Ok, TLB is brewery #263 for me. This was my second brewery for today before heading off to my hotel…read moreand it was definitely a great stop. I always try to review a brewery based on beers alone but sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I stop in and the vibe is just not good, or the service sucks, but neither was the case here. Great vibe, friendly staff and patrons. And as I will get to in a moment, the beer was great too. This is a small brewery with a one barrel system and a small tasting room. It's size belies it's impact though. The beers were really good, although I will not review them in depth individually. Sorry but I ended up chatting with Jameson, the owner, as well as a couple of patrons at the bar. The beer highlights for me were the blueberry and the barrel aged red. SWPFTD would enjoy the barrel aged red. In fact it might have made her PD if you know what I mean. You probably don't but if you don't take the time to figure it out you never will. Your loss... Of course your loss could be your time in figuring it out. This is going to be a short but enthusiastic review. I would definitely recommend stopping in at Third Life Brewing if you are in the area. Of course it would be really hard to stop in if you aren't in the area. In fact I'm hoping to stop in again since I missed picking up a TLB sticker for my RV fridge which is covered in brewery stickers. Maybe Jameson will read this and reach out to offer up a sticker. (Awesome name by the way...) If anyone is a glutton for punishment, please, follow my brewery, and distillery, reviews from across the U.S. and beyond! https://www.yelp.com/collection/-8iscFkpiiCI563-FDfwGg and if anyone is wondering who SWPFTD is you will have to check out my review of Black Market Brewing Co in Temecula, CA to understand. Yes, you will need to read into it a little to get the joke but I have confidence in you! I hope my confidence is not misplaced.

Brewery #266 Third…read moreLife Brewing is a true microbrewery: a small brewery doing good craft beer with no food and no frills. Third Life is located in the former office of an old warehouse that I believe was an old Iron Ore company ( if memory serves me right). The brewery even has the old safe still in wall. I got my usual flight that consisted of Cat Jammin'-Raspberry (Raspberry Wheat), Tomtoberfest (Marzen), S.S. Dankowiak (DIPA) and the Duke of Witch Tree (Hazy IPA). All of them were really good but the S.S. Dankowiak was the star of my flight board. Cool atmosphere with lots of table and board games. Good music playing and a cool brewery sticker. Who doesn't love a bear in a canoe?

Not reopen yet. Best place in manistee to have a nice dinner…read morewith spouse or others. They have a wonderful food and drink menu

What a great experience at this restaurant! My burger was cooked perfectly to a true medium, just…read morelike I asked something that's surprisingly hard to find. The hand-cut French fries were absolutely amazing, and the nacho appetizer was out of this world. Everyone at our table loved their meal. We'll definitely be back! If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and check this place out. If you don't, you're really missing out!

The oldest tavern in operation in Manistee County, the Blue Slipper offers lots of history in its…read moredecor but a more contemporary fun experience. Jukebox, TV, very friendly and attentive staff, great food and drinks at good prices all come together to make this place a great place for a meal, a drink at the bar, or both. A must visit when traveling through Onekama.

Last Friday at the "Blue Shoe Zoo," we were viciously attacked for no cause by a man who said he…read morewas "the owner," later identified as Jim Metcalf. After an uneventful meal and an initial bill that included items we did not order - Focaccia bread, soup, and tea from the table next to us (not known to us), we were falsely accused of "swearing" at the server and sabatoging a sandwich that was sent back (a grilled cheese sandwich that was smothered in what looked like tartar sauce). I was the first to be assaulted when I approached him as we were leaving to try and let him know that the $4 unsweetened tea we did not order was still on the bill, that we paid the bill anyway and we were leaving. I didn't even get one word out when he started yelling at me, getting within 18 inches of my face, spitting and screaming, using the F bomb repeatedly. Then he ran through the outdoor seating area filled with guests, confronting and yelling at each one of our party of four, pointing his finger in our faces and poking at one of us. His behavior was so loud and out of control, everyone in the place could see and hear his tirade. As we were leaving the outdoor seating area, he was screaming "pay your bill and get the F- out of here and don't ever F-ing come back...I'm calling the police...you'll be hearing from my lawyer..." and then he followed us out into the parking lot and seemed to enlist a staff member to write down our license plate number. It has taken me days to gather my thoughts to write this. None of us had ever experienced or witnessed such a display of nonsensical ranting and raving and downright rage by a business owner. As senior citizens in our seventies, we still don't know where the idea of swearing at the server came from or why we were subjected to such wrath in a dining establishment. Aside from the terrible sandwich, the bill mishap and the maniacal owner, the music was fun, the chicken wings were boring, the fish was good and the smelt was smelt.

We have come here every time we visit relatives and the food is always delicious. This place has…read morebeen around since long before I was born. I'm glad it has stayed in business. You don't come here to be fancy, you come here for eclectic decor and delicious food. The service has always been great as well.

Walking into this place, you understand that is completely a local's bar. It's the kind of place…read morefor people bring a deck of cards, or talk union business at the bar. I had barely set foot in the door when the two bartenders at the bar greeted me warmly and welcomed me in and told me I could sit anywhere I wanted. I sat at the bar and as recommended by a local, I ordered the pepper jack crab soup, which was delicious. One thing to be aware of: don't expect real crab in the soup. Imitation only. But it's plentiful and delicious on a frigid winter day. The bartender recommended the roasted chicken or the perch, and living near another great lake and always having ready access to perch, I decided on the broasted chicken. I was not disappointed. It came with four pieces, choice, potato, and a choice of another side. It was way too its food, but I ate more than I thought they would because it was that good. I will definitely return to the painted lady!

Great meal in this little spot in Manistee. Feel like you are walking down into the basement of the…read morehotel at the corner of River St and Maple St but welcomed by warm atmosphere and dark wood bar. Food was very good with a good selection. At our table everything from meatballs with marinara to Caesar's salad to Cubano sandwich. Prime rib soup was good and hearty. And our server was spot on, between helpful, welcoming, and checking in on us just enough. 12 beers on tap (sorry, I wasn't paying attention to a wine list or anything like that) with a good selection of beers, including a number of local brew. Nice place for a late Sunday afternoon lunch in the summer, will be back in the colder months as well. Definitely a place worth checking out.

Cozy little place, menu pretty typical of quality bar and grill operations. That included a…read moresouthwest-style chicken salad, which is a favorite of mine, and TJ's is a bit unique. It had the standard toppings--avocado, corn, black bean, tomato, tortilla chips. But the cheese was melted on top, like a kind of crunchy/chewey plate--it really looked like it was topped with a mini pizza. Not sure that enhanced the salad, but overall it was fine. Instead of dressing, it came with tubs of sour cream and salsa to mix in. I do that at home sometimes, so can't complain. The lettuce was fresh and crispy. Decent beer selection, including a quite a few bottled ones, which I hadn't noticed until after I ordered my pint of Two Hearted. Be sure to ask for a bottle menu. I sat at the bar and the server regularly looked in on me. Wasn't too noisy, in spite of the tight space that was full when I stopped in on a Sunday night. Nice little spot to check out in Manistee.

The bar is small inside. Saw max occupancy sign for approx 78 people. There is a pool table. It's a…read moreneat little bar. The service was good. The food was your standard bar food. It was hot and good. I enjoyed the pictures in the bathroom. Price was reasonable as well.

I was in town and needed some dinner, and the Friday Fish Fry sounded like a winner. They have…read morespecials most days, and they all sounded great. It's a cozy space, with a very lively crowd at the bar. Service was on point, which was impressive since there appeared to be only two servers. The fish was plentiful, with a nice crispy breading. The slaw was also really good and seemed like it was made in house. I do wish I got the perch, it's several dollars more, but the piled high plates that went past us looked delicious.

Best fish fry in town, delicious burgers and friendly staff - always our go-to on a Friday night!read more

My husband and I came in for a beer then decided on getting just a small bite to eat. The only…read morething going for this place was the very cold beer and it was in a can at that. My husband ordered chili and we saw the cook walk behind the bar to the cooler and walk back to the kitchen with it, that should've been a sign right there. I ordered mac & cheese bites. The mac & cheese bites were the size of a large kidney bean and there were 5 of them for $8 dollars!!! The chili was too salty and more like a soup so my husband sent it back. We got our bill and she charged us for the chili and we asked about that and she said she could comp us a drink and was unpleasant about it. We left without finishing our drinks and won't go back.

Served within 25 minutes of closing time with a…read more Lively older vibe if you want to escape the racous twentysomething crowd.

Waitress was kinda crappy but still not a bad place. Do have air conditioning. Pretzels were weird…read morebut good. More like a bread. Beer cheese is ok. Which also makes the mac n cheese ahhhh. I wouldn't get it and glad I didn't order it. Beet salad was actually pretty good!! Specially if u like picked beets. Didn't like their homemade dressing that came with it though, it was horrible. Would go again. Was convenient.

Made a return visit here today. Enjoyed patronizing local business that stays open year round…read more Great beer, friendly service, and tasty meal.

I truly enjoyed this brewery! I have to admit I did not try any beer as I am not a beer drinker…read more However, my cocktail was fantastic. The outside area is a great place to catch some sun near the lake. Inside is very spacious. We found the service to be pretty attentive. I did not get the chance to try any food. Definitely had a great night there.

Great neighborhood drinking bar for locals off the main strip that is more than happy to have…read moretourists wander in. Very friendly and attentive bartender and great drink prices. Lots of basic fried bar food options good for snacking while you drink but not so much a place to go for food only.

Dive bar. Youngish 20-something crowd. Very good drink prices. Blackout Wednesday = loud, crowded,…read moreand lively. We had fun and this is a popular place for the locals. Street parking is a hassle and I'm sure the neighbors hate it but if you want social time and cheap drinks, you've found it.