We actually had our baby shower here, if you can believe that -- reserved the upstairs portion. Â Everyone was happy with the food. Â The wait staff was friendly and had everything ready. Â I mentioned their Coke was watered, and they fixed the problem and brought everyone out a new glass. Â
I've been here a few other times for a small casual birthday hangout (ie, drinking), and only one time for a sit-down meal. Â I've never had a problem with the staff. Â The food was good, the drinks are priced well, and the balcony on the second floor is nice to step away from the loud music and craziness for awhile.
As a dive bar, I'm sure it's great for those that like that sort of thing. Â I prefer casual lunch spots and more quiet dinners with family -- so on non-game nights and earlier in the evening are good times for us.
Have to say that this "small town historic" eatery has been two strikes and one walk, for me. Â
First experience was in the summer a couple of years ago, while treating myself to a dinner out. Â I walked in, and was ignored. Â Plenty of waitstaff, but not one of them approached me at all. Â A band was playing, so I went to the bar and asked the girl if she'd send over a waitress. Â Again, plenty of servers waiting on others, and completely ignored. Â As I was leaving, the hostess actually asked how my dinner was!! Â I do recall being snippy in my reply, at that point.
Second time, a friend wanted to meet for lunch at the hotel. Â At the time there were only a couple of other full-on restaurants in town, and it was long enough since the first attempt that I was willing to give it a shot. Â Finally seeing the extensive menu, I settled on a simple sandwich. Â Passable. Â Had a cocktail, one that is impossible to screw up, and was glad that they had the outdoor seating. Â Walked away with a better impression, but still leery.
Third experience? Â Yep, another case of hiring young and cute versus someone that gives good service. Â Ordered the patty melt with a side of onion rings. Â 3 onion rings for $3.00. Â Really? Â Was there gold dust in those three rings? Â Frankly, I've had better. Â The burger, ordered medium/well was bright pink in the middle, negating my appetite at that point. Â I could have slipped out on the bill, for all the attention the bar maid paid.
Thankfully, there are more restaurants that have opened in this small town. Â Recommending only that those that like to be treated badly cross the historic threshold.
I can honestly say i will never go here again, Â my family went, we were seated upstair. We had a blonde waitress who spent half the night ignoring us my husband asked for another pop after we ordered and 30 mins later it was brought the food was messed up as it always is but we always look past it because my dad really likes the calzones, well just so everyone knows they made them smaller same price less food. So at 915 the dj starts blaring music which is fine we are done and waiting for our check i sit there for 20 mins waiting with an 8 year old we all finally get up and start looking for her and as we are standing there waiting some woman pulls out her tits and starts waving them at the guys at the table in front of us. Upset because we have a CHILD my mother asks to see the manager ten mins later no manager my moms starts walking through the resturant because no one will come back and we get emily the waitress who suddenly is the acting manager who wants me to go up there and confront the woman. no im not starting a fight with some woman, needless to say all emily could say is what would you like me to do? Seriously thats the kind of place you are? Will not be going there again.
Review Source:Very Shocked! South Lyon Hotel has changed it's past menu!!! Since the new menu, I  have had dinner their twice!! Both times, well... yes, very yummy!! They have added a new BBQ section to the menu, as well as other new item's! The pulled BBQ pork sandwich is very good, with 3 choice's of BBQ sauce to pick from. On Saturday night the Prime Rib special is.. Well, I didn't think I would give them this! But,  (after, year's and year's of so-so food! And, Never have ever even seen those bread stick's I hear others talk about!!) But, yes the Saturday special prime rib is very tasty! They also do have a very tasty, horseradish sauce, that you must try!! So, believe it or not, Yes, I am willing to give it another shot!!  As a side note, skip the baked potato! I don't think their micro-wave works!! It"s always under cooked! Go with the Garlic Mashed, very tasty. Pizza is always good. Server's are a  50/50 shot! Some are so wonderful, and others are, well... I think they are on line with friends in the back room! Next time we go, I will get you the name of the best server in the world!! As soon as I see her again, I will always request her section and share her name with you! So, as it goes this place is starting to really look up!
Review Source:Here is my opinion of the South Lyon Hotel...it's just good.
I read the other reviews prior to writing this one and if you come here expecting the best meal you will ever have, don't come. What you will get is a good meal, served by a good waitstaff and have a good time. There seems to always be some type of entertainment. You could either sit downstairs and get a mellow 2 or 3 person band or you could go upstairs and get a loud DJ or rock band. There is a bar upstairs and down.
Let's focus on a few menu items. The pizza is worth trying. Again, you will always get a good consistent pie. The burgers are also quite good. Try the Buffalo Burger. There are a few wraps on the menu that all are tasty and there also seems to be a wrap on the daily special menu. Portions are large so if you look at the menu and think it seems slightly high, you won't be disappointed with what you get.
There are quite a few taps to choose from and they seem to have a very good selection of bottled beer.
Summary - Good food, Good atmosphere, Good service...Good time.
I just read the reviews on this place and I was dying laughing at the reviewer that said their crab bisque is the best they've tasted since living near the ocean. Â Are you fucking serious? Â It's not even Crab, it's Krab...
Guess they won't be making it to Hell's Kitchen this season.
So, anyway, I went here with a couple of girlfriends and this is WAY out of my area. Â It's about an hour drive for me, so I was excited to have somewhere new to Yelp about.
The bar has a downstairs and an upstairs. Â I've only been upstairs so I can only review that part.
There was a Red Wings game about to end when we walked in so the place was pretty busy.
We ordered our beers (Blue Moon pints 2.50 made me happy) Â I asked for my usual 2 oranges and only got 1. Â Oh well, such is life.
I grabbed the menu and decided on the crab bisque and the shrimp quesedillas. Â
She brought the bisque out, no napkin, no crackers.. ok
Holy SHITBALLS!! This was not bisque, this was ummm. goo, muck, sludge, pudding maybe??
It stuck to my spoon. Â Even when I put the spoon in my mouth it stuck to the spoon.
I was like "OMGOMGOMGOMG" Â And I tried to take another bite and that's when I noticed it. Â The bright red "crab" Â was peeling.. The layers were peeling.
It's not crab, it's krab. Â So Crab Bisque = Krab Wallpaper paste
AKA pollock, AKA fucking gross man.
I think that if a restaurant is advertising that they have crab bisque, they should use actual crab. Â Â The waitress comes over. Â
"That's really bad." Â I say, frowning.
She SHRUGS her shoulders (no shit) and says,
"So you want me to leave it here or take it away?" Â
Wow, i'm sure her managers are super proud to have her there to represent them. Â
She took it away and then some guy brought out the quesedilla. Â
It was ok, shrimp and cheese. Â The sour cream and salsa it says it comes with in the menu was nowhere to be found.
So, ok, dive bar, dive food. Â But for God's sake, people talk the place up like it should be an upscale place in freaking Birmingham!!
I'm thinking maybe South Lyon and Hazel Park have alot more in common than I realized.
We stayed and had some beers and they have a great balcony for smoking on, in you're into that sort of thing. Â DJ stays only til like 1 which is kinda weird, but I guess the choices out there are nil for bars so they stay busy. Â
The food and the staff though, UGH and I would never eat there again. Â They wouldn't even take that shit off my bill. Â
/Divey!
Checked in again recently and was very disappointed with the way the food has gone downhill:( Â Pizza, Calzones, Fish, Ribs all a little bland and just lacked that touch that used to be the Hotel! Â This used to be a fav of mine, but no longer. Â Beer is still cold and its a fun place on Thurs-Sat nights, but that is about it.
Review Source:The coconut chicken salad is insanely good. The smothered salmon is awesome, actually the salmon is just background filler for the crab/scallop/shrimp cream sauce they pour over it. The crab bisque was the best I've had in a long time (since living near the ocean). Prices are reasonable and the live music was pretty good too! Â Can't wait to go back.
Review Source:Atmosphere and service have been great over the years. Â I've often referred to "The Hotel" as a family friendly sports bar, even though it is so much more than that!
I recommend the pizza without hesitation. Â The large pepperoni is a great pie to nosh upon. Â The pie is served piping hot, with oozing cheese and and the right amount of spice and tang in the pizza sauce.
The food at the South Lyon hotel is generally quite good. I would recommend the garlic cheese bread which is basically a small cheese pizza with garlic. Their nachos are ok but they are made with flour tortilla chips like you'd find in a taco salad which become a bit too rich after awhile. Their sandwiches are always good and very large. One of the problems we've encountered is that if you sit in the non-smoking section, you are often seated next to the smoking area which is only separated by a glass divider that only goes half way to the ceiling. As such you are pretty much in the smoking section if heavy smokers are present. Also, there are generally a lot of families present with younger children so be prepared for a possibly loud environment. Overall still a very good eat.
Review Source:I really don't know what to say about the South Lyon Hotel....
we went there for dinner and drinks.
I can't say it was exceptional, I can't say it was average, I can't even say it was a disappointment. Â It just sort of was a non-event....
The drinks were tasty, the bar staff was friendly, the GoldenTee (arcade golf) was fun, the food was acceptable, but nothing about them stands out.
So with that middle of the road blandness, I'll be nice and say 3 stars.