Went to the Strand tonight for dinner. We have been there in past years when vacationing in the area and have always had amazing food but not great service. Tonight we had Jackson as our server. He was amazing!! Very attentive and friendly. Drinks and food came out quickly. He was super friendly!! Food was delicious as always but wanted to do a shout out to the amazing service we received tonight! read more

Been here several times always solid consistent food great atmosphere excellent outdoor waterviews. Highly recommend the smash burger. Fish tacos also a winner. Our server Robin was great very thorough. read more

See all

I ordered the Mexi-canna salad which comes with greens, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, black beans, shredded cheese, tortilla chips and fried chicken, but I opted for tofu instead. When the salad arrived, the salad was topped with something that resembled pork. After consulting with the kitchen, the waitress told me that they had recently switched to jackfruit but had not yet updated the menu. I like jackfruit, but I don't think it worked well on this salad -- it really needed something crispier with more texture. However, the rest of the salad was good. The lettuce was fresh, and the fire roasted tomatoes, black beans and corn added great texture to each bite. The vegetarian-friendly options here are rather limited, so I'm not sure I'd rush back. They'd benefit greatly from a black bean or Impossible burger. Overall, the service was good and I liked the openness of the interior as well as the outdoor seating area. It's a good spot if you're in the area. read more

The Strand - Mexi-canna salad with jackfruit - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

Got rid of the best thing they had on their menu. Everyone I've known that goes there raves about their Brussels sprouts and I confirm they were amazing. read more

We were in the area checking out an overnight camp and their staff recommend The Strand for lunch, which was conveniently on our way back to Chicago. We came with 2 nine year old boys in tow so when we walked in and saw the mini arcade knew we had found the right spot. This wasn't too busy on a Saturday afternoon so there were plenty of tables to choose from inside. You can sit outside as well, but it was one of the HOTTEST days of the year so the air conditioning was welcomed. Our waitress and the girl she was training were super attentive. They took our orders immediately and the boys ran off to play video games. I never have cash on me, but was able to get some from the ATM (and then change at the bar). Our food came out pretty fast. I went with the fish tacos, which were tasty. I didn't love that they the fish was fried, but still good. My son also seemed to enjoy his chicken tenders. We were all well fueled for our 2.5 hour drive home. The boys ran off after they ate to play more games and it took some convincing to get them out of there. I'd definitely stop here again when in the area. A few days later I was on the hunt for my car keys and thought maybe i somehow left them there. I called and spoke to someone who couldn't have been nicer trying to find them for me. No such luck, but appreciated that she looked everywhere she could possibly think of. read more

Came in to the establishment around 7pm. Ordered a round of libations which took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. The waiter was incredibly rude and only stopped by the table every 30 minutes. Water well ran dry, drinks ran dry, and my ambition to live nearly ran dry. The food waited around so long it had went stale.... I will never return to this establishment. read more

Had an amazing dinner last night! From the view, to the service, to the food! And of course the company! It was all absolutely wonderful! Highly recommend the smoked ribs! Truly the best I've ever had! Thank you! read more

See all

Good fish and chips. We like sitting outside drink wines looking at Sisters Lake and the two fire pits. Lucy Robert Jones read more

Great food and beautiful views. Perfect for adults and families too! The BIG pretzel was a hit!

Service was excellent. New front end manager Jen has the staff rockin' Ivette G was our server. Was on top of things without being annoying. Food delivery was quick and well presented. Manager was out checking on customers the whole time I was there but.not.hovering. First time I came here I thought for sure they weren't going.to make.it.WHAT A TRANSFORMATION! Had the fish tacos, very good! And I'm a foodie. The.front patio is very comfortable. Conversation was not a.chore. I can understand the bad reviews from the.past, but please give em another.shot, they are doing.all the.right things now read more

Was once a really nice place that served quality food and craft beer. The place changed ownership and it's steadily went downhill since. The staff is rude, inattentive and unmanaged. Sign said seat your self and after sitting there for at least 10 minutes with no acknowledgment that we were even there someone finally Showed up and asked us to sit at the bar because they anticipated being busy later and might need the two extra seats we had at our table. We walked out without anyone even noticing. Fortunately just up the street is Sister Lakes Brewery that has great beer, food and a great staff that's managed, highly recommend. read more

The service was exceptional, and I highly recommend it. The delivery of "Good" was timely, despite the busy summer season. Addison, Rylee, Rylee, Kelli and Kate were awesome! Jamison's drinks were fantastic. read more

We had a waiter that was clearly under the influence of something. He was nice, however, he did not check on our table very often and drinks were empty much of the time. We were the only table and there were a handful of people at the bar. There were more staff than patrons. Several of the cocktails that others at our table ordered tasted like carbonated water. We ordered the cheese curds as an appetizer, which were very good. I ordered the fish tacos, which were horrible. They were literally a tortilla shell with romaine lettuce, a small piece of fish, and a drizzle of sauce. One of the people in our party asked for Tabasco sauce, 20 minutes later the waiter brought a bottle of Tabasco sauce that was a quarter full and had an odd color. The waiter said he asked the cook if it was still good because it "looked wierd" and the cook said it was fine. Overall, the service was pretty bad, especially since we were the only table in there. Some of the food was good and some of it was horrible and wasn't even made with the ingredients listed in the menu description. The cost of everything was high for the quantity and quality of the food. We will not be back. read more

This place clearly says DOG FRIENDLY they lied. Walked in not greeted and when someone finally came over we asked to sit on patio with our dogs and she said they are not permitted for them! Then please take that off your listing on YELP! read more

I hosted a Bridal shower at The Strand and it was wonderful. Robin was great to work with leading up to the event as well as the day of. Jennifer was our server and she was amazing!! They went above and beyond to help make our event special! They were so accommodating!! The food and drink was terrific and the service was fabulous. Thank you so much!! read more

Very nice place. Beers are good & the food is very good. The staff are all friendly and knowledgeable.

Parking was full and cars just parked on the side of the road. Huge wait time do to backed up orders. Would I go again?... Sure would. Live band and bags can fill the wait time, or just go to the outside bar and get to tasting those mighty fine beers . The waiter was fantastic. Checked on us numerous times. Got the drinks out quick and made sure they were never empty. Somehow got appetizers out even though the kitchen had stopped taking orders for a time. Had a breezy bright indoor table. Saw the sunset and enjoyed the wonderful day. Great food and beer. read more

The Strand - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

very nice views of the lake , nice menu, nice selections of games on the big screen tv's house brew American IPA has a nice clean taste , wife ordered a fall cocktail Brown sugar squash she likes , not to sweet . ordered the chicken platter, and she ordered a brisket sandwich. read more

Came a few days before the 4th of July and only received our drinks, never getting to our appetizers or our entrees. Waitresses were great but cooks need to get it together. Such a great spot by the lake with wonderful space that hopefully returns to great service. read more

Upon reaching for the door handle- I wanted to leave Gross Clean the door The women's bathroom was also filthy Gross The hostess seemed "out of it". We asked for a table in the shade, another group walked over and sat down- she just stared into space. The food was okay Our waiter stood at the bar and talked with other servers! Hello Lot's of room for improvements read more

Every time we are in Decatur Michigan we come visit THE STRAND, Delicious Sunday morning Bloody Mary's. They have a great pretzel bites appetizer that they serve with a side of horse radish mustard. So good! I usually get the Fish taco entree and brussell sprouts side. The place is beautiful with great rustic lighting and that beautiful ANGEL wings mural inside. I even had to grab a tiny piece of merch to remind me of Michigan during the Chicago winters. We will be back! read more

See all

We're locals, been here a handful of times and always had a decent experience. Food is good and atmosphere is nice. Unfortunately, our experience a few nights ago absolutely changed our minds about ever going back. We had dinner *reservations* for a large group, as family was in from out of town. So the restaurant knew we were coming. Got seated right away, and a couple of us (maybe 3?) ordered alcoholic beverages. Waitress took our orders in a timely manner. However, after 2 hours of waiting, we were told it would be AT LEAST another half an hour, bringing our WAIT TIME to a grand total of 3 hours... not including the time it would take to eat and enjoy the food. After the ones with starving toddlers left (because who wants to wait around like that at 9pm with a tired and hungry 3 year old?), we were told we still had to pay for drinks, but then they said they'd give us 50% off. The "manager" had nothing but excuses and apparently zero customer service education - essentially blamed the waitress and everyone else, but who knows if any of it was true or not. There was no "We're so sorry. We'll cover the drinks and hope you give us a second chance." or "Give us a second chance and dinner is on the house next time"... it was basically just "don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya" on our way out. And we were not alone in this experience. Not only did the restaurant lose patrons in the long run, the waitress lost a HUGE tip that night. It's the little things that bring people back, even after a bad experience read more

Service was great!!!! My beef brisket was not hot. They took care of it right away and brought me a new meal. The hand cut fries (new this year) were greasy & stringy. Worst I've ever had! I told them to go back to the fries they had last year. My nephews corn bread was hard as a rock, they took 20% off his bill. The brisket was good along with the pulled pork. The 3 of us liked it. read more

Excellent and fantastic restaurant and brewery. The ambiance is enhanced by the history of this place. The building used to be a bowling alley and the dining tables are made from reclaimed wood from the old bowling lanes. Definitely adds a richness to the history and culture of the restaurant. My friends and I came here while on vacation in Benton Harbor. They had a great selection of beers on tap. What was especially great was the Siriacha Bleu Burger, which was delicious! Highly recommend! read more

The Strand - From the patio - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

Great location with a nice view of the lake. However.... Service is super slow, took about an hour to get food. Beer was not good, one of our party sent his back. Mixed drinks are not priced...don't order unless you want a very unpleasant surprise. I will say the food was just ok. This place was not having a bad day, it has been like this every time we've been there and we won't be back unless some changes are made. read more

One of my local favorite places whenever I go home! This place always has a beautiful view of the lake and the sunshine, corn hole for the whole family to play outside while you wait for your meal, and a nice cold beer waiting for you inside! Food is typical American grill type food. Always tasty sometimes changes with the season, but consistently a family favorite! read more

The Strand - people sitting at tables in a restaurant - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

Strand is a great place been there several times nice inside views of the round lake waiter we had was high but he did ok chicken was very good fish was terrible I'll go there again but don't order the fish !!!!! read more

An absolutely incredible place by Sister Lakes to enjoy a beer and a bite to eat. Great atmosphere. A must if you are anywhere near visiting or living. Check it out!! Our family loves this place read more

Four stars might be a bit premature since I only had two beers here and no food, but this place was very tastefully done! Beautiful setting with an expansive view of Round Lake. Had a guitarist strumming tunes the night I visited. Looking forward to a return visit to try their food and a bigger sampling of their beer. read more

The Strand - Inside @ The Strand - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

The food is ok. 4/5 stars. The reason why I go to restaurants is for the food. So if the food is ok it brings down my overall rating. The service is normal. The place is always clean and has a great view of the lake. I would go again but if you want better smoked meat sandwiches, go to TJ's bar and grill. read more

Walked in, rusty ass bathroom toilets, smelled funky, no shade outside for cool summer seating. Mediocre service and very inexperienced. Ordered the coop chicken sandwich and they messed up the order, was way too spicy, had absolutely no flavor and wasn't advertised to be that way then the only accommodation they offered was to remake the sandwich. Took 30-45 minutes to get the food so it is not worth the wait anyway. Wouldn't even want to give a homeless man that chicken sandwich. DO NOT COME HERE!! Decent elote dip though. read more

10/22/2023 I would give this restaurant a minus rating. What a sh..show. Our waitress acted like that was the very last place she wanted to be. Not friendly. When we were finished with dinner she never came to take away the plates, etc. She was too busy standing around the bar talking to the bartenders. We had three children ages 7,5 and 2 with us. It took forever to get our our food and when we did all of it was COLD! My grandsons ordered grilled cheese sandwiches and it looked like they toasted the bread and threw a slice of Velveeta on the bread. My granddaughter ordered a hamburger and besides being cold it looked like a frozen patty of meat had been slapped on a bun. This isn't even peak season and yet they couldn't handle 4-5 other tables with customers and not large groups. My daughter took the kids to the bathroom and said it was a mess. I don't know how this restaurant stays in business. They must rely on the summer residents. We won't be back here again. read more

When u go here just expect the following and then you won't be disappointed... Food was ok, service was hit and miss, music was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. Sunset on the Lake was beautiful read more

Don't go if you have a group over 8!!!!!! My family and I went there on Tuesday evening and were given a very limited menu to choose from-a few apps or pre-made meals which were awful. We didn't even have the option of just a plain old burger! We were told that the owner decided on this limited menu for larger groups because ordering off the regular menu would slow down the kitchen. Well I guess they won't be getting our business again. I was really looking forward to going but completely disappointed!! My two stars is for the beautiful sunset! read more

Food is good, service leaves quite to be desired. When they have live music, nobody inside knows anything about it! They need to get their head out of there butt and pay attention to there costumers! read more

Drove 3 hours to visit this brewery that was on one of our brew tour lists. Was ignored at the bar for 15 minutes by the bartenders Alexis & Jess. No eye contact or acknowledgement that we were even there! Served the couples around us a second round without even taking our order. Bar was not very busy. Open seats at both ends. We were prepared to spend money and tip well! Staff needs more training! Very disappointed! read more

I've always been told to try The Strand & based on that insight we finally did and boy were our expectations met! The building itself is REALLY cool. The outdoor area is awesome & spacious. Staff was wonderful & the food was really great. Hillbilly Steak Bites, what the!? They were freaking delish! I like to think I'm a bit of a beer snob & I wasn't super pleased with their selection (my only reason for denoting a star) the flavors were just a little "meh" to me. I had high expectations in this department knowing it's a brewery. This definitely didn't make or break the experience though, I would totally go back! read more

So, let me start by saying that this place is tucked away in a cozy little spot in Dowagaic by the lake.. It has a very quaint, comfortable aesthetic and welcomed you like an old friend. My girlfriend and I, came here and she was immediately impressed. We ordered the cheese curds to start, they were amazing. Then, the server suggested that brisket tacos were on special. We immediately jumped at the opportunity, and let me say, amazing! If you're ever in Dowagaic don't pass this gem up! read more

The Strand - Brisket Tacos and house made fries - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

Another winning restaurant that we found. We stopped in on a late Sunday afternoon after visiting a friend in the Sisters Lakes area. The view is absolutely fantastic, There is a large patio, but the tables in the shade were already taken. Lucky for us, we sat at one of the tables right next to the open garage doors so we had the perfect view and location inside and out of the beating sun. Our server, Henry, was spot on. He was friendly, helpful, and really took an interest in us and the other patrons he was serving. Our drink & food was brought out in a timely fashion and exactly what we ordered. The Strand does have a substantial drink menu with some specialty cocktails, and they also make their own craft beer, but we opted for a glass of wine. The food menu had a good array of items ranging from salads, sandwiches, burgers, and main courses. It appeared brisket was what they were well known for and we love a good brisket. I had the Stranded Reuben. It was absolutely one of the best Reubens I have ever had. The most tender brisket, chipotle aioli, smoked gouda, blue cheese bacon dressing. Amazing. D had the brisket and potatoes and he was in heaven. We also ordered a side of Brussels sprouts which had a wonderful maple bacon glaze. During the summer they have live music outside in their pavilion. And I believe they have soloist artist inside during the winter. I'm so glad we stopped at The Strand. This is a place I know for certain we will dining at again. read more

The Strand - Awesome patio - Breweries Near Me - Dowagiac, Michigan

See all

Good atmosphere, great view, mediocre food at best. I want to love this place and have tried it several times over the last 3 years. Too few healthy options. They used to have a grilled fish entree that was pretty good. Now, a lot of fried food. More often than not, the food, and sometimes service, disappoints. read more