Chris N.
Yelp
Archie's Tavern is the former Grand Tavern connected to Laurel Park Mall. If you are from Livonia, you probably remember Archie's on Plymouth Road, which was a Livonia institution for family dining for many years and a favorite of senior citizens. I believe Archie's Tavern is the same ownership as the former Archie's. However, Archie's Tavern is not your grandma's Archie's. It is a typical sports bar complete with TVs, a full bar, and a few beers on tap.
This was my first visit since the change in ownership and I came with a group of friends.
Food Quality: 4/5 To be fair, I only ordered a simple burger and fries. The fries were hot and crispy and the burger was pretty average but about what you might expect. 1/2lb of beef and fresh produce on a toasted bun. I'm kinda a burger snob and I would suspect this was a frozen patty. Not bad, but not memorable either. My friends ordered chicken wings which were tossed in sauce. They looked pretty good. Overall, I think most people could find something they would enjoy on the menu. The fish and chips were a top seller at the former Archie's and I saw them on this menu as well. That would be what I would get next time.
Service: 4/5 Our server worked at the former Archie's for over 20 years. She was polite and efficient, but still learning the new menu. I'm confident service will be consistently good here.
Ambiance: 5/5 No complaints here. The interior decor is much nicer than the former Archie's. It looks like any other modern sports bar.
Cleanliness: 5/5 Our table was clean and the restroom was clean during the dinner rush.
Value: 2/5 The menu prices seemed a little higher than average for comparable quality food. $13.50 for a burger with fries + $7.50 for an IPA on tap. After tax and tip, you're looking at ~$27. Again, not outrageous, but most menu items seemed kinda high for what they are.
Overall: I hadn't been in Laurel Park Mall in years, and after walking around, it felt like a dying mall with many vacancies and mall walkers, but few shoppers or reasons to visit. I'm curious why Archie's decided to make this move. I'm rooting for Archie's Tavern and hope they have many successful years in this location. There is a lot of competition in the area and other places like HopCat, Granite City, and BJ's that offer a larger beer selection and similar offerings. I don't want to say it, but my gut tells me they will struggle (especially with rising minimum wage and food costs) unless they can find a way to differentiate themselves and find a way to offer value.