Champ's Pub

Champ's Pub
140 E Grand River Ave.Brighton, MI 48116

On Saturday night Ira and I went to Champ's Pub. I cannot tell you how many times each one of us have passed this little bar, but I can bet it is hundreds. So, as Ira's turn to choose, he decided we should finally check it out and just see if this really was the best burger in Brighton.

Their menu is bar food, no doubt about it. The only thing missing from this place to make it feel like the many bars I spent so much time in as a kid (long story, not for this blog) was a pinball machine in the corner.

We each started with a beer and an appetizer of jalepeno poppers, one of my faves. Now, to me jalepeno poppers are fairly standard. They are either good all-around, the breading is too hard and tears up your mouth, or superb. I have only found one place that makes superb, so I have to say that Champ's were standard and good.

Ira had to order to burger and claimed it was like a Blimpy's burger, but larger. For anyone who has not been to Blimpy's in Ann Arbor, this was quite a compliment to Champ's. I ordered the Champ's Original - a roast beef sandwich with swiss and peppers. This was supposed to be their take of a philly cheesesteak. I will start by saying that the sandwich was good, but felt like it was missing something. However, when I first received my meal it looked like chopped roast beef on a bun. To be honest it looked like chunky dog food. So, after I was able to get past the appearance, the flavor was good. But, it could be better. So, after I mixed a side of horseradish with Ira's leftover ranch from his sweet potato fries and put that on top of the sandwich the flavor of the whole sandwich just popped.

I should also mention the fries. While the burgers and sandwiches normally come with chips, they do have 7 different kinds of fries to choose from (at an additional cost), including beer battered (yum!!) and sweet potato.

Champ's has a very neighborhood, local bar feel and since it so close to everything we do we will be going back there again.

We left very full and satisfied. Since it is bar food, even good bar food only gets 3 stars from me.