Dan's Downtown Tavern

In town for baseball. Showed up unannounced with about 20 people, kids and adults. The Staff was excellent and sat us in less than 15 minutes. I tried the peanut butter burger that I had heard about. The burger was cooked well. The Bacon could have been a little crispier, but that is a personal preference. It was good, but seemed to be lacking a bit on flavor overall. Needs some sort of sauce, or jelly. Lol. I would definitely go back and try other items on the menu. Lots of things sounded good.

10/10 would recommend. The atmosphere was amazing, my picky boyfriend had a burger he described as amazing. Which he hardly says. He had the Otis burger and I had the Cubano sandwich it was amazing. Definitely going again. If your in the saline downtown area. Check it out. Staff and everyone we really nice.

Great food … nothing better than a bar burger !! The sweet potato fries needed to be a little more done… waitress/ bar maid was hustling…

We hosted a retirement party with approx 40 guests on a summer Friday night which we all know tends to be busy. They reserved 1/2 of the restaurant for us, had the tables set up, menus out, and were ready to greet us early. Our waitress, Lindsey, was phenomenal! She kept her cool with a big party who all had separate checks. We rarely waited for drinks and the food came out fast + hot. Anytime we needed extra of something Lindsey was right there ready to help & never seemed annoyed. Thankful we booked Dans for our event!

Delicious burgers! Great atmosphere! The bartender was nice and stayed on top of the drinks. This place had a large selection of draft beer. I would definitely come back.

A great pub in downtown Saline. We come here each year after a local EMU event and it keeps getting better. The staff are really friendly and nice. Dan himself was working when we were here. The menu is just the right size and everything is really good. There is a large beer selection and it's got a great variety. Overall we had a good time as always and we will keep coming back. Recommended.

My family has been coming here since I was very young and I loved being a regular as a kid. Nick has been working there since I can remember, and is a great server. It always feels clean inside, which I appreciate. It gets pretty loud at night and I love the atmosphere, but before the dinner crowd it’s quiet and the good music can be heard.

Great food. Had the Stuffed Jalapenos. There is some meat in it. Doesn't call it out in the menu. Not too cooked. Jalapenos still had plenty of kick. Also had the garlic burger. Was very strong on the garlic. There are many burger options and you can get the burger very big if you want. Up to 6 parties! Went for lunch and there was only two on staff. Took them a while to bring water even though only a few tables had people.

Great Burger & Beer Place Our favorite local dive. Good food, great service, always sports on the TV's

Dan's is my favorite place to go to in Saline. Fun place to go to if you're looking to meet up for a drink, they have a huge draft list and a cute bar area. Food here is always great too-their fries and ranch are the best! Service is always great, and food usually comes out fast. They recently redid their dining area and it looks great. During the summer they also have outdoor seating which is nice!

Dan's is the definition of great bar food. A seat yourself restaurant with a casual atmosphere. Servers are always friendly and accommodating. I've been a supporter of Dans for years as it used to be the best place to grab a burger around town. However, I'm a little disappointed with the change to smash burgers and removal of their awesome beer battered fries. Instead of one thick burger patty it's two thin patties that are hard to order rare. Just one reviewers option but I will always opt for a thick patty over a smash burger. Toppings, fries and drinks are still great and we'll likely be back for other menu items!

Great food, relaxed local eatery The staff are always welcoming and kind and helpful.

Had another phenomenal experience here yesterday. Went here for a few drinks and lunch, and again, this place did not disappoint! I tried a few of the beers from their extensive list, and my fiancé had the Bourbon Smash, which was awesome! We ordered the lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp, and it was absolutely delicious! Came with asparagus and the sauce used was absolutely decadent! Our bartender Jessica was absolutely amazing, and we also found out she went to school with my Fiancés daughter, and they knew many mutual people. Made the visit even that more special. We all had lots in common as well which made the chit chat very personal. This is one of our favorite places to go on date day, and we highly recommend visiting this establishment!

Great food, speedy and friendly service, reasonable prices and although the place was at approx 20% capacity with patrons, I was able to carry a conversation without shouting. Noise level in taverns can be obnoxiously loud but not here. It's lively but not over powering. Great place! Will definitely go back again. Recommend the burger with sauteed onions and sweet potato fries.

After hearing good things about Dan's I stopped in heading home from the Irish Hills. It was a Tuesday at lunchtime and the place was pretty full. I sat at the bar and it took a while before a server came around, though once she did, I had my beer (lots of taps to choose from) and placed my food order quickly. I got the grilled chicken sandwich. Not bad flavor, but quite dry. I did appreciate having coleslaw as a side option (fries or chips are the others included in the "base price" of sandwich), and that was enjoyable. Crisp cabbage, creamy but not sloppy. A little expensive for what I got--paid about $15, and burger options are the same. There are taverns that serve a much better chicken sandwich for @$10. But probably not within 20 miles of Ann Arbor.

Solid local bar, good food, lots of beers on tap and great people. Dan's is a cool little spot in Saline to go to.

I've always loved Dans downtown tavern. Born and raised in Saline, I could always rely on Dan's to be a place of refuge, solace, and joy. Today, however, I misplaced my trust in Dan's. I told my friends that they "wouldn't regret going to Dans". Tragically, I was wrong. Although the service was excellent (hats off to Bonnie!), the nachos were "bad", "soggy", "tasteless", "underwhelming", "no cheese". Indeed, the chicken tasted like farm and a pool of undesirable juices filled the bowl. Dan's Downtown. Please step up your game because I love you and want to see you succeed. Luke - a 24 year old man.

This place is terrible. They're understaffed and don't serve food as it's written on the menu. My husband ordered the Michigan Salad and the menu states it comes with chicken. He didn't receive it and then the manager and chef arrived with him over it instead of reading their own menu. When the manager did read the menu she said, "oh yeah, I've been gone for three months." But then proceeded to do nothing. The Cuban we ordered came without mayo, mustard or pickles as it's stated again on the menu. It was disgusting and had a giant bone or rock on it right upon arrival. I felt like I was at a hole in the wall bar not an establishment where I was spending $60 + on two meals and one drink. The server and bartender also never heard of soda water. This was a waste of a place to stop and I will never be back.

Good burger, quick service in a friendly atmosphere ! Worth a trip to Saline anytime !

Ordered a grilled cheese and chili combo. Took 40 minutes. When it got to me chili and sandwich were cold. Not one of my best experiences here.

It was lunchtime on Sunday, and we decided Saline would be the place to meet up with friends to grab a bite. A number of spots were closed for the day, or else had an outrageous waitlist. So I did what I always do when I need a good recommendation and I turned to Yelp for guidance. After reading a few reviews, to Dan's Downtown Tavern we went! The restaurant was pleasantly full when we arrived - not too crowded and not deserted either. A friendly server seated us in a large booth by the window, and we perused the menu. I grabbed a sprite to drink and decided on the Michigan harvest salad for lunch. A short time later our food arrived, and I was not disappointed. For a tavern I had no idea how the salads would be, but this one really hit the mark! Fresh ingredients with a great crunch and delicious flavors meant that I had one satisfying meal. Our bellies full, we enjoyed visiting while we were there, and all were happy to have discovered a new favorite place for a weekend meal!

Another fantastic meal at Dan's Downtown Tavern last night for dinner!! Vonnie recognized us right away and greeted us with a great big Hello!! She is so sweet! The nachos were fantabulous!! Dan you sure can make prime rib!!! Kudos to the bartender on my cranberry and vodkas they hit the spot! Iris was great so attentive and nice!! It's hard to find great people to work and you have a fantastic staff!! It was so nice to see that you were so busy and you had a huge group of kids that were there for their homecoming . They all looked so nice! We just love the atmosphere, it's our new favorite place!! See you soon!

The atmosphere is nothing to write about. Comfort is not a priority, but the burgers were good & freshly made, not pre-formed, process patties. Salad was really good, too. They had a varied menu so everyone can find something to eat, even vegetarian's but not vegans. It's all well done, pub food. Nothing fancy. The Ice Tea was fresh & not old either. The service was stellar. Everyone in the restaurant is busting their butts. Very hard workers. Definitely will stop again. Glad Salt Springs Brewery couldn't accommodate us. Found something just as good, varied alcohol choices, good, quality pub food & no wait. Lucky us! Adding this to the list!

Had lunch there on 8/11/23, it was the worst experience I have ever had there. All 4 of our meals were barely warm. My $18 brisket cheese burger was missing the cheese and the onion rings were cold. I sent back my meal to add the cheese and it came back over cooked and was sitting on the pile of ketchup next to my cold onion rings. It was disgusting. Do I have to ask for a hot meal? I think not! WTF is wrong here? Sorry I had to send it back but I'm sure it wasn't cooked cold. Our waitress was half the problem for letting the 4 meals get cold before serving them and the cook forgot the cheese then folded the cheese slice in half before adding it and somehow cooked the life out of it. It took a long time and actually came back barely warm. So she screwed up twice. The third screw up was not offering refills on our drinks. We were all dry! Very disappointing and I hope it doesn't happen again or they will really get roasted. Step up your game! Not sure when I will return.

Great spot with great food! Ate here for a work lunch and the food was great. I arrived before opening and they allowed me to wait for my party and work and drink tea. The staff was friendly and helpful and the food was solid. I will be back to support them as they helped me and didn't leave me disappointed with the sandwich. **great iced tea.

Dan's is a divey towny bar in downtown Saline that seems busy no matter the time of day. Regulars are shouldered at the bar where televisions play either whatever sports games might be on or Keno. Although the bartenders/servers are busy, they are always friendly. Drinks are served strong, so I plan to skip the "double" next time. The menu is comprised mainly of burgers and sandwiches and deep fried options. I am a big fan of the quesadilla. Food is cooked on an open flattop at one corner of the bar. The flattop is cleaned nearly after every order, which reflects a level of cleanliness and detail that you might not expect at a local dive. Overall, Dan's is fun, local watering hole with good food. I recommend stopping in!

Always have a good time here. The atmosphere is good, you can choose a bar setting or a family dining style. I normally always order the chicken burrito and am happy with it. This last time, not so much. Not sure I want it again after the way it tasted this time. Wish they would bring back the T-bone steak. We will be going back again.

Literally, my gf told me about this place and I just moved here from Southern California and was looking for my bar atmosphere like over there. This place rocks and I'm a Spartan.

Best Tavern! Great food! Amazing staff! Highly recommend people stopping in for lunch or even dinner!

I've eaten at Dan's a couple of times. For pizza and burgers, this is your place. Plentiful patio seating. I do not recommend the "award-winning" chili,. A can of Hormel is more likely to win an award and even after being sent back once, the chili was not hot. Otherwise, I've had good experiences at Dan's. It's a staple of downtown Saline.

Always a solid spot to grab a drink or get some good bar food. The pizza is pretty decent, same with the French dip.

Just awful. To be fair, it could have been an off day. I've been hearing about this place for years so I'm sure they usually do better. I ordered the Western burger and was excited to try something fun, but it was dry and tasteless. There was only a drop or two of BBQ sauce. It was like the order was put together without any care at all. If there had been sauce on it, it would have been good, but without it, it was dry and not really worth eating. I ordered carry-out so I was home before I knew it was missing.

The food was good. The amount was copious. The price was affordable. The service was pleasant. What is not to like?

Update May 2021: (last review was over 5 years ago) Tonight we gave Dan's another try and it was more expensive and tasted much better than it used to. The beef in their burgers is from Knights Butcher and I had a medium well done burger with cheddar that was really great. The fries were skinny and I really enjoyed my meal outside away from the road! It's a very friendly place and was not at all like I remembered from last time. Maybe it's because the patio was so nice but the food was also great pub food! Husband had the Cubana with sweet potato fries and really liked it we will definitely return!

Stopped in for the first time ever, the place was fairly busy so I was hoping that was a sign that the food was good...my girlfriend and I were just looking to grab something quick and simple so I got a burger she got a chicken wrap. Fast forward over a half hour later the food finally arrives. To my disappointment it's a frozen puck burger, overcooked, dry with no seasonings at all served with shoestring French fries that were undercooked with a dash of seasoning salt on top. My girlfriends chick wrap was pretty forgettable as well. For 40$ with two ice teas, it's one and done for Dans.

Now there's another reason to come to Dans besides the previous ones I've listed in previous reviews; you know the pizza, the burgers. Now, Dans has the "Beyond Burger" which is a vegetarian Burger. I am NOT a vegetarian but that thing tastes really good when you mix it with the right stuff. My wife loves it with peanut butter and I take it sometimes with egg, and then other times I want the real thing. Dan's also has a black bean Burger that's pretty good this is in addition to all their other legendary burgers which are awesome by the way. And don't forget that pizza. I'm sure you already know about the huge beer selection we just helped (almost) finish off Curmudgeon's Better Half by Founders Brewery. You'll have to wait till next year on that one, however when they tell you they've got it... you better not snooze, you better get your butt down there within 72 hours or were drinking at all . Lol. By the way Dams Clinton location now also has the beyond Burger if that location is more convenient for you. Merry christmas.

"I was just helping out", said Kelsey the Bartender.... Her team was in transition at the lunch/dinner break. The new manager Jess was taking the reigns as she skillfully navigated the bar assiting her team, whilst fielding phone calls from other team members on a number of internal issues. Kelsey stayed an extra 1.5 hours to "just help out" while the dinner team was installed. The entire team's personalities were lovely and I can't wait to bring my girlfriend in to try the food. I give Dan's Tavern a 5 Star rating, and the staff an extra star

Stopped in on the MSU/UM game weekend. Was unsure of where to eat and decided on Dan's. Three of us each ordered the American Burger. IT WAS HUGE! Very tasty and came with fries. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Would order the burger again. Thanks Dan!! We'll be back sometime!

We wanted to meet up with some local friends before a Michigan football game but avoid the Ann Arbor crowds, so our friends suggested this place and it was the perfect choice. There is a huge beer menu, so it took some time to decide on what we wanted because there were a ton of great choices. We were told that burgers were their specialty and several of the folks went for those. I wasn't in a burger mood, so I tried the Georgia Reuben - it was excellent! Great taste, perfect size...I really enjoyed it. The service was also very fast and friendly. If you are looking for a casual and tasty meal in downtown Saline, I would definitely recommend you give this place a try.

I've always liked Dan's Tavern. It's the ONLY restaurant that we go to in Saline. I only go here a few times a year. I didn't go last year because of COVID. I went today and the staff DID not have masks on! We are still in the middle of the pandemic and the NEW DELTA variant is spreading fast and Dan's chooses not to have his staff masked up! How do I know if his staff is FULLY vaccinated? While I take a risk going into any establishment, an establishment should be wanting to protect me as well as their customer and to protect his own staff. Just because restrictions were loosened, everyone wants to go crazy! The pandemic is still out there! Just today 8/4/21, Washtenaw County issues advisory as COVID cases near 'substantial' levels (clickondetroit.com) I won't be going back!

The best burgers in town!!! Everything was amazing. Nice size burgers that will definitely fill you up

It's hot! Sat in the middle room that had the Karaoke setup. No air conditioning but there was a huge fan in the back, blowing forward. Didn't reach the whole room though and all the tables around it were full when we walked in. We ended up in one up front. Don't order water. It's disgusting. I like water with my food and beer by itself but I won't make that mistake again. The burgers are really good. Great beer selection too. Waiter could have been nicer and took a long time for requests. Karaoke book is small and the KJ is nice. System is ok and the crowd is welcoming enough. We had a table of seven, looking for some fun but this place seems to be a little more laid back.

Outside dining was pleasant and entertainment going on on this Friday evening. Burger was excellent and good variety of menu selections. Reasonable prices and good service.

Came here for dinner and trivia and was unfortunately disappointed by both. We both ordered wine and were really disappointed by both the Sauvignon Blanc and the Malbec. Both tasted like they had been open for weeks. For dinner, we got the black bean burger and waffle fries. The black bean burger was super dry and the waffle fries were nothing special. We were also super disappointed by the trivia. It was way harder than we expected compared to other trivia in saline, so we didn't have fun with it at all.

Great local restaurant/bar. They are usually very busy on a weekend night but you won't wait too long for a seat. We were there when they opened for lunch and found a table right away. Quick & friendly service Huge menu and a nice variety on the kids menu. I love their Ruben sandwich...nothing fancy just a good tasting sandwich. The pizza takes a little while to bake but it worth it. Ordering a beer? Make sure to order a "pony" to share or enjoy by yourself. They are a special price on Saturday but I'm not sure of the price. Overall... Great local spot for lunch, dinner, or just a drink!

Cleaning water right next to ice machine. Waitress rang out rag than proceeded to drag rag above ice machine as the rag was dripping in the open ice. Chemical now in your ice. Ice scoop hardly used.

If I could give zero stars I would. The servers were working so hard but the older gentlemen, I'm assuming it was the owner was very unprofessional. He yells and disrespects his staff. He is not friendly and almost seems to act like he is better then the guests coming in and giving his establishment business. The food I ordered came out wrong and burnt. Not one member of the management came out to apologize. The server seemed distraught about the problem and tried to fix it, but since the managers were no where to be found except the loud obnoxious older man screaming at his staff-which I wouldn't want him at my table anyway-I left very unhappy. Overall the servers are great, but the owners and managers needs a lesson In customer service.

Love the atmosphere of this bar!!! Th staff is always friendly. The selection of beet is amazing and the grill staff is amazing. This is a great place to grab a pint and listen to the live music. (Can't wait for that to come back everywhere).

Dan's is fine. I like to stop by when I'm back in town, hang with family and old friends, see who I see. I've had some great times and some less exciting ones.

Oh my yes!! From the front, you'd think this place was just tiny, but once you get indoors - whoa! this place has a sports-bar style side & a family seated restaurant side & even has a back patio you'd never guess was there! The food is absolutely scrumptious, servers are excellent and sooooo many beer options available!! Best tip about this place: This is the first time I had ever tried a Peanut Butter Burger, but gave it a go & was delightfully impressed!! The peanut butter is IN the meat - I didn't realize it until I started eating it. Not what I would normally order, but I had heard people rave about it and they were not wrong. Best burger I've ever had!!

Terrible food & warm beer. Bottle & draft beer was warm. Cheese stick appetizer was not done all the way the cheese was still hard. The bun on the burger was stale & there was ZERO flavor in the meat, cheese and grilled vegetables. Probably the least amount of effort I've ever seen put into a burger, so bland. $50 for a big disappointment.

Dan's didn't disappoint. Went with a few coworkers and we sat at a nice table by the window. The service was really good and the $3 dollar draft special for a 16 ounce on a Monday was a good deal. We had the buffalo chicken dip and jalapeño poppers for apps. The jalapeño peppers were kind of hard but the buffalo chicken dip was tasty. After some fried apps, I decided to go a little lighter for dinner and the Harvest salad was a good choice. I'm always a little skeptical when they bring out a packet of vinaigrette but it was satisfying. The service was a little slow to get our check in the end but we were just hanging out so we weren't in a hurry!

My husband was served raw salmon. We were repeatedly told that it was, "almost there." It was so raw, it was cold in the middle. They then took the filet from the plate and slapped it on the grill again. It came back over cooked with the sauce cooked off. Not even so much as a comped beer for feeding someone raw fish. Won't be going back. It feels like they might be feeling the heat from Smokehouse 52 opening up across the street but if you can't compete, don't try. Stick to what you do best, really good burgers.

I ordered takeout tonight and was excited, as it's right around the corner from me and highly rated. It was unfortunately awful. I ordered the 8 large wings with fries and mozzarella sticks. The wings were small and dry, the sauce wasn't put on the wings but rather on the side. The fries were soggy and had no flavor. It felt like everything was sitting under a light, even the mozzarella sticks. I'm not sure if I'll give this another try, and kinda regret spending my money here.

If you're looking for a local downtown bar to hang out at this is your place. A little bummed they don't have the cheeseballs back on their covid menu. They are a staple of saline.

This place used to be a pretty bad dive. You know the kind, sticky tables, dim lights, decent wings... Now, thanks to gentrification, the place is much nicer, and I hear the lasagna is good.

Dan is a friendly guy, and his bar has excellent food and a wide selection of beers. Really happy to support this restaurant. If parking were better I'd go more, but I still make it fairly often.

Owner is very kind and friendly, great food and service. Follows covid guidelines and has many fun events for customers throughout the year. Must try!