i used to love this place and kinda still do, but there service here is just horrible, if you're hungry you're in for a long wait. Don't order the french dip very grisly, kind of gross.
They still have a great bar, and i like the atmosphere inside and out, they still have great bands here and have for as long as I've been coming here.
I ate here with my girlfriend and her family on a recent trip to Michigan. Â The menu was pretty small and certainly wasn't overflowing with interesting options, but it was rural Michigan, that's not what I was expecting. Â Supposedly, they are famous for their borscht, but I wouldn't know, because about 15 minutes after we ordered 6 bowls of it they told us they were out. Â This exact thing happened 2 more times. Â It was like they just survived a harsh winter storm and their supply lines had been cut off for weeks.
Now I am a firm believer that every restaurant needs to be reviewed against its peers AND in relation to the environment in which is resides. Â The latter would be cause for me to be lenient, as I'm sure there are not a plethora of options in that area. Â Perhaps it was just a bad day for the Cabbage Shed, but I have a hard time believing there isn't a better option.
Wow, our dinner was such a weird experience. Â It's a long story that I won't go into but I'm sure a Wednesday night in the winter isn't the best time to experience the Cabbage Shed for the first time. Â Our food was delicious. Â We started with some Wednesday $1 tacos. Â These are not small. Â I figured I would have two as an appetizer. Â Ha, try two as a meal! Â The bartender talked me out of it and I just had one. Â My husband had two and a cup of potato bacon soup to start. Â We split a blue gill dinner. Â Wow, the fish was perfect and the garlic mashed potatoes were some of the best I've had.
I bet this place is a blast in the summer but I highly recommend coming any time. Â We came here from Crystal Mountain and it was definitely worth the drive.
Nice place not a dress up joint but great atmosphere rough plank floors great deck outside looking over the bay. I am not crazy about the plastic deck chairs but the food is delicious and the portions large with a great selection of crafted beers. Dessert is heavenly with homemade Khalua fudge with ice cream or brownie!!! I misses the toffee pudding as they ran out but I look forward to next time!
Review Source:Rustic and interesting to look about here. Â However, the food and cleanliness was hit and miss. Â We had a group of 8. Â Some had good food, other's not. Â A few recommendations:
The garlic mashed potatoes everyone liked. Â Highly recommend.
The burrito and the red hot steer was good was good as well.
The borscht has a long way to go before being good or authentic.
The sausage in the sausage and potatoes dish was nearly inedible.
The prime rib was tasty but came with unusually high amounts of actual thick slabs of gristled fat.
My advice is to definitely try this place, but order carefully and keep a sense of humor.
I visit from SoCa every summer and The Shed is a must. Â Their fresh fish is excellent. I love the lake fish having grown up Up North, so I always opt for whitefish. Â I try and convince every other member of our party to get the perch, etc. Â They have a great patio, live music some nights, and the wine prices are reasonable for Michigan Tax Rates. Â I can say without reservation, you will not be disappointed.
Review Source:Prime rib was less the up to par. Quality of the meat was questionable. Â Very over done. Service help was good, problems with food and drinks weren't her problem. Drinks were weak, I don't expect much but will pay for what I want. Owner did comp some of bill, but I won't be going back
Review Source:The Shed! Spent plenty of time here during my recent visit to Pure Michigan. No live music during my visit  but we made our own party on the patio!
To eat: Scallops - simply awesome!
To Drink: Watch out for the local Bell's or Founders, shit get's you drunk :)
Within walking distance to 'downtown' Elberta - just a quick drive around the lake to the hotels!
I had the best humongous mound of nachos in my life at the cabbage shed and everyone at my table had over the top rave reviews for our lunch on the patio over looking Betsie Bay. Â Great food, great booze, excellent service, overall fantastic experience! Â I might also say that yes its a bar, and a great place to lounge and drink in the evenings but lunch at the Cabbage Shed is totally fun and casual for kids too.
Review Source:A decent place. Â When you're from Chicago, any bar where you can buy a Bud Light bottle for $2.25 resonates pretty well. Â There's plenty of space in this place although it does get a little smoky.
The small band/stage setup in the front room is nice. Â The cabbage shed probably would've been a 4 star establishment for me if I hadn't walked into the back room (which is HUGE and was completely empty) and put 50 cents in the pool table for a game. Â The table was so uneven the balls wouldn't even stay where we racked them for the break.
Great bar and also good food. Â The best part is the atmosphere, as it's in an old barn (or perhaps it was a cabbage shed? eh?). Â Their deck overlooks the bay, and they've got a lot of good sandwich options. Â I always like going to the shed, as you're likely to run into someone you know there.
Review Source:The Cabbage Shed is something to experience. Very quirky interior, kinda feels like a western saloon meets a commune of hippies. The food is quite good, although occasionally a bit inconsistent. Menu items vary from sandwiches and burgers to fish and steaks. They have the best nachos in the area. The staff are friendly and warm and service is usually very good unless they get mobbed.
This place is very popular in the summer, so it can get a bit crowded, especially Friday and Saturday nights. They have outdoor dining overlooking the water, so if it's too crowded or smokey inside, check it out.
They have pool tables and foosball. They also occasionally have some good bands.
Although the name might put some people off, The Cabbage Shed is definitely one of the better moderately priced restaurants in Northern Michigan.
Made fresh daily soups and tempting seafood are small highlights of their menu.
Drink selections are somewhat limited, with only house wines and beer offered.
Service, as it is by and large in Northern Michigan, is "casual". The deck area overlooking the Betsie river is suggested if it is a nice day.
The Shed is an awesome space. It's located right on the harbor and has some seating outside on a deck. The inside is downright huge. As such, it really helps to hit The Shed on a good night (read: Thurs, Fri, or Sat during the summer season), otherwise it can feel kinda empty. On a busy night, expect a rollicking crowd of locals and tourists, a live band (usually of the bluegrass or classic rock varieties), swarms of people around the pool tables, and a *good* time.
Note that the Shed closes at Midnight on off-nights (at least on the nights I've been there). After 12 on off-nights, The Villa Marine Bar in Frankfort is your only choice.