Lakes

Zero stars. We had our company dinner here last night and could not have been more disappointed. Don’t know where to begin or end. They need to Shut it down. PERIOD

It was nice of The Lakes to offer complimentary valet parking. The establishment held onto Charley’s Crab 1980’s motif. The inside was outdated with old wood, carpet and upholstery seating. It was like a pirate’s ship… arrrrrgh!
The service was fine except for how the food was auctioned off instead of being served to each person. I was with a group of twenty people who sat at four separate tables. From the drinks to the 3-​course meal the servers called out the items and waited for someone to claim their entrée.
The food was banquet quality. It was nothing unique, it was just food from Gordon Foods Service dressed up with garnishments. For dessert, the key lime pie and crème brûlée were delicious!
In closing there a other options available for a better overall experience at comparable prices.

As much as I would like to go back because the food was delicious, I highly doubt this place will even be in business by the next time we return. It was the strangest experience. For whatever reason they assigned us a waiter that was working in a completely different part of the restaurant. We literally saw him 3 times in the 2 hrs we were there. Everybody was very nice, but it was obvious nobody had a clue how to run a restaurant. The chef and 2 managers waited our table most of the night. We had no one to refill drinks, no bread, I received my crab legs with no cracker or butter, after waiting 10 min with the waiter no where to be found, I tracked down the chef and he brought me the utensils necessary to eat my crab legs. I’ve never been to a restaurant where 4 different people are waiting your table and not one of them is an actual waiter. Again, everyone was very nice and kind but the experience was unique to say the least. The worst part is that the food was amazing, unfortunately when you spend $ 150 on a dinner for 2, you expect to have atleast mediocre service. I can’t even say we had service at all, we literally saw our waiter 3 times in the 2 hrs it took us to receive and eat our meal. The chef would come out about every 10 min to see how everyone was doing in the dining area. He was great, and waited our table for us, but let’s get real people. The chef should not be refilling our drinks and bringing us what we need. A waiter would have been nice for that. Overall excellent food but not worth the hassle. Getting a fork in that place was a chore let alone another whiskey. No thanks!

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and we loved it. Our waitress, Val, was attentive and we got to meet the Chef. Their drinks were the bomb. I had the El Matador. In terms of food, there are better seafood places around (the difference between an A– and A+). I found Lakes to offer better prices though, there were a couple ~$ 15 and ~$ 20 entrees, including chicken, for when you want to go out with your peasant friends. What really makes this place though, is the atmosphere. It’s so beautiful and relaxed. I’ll be going again.

So disappointing. The two stars were for the service which was great because there were literally like 6 people in the restaurant. Interior is dated. Drinks were fine– strawberry mojito was good, $ 5 special white sangria was ok but basically tasted like a fuzzy navel. Was very excited about the whitefish dip, but it was so-​so– very garlicky. Charred bread served with it was good. Caesar salad was not great– lettuce tasted old & dressing was very fishy. Glad I didn’t order an entrée bc my friends ordered the perch ($ 24) & sea bass ($ 34) & felt they were mediocre. I wanted the crab cakes which, again, were just ok. The chef was nice to come out & speak to us, & our server was very attentive. They started turning the lights out on us at 9:30 & it was a ghost town. We had decided to come here & then realized there was a Living Social deal which made it a little more palatable, but it was $ 130 (& that’s after the LS $ 20 off) for 3 people– 2 apps, 2 drinks each, & 2 entrees. I would have rather gone to Kruse & Muer. Wouldn’t be surprised if it closed soon.

Hubby and I went for the first time. Interior is beautiful, waiter was great. Appetizer an bread was good. Dinner was awful. Hubby got swordfish with prosciutto, I had whitefish, potatoe and stewed tomatoes. Both fishes were poorly poached, bland, dry. My stewed tomatoes looke like they came out of a can and quickly heated. We ordered wine. We quietly complained and they took entrees off bill and still cost $ 100. We will not go back !!

Sent to management:
We selected your restaurant to have brunch with our mother this past Sunday. We had frequented the Charley’s Crab that was at your location and hoped that the experience would be similar or superior. We were sadly mistaken.
I had called for a reservation last week and was told 10:30 for five people would be fine. We arrived and were escorted to the back corner bar area and shown to an elevated area with two four-​tops with a two-​top in the middle. I was confused as there was no setting for five. We were told that we could select our own seats up there and use it as an opportunity to switch things up??? I said that I was in no way going to break up our party and asked if we could place a fifth chair at the end of the four top. The host said he would have to ask since it may be against a fire code. We were «allowed» to set up the cramped table in this manner. When I asked why I reserved a table for five, but given a table for four, the response was «I didn’t take the reservation.» Very helpful. This seating arrangement was intrusive and cramped. We had to continually get up to let people out from the table to get to the buffet. This was made more problematic by the fact that no one was ever around to bus used plates from our table. We had to stack them on the adjacent two top to clear them from our table. Waitstaff seemed plentiful, just not back in the corner that were were sequestered. The most curious aspect of this was that upon roaming the restaurant to visit the various food stations, it was evident that there were ample tables with better views to be had. At 10:30 the eggs, sausage and bacon were cold. OUtside of this, most of the food was prepared well. I was presented my bill without asking for it or being asked if everyone at our table was done eating. There was also a 19% gratuity automatically added without that ever being stated in print or otherwise. I am a 20% minimum tipper in almost every scenario. No one from your organization that interfaced with us was worthy of a tip. Fortunately for consumers like me, there are ample choices for dining out, and now, one less option to consider.

service: good
ambience: excellent
food:way below par
Old ‘Charley’s Crab with wonderful surroundings.
Shrimp Cocktail $ 15.00 .’ 3 naked shrimp with classic sauce were good but would have been better to dress them in lettuce or arugula to add color or contre-​coup
The entrée’s were abysmal Cioppino was slices of ??? in a heap of fettuccini. Certainly not on the same page of any dish of the same name that I have had. Taddish San Fran weep.
Seafood Boil was tasteless. Why in a New Orleans named dish would you serve Snow crab?
I think this is what happens when the investors trump the food artists.
Unless things change dramatically this place will not survive

Great Lakes was my favorite seafood restaurant. Lakes is as cool as it was when it was Charlie crab, 29 years ago They haven’t update the place. I’ve tried it twice and am so disappointed. The tea was cold the Perch was disgusting.
The service isn’t good either. This will be closed soon or should be

In all fairness, we love this location as it is beautiful inside. We patronized on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday; granted it was Monday, the weather wasn’t delightful and the Holidays just ended, but the place was empty. As expected, the service was very good. We all enjoyed our dinners and were pleased with the experience. (also used a Groupon)

as we walked through the doors we knew this would be a night to remember. Everything about Lakes is different — and I mean that in a good way. The menu offers seafood options that are classic yet inspired. The décor has a traditional nautical feel but is unique and fun at the same time. And the service is formal yet welcoming — making Lakes a perfect spot for all occasions.
One of our favorite parts about Lakes, formally Charley’s Crab, was the obvious pride they had in the history of the restaurant. We learned that part of the structure was the former living room from one of the most elegant mansions of Grosse Pointe, the Macauley Mansion, built in 1929. If you look near the bar, there are pictures of the room dating back almost 84 years!
Our dining experience at Lakes was beyond delicious and it all started out with our drink. We tried the Christmas Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company and it was delish — the perfect holiday beer due to the subtle taste of nutmeg, cinnamon and honey. During the hours of 4pm-​7pm beer ranges from $ 3-​$ 5, liquor is $ 4 and wine is $ 5!
After enjoying our beer we were treated to a plethora of dishes prepared by the talented Executive Chef Mike D’Angelo. We tried the goujons of calamari ($ 9), braised beef poutin ($ 9), buffalo popcorn shrimp ($ 11), lobster potato skins ($ 12) and the chilean sea bass ($ 34)
Needless to say, Courtney and I were full and happy by the end of that meal. Every single dish we tried was seasoned to perfection and cooked flawlessly — not to mention the presentation was incredible. If we had to pick a favorite it would be chilean sea bass. This was the first time I ever had sea bass prepared with apple curry risotto, citrus vinaigrette, braised leek and shaved fennel — TO DIE FOR.
One of the things I like most about this restaurant is it’s versatility. The dining room is the perfect place for a business dinner or a date. The bar area is a great spot to have a casual meal with friends and the upstairs is ideal for a private party! As Courtney and I toured through Lakes Restaurant we kept repeating over and over…“this place is so unique”, «the décor is unlike anything else», «this ambiance creates an incredible dining experience.» Lakes «feel» lives up to it’s name — they totally ran with the nautical theme and it works.

The interior of this restaurant is absolutely stunning! The details and décor of the walls, the carpet, the ceilings, is gorgeous. It feels like you are sitting inside a beautiful huge ship.
The service is very good. Fast, professional and highly competent. The general manager Leta is just so wonderful and kind. The bartenders are very skilled and outgoing, Bob the other manager is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met!
Now I didn’t even get into the mouth watering, jaw dropping food!!! The seafood is just AMAZING!!! I would bring my date, my mother, a best friend to this restaurant for any special occasion any time of the year. The lobster scallop risotto is excellent!!! Great wine selection! Yes!!! If you haven’t been here, check it out now!!!

Just dined here and I’m still super disappointed in everything. I ordered the weekly special: Mascarpone stuffed trout. The trout had absolutely NO FLAVOR at all! No salt, pepper, herbs. Nothing. While they did offer to get me something new nothing on their menu looked appealing to me so I just stopped eating after two bites. The cold cous cous salad didn’t go well with the meal nor did the burnt kale.
We counted 6x that they asked if they could pack up our meal. They like hounded us which was a huge mood killer.
The way they packaged my meal to go was disgusting. They slopped everything on top of each other and it not only looks unappealing but the stuff I really didn’t like is no plastered all over my flavorless trout.
The chocolate cake was good as was the clam chowder which is why I gave them 2 stars.
This place is a mega bust in my opinion. I wouldn’t recommend this spot for seafood.

Ego T: to give a restaurant one star just because they charge you to bring in outside dessert is outrageously incompetent. Of course they’re going to charge you to serve cake!
The food here is excellent and was followed by delicious wine. Our table of 8 received superior service and the evening overall was wonderful.
We dine out nearly six times a week and this is one of the better restaurants in the area.
Menu items that stand out: Oysters, Sea bass, Maine Lobster and Skirt wing with pork belly

Had lunch yesterday there. Great service. The lobster Rubin was to die for. Will come back soon!

Wonderful dinner! There was hardly anybody in the place which is always worrisome. But I think since Charley’s Crab closed so long ago, people had forgotten that a new place opened.
I had the best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted and my son had chicken and waffles. Crazy combo, but he loved it.

We went for a special occasion last summer. I was hungry for seafood and really missed the old Charley’s Crab. So, I ordered up pan fried perch and it came with some kind of crème sauce. Imagine crème sauce on pan fried perch. No way. Additionally the vegetable was overcooked. Skipped dessert as my appetite was ruined by this time. They need a new chef. Following trends in menus is nice but the meal should be a good blend. Chef does not know how to blend.

The food was excellent! I enjoyed the perch with asparagus and broccoli. Also enjoyed the calamari and the seafood chowder. The presentation of the food was good. Dacor fits the restaurant. Great choice for seafood

Went out for dinner for my husband’s birthday and we had an excellent time. It was a quiet sunday but the service was excellent. We ordered the calamari, and my MIL liked it so much, she ordered another plate. We all liked our food. Sweet potato and shrimp gnocchi was awesome. It had just the right hint of spice.

Good seafood in Michigan is not easy to find and real good seafood is really hard to find, I found it; it’s called Northern Lakes Seafood, and it’s real good. Hidden in Tory off Crooks in its past life Northern Lakes was one of the Charlie Crabs locations but now it has a new life as the Northern Lakes Seafood and it carries on the long tradition of first class fresh seafood. The room is a little dated but still very intimate and yet open and spacious. The staff is very attentive and have a good understanding of the wine list. Northern often has wine tasting and other special that are worth a try.
All in all good for family and friends give them a try. Enjoy!

This is a very nice place with a nice ambience. Band on Saturday.
We were celebrating a birthday and made reservation ahead of time and told the staff we will bring our cake. We were surprised to find that «they don’t allow outside food». If the cake is to be served we were going to be charged $ 2 per person including children!
I respect that different restaurants have different policies but we should have been told clearly that this is the policy ahead of time. After this conversation with the greeter in the presence of the restaurant manager our complaint was ignored. We felt unwelcome from there on.
The food is good. I prefer Streetside seafood in Birmingham any day.
Will not be going back. With the prices I expect excellent food but more importantly superb service and welcoming staff which this restaurant did not provide.