The Strand Brewery And Grill - Dowagiac

My friends in the Eau Claire, Michigan area have been raving about The Strand Brewery Grill in Sister Lakes (Dowagiac, MI). I decided it was time to check it out with some friends for sharing and comparing. The Strand, named for the land bordering a body of water, is massive and impressive, with two large dining areas and an outdoor patio in season. The West-facing side is primarily glass, which makes for awesome sunsets over Round Lake. When it’s warm, the giant glass doors roll up for an open-air experience. The outdoor patio is lined with flaming chic fire pits. The owner said the fire pits were like their “OPEN” sign. Their pretty cool. According to an owner I talked to, they are still waiting for the licensing to brew their own and sell it on site. The liquor license they already have lets them have a full bar, wine, and beer from other breweries. A complete bar, is great when you have a group with varied libation demands. Rachel, our server, suggested we try the smoked wings as an appetizer. Good call, Rachel! They had a deep smoky flavor that reminded me of sitting around a campfire eating right off the fire. The dry rub added a little saltiness and a dash of zing, but nothing overpowering. They had no breading, which I love and the meat was tender, juicy and flavorful. They come served with Sweet Garlic Aioli or Sriracha Honey dipping sauces. I overheard a patron at another table exclaim “These wings alone were worth the drive!” As I perused the menu, I noticed that the prices are extremely reasonable…lower than what I expected. No complaints there! I think I only saw one dinner entree over twenty bucks…the smoked ribs. One of their top sellers is the Brisket Dip sandwich, starring their house-smoked brisket. Their smoker gets fired up bright and early every morning, which explains the tenderness of the brisket. The bread was so soft and fresh that it seemed like the bread melted into the cheese instead of the other way around…it was that soft and seemed eager to soak up some au jus. Gooey muenster cheese and caramelized onions snuggled up inside the sandwich. The brisket was so juicy that I didn’t use much au jus, but I liked that it wasn’t that salty. I would rank the Strand Burger in my top five of all time! It was perfectly cooked to my medium rare request and was topped with thick cut bacon, gruyer cheese, portabella mushrooms. The crispy onions add a nice crunch and the signature aioli sauce takes it too another level. I liked the Strand Burger so much I took my buddy Jerret back there a few days later so I could get another one. Weekdays are great for visiting The Strand as they have daily specials like AUCE Pasta on Mondays and Taco Nights on Thursdays. Friday and Saturdays feature a prime rib or New York strip. I cannot wait to come back when their brewery is up and running. Definitely worth stopping in.

We had dinner at The Strand about 3 weeks after they opened and we weren't impressed with the menu or the service, but the outdoor space is amazing. So yesterday we decided to give them a try again because of that amazing patio. We are soooo glad we did! Our server Henry was great,so friendly and helpful. The New England style IPA Right Coast? was one of the best we've had! And the food! My husband had the chicken wings which he loved, and I gave the brisket sandwich a try I was not disappointed! Oh and the housemade chips with the beer cheese as a dip wow! So glad we gave them another try. We can't wait to go back with our friends!

The food was great! I had the seafood platter and my husband had the Strand burger. Super service. We didn't wait long for our food and the burger was cooked just like it was ordered. We will definitely be going back!!

Good place. Was sort of Leary after bad reviews for service, but service was superb, and the food was excellent. My wife had a brisket sandwich and I had fish , both were fresh and came out to the table in 10 or 15 minutes which I thought was pretty fast. The place was packed. Just goes to show ya, don't believe all the reviews sometimes.

Consistent on the quality of the food, top notch service, and an incredible view of the sunset! The Strand is definitely worth my visit, every time, and it’s nice to be able to enjoy craft beers or a cocktail with my dinner! Can’t wait for the brewery to start!