Grizzly Peak Brewing Co., Ann Arbor

 

Grizzly Peak 

If you walk into Grizzly Peak for dinner, you may mistakenly believe that you're walking into a restaurant named Grizzly Pete's.  This is a common mistake, and you'll likely make it again, because after a meal at either Pete's or the Peak, you'll want to return.

I went there for dinner last Friday with Joey, Dan, Derek and Sarah.  The first word that popped into my head as I entered was 'loud.'  The Peak is that raucous on a Friday.  Maybe that's why people mishear the name.  The lights were clearly dimmed, and I think lack of light emphasized the surplus of noise. The Peak had a certain Irish theme.  I hesitate to call it an Irish Pub, but the shoe fits.  Look at the menu.

 Note the Celtic shamrock design at the top.  And that they were celebrating 'Irishfest.'  And that they reference both Dublin and County Cork.  And that all this is before I even open the menu.

My cohort spent some time discussing whether the interior (a red brick/brown wood affair; it might not be worth mentioning the interiors anymore if they continue to all be the same) more closely resembled the interior of a castle or or that of a hunting lodge.  Whichever it was, Sarah said, it had the clear feel of a place where men gather to be men.  After that the conversation kept circling back to tofu (not a particularly burger-rific topic).

 

The picture I took of the burger didn't come out.  Here, have some bread.

The burger was overcooked on the outside, while still being red on the inside.  That's a common problem, one I've certainly run into many times in the past, but I feel like I can expect better from a restaurant.  It didn't detract from the burger much, the burger was pretty good.  I didn't wind up finishing the meal, but that only showed how filling it was.

I have to make a few comments on the bun.  I think this was the first burger I've had since I started the blog whose bun was made in a single piece, then cut in half, instead of being made as two separate pieces.  This made it a bit flaky (and somehow crumbly at the same time), but I think the bun was better because of it.

The fries were a bit unique, with a highly fried crunchy, crumbly exterior.  Their actual taste was pretty dull, but it fit the meal pretty well. 

The Final Verdict: Grizzly Peak is not a place to go for a quiet evening.  I can definitely say that I'll be back, though.  If I ever meet Grizzly Pete (I think he lives near the summit of the Grizzly Peak), I will compliment him on the excellent dining experience he offers.