West Branch
Tipsy Bear Bistro

Tipsy Bear Bistro

503 W Houghton Ave, West Branch, MI, 48661, United States

Wine • Tapas • Bistro • American


"I had the worst dining experience of my life at this restaurant. We ordered two cocktails, an appetizer, and the half rack of Baby Back Ribs special for $26. While the drinks and appetizer were a bit pricey but acceptable, what we received as the ribs was shocking. Instead of baby back ribs, we were served spare ribs that were so tough I couldn't cut them with a knife. The plate almost fell onto my lap as I struggled with it. When I kindly raised my concerns to our waitress and the manager, they said there was nothing they could do. I requested to speak with the owner, who absurdly claimed that baby backs are never supposed to fall off the bone. I had never heard that before. When I asked for a different meal, it took them nearly 30 minutes to bring it to me, and at that point, I was hesitant to eat anything else from the kitchen due to my unease with their food quality. To make matters worse, the owner refused to adjust my bill and even threatened to call the police when we were asked to leave. I've dined at Tipsy Bear many times when it was run by the previous owners, Fred and Kathy, and always had wonderful experiences with my family—never any issues at all. I don’t think the new owners will last long; their service and food quality are completely lacking! We live in the area and will be sure to inform our friends and family to steer clear of Tipsy Bear Bistro. The positive reviews you may see are a result of the previous owners’ hard work, not the current management. Beware!"