Bailey's Pub & Grille
by Alysa Zavala
With the addition of eight new items to their already extensive menu, including two of those aforementioned foodstuffs, the menu has recently taken a direction that includes not just unexpected delights (can we just mention deep fried pretzels again?) but some sumptuous suds as well.
Although this is a column normally reserved for the praise of our favorite local eating establishments and their edible offerings, we felt that in honor of our sixth annual Beer Cup, we might wander – just for a moment – into beer territory.
With over 100 bottled beers and almost 40 on tap, the myriad choices in not only national brands but Michigan craft brews as well are somewhat surprising and most certainly exciting. Gagnon personally selects all the beers that will be on tap or in the fridge. A lover of craft beer and a home brewer himself, the GM switches up his offerings as often as possible.
In addition to the multitude of beers flowing at this Dearborn drinking establishment, they also offer beer-pairing dinners every three months, according to Gagnon. Not only does the restaurant bring in special beers that aren't normally served, they also create an entirely new menu with which to pair those palatable potions.
Perhaps here it should be noted that this place is part of a corporate chain. But never ever do you feel that way while eating here.
"When I eat at some corporate places, no matter what location I go to, it feels like I'm eating at that certain restaurant," says Gagnon. "There's no wiggle room at those places. It's always exactly the same. Here, I can change my beer list. I can pick what games to play. And it doesn't feel like a chain here. It feels like your neighborhood pub."
There are other factors that differentiate this corporately-owned pub from some other chains we're probably all familiar with as well.
"All of our products are fresh. The food we use is very, very good," says Gagnon. "I've worked at restaurants where the only equipment in the kitchen is microwaves and there is a reason for that. Everything comes frozen in plastic. It's not like that here. We slow cook our ribs like you would at home."
Other special offerings include event hosting and in-house catering. In their private basement, the restaurant offers secluded quarters where guests can enjoy one of their eight buffet menus as well as a private bar. According to Gagnon they've served groups from everywhere – Ford Motor Company to wedding rehearsal dinner parties.
If there's one more reason you need to fall in love with this Dearborn pub, it's probably the one that will rest closest to you heart. A partner with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the restaurant donates proceeds from every Play-Action Platter (pictured) ordered to the charity. The sampler packs those delicious deep fried pretzels, potato skins, traditional wings, cheese stick, celery and four dipping sauces. Guess which part was is favorite. | RDW
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