The Berkley Front

Four stars for the staff. Going to miss this place. Fuck you Sabine for running it into the ground… at least you don’t get anyone’s money anymore.

My favorite bar in the burbs. Extensive beer list, fantastic jukebox. I have a giant crush on one of the waitresses there. Very great place for a first date, because its quiet and comfortable, but not totally silent.

It is awesome to see that some things don’t change. Years ago when I lived off Catalpa the BF was the pub I’d stop into when in need of a drink. The beer list is awesome and large, one of the first places I remember going to with that impressive of a variety. This was before the big boom of craft beer and the two hundred tap bar we have seen as of late.
I am pleased to say that after 5 plus years of absence from MI, walking into the front took me back in time. It felt as if nothing had changed. It still felt like a place I’d want to hang out in for longer than just a beer. We played some pool, drank and laughed. We may have been a little rowdy, but no one seemed to mind at all. I’m glad this watering hole has remained as I remember it, and hopefully if I come in five years from now it will be the same comforting kick back place. I’ll be the one continuously loosing at pool and not caring!

Berkley Front is a solid craft beer bar and you have to give them credit for trailblazing… they were doing this long before it was a «thing» around here (seems every other month there is a new craft beer bar opening up these days). I’m not sure how many years this place has had 30ish taps of constantly rotating deliciousness, but it’s quite a few. That much is for certain. Perhaps as long if not longer than Ashley’s in Ann Arbor, which is the only other place I can think of which has been doing this for a really long time.
«The Front» may not be the BEST craft beer bar in the area but they are certainly still one of the better ones. The selection is great (not only are there many taps but they always keep a firkin of Real Ale going, and the liquor selection is also solid if that’s more your style). The food is good. The prices are reasonable. The staff is typically knowledgeable and friendly… can’t remember the last time I received bad service at this place. Service is usually way above average, if you sit at the bar, especially from a few of the good barkeeps working here.
They have pinball, pool tables, a noteworthy jukebox, and a decent live music venue upstairs which is perfect small room for checking out local bands. Get there early if it’s a show that will get crowded so you can get a seat at one of the comfy lounge couches.
Like to drink good beer? This place deserves your patronage. Help to keep a piece of history in business.

Love this place!
I’m kind of a beer snob and they have lots of GREAT Michigan beer here.
Food is limited and there aren’t any TV’s, so I hope they stay strong with 24 Seconds open next door. I haven’t been in there but when I went here the other day it was BOOMING and The Berkley Front just had three people in it… Good for me though, I hate it when the bar is crowded and you can’t get service.
AWESOME bartender! He was attentive, funny, and very knowledgeable about the beer selection; something that you usually won’t get at other bars with young staff. I hate hearing, «I don’t drink beer so I don’t know how it tastes» or «it’s an IPA…» like all IPA’s are the same…

I go there strictly because they have a great beer selection. The jukebox is a plus. Service is eh, but I don’t care because I sit at the bar. Don’t expect a ton and leave satisfied.

Let me start by saying I have a sincere soft spot for this bar. It was the place that taught me that beer was not just a means of getting drunk, but something that could be appreciated. I had my first Black and Tan here and despite the emergence of nicer alternatives I will continue to go here until it shuts its doors. Growing up, even knowing about he Berkley Front was kind of a badge of honor. This knowledge doesn’t carry the same cache it once did, but frankly, I am old enough not to care.
I wish I could justify giving this place an extra star, but I regretfully have to agree with the more recent reviews. With the emergence of places like One Eyed Betty’s and Hopcat, the Front just doesn’t hold up as well That said; I think trying to compare it to those bars is unfair. This place was rocking huge amounts of taps well before those aforementioned places ever existed. Moreover, if you are going to the Front, you are either going to catch a show, shoot some pool or just throw a few back while listening to an eclectic jukebox. due to its location, you still get a killer assortment of people to look at while you drink. Yes, it has gotten a bit grittier over the years, but that’s what happens when a place has been around this long. I cannot speak for ladies, but using bathrooms for anything other than number one is a given when you go to pretty much any real bar. So complaining about a bathroom in a place like the Front is nitpicking. I highly recommend that any one in the area try this place at least once.

A very good beer selection that has lately become overshadowed by other «megabars» nearby with hundreds of rotating taps. Even so, the beer is good in selection and scope, and the service is good.
But I’m not as young as I once was, and the men’s room is simply not acceptable in this day and age.
So it’s a good dive bar.

Good location, easy parking, beers-​a-​plenty, and a friend to the local music scene.
I came here to see a friend’s band play. Found the place easily, and parked in the spacious lot in back. The downstairs was full of what seemed to be a crowd a bit on the young side for me (i.e. early 20’s), shooting pool, gathered around tables, and spread out at the long bar. I ordered myself a pint of Blue Moon and headed upstairs, which for a $ 5 cover led into a nice little second floor that is perfect for hosting local bands for a small crowd. There is a second small bar upstairs for you to get refilled at, but with limited options. If you’re drinking a standard cocktail or popular beer they have you covered upstairs, but if you have a less common order you may need to go back down for your next glass.
Staff was friendly. It was fun and clean. I’ve heard about the Berkley Front, and while it’s too far from home for me to head back to on a regular basis, I am glad I finally had the chance to check it out.

This place isn’t bad. They have a lot of beers on tap, or so you think. Probably like three quarters of the taps were functioning normally on a recent Friday night, and the Two Hearted Ale was completely flat (which was disappointing).
The bartenders are also kind of clueless. I asked what one beer was and he replied, «Well …uh …I don’t know, I’ve never had it so.» Ah, very helpful. He did give me a sample and the beer was awful, so I guess I found out. The taps seem very random in general, but each person should find something. The PBR draft was cheapest at $ 3 in case you were wondering.
It’s in a good location and presents good social activity. Beer is good. And that’s that.

First off, great beer selections, specials and food. I visited the Front with a friend of mine at around 12 am one night on a weekday. The bartender was extremely polite and friendly. I asked him if the kitchen was closed and he said yea but he could whip me up some guac, chips and cheese if I wanted. I have low blood sugar and had not eaten much that day. I was ecstatic. Then he offers me a slice of his OWN pizza from Amici’s down the street. I gladly accepted. My drinks were strong (that was good) and he went above and beyond for me for no reason. I love this bar and I will be back.

I love the Front! Great beer, great jukebox, great location — what more do you need?
I’ve never eaten here, so I can’t speak about the food, but I’ve never been steered wrong with drinks. I’ve only recently gotten into beer (there’s other options beside Labatt’s?) and one of the waitresses (Jessica) has helped me pick out something new that I’d like, without making me feel dumb for not knowing more (which I’ve experienced at other places). The staff overall seemed nice and willing to help, without being pushy — more like real people you’d actually have a chat with.
The place just has a good vibe, and I’ve never had a bad time there. If you’re in the area and need a drink, check it out!

I like The Berkley Front. It’s an easy spot to go to for a decent craft/​local beer. The food is pretty good. I’ve only had a few things from the menu though. I devoured the spinach & artichoke dip. That was very cheesy and delicious. The chips are thin, crispy and salty. Just how I like them!
I am not sure if I have become a beer snob or not. I probably am. Lately, I haven’t been impressed with their list of beers on tap. I like to get beers that I can’t normally get in a bottle or draft at any bar. Except for the occasional tap special takeover (like Shorts… OH YEAH!), it’s just OK.
Service is OK. Everyone is pretty friendly. I don’t know what it is, but I think they are not allowed to put out bar napkins. Every time I go in, the glasses sweat like crazy. I never have a napkin for it, so my beer hangs out in a giant puddle. When I ask for a napkin, it usually takes awhile to get it. It’s just a weird observation. :)

If I could, I would give this spot 3.5 stars… so indecisive… anyway. I’ve been in here about a dozen times now (I live just down the street and love craft beer), and I have learned to accept that the Front will never be exactly what I originally hoped it would be. Alas, there are pros and there an cons:
What It Is (Pros): The place has a stellar tap selection, and I can usually find something new. Lately, they’ve been having more «tap takeover» events with Michigan breweries, and I hope they keep that going. For example, I went in during the Kentucky Derby a couple weeks ago right after they had a Bell’s event. I had a bourbon barrel Kalamazoo stout and then a Bell’s Sweet Potato Stout, which I didn’t even know existed. As mentioned, the juke box is also pretty legit.
What It Isn’t (Cons): The food is not good. Not at all. I don’t think I’d eat here again except for maybe an order of fries. The service is hit or miss. I’ve had dead-​eyed bartenders who barely utter a grunt in your direction and others who were incredibly friendly and open to chatting up the beers and offering a taste. Perhaps the one thing that bugs me the most, though, is that the place has a funky smell. It’s not quite bathroom. It’s not quite chemically cleaner. It’s like an old wet, mildewy mop. It’s a huge bummer.
In Summary: The beer selection is just too nice to ignore, but the downsides mean it’s more of a after-​dinner or quick-​stop-​on-​the-​way-​home-​from-​errands-​type of place. It bums me out because I think this place could be absolutely amazing with just a few seemingly minor tweaks. But, for now, it is what it is.

This is an excellent craft beer bar. Great selection, and it is always changing. I have to agree with Kimberly T. They need to do something about that dry erase board. It is almost impossible to read.
They always have a couple of hand pulls too, and the staff is very cool and most are knowledgeable.
Had a new bartender last night, Becca. She was only 3 days on the job, but was smart enough to have an app open on her phone to help with the different beers that I had not had before.
Give it a shot! Love the jukebox too. NOT a sports bar!

At night I can’t stand that you can’t read their Dry Erase Board with the Plethora! of beers on it. The lighting sucks and asking for a beer list wasn’t happening. (and let me specify on the board only, I think a lot of bars want dark/​dim locations)
I completely understand why you wouldn’t need a beer list, but if you can’t read the HUGE BOARD what is the point??? Stop by an Office Max and buy some new markers or test out some new color markers that could make it more visible.
The bartenders also could be a little more aware of the customers and not just talk to one select group. Getting the bartenders attention to spend my money shouldn’t be so hard. I shouldn’t have to interrupt your conversation.
I’d go back a 2^nd time just to see if I had a fluke night.

The Berkley Front is a beer dork’s dive bar.
The inside is outdated and a little dingy.
The food is average.
The patrons range widely, but always interesting.
…And this is everything I would expect from a dive bar, but with a beer selection that is top notch. You’ll even find a rare firkin (hand pull) most days.
There is a pool table which can generally be found open and not too expensive. The jukebox has some good tunes and given the unique crowd, you will always hear interesting stuff.
The Berkley Front will always be one of my staples to grab a beer solo and catch up on work, bring friends to go through some new beers, or any other reason I can find to head up for a pint.

This place has a really good beer selection and the atmosphere is pretty cool. Most of the staff is really nice too, which is a plus. The only downside (and the main reason why I sometimes avoid this place) is the pretentious hipsters that tend to congregate here. Not my first choice for bars, but it’s decent for what it is.

Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.
Decent beer selection, but nothing special. If you want a beer selection, go to One-​Eyed Betty’s.
Decent atmosphere, but nothing special. We sat in a booth among those down the middle. It’s like you’re in your own little world. Good and bad.
Crappy bar food. Some dive bars have awesome food, some have dive-​y food, and then there is The Berkley Front. Where they have bland food. Overpriced bland food.
You want a dive-​y bar? Go to Ye Olde Saloon in Royal Oak. You want beer? One-​Eyed Betty’s. Not here. Just don’t waste your money.

Great beer selection.