First reviewed by bunnyhugger

• 

  bunnyhugger
  Aug 22, 2006

  Overpriced and Overrated

  • Your Rating: 0/5 Stars
  • Average Rating: 1.0/5 Stars

  1.0
  

  My husband had heard about "Neath the Birches" and was anxious to try it on our trip to Mackinaw City. It is billed as a fine-dining restaurant where deer, bears, and other local wildlife can be viewed through the dining room windows.
  
  We were seated right by the window. Outside, a huge amount of bread was tossed on the ground, presumably to help ensure that wildlife would visit. There were also bird feeders hanging outside the window, but for some reason they were all empty, which was disappointing. During our evening visit the only animal that showed up was a raccoon, but that wasn't too exciting for us, since we see them in the city all the time. Anyway, I know they can't guarantee that animals will show up so I don't hold that against them.
  
  I ordered fettuccini alfredo and my husband ordered lamb chops. The entrees came with a trip to the salad bar. The salad bar did not seem to be up to the quality that one would expect from a fine-dining establishment; it was similar to what you would get at someplace like Ruby Tuesday's.
  
  When my fettuccini came, I tasted it and was astonished by how bad it was. The sauce had obviously come out of a jar. It tasted exactly like the institutional-grade alfredo sauce that they used to serve at the cafeteria when I was in college. I didn't want to make my husband feel bad, so I made myself eat some of it, but it was truly unpleasant. After a while my husband asked to try it and I reluctantly let him taste it. He said, "I think that came out of a jar." I told him that I had been thinking the same thing. He reported that the lamb chops were pretty good, if nothing special.
  
  We had dessert, which was run-of-the-mill, and then we got the check. It was $105 for two entrees, a mediocre bottle of wine, and desserts. I have paid less than that at much better establishments. I certainly do not expect to get sauce from a jar at those prices. The service was also not up to that standard. We left feeling ripped off.
  
  In summary, Neath the Birches trades on the novelty of its wooded location to justify fine-dining level prices without fine-dining food or service. I advise you to avoid it. Later on during our visit to Mackinaw City, we paid half as much for better food and outstanding service at Audie's Chippewa Room.

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