Great food and waitress. Appreciate the friendly staff working on Christmas. Loved the thistle fries and came with garlic mayo, yum. Will come back probably tomorrow night. read more

The Thistle - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

We have been coming here for 13 years. Went to Thistle and Pub for the first time last night. Why have we waited so long! The best trout I have ever had from all of the restaurants in this area. My husband had the pork chop and said it was good as well. Service was good, atmosphere is nice, a little loud Due to the size of the restaurant and the number of tables. But we will definitely be back! read more

The Thistle - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

Seated at our reservation time but now waiting 45+ minutes for our food. So far I am disappointed at the service. Our appetizer plates are still on the table, and our teenagers are dropping like flies. read more

The Thistle - The kids are finally being served almost an hour after ordering. The appetizer plates are still on the table. - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

Resort restaurant, resort food. The ribs were good, not great, they had a blue cheese cheesecake appetizer that really stole the show and was outstanding. hangar steak was good, nice local beer offerings, very nice ambiance inside the place as well. we're here off peak but in the height of ski season it would be a great place to hole up and watch the weather outside. read more

The Thistle - Ribs - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

My sister's and I were at Crystal mountain for a sisters weekend. We had a late dinner at the Pub. Dinner was good and drink was really good! read more

The Thistle - a cucumber in a wine glass - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

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This place is not good. It's the only restaurant at Crystal for Dinner so you have no choice but endure it. I think it's meant to be fancy but they haven't figured out the menu or the service. They have high-end items on the menu and they just aren't done well. The medium rare steak was dry and gray. The "panini" is like I would make at home without the right ingredients. The bread they used was the same as the bread for the kids grill cheese... just pressed in part. Other entrees weren't that bad but nothing was great. Service. We had a large table of 10+. So we order drinks. Wondering where the drinks are after 15 minutes, we all turn to the bar and see three ladies behind the bar literally standing talking. We asked if they were the ones making the drinks and they suddenly started working. But they had a good 15 minutes of just hanging out before doing their jobs. Meals come out kind of randomly. I'll definitely consider this before spending more time up there. Like I said, it's the only restaurant. That why it's sucks, no competition. read more

Always have a good experience here when I am home visiting, usually twice a year or so. Scottish eggs are really good. I also like the burgers and veggie burgers. The turkey rachael is good. Overall the food is great. Love the fireplace. The only thing I don't like is the blue curtains in the dining room. A warmer color would be better but whatever. Our waitress did disappear for a long period of time when we went a few weeks ago. I don't know what that was all about and they weren't busy. Not cool. 2016- I still go here at least once a year for lunch and no complaints other than the scotch eggs being gone :( read more

After reading some of the negative reviews, I was a little wary of going here. But we checked into our room late in the evening and this was the only place still open. It was a good spot though! The decor was pretty nice: sort of like a mountain lodge. Everyone was exceptionally friendly, from the host to the bartender to several employees who had just gotten off and were having dinner before going home. I had the ribs. A little fatty but very delicious, served with polenta which is unusual where I am from but was great. My wife had the blackened rainbow trout and really enjoyed it. We had burrata as an app and that was the best part of our meals! This place is a-okay in my book. It is a bit pricy for the area, but not crazy expensive- this is a resort! I wish it wasn't raining- looked like there is a nice outdoor seating area and it's pretty, nestled against the base of the ski slopes, which are full of grass and wildflowers in July. read more

Ordered the parmesan encrusted Walleye. The WORST meal EVER at this restaurant. Awful piece of floppy, mushy walleye with some red tomato sauce on it? Yes, on fish. Gross. Beware. Absolutely awful. read more

Wow. I've had bad hotel food but this place takes the cake. I had to send my initial order back because the "Otto's Airlane's Chicken" was too tough to cut with a knife and its sauce was so salty it made my ears ring. They substituted that with the horrible "chicken swimming in a pool of pasta and tomatoes and Italian dressing" which I also could not eat. The only aspect of the place worthy of a second star is the service, which at least puts in some effort. Avoid! read more

The Thistle - "Chicken swimming in pasta, tomatoes, and Italian dressing" - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

Great dining experience. Food was great, service efficient and friendly. Highly recommend and will retu read more

The Thistle - Wild-mushroom-risotto-stuffed acorn squash with roasted vegetables - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

Disappointing all around. Not worth the price paid at all. Food served did not match description on menu (root vegetable confetti was just giant hunks of roasted beets; chop salad didn't have artichoke hearts), and was poorly prepared (steak massively over cooked, salad overdressed). For food like this you're better off going to a local dive and paying appropriate prices. read more

This place try's to be up scale but epically fails. We called two hours before our reservation to see if we could get in early, they said to come in 30 minutes, so we did. When we got there, they had maybe five tables filled, they scuffed we were so early even though we called to make sure it was ok. They told us we had to be out in two hours because of another table coming (mind you we already had a reservation). Let's just say we were in, ate and out in 35 minutes. Service was terrible, never came to fill our drinks, check on our food or offered coffee or desert. The food was cold & mediocre. Not worth your time or money. Just very disappointed. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this place! Def has a hotel restaurant vibe, but the decor was cozy and woodsy and did the trick! The food was awesome - salmon was delicious and the beef tip special was too. Walked in for a table for two with no res on a Saturday night with no problem. All in all, a perfect end to a ski day. read more

Ok, we have a place at Crystal and have been to he Thistle many times, mainly because it's the only option at the bottom of the ski hill. Here's only a partial beak down: 1. Get ready for a 20 minute wait and see open tables. After the 20 minutes, those same table will still be open. 2. Once seated, prepare for 3-5 employees to walk past and not even acknowledge your existence. You will need to grab someone's attention. 3. Do not order the pretzel fondue unless you like large croutons as your pretzel pieces. 4. The Thistle fries are just fries with parmesan sprinkled served with mayo and ketchup. There is no truffle sauce anywhere. 5. Twisted Thistle is there in house special beer on draft. However, it always runs out. Have a backup on the ready. Alas, since there isn't anywhere else to go unless you want the cafeteria, you have to deal with apathy in service and the kitchen. I do have one exception for service, Kelli as a server is the exception, thank god. She is super kind and sweet, and will bust her butt. Its hard to get her section, probably makes sense why. read more

There aren't many options at this resort to sit down and grab a drink so we decided to just try this one out first. We sat at the bar and ordered a drink. The staff was somewhat friendly but made us feel incredibly awkward. We asked to then just take our drinks to the patio. They have about 15 tables outside, 2 of which were taken, but they made it a huge issue for us to move because they had " reservations." Keep in mind this was about 5 pm. After we informed our hostess/server that we were just finishing our drinks, she became incredibly rude. I understand it's a high class pub, but it was 5 pm and empty. read more

Good food, very reasonable prices, excellent service. Kelli was great - so friendly. Kids meals wonderful - my daughter had the chicken tenders and they were delish...yes I tried them. Thistle burger excellent. Parmesan truffle fries a must to indulge in. Sirloin chili was so good. We were so cold but had a table right by a real warm fireplace. Enjoyed thoroughly! read more

We ate here a few times this past weekend while up at Crystal Mountain for a golf weekend. Surprisingly good food at fair prices for a resort. My hunger level was high, so I may be rating the walleye sandwich higher than it should be, but it was pretty solid. The server did a good job of handling our large, somewhat rowdy group as well. The Michigander panini was alright, good for a quick lunch. Again the server did a great job of turning our lunch service around in less than 40 mins before our next tee time. They could be gouging with resort prices, but it doesn't seem like they do (as far as lunch goes). Solid service, worth the visit if you are staying at Crystal. read more

Came here on Christmas Eve and it was dead. There was no snow so I guess a lot of people cancelled their vacations. The service was great. Of course got a table for the 9 of us right away and food came out very fast after ordering. I tried the pulled pork sandwich because one of the other reviews mentioned it. So glad I read...the pulled pork sandwich was probably one of the best pulled pork sandwiches I've ever tasted. I tasted a bunch of the other people's foods as well. The chicken special was very tasty as well. The dessert was ok. The prices were decent considering it's inside the village. It was an average of about $12 per plate. Definitely worth eating here if your in the village. read more

Delicious! We ate here twice during our stay this summer at Crystal Mountain wish we would have eaten here more. Everything we had was great. Beyond meat veggie burger was outstanding, as well as all the different apps. Service was great too. Definitely will be back next time we are here read more

We've eaten here a number of times over the years when we've stayed at Crystal. I particularly enjoy eating on the outdoor patio, but the indoor dining room (with it's dark wood accents) is great for that cozy pub feeling on a cold winter day. The smoked cheddar spread appetizer is a nice starter, although dinner entrees here seem a bit pricey for a "pub". We usually go for a late lunch. This used to be more of an exclusively meat-and-potatoes menu (think bangers and mash, which isn't on the menu at this point), but they've made more of an effort to include lighter meals and local ingredients. They've also got a decent selection of beer on tap and Michigan wines by the bottle or glass. This is also one of the few places where I remember having eaten by myself and being treated like a queen--given a great table and the server went out of her way to make sure I was happy. read more

Very good food for a ski resort. The burgers were really good and the Thistle fries were the bomb. Did not have any of their formal plates. The ambiance was really nice. Nice Scottish theme. Loses a star because we could not figure out what idiot designed the layout. There is no view of the mountain from the restaurant. We wanted to have a few drinks and watch the kids come down the slopes. We realized after ordering you can't do that here. Had to close out and go to the lodge to watch them. What a huge mistake. read more

Amanda is a totally clueless person, who tries to function as a restaurant supervisor without the slightest hint of what customer service is. Wasted over 45 minutes trying to get a table at this backwoods joint. Amanda's attitude is like she was working at Sardi's with the personality of the might shift manger at Denny's (apologies to Denny's). If you have time to waste and no need of nourishment this is the place for you. read more

This place would be getting a 1 star, but it looks to have the shell of a nice place...I'm trying to be nice. But they are under managed and understaffed. If you can't allow indoor dining, then you'd better be certain you can polish the rest. It's not. When the food was finally done, after nearly and hour and a half, it was over cooked and almost cold! No excuses for this. Don't go here. It's over priced and poorly done... read more

Thistle Pub and Grille is a cozy little place inside the Kinlochen Building at Crystal Mountain Resort. They offer a great selection of local craft beers and the service is usually spot on. The food is usual pub fare with nothing that will blow you away, but it's solid. Overall, the cozy atmosphere adds a lot of charm to the pub and it's a great place to grab a pint. read more

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This restaurant is located on the Crystal Mountain Resort property. It's more upscale compared to the other dining choices, and it shows. The Thistle makes you feel warm and cozy the minute you walk through the doors. I started with a cosmo which ended up being stronger than I thought. I ordered a filet mignon with steamed veggies and yukon potatoes. Everything was delish, and very filling. One star taken away because our service was a shade slow, and I felt my potatoes weren't completely cooked. However, all in all, I definitely recommend The Thistle after a day of skiing. read more

After a relaxing day at the spa we had a wonderful meal at the Thistle!! The farm to table was unbelievable choice starting with pumpkin soup then short ribs, Gouda potatoes and fresh veggies (can't remember the name but a cross between broccoli and cauliflower - different but great) and finishing with peanut butter pie. A must do!! read more

The Thistle - Farm to Table Spare Ribs with Gouda Potatoes - New American Near Me - Thompsonville, Michigan

beautiful decor, friendly staff, and good food. i did a take out for lunch -- i had the chopped salad and crab cakes. the salad was very good. the crab cakes were good but could have been better if they used larger crab pieces. the use more filler then crab meat, but still good. i recommend them if you want something besides drive thru food. Also, their outside dinning area is really nice. read more

We have come to crystal many times over the last 15 years. Our favorite part used to be the thistle dining. We rarely left campus because the food was so good there was no need. While the surrounding area has improved their food and dining experiences, crystal has diminished. It all started with changing their bread to Gordon food service rolls and then went down hill from there. Over the years I had hoped they would get better and we always go back hoping it has turned around. Now it is all super small portions and poorly executed. I get that they are trying to offer a spa type healthy menu but they have let everyone else down by eliminating everything else. They used to have killer ribs, fantastic steaks, their Kobe burgers were amazing and used to offer a Scottish mashed potato which was such a fun and heart warming side. Last time we where in, everyone left hungry even after apps and dinner. The portions where so small and hardly worth the price. On top of that my husband's steak had been sliced far too early without proper resting and it was dry. I ordered a pasta, it wasn't prepared properly either so it ended up being butter separated from the flour and was too greasy too eat. It makes me so sad because this was such a staple in our up north visits. Crystal PLEASE UPDATE THE KITCHEN AND MENU! Bring back the good ol' days of tasty food! I can't imagine I'm the only long time crystal fan that feels this way. read more

Great atmosphere outside on the patio, but long line just to get in the place, even though most tables were empty. Food was good- I had pork special and he had orecchiette; kids meals came with fresh fruit which was great. read more

We go here every time we visit Crystal Mountain. We really like the ambiance, food, drink selections. I'm confused with the reviews. We went here last night and everything was perfect. My husband got the 'farm to table' 3 course. The strawberry rhubarb dessert was to die for. A couple of us got the chicken schnitzel, which at first glance of reading menu choices... I would normally of skipped over. And probably have in the past. This in my opinion is the best thing on the menu! So good! One of my favorite dishes in a long time. Maybe change the name if it's not getting enough love. So delicious! We started with cooking the steak on the rock at the table, that's always fun for kids. read more

Great spot for a good meal at the resort. Staff very friendly and was very accommodating for my kids allergies

The Michigander panini was delicious! I ordered the thistle fries with it and they were so good! My daughter ordered the chicken caprese sandwich and loved it as well! read more

Great dinner (salmon), excellent Caesar salad, seated immediately (5:30pm), fast and friendly service (Jon). Price was less than equivalent in Grand Rapids. Wine in particular was very reasonably priced. read more

The service was amazing. the atmosphere was great. I suggest the thisl fries from the appetizers. I am vegetarian so my options were a type of pasta or salad.. the food was mediocre but nothing special. read more

Came in for dinner at 8pm and witnessed the worst customer service ever! We stood at the podium waiting to be acknowledged while the hostess was whispering with a server that there weren't enough servers for the tables they had to accommodate. The server appeared angry and very unhappy to be there. Finally after standing at the hostess' podium for about ten minutes, the hostess seated us. We waited another ten-fifteen minutes before being acknowledged by a server who ended up not being our server! It was ridiculous and we should have left but we had two hungry kids and we were desperate. The food was ok but the complete lack of customer service when we first got there was inexcusable! We recommend going into Frankfort for meals while staying at Crystal Mountain. read more

Mediocre overpriced food. They waste so much energy trying to concoct exotic recipes that they rarely pull off. Wish they would just stick to simple steak and potato dishes. That's what most skiers expect and want. Too bad they didn't even have baked potatoes the night we were there Gave us worst french fries ever instead. Greasy and soggy --Luke warm. Fryer was clearly not set hot enough. PS. They need to fix the broken down shabby drapes in the dining room-- really makes the resort look dumpy. read more

Few people eating in the restaurant on a Friday nite, okay/good service. Ordered the Mac and cheese thinking how can they screw that up? Well they did. Seriously, how can u fail at Mac and cheese?! Stick to the burger and fries. You're at a resort in the middle of nowhere, you have no options, they are going to overcharge you given the quality. just go in with rock bottom expectations and there's a chance you won't be disappointed. read more

The last time I visited The Thistle was 15 years ago. Different building, different menu. It wasn't very good the last time around, and I'm surprised that it's even worse now. Check out the menu before you go. The appetizer selection is truly bizarre, and the entrees are sparse. The whole experience reminded me of that New Year's Eve event that we've all been to (and wouldn't do again) that has a poor, limited menu and is vastly overpriced for what you get. My walleye sandwich was truly lame. Expecting a nice slab of walleye on a bun? Nope. It was 3 skimpy walleye medallions, each about the size of a half dollar. Artfully arranged on the bun, of course. It didn't help that a swarm of fruit flies was camped out in the place. Realize that you're a captive audience at Crystal Mountain, and there's no other place on the property. I say skip it and order in a pizza from the place down the street. The Thistle offers no value whatsoever. read more

Wow...how far Crystal Mountain's restaurant has fallen. This used to be a nice spot to grab a beer and a great meal. While the service is still above average, the kitchen couldn't keep up with a moderate crowd. Were seated at 8:30 pm, and at 10:15 pm, all the food has yet to arrive. The ribs were more sauce than meat, the bun on the veggie burgers were like rocks. Service, while pleasant, made mistakes and was slow. Recommend driving away from the resort and finding a better alternative. read more