Social Profile: 
✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
… View more
Unpretentious, wood-paneled hangout serving cocktails, burgers & American diner fare since 1946.
Hours
| Tuesday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–8 PM |
| Monday | 9 AM–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 11015 W Front St, Empire, MI 49630
Phone: (231) 326-5506
Website: http://www.joesfriendlytavern.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Joe’s Friendly Tavern – Empire
joe food 1.jpg. joe food 2.jpg. alc-prepping-internal.jpg. empire dunes fall 09.jpg. 11015 Front St. – Empire, Michigan 231-326-5506. Eat · Drink · Visit.
Joe’s Friendly Tavern Empire – Facebook
Located in Empire Michigan in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore,. Bar & Grill · $ · (231) 326-5506.
Joe’s Friendly Tavern | Empire, MI – Sleeping Bear Dunes
A Leelanau County, establishment, Joe’s serves excellent pub food in a relaxed, up-north atmosphere. A must-visit!
Reviews
Amir Kazemi
We stopped by Joe’s Friendly Tavern after visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes, and it was the perfect place to relax and grab a meal. Our group of 10 was seated comfortably, and the waitress was super friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was cozy and warm, exactly what you want after a day of exploring.
We ordered the Caesar salad and burgers, and everything was tasty and delicious. Definitely a great spot to stop for good food and friendly service. I highly recommend it!
… moreWe ordered the Caesar salad and burgers, and everything was tasty and delicious. Definitely a great spot to stop for good food and friendly service. I highly recommend it!
Kelsi Van Order
The club was delicious!
A bit pricey like other reviews mention (around $20 for an entree with a side), but boyfriend and I both enjoyed our meals! He got the onion wing burger and found it a bit difficult to eat due to the sauce(s), but nothing a fork can’t fix!
Service was great, they were a tad busy so that made for a little wait. As soon as we were seated, our waitress (didn’t catch her name) was very lovely and topped our drinks regularly!
… moreA bit pricey like other reviews mention (around $20 for an entree with a side), but boyfriend and I both enjoyed our meals! He got the onion wing burger and found it a bit difficult to eat due to the sauce(s), but nothing a fork can’t fix!
Service was great, they were a tad busy so that made for a little wait. As soon as we were seated, our waitress (didn’t catch her name) was very lovely and topped our drinks regularly!
Shaun Cloud
I really wanted to love Joe’s Friendly Tavern. The name suggests the kind of welcoming, family-friendly spot where you can enjoy a good meal without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, while the atmosphere delivers on that promise, the food and pricing tell a very different story.
Let me start with the positives: the staff was friendly and attentive, and the interior has a warm, inviting vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. You can tell they’ve put effort into creating a comfortable environment, and that shows.
However, that’s where the good news ends. The pricing at Joe’s Friendly Tavern is simply outrageous for what you’re getting. Case in point: they charge $23 for a run-of-the-mill chicken sandwich served with tater tots. $23 for what amounted to cafeteria-quality food that you might expect to pay $8-10 for elsewhere.
When even my kids — who rarely get the treat of eating out and are usually thrilled just to be at a restaurant — were disappointed with their meals, you know there’s a problem.
What made this particularly frustrating was that this was supposed to be a special outing for our family. The kids were excited, we were looking forward to a fun dining experience, but instead we left feeling like we’d been taken advantage of. There’s nothing fun about paying premium prices for subpar food, especially when it’s supposed to be a treat for the family.
I understand that restaurants have overhead costs and need to make a profit, but there’s a line between fair pricing and price gouging. Joe’s Friendly Tavern has crossed that line. You can find better quality food for half the price at countless other establishments.
My 1 Star review is due to the high cost and poor quality of food, and is not a reflection of the staff.
… moreLet me start with the positives: the staff was friendly and attentive, and the interior has a warm, inviting vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. You can tell they’ve put effort into creating a comfortable environment, and that shows.
However, that’s where the good news ends. The pricing at Joe’s Friendly Tavern is simply outrageous for what you’re getting. Case in point: they charge $23 for a run-of-the-mill chicken sandwich served with tater tots. $23 for what amounted to cafeteria-quality food that you might expect to pay $8-10 for elsewhere.
When even my kids — who rarely get the treat of eating out and are usually thrilled just to be at a restaurant — were disappointed with their meals, you know there’s a problem.
What made this particularly frustrating was that this was supposed to be a special outing for our family. The kids were excited, we were looking forward to a fun dining experience, but instead we left feeling like we’d been taken advantage of. There’s nothing fun about paying premium prices for subpar food, especially when it’s supposed to be a treat for the family.
I understand that restaurants have overhead costs and need to make a profit, but there’s a line between fair pricing and price gouging. Joe’s Friendly Tavern has crossed that line. You can find better quality food for half the price at countless other establishments.
My 1 Star review is due to the high cost and poor quality of food, and is not a reflection of the staff.
Caitlin Bowman
When you have a Joe V & a Joe VI with you you have to go to the Friendly Joe’s Tavern. Food was decent a bit pricey for no sides being included. Draft rootbeer was good. Staff was amazing! Food came of quick. Overall glad we went!
… moreMurphys Odyssey
Wanted a quick bite in-between stops at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and this was great. Off the main road by only a few blocks its was fast, tasted great, and we enjoyed the patio area. The menu in the patio area is a small version of the dining room, but for a quick lunch it was great. That cherry hot sauce on chicken was amazing! Ask to have it on a chicken sandwich, you won’t be disappointed!
… moreMike Partridge
Overall, we had a good experience here. The staff outside were amazing and friendly, and took good care of us. However, the seating arrangement inside lost this place a star. Even though they had two tables that could seat six, they stuffed us in a crazy corner booth, that barely fit our group. A table away, they sat a group of seven in a booth for 4. They were less than helpful finding a different arrangement. The food was really, really good, but also equally expensive for what you got. We had fries, onion rings, the italian beef, kids chicken tenders, chili, a salad and the BLT. The staff inside was friendly, but it was busy and they were a little slow to be expected. Good beer selection, I just wish the outside bar/eating area had more food options.
… moreJim Murphy
This place Rocked!!
We liked everything about Joe’s Friendly Tavern – great atmosphere! We walked in to a chalkboard that read they were out of Smelts with a sad face drawn next to the note.
There were lots of new customers with menus as we sat down, which is often a bad omen for long waits or rushed service [if that makes sense]. Well, the opposite was true.
We met and banterred with our waitress, and she gave us several helpful recommendations as we explored the menu. We also watched and heard the crowd in the restaurant – LOTS of regulars, everyone was active and boisterous, no one was antsy to ve served, and great conversations were all around us.
The food arrived, and we were over-the-moon happy with a great [Huge!] burger and “the best pastrami I’ve had in my life” per my wife. After 40 years of marriage, I’m not sure I’ve heard that phrase, Ever!
Loved This Place! Oh, and the Draft Root Beer was to die for, and it brought me back to elementary school, when a friend’s family made their own root beer.
I sucked down both my first glass AND the free refill!
… moreWe liked everything about Joe’s Friendly Tavern – great atmosphere! We walked in to a chalkboard that read they were out of Smelts with a sad face drawn next to the note.
There were lots of new customers with menus as we sat down, which is often a bad omen for long waits or rushed service [if that makes sense]. Well, the opposite was true.
We met and banterred with our waitress, and she gave us several helpful recommendations as we explored the menu. We also watched and heard the crowd in the restaurant – LOTS of regulars, everyone was active and boisterous, no one was antsy to ve served, and great conversations were all around us.
The food arrived, and we were over-the-moon happy with a great [Huge!] burger and “the best pastrami I’ve had in my life” per my wife. After 40 years of marriage, I’m not sure I’ve heard that phrase, Ever!
Loved This Place! Oh, and the Draft Root Beer was to die for, and it brought me back to elementary school, when a friend’s family made their own root beer.
I sucked down both my first glass AND the free refill!
Liz Lehr
Very friendly staff. They say they have the best burgers but we had burgers yesterday so wanted something different. The salad was tasty with lots of dried cherries and plentiful blue cheese. Overall the flavors were OK together and the salad was small for the price. The club sandwich was huge and got rave reviews.
… moreAlex Maki
Joe’s has been our go-to stop for the past four years, but unfortunately, this might be our last visit. I ordered my usual Onion Wing Burger — topped with fried onion rings, cherry wing sauce, and bleu cheese dressing — and paired it with their homemade root beer on draft. We ended the meal with an ice-cold slice of peanut butter pie, covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzle, which was the highlight.
That said, portion sizes have gotten smaller, prices keep climbing, and the overall quality just isn’t what it used to be. Still a nostalgic stop, but it no longer feels like the must-visit it once was.
… moreThat said, portion sizes have gotten smaller, prices keep climbing, and the overall quality just isn’t what it used to be. Still a nostalgic stop, but it no longer feels like the must-visit it once was.
Ellen Stevens
Best clam chowder I have ever had. My husband really liked the chili as well. Our turkey panini was very good and big enough to split. People were so friendly. Jessica was our server and did a very nice, efficient, friendly job with us. Visit if you can.
… more