Torch Bar & Grill

Warm beer. Lack luster service. Food was very bland. Not an amazing experience to say the least.

The atmosphere was just like you’d want in a highend dive bar. Great drink knowledge from the staff and creative too. The burger was BOMB! Needed some seasoning… they don’t use any. Give er a go!

Great dive bar. Great service. Good friends, cold beer, and a Torch burger and my life is complete.

A year or so ago, I saw a list of the best bar burgers and the Torch Bar «Torch Burger» was on that list. I don’t get to Flint all that often, but I felt the need to try one. So I gathered up one of my rotund amigos and off we went to test drive the Torch Burger. I live about 45 minutes away. The Torch is tucked away in an alley. up a small flight of stairs. on the sketchy scale I give it a 2.
It was worth the drive. It’s a wonderful hunk of meat. I generally get mine medium and it was cooked just right. The fixins are perfectly balanced. A nice burger, one of the best I’ve had. I’ve been back a couple times and each time I’ve had the Torch Burger, I’ve been very happy. Once, I had a different burger and it just wasn’t the same. I would not do that again, I stick to the Torch Burger. You can order half onion rings/​half fries as a side. GENIUS!!!
The service can best be described as «casually indifferent», which I like. They aren’t all that happy to see you there. I love that vibe. I have told my brother we need to road trip to Flint to get a burger. he doesn’t think that makes sense. I think he’s nuts.

Good service, good food, relaxed and like a little hidden gem.

This used to be a great place a long time ago. 3-​martini attorney lunches and cheap hooch for the night scum and bums. You could always get a stool at the bar and 5hey were the only place around that served Guiness. Big burger baskets on special, usually a very relaxed place. For awhile it was the only place downtown. And they always served a damn good burger and not much else. Fries.
Now it’s a hipster bar. The burgers are smaller, cost more as do the drinks. It’s nearly always packed full of hipsters these days. Keno machines, piped in bad 90’s ALT Rock/​Metal and now parking is a huge pain in the ass. A lot of beers on tap though the bartender didn’t know much about them. He was also 3-​for-​3 when I tried ordering an Old Fashioned, a Manhatten and then a White Russian.
Also, the bathrooms, situated downstairs, reek of urine/​sewage.

Great bar food and drinks. Something about the alley just makes this place feel like it’s a secret even though it stands out as probably the only note worthy place in the alley. The staff are always on ball even when the place is crowded shoulder to shoulder I was addressed and served faster than my friends could finish their orders. Only reason they don’t get a five is their limited selection.

I’m a huge fan of the torch burger, I think the staff is great and I even think the owners are nice. My problem is that the bathrooms are horrible and disgusting. They have only gotten worse. Tonight when I walked down the steps to use the restrooms it literally smelled like a sewer. When I walked into the ladies room it was 10 x worse. It is just gross and I can’t believe that anyone would think it is OK to leave your bathrooms like this. I have no plans on returning until the bathrooms are renovated. With all of the competition that the torch has downtown you would think that they might at least have a basic bathroom that is decent.

We came here based on the Thrillist recommendation and the Unilocal review… and I am starting to think that businesses are able to pay to get on «best of» lists. We both got a burger as recommended and we asked for them to be cooked medium-​rare and medium (they specified this is how they prepare them). Well, we got one medium-​well and one well done burger. While the burger itself was okay, it was nothing that should have placed it on a list of burgers to try. I have definitely had better. Also the onion rings that were mentioned multiple times in the reviews appeared to be GFS pre-​battered onion rings… nothing special. And the service was not good. So maybe it was an off day, but we were very disappointed.

Small bar located in the alley and up a flight of stairs of the main strip in flint…
Staff was very friendly. Food and drinks were reasonably priced. Voted best burger in the state by mlive… The burger was good, but typical of a bar burger. Imo there was nothing to set it apart from the rest.

For a «hidden dive bar», their burgers and apps are bomb! It’s a little small, but the good food and cheaper drinks make up for it!

Torch is a great place for a burger and a drink. I came with my mom to grab a cheap greasy dinner and that’s what we got. The burgers here are consistently tender and juicy and have pretty good flavor. The original torch burger is quite large, enough to satisfy a large hungry man. My mom was full after eating half. The Jr. Torch burger would’ve been a better size for a smaller appetite especially with wedge fries and onion rings on the side.
I’ve never had anything else there, but they do serve sandwiches and even breakfast in the mornings.
The atmosphere and service is far from stunning, but that’s just what this kind of place is… Kind of dark, cramped, and old. When you walk up the stairs into the bar, just seat yourself and order as soon as you can if you’re hungry because the burgers take a long time to come out. Also their ginger beer is so yummy but I’m a ginger beer fanatic.

This pub has managed to incorporate nostalgic and trending, in a small quaint off the beaten path room. All service is rendered with down home family hospitality.
The bartenders knowledge of beer, liquor, food items, and the Michigan history. I thought this was absolutely impressive.
This spot will always be first on my agenda, when visiting the Flint area.
Thanks guys… for getting it right!

Best burgers, coke, and mozzarella sticks around. You have to try a Torch burger!
I loved coming here in between or after classes. Such a cool feel and the staff is always attentive and friendly.

I love The Torch so much that I had my rehearsal dinner here — lest you think, «Ew, trashy», it was the perfect counterpoint to a rather formal wedding at the FIA the next day. The location down an alley and up a flight of stairs is a bit scary at first, but you will absolutely grow to love that, and my highly pretentious family ended up thinking it was so cool.
The Torch is everything one seeks in a local (classy divey) bar: Everyone is welcome, young and old, every demographic, and there is good service, unlimited popcorn, and an amazing beer list and bartenders who know what they’re doing regarding cocktails. The food is good — they are known for their burgers, but everything on the menu is at least decent. They have a few veggie options (veggie burgers, mozzarella sticks), but nothing vegan, I don’t think.
I live in Illinois now, and God, I miss The Torch.

The Torch is a Flint classic. The place is so small you have to go outside to change your mind. The burgers are probably the best in the city. No need to mention anything else most people go to the Torch for burgers and to drink. They offer specialty cocktails that will impress most. I had a torch burger and wedge cut fries. The fries a big and they keep the skin on them. The beer selection will impress the most serious beer snob.

This bar is in Buckham Alley in downtown Flint. I discovered this place a few years ago because it was on
. After using the certificate with a friend for lunch, I felt guilty because everything was so cheap
Don’t expect appetizer plates or a hostess to greet you, but you will get good service, good food, cold beer, and good drinks. Did I mention it’s in an alley?
The only food I’ve ordered here are the burgers, onion rings, fries, and chicken wings. They have a full menu but I love the burgers. This is a place where you can get a burger and fry, a few drinks, and catch a game all for under $ 20.
Bottom line, I love this place.

i love a good hole in the wall dive and this place delivers. on the second floor with a balcony view of the alley, nothing says dive more.
there is a pretty good tap beer menu and a really good, and cheap food menu. deep fried tater tots and pizza rolls and perfect as a beer side. and the bar burger was delicious with the addition of green olives and swiss cheese.
i will for sure be back when visiting my friend who lives near.
love, juston

Great burgers. Great drinks. Cozy, laid back atmosphere with attentive service. The Torch is the best bar & grill in Flint by far. They become an institution as they’ve been around for over 60 years. It’s great to see this small business survive the rock bottom years and offer solace and reprieve for those that have stuck around Vehicle City.

Per my Flintite friends, this is the quintessential downtown bar. Of my three stops on this particular misty autumn night, this place offered the best experience. The bartender saw us coming, and set us up quickly with drinks and menu. There was not a grimace or even a raised eyebrow about splitting a burger and order of wedge fries. As we sampled our Michigan micro-​brews, we noticed the diversity of the clientele. Behind us were a group of college guys and a group of coats and ties. Above us was a TV with the Tigers in a playoff game. Great Michigan beers (and good-​looking selection of liquors at the bar) great burgers, GREAT service. Hey, if right outside my alley window, I can imagine the dumpster where Will Farrell was found by Woody Harrelson (think film: «Semi-​Pro»), how much better can my Flint experience get?