When you walk in you find yourself noticing the open and airy feeling of this venue. There are TV monitors placed strategically throughout with everything playing from sports to music videos. The bar is very long and makes its curves into a guitar shape and leaves plenty of room for all your friends and family. I talked to the Jeff Langlois who is the GM at Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar & Grill” Auburn Hills, MI and he said that this 23, 500 square foot facility has a capacity of approximately 1300 people… That’s a lot friends! It is also a great place for private parties. VIP rooms are available for your private group, or reserve the Private Dining room for larger groups of 10 to 15 people. Check out the retail store for some of Toby's latest and greatest merchandise, including items from his latest movie "Beer For My Horses".
During the soft opening of the newest ILTB&G at the Great Lakes Crossing Mall I found the staff to be friendly and outgoing as well as excited to be there. The food was great, my group had several of the menu specialties including a club sandwich, soup, fish and chips and of course the fried Twinkie. There wasn’t an unhappy diner among us because it was friends and family night and it was a learning process for everyone. While the service was slow it seemed because of some confusion on proceedure and they kept running out of food so we had to keep reordering what was available, then the kitchen abruptly closed at 10 p.m. before our food was turned in (we arrived at 8:30), overall it was to be expected while they work out the bugs. Our server did everything she could to make our table of hungry patrons happy. The pop was good, the beer was better and the local band Terrie Lea & The Mustangs rocked the house country style.
I’ve read other reviews and they were pretty mixed so my expectation was that we might get a so so meal, maybe some poor service, but that just didn’t happen, could it be better? Yes, give them time to prove themselves. The floor for this smaller than expected crowd was well covered with wait staff. I’m not sure how all of it will play out when this place is at capacity, it may be a little harder to get around to everyone.
I had my camera along which wouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me so I couldn’t resist the almost certain curiosity of the “bull”. Can I just tell you this is one of the funniest things to watch? Housewife’s who usually don’t even ride a bike saying “I can do that after having a couple of drinks. So fun!
I have to tell I didn’t’ think it would all play out as well as it did considering this was the first day open but I give it a big “IT DIDN’T SUCK!
Now let me tell you about “I Love This Bar & Grill. The restaurant boast southern-style fare including the singer's own favorites, such as pulled pork sandwiches, honky tonk meatloaf, freedom fries and his signature fried bologna sandwiches and southern fried Twinkies. Downloadable Menu There will be live country music Tuesday through Saturday with a DJ on Mondays. There is dancing, a mechanical bull and an 85 foot guitar-shaped bar with drinks served from a mason jar. And I have to say I had beer in both a glass and a mason jar there and it was so much better in a mason jar! Ok so that’s my opinion. The best feature of all is that Keith himself will make an occasional surprise appearance where he will perform. One great thing on the menu is the American Soldier burger which is served up free of charge to active military personnel with a valid military identification. It’s about time we set this area up with another country music venue and the restaurant/bar aspect can only be a plus. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. If management makes sure their staff continue to treat patrons like they did the night I went in it will continue to be a hell of a place to hang out. I know I’ll be there…. A lot!
Photo by Vicki Talbott
I Love This Bar & Grill wait staff.
If your going:
Great Lakes Crossing
4000 Baldwin Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326
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