Tannin

Crappy ambiance… with over head lighting and no table candles or lights — like eating in someone’s garage. Food was bland, service slow. For the price, Dusty’s is far better. Tried this on the recommendation of a friend who’s taste I now question.

Everything was excellent. Caesar salad with anchovies was superb. Coldcut plate with cheese was outstanding. Chicken Marsala was the best we have ever had with superb spices. Dessert was almond cake and delicious. Wines were very good. Two of us had a special valentine day meal for about $ 100. Will definitely return.

I finally got back to Lansing, and so had another opportunity to enjoy Tannin, this time for a Sunday evening dinner. They are featuring a new menu right now, and have a new chef, who, based on our experience, is a real keeper!
The winelist is still exceptional. We had a bottle of Châteauneuf-​du-​Pape that was out of this world, and where else do you find that? I have also learned to simply trust Noah to create me a new martini. This one had a hint of elderberry!
There are some wonderful choices on the new menu, and so although it was hard to pass up former favorites like the Beef Sugo and the Chicken Marsala, we had to try some of the new items. We ordered small quantities of several appetizers and really loved the beef bone marrow and the seared calamari with mascarpone. What a great combination that cheese is with kalamari and marinara! The pork belly on faro was also pretty amazing. For entrees we selected two of the new items – I had the whole roasted Bronzino and my spouse had the Lavender Duck Risotto. Neither of us could have been more pleased – the flavor profiles of both dishes were creative and innovative. As for the Bronzino, which I see is also available on the upcoming New Year’s Eve chef tasting menu – alas I’ll be back in Kentucky, it was beautifully done, roasted with slices of lemon inserted in slashes for great flavor through the whole fish. I think it also had to have been salt-​encrusted before roasting, but I forgot to ask.
I think other discriminating foodees are finding Tannin – it was pretty busy for a Sunday evening. The staff was working hard, but the service was excellent.

Visitor from out of town. Brutal experience. Food was VERY slow coming out and of poor taste. Server did lousy job keeping us informed. Red wine served at wrong temp. If you think this is good, please come to Philadelphia to see great restaurants!

A real gem. Some of the best food in all of Lansing. And lunch is an incredible bargain

Hands down one of my favorite spots in the Lansing area. They have a spectacular bar and their food has always been amazing. The staff are well trained and really know their stuff. Now they serve weekend brunch as well, it’s like they’ve read my mind and are giving me everything my inner fattie wants! Pro tip: anything with their house-​made chorizo is bound to be awesome, as long as you like a little spice.

I’m originally from the Lansing area, and normally dread the restaurant selection whenever I come back for a visit. I no longer complain. Tannin is the best new restaurant on the Eastside. The food is delicious, creative, beautifully plated and the menu selection is exceptional for the region. And to top it off, the staff is lovely, courteous, and attentive. And the lunch prices are an absolute steal. Fantastic.

I wish this place stayed open later. The food is delicious, especially the charcuterie. Great wine selection. The waitress was very informative and attentive. At the end of the meal, I asked her about their cognac selection. The bartender then came over to talk up a high-​end cognac… but only to my boyfriend, even though I was the one that requested it. He talked for at least 8 minutes about it and never even looked at me once. He then brought over a sample — but once again, only for my boyfriend, not even acknowledging me. Frustrating and a little disrespectful, but the Kelt selection he made was amazing.

Haven’t been here for a long time and was looking forward to their yummy chicken marsala and potatoes (at least they were yummy the last time I had them). It did not look or taste even remotely like it had in the past. There was an orange goo over the whole dish, the mushrooms were some weird fungus (last time they were morels, which are not in season now, but I would at least expect an identifiable and tasty mushroom). The chicken was tough, the service was mediocre and the whole thing was overpriced. I’m getting tired of cooking at home, but this is what it has come to. Lansing area restaurants are just such a huge disappointment and overpriced. At least the glass of wine was good, but I could almost buy a whole bottle for the price and make a better dish at home myself.

Extraordinary wine selection… many quality independent wines add an exciting dimension. Attentive service and impressive attention to detail.
Excellent Scotch selection.
This place is a jewel, and a rarity in the greater Lansing area.

For the second Sunday in a row, my daughter and I went to Tannin for brunch. The Facebook coupon got us in the door, but the food brought us back. The menu changes constantly so be aware that you may love something and it won’t be there the next week. On our first visit, we shared the beet salad, the smoked whitefish cakes w pesto, eggs, and asparagus, and the coronetti (sp?) for dessert. All three items were amazing! The coronetti is like a chocolate croissant, only better. If it is on the menu, don’t hesitate — order it! Today we shared the pancakes and the steak sandwich. I liked last week’s choices better, but the food today was still wonderful. And the service was impeccable.

Would give this place 4−½ stars which is typically my indicator on Unilocal that the place will deliver a great experience every time. I got that sense with Tannin though this was our first visit. We went here with friends and it was excellent. Appetizer (Gnudi), salad (beet salad) and each of our entrees (chicken morel, skirt steak and a risotto with shrimp and scallops) were all fantastic. Excellent wine selection. Great drink selection. Service was spot on.
There are only little things that could be done to make it five stars: you pass the patio on the way in; just plain black tables, debris on the concrete, no decorations. They need to dress this space up with a string of lights, blow off the concrete, add some planters, etc. On the way to our table, there were holes in the wall where something was hanging previously. Not something you’d expect from a place of this caliber. The bread was underwhelming and the oil was served in a small, metal condiment cup. The bread should be upgraded (maybe bring in from Roma Bakery) and oil should be served in a shallow dish for community dipping. The oil itself was delicious.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and our server (Mike is awesome). Will definitely go back. All the things we noted were more aesthetic and easily fixed. So nice to go to a place that delivers on the total experience. Keep up the good work!

Good lacked flavor and service was awful. I usually don’t ask for salt, but the panzanella was flavorless and my gimelli entrée was flat. Really disappointed.

Every time I review a restaurant (which is somewhat rare, to be fair) I look for three or four things: quality and well though out food, great service, good cocktails, and the overall ambience. Tannin hits all points. In Lansing, choices for higher end dining are limited, so I am very pleased to have come across this place. Their drinks are boozy and innovative and the at staff. Will whip up anything based on your preference. The menu is an ever-​changing ‘farm to table’ concept with great appetizers and composed entrees. I honestly have never ordered anything I didn’t like – beef filet, duck, wild boar – all were delicious. The service blows any other place in Lansing out of the water. Yes, the bill will be higher than most other restaurants here, but it is worth it for what you get if you want the experience.
Now, five stars… sure it’s not a five star restaurant by Chicago or other big city standards. But for Lansing, I’d give it 10.

My overall experience from my last 5 times visiting is highly positive. The wines are well chosen as is the liquor selection. Noah, one of the bartenders there, is very helpful in selecting the wine or spirit that pairs best with your entrée, and his friendly attitude is very welcoming. The menu changes with what is seasonally available, and never disappoints with the flavors and variety.
Our most recent visit had a service failure that resulted in my main entrée being barely lukewarm by the time I received it. While the waiter failed to keep us posted of this delay in our food, the manager was exceptionally helpful and left both my wife and I feeling that our concerns were understood and resolved to our satisfaction.

This place is awesome! We sat at the bar and Noah, the bartender, took fabulous care of us. His recommendations were right on the mark! Everything was delicious. We had duck breast and the chicken Marsala. The best way to describe it is“YUM!” You can be gluten free without sacrificing the flavor. Try Noah’s cedar smoke infused cocktails! Worth the visit!

Went for dinner on a Thursday night with a big group of people (about 20). They had live music (piano and something else, I forget), which was nice but made it difficult to have a conversation. Wine selection seemed good, and the red I had was good enough (i.e., it didn’t blow me away).
The food:
Complimentary bread was chewy and tasty, dipping oil was flavorful.
Prosciutto pear appetizer was good.
Mushroom ragout was very rich and creamy – I couldn’t finish the entire thing. While I enjoyed it, all the bites were the same, and I wished I had gotten something else.
I didn’t have to pay for dinner, and I couldn’t afford to come here very often. Patrons seem to be older and sophisticated folk who can afford these prices.
Our waitress was professional and polite but did not seem to be genuinely cheerful – I’m sure it wasn’t easy to take care of a large group at the end of the night.
The entire dinner took 2.5 hours (without dessert).
I would probably go back if I had the funds to try other things (the whole roasted trout and duck breast looked good).
But, I wouldn’t say that this restaurant totally blows me away (others in our party thought it was very good). I suppose it’s good for Okemos/​East Lansing, but it definitely wouldn’t be as good in more cosmopolitan cities. Also, maybe it’s typical American cuisine, but the flavors weren’t terribly interesting or even complex. I would say that Red Haven, while less consistent in the quality of their food, tends to have more flavorful food, do you know what I mean?

I had the Ceasar Salad topped with salmon. overall, it tasted very good. I was disappointed with the size of the piece of salmon, couldn’t have been more than 3 oz. not what I expected for $ 9. I sat at the bar and I felt that the area was not well kept. I’m a bit mixed with the attention to detail and the expense of their expansive wine selection.

I think I’m a pretty harsh critic when it comes to reviewing restaurants but in this instance, I can only be harsh on myself for not coming here sooner! I’m moving soon and I could kick myself because this place is AMAZING! I had shied away because they advertise themselves as an Italian restaurant, which I don’t overly care for. However, I think they offer more of a French style.
For those who complain about the price… really? Lansing has so few fine dining restaurants and you people are exactly why. If you want cheap food, go to Crunchy’s or any of the other million burger places in town. I found the price to be absolutely outstanding for the food and drinks.
My boyfriend and I came for dinner on their anniversary. We didn’t realize this but it was great because their wine was half off. We split a bottle of wine, a red blend that was delicious. With the discount it was only $ 20, normally the cost was $ 40. Either way, it was great wine and went very well with our food. For the appetizer, we got the cheese and charcuterie plate. It was outstanding, probably the best cheese and charcuterie plate I have ever had. They had this local cheese that was to die for.
For dinner, I had the short rib and my boyfriend had the lamb special. My short rib was so good. It fell off the bone and the tomato sauce it came with was so delicious. My boyfriend cleaned his plate and I did try the lamb. It had a fresh flavor, with herbs, and was served overtop this decadent gratin.
We decided to go for dessert and chose the tiramisu. It was perfect, with a hint of cinnamon. Our waiter was so attentive and we sat outside on the patio which was delightful. I can’t say enough good things about this place. Our bill came to $ 104 which is amazing, for an appetizer, a bottle of wine, two entrees, and dessert.

After looking at the menu, I was excited about what appears to be a list of items that are not the standard of what you would find in the sexy food desert that is Okemos. The land of no taste. So with that being said, I was a tad skeptical about what I was about to endure. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the staff, the décor, and especially the food. Moreover, although the service was good, it took us 3 HOURS to eat here for lunch. Now I know this was mother’s day and was far less packed than they anticipated, which I would assume causes no rhythm. A busy kitchen is an efficient one, not the case yesterday.
The food:
Since we were celebrating Mother’s Day and we had a party of eight plus three kids, we were able to explore much of the menu and see how Tannin does. The kids had the Mac n’ Cheese with Duck and Bacon on the side. Luckily was sitting next to one of these patrons, which allowed me to steal bite after bite and it was fantastic. This was also a great thing since my dish came out last and again, lunch took 3 hours so these bites satisfied me while I waited. My wife had the eggplant with chicken and I had the salmon, both dishes were great but they both could use some seasoning or simply some salt. My parents shared the tasting menu, this order what I am guessing caused the super slow service. All of our dishes were great but I will have to say that this place knows how to manipulate potatoes, some of the best I have ever had.
In addition, they gave us all champagne to pacify us for the slow service. Now at first I was oh yeah, crappy champagne that will make me more annoyed, however, I was corrected quite quickly once it exploded on my taste buds. The smooth Prosecco with a touch of honey was awesome. I also too the waiters advice and had the Millet not on the menu and it was much better than the New Zealand critter wine.
Overall, even though the service (the kitchen) was crazy slow and in most cases would deter me from ever trying a restaurant again, but I will definitely be back the next time I am in Okemos for a client or parental outing. For those who read this I encourage you to try this place and be understanding, they are still learning.