I usually eat here only twice a year cause the food is good but the male servers are not very attentive. However this last visit was perfect. We had a female server named Aubrey who was great. The Korean Sticky Ribs are a must have appetizer. We also like the brisket tacos a lot. They have a different special each day of the week. Not much as far as ambience and it can get very noisy when the place is full. read more

Overall not bad, although I've certainly had better in other places. The decor is right on point with what you would expect in a barbecue joint. They all seem to have the country Honky Tonk bar appearance, and I suppose that's what people expect. The staff was reasonably attentive, although they weren't terribly busy the night I've visited so I suppose they didn't have a lot to do, lol. I ordered the ribs with a side of coleslaw. Overall the ribs were fine, but they weren't quite as tender as I'm used to. As I recall the coleslaw was adequate but nothing special. Pricing was a little on the high side, but I get it that it cost money to run a place like this. Overall I don't think I would be inclined to come back. read more

We went to Molasses while visiting family in Michigan. We walked in without reservations for a party of 5 and were able to be seated rather quickly. The restaurant itself had a nice rustic influenced atmosphere. It was louder than I would have preferred, it made it hard to have conversations with others at the table. I ordered an appetizer of Burnt Ends, and the two-meat dinner for two to share with my lady. For meats we chose Brisket and pulled pork. I judge Barbeque restaurants by their Brisket. If you can't do a decent brisket, you shouldn't offer it. While we were waiting the rest of the family and other locals were really talking up Molasses. Unfortunately, the hype did not live up to the experience. First. The burnt ends are not burnt ends. Well, they're poor man's burnt ends in that it's not the trimmings off of smoked meat. It's something made to simulate burnt ends. I'm not sure what kind of smoker Molasses use, but there was no smoke flavor to it. Plus, it was a little tough. It needed BBQ sauce for flavor. The Brisket was also a little on the tough side; it did not pull apart like it should and had no flavor to the bark. It was a tad bland. The pulled pork was juicy, but again almost flavorless. All the meats needed the sauce to make them enjoyable. For sides we got the dill potato salad and fire roasted corn. Both of those were good. We were highly please by them, however if you're going to a BBQ place for the sides... why even go? Overall, I was disappointed with Molasses. The food was good, but not great. It was an okay example of smoked meat. I don't know how they prepare the meat, but it's disappointing. If it's the only BBQ option in Midland, then I understand the love of it, but if you have access to better... or any other. Go there. read more

I really wanted to love this place, especially since it's a self-proclaimed smokehouse, but the brisket was a major disappointment. It was dry, lacked the tenderness you expect from properly smoked meat, and honestly I'd be embarrassed to serve brisket like this if I were putting "smokehouse" in my name. The loaded tots were decent, and the iced tea was good, but the prices didn't match the quality of the meal. The surprising highlight of the night was actually the peach sweet tea it was easily the best part of my dinner. Hopefully this was just an off night, because a true smokehouse should be known for amazing brisket, not a reminder that expectations and execution don't always line up. read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Outstanding addition to Main Street in Midland. We ordered the split of St. Louis Ribs, Mac&Cheese and Cole Slaw, and all three were excellent. Great service and reasonable prices make Molasses one of the best barbecue houses in the State of Michigan. read more

Stopped here yesterday for lunch. First time at this restaurant. Great atmosphere, nicely decorated. The bathrooms are two, unisex. Very clean and roomy. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. The food was good! I had the smoked turkey sandwich with a side of tater tots. It also came with a little side of coleslaw. I'm not generally a fan of coleslaw, but this was good. The seasoning on the tots was excellent. My husband had the Reuben special. He said it was fantastic. Will definitely be back. read more

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Convenient location downtown Midland for lunch, dinner or drinks. Seated promptly, friendly server, extensive food and drink menu. Ordered the Wednesday special "Brisket Nachos" for lunch: Crispy tortilla chips topped with smoked Brisket, chili, queso cheese, baked beans with salsa on the side. A variety of sauces are available as condiments at the table. Our service was very friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Daily specials featured on menu. The sweet, smoky flavor on the Brisket was very enjoyable. Will return to try the St. Louis Style Ribs. Clean tables & silverware. Comfortable & casual lunch atmosphere. Thanks! read more

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We stopped by for a late dinner on a Friday evening and had no wait to be seated. I enjoyed my three-meat dinner of brisket, smoked salmon, and sausage. My sides were baked beans and macaroni and cheese. The beans were good, but the mac and cheese weren't creamy and were flat. My son had the brisket macaroni and cheese, which he didn't enjoy. He said the brisket was flat and dry, chewy and overcooked. He said it did not look or taste like the brisket on my platter. I would also like to see cloth napkins, wet wipes, and sides served in ceramic bowls, not cheap paper trays. Indoor/outdoor seats, a full bar, and overpriced beers and cocktails. Uninspired service. Extremely loud. My ears hurt like I had just left a concert. I've been here before and had the meat platter, but we will pass on the brisket macaroni and cheese next time and come when it is less noisy. read more

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Really a great place for smoked meats, we had tri-tip, brisket and ribs. All were great. Good selection of BBQ sauces you can add. Nice adult beverages and Pepsi products available read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - 3 meat combo, ribs front, tri-tip left back and Brisket on right. - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

I'm not sure if the food or the service was more impressive. Olivia P. provided outstanding service, making sure we had everything we needed with a smile and a great sense of humor. The food is off the charts delicious! They have some of the best dill potato salad I've ever eaten, with the perfect amount of mayonnaise, salt, and dill that reminded me of my mom's potato salad from childhood. With just the right amount of sweetness from molasses, their baked beans were wonderful. The star, of course, was the smoked meat. The ridiculously good bark on the brisket and pulled pork may be a gift from heaven. The brisket and pulled pork itself is smoked perfectly. If I had to choose something that could improve, it would be to put sound deadening in the ceiling because it's very noisy inside. Regardless, I highly recommend Molasses Smokehouse for an experience you'll want to repeat. read more

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Dinner for 1. - Ambiance (4*) A bit echoey for me. Loved the regular table service rather than the walk up you might see at other BBQ spots. Easy to get overwhelmed and order too much or too little at those spots. - Service (5*) Super friendly. Good attention at the bar. - 2 meat plate, $28.50+$7.95 (4*) I chose brisket and St. Louis ribs, which had the adder. Brisket was moist with great bark. Found the middle a bit stringy though. The ribs had amazing smokiness and were generally quite tender, though a few pieces were so burnt they were hard enough to break teeth. The sides and cornbread were decent. - Value (3*) A reasonable amount of food, though didn't love the 3% credit card service fee. - Final Word Great spot for some BBQ. read more

I eat here almost weekly. The crew is awesome! Always happy and full of energy. It's a vibe whether dining in or stopping by for takeout. They have a bar which I have yet to enjoy but their Sticky Ribs and Dill Potato Salad have me in a chokehold. Fried rice is yummy. Salads are fresh and good. Beans are good. Everything has a unique twist to it. I'm trying to work through the menu but I can get past the ribs. I wish they would offer fries though. They do have tots but I'm a fries girl. Sometimes they forget little things when I order out like extra sauce but they always make it right if I choose to mention it. This is a go to spot for me. read more

Molasses is in downtown midland in a place known as the commons (a portion of Main Street closed to automobile traffic) there you can find live music entertainment large outdoor fireplaces lots of outdoor fun. This is one of many places to eat in the downtown area excellent smoky bbq kinda pricey indoor and outdoor seating full bar I would recommend the St. Louis ribs I will definitely be back again 7.9 out of 10 excellent service. read more

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Cute spot with outdoor seating and fast service. Food was decent, but the Korean ribs were excellent. Great beer selection and fun variety of mules. A solid place to relax and enjoy a meal. read more

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Very good meal, one of the better places to eat in the Tri-Cities. Had the 3 meat dinner with Ribs, Brisket and Tri-Tip with Mac n Cheese, BBQ beans. All the meats were nicely smoked, fresh and tender. The Mac n cheese and Beans were very good. Cornbread was also good, moist and flavorful. The food came out very fast, drinks were also good. All the sauces were really good, we like the house made Molasses sauce and Chipotle the best. It is a little pricey, be prepared to spend some money for a good meal. read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - 3 MEAT DINNER - Ribs, Brisket and Tri-Tip. - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Food is always delicious. I got the dinner for two to share, with the 3 meat and 2 large side combo. With water for beverages, the total was around $43 dollars. We ordered the brisket, pulled pork and smoked turkey. Nothing was dry, everything was easy to pull apart with just a fork. You get different bottles of sauce to try on your food provided on the table. The Mac and cheese I ordered was good, wished that it was a bit creamier but still tasted nice. The coleslaw is super well made, just a little salt and pepper and it's good to go. My only con I can remark about my experience was the plate sizing. Maybe I'm just a monster, but I like to load up my plate with what is on the tray, without having to make multiple trips back to the tray to reload my plate. It doesn't hold much food and made it hard to maneuver the meal onto my fork. The service was simple, but good! Very quick to check on us, food came out pretty timely and everything was hot and fresh. Overall, I recommend this restaurant in Midland if you want BBQ. read more

I was in from out of town for Thanksgiving with my family. We had 10 people. What a horrible experience. The place was very loud and echoey. The front door let in a blast of freezing air every time someone came in, making our food get cold quickly. Most importantly, the BBQ ribs that my mom had were burnt to a crisp. The coleslaw was awful and no one at our table ate it. It was tinged with a pink color...ugh. The smokes turkey that I ordered as part of a 2 meat dinner was drier than a bone. So they slathered some sauce on the top and called it good. Cornbread was good. Everyone complained about the over done meat...and in fine print, beware, if you order the St. Louis style ribs, they will add on a 8.95 cent up charge. For what???? Extra time on the "Barbie?" To top it off, they added a 20% tip to the bill AND they added a 3% surcharge to use our bank card. Overall, a terrible meal and better yet, the manager didn't believe us or care about our experience. Save your money.::go somewhere else. read more

Food had a bit too much of a liquid smoke flavor for my taste. Service however was great and the interior had a pleasant vibe. I will probably give them one more try when I am in town next just to make sure this was not just a bad day read more

Stopped for lunch. First time here. Split 2 apps with wife and they were great. Korean bbq ribs and the loaded bbq tots. Food was excellent! Assortment of 6 home made bbq sauces on each table. Great atmosphere and very friendly staff! Will return for sure. read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Great dinner with family at Smokehouse. We needed a table for 7 on a Saturday night at 6:00. It was crowded already but when I asked I didn't get the attitude that you sometimes get at the hostess's stand. She smiled and said "I'll get you seated in 30 - 35 minutes". Nice!! The loaded tots will change your life. Even their side, plain tots are cooked to perfection! The brisket sandwiches are delicious!! One of us had a big salad with brisket on it and I'm sure she will be eating that salad for 2 days...it was so huge and fresh. Very nice atmosphere...open ceilings so a tiny bit hard to hear each other..but it's a bar and that's bar stuff. No kid's menu, but they have sides that kids can order. Mac and cheese. The tots. They will find something to eat. Definitely will be back when I'm in Midland. The service was top notch, as well. read more

A few of us went out after a long day of seminars and peopling, and we saw this place was within walking distance from the hotel. I will say, downtown Midland may not be huge, but it does have some good eats here. I was hungry but not starving and was kind of on a taco kick, but decided to get an appetizer instead. I got the tater tots with brisket on them instead of pork, because, well, I don't eat pork. My coworker and new friend both got tacos and they both really enjoyed their food. The place is actually pretty chill and relaxed, which made for good conversation time to get to know each other. The staff here's pretty good and all around a good time. Prices tend to be about $15 and up, without alcohol. I will say, the dinner we had here was absolutely worth every penny and very delicious. The only downside was BBQ sauce. They tend to have more mustard flavored ones here, but I enjoyed the Korean one the best. Will be back in the future! read more

OMG! Where have you been all my life! This was just fantastic! The service was great and the flavors that abound and the meat is so good! Fall off the bone delish! If you are in DT Midland, make it a point to stop in at Molasses, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Came here a few weeks ago w/ my hubby & family. There's a lot of space inside. Our server was really nice & hilarious. The food was good overall. We ordered burnt ends appetizer, which was pretty good. I ordered the 3-meat platter with brisket, sticky Korean ribs & St Louis ribs. The brisket was a bit dry but tasted ok. Hubby smokes some AMAZING brisket so most restaurants can't compare to his (truth!). Korean sticky ribs had good flavor, but I thought it was dry. Hubby really liked it. I absolutely loved the St Louis style ribs. They offer 6 different types of bbq. I tried all of them. Molasses was my fave. They're all pretty good sauces though. I would come back here. read more

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We went here on a whim after buying my car. We loved that they have the outdoor seating with all the games in the street to interact with other restaurants. We loved the drinks and the variety of sauces. Our waitress was super helpful and gave suggestions on what her favorites were. We loved the look inside the restaurant the only downfall is it was that it was loud inside (no fault of the business, they were crazy busy!!) we definitely will be back because it was the perfect place for a relaxing date night! read more

Food was awesome, service was great! Didn't have to wait long to be seated! The ribs were great without the house sauce, but better with it on them. Great spice and smoke! read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - Full rack of ribs with Cole slaw, Loaded Tots and cornbread! - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Our go-to spot for BBQ in the Tri-Cities. Food is consistently delicious with the exception of one thing: The Mac & Cheese is ALWAYS bland and dry. I still order it in hopes that it's just an off day (plus Mac & cheese and bbq just go together) but nope, dry again today. I find myself having to douse it with bbq sauce to make it somewhat enjoyable. There needs to be some some quality control and/or recipe tweak in that regard. Other than that, everything is usually great. read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - 3 MEAT DINNER - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

I went to this restaurant because I was in the mood for some good bbq and according to yelp this was one of their top 5 places. The food was so delicious. My favorite was the brisket and the ribs. I got a side on their mustard bbq sauce and it was delicious. I also had their cream corn which was to die for. I'll definitely come back again. Service was also great. read more

Excellent bbq for central Michigan. The smoked turkey tacos were excellent. Loved the queso on them- so good! The mac and cheese is among the best restaurant mac and cheese I've ever had. (Portlanders- this is Screen Door good.) Good service and friendly staff. Great place for downtown Midland! read more

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Very good food! Our waitress Kara, was great at recommending appetizers and we chose the Korean sticky ribs a special they had today. I also had the pulled pork sandwich and a side salad. So damn good I couldn't finish it and brought a lot home for munchies later. My friend had the brisket tacos so delish. I will definitely go back again. read more

I went here with my family and my sisters boyfriend(he is latino which SHOULD'NT matter). When we walked in they said it would be a 15-20 minute wait which isn't bad. At 25 minutes and a few other parties walking in and being seated immediately we checked on our table. There was a group in front of us waiting to talk to the hostess and they were going to sit that group immediately. We'll we noticed that the only 2 parties that had to wait had people of color in them. So, if you want a racist dining experience here would be your place! read more

We tried this place today on a word of mouth recommendation and it was so good! The young gentleman who was tending bar and waited on us 7-26-25 at noon was amazing. He made my wife a version of the drink she wanted that they didn't have and she said it was delicious. We also tried the Korean sticky ribs meal for two and the three amigos sandwich and they were all amazing! read more

Grrrreat local BBQ that isn't trashy. Good selection on bourbon and vodkas. Their chicken wings are really great. They are worth coming back for.. But at the same time a little expensive. Deep fried in oil and not tallow. The wings were very good. The seasoning on them was a little more on the sugary side than anything. But very good. The coleslaw was said to be a mix between mayo and vinegar. It's OK. Nothing to write home about. 5 out of 10 The beans. When they say molasses beans. They mean it. They are overloaded with sugar. For the brisket it was fat and very tasty. I ordered the two meat platter. I got two big pounds of brisket. And we're pretty peppery and sticky. For the sauces, I preferred a molasses Texas mix. Favorite thing I had? The chicken wings. Honestly, they were top notch. read more

Molasses Smokehouse and Bar - Chicken waannngs. Brisket. Ribs. Slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Midland, Michigan

Good place to eat but I am only giving it 4 stars due to the fact that the bbq pork does have a slight fish taste to it due to them most likely being smoked at the same time which if I wanted fish I would order fish read more

These three things are my absolute favorite. When I travel to Midland it is a must stop. The bar tenders are great with great music selection. read more

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GREAT BBQ IN MIDLAND! We were visiting and this is we're we were taken, very nice outside seating with a large covered patio and inside a nice not fancy dining room/bar areas. A bit made to look rustic but it's BBQ! so it's all good, lots of tables without being crowded and clean too! no sticky residue for BBQ sauce anywhere . And each table has a caddie with different sauces so you can be as choosy as you want depending on what you like. Our server was delightful and helpful too! which i like as her recommendations made. sense and i didn't feel we were getting upsold. We did order cocktails and they along with the beer orders were VERRRRY GOOD!!!! Our food was terrific, i had the pulled pork tacos served 2 per order with choice of sides, i choose a side of Mac & Cheese, just such a delish carb load, well worth every calorie Everyone one's food looked & smelled gr8 & judging by the "clean plate club" we were all happy. No dessert was ordered which is unusual and they sounds good, we were all just to full. Would go back FOR SURE, as the Main St. vibe is really cool and a relaxing way to spend a weekend evening just walking around with a cocktail or playing ping pong, resting on the chaise lounge listening to music-and kids are welcomed too, Quite Family Friendly 4sure read more

Love this place. A great spot for a family dinner. It's right downtown and has a delicious food option. It also has a bar and you can watch sports which is cool. Great service. read more

Fun experience. No kid options available but could Probably share a plate with them as we did. The turkey was good and my daughter gave the corn bread a thumbs up. Baby back ribs were mostly fat, not much meat on them. Mashed potatoes were a favorite of ours. It is pretty pricey... 2 meals, 2 beers $100.00 read more

We spent the day at Dow Gardens and found this great bbq place just a few minutes away. It is right downtown in Midland and has some outdoor seating and lot of seating inside. The whole place was spotlessly clean and smelled of wood fire and smoky goodness. We were greeted by a smiley hostess immediately as we walked in and she sat us and two seconds later we met our server. Cody was incredible. He took such great care of me, a person with multiple food allergies and worries about dining out. He went above and beyond to assure me about my choices. The food! I had wings and brisket and the tater tots (all of these are safe for people who are avoiding gluten, dairy or eggs...these are my allergies). The quality was great, flavor was great, portions were just right. Pricing was more than fair and we were very very happy with our experience! Thanks so much, Molasses! We will be back (even if it's nearly two hours' drive for us)! read more

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Great food, great service. The wings are my favorite. Sit down and grab a beer and watch the game

I came here on a date. We were seated immediately. They were not very busy. The ambience was nice and we were looking forward to ordering our dinner. So we waited for our waitress to come by. There were 3 waitress waiting on about 5 tables. None of them came to our table. So we waited, and waited and waited to be served. We watched those waitress standing around talking to each other at the hostess desk. They walked by our table on multiple occasions but none of them waited on us. So we waited and waited. Several new customers came in as it neared the dinner rush and when those tables were waited on immediately and we had yet to have anyone even take even our drink order... We decided to walk out. We did let the manager know they had dropped the ball. She asked where we were seated at and did apologize but she looked at us sitting there several times and walked by our table herself. Clearly she was not paying attention to what's happening in her restaurant. Maybe I'll give them another try at another time but tonight they really dropped the ball and the manager clearly wasn't on top of what was going on. read more