American bar & grill featuring burgers & sandwiches with an outdoor patio & river views.
Rupashree Mohapatra
The Peanut Barrel is located in a lively spot near the university, so the atmosphere is always buzzing with energy. The menu covers all the basic food options, making it a reliable choice for a casual meal. We tried the Chicken Shroom Burger and the Reuben Sandwich — both tasted fine, though not particularly outstanding. The service was attentive and friendly, which made the experience pleasant overall.
… moreClark
Great beverages, friendly staff and tasty food! We enjoyed the tuna melt, chicken & wild rice soup,and a Reuben that was outstanding. They even made us some fresh sangria in the heart of winter to bring us some summer vibes.
… morePaulina Hoffman
This place has super basic but super good fries! Two of the burgers pictured are “baby burgers,” they were not so baby, I definitely loved that. Small menu but good food! Lots of up-charges for add-ons, either way, service was great. Had a great time in the sun today!
… moreRaman Pfaff
For decades this place has been making great burgers and chicken sandwiches. Much easier to get outdoor seating when the students are out of town. Every time I pass through town I stop here. Mild pepper burger with fries. Delicious. And the traditional long island iced tea. Staff very friendly.
… moreJavier Mayo
I personally dislike when a burger patty doesn’t cover the entire bun, leaving you with nothing but bread for the last bites. While the crispy, burned cheese that fell from the patty may appeal to some, it wasn’t for me.
The waitresses seemed tired and unhappy, which was reflected in the service. We were also told to expect a 30-minute wait for our food, which felt excessively long for a menu consisting of simple burgers, salads, and handhelds.
It was probably not their best day.
… moreTim McDougall
I spoke with the owner after picking up my order he helped me carry it to my car since logistically. It’s a little difficult to get to the restaurant, but really appreciated his efforts and all the help you gave me. As a pharmaceutical rep, I order a lot of lunches and sometimes I’m in a crunch and have my customers order something that is downtown pretty much a college bar where kids can walk to was a little difficult for me this morning, but the owner made it very, very convenient and I would definitely patronize his bar anytime. As for Jack, the bartender who I placed the order with he couldn’t have been more condescending and rude on the phone and he needs to change his habits Understanding that other people work there and it’s a livelihood for a lot of other people and every customer like me that you turn off like you did probably wouldn’t come back Thankfully, I had an opportunity to meet the owner who appeared and seemed to be a really great guy, and I wish him nothing but success for his business I wasn’t gonna tip Jack and shove it in his face but instead as I entered the bar there happen to be a nice young lady blonde hair, very bubbly personality and she kind of changed my mind about ripping Jack a new fanny. what Jack has forgotten in all his years of working in restaurants I’m sure is that the customer just wants a pleasant experience and nothing more good food and a pleasant experience that is not what you delivered for me on the phone today. I hope Jack sees this and changes his attitude because he’s definitely a negative force for your business.
… moreBrandon’s Equipment Videos
I had heard about The Peanut Barrel and how it has been a longtime staple in East Lansing and decided to give it a try! The Peanut Barrel is a no-frills type of place with a simple menu that generally delivers what you’d expect. The burger lunch special is a good value and I found it to be pretty satisfying. The restaurant itself is a bit dingy but some might say it has character; it sort of reminds me of what being on campus would have been like 40 years ago. Nonetheless, the service was good, the food was fairly solid, and the price was fair. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of little up charges for things like burger toppings. Sometimes you just need a simple burger and The Peanut Barrel delivers just that!
… moreRay Sherman
The burgers, service, and drinks were awesome! Mary went above and beyond to make our experience truly great. Super friendly atmosphere and excellent food—exactly what you’d want in a local favorite. We’ll definitely be back!
… moreAmanda M
Big fan of our experience here. A local dive bar for MSU that we were at for winter graduation. Parking is behind the building and your ticket will be validated by the bar. We ordered their chili cheese fries which were heavy on the chili and light on the cheese, something we actually really liked! They do, indeed, offer peanuts. They’re a couple dollars for a bag of peanuts you can shell. We all ordered various burgers and they were fantastic! I got the olive burger and didn’t add tomato and lettuce so I could taste the olives but no need! The olives were salty and plentiful! It’s extra for fries or potato salad but, again, a couple dollars for an up charge. Burgers averaged $12, specialty pitchers including Guinness and cider were $16, fries were $12. Seat yourself seating type of place and very dive bar vibes but I honestly absolutely loved it! Our waiter was chill but super efficient and helpful. If I’m in the area again I would love to come again!
… moreChelsea Pridmore
Great food with a great atmosphere!
Stopped in on a Saturday and had a great time. Got the rodeo burger with a rye bun and it was delicious.
Don’t skip the pickle it was one of the best ones I’ve ever had.
… more