Conklin Bar, 19683 Main St, Conklin MI ~ 9/17/24

This bar is well-known, not only in Conklin but state-wide, due to its very short but well-attended St. Patrick's Day parade. That is also the only day that Irish food is served.

Back in the 1970s, this was Stub's Pub, owned by Bernie "Stub" Fritz, and a few reminders of that time are still here.

From 1987-2015 it was Fenian's Irish Pub and owned by Terry and Mary Ann Reagan. In 2015, Mark Schneider, who was Stub's nephew, bought the place and called it the Conklin Bar. 

Kathy Vandoeselaar purchased the place in March of 2024 and we not only met her, but also her sister, Mary, and her husband, Phil. It's definitely a family affair here 😊

Although the menu may not be Irish, they do have Guinness on tap so cheers for that! We had one Guinness, a Sam Adams Octoberfest, Arnold Palmer and a Chocolate Covered Cherry (Guinness with Sam Adams Cherry Wheat).

We shared the Macho Nachos, which were superb: house-seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, and pickled jalapenos, accompanied by crispy fresh tortilla chips.

The nachos were part of the Taco Tuesday menu, as was the wet burrito: it was chock full of smoked pulled pork, which was the only ingredient inside the burrito. That was unusual but still alright. It came with diced onion, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce on the side, and a dark red enchilada sauce.

This chicken fajita taco salad was not on either menu but the restaurant accommodated the request 😊

It was nicely loaded with shredded tender chicken, grilled onions and peppers but there was no taco spice and the salsa was mild. But we all have different spice preferences and tolerances 😉

Burgers are 1/3 lb served on a grilled brioche bun and we ordered two of them tonight. The mushroom swiss burger was delicious, with grilled mushrooms, onions, swiss cheese, and mayo. The onion rings were well-prepared with the onions not slipping out of their rings.

And the Mighty Mac was an all-time favorite: 1000 Island dressing, lettuce, American cheese, and pickles. It was just the right amount of sweetness combined with a tender burger that would make a return trip in order.

But it's not just the food that would bring us back. This was the one of the most friendly bars we've ever visited. All the employees at one point stopped by our table. Other patrons said hello and engaged us in conversation. We were asked if we were welcomed with "Welcome to Conklin" when we entered because that is the usual greeting (we were not).

There are two TVs, both of which were playing The Andy Griffith Show, and there was no music soundtrack playing.

It's a small L-shaped bar and everyone knew everyone, except us, but we didn't feel out of place.

The town itself is very small and this is what else stands nearby in downtown Conklin.

Don't miss this little gem of small town friendliness that provides great service and food!