Rocky Top Beer and BBQ

1900 Lansing Ave.

Jackson, MI 49202

http://www.glasscity.biz/uploads/64412RockyTop_WEB.pdf

Ira and I visited Rocky Top Beer and BBQ based on a recommendation from a friend. First of all this place just gives you a fun, comfortable atmosphere. The staff is friendly and they serve their water in large mason jars. How can you not love a place like that?

We both started off with a beer and rocky top potatoes. French and sweet potato fries covered in bbq pork and coleslaw. I am not the biggest coleslaw fan and Ira was going to order it with the coleslaw on the side, but how would that give us a true taste of the appetizer. I told the waiter to leave everything as it should be. These were good and frankly, I think Ira could have eaten the whole plate for dinner and not shared them with me.

For dinner, he ordered the smoked prime rib and I had the chicken and ribs to give it the true bbq test. While I only ate one rib, I did eat most of the chicken. I enjoyed both very much and Ira enjoyed my leftovers the next day. He was not as happy with his prime rib, but I don't see ordering prime rib at a bar-b-que joint anyway.

The one thing we absolutely agreed on were the sides. From the chunky applesauce, garlic smashed redskins, salt pork green beans, and deep fried corn on the cob, we loved them all. Well, I liked mine and he liked his. We didn't share those with each other :-)

While we normally fit in a dessert on these adventures, we passed that night. The dinner portions are big and we were both stuffed.

If you are going through Jackson, I definitely recommend getting off the beaten path and checking out Rocky Top. 5 stars (since I am not judging the prime rib).

Deadwood Bar and Grill

http://www.deadwoodbarandgrill.com/
18730 Northville Road, Northville, MI 48167

On Septembe 12th Ira and I had dinner at the Deadwood Bar and Grill in Northville. Growing up in the country with a family of hunters, I appreciated the atmosphere - log cabin and dead animals. I had been to the Moose Presearve which is owned by the same group so I at least had a bit of an expectation.

Ira did call ahead for seating, but it ended up not being necessary. The restaurant had a good crowd, but wasn't really packed. For an appetizer we started off with the duck tenders. I don't recall ever having duck in the past, so this was a nice choice for something new. Ira really enjoyed them with the sweet and sour sauce. I actually thought the meat with like eating a really, really dark piece of chicken. I just wasn't crazy about the flavor. I am sure this is just my feeling about the duck in general and not how it was prepared.

While we were waiting for our meal I did enjoy a black cherry martini. This was very tasty.

For our meals, Ira had the prime rib and I had the whitefish. I believe these were both in the nightly specials menu. I should know not to get whitefish anywhere outside of the UP, but I ordered it anyway. It was severely overcooked. I really, really wanted to like it, but I just could not get past the 3rd bite and just ate my potatoes. Ira enjoyed his prime rib, so he shared it with me. I wasn't even impressed with that, so maybe I was just having an off night.

I didn't complain, but the waitress could obviously see that I hardly touched my dinner and was nice enough to take it off the bill for me.

My overall summary is that the Deadwood Bar and Grill seems great for a cocktail. It has a great neighborhood bar appeal. And maybe I was just having an off night, but I really wasn't impressed with their food. Needless, to say I won't be rushing back there for another meal. I give it 2 1/2 stars.