The Eagle Tavern

My husband and I visited Greenfield Village and we were excited to stop at the Eagle Tavern. We dropped for a late afternoon light meal. We enjoyed the soups and shared a bread pudding. Everything was absolutely wonderful. The ambience was perfect… 1800’s and on a fall day, the fireplace and warm squash soup were amazing.

We really enjoyed this find. Eating old world style and atmosphere. Menu offered something for everyone. Fresh nicely prepared. Full adult beverage menu to fit the theme. Service was wonderful and on top of things. Meals came quickly but with enough time given to enjoy starter itwms provided. The breads & muffins very tasty.

Omagoodness. Where do I start? So this tavern is located in Greenfield Village. I have never heard of this place until we went over to the Machine Shop and a kind worker there informed us of its existence. There is no electric lighting in the main dining room of this restaurant. The main room is filled with wooden tables (lit by candles) and wooden chairs of different types. They really went out of their way to replicate that old-​timey feel. The waitresses, waiters and bus-​folks were also dressed the part. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The food here is a tad pricey, but you’re really paying for the whole experience. Plus you’re inside an amusement venue… stuff is usually a tad pricey.
So the food. I ordered the summer noodles so that I could try to keep it light whilst enjoying my experience at Greenfield Village. The dish had some nice thick noodles, green beans, small shallot onions (that were super tasty) and tomatoes. The whole thing was covered in a deliciously savory cream sauce. It sounds a bit heavy, but trust me when I say that it wasn’t. I devoured the platter of pasta like a Hungry Hungry Hippo. My wife ordered the fried chicken and potatoes. The chicken breast was amazing! Frankenmuth chicken has nothing on this stuff. The chicken was moist and tender. It was also topped with a dollop of gravy that really tied in well with the flavor of the chicken. I was impressed. The potatoes were kind of like fingerling potatoes but really large. They were cooked to the perfect tenderness… not dry at all. We also stuffed their dinner rolls into our eager pie holes (sounds dirty… i did that on purpose). The rolls were served with some fresh blueberry jam. I am a HUGE blueberry fan, so I coated the bread with this stuff. Holy crap it was amazing. My son usually doesn’t eat food very fast. He’s 6. He ate his chicken fingers so fast, even Sonic the Hedgehog said «whoa…that was fast».
I would highly recommend this dining experience. Not only was the atmosphere awesome, the food was fantastic. Just be aware, the seating is communal. We didn’t try any of their special drinks this time… so for once I am left without an opinion on something.
If you’re enjoying some of the sites with the family (or even by yourself)…eat here. It’s truly worth it.
thanks for reading…
strik9

Unique menu but the food is very very tasty. Very authentic.
Try the sasparilla and the midnight cake.

Eateries at historic parks can be a little hit or miss, some trying too hard to be authentic and some not trying nearly hard enough. This place seemed to strike a decent balance, mixing up period cocktails with unusual flavored vinegars that you probably won’t find anywhere else while the bartenders dispensed interesting trivia without overdoing things trying to play to character. I had a refreshing Pimm’s Cup, not as exotic but still hit the spot on such a hot July day. Ironically for a place celebrating Thomas Edison and electrification, they had had a power outage that morning and so couldn’t offer a full menu, but the bar still managed to serve up a little meat and cheese plate that made a perfect snack for accompanying our cocktails. I suppose they have a fairly captive audience (didn’t see another restaurant inside the park) but you could do a lot worse.

The experience is pretty neat, honestly. The food is about what I’d expect from any place charging $ 18 for a plate, so certainly not disappointing. We got the full experience, being seated with complete strangers and served in a room completely devoid of anything disposable or electric. Seriously, the power could be out and you would never know it. Come to think of it, you could spend all day in Greenfield Village and not know if the power was out… well done, guys.
As I said, the food was pretty good. Not anything that really blows you away. After all, I can get pork medallions and plum sauce at most decent restaurants today, so you don’t really feel like you’re stepping back in time menu-​wise, but it’s worth it for the atmosphere.

Great food. Great ambiance. Our large group ordered the lamb pie (very tender & tasty). I had the roasted duck (very delicious, even the kids ate some and wanted more). The trout was not bad. The spring noodles which I ordered for the kids to share was absolutely delicious. They ate them all. We were stuffed and really pleased with what we ordered. Get a pitcher for the sarsaparilla, it’s cheaper that way. The server also will serve a bowl of muffins with fresh rolls along with butter and strawberry jam after the hostess sat you at the table. Everyone enjoyed that. We went on a weekday so it wasn’t rushed or crowded. I highly recommend you dining here at least once.

It’s ok.
I really enjoyed my meal on the previous 2 visits, but this time was lackluster.
I ordered the duck with green peppercorn sauce… the sauce was flavorless and the duck was over cooked… they certainly give ample portions however … Way too big a serving of duck… Even if it had been good… And I’m a fat guy saying this!
I’ll go again… Just very underwhelmed this time through

I have to say that I’m a fan. I have eaten here dozens of times and only one time have had a sup par experience but never with the food. Any problem with the food was immediately rectified. Only issue we’ve ever experienced was in service.
Foremost, it’s a restaurant that offers a dining experience similar to one in the 1800’s. One common room, communal seating and servers in period dress. Food is largely prepared by the Henry Ford commissary under Chef Michael Trombley while some dishes are indeed made to order. Servers are generally seasonal employees and not classically trained in service. You’re getting a U of M Dearborn student working their part time job. Most servers are decent but it is the service in general that keeps this from really standing out.
Meals are prepared with locally sourced, seasonal offering and therefore the menu changes with the seasons. Expect a dish with rhubarb or asparagus in the spring while noting venison in the late fall. I recommend the soups; particularly the broth based soups. Additionally, any of the non-​dessert pies such as the onion pie or tomato pie are quite good. Also, any of the fish entrees are delicious. Try the smelt. I also like the stews that come with that crusty disc topper. Dishes do tend to come slightly under-​seasoned. Ask for salt as the menu is intentionally prepared with low sodium in mind. When we inquired about this, we were told that the menu is planned in conjunction with Henry Ford Hospital nutritional consulting. Lower fat and lower sodium. No worries. Simply make up for this by carbo-​loading in the bread basket which will have one of the best blueberry muffins you’ll ever taste. Don’t skimp here.
This is a restaurant is in a theme park that serves a high volume of people everyday. That being said, food quality is very consistent, adventurous and tasty despite most of it is prepared ahead of time at the Henry Ford commissary. Take nothing, away it’s good.

When you want to get away from the busy life, come here to experience a blast from the past experience. The recipes they use are dated from the 1800’s and so is the setting. They start off with a mini introduction, followed by a visit from presenter who takes the role of Mr. Wood, who was the owner of the Tavern.
They change the menu every season, they have the old fashion chicken pie, venison stew, the list goes on and on. I did find out they light the tavern up by candles and the seating arrangements are family styled. They also decorate it accordingly to the holidays in season.
They offer many catered options open to the public like holiday nights, and Halloween nights this past month. Can’t wait for holiday nights, the whole village is set up for Christmas.

One of the highlights of the Halloween season is the chance to have a festive meal at Eagle Tavern. By reserve ticket only, the event quickly sells out.
Dinner takes place in the 1850’s ambiance of old wooden floors, tables and chairs, and candlelit chandeliers. You sit at a common table but since we had seven in our party we filled the table. Tea, water, and coffee are provided. Drinks are at the bar and you have to get them yourself. We had a Leelanau Cellars Late Harvest Zinfandel and mulled cider.
Dinner was served family style and consisted of stuffed pumpkin, beef stew, baked chicken breasts, and sausage links. Sides were squash chutney, corn relish, etc. A large bread bowl was passed around with cranberry muffins, dinner rolls, and corn bread. Dessert was pumpkin cake with frosting.
Coffee was plentiful and the service was excellent. A strolling violinist played tunes from the period. In the parlor were harvest games if you wanted to take a break from the food.
Afterward, you can stroll the Village and do a little trick-​or-​treating!

Ambiance: Unlike other reviewers, I didn’t mind the shared seating at the large wooden tables (8 per table) but our neighbors were respectful and friendly. The lighting aside from the table lanterns was purely ambient which was charming and understandably part of the experience. Staff were a mixed bunch but overall not as friendly or attentive as one would expect from people trying to earn a tip. I could see waters and small details getting neglected if the place was busy but it was only half full when we ate.
Food: The complimentary bread basket was superb in my opinion. OK, you get a pretty standard plain roll that’s not served warm and not moist but it is soft, fluffy, and an excellent vehicle for their homemade unsalted butter and delicious blueberry jam. The blueberry and bran muffins were soft, moist, and very flavorful. We complimented this with the salmagundi which was really a charcuterie of a white cheese, sliced salami, and a hard-​boiled egg. Not what we expected but a tasty addition to the bread and complimentary pickled sides.
Main courses were the rabbit stew and roasted chicken. The stew was admittedly bland because it was unsalted but that’s why they give you a salt dish! Otherwise the veggies still a slight bite and the meat was fall-​off-​the-​bone tender. My ‘complaint’, and I know it’s part of the rustic-​ness, was that I got primarily the spinal column of the rabbit (and a leg) which was a little unsettling to eat. The roasted chicken was by far the best dish we had, being perfectly cooked to tender and moist perfection. The boiled cabbage and mashed potatoes were also uniquely seasoned and very enjoyable.
Overall I had a good meal although the best thing was probably the complimentary baked goods in the beginning followed by the roasted chicken. The prices are admittedly exorbitant but I came in the mind-​set of eating at an amusement park in which case the prices are fair ($ 12 – 15 entrees). If this were a regular restaurant anywhere else I would probably give it 2 – 3 stars but I think given the setting and it’s goal of being a ultra-​rustic restaurant, it gets 3.5 stars. Worth a visit but not a regular go-​to IMO.
P. S. The menu changes 3 times a year

Really cool restaurant at Greenfield Village! While you can take a step back in time at the Village, the Eagle Tavern allows you to experience what it may be be to eat at at restaurant in the 1850’s.
I was able to eat here at a Unilocal event and had dinner with fellow Unilocaler Craig J. and his wife. We were greeted quickly and had a brief wait for a table.
Dining in the Eagle Tavern was interesting in that the only light was from windows, candles on the tables, and overhead candles. It’s cool, but be aware that if you eat in the evening, it may get kind of dark. Or cold in the winter!
The restaurant is filled with large table with benches, so you may be dining with another party (but that makes it fun). Our waitress came and took our drink order. They have everything from lemonade and «soda» to beers, wine, mixed drinks (including drinking vinegar mixed witih soda) and other cordials. When the waitress brought our drink she also brought bread and butter pickles, pickled turnips, and a basket full of muffins, rolls and jam. All were very good!
There’s a variety of entrée options to choose from. They have everything from cheese and sausage platters to chicken salad to veal, rabbit, perch, chicken and pasta. I ended up getting the chicken with celery cream sauce that was served with braised cabbage and mashed potatoes. The chicken was plentiful but on the bland side… That’s not a surprise given celery cream would generally be bland! The mashed potatoes were rich and delicious and the brased cabbage was a tad on the spicy side, but were very good!!!
They offer a selection of desserts and coffee.
Prices are reasonable and it’s a neat place to compliment your trip to Greenfield Village!

Maybe it was because my girlfriend and I were having such a wonderful time in Greenfield Village, but my expectations were slightly elevated for this place.
Starting with the staff, everyone was very pleasant and knowledgeable, except our waitress. She was certainly nice enough, but disappeared after serving us and only refilled water once. The gentleman outside knew quite a bit about Greenfield in general, but specifically the tavern. He was fantastic. Unfortunately, he was the only fantastic part of the tavern.
The Cider, which was suggested by the waitress, tasted more like White Wine than Cider, and was not good.
The fish (trout if I remember correctly) was very salty, and the sauce given was flavorless and watery.
The Pork Stew was unbelievably bland. No discernible flavor whatsoever.
The Pasta in the cream sauce was decent at best. The caramelized onions were the best part of the dish.
The Corned Beef was incredibly overcooked, but at least it wasn’t fatty. The horseradish was flavorful with a little bite to it.
The best things were the boiled carrots and the muffins, both of which are fairly hard to mess up. Needless to say, my expectation for the tavern were not met.

Ok let me start by saying I don’t like being sat with complete strangers for a meal. However my husband loves to meet new people and so I went for him. The people we were sat with however were in a bad mood and their child proceeded to slam his sippy cup against the table the whole meal.
The service is not great, the atmosphere is nice and the period clothing is nice. The building and tables are nice and old fashioned.
The dinner rolls were stale, the muffins ok. My savory noodle dish was good but not worth the money. I did not feel like the staff wanted to be there. I don’t know if they were trying to portray life back in the day, well I didn’t care for it.

I was recently here for the spring menu and of all the years we’ve been coming was sadly disappointed. The items on the menu are not that appealing as in the past and when they came out were extremely bland. The corn beef and cabbage highly lacked in seasoning and the corned beef (like chewy leather btw) which is normally salty dish was not? The chicken in a bowl was also bland. Maybe the summer menu will be better. I am hoping. Very disappointing.

Went there after a wonderful day walking at Greenfield Village with a hearty appetite.
We ordered an appetizer and some hearty old-​style recipe dinners. First, the server was downright unpleasant and nasty. When he did show up at the table, he was snippy and made rude comments about my companion. I asked to speak to the manager and he told me I couldn’t. I went and found the manager myself and the manager was unapologetic. I went so far as to contact The Henry Ford’s staff about it, as we’ve been members for years, but saw no evidence that anyone cares.
The food was plentiful and served quickly, but it was a bit bland — nothing to warrant a return trip. But a peek inside the kitchen was scary — it looked like one of the nasty horror stories from Restaurant Impossible. I have serious qualms about their cleanliness.
I would steer clear of this place at all costs — there is a cafeteria style place next door that seems a bit more sterile, has better selection, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby on Michigan Avenue if you can wait until your day at the Village is complete.

We were at Greenfield Village for Holiday Nights and ate at the Eagle Tavern. The ambiance is like going back in history a hundred years. The food was excellent. The squash soup is thick and hearty and very savory. Everyone in our group enjoyed it. The chicken with biscuits was tremendous. Service was perfect.
Holiday Nights is also a great event. Lots of interesting things to see and do. We especially enjoyed the glass shop demo and the pottery demo. Both made some beautiful things Don’t forget to get a ride in the Model T’s. At the end of the night they have fireworks and a Christmas Carol sing along. If this doesn’t put you in the Christmas Spirit nothing will.

I love this place. I’m in heaven from the time I walk in the door till the time I leave. I’ve visited this restaurant several times now and I never get tired of it as it’s one of the most unique dining experience you will ever have anywhere.
This place is like time traveling back to 1850 with the costumed servers, period style food and beverages. Seating is communal in the dining room or you can get a bite in the bar area up front. The menu changes seasonally and is posted on their website so check it out before you go to get a feel for what it has to offer.
As far as drinks — check out the Calvin — Rum, Amaretto and Sasparilla. So good and refreshing and you drink it through a pasta straw. Cool touch.
This is a very relaxing and pleasant place to have lunch or an early dinner to if you are in the village, make sure you have time to stop in and have this wonderful experience yourself.

I’ve been here three times now: Once as visitor with out of town guess, once as a wedding guest and recently for the Unilocal Elite event: Evenign at Eagle Tavern.
Having been a reg Joe Schmoe and a catered guest, I can tell you that the service, food and historic factor are worth a visit on you own and a definite go for an event.
I love the historic factor of wooden interior and old timey food and drink. As a reg visitor I had a hard apple cider from near Fenton (I wish I remembered what company it was!!). At the wedding, it was a catering menu including mahi-​mahi and fantastic cake. At the Unilocal event, it was hand made salumi and hams. Not salty and really high quality. I believe it is what they serve on their charcuterie plate. Their dedication to local is authentic the times and the local food movement: P
Not sure what one of the reviewers posted by «non-​traditional meats». Venison? Hello, it’s Michigan. Enjoy some local color, folks!
From reading another Unilocal review, I learned you can just go without full admission to the Village. Might be worth a date night =)