Peanut Barrel

After taking the Michigan State admissions tour, a burger sounded really good. The Peanut Barrel didn’t steer us wrong. Great burgers, chill atmosphere, and good staff. Mostly, if you’re a fan of rye, get the rye bun. Outstanding.

I came here for a weekday lunch. I ordered the pear salad and LOVED IT! The salad was delicious. I didn’t feel like eating a burger and the salad hit the spot.
The place was pretty full when I went. The wait staff was cordial but only put forth the bare minimum. Once we were finished eating, it took a while for us to get out check. We used the hooked app to save a few dollars… that was nice.
I’ll definitely come back to try a burger.

First of all, this place has my favorite Long Island… I have ever had! Made perfectly every time. If you look around there is one on every table. Every MSU student/​alum knows that this is the Long Island capital of East Lansing and beyond.
The food and atmosphere are both comfortable and relaxing. I suggest the Rodeo Burger with chili cheese fries. Very tasty and filling. Service is great. A staple in a college town.

I want to be very clear about this: I find it very difficult to write something negative about anything, but my visit here almost requires it. I came to town to visit my daughter and watch the lions for about a half. The place was not busy at 12:35 and we sat down and asked about 15 minutes later if we could move to a table off to the side. I asked very very clearly if this affected anyone because, coming from a family that was reared by a mom who was a waitress, I never want to take a table from a waitress if it affects their comp. I was assured that everyone worked together. We were treated really poorly afterward though. It was extremely obvious because we listened to the wait staff with other tables and it actually was uncomfortable. We ordered a decent amount of food and drinks, we were not loud AT ALL. However, in 100 minutes we literally got asked 2 – 3 times if we wanted anything.
The food? Chili fries were good. The burgers? I don’t get it. The bun literally overwhelms the small patty. At best it’s ok.
This is the most important thing I want to say: when we got our bill, we were given two bills and told that was it. It was a bunch of handwritten stuff scribbled on two tabs and really made no sense at all. So I asked, politely, if they could explain. One of the waiters stumbled around trying to BS his way through it and fast talk me, until he finally decided that he wasn’t going to be able to figure it out, himself. So he said that it really wasn’t his responsibility and handed me off to another waitress. She proceeded to try to explain it to me and then figured out that the two tabs were not meant to be given to me and that one tab was consolidated onto the other. This was literally a $ 42 error that could’ve happened. That doesn’t include any tip. The bottom line? Watch your tabs, and good luck on the service. And honestly, I don’t understand why it’s such a great review for the burger.

People say and this establish claims they have some of the best burgers in East Lansing as they have been here over 35 years. Well, I don’t eat beef so that explains that haha. But I can vouch for their chicken sandwiches. I had their chicken rodeo with fries. Definitely a bigger sandwich than I thought it would be and a filling meal. I didn’t get the opportunity to try their long island but I hear they are famous for that. I enjoyed the food and definitely recommend to all students and locals to try it at least once and who knows, you’ll probably be heading over there way more often.

Surprise Gem Dive
I expected no more than a bar that had peanuts on each table. My first visit was for drinks with a group of writers. They accommodated our odd numbered and weird looking mélange of people. As a black woman it is important to me that I feel welcome in a dining establishment. It is especially important that the atmosphere doesn’t just tolerate diversity but welcomes it. I felt at home here, I didn’t feel like a black chick out of place. For me that matters in Lansing and East Lansing.
They are on top of service. Each time I’ve come, I was attended to immediately. My party wasn’t scanned or judged, just asked if we were eating or just drinking. Great service. Each waitress or waiter I’ve met has been intuitive to know when we needed something but busy enough not to bug my party.
The atmosphere is relaxed. Folksy with wood detail but not all hipstery, just wood because it’s durable and easy to find. The drinks — Long Island — well read the other reviews. Just go have one.
Their fries aren’t my favorite, they are a bit overcooked and I think that’s their style and flare. Their sandwiches and burgers are excellent. I didn’t expect much beyond bar food on their menu. It is bar food, REALLY GREAT bar food! Tuna melts and fresh tuna is so hard to find, not here! They have both on the menu. My friend ordered an olive burger which one has the option of ordering smaller patty if they like. Genius, most places need this. I don’t eat beef but I did try the olive relish/​salad a top the burger. It was nothing like I’ve ever tasted before. Delicious.
They serve turkey and veggie burgers but this place makes me want a real burger just to try their wide array.
Recently I went back for a late night Sunday dinner. My turkey and bacon melt satisfied all my needs for the evening. Perfect abundance of bacon, the turkey meat was not some round slice but looked like shaved deli meat. The right amount of melted cheese. They also did me the solid of putting catchup in one the wells of the takeout container. It’s the little things! I’m impressed with this place.
I’ll be back.