Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen

This place has a lot of things going for it. The church-turned-pub/restaurant feel is great, and I love the fixtures that they've kept. The first bite of mac 'n cheese is tasty. The beer selection is expansive.

But past those initial impressions, the place falls short.  The restaurant is LOUD, and I can only assume that has to do with the structure itself, because it's not like there were that many people there, even with a full dining room. The mac is super heavy, and the portions are obscene (seriously, there should be a disclaimer on the full size). The service wasn't great (didn't get drinks we wanted, had to resort to extreme measures to get any attention, etc.). The potato salad, as someone said below, is a joke. It's roasted potatoes with some shredded egg and cilantro. That's it.

Sandwiches were good, drinks were good. Service was meh, mac was all around too much. The experience could probably be greatly improved by sitting outside, ordering sandwiches, and splitting a half mac between two or three people.

Bestill my heart, they have Hacker Pschorr on tap here.  I even found Hofbrau Weiss on tap, which I may like more.  I love all the German barware adorning the walls.  They have so many beers on tap, that you can do flights.  AMAZING.

The food is good, too.  We started with a mustard flight - yes, a mustard flight.  They have several Sierra Nevada flavored mustards and each are good in a different way.  You can even get something a little sweet or something with a little heat.  I went for the pecan something or another sausage and it was great for noshing on and came with some tasty, crisp red potatoes.  The mac and cheese is good, but I have a hard time justifying so much money for something I could make at home for much cheaper.  

The takeaway:  I like this place for the German beers and sausages.  Everything else is just gravy.

Very cute.  Stopped by here to celebrate after closing on our house, and ended up very pleasantly surprised.  I ordered the Piedmontese burger, Hubby had the sausage sampler, little guy had the mac and cheese.

The burger was absolutely superb- I'd never had pinconning cheese before, and it was just perfect.  The challah roll went very well.  The meat was juicy, flavorful, cooked perfectly- I think I barely dressed it with a dab of mustard and ate it just like that...delicious.

Hubby let me sample his sausage, and that's what I'll be after on the next visit.  They were wonderful, even better than what we have available at the Wurst.

Finally, little guy was enthralled with his mac and cheese.  He made us try it, and I have to say- it is probably the best mac and cheese I have ever tasted- and this just the kids' plate!

The decor is cute as a button- loved it all from the Cash shrine to the toy trucks lining the walls.  The beer selection is fabulous.  Haven't tried the cocktails but they looked inventive, so that's also on the list.

Afterward, we headed to the little shop they have next door and tried the cupcakes...heave.

Five stars all the way.