, delicious 1/3rd lb. burger with yummy sides and tasty beverages. Two families on vacation with 9 kids under 14 enjoyed every bite!
(5)Ethan D.
Please reader, I beg you, DO NOT LISTEN to anyone who gives Redamaks less than four stars. They are either snobby, disgruntled, or too stubborn to appreciate Redamaks for what it is: a vacation destination. Redamaks legendary burger is not gourmet, it isn't a harmony of the choicest high-brow ingredients, it isn't some snobbish "Kobe-beef, truffle oil, maytag blue-cheese" rubbish. It's a greasy, cheesy, perfectly delicious meal that you consume after a long, sunny, sweaty day at the beach. Some people below complain that this isn't the "best burger" they've ever had. I can safely say that it IS the best burger that I've ever had. I am a Midwesterner who currently lives in Los Angeles. Upon moving here, I had no idea that LA has such a "burger culture", with several restaurants battling over the title "Best Burger in LA." I have eaten at most of these establishments, and I can tell you in all seriousness that none of them come even close to Redamaks. True, the kobe-beef, truffle butter, maytag blue cheese and carmelized onion burger at Umami Burger is very good. But it also costs $15 and is hardly a "burger" in the strict sense of the word. A burger is supposed to be a dive-bar, hole-in-the-wall, greasy, middle-class man's food, not a gourmet menu item! And that is why nobody will ever beat Redamaks in my opinion. Redamaks perfected the "burger" the way it is supposed to be done: a cheesy, greasy slab of red meat oozing ketchup and mustard and wrapped in wax paper. And I wish to say another thing. I see that some people complain that Redamaks does not offer lettuce and tomato on their burgers. I, for one, "get it." The folks at Redamaks truly believe that a burger is supposed to have nothing more than ketchup, mustard, raw onion, and pickle in order for it to be perfect. I agree. For those of you who frequently eat at Subway let me ask you this: does every sandwich taste great with everything on it? No. Just because you CAN dump whatever you want on a sandwich doesn't mean you should. Any true chef knows that certain flavors compliment each other, while other flavors, when combined, do not work well with each other. For this reason, I appreciate Redamaks for sticking to their belief on the recipe for the perfect burger. To this day, I go to In-N-Out Burger here in LA and order my burger the exact same way a Redamaks burger comes out- because Redamaks nailed it right on the head- ketchup, mustard, cheese, raw onion, and pickle makes the PERFECT BURGER. For any of you who throw the book at Redamaks, go back to the city, to your $15 gourmet burgers, and quit criticizing a restaurant that sells the PERFECT food to consume after spending a vacation day or weekend of swimming and walking up and down the beaches of Lake Michigan. That is what Redamaks is all about. You have to take it in the proper context. And as far as "vacation-food" goes, you will not find a better place than Redamaks, especially in a place like southwestern Michigan. I want to go on record for saying that since having a Redamaks burger for the first time, I have been trying and trying and trying and trying to find a burger that is better than Redamaks. I have tried "the best burger of....." LA, Chicago, and several cities in between, and I have yet to find it. Personally, I don't think it exists. I think Redamaks has the best burger in the United States, which probably lends it the title of Best Burger in the World. Nothing closes a day at the beach better than a Redamaks burger or two. And if you order an ice cold Old Style to wash it down, they will serve it to you in a frosted, heavy glass goblet. I beg you, reader, to ignore those reviews below mine who give Redamaks a low score. This IS the best burger in the world. Even if you don't think so right away, you will find yourself craving a Redamaks burger months from the first time you have one, I guarantee it. This is coming from a guy who has been on a decade long mission to find a burger that is better than Redamaks. Honestly, the day I moved to the west coast was a very happy day for me, but it was also a very sad day, because I did not know when the next time was that I would have a Redamaks burger. That is half the reason why I am trying to find a burger out here, in California, that is as good as Redamaks. But nothing will ever be the same. Redamaks is the working man's burger, not the flamboyant, city-slicker gourmet burger so many people tend to compare it to. Redamaks makes burgers the way they are supposed to be made: gooey, greasy, cheesy, oozy, and soggy. This is the burger of the American Family Vacation, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
(5)Michael G.
Same old Redamaks:) crowded but worth the wait for good burgers! Cub game was on and service was quick!!!
(3)Bill M.
I've been coming to Redamak's since I was probably 8 and have amazing memories of this place for the past 20 years. Begging my parents for quarters when I was a kid to go play video games in the arcade was my favorite past time when we were done boating for the weekend. I love the burgers here. The servers are always friendly and the huge outdoor patio area that has been added since I came here is a great place to relax and enjoy their food. The burgers are legendary and what they're known for, but I've never had anything on the menu that wasn't good. Whenever I'm in the area, I have to stop here for food. I wish I still got to go boating every weekend in the summer, but I have taken trips here just for the food. It's definitely worth the trip!
(4)Greg L.
The burgers are just terrific if you are into steamed burgers with lots of cheese. Not a fancy place, we have been coming here for the last 35 years and cannot pass by without stopping. Unless you are eating for two or have a wooden legg, I cannot imagine eating a double so try and stick with a single. I especially love the green olives and horseradish on it----it is a great combo. You will have some room so go for the waffle fries with chili and cheese, or the cheese fries or onion rings. They are fantastic. My only complaint is that they no longer have the green pepper rings as an appetizer. They were the best thing on the menu. Be prepared to wait. It can get quite busy. Oh---and they take CASH ONLY! There is an ATM on site.
(4)Greg F.
i'm not exactly from the area but did eat here once. i had a longing to try redamaks, driving interstate highways for many years and seeing their trademark roadside signs as i passed in the unlikeliest of areas. finally driving nearby earlier this year for other purposes gave me this opportunity. with that long-winded preamble i'll just say redamaks is a very nice looking, clean, and friendly restaurant. inviting, and if i was closer feel could easily get accustomed to making it a habit. the hamburgers are decent, juicy, and satisfying. IMO a very suitable family dining restaurant choice. remember redamaks when driving up lake michigan east shoreside edited postscript: redamaks closes for winter, and they're last open day for this season is at end of october
(3)Matt B.
Always a very crowded place but they move you through real quickly. It's famous for a reason. The best burger you'll ever have, hands down!!!
(5)Jason R.
Redamak's is as much a part of summer as the Cubs being out of the pennant race by June. I grew up in the area and it was always a treat to make the 1 hour road trip to Redamak's. Back in the day they had the x-wing fighter arcade came, which I fed quarters into, while waiting for the table. I love the double burger with swiss. Is it the best burger I have ever tried? At the time it usually is, after I take the first bite among my family and/or friends. Going to Redamak's is an event. It's a fun place, that I will always associate with summer and my childhood. I've passed the torch to my son, who loves it, too. Is it the best food I have ever eaten? It's good, consistently good. Food always taste better with a sprinkle of nostalgia, good company, and a warm summer day. If you are looking for gourmet fare, this is more along the lines of casual, with sand between your toes and a sunburn on your neck.
(4)matty z.
This place is all about tradition for me and my family. And we love it! There's nothing that reminds me of good summers much more than taking the drive down Route 12 and crossing into Michigan-- and stopping at Red's. Great burgers, crinkle fries (!!), and a fun atmosphere. Love it and can't wait (one day) to take kids of my own there to keep the tradition going!
(5)Carly L.
While in New Buffalo, it was almost a must to stop at Redamak's. I was told by everyone to stop here. Redamak's is definitely a good bang for your buck. My boyfriend and I had the following: he had a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke, I had a single cheeseburger and fries with a strawberry shake. Our bill was just under $20. You can definitely tell that the cheeseburgers are fresh and not frozen. The cheese is ooey gooey and tastes great. Also, I highly recommend the strawberry shake (also recommended by the waitress). It is definitely a pleaser. The waitress was very friendly and our food came out super quick. This is a New Buffalo legend and I would recommend it as a quick , nostalgic, and cheap spot for lunch.
(4)janice m.
Ok, so this is a burger place, right? And of course the Burger hound saw the billboards for this restaurant and insisted we go and sample the burgers and other delights promised. We ordered burgers, fries, onion rings, a shake and a coke. The best thing was the shake, and the hound was drinking that! The burgers were over cooked and extremely greasy, the fries were pretty standard, the onion rings were good. The shake was awesome, gotta give them that. Noise levels were beyond the normal human range, what with the shrieking kids in the dining room and parents to intent on visiting with one another than to control their little darlings. The dining room is set up like a summer camp dining hall, and that might attribute for the noise levels. All in all it was an ok experience for this type of restaurant, but I think there are way too many other better places than this to try!
(2)Chris F.
I am not sure the hamburgers are "legendary" but they are pretty good. I am pretty sure Five Guys tastes better. They would be a lot better if you could get lettuce or tomatoes on them. The beach atmosphere is great and after a long day of swimming or fishing this is a great place.
(3)Erin K.
Redamak's is one of the three reasons I love coming to New Buffalo. (The other two are the beach and Oink's). They make kickass cheeseburgers. Just thinking about them is literally making my mouth water. Get the Working Person's Special with a cheeseburger and green olives. You will be happy. Okay, so waiting here sucks. Come when they open. If you time it right, you won't have to wait outside for the doors to open, and you won't have to wait to be seated. By the way, you should check out the arcade area. I spent a good portion of my childhood there waiting for my burger. God, how I love Redamak's.
(5)chas d.
this place was OK, their burgers were real good along with their shakes and cocktails. It's been a landmark for a long time and is pretty much set up as a " parents bring your kids here " kind of place.. I didn't like the fact that on the weekends your burgers don't come with fries and you don't get any plates or silverware.. Your burger comes wrapped up in paper and you eat it just like that.. I do have to give props on the food, it was quite good, i just wasn't impressed by the way things were served when I'm dropping almost 7 bucks on a burger.
(2)Mike B.
This is old school New Buffalo. If you haven't been here, you've got to stop. The burgers are great, but the cheeseburger is fantastic. It had something like Velveta cheese sauce on it. I know, it sounds wierd. Trust me, it is amazing! Go during a weekday to avoid the crowd and take advantage of cheaper "working man" prices. The decor reminds me of the movie "The Great Outdoors." I stop here every time I'm in New Buffalo. Head a few blocks south to Oink's Dutch Treat for a little dessert after. They serve the world's best Sherman's ice cream.
(5)Tee K.
It was our first time eating at Redamak's and it just didn't do anything for me. Perhaps it was because I received a cheeseburger instead of a hamburger or that I wanted lettuce and tomato (yea, I'm one of those...). One thing's for sure, 80% of the adult customers were borderline obese - seriously, I counted all of them while we were there seated by the front door. I fear that they should have a portable defibrillator in the front lobby *just in case*. On the plus-side, this is a classic fried-food burger joint geared for families and great for kids. We must have driven by the restaurant a dozen time between Lakeside and New Buffalo and saw lines out the door almost every night. Fair warning for those who don't know...there are no fresh veggies in the building except onions. btw, what IS that cheese they put on their cheeseburgers? I'm sure it tastes pretty good but it totally grossed me out.
(3)Beth M.
I read the reviews and expected a good bar burger. I have had amazing burgers and went in with relatively low expectations. I was seriously uderwhelmed. Nothing special...barely decent. I was starving after a weekend of camping / beaches and didn't even finish my burger or fries. My two yr old and four year old barely touched the fries. What kids don't love fries? Save some cash and spend less at stake and shake for far better shakes, burgers and fries. The service was poor (not as disappointing as the food). We asked for a box for our mounds of Gordon food service frozen fries and the server passed our table multiple times before finally bringing our change ... But no box. My husband was fine, but me and my 4yr old were freezing. The AC was blowing right on us and our food. Seriously go somewhere else...even the beach cafe probably serves a better burger.
(1)Chris S.
Burgers are greasy goodness, the interior is some sort of woodsy-kitsch, the service is friendly, and the beer is cheap - Bell's for $1.50 less than I'd pay for a bottle in Chicago. I don't know about anything being legendary at this place, but with the above factors being as they are, I'd definitely go back if driving by and hungry.
(3)David H.
I have been coming to this place my whole life, as I grew up taking summers in Grand Beach, just a few miles away from here. I remember this place being always crowded, and I even saw Gene Siskel there once, that had to be in like '86 or '87! Awesome, unhealthy, and totally satisfying fast food. Go for the cheeseburger, and let me tell you I hate velveeta, but somehow they make sense of it. Also tons of video games while you wait and people watching, living in New York makes this place seem super cheap, but apparently not everyone agrees with me on that.
(5)Jerri M.
Let's face it, this isn't the best burger you've ever had but there's just something to this place. The service is usually quick once you get seated. For smaller parties, if it looks crowded, try it anyway. The crowd is usually made up of larger parties, and they can seat 4-5 quickly. Great shakes!
(3)Norris A.
Redamak's is the most popular restaurant in New Buffalo during the summer season. Expect to wait if you really want to eat there. I'd recommend it if you need something(anything) in your stomach, don't want to spend a lot and there is no line. You'll probably order a burger as that is what they say they are famous for. You won't get lettuce or tomato on it, so the burger will be a flat patty and the word "juicy' won't immediately spring to mind. The burger will be served in a paper wrap to save on dishwashing. The frozen crinkle cut fries don't get a lot of color during their brief visit to the fryer so "crispy golden brown" isn't going to describe them. They'll come in a plastic basket. You won't find any plates or flatware, such as you would in say a Steak and Shake and if you order a bottled beer don't forget to ask for a glass otherwise you'll be sucking from the bottle. The food isn't going to cost you much but it won't leave much of an impression either and you'll definately think twice before standing in line again. Stray Dog is just down the road and is a better option.
(2)Abby G.
Boy is this place popular!!! I felt sorry for the place across the road, no one was there and Redamack's had a wait. It is great fun. Everyone at my table got a burger and loved it, I got the Patty Melt and really enjoyed it. Onion Chips are a great addition!!! Five stars if the burgers were served on plates(you have to have standards:).
(4)Emm M.
Frozen fries. Cash only. The burger was decent which kept me from giving it one star. Go to five guys instead they use fresh potatoes.
(2)Megan M K.
Best burgers and cheesy fries on the planet. I only wish they weren't seasonal. This place is to die for
(4)John H.
Why did they ever leave Chicago? I often think about quitting my job and starting up a franchise in Lakeview. I'd be a goddamned millionaire overnight. There are few finer establishments cut out for the American proletariat quite like this one. For starters, might I suggest Red's Chips, as described on the restaurant website: "deep fried, thinly sliced potato chips smothered with mild cheddar cheese sauce and bacon bits, served with sour cream." Good greasy grief. If you managed to read that without dying of consecutive massive heart attacks, you need to get a burger here. They're pretty simple--no pretzel buns or crazy ass toppings--but consistently magnificent. Lest any of the burger's precious heat be lost between grill and table, it comes wrapped in paper, and in a basket, not some gaudy square plate. Perhaps the finest testament to the burger's supremacy, though, is the very average nature of the fries. They're standard crinkle, usually undersalted and occasionally not cooked well enough. You won't notice that at all, though, once you bite into the burger. Service has been fine. It's nothing to me the blotto bachelor, but it should be noted that this is a very family-friendly atmosphere. And finally, before you make the pilgrimage, give them a call to make sure they're open. This is a seasonal establishment.
(5)Grace L.
Let's get this straight...we are in New Buffalo, MI. Not the biggest gastronomic-centered city here. For this small town, they make a fine burger...no lettuce, tomato, but no fuss either. It's juicy and tasty and cheap. Good old fashioned no nonsense burger. We also ordered the curly fries...it's fine, nothing special...Arby's has better curlies! To be a bit different, I ordered the Sloppy Mak with red potato salad and the mac salad. The sloppy was more BBQ with a kick and less the tomato flavor I grew up with. Our potato salad was a no-no, do not get it! The mac salad was okie dokie. So, yeah, there is a crowd, but the wait is short, the food is cheap, and the environment is laid back. Great place for groups.
(3)Andrew G.
I will never be able to understand the local area's obsession with this place, although I go at least once a year to try yet another burger combination to try to create this awesome experience everyone is always talking about... I just don't get it. Their burgers seem bland and ordinary to me, not even as good as I make at home and they certainly can't top a Red Robbin which is odd for a community burger joint known locally for being the best burger place around.
(2)Q C.
Good family restaurant, but not sure what all the fuss is about ("Bite into a legend"). Food is decent but there is usually a waiting list. The service was friendly and effecient. Sweet potato fries were good. Burgers juicy. Average milkshakes. Bring cash. No credit cards accepted.
(3)J T.
Best burgers ever!
(5)Craig S.
Great burgers and atmosphere. While the burgers don't come with fries and come wrapped in paper, the price price also reflects that. I'm happy to pay less for a burger and not get fries that I won't eat because I'm too full than pay more and get food that I won't eat. It was a little like Five Guys, but with booze! We will return.
(4)Chuck R.
Good, but nothing I would go out of my way for again. The place is huge and it was packed full, but we only waited five minutes for a table. The service was excellent, which surprised me considering the size of the place and the number of servers I saw. The burger was good, but I've had better at any number of places. The patties reminded me of Wendy's (not saying that's a bad thing) and I had no problem with the lack of lettuce or tomatoes. Next time, I think I'd order the burger with swiss cheese, though, as I'm not a big fan of American (or Velveeta, I'm not sure what it was, exactly). Also ordered the sloppy waffle fries, which were waffle fries with sloppy joe meat/sauce and cheddar cheese sauce. I liked those a lot and once my wife got a taste, we polished them off pretty quick. The wife ordered the Italian beef, which is served dry but with a cup of juice, another cup of peppers and a half-dozen pepperoncini peppers. Good food, good service, good price. I'd come back here, but I'm not honestly sure what all the hype's about.
(3)Daniel F.
This is a local and tourist (especially) tradition, judging from the number of out of state plates, including mine. Large space with many dining rooms, but open seasonally - closed during winter. As others have mentioned, cash only, which seems a bit parochial to me. Anyway - the burgers are solid, nothing revelatory. The place can get crowded at peak times, so travelers beware. A decent choice in Harbor Country to get away from the chains, esp. if heading to points north or south on I-94. Otherwise, there are many other choices in the area that I would prefer, including Brewster's.
(3)MARK P.
Maybe you can't go home again. We used to go here often, when my (now) wife lived just across the border. It was a nice, cheap burger and beer joint. Sure, summer weekends were packed with the Chicago crowd, but they seemed handled to handle that well, and the food was really good. 15+ years later--geez, what happened? We dropped in after attending the Notre Dame game last weekend. The burgers were blah x 3, and upcharging a buck for a teaspoon of grilled onions was a ripoff. My main problem was the chili. It tasted like they forgot to put *any* seasoning in it at all--salt, chili powder, whatever. Just bland tomatoes/beans/meat mixed. Adding salt, pepper and some hot sauce almost made it edible. Almost. I added a star for the onion rings, which were excellent. We should have gone to Wagner's Ribs down in Porter..I know they still do it like they used to. Next time.
(2)Todd M.
I really didn't know what to expect from this place. The times we drove past it, the parking lot was full and people were outside waiting, so I figured it would be really good with a long wait. Then reading mixed reviews on here I started to wonder. All in all our experience was good. We arrived at about 7:30pm on a Monday. Lot was full and people were outside as we saw before, however, we had no wait for a party of three. The service was good, waitress was friendly. The food was average, burgers were not "legendary" but we're pretty good, a bit on the greasy side, but still pretty tasty. Had we had a long wait I probably would have been disappointed, but given our no wait time and cordial service we left satisfied.
(3)Bill M.
Can something really be called comfort food if you're anchored down well over two hours away? I'm going to make the bold step of claiming yes, yes you can. I recently made a return visit to Redamak's for the first time in quite a few years. A very good friend's mom had died and the funeral was being held in Jackson, MI at 10 AM EST. Being that all of us that were carpooling up were broke we had no choice but to wake up SUPER early and trek it out that morning (Some other bourgeoisie friends went up the night before and rented a hotel room. They do not jam econo). Running on less than two hours of sleep, we left my apartment in Chicago at 4:55 AM CST, drove straight through to the funeral/gathering afterward, then turned almost right back around to head back into the city. By the time we hit New Buffalo, it was safe to say the entire car was exhausted both mentally and physically. I was so happy, maybe a little slap happy and probably slightly delirious, to walk in and see that little to nothing had changed in Redamak's since my youth and coming in with my parents, driving home after a weekend at whatever relative owned/rented the cottage we flocked to that summer. Same circle menu, same t-shirt counter, same patio set up, same atmosphere; the only stuff that had changed were the arcade games. Bummed as I was, I didn't have any quarters to waste on the Die Hard arcade game anyway. Just like old times I ordered the swiss burger with bacon and ketchup; it made me feel like a seven year old again for a couple minutes. Two of the four people had never been before and came out as fans. Inconvenient comfort is sometimes the best.
(5)Anthony M.
How can you pass this place up? We always stop by when going to our summer house in Stevensville. They got some good burgers (not as fantastic as everybody makes them out to be, but still tasty) and Red's Chips which are chips covered in cheese and bacon! The combo of the burger and the chips makes the meal the best! The prices are also pretty good, but they only take cash and only open seasonally. Heed the billboards and jump off for a quick lunch!
(4)Adrienne V.
I have never had a better burger! Not even the ones I make myself at home!. The fries are meh, but the chips are good. The service is a bit spotty but the food is so good, you don't even notice. You will always have a wait, but it is usually short and well worth it. And very inexpensive, a family of 4 and we ate for under $40. Downside? CASH ONLY
(5)Robin G.
Redamaks, what happened? You were always a 5 star establishment in my eyes. Every drive through New Buffalo resulted in a stop at Redamaks, often bringing my "to go" order down to the lake and having lunch hanging out with the pooch (my copilot). So on Good Friday, I - despite having abstained from meat on Fridays through all of Lent - stopped in with a friend for a burger and some fries. I thought it would be worth it, and I had been praising your establishment to my friend for awhile now. The burger was decent, but it just didn't seem the same. The waffle fries I had, and fries my friend had, were soggy and gross. We didn't eat them. Even the pooch refused. My friend was not impressed. This was a two star visit, but I'm giving three stars because I'm hoping I just caught you on a bad day. PLEASE get it together, because if I have another experience like this I may just pass you by the next time I'm in town.
(3)jessie l.
Ok. Take this place for what it is! It's a burger joint. So don't order anything else from their bizarrely huge menu. And don't expect anything but a $4.25 kind of burger, either! I am not a huge fan of hamburgers... I haven't had a mcdonald's/burger king type burger since I was a kid (and reluctantly, even then). I'm not a huge beef-eating person, but I do enjoy a quality homemade burger now and then. That said, on my scale of fastfood/burger joint burger enjoyment, my Redamak's cheeseburger with grilled onions was slightly above In-n-Out, and a few notches below The Habit. Sorry, I don't have a lot of good local comparisons to make, but the bottom line is this: The fries, onion rings, and every-goshdang-thing else on the menu is bought frozen from Gordon's (our waitress was good enough to warn us when someone in my group questioned her about something), the ONLY thing 'worth a hoot,' as my grandma might say, is that cheeseburger. But it's most definitely NOT gonna save your soul, and it's probably not worth waiting more than an hour's wait in line for. Also, pretty ok beer selection. Bell's on tap. Yes.
(3)Moe f.
The burgers are pretty good but this place is a total tourist trap that has somehow put some chemical in it's food to keep luring these people in there to wait 30 minutes for a burger., And the parking lot is a total mess. And what's with the crappy processed cheese on the cheese fries? And if I dropping $6 on a burger, give me some lettuce and tomato on it. And my biggest of all pet peeves, cash only!! And didn't really see any signs when I was walking in to warn me. So I got dinged for $4.50 being forced to use my ATM card there because these cheap ass's don't want to pay a credit card fee.
(2)Charles S.
Cute and crowded, but just a burger. We wanted it to be better, but now understand why it's not on Roadfood.com .
(2)Eric S.
This place never disappoints. The cheeseburgers are yummy. Yes, you may have to wait, but big deal. There is an impatient Chicago crowd during the busy summer weekends, who apparently do not like to wait or eat out of plastic baskets. This is not fine dining people, it's a burger joint -- a superior one. If you do not want to wait sit at the bar; that's what we do and usually sit right away.
(4)James O.
I really wanted to like this place. I went there because they have a huge billboard on I-94 advertising their great burgers. Burger was way too greasy, bread and fries were soggy, and there was nothing special about it at all. If you like your burgers thin and dripping with grease with not much flavor to them, then maybe this is the place for you, but I was not a fan at all. I do not plan on going back.
(1)Amy T.
Overrated tourist trap. I have to admit burgers are good but insane prices for what you get. I only go for their 'working person's special'. I have to laugh when I see all the tourists literally lined up for this overpriced junk food. No lettuce, tomato, coffee or credit cards! Don't expect much.
(2)Walt M.
You bunch of nit-picky, murse-wearing, klondike-bar-eating, fly-in-the-open-mouth-having, nancy-pants so-and-sos. This place is classic shtick with the wooden booths, old toys, signs, vending machines, and other classic items littered everywhere around the restaurant. If you don't like this place, it's because you don't appreciate classic nostalgic places like Redamak's that have a great history and tradition of classic home-made food and a great unpretentious , laid-back atmosphere. It is a great place after a long day at the beach. The burgers are so juicy and mouth-watering that after the first bite, they melt like butter...excellent! The potato wedges are awesome! The shakes are thick and tasty! Every time I go to New Buffalo, this is a must visit to keep the tradition alive! Thank you Redamak's for being consistent throughout the years!
(4)J K.
I've been coming here with out of towners for years and with my last visit I just can't do it anymore. I really don't understand the love affair with this mediocre burger joint. Really, Redamak's? You can't sub a different side if you don't want fries...you cant give a person lettuce on their burger even though you serve salads...what a bunch of greedy a--holes. Not only is the food mediocre the service is poor, not sure if it's because it's a seasonal restaurant but very inexperienced staff, pray your server doesn't get double sat.
(2)Peter F.
been coming here for years when i pass through town. Last weekend, we did a trip to the Dunes with friends... The Dunes were a bust but the stop at Redamak's saved the trip. Our friends had never been there before and loved it... one of them so much that he ordered another burger. We had a table of 11 (5 kids) and had to wait 15 mins for a table (4:30 on Father's day) but once we were seated, our server took good care of us. Oh and yes the Chili Cheese Fries are awesome.
(3)Noel M.
Redamak's is tourist-trap hell and I just don't understand the obsession.
(2)Kevin A.
NO LETTUCE AND TOMATO? Who ever heard of a place that refuses to serve lettuce and tomato? Not in your burgers, forget about having a salad, and a BLT?...totally out of the question. Huh? On the plus side, my friends and I dodged the tomato/salmonella scare, but it was still just odd. But I digress... Well I shocked to see so many excellent reviews because everyone in my group had a shitty meal. My "Sloppy Mak" was a $8 mess on a bun that any lunch lady with a can of Manwich could top. The fries weren't crisp and the macaroni salad was simply foul. Other misses were the "imported ham" sandwich (imported from where? Illinois?) and the tuna melt. The only thing edible was the potato wedges which still weren't that great. Perhaps the burgers are good, but I won't be back to find out. P.S. That logo is creepy.
(2)Dain H.
Not gonna write a bashing review but I decided to stop at this place that I haven't eaten at since a road trip with my family and friends in the late 90's. I didn't remember why people were so excited about the place when I was a kid. I remember a s a kid the burgers were good but I couldn't remember it very well. Its a weird looking restaurant and advertising all over I 94 brought back memories so I decided to stop here on a business trip. The reason I couldn't remember the burgers is because they're forgettable. They're not bad but DEFINATELY not legendary. Service and everything else about the place was fine but it really is nothing special.
(3)Kristie n scott V.
We stop here after a day at the Warren Dunes. We love the burgers. They taste like you are having them off the grill in the backyard. Can't help but note they don't have tomatoes or lettuce at all, and while you can get raw onion, a grilled onion will cost a buck more. Also, you must have cash. If you want fries, that is another 2 bucks. Nickels and dimes aside, we still can't pass it up after a day at the beach.
(3)A A.
Great burgers, good crinckle fries. Friendly, quick service. Also good Italian beef sandwiches. Comfortable atmosphere.
(4)Frankie J.
Ya, well, ya know, if dis here tavern were in Canada, eh, this would be a hoppin' joint, eh? AMBIANCE This is your after-a-long-day-at-the-beach-or-on-the-boat-Âswimmin'-and-waterskiing-with-your-cousin-Joe-and-Âyou-really-didn't-like-your cousin-but-you-love-going by-the-lake-come-by-and-have-a burger-and-other-deep-fried-ex-vegetables-and-Âanything-else-you-can-batter-and-wash-it-down-Âwith-a-real-coke,-or-a-fancy-drink,-or-heck-just-Âa-beer-ya-know kinda place. No ties, no formal jackets, no reservations, and no credit cards. FOOD If you're gonna chow, you should try: Burger - Good, fried, real meat and no fillers, pick your toppings, but no tomato and lettuce Sloppy Waffle Fries - I only eat fries once a year, and this is the place. Wafflr fries, hand-cut, with a large helping of sloppy joe sauce (more like meat cut with a little sauce) topped with cheese. If you're gonna get billed by the artery, you might as well go ALL HEART. BIG Hot dogs - any way you like em, you can get em DRINKS These guys boast a completely separate drink menu, with drinks like Windex (blue hawaiian), Frozen Banana, etc. This is girl-drink drunk heaven. Beer, cocktails, all reasonable - with a designated driver. CAVEATS - No credit, CASH ONLY - No plates, you eat on a piece of paper for the burgers, fries are in a basket - Healthy? No, not even close. Oh, and no lettuce or tomato. But after a long day out in the sun, this is the ONLY place to go to within a 10 mile radius.
(4)Rich A.
Been coming up to New Buffalo since the 1970's, and always stop at Redamak's. Great burgers, great appetizers, good beer on tap. It's a must do restaurant if you eat red meat.
(4)Brian B.
I'm rating 5 because 3.5 stars is too low of an aggregate rating. Probably overall a 4, but the burgers are fabulous. They are by no means gourmet, but they are really really good (especially after a day at the dunes). The fries, etc are good, not great. Strawberry milkshake is pretty good as well. Overall it is one of my favorite spots just because the burgers are so very delicious.
(5)Josy W.
We went here for a quick lunch while we were vacationing in Southern Michigan. It is a huge restaurant with tons of seating. Only downfall - they don't open for lunch until noon. I thought this was strange, but there were probably 10-15 people waiting outside to get in when we arrived at 11:50, so I guess it doesn't keep the patrons away. I loved all of the fried food choices on the menu as I was able to create my own appetizer sampler platter as my meal by picking and choosing from their options. My husband had a burger - he wasn't overly impressed as it was a little over-cooked for his liking and they don't ask you when ordering how you'd like it cooked. But the service was great - food came quick and the waitress was wonderful to our 2 year old son. We would definitely return if in the area again.
(4)Dave A.
This is a good place to grab a quick meal but not worth the hour wait on busy days
(3)Tammy D.
Best burger I've ever had! Simply amazing! After we finished we were already thinking about our next visit!!! The place is packed but moves very quickly! We drive past New Buffalo on the way to my parent's summer home, but hadn't stopped before. Now it will be a regular stop :)
(5)Spenser K.
Love the burgers here. Such a classic place to go on a warm summer night. I love the atmosphere and the location in New Buffalo. Make it a night by treating yourself to ice cream afterwards with a walk on the beach.
(4)Jennifer G.
Much like quite a few of the other reviewers, I just don't get it. This place is average at best. There are so many cons on the list, it is not worth the visit, including the cash only issue and the usual wait. Unless you are already in love, don't bother.......Schoops is 10 times better
(2)Darlene L.
Stopped here for a quick lunch while spending a few days in the area. Have always been curious due to the long lines observed from the road. My party of two was quickly seated in this enormous room after room establishment. The BBQ grilled chicken sandwich with fresh fruit as a side was moist and tasty. My friend liked her burger and fries. We both missed lettuce and tomato which is not offered. Without asking, server was astute enough to present one check with a split identified including each person's share of the tax.
(4)Nomad M.
go there for the working mans special during the week before about 4 pm. Neat history on the walls, no plates or silverware and no extras added on to the hamburger.
(3)Meow P.
I've been to New Buffalo numerous times, and wouldn't you know it, I've never been to Redamak's. I know. It's probably a crime in those parts since it looks like half of Southwest Michigan spends their meals sitting in the booths of this restaurant. So I finally stopped by this weekend. This place is pretty good (I wouldn't say spectacular), but it's expensive. I'll just break it down for you in a handy pro/con list: Pros 1. Cheeseburgers are awesome, especially with the grilled onions! 2. They have free refills. 3. They have an obscenely large menu so you'll find something for everyone! 4. They have outdoor dining so you can enjoy the lovely lake breeze. Cons 1. Their burgers are rather small for their price. A single patty, which is about the size of a Wendy's patty, except round, rings in at $5.50. Any additional patty after that is $1.00 more. 2. EVERYTHING IS A LA CARTE. I hate that! Give a girl her fries for free! 3. Burger toppings cost $1-$1.50 for each additional topping. 4. They don't have plates. They just hand you your burger wrapped in some paper, like a McDonald's burger. 5. Service is rude. But what can you expect from stupid college kids that need summer jobs? 6. They have Coke products---bad if you're a "diet" fan, because Diet Coke just isn't good. 7. They have those large oversized annoying menus that get in the way of everything. 8. It's swarming with people at all times. 9. They don't take credit cards. 10. The fries are average at best. They're the crinkle-cut ones that come straight from the frozen foods aisle. I'm probabaly missing some things. Feel free to add on to the list at your own risk! In the end, though, if you want to grab a burger and check out the local flavor, then Redamak's is probably the place. If you're looking for a better deal/better food, I'd suggest going to Hannah's about a block away.
(3)Dave G.
Good burgers, and specialty sandwiches. everything else is O.K. little over priced kind of a tourist trap, get the cheeseburgers to go and you can't go wrong
(3)Nick P.
An absolute MUST go to place!!! If you are in New Buffalo and have not been to Redamaks then you pretty much haven't been to New Buffalo. Get the cheeseburger and don't mess around with it by changing the cheeses. The cheese it comes with is perfect. I sometime like to add a little chili to my burger and wash it down with a Red Cream Soda. Love it. Staff is always great. Stop in today!
(5)Maria S.
To set expectations - this is not a fancy place. Most meals come in a plastic basket and the burgers are wrapped in paper. The burgers are fantastic. Exceptional. The best I've had. I don't like the cheeseburger with velveeta but yum on the regular burger. The onion rings are fabulous. The prices are reasonable. The beer is cold. This place is an institution so if you are in the area you gotta go! Be prepared to wait on warm summer weekends or go early. And they only take cash so be prepared.
(5)Em J.
Leave it to the FIPS to stand in line just because everyone else is. Like lemmings to the sea. The burgers are okay - just okay (fries suck), and not worth standing in line to eat a burger out of a paper wrapper. Geeze people, throw some business to the place across the street. If you have to eat Redamaks to be "cool" like all your friends, maybe you ought to reevaluate your life.
(2)Shane R.
it may be a tourist trap, but i thought the burgers were really fresh and juicy. area is beautiful. i didnt know michigan could be beautiful. apparently, people go to michigan to vacation. i learn something new everyday.
(4)Ryan B.
My favorite burger on the planet. I stop through every trip from Chicago to Michigan. Bring cash the don't take cards.
(5)Deirdre H.
My sister and I ate at REDAMAKS last weekend,I had'nt eaten there in 20 years and I was really disappointed,the cheeseburgers were good(NOT GREAT),the french fries were cooked frozen fries, and I thought it was quite pricey,it was 35 dollars including tip,for cheeseburgers and fries and a bowl of soup. The place was jammed,but the wait for a table was'nt that long and service was good but I felt ripped off I won't be back as far as I am concerned Redamaks is coasting on their former reputation I won't be back!
(1)Angela P.
Just went back for the first time in about 5 years...and really all I have to say is PERFECTION!! Everything was great! Especially the burgers and the Sloppy Joe Waffle Fries!! OMG...amazing!! It's worth the trip from Chicago to try this place...you WILL NOT be sorry!
(5)EdWord E.
I absolutely love this place and have returned MANY times. One of my favorite burger joints and I have been to A LOT. Fun atmosphere, great for big groups of friends or family. A must go if you are into good burgers.
(4)Deborah B.
seriously, I don't know how there can be bad reviews for this place.
(4)l g.
besides Billygoats, Redamak's is THE most over rated burger in the world. not worth the drive, not worth the wait, not worth the price. lousy cheese, lousy condiments, lousy bun, small patty, limited menu, loud and not that clean.
(1)Wade M.
Oh snap, it's my childhood's ultimate summer oasis here on yelp! Julia W's review below mine is pretty accurate, but it's difficult to convey exactly how perfect this place is at the end of a summer day. We always went up to this area for vacations when I was a kid, staying in nearby Union Pier, and my favorite part of every trip was going to Redamak's. It's been several years since I've been, but as a kid I swore by these burgers as the greatest thing I'd ever eaten. I think this place is mostly perfect for families, but even if you have no kids and you just love a good burger this place will still satisfy. Also there's an arcade, which my sister and I always stormed in the waiting period between ordering our food and getting it. Go, go every year after that, then go back years later and buy a t-shirt. Your children will thank you.
(5)elsa m.
I might eat a cheeseburger once or twice a year. If so, I'll eat one here. Rumor is, they boil their burger meat so the cheese melts into every nook. Sit outside in the summer if you can grab a bench seat.
(5)Giselle S.
If yelp would allow half stars I would give this place a solid 3.5 stars. Driving around the new buffalo area on a Sunday afternoon, none of the businesses were busy looking but when you pull up to this place the lot is packed flanking both sides of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant patrons are greeted with a NO CREDIT CARDS, ATM INSIDE sign, and line forms to the hostess. I was shocked to hear options for smoking or no smoking seating, and had to give myself a reality check. --I'm in Michigan. It's one hour ahead in these parts. 10 minute wait for the main dining room (vs enclosed patio). but numbers were being called frequently. The claim to fame of this place are the burgers. The meat is freshly ground and made to order. As previously reviewed, the burgers do not come with lettuce or tomato. I ordered my Cheeseburger with grilled onions ($1) extra and Mushrooms ($1.25) extra. And I got to try just a Cheeseburger with their "everything" fixings that includes raw onion ketchup and mustard. I enjoyed both burgers. My onion and mushroom burger added extra flavor. The cheeseburger also had fresh taste and was good. But I can't say it was my best burger. I think it was weird that my burger was served in wax paper and then 'plopped' down in front of me. Believe you me I'm not at all for formality. But I don't like that my food touches the table, and when the wax paper is wet from grease, it provides a medium for bacteria from the table to transfer to my food. Easily remedied by placing the extra thick napkins down underneath the food. I shared my son's fries that came with his grilled cheese, and we were given extra pickles when my son dropped his on the floor. Leaving the place, I could not help wondering where the name of the establishment came from, but I kept thinking to myself, you are a city gurl , in what I felt like was the country.
(3)Laurel W.
A trip to New Buffalo is not complete unless you go to Redamak's at least once. The cheeseburgers are amazing, and the drinks were pretty good too! Basically, every time I go to Redamak's, I wet my pants...just a little bit. That's how good it is! :)
(5)c d.
Love this place, though I hate the wait. I tend to hit it at lunch to avoid the crowds. The burger are delicious. Though be sure to check out the tuna melt that can feed a crowd, the Reuben, the cheese fries, the corn dogs, and so much more. But really the burgers are the best and hit the sport every time. If you are not up for the crowds then avoid at dinner time, especially on the weekends. Though the food is served quickly and accurately and they don't balk at splitting a bill for you. Old school food and fun.
(4)Ryan D.
Best.Burgers.Ever. I could die and go to Heaven after devouring one of their cheeseburgers. Enough said!
(5)Matt M.
I don't normally eat burgers, but I'll go out of my way to eat at Redamak's.
(4)S. M.
The burgers are OK, but the fries are not very good at all. Really hit-or-miss. The whole things seems to have a cult following, but I can't figure out why. Perhaps their hostility to anything not deep-fried or grilled.
(2)Katie H.
That IS a tasty burger! My pops, lover of all things cheese coated, introduced me to this place when I was about 5 years old and I've been a devotee ever since. If you don't eat cheeseburgers there's really no sense in you coming here. But if you do enjoy a giant greasy clod of beef smothered in American cheese wrapped up in wax paper.... make this your lunch stop on your way into Michigan from Chicago. I love the circular menus, the massive porch, the WWII posters, the arcade etc. If Redamak's was open year round they would easily get 5 stars from me.
(4)Brandon H.
I think this place might have been over-hyped by the time we got to it.. They claim their burgers are what made New Buffalo famous.. on that point, I think I'd disagree. They are good, but I'd rank them up there with Billy Goat or Culver's butter burgers. The fries are great, you can get curly or waffle, and cheese sauce (the good ballpark kind) on the side. The appetizers were good sized portions. Overall the food was a notch above a standard greasy spoon diner, but the northwoods feel was a nice touch. Hardly the best burger I've ever had, but with the drink selection and prices, it's worth trying at least once!
(3)L. R.
The draw is it is a tourist place. There is a long wait, uncomfortable wooden benches, and at the end, no plate, just a burger wrapped in paper. I say, leave it to the tourists. But I'm happy they have a veg option now in case I ever go there again.
(2)Julia W.
Ooh, the cheeseburgers are so damn good. Redamak's is a legend for those who visit the tourist town of New Buffalo, MI. It's got its fair share of fried things and various sandwiches, but I'd be lying if I told you I knew what they were... I come here for the cheeseburgers and the cheeseburgers only. They are big, they are juicy and they have the best cheesy mess on them. Probably not for the folks who prefer an aged cheddar, but even they should give 'em a whirl. A fully-dressed cheeseburger includes only ketchup, a fat pickle and a nice, crisp slice of onion--a sure-fire way to stink up your breath, but for such delicious reasons, it hardly matters. I remember my first Redamak's cheeseburger fondly--the combination of textures with the sizzling beef, gooey cheese and cool, crisp pickle and onion... yum. Visiting Redamak's is a perfect way to end a long day at the beach--no need to dress up, just kick back in the screened-in patio and enjoy. Be prepared to wait, though--only open during the fair weather months, Redamak's fills up fast during high season.
(4)Scott S.
Absolutely horrible on every level. I'd say "I just don't get it", but that would assume that there's something to "get" and that I'm somehow at fault for missing it. And let me be clear: I am not at fault. This atrocious insult to dining is at fault. Let me start by saying that my expectations are not unreasonable. I understand that some restaurants can hold unique places in certain peoples' hearts because those people made great memories there. And maybe those places don't have to have THE BEST food, or THE BEST service, but those places are still special. This place is special for having THE WORST food and THE VERY WORST service of any restaurant to which I've ever been. I literally don't understand why anyone would ever go there more than once, but if I ever again have a craving for dry burgers and stale fries I now know where I can have it satisfied. And if you ever long to be treated like a second-class citizen, Redemak's can introduce you to just such profound experience. If you're lucky enough to be reading this review, and you are yet to visit the joyless culinary wasteland that is Redamak's, save yourself now. There are other places to eat in the New Buffalo area where they will actually treat you well and serve you edible food. I personally love Casey's. They are very nice.
(1)Ramsey B.
Poor service, good food. Yesterday, I stopped in with my family of 7 for an early dinner. We agreed to be seated in back to back booths in order to decrease the time to be seated. From the moment our server (Kathy) approached us, I knew the service would be painfully slow. After indicating she would allow for us to settle in our seats (we had been seated and waiting to place our beverage order), she waited about 25 minutes to take our beverage order. Then another 20 minutes after that to take our meal order. She was better with refills during this dining experience. Finally, our meal arrived after 45 minutes of placing the order. My primary issue with Kathy was her attitude. She doesn't belong in a position where she interacts with customers. Simply put, she should not be serving. Her emotions are worn on her sleeve. She can be nice one moment and then feisty the next moment. She lacks the ability to explain how an item can be served in detail. For instance, when I ordered the chili, she said she would bring it to me plain. I had to inquire if the chili came with additional toppings or if I had the option to order additional toppings to my plain chili. Thankfully, I asked. I evaluated her interaction with other customers, and it was similar to the interaction she displayed with our party of 7. She becomes overwhelmed rather easily. I purposely left an 11% tip. She was not happy. She tossed the receipt on our table with disgust due to the tip. Her true colors were displayed during the entire dining experience; hence I was not surprised with her reaction. The food is great. The burgers, shrimp platter, chili, soup, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and everything else we ordered tasted great.
(3)Joyce R.
I was so impressed with the look of this place- so very clean! They have a staff that is top notch! Hubby had been a frequent visitor here back in '92, and had always wanted to show it to me. (Only 23 years late) We started with an appetizer, the fried cauliflower - yum! Not too greasy tasting. I had a strawberry cheesecake shake that was out of this world! Hubby had a double velveeta cheeseburger and I had a single. Fantastic! They Come with fries!! Wow!! When the bill came I was ready to fall out of my seat! Hubby had an Oreo shake too- and All of that food for only 26 bucks!! Holy cow! I felt I'd better run to the car because I was ripping them off- hahaha!! I can't wait to come back another time!! Everyone should give them a try- you won't be sorry!!
(5)Cory K.
So I've heard great things about this place. And I still didn't go. I got it carry out. For me. So I still need to make it here. But, I did have the velveeta triple cheeseburger. And it was amazing. 100% amazing. Legit the best burger I have ever eaten. Good size, great cheese/bun/toppings, and juicy and flavorful burgers. I will go here every time I'm in the area. Oh, and it's cash only.
(5)Amanda P.
I don't think I'd normally be so harsh in my rating but I had such high hopes for this place. Why do people give this joint 5 stars??? Do you have such limited access to good food in New Buffalo that you have to consider this place noteworthy? The wait was long, our waiter was a bit of a nincompoop, the burger was ok at best & they don't let you order more than 3 drinks while there... even if you've literally been stranded there for hours between waiting for a table and waiting to be served. Don't waste your time. If you're looking for a good ol' fashioned American burger, set up a grill on the beach. Even if you suck at grilling, you'll still come out ahead.
(1)William E.
Great spot that deserves your money much more than Applebee's or Chili's. This place makes a solid burger....but I was really impressed with the hot dog. Served on a pretzel bun... Fat Tire on draft is nice too. Note: CASH ONLY....there's an ATM on site.
(5)Veronica P.
Great milk shakes. And the burgers are great, about as good as you will get this far away from Chicago. The sweet potato fries were just ok. They serve alcohol and it is priced right which is a plus. Service was great.
(5)Lisa K.
I love Redamak's! To be honest, I probably love it because of the memories attached to going there every summer during my childhood more than actually for the food. But I love burgers, Velveeta cheese and introducing my kids to a small piece of my childhood so it gets 5 stars from me!
(5)Jonny S.
Hmmm...appears to be a place getting by on reputation rather than current food quality. The service was good and there's certainly a wide variety of things on the menu from burgers to clam strips. However they tout themselves as a burger place and my burger was bland as all get out. I don't think they seasoned it at all.
(2)Anne V.
Nothing good about this place - not the food, not the service, and not even the atmosphere. Not sure how this place got a famous reputation for burgers. The food was nothing special; just the opposite. I could make a better burger on my grill. The patty was very thin and not very tasty. The bread was cheap, and the toppings no better than from a fast food The waitress seemed to be in a hurry when she came by. And she only came by our table twice - to take our order, and to hand us the check. In fact, all of the staff acted like we were a bother - they spilled water all over when refilling our drink and seeming exasperated when we asked for ketchup with our fries. All this to say that I was much happier when I walked in than when I walked out...
(1)Matt H.
Redamak's is a great place to eat. They have the best burgers, and great crinkle fries. You can get the burgers with everything (ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion), and they now offer lettuce and tomato. I would recommend you stop in and "Bite into a Legend" next time you are in New Buffalo.
(5)Joanna D.
I grew up visiting my grandma for months on end in the neighboring town and we've always seen huge lines at this place on weekends. This summer, when I came back to visit, we decided to grab a quick bite to eat here. The girls at the front here nice. We decided to order to go. I got the Reuben & my Dad got the Italian Beef Sandwich. My Reuben was pretty good, nothing to write home about & if I came back I wouldn't order it okay. I had a bite of my Dad's Italian Beef and our mutual opinion: it didn't have any flavor. It was very bland and could use some spices. The crinkled fries were just okay, kinda boring too & didn't seem cooked enough. I gave my cole-slaw to my Dad (who usually eat EVERYTHING) and he didn't finish it. Not our favorite spot - it wasn't bad, but wasn't good. We probably won't come back here.
(3)Betsey K.
I'd like to give this place less stars, but really, I have to recognize the absolute genius of their marketing.... I drive to Chicago at least three times a year and am saturated with ads for Redamak's legendary burgers. The burgers are fine. Not really special. The fries were served cold. It was overall just "meh". That is sad because after all of those ads I wanted a really incredible burger.
(2)Meredith L.
Absolutely horrible food!! So disappointing. Kids apple sauce comes out in the store bought cup that you have to peel the top back. Salmon dinner had no flavor and served on a plastic plate. Chicken wings were gross, how do you screw up fried wings with sauce on top? They can't even get a basic Caesar salad to have flavor, I wonder which bottle of dressing on the shelf they poured on it? I assume if we had ordered a greasy burger we might not have been disappointed...highly doubt it (they can't even get fries right). How have they stayed open this long?
(1)Dione B.
5 1/3# pre cooked weight of the burger. Cheeseburger comes with melted velveeta..GROSS!!!! $1 EXTRA FOR A SLICE OF REAL CHEESE. $2.50 for a basket of fries. They only take cash and don't have coffee!!!! Let's get in the right century people who doesn't take credit/debit cards????. The burger was Ok. Didn't taste any different from a quarter pounder from McDonalds. Glad we were just passing threw. Wouldn't go back.
(2)T L.
I've been visiting Redamak's each summer for five years now and have never had a bad experience. The burgers are flavorful, hearty, and most importantly FRESH. These are easily the best burgers in Southwestern Michigan. Also five years in a row, our server was amazing. We like to grab a booth in the bar area because screaming brats aren't typically doing their thing in there. Today, our server, who was swamped with tables, did the most awesome thing any server could do: Four Fibs (I'm sorry fellow Chicagoans, but sometimes we do deserve that title), ignored the four open bar stools and decided to stand right in front of our table--because, ya know, people who are eating find it appetizing watching jackasses adjusting their khaki wedgies and flip flops. Our server walked right up to this group and said "Please don't stand next to someone's table while they are eating, k? Thanks." They moved, we said "Oh my god, thank you." She winked and said "I gotchu, fellas. I gotchu." Redamak's, no matter how far I stray, I will always come back because I love you the most.
(5)Yvonne O.
Still as good as ever - stopped-in on our way home from a trip to MI last weekend with the babies and dog in tow. Managed to feed both and let the dog out while the husband waited for our order, then ate while we got back on the road - the way they wrap the burgers is perfect for travel. A little disappointed in the fries being unsalted and overcooked and the strawberry shake not having a cherry, but the burger is the draw and that was perfect!
(4)John T.
Solid cash-only place. Although everyone claims it is the best burger they have ever had, someone with extensive research in the matter could easily argue that is simply a lie. Nonetheless, it is a solid burger. I think most people buy into the aura surrounding this place as it certainly my does demand attention. Rightfully so, as it is an old business that has been serving up good food for quite awhile. The service is wonderful and the wait is never too long as it is a stadium in this place (so much seating). Try the chili!
(4)Michelle N.
Food was good, we thought is was very reasonably priced. The sides were a little small, but still fair. I have been coming to New Buffalo my whole life because my dad was born and raised there, but moved away. Every summer we would visit and we never went to Redamaks but I always heard of it. On our last trip, we went and we loved it. Very cute, small town, touristy place. Velveeta hamburger.....OMG, we have never heard of something like this in the west. It was awesome. We will make it a tradition to visit every time we are in New Buffalo.
(4)Jacob J.
She said.. " you'll love this sandwich".. it's Lent so I ordered their fried fish sandwich. It was horrid. Think two layers of mahi mahi fish sticks covered in cheese like cheese whiz and sandwiched in wheat bun. Half of it was enough to know, I didn't like it. I've had a better fish at McDonald's, but it's good measure. You cannot order food so different at a place made popular by their burgers! This during my first trip to Redamak's. The next & my last trip I enjoyed a burger. Can't say much about it except I wonder if I would've loved it more during my trips to Mi when I was in my teens far before ever trying burger bars. Only because it's nothing like what you'd expect to get at a burger bar. Food enthusiasts or chefs may bask about the freshness of the burger. It's a touristy thing to do and it's a love of the locals. Due to the area, I would assume they don't get very many Asians through here, so there was an amount of wonder in the looks I got while eating. Not off putting, but for mentions sake. They have a game room for the kiddos, which includes my very favorite line of shooters, Big Buck Hunter Safari and another title of the same line I want to say is called BBHP "World".
(3)Kat k.
I don't understand the haters here- the service is quick, the burgers are juicy and perfectly cooked, the prices are reasonable and the place has milk shakes, fried food of every kind, and beer. They have an ATM because its cash only. Easy for two people to eat for $20.
(4)Sam C.
I ordered a double burger with pepper jack cheese and sliced Jalepenos which came with fries. The burger was above average, juicy and tender. The fries were tasteless, clearly frozen.The service was good, I would come again.
(3)Lisa L.
Great food always go when in town.
(5)Jessica B.
Awful. Yep, I said it. This place is awful. Crap burgers served with crap fries (if you order them) in a crappy restaurant with no AC and super slow service. Honestly, this place is on the top of my "tourist trap" list. If you don't go, the only thing you aren't missing is a crappy meal. The burgers are average at best, and most likely fall closer to sub-par. Avoid at all costs!
(1)Michelle S.
Food: Don't get the boneless wings. They're really just processed chicken pieces that are the size of McNuggets. For the price, order a burger or something else. Service: The service was ....meh. I was in a group of 12 and I needed to make a phone call before the server came to take orders. So I wrote down my order on a napkin (so that my friends could order for me) and the order included a margarita. I left my driver's license at the table in case she was checking. When I got back my friends said that the server wouldn't accept my ID within me being there with it. I get it but, who would leave their license if they weren't them?! This irked me but whatever. I showed that I was me and I got the margarita. But I thought it was pretty stupid. and yes I still left a respectable tip, but I won't be back.
(2)Kelly B.
Nothing special. Mediocre burgers. No seasoning at all. Not even salt. Fries were good. Customer service was also lacking. Disappointed.
(2)Matt M.
After going to Redamak's unmteen times as a kid in the 80's, I dragged my family there on the way home from Michigan. I've got to say, I'm thoroughly disappointed. The burger was good. They've got a good mix with the meat. That is the only thing that gets the single star. I agree with another reviewer though, the chain Five Guys does have a better burger. There's absolutely no need to put up with Redamak's for their burger, it's not that good. 3 items were screwed up in our order. It took a good 40 minutes plus to get our food. My 22 year old cousin was brought a mini-kids meal. Rather than correcting it and letting him have something to eat, the waitress begrudgingly said she could take it back to get it fixed. My cousin sat for another 20 minutes until his proper order arrived. When we ordered in the first place we asked if we could get the little kids (1,3, and 5) food up asap. It was past dinner time and they were all pretty cranky. The waitress gave us a look and mumbled something inaudible, which I admit isn't that hard to do because the noise level in there is similar to the Pratt & Whitney jet engine factory. When we all got our food after waiting 40 mins, guess who had nothing to eat. The kids! Guess how long it took to "rush" some chicken fingers? 20 minutes. Zero attempt was made to deal with the problems, no apology, no free food, no smile, no humility, nothing. Just an "ok, we'll put the order back in for your crappy food that we forgot so we can legally still charge you for it and I don't have to go change the bill". Also I overheard at the table next to us how items were forgot in their order as well. I normally don't bother with bad reviews. Either I see things as honest mistakes or I just don't care enough to take the time to write about a bad experience. In this case though, I want to do my part to make sure no one goes back to Redamak's. This place as a business is such a horrible fail. They are trying to coast on their previous reputation and must know how bad things are. It seems obvious to me that the owners are totally absent and the place is run by people that couldn't care less. There is no leadership there and certainly no sense of responsibility. Horrible, horrible place. Stay away. I wish we had just gone to Rio's Mexican Food. Redamak's is a Turd.
(1)Karen M.
Redamak's is one of those places that everyone says you "have to" go to if you're in New Buffalo, mostly for its burgers. Unfortunately, everyone does go there and it's almost too famous for its own good. I think this place is over-rated and has become a pricey tourist trap. Was it a good burger? Yes, but I've had burgers just as good in cheaper places. Was it worth the 45-minute wait for a table and service? No, not in my opinion. The whole experience was okay but I don't feel any burning desire to go there again. I prefer the ambience at The Stray Dog on Whittaker Street.
(2)Mike S.
Gotta stop by here if you're passing through the small town of New Buffalo (or anywhere near the west side of the state). The way these burgers are made started by accident (at least that's what the server told me my first visit there a couple years ago). They steam the burgers for efficiency. What really put Redamak's on the map is the way the Velveeta cheese melts whilest being steamed. Be prepared for a stomach ache because you'll want to finish the burger you get. I made a mistake and got a double cheeseburger. The regular cheeseburger is really all you need. I recommend just mustard on the burger, but all the fixins are really good too!
(4)Jess K.
I was starving by the time we decided to pull over on our drive from Ann Arbor, MI to Rockford, IL. We randomly chose this exit for finding lunch and when we saw the huge billboard for this place we decided to be potential chumps and check it out. It was definitely good, perhaps not legendary, but good! When we walked in there were so many people waiting! But the place is HUGE and we only had to wait maybe 10 minutes to be seated. But that is impressive that they can keep such a large restaurant that full on a weekday. We each got a milkshake because that's what happens when you're starving. I got chocolate and boyfriend got strawberry. I initially thought I liked his more but I changed my mind when I tested it again. A little overwhelming to have an entire milkshake of the strawberry. We each got a single cheeseburger (although the double deckers looked ridic and of course yum). A cheeseburger with fries for $4.75? Awesome. Especially being a New Yorker...that is practically unheard of! I wish it came with a few more french fries and I felt like I might have still been hungry if I didn't go for the milkshake. So, not legendary but still, a solid choice for lunch on a road trip. And I felt so "in the know" when I saw this the other day! aht.seriouseats.com/arch…
(4)Jim V.
The place has a ton of hype, and is a great place to go if it is your first visit to New Buffalo. Be prepared to be underwhelmed by the food and lack of service. Definite tourist trap
(2)Tracy W.
First off, this is a cash or check only business which they don't really tell you until you pay. There is no sign on the door alerting you. I ordered the Lake Perch and it was superb. Lightly breaded and simply delicious. Another favorite at our table was the Reuben, which was pretty large and tasted great. The hamburger was a disappointment, a bit dry and underwhelming. We ordered the Apple crescents for dessert and they were great! Overall, some hits and some misses but overall good and the service was nice and friendly and our food was served fast. I am giving it 4 stars just because the perch was that good.
(4)Alexa E.
When visiting family in New Buffalo, MI, Redamak's has become a traditional food stop for years! The family that lives in town is plain sick of this place, so when I ask some cousins to join me they usually reply *sigh* "Okay..." As a kid, I remember thoroughly enjoying this place for their chili cheese fries and burgers. Now, as a young adult, I STILL enjoy the chili cheese fries and burgers. There are some other (fried) foods I've tried on their menu, but it's about as fast and casual as you can get. I've heard the fish is pretty good, but I shy away from anything with gills that comes from the lake/ocean. I'd say Redamak's could benefit from; 1) An improved and expanded beer list 2) Make more of the food from scratch, as I think there's a good chance most of it is frozen If you're not a local, it's still a good place to grab a quick bite to eat. =)
(4)Nari H.
Great joint with pretty good burgers and sweet potato fries. This is a classic stop in New Buffalo, Michigan if you're in this area. Tips for this place: - Cash Only. They have an ATM machine, but today it was out of order. - Opens at noon - Burger prices aren't too pricey, but if you want to get anything else but regular fries, it's a full-price-extra-fee (i.e. sweet potato fries are $3). - Side portions are relatively sizable - Sweet potato fries are good and come with honey. Pretty good.
(4)Noel T.
You need a great bun to even get in the conversation about a great burger, and Redemak's doesn't have it. Little better than wonder bread, it just fell apart as I was eating the burger. The burger itself was fresh and hand formed... but over cooked and lacking in flavor. The fries were average at best. The service was great, even on a very busy summer weekend and the prices reasonable. Despite the hype I didn't really believe that I would get a GREAT burger but I was hoping for a good one. I was disappointed. Legendary burger? No.
(2)Jen A.
So after seeing this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and driving by it over 25 times in the last year, my husband and I decided to give it a try. Pulling up, the line was wrapped around the door (as it always appears to be), but we were actually seated in under 30 minutes. Our waitress was very nice, fast, and kept our drinks filled. We both ordered burgers - my husband ordered a cheeseburger with Velveeta and no lettuce or tomato (which they DO serve as of this season), while I ordered a regular hamburger, no cheese, with everything and lettuce and tomato. We also ordered jalapeno cheddar bites and onion rings. I was pretty disappointed when our food arrived. I was expecting a "Burger," but what we received was a rather small burger on a regular white hamburger bun (small like Wendy's junior burger). The meat itself was cooked perfectly, but it was the exact same thing I could have made at home on the grill. My husband's cheeseburger was the same thing, but with cheese. And again, while they weren't bad, they weren't great either. They were definitely not worth the 25 minute wait. And the onion rings were just plain old onion rings, and the jalapeno cheddar bites were just regular poppers. Nothing fancy, just regular food. Would we ever go back? Probably, if we were in the area and wanted a decent non-fast food burger, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one, either. The prices were ok ($29 for both of us, including drinks and a beer - and the beer was good). But I would take a Schoop's burger over Redamak's any day.
(2)Todd H.
Burgers were really good, fries we just the right kinda crispy, the sweet tea was meh... Service was good and the place was busy. They don't take credit, that's my 1 down check. There is a ATM in the building though.
(4)Amanda F.
Thank you for adding veggie options!!! The veggie flatbread is very tasty! Service was swift and prices are good.
(5)Geoff M.
I wanted so badly to rate this five stars to block out some of the snobby bad reviews but there are a few things that just don't quite work. For one we had a 20 minute wait all of which was outside due to how full it was inside and for two it is CRAZY loud when you are actually inside the place. This sounds like a bad review but it isn't. The double patty melt was a ridiculous amount of classic greasy american food. The cheese was melted perfectly and it was on a great marbled rye bread, I don't care how much of it was fresh or homemade because I'm not a snob I just want food to taste good, and this did. The price came in at a very good 74$ for 8 people which was 6 adults and two kids. All in all if im ever within 20 miles of this place I'm for sure coming back.
(4)Tobin h.
Great burgers and fries, horrible shake. The burger itself lived up to the hype and the effort to pull off 94 was no waste of time as we called ahead for a take out. However, if I were one of the masses waiting an hour to be seated I would have been greatly disappointed. If I have a few extra minutes during my frequent trips to Michigan I will go out of my way to call in a burger and chili order but you won't see me in line waiting and if you were smart, you'd be right behind me at the take out counter salivating as the grease stained bag comes strutting out of the grill!
(3)Angela P.
First time eating at Redamaks and really enjoyed it. It was the last day of serving for the season it was very busy with lots of familes, people at the bar, etc. As others have said, they take cash only which wasnt a problem. The atmosphere is lively and bustling with lots of interesting things on the walls. It sort of reminds me of a big mess hall at a summer camp... but in a good way. It takes a lot to impress me with a burger. I often think, "Its just a burger", but I thought this one was noticeably very good. Only problem was that I ordered it with chili and they forgot to put it on. No problem, I just ate it without. Our server was nice enough, though was very busy. We didnt see much of her. The meat had a really great flavor, like an old-fashioned burger. I wasnt huge fan of the sides. The sweet potato fries were a bit greasy and limp and the onion rings seemed like the boring, frozen version. As a side note: I wasnt a fan of all the screaming babies and children having temper tantrums surrounding me, but of course that wasnt the restaurants fault. People! Control the children!
(4)Marie B.
You should try it once...at least that's what all billboards say. It's Tradition! Not the best burger, actually quite average to below average. Portillo's burger is better. Try it to say you did.
(2)Phil A.
This is a one year update. My double chili cheeseburger had almost no cheese. It had almost no chili. The burger patties had gristle. The onion rings I quit getting because their quality went down, now I got a $7.50 double cheeseburger plus $1.00 chili. TOTAL rip-off now. I don't know where the quality has gone but for 25 years I've bragged about these burgers and I've had 2 below mediocre trips. :-( And I cannot stress what a MINISCULE amount of chili and cheese I got with a NOT miniscule amount of gristle.
(2)Ritu R.
The food is not the best! My husband has been going here his entire life and its not about the taste of the burger but the history! You are biting into a LEDGEND! They do not take credit card but do have an ATM. Worth a try for sure. There are lines and they are not open until the spring.
(3)Amy P.
Velveeta. This was the first item listed under choices for cheese. It's either a case of a place not taking itself too seriously or just going along with what people really want: fake food. It boasts legendary hamburgers. "Forgettable" would be a better a description. The fries are awful. GFS crinkle cut, mealy, and lukewarm. My companion had the flat bread fish sandwich. I guess you get what you pay for, and at least this place was cheap. Atmosphere was fun, and the place is incredibly popular, especially with people from Chicago, which is confounding--surely they can find a better burger in the big city? Redamak's has been a local tradition since 1946. I'm glad I finally got to see what the fuss is about (didn't figure out the fuss), and although I'll never go back, I can't imagine Red Arrow Highway without Redamak's.
(2)Matt B.
What's the big deal? I don't know. Let's all just agree that cheeseburgers are delicious. This place makes cheeseburgers.
(4)Jenny K.
Having heard the hype that is Redmak's Tavern, I had to try it when I was in New Buffalo. The burger was greasy, which is expected, and the fries were hot and crispy. Service was okay. Overall, it was a typical burger joint with typical qualify food. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way and drive 2 hours from Chicago to come here and have a juicy burger. There are other places in Chicago we can go for that. For the little cute town of New Buffalo, this is not a bad place to eat lunch, but that's about all.
(3)Greg L.
This little gem located on red arrow highway is a tradition of the locals as well as travelers. I used to like going here as a youngster, and I like it even more now that I can drink beer. In the last year the menu has had a few welcomed additions. My favorite is the turkey burger. Additionally, there is a veggie burger. There are also salads. However, the burger or double is still a crowd favorite. The portions of fries are generous, I recommend sharing one basket between two people. The patio can be noisy, but it drastically reduces your wait time. There are video games for kids and a bar with limited seating for adults.
(4)Andrea B.
The service was very good here, with a friendly waitress and no wait on a Saturday night. As for the food, it was just ok. I got one of their "legendary" burgers, their claim to fame. It was cooked well, and was nice and moist, but with a thick layer of American cheese (possibly Velveeta, I'm told) and a sesame seed bun, it tasted like a glorified McDonald's burger. If that's what you're craving, I'd say this will knock your socks off. I also ordered sweet potato fries, which were pretty good, but came with...honey? I gave it a shot, thinking that there must be a reason they included it. Conclusion: vile.
(2)Jen M.
This was one of the times were Yelp failed me! Sigh. I came to Redamak's with a turned up nose because of the negative reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised!!!! First of all - the service is incredibly efficient. We arrived at 12:30 on a Saturday, 30 minutes after they opened and there was already a wait. We waited 15 minutes, and our server got our drinks and food orders quickly. Burgers came shortly after and we were on our way after devouring some delicious beef... Next, the burgers were so good! Back to basics - good quality beef, cooked perfectly, minimal seasoning, juicy, all the right condiments. Finally, the sloppy joe waffle fries. Eat them with a fork and all will be right in the world.
(4)Kady K.
I do love Redamaks don't get me wrong, but I just wish the service was more consistent! The food is always great and the hostess is always friendly, but the servers themselves need a little work when it comes to consistency. There are several amazing waitresses who handle the stress of a busy summer night very well. On the other hand there are some waitresses who can barely hold down a couple tables. I do love Redamaks and recommend it often, I just wish the service was more consistent.
(4)Jen P.
OMG this is in the top 10 of burgers I've ever had. I gorged myself here because after reading some of the negative reviews about the burger saying it was tiny we ordered an appetizer sampler *also YUM* I thought the burger was a great size, I loved the velveeta on it. It was perfectly cooked, juicy and delicious. If I didn't reside in Chicago I would have a hard time staying away from this place.
(5)Steve W.
Terrible. The burger was a C. The fries horrible. Service mean and neglectful. Can't understand the god ratings.
(1)Tim S.
First off, if you have to wait a few minutes for a table, that's because it's worth it. People drive here from miles around when they get a craving for a burger for two reasons...1) They have been doing so since they can remember, & 2) Once you have one of Redamak's burgers, there's no other substitute. App's are average...good beer selection.... And thy finally offer lettuce & tomato for your burgers
(4)Max S.
Love this place. Great burgers. Really fresh ingredients. Fries included free during lunch with burger. The only downside is that it's cash only. There is an ATM on site, but always a bit jarring.
(4)Ian E.
Came here because of the yelp reviews, a little aged, but has the option for lettuce as buns! A life saver as my family doesn't eat wheat! Burgers are pretty good. I don't quite understand, like some of the other reviewers, why they are so legendary though. If I am in the area again, I'll stop on in.
(4)Shaun H.
Not a spot for locals to eat...I'm sure the weekenders (FIP's) will find it hip and trendy, but once you get over all that, the food is just nasty... your food there is straight form the freezer or out of a can. Pre-packaged yuck in a basket... Enjoy
(1)Lisa C.
Have been passing this place for years on our annual Michigan vacations but finally went for the first time. We have young teens and like casual, family-friendly places with a little atmosphere. While I wouldn't go out of my way for the food, my family really enjoyed the ambiance and the prices are reasonable. We got there at about 6:50 p.m. and although the place was fairly full, we didn't have to wait for a table at all. So maybe it's best to go a little later like we did. The regular burger is not large and it is greasy, but in a good-tasting way. The crinkle-cut fries are nothing special. The soft drinks are very large and the beer prices are good though they could use a wider selection. Our boys were a bit too old to care about this, but they have two arcade game rooms if you have little ones who get bored easily. There's also several rooms to choose from for seating. Overall, a good time in a friendly place with fun decor and above average food. If I could give 3 1/2 stars, that's what I'd do.
(4)Candice G.
I have a real urge to just write "See Reuben H's Review" for my review. He has stolen the words out of my mouth. This is totally a place that rocks as a kid, but then as you get older you can see all it's wrinkles and flaws. If you are not a vegetarian, go with the burger- it's quality and totally something I miss now that I'm a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian... I hope you love fries and corn on the cob because that's about all you're in for. And for drinks... don't try to get daring or creative and order one their mixed cocktails even if it is called something really cool and is named after a color AND a natural disaster exp: Green Tsunami or Blue Tornado... trust me, skip it and get a sodie pop or a beer.
(3)Jenna S.
It really seems like I was the last person in Chicago to have heard about this place, and it's not even in Chicago! My family weren't summer Michiganders, so we never spent time there at all when I was a kid. However, I totally agree with most of the reviews that this place would have been absolutely awesome when I was a kid. Tons of noise, people, games, little horse ride-y thing in the front and TONS of fake cheese on everything. That sounds like heaven to a young chap. However, as an adult, this place is just a pretty average move-it-quickly burger joint. Everything is served on paper, so if that's not your thing, don't even bother. You won't enjoy it. The wait was OK (about 20 minutes) - we spent our time looking at all of the Chicago nostalgia around the place. The restaurant is huge so the wait usually isn't that long. Seats are comfortable and I didn't feel crowded, which is a good thing. Food? Pretty good. I mean, it was a burger. It wasn't the best nor worst - just a burger. I got mine with cheese and chili, so it was pretty tasty and totally fatty. Mmmmmmm. Pretty good combos for burgers and everything is super cheap. We got cheese fries to split which are always a great idea. Oh, and the shakes. They were delicious! I got a chocolate shake and my boyfriend got the Chocolate Monkey (chocolate and banana). Definitely worth ordering because who doesn't love a shake? All in all, it was pretty good. I'd probably go back if I were in the area just because it's a local staple and it seems to have achieved a relative level of fame and it was pretty nice. And it was insanely cheap - we spent like $15 on our entire meal. That's pretty awesome. I mean, this is the place that put New Bedford on the map. You can't come here and not make a stop at Redamak's.
(3)Amber P.
I have been coming to Redamak's since I was a baby and it's a staple in New Buffalo. In thirty years, I don't think they have changed anything which is actually sort of refreshing. The one thing I wish is that they would start accepting credit cards! You must try the velveeta cheeseburger. Even if you don't like velveeta, it truly makes this burger. They over do the everything with onions and pickles but those are easy to take off. The burger is moist and flavorful. I would not say it is the best burger but it sure is tasty. Their fries are crinkle cut and yummy with cheese. I have to say to venture out and try something with your burger as their sides and wings are great, too. Don't forget your cheesecake or milkshake for a decadent treat! Expect for it to be slammed and take a long time. It's a staple that is only open 9 months a year and New Buffalo is a resort town now. The tables are smashed together and the servers are friendly but you do not see them very often. Make sure to stop here next time you are in town for a fun and tasty experience!
(4)Rawlins R.
Again, who tricked me? How was I convinced? I must have been sick. But I was here. I told those who I was dining with that I would not be paying for my meal. Here is why. Woody Hayes on recruiting trip in TSUN. One night on a recruiting trip in the state of M!ch!g@n, an assistant noticed that the car he was driving was going to run out of gas. He let Woody know, who was dozing in the passenger seat, that he had to pull over for gas. Woody refused, and the assistant drove on. The assistant, who saw the weather was starting to get bad, began to become worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, and once again stressed his desire to pull over and get gas. Woody erupted: "No, goddammit! We do NOT pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and PUSH this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!" The assistant knew he wasn't kidding, and they barely made it across the border and sputtered into the first gas station they found in Ohio. This is how I live my life. I started with a tomato soup. I also ordered the burger which was enough, a double was not needed. Big, greasy, and served in a bag. I had a chocolate shake with my meal that served me well.
(3)Eliza E.
Blech! We waited way too long to eat a bunch of pre-frozen food. Everything was fried, tasteless, and just poor quality. Would it be so hard to make fries in house rather than serving the frozen, bagged stuff? The servers are clearly overwhelmed and service is therefore pretty bad. Add a bunch of screaming kids running around and there is really nothing to come back for.
(1)Shanna M.
This place reminds me of summer. At this point I have decided I don't actually love the food here. I like the food. Cheeseburgers and chilli-cheese fries are always delicious but I am not going to tell you that the ones are Redamak's are the best you will ever have. I can however tell you that going to Redamak's after a trip to the beach is a time honored tradition for my friends and family. When Redamak's opens in the spring it is as much of a sign of summer beginning as a Memorial day barbecue. If you live in Northern Indiana/Southern Michigan you should definitely make a stop here after a day at the beach. It is the American thing to do. Also, bring cash! They don't take cards.
(3)Matt G.
OK, I've been coming into this place every summer since I was in diapers. The place has changed very little in the last 40 years, but the quality isn't quite the same as it once was. That being said, it's still a great burger in a fun atmosphere. If you come, you must get the burger. Available in single, double, and triple, with our without Velveeta. This is the only time I eat Velveeta cheese, and to me, it makes the burger. Fries are served with the burger, and they give you more than you could possibly eat. Service is good- the waitstaff are really nice. Waits are always long, so don't come in famished. There's a good selection of beer and drinks at the bar, and prices are reasonable. Only caveat- they don't take credit cards, so bring cash. I actually appreciate this- it keeps the costs down. Plus, there's an ATM onsite. Overall a must-have when in New Buffalo
(4)Mick B.
We visited Redamak's on a weekend- the "working man's specials" as mentioned by other reviewers are only available during the week. I felt that other reviewers that mentioned the small portion size of the fries is misleading- we asked for two orders of fries expecting small portions... but that was not the case. Neither of us were able to finish our fries and felt that they were certainly a reasonable portion for the money. We probably could have easily shared one order. We both tried the Velveeta cheeseburger and found it to be juicy and tasty. Well worth trying if you like a good cheeseburger. I was also confused by other reviewers comments about the food being overpriced- we both felt that prices were average if not somewhat under-priced based on similar meals in taverns in the Chicago area. The prices at Redamak's are not in the same league with the McD's "Dollar Menu" but by the same token, McD's isn't serving beer/cocktails. There is quite a bit of NHL memorabilia in the bar area (check photos) including a corner dedicated to the Chicago Blackhawks. Worth checking out by hockey fans. Service was friendly and efficient, food was tasty and priced right- when we are in the area, we will be back.
(4)Cher C.
Been hearing about this place for years. Finally around the area so we took a short drive from Michigan City to experience this joint. The restaurant was pretty busy, but we were seated promptly. We were here around 2PM eastern time on a Wednesday so we made it for their working man's special which was a burger and fries combo for just a burger's price. This made the meal very reasonably priced. Got the Velveeta Cheeseburger with everything on it plus lettuce and tomato. Delicious!The fries that came with were a hefty portion and the perfect consistency and crunch. Left very full and very happy. One downside: it's cash only.
(5)melissa m.
This place is known for burgers, get the burgers, they are very good. Don't get anything else. Everything else comes from the Sysco food truck. I guarantee from appetizers to desserts nothing else is homemade. They don't even use real ice cream for the milk shakes. One thing they do have that you never see on a menu is fried clam strips, get those, and the burgers. Cash only and they don't give you plates or silverware, which I resent, but what are you going to do? Service is always good though and that matters.
(3)Vickie R.
It's blasphemous that I've been here so many times now and just realized I've never written a review for it. I would say Redamak's has one of the best burgers in MI, especially southwest MI. No matter what time you go, there's a wait, and it's not like it's because the restaurant is tiny and can't hold more than a handful of people, the food is just THAT good that everyone comes here. If you've never been here, you must try the Velveeta Cheeseburger. It is what they're known for. After having been here so many times, I did decide to venture out and try a cheeseburger but with colby jack cheese, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, and tomato. It is now my new favorite. We love their cheese fries, fried mushrooms, wings, and mozzarella sticks as well. But the thing I've discovered at Redamak's is the banana cheesecake milkshake. It probably has 10,000 calories in it, but it's so worth it. It's basically crack. Their menu is actually quite big and has a lot of other items, but getting something other than burgers is like ordering a steak at a vegan restaurant.
(4)Christiana S.
Tommy L. Says "Redamaks is more American than a bald eagle with breast implants." And he's right. Right down to being over-the-top cheesy, tacky, fake, and living off reputation rather than delivering where it counts. It's OK. Really, it's just OK. I don't mind going when family wants to. Staff is friendly enough, even if service can be a bit slow (even in the middle of the afternoon when it's slower). But the food is so....average. Underwhelming. I'd rather cook at home, to be honest, and even have to deal with cleaning up. The cream cheese shakes, however, are rich and decadent. But be sure to get the cream cheese one, because the regular one is rather boring and...underwhelming. Just like everything else on the menu.
(3)David M.
"The Legendary" VELVEETA CHEESE BURGER w/Fries - $5.25 If you've ever driven Interstate 94 Eastbound toward Detroit, you've seen the billboards for Redamak's as you enter into Michigan from Indiana. For years, I had driven by, always seeing this billboard which talks about their "legendary" food. I had no idea their slogan was "The "Hamburger" that made New Buffalo, MI famous". Well, Redamak's will ALWAYS have my vote. And I will ALWAYS make time as I drive through. New Buffalo, MI is one of those sleepy little beach towns. It's located just over the Indiana/Michigan Border on Lake Michigan itself. Just like any beach community, there's not much going on in the winter; however, once the summer hits, look out! Whether you're a beach bum, water baby or just enjoying the sites, hit up Redamak's. The roadside diner, was, and still is, known for it's family atmosphere, value, service, and quality.
(3)Ben B.
Overpriced. And cash only. My first visit to Redamak's actually occurred on the first day they were open for the year (March 1, 2015). If you're traveling through during the winter, this place is shut down. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed. A good sign. There's a ton of seating. It's casual dining for sure. The walls are paneled with wood. There's no discernible decorating scheme. Anything and everything is slapped on the walls. Here's what we ordered... * Onion Rings ($6) - Nothing special and an absurdly small portion for that much money. * Curly Fries ($4.25) - They were supposed to have been seasoned, but they were pretty bland. Tasted like they were just frozen Ore-Ida variety. * Cheeseburger with provolone ($5.75) - This was the best thing I tasted at Redamak's. Nothing amazing, to be sure, but pretty good. They don't ask you how you want your burger cooked, they just fire it up and cook it to eliminate any pink. They also put an entire cross-section of an onion on your bottom bun. That was interesting. * Six Boneless Chicken Wings ($6.50) - Pathetic and sad. These were dry little nuggets. Definitely not worth more than $1 each. Total ripoff. * An Oreo Blast ($3.75) - This is their version of the Dairy Queen Blizzard, except Redamak's ice cream was really soupy and watery to begin with. They do get points for having the Oreo pieces still be crunchy, though. If you want a frosty treat in this area, drive a little south to Oink's Dutch Treat. You'll be happier. I feel like the only reason Redamak's exists is because there's a vacuum for this kind of family dining in the New Buffalo area. The food isn't special and the sides are wildly overpriced. The menu is huge, which may be a plus for picky eaters. But as you'd learn from any episode of Restaurant Impossible or Kitchen Nightmares, a giant menu is also a sign that there's very little care put into any one dish. Most things are simply frozen dishes reheated before serving. I believe that's the case with Redamak's. Mostly bland food at absurd prices. I won't return.
(2)Bill P.
My wife left me and our kid in Mears, Michigan because I wouldn't share more of the bed in my drunken slumber....then I lost my wallet in the ensuing chaos. Me and the little one were able to scrape together a ride and just enough cash to buy 3 double cheeseburgers for the minivan and live to fight again. Gay was pivotal in making this shit happen!
(5)Tommy L.
If you give this place any less than 5 stars then you are a communist. Redamaks is more American than a bald eagle with breast implants. The cheeseburger here is so awesome. When I take a bite I start to hallucinate images of George Washington playing baseball with Elvis Presley. If you love America then this is the place for you.
(5)Julie O.
Came here on a Friday night and did not have to wait. The burgers are tasty. Not gourment by any means, but enjoyable. The pickles are excellent. I went for the cheddar burger with grilled oninons. Yum. The chips were enough for two people to share. Decent beer choices. Really don't like that it is cash only. Free parking.
(3)