good food, good service, and best location in saugatuck! large 2-story patio situation for outdoor seating -- some fully covered and some with umbrellas. server was understanding when we asked to be moved into the shade. service was a bit slow but it was busy and we had moved tables, so this was understandable. gorgeous views of the water and boats. good food and drinks, nothing mind-blowing. particularly enjoyed the whipped goat cheese dip! patio is dog-friendly. located downtown so parking is limited to street, paid lot, or paid parking garage. if you're looking for a leisurely-paced lunch with a view, i would recommend! read more

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We had terrible service tonight. If you are trying to have a nice night with a large group for a special occasion, rethink where you go. We came here for a bachelorette party. Not only did they do nothing to make her feel special, but there were also quite a few flops that made our night tough. We only waited between 20-30 minutes for a table, however, when our table was ready we were surprised. They needed to break up our group. Huge bummer. We advocated to get a different table so we could all be seated together, but they could not accommodate us. Additionally, there was a group of 10 that got seated at a big group table after us. And they got their food before us. I spoke with the manager, and tried to be kind. Our food took nearly an hour to get to us, and we were hungry. We asked when our food was coming after waiting quite some time, and we were told there will still many parties in front of us. I just felt like with so many things going "wrong" on a bachelorette night, the manager should know. However, they still didn't do anything to make up for the mistakes aside from saying sorry. We tried to laugh it off, but for this being such a nice restaurant, the service was surprising. If you want to make someone feel special, I'm sure there are plenty of other awesome spots in the city. Thank you ~ read more

Decent restaurant in downtown area on the water. Great spot to spend a Saturday afternoon. Food was solid, but it is more of a scene with a two floor outdoor bar. Great prices on well drinks. Cocktails are pretty expensive and not very strong. Ordered the following: Signature Burger - pretty good. Great flavor and the bistro sauce kept it moist Fried lake perch sandwich - ok. Fish was kind of dry and there were three thin strips instead of a larger, thicker, juicer piece Caesar salad - solid Onion rings - great Fries - ok Would go back. Solid value read more

The Butler - Fish sandwich, burger, Caesar - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Went to this restaurant in a group of 14 people of friends and relatives. I had never been to this location before, and do not live in the state of Michigan. After waiting about 20 to 25 minutes to be seated, at three separate tables, the waitress yelled from the end of the table requesting our orders. My wife and I ordered beer, cider, and two entrees. Interestingly, the drink menu did not have any prices for the beer or cider, although the other items did have prices. Spent very little time with us, and never mentioned about who should be on which check. Apparently, this restaurant took all 14 orders, at three separate tables, placed them all on one check, and gave it to somebody in our party, demanding payment for not only all of the meals, but also a chip. Nobody else saw the bill, and I have absolutely no idea how much my wife and I were actually charged for the drinks or the items. I went to the manager and requested a separate bill for my wife and myself so I could review the cost, tax, and tip. The manager told me that their policy was not to split checks, although this is posted nowhere in the restaurant or on the menu, nor was it verbally mentioned by the waitress. Had it been that way, I would have requested a table for my wife and myself, and been able to review the check before paying. Apparently this restaurant adds and automatic tip for the server (the manager said it was 20%, although I have no idea whether this is true). The server was there at the time of the conversation and told me that she had told me that they do not split checks. This is absolutely not true, I was only asked for my order, and the billing and tipping policy was never mentioned. Mentioned. When I asked the manager for the separate check, he replied that the bill had already been paid by somebody else, and if I wanted to find out how much I was charged for what I had ordered, I was to discuss it with them, as he had already received payment. I asked to review the bill, and he said that he could not print out a copy of the bill for me to look at. I told him that I did not feel that a 20% tip was warranted by the server, especially as she was discourteous and dishonest. When she said that she had told me about the billing and tipping policy, which she had not. He said there was nothing further that I could do, and that I could simply call up the management. He also told me that there was no time to do anything, as they were closing the kitchen and we're going to be closing the restaurant soon. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be any legal recourse, even though I had contacted the sheriff's department, who advised me that as the bill had been paid and he had not committed any potential crimes, the only thing that I could do would be to post a bad review on the internet and possibly contact other management. The food was mediocre at best, the service was terrible, and the attitude of the staff was inhospitable. It was one that you would expect from a seasonal type restaurant who would see tourists who would never be back anyway, and so long as they got their money, they really did not care about their reputation, apparently there are always more tourists. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Food good, service subpar, location is great. Loved the location of this restaurant and while we waited for our table to be ready (party of 8) we took the opportunity to stroll along the docks and watch the boats bob on the lake. The restaurant looked like it expanded to a large, two story exterior section. Not a lot of tables, mostly bar space as far as I could tell. When I first walked in, the host (or maybe manager) stared at the tablet in front of him for a solid 60 seconds before acknowledging my presence. Totally get that he was in the middle of something, but a few words to let me know that he at least was aware that I was there would have been a simple pleasantry. We were told that our wait would be 45 minutes. When 50 minutes had passed, I stepped inside to ask the host if our table was ready. He told me just a couple more minutes. Another 10-15 minutes passes and we decide to all come in to put the pressure on. The host now rushes to get two tables cleaned and pushed together. Bad start to our experience, especially with two toddlers getting fussy. After being seated, our server, a young man with hardly a single hair on his chin, asks us for our drink orders. The first drink comes about 15 minutes later, and they all arrive at different times. We placed our orders and explained that we would like to just put everything on one check. This breaks his brain as he tries to poorly explain that since we have two tables pushed together, then he has to bill them separately. Confused, we decided to move on. Another long period of waiting later and the first 3 orders arrive. And slowly the rest trickle in. I had a salad which was good and sampled some fried shrimp from my wife's plate. I wouldn't say that any of it was worth that long of a wait, but it was good. The server somehow managed to put us on one bill and we left swiftly. I liked the location, the old sailing decor, the views, and the food was decent. But the service needs to be sorted. Both front and back of house. read more

We haven't eaten at the Butler in years. We pass it often, but almost always remind each other of the terrible night we dinned there. My wife barely made it to the restaurant bathroom in time to be sick. My stomach distress was two hours later. Things might have changed, but it's not worth the risk to try it again. read more

Do not give this place your business!! So disappointed with the way the staff dismissed our group. We wanted to order from the bar and the bar tender told us we weren't allowed to order drinks from the bar and that we had to go to the "to go" bar. We went to the "to go" bar only to be told by a manager they don't have a "to go" bar and we needed to go back to the hostess. The way the manager talked to us was beyond demeaning. I will never recommend this place to anyone looking for anything in this area. read more

unusually busy for a Monday evening. we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. Server seemed new. she was unable to answer questions about the menu or the wine. she didn't offer to find out the answers to our questions. service was slow- menu item included items not mentioned in description, some I was allergic to . we felt the servers were poorly trained - the vibe chaotic. Please work on training your people before you throw them out on the floor. read more

Well where should we start... we always stop here when we're in town for the location and fungi pizza. Definitely will change moving forward. We used to rave about the fungi pizza to anyone who asked for a recommendation. Not sure if the chef changed or management but we got bread with cheese. Not to mention we ordered two fungi pizza and they were both different. See the pictures below. There was one bite per slice of cheese and maybe a slice of a mushroom. Previous years, the pizza used to be loaded with a variety of mushrooms. Don't skim on customers, not how you keep them. We placed our order and approximately 1-2 minutes approached the waitress to change it. She told us the chef said no changes, they could add on the pizza as an additional entree. Then came back and said it was fixed. Overall not a great experience. read more

The Butler - Fungi Pizza - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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Good menu selections (especially burgers). Food was good, but service was slow. Salad was served at the end of the meal.

A long time standing gem of saugatauk- and I know why. First, the new outdoor double decker patio seating (on the water) has summer night vibes ALL over it. Second, the food. I could write a love sonnet about these pretzel balls. And the Buffalo cheese with them? Had I not been in public I would have licked the bowl clean. Caesar salad was simple- but executed well. My friends burger was the same. Just a well executed burger, simple but damn good. Views of the river, as you enjoy good food. A must stop if you're in the area. read more

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We came here Wednethe for lunch after I was in the mood for clam chowder, and someone assured me that this restaurant serves it every day. That person was right, and I am so glad that we did come here. My husband and I also had the fungi pizza, which was a mushroom pizza, and very good. The service here was spot on. read more

The Butler - Clam chowder, yum! - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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Great location on the water. Inside and patio dining. We sat at the bar as we waited for our table. It was a busy Saturday. The bartenders were working hard. But very friendly and made a great Old Fashion. Good selection of bourbon. When we got to the table we ordered the brisket pizza and lavender goat cheese pizza. Both were amazing. Over all one of the best. We will be back. . read more

The Butler has gone downhill. The famous burgers now come pre-formed and frozen. They are dried out and come medium, no matter what you order. They aren't using plates anymore, it's some sort of undersized metal basket. The onion rings are scarce and also not what they were. This is all so depressing, I've been coming to the Butler for 25+ years. Time to try other eating establishments in Saugatuk. On the upside, the clam chowder was excellent, expensive - but excellent. read more

It was just ok. Steak had a lot of tough gristle and the truffle fries were too much

The crispy brussel sprouts were delicious! I got a pizza for my entree and was not impressed by it. All of the cheese slid off and congealed into a pile of sauce and cheese. The service was really great and fast. If you come here and can sit outside opt for that. The inside is okay but sitting outside on the water is the better option! read more

The Butler - Crispy brussel sprouts - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Wow - what a pleasant surprise! Great cuban sandwich, delicious truffle fries, beautiful view of the water, and excellent service by Caley. Highly recommended!!!! read more

The Butler - Water view - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

my wife and I were very disappointed. Food was not very good. the resturant was recommended to me. sorry I listened to them. I ordered a classic burger and my wife ordered the smoked salmon wrap. both really lack flavor. maybe other food items are good, but I don't ho back to find out. service was ok. read more

Low food and drink quality for the price. Sure the view is lovely but that just isn't enough. The worst Margarita, had to send it back. Obnoxiously drunk table next to us didn't help the scene but the service was really good I will give them that read more

My favorite food is salad, and The Butler has a killer Cobb salad. I added grilled chicken and changed the dressing to blue cheese. The service was good. We sat outside. They were very busy, so plan on waiting for a table. read more

Amazing outdoor patio ! Place is a staple in Saugatuck! Wonderful food and great with kids ! Service was on point

Had reservations for 12 today. Got seated right away. Waitress got our drink order in a decent amount of time. Food order was also given in a decent amount of time. That's where it ended. Food took an hour to get. Food was subpar. Burgers are cooked the way they want apparently. Burger aren't freshly made. It was ok but nothing I couldn't get at Costco. When it came to our bill she asked who was with who. 30 min later she came back and said she screwed up and could we just pay the bill. I'm sorry but your only job is severing food? Let me make your job easier. 1) if it's more than a couple ask of it's one bill or a separate bill. If yes, then put their names down so you know what to bill to whom(or some sort of code).. This isn't rocket science. read more

First time visit - view is absolutely spectacular. Music blaring, it would be so much nicer if it were turned down. Awful mayo only tartar sauce with tiny specks of pickle. Perch overcooked- heavy breaded, oily. Go for the view, skip coleslaw or Perch. The side salad is well worth the upcharge of $3, skip the raspberry Viniagrette, sweet with no flavor. Nice upstairs patio to enjoy cocktails/beer & the panoramic view. read more

Disappointing and Unsafe Experience I ordered a gluten-free pizza (allergic to wheat), clearly marked on the menu. When the crust tasted wonderful, I questioned the server. Unfortunately, it was not gluten-free. She casually mentioned she "maybe should have asked if it was a health issue." That level of carelessness is unacceptable when dealing with dietary restrictions. No manager ever came to the table, the pizza was replaced with a gluten free crust and the bill reflected a 25% discount. I am now sick on my vacation because of this error. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, I'd strongly recommend avoiding this place. read more

Drinks seem light on liquor The calm chowder was excellent The bruschetta was too salty to eat. The service was very good read more

Good dinner and service. We started with the big soft pretzel which was warm and soft. Love it. The has the bratwurst pretzel bun sliders with sauerkraut which was great. My brother had one of the 1/2 pound hamburgers and liked it. Happy hour is a real deal here and we took advantage of it. read more

Food and service. Waited an hour and a half for food with no apology or explanation of why it was taking so long. Food was not worth the wait. Fish over cooked and dry. Beautiful view. Kitchen needs help. This was a Tuesday afternoon around 2:30. Not a busy time of day. We discussed it with the manager and still not much resolved. What a waste of our vacation time. Do better Butler it's got the ambience down but food and service was very poor. read more

I love the Butler, I'd much rather be outside on the patio, but for a snowy night, the bar and fireplace were a huge hit. The pizza is phenomenal. Lots of interaction with the bartender, staff and managers. Thank you Butler for amazing food. read more

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Really good service. Great clam chowder. Wish they had more entree options. Now that they have the patio, the place is massive! read more

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The Raspberry Goat Cheese pizza was so tasty, everything about this was wonderful, from the sweetness of the raspberry to the savory of the cheese and the crust was perfect, the Michigan Mojito was refreshing and delicious, both highly recommend Spectacular views from the 2nd floor patio and wonderful staff! read more

Beautiful views! The whitefish dip and sandwiches were delish. Will return next time we are in Saugatuck!

First, the good news...beautiful outside seating, views of water and boats. Unfortunately, the good news ends there. Terrible service (took 20+ mins to get drinks) and the food, while elegantly described, is very average and expensive for you get. Overall, very disappointing. However, if you have hours to wait on a drink and want to people watch, The Butler might be okay. Otherwise, try somewhere else. Not worth the time or money. read more

Our t server "Em" was spot on with her recommendations! Manager, Nick was very cordial and funny! Very nice atmosphere. I ordered the raspberry goat cheese pizza. Everything's in-house made to include the dough each day. This pizza was amazing!!! Wife Jodi had the Panzanella salad and at the end, we shared a Cranes apple pie, which how can you go wrong with that? You can't!!! We'll be back again and again. read more

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The Butler is now the Red Wave. While waiting for a table our 7 person multigenerational group went to bar and were served by Nick who began by being chatty and friendly. That changed instantly after I thinking i was joining the fun asked for "lots of orange in my aperol spritz". Sadly this was very offensive to Nick who accused me of being critical, etc , asked my daughter in law if i "was okay or was something wrong with me" told my son he charged for a double and did the same for my husband. All in all, this guy was over the top in rudeness. We finally got our table and service and food good but slow. We had theatre tickets and were running late after long wait for a table. Waiter charming and delightful and did his best. So a 1 for bar and 4 for restaurant I am certain Nick will tell owner i was crazy but this is here for next person who is unfortunate enough to unwittingly rattle Nick. read more

The advantage is that on a Tuesday in off season this place is open. It's warm inside, with a great selection of beers. We both had burgers which were fine, nothing award winning, just OK an yet at the same time exactly what you'd have expected read more

The Butler - View from the restaurant - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Had dinner here with family. Was sat quickly and also got drinks quickly. The food was so incredibly slow. My wife has celiacs and has to eat gluten free. She ordered a burger and I'll admit, she forgot to tell the server she needed a gluten free bun. They said they'd her a new one out quick. Well 30 minutes come and gone and nothing. We tell them to take it to go. Then 10 minutes later I have to go find a server and manger. I asked them why it takes so long to make a burger on the fly. The server said "well everything outside is full". It was a Tuesday at 5:30 so not even busy period. Ultimately, I wouldn't go here. Food was mediocre at best and the it was so incredibly slow. read more

Came here after finding park driving around after 30 minutes. The parking is first come first serve in the neighborhood. Came here on. Saturday ahead 4th of July weekend and it was a busy town. We walked to the patio and we seated right away on the lower level with a full menu. We waited a few minutes before our order was taken. The patio is right next to the waterfront which is beautiful and breezy. Today's weather is couldy and has sprinkles of rain here and there. The ambiance has great music of all genres and all ages are welcome. The food came out all together and we were so excited to try everything. My fiance and I ordered the mushroom caps, the lobster sliders, the walleye lunch. Absolutely loved everything aside from my fiance noting there was too much cheese on the mushrooms but who doesn't love cheese! The lobster sliders were simple but delicious and actual pieces of lobster. He was floored with the walleyes plate that came with fried walleye, asparagus, and potatoes drenched with microgreens and this creamy sauce. We ordered the blood orange margarita which is a little sour and the whiskey wiles. Yes, he ordered a second whiskey wiles Last but not least, our waitress was attentive, friendly, and accommodating. She came to check on us when we needed and got us our check when we were ready! So happy we came to try this restaurant! read more

The Butler - Lobster sliders, mushroom caps, walleye lunch. Tall glass bloog orange margarita, short glass whiskey wiles. - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant. We put our name in for a table at about 630 and the wait for an outside table was about an hour. It's nice because you can check your position in line and roam around the downtown till then. Get a table along the railing for the best view. Food overall was very good, but I would look at Yelp to figure out which items to order (like my review) Our entrées took a long time, but we were enjoying the view and relaxing so I didn't mind. read more

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We've visited The Butler several times before and always recommended it to family and friends. But after how my 33-year-old daughter was treated during her recent visit, I can no longer stand behind that recommendation. She went alone while we were attending a family wedding. Upon arriving at the downstairs bar, there was a medical emergency unfolding--which understandably made things tense. She requested a Bud Light draft. The bartender abruptly said they didn't have it. She then asked for a Modelo with lime, but he interrupted, asking if she wanted Bud Light in a bottle--ignoring what she'd actually requested. Before even listening to her response, he asked for her ID. She handed over her valid Kentucky license, and what followed was over-the-top and humiliating. He bent it, tried to pry it apart with his nail, and held it up to the light. Then he asked if it was fake. She told him she was 33--she had just had her birthday--and kept trying to explain, but he was rude and dismissive. He even showed her ID to another young employee and asked for their opinion. When asked if he had scanned the ID, he said there wasn't a scanner at that bar. Instead of calmly verifying or declining service, he told her to leave. She left upset and embarrassed, and texted me right away. I called and spoke to the manager, who defended the bartender, claiming he was "just doing his job." I understand the need to verify ID, but this was excessive and handled very poorly. We won't be returning. The food has never been memorable, and after this kind of treatment, there are many other places in Saugatuck that are far more worthy of your time and money. read more

Food was very delicious, we had a great experience at the butler . It was an amazing customer service (Talia our waitress was outstanding! It was a great atmosphere we really enjoyed our meals. Overall 10/10 Thank you for the hospitality! read more

The Butler - Great wine ! - American Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan