Fenton Fire Hall

Great character, good comfort food, solid service.

Mac and cheese was AWESOME!
French fries were great!
Mayo was delicious! Worth the hype

Fantastic beer selection!!! Just WOW! The vegetarian chili and green chili is delicious. Fantastic place to drink with friends and hangout. If it’s summertime you should check out The Pump House around back. Owned by The Firehall and they make their own ice cream.

I would have given this restaurant 5 stars except the temperature was so hot inside the restaurant it was unbearable! We sat near a thermostat on the wall that was set for 73 but was reading 85. 85 degrees! I understand it’s unusually hot for May but I will never go back here in the summer.
Otherwise best fish tacos I have ever had! Excellent cocktail menu!

Super cool just like the other locations in the other Union locations. Great vibe. Wood burning grill. Great outdoor patio especially the roof. Food is well prepared and good selection for everybody. Thank you for the gluten free menu.

Had a fabulous dinner. I had the small Brussels sprout (warm) salad and the brisket. This was a convenient ½ way spot to meet our siblings. We also like the Union. Came with a ton of fries — that were very tasty with the dipping sauce. Who needs catsup! Good coleslaw too. Others in the group had the ½ chicken and really like that too.

Really cool building, plenty of parking! Really cool employees and oh my God the food! The Korean barbecue tacos paired with macaroni and cheese and Oberon I was a happy camper!

Fun fact: this place is the reason that I moved to Fenton! Seriously! My fiancé and I were checking out various suburbs of Flint last summer and stopped here for lunch since they served craft beer samplers, and that’s when I knew that Fenton would be our home! On that day, I ordered the chop salad which has the world’s best cornbread croutons, and he ordered the house made links sampler of 2. Of course I made him get the «most macked» mac n cheese as a side, which is what made the Union Joints famous. It did not disappoint. The slaw is also great and fun since it’s made with purple cabbage.
After lunch, we went out back to the Pumphouse, their liquid nitrogen based frozen custard shoppe! We got the Faygo orange creamsicle flavor and got a Faygo Red Pop to wash it down! They have classic flavors alongside gourmet foodie flavors, including a coconut milk based flavor with thai lemongrass.
On our more recent visit, I tried the mahi mahi special with risotto and it was to die for; even the grilled zucchini spears were perfect. My fiancé got the ribs this time, and they were soooo good they made me miss meat. This place will continue to be a favorite forever and always, as long as I live in Fenton.

First time to stop in and I was pleasantly surprised. Great casual ambience right along the river in Fenton downtown. Food was perfect and the fries are fantastic! — even better with the Fire Hall mayo.

I smelled the smoky barbecue flavors well before arriving and appreciated the beacon that it provided. The restaurant is quite spacious, something to be expected given that it once likely housed multiple fire engines. Seated by the garage doors, I liked the view of the small town as well as the outdoor, distressed wood sitting area.
The menu focused on meats smoked on green hickory and grilled on cherry oak: smoked chicken, sausages, brisket and ribs, as well as burgers and chili. There were several interesting items including, fried jalapeños, Korean chicken wings, Swedish meatballs, and a banh mi-​flavored burger. Yes, some tough choices would have to be made.
I went with the brisket, half of which was marbled and therefore, incredibly tender, while the rest was a tad dry. Unfortunately, the brisket was under-​seasoned and definitely benefited from the available barbecue sauces. The Tennessee was on the sweeter side and was my preferred choice among the tangy, mustard-​based Carolina and chunky Texas sauces. The brisket was accompanied by fries and coleslaw.
Similar to its sister, Union Woodshop, the sides also shine here. The fries were crispy and tender. I loved the vinegary purple cabbage coleslaw. The Union Mac and Cheese featured a creamy, sharp cheddar béchamel sauce with a crunchy topping. It was oh-​so good. I can see why there are several variants available as entrées. One of them will definitely be on my list during the next visit. And the cornbread stuffing included apple chunks, onions, and bits of hot link.
There was an abundant of choice for dessert, as well. Hmmm… orange tres leches cake, espresso cake, or pumpkin custard with gingersnaps. After much consideration, I settled on and enjoyed a small rectangle of buttermilk custard (chess) pie with sweet, macerated pears, lightly whipped white chocolate cream, and tart raspberry coulis.
Service was courteous and attentive. From start to finish, everyone provided a warm welcome.
Note, there is additional public parking diagonal to the restaurant (across from Crust Bakery) should the restaurant lot be filled.

Wow — Amazing food and craft beer selections. Come hungry and still bring home a box of food.
It is a converted fire house station, in the middle of town, just North of the pond/​river.
OK so the first time we tried going to this place, it was a 45 minute wait, and we drove 40 minutes to get here. We moved onto another place — hey it was 8pm o a Friday night, how could it be that busy?
This time it was on a Saturday night, 6:30pm and it was a 90 minute wait — but the wives said we are waiting — so we found a couple of seats at the bar and order a drink. It was about 50 minutes and we got our table — not so bad. They have about 30 craft beers on tap and another 50 bottles, lots of local Michigan breweries and 5 – 6 Ciders. They also have a good selection of Bourbons and Whiskeys
We started with an appetizer — we didn’t need to order it. It was good — flat beard pizza with lots of toppings — I think goat cheese, olives and other things.
For the main meal — we all order four different sandwiches. There were served on a metal cafeteria tray, full of double fried fries. I went with the Korean BBQ tacos — very nice — sweet and savory. The wife had the Vietnam pulled pork — salty, bacony and savory. The other couple went Brisque and Memphis. All of us brought home some food.
They have multiple (3 or 4) home made BBQ sauces on the table — I liked the Sweet, but there was also a Carolina mustard and a spicy hot one too.
Server was very helpful on the drink selections (most beer). Its a hipster place — you need a beard and a couple of tats to blend in — maybe some flannel too.
We will go again and bring other people.

First – The music (background soundtrack) is just groovy man! Whomever mixed the tracks loves music and knows how to blend a bit ol’ school bringing the timeline to contemporary music. Cheers!
Second – Be prepared to smell like a firefighter when you leave this place, I believe it’s part of the experience, however, I love the fact that it is not too gimmicky as we did not see the wait staff and hosts dressed as firefighters! Kudos!
Third – Got the mac and cheese 1lb of it (that’s right all for me)! Lasted for two meals, and it was good.
Found out there are sister restaurants with varied themes, creative, and the food keeps people coming back. Our team went three times during our stay in Fenton.
Try the local brews, they might ignite your palate! Cheers!

This was much better than our last experience! Last time, we were seated at a dinky little table next to a cold wall and it just didn’t feel cozy. Today, we were seated near the visible kitchen with wood burning stove, which definitely gave it a cozy feel. Although it’s cement floors and there are large TVs, I didn’t feel like I had to strain to have an intimate conversation. The wood planked ceilings with raw pipework, long red booth and original fire station glass panel garage doors give this place a really fun ambiance. It’s great if you’re in a party mood, sports mood or romantic mood. The bar area has a really bold red pattern around the walls with the original brick up top and really awesome, regal looking barstools! There are pictures of firefighters strategically placed to remind you of the brave men and women that served here. The last time I was here, it was still too cold but I went up on the roof to take a peek and I have to come back in warm weather because it looks like a great tiki bar, fun atmosphere up there!
Now for the food… Finally! A place that’s not afraid to be original! None of the same tired crap options you find everyplace else. Truly innovative, fantastic recipes in every side dish, appetizer and meal! The beer List is extensive and they let us try several samples which were all incredible! We were so full, we couldn’t even finish your meal but we will try the desserts (more original sounding deliciousness!) next time! By the way, our waiter, Tim, was all smiles, very informative, respectful and efficient!

I’ve never been to any of the sister restaurants, even though they are closer to me than this one. After visiting here on the way home from Frankenmuth, you better believe I’m going to try them all.
The service we received from Rose was excellent. The place was packed and she still made us feel like we were her only table. Having never been, we asked a lot of questions and she was very helpful.
We started with an appetizer which I wasn’t crazy about. We got the flatbread and honestly it was way to doughy and well, not flat. I’d either order a different one or skip it all together because it’s not needed. The portion sizes are huge!
I went with the sausage — they have a house made sausage that changes daily. It was jalapeño cheddar and it was amazing. I also got a hot link. My sides were mac and cheese (of course) and cole slaw. The cole slaw was on the sweet side but not overly so… very creamy. The mac and cheese was great with that delicious crisp browned cheese layer on top. With my meal I got two unexpected things… a delicious bun and an extra piece of sausage. The waitress said the tip broke off the end of the jalapeño piece and she felt bad. Honestly the two pieces were plenty but I never turn down a good sausage. err…well…you know what I mean.
My husband had the banh mi and it looked amazing. I had to sneak a taste… wow, great flavor combo. And the fries were perfect and plentiful.
We didn’t drink on this visit but the beer list was extensive with plenty of Michigan brews on draft. Bonus… they also had zombie killer by B Nekter… delish. We also didn’t have dessert but will def save room next time.
The building was really fun and unique… this was an active firehouse until the 90’s. Love that they have the pictures of the Fenton fire department on the walls. Very classy. So glad we decided to stop here. The world needs more good BBQ joints.

I loved this place!
My husband and I went in on a Monday evening at around 7 p.m. That means NO wait time for seating and we were able to get a full view of the place.
They have an extensive beer selection, and our waiter was great about offering samples. (We each sampled one.)
We ordered the artichoke dip as an appetizer. It was a tray of crunchy deliciousness. Very flavorful with a hint of spicy heat.
We split the Lord of the Pit and I especially loved the hot link. You can tell this place isn’t afraid of making dishes in house or using fresh herbs. WE LOVED IT! Everything had just the right amount of smokey flavor. The chicken was cooked to perfection.
The Lord of the Pit comes with 2 sides, but we ordered an extra out of curiosity. We enjoyed the mac n’ cheese… heaven in a casserole dish! (They fancy using the «good cheese» here and it pays off.) We tried the cheesy grits… also delicious and flavorful. And also ordered the Farro Fried Rice. If I were to do it over again, I wouldn’t have gotten the Farro; not because it wasn’t delicious as it had a delicious flavor of fresh ginger with bits of green onion and egg. I just wouldn’t have chosen it to go with bbq. I would pair it with the Korean tacos or something else.
We definitely didn’t have room for dessert or we would have given that a shot too. We took home a doggy bag. Given that we were both hungry, ate until we were content, and still had leftovers says something about the Lord of the Pit price tag. It’s worth it.
The server came by with perfect timing and was very friendly. The music and overall ambiance was fun. The place was clean. Oh, and I think firefighters are heroes, so the theme is AWESOME!
Yes, this isn’t cheap bbq, but if that’s what you’re looking for try a quick serve place instead. This is a quality smokehouse full of good vibes, great beer and deliciousness. If that’s what interests you, go here!

Beers tasted skunked tonight. They need to perform proper sanitary maintenance on their lines and taps.
The food was good, but not great. The special «French dip» style sandwhich for $ 15 was a total disappointment and a rip-​off. This was our worst experience in 4 visits. The owners need to take the business off auto-​pilot and start getting into the details. Everything matters if you want to remain successful.

I’ve been here twice so far and plan on coming back for more. The first time I chose the small Chop Salad: chopped romaine, red cabbage, spinach & baby kale, cucumber, grilled red onion, crushed roasted almonds, Woodshop Michigan maple bacon, cornbread croutons, house-​made buttermilk blue cheese dressing and it was delish! It was pretty big for being a small, I barely made a dent in it.
On my second visit I chose the Shaved Brussels Salad: caramelized Brussels sprouts, dates, semi soft goat cheese, toasted walnuts, grilled red onion, whole grain mustard vinaigrette, TO DIE FOR!!! TO DIE FOR! Good god, I loved this along with Chipotle Shrimp Taco Bar: skewered & grilled, sweet chipotle glaze, avocado salsa, cilantro-​lime slaw, side of Detroit-​made corn tortillas. Yummers! And the beer selection was on point. I topped off my night hanging out on their rooftop. What a fantastic place.

I’ve been to this restaurant twice, have had great food both times. This review is about our experience last night.
First and foremost, our server/​waiter Michael was one of the best we have ever had. From telling us about their daily specials, to helping me decide on my entrée, he carried himself with such enthusiasm and professionalism, it really made the experience. I am also a server/​waiter and I always appreciate positive memorable service.
Onto the food, I was torn between the Ancho-​rubbed Ribeye and the Back Ribs. Our first time here, I had the Smoked Ribeye and it was fantastic. After talking to Michael about my dilemma in never being able to choose an entrée, he immediately sold me on the Back Ribs. Oh. My. God. These ribs were absolutely delicious! They had a lot of meat on them, and paired with the Texas style barbecue sauce they had on the table, those bones were clean once I was done with them. I changed my sides to the white cheddar grits with chorizo, which I had the first time we went, and I also tried the farro fried rice, which was flavorful. Girlfriend got the Taco party which were Cuban sandwich style tacos, she loved them and the bite I had was great.
Definitely will be back to this place soon, we were told the menu changes every 3 months so I’m sure we will be back to see what they have to offer soon!

My grandfather was a Detroit fire fighter so the history of this place speaks to my heart. We tried the fish and chips and the Michigan dried cherry salad (both were this week’s specials) and it was amazing!
The walnuts on the salad had a hint of spice and the salad had the perfect amount of dressing. The fish and chips were hot and crispy, and came with two sauces– a spicy mayonnaise and a horseradish mustard.
We sat at the bar after going to the rooftop deck– it would have been nice if the two hostesses would have told us there was no service before we went up there. A mild annoyance… The bartender was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu, specials, and beer. Loved him! Boyfriend tried the Zombie Killer, which is a honey mead. Delicious!
We’ll definitely drop in the next time we pass through Fenton :)

I am a fan of this group’s other restaurants and decided it was time to try this place. I honestly just went in to get ice cream, but then I saw they had Korean tacos on their menu I decided to give in. The meat portions on the tacos were extremely generous and I was pretty satisfied with the flavor. The French fries were nice and crispy, but I thought they were a little too salty. The highlight of the meal was the ice cream. I am not a mint ice cream person, but this ice cream was special. I think they used very fresh mint leaves which made the taste very clean and surprisingly refreshing. I could have had an entire bowl. In fact, my only gripe with the ice cream was that the portion was small.
Along with the food, I found the staff to be very friendly and attentive. Also, I really appreciated the open space concept of the restaurant. You can tell that it is owned by the same people who own the Vinsetta Garage. I went around 4 o’clock, so it was pretty dead, but I can imagine this place does great business. It was worth the trip and I will definitely try to go back.