Union Woodshop

I had Union Woodshop BBQ on my list of restaurants to try, and when I was driving through Clarkston on my way home, I decided it was the perfect time to cross it off my list. Even though I wasn’t super hungry, I figured I could take home anything I couldn’t finish. I’m so glad I stopped! I ordered the Classic Tray, which came with a 1/3lb of brisket, pulled pork, and dark meat chicken (my preference over white meat). I also asked for a fatty cut of brisket, and they were able to accommodate that request. The tray came with slaw, pickles, and I opted for corn muffin over white bread. I also added the BBQ baked beans, and they were absolutely fantastic. To start, I went with the fried pickles appetizer with house dip, which was excellent. The deli-style dill pickles had just the right amount of breading, light and crispy without overpowering the pickle. The meats were flavorful and tender, not overly smoky, and served on a tray similar to the style you’d find at Texas BBQ joints. It felt authentic and satisfying. The service was equally impressive—our server was attentive, explained the menu and options thoroughly, and made sure my drink was never empty. I didn’t have to wait to be seated, but we were there around 4:30, just ahead of the dinner rush. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I’ll definitely be back. I’ll also be recommending Union Woodshop to my friends. And yes, I did take home what I couldn’t eat and enjoyed it the next day.

The food was amazing. Pizza, brisket, Mac.. all top notch. It’s a lively place but we were still able to hold conversations.

Order was 1 LBS brisket (came out cold, tasteless) Half Smoked Chicken (fresh from the oven, however it was not fully cooked, the meat has no taste or flavor other than the flavor on the skin) 1 Margareta pizza (VERY VERY disappointed) Throughout our time, we have been checked on once, however NO REFILE NO WATER but our host was very friendly and respectful she deserves to be working with Golden Ramsey not here. Not worth the money

Our early evening dinner at the Union Woodshop could not have been better!! The young man at the front door was just not with it that night could hardly smile but after him, everyone else was just delightful and they actually seemed happy that we were there and they were happy to serve us. We copied another couple nearby and ordered the breadsticks…… they were great! Mac & cheese side out of this world just like the other restaurants owned by the same company. The barbecue was great. We got the triple. Our next step is going to be the union rec in Ann Arbor.🥰

A lot of gluten free options. Mac & cheese was pretty good but doesn’t reheat that great. Bummer though was by our reservation time they were out of brisket and spare ribs. You also can’t choose your own meats for the combo meals. In my experience, other bbq restaurants have you choose your meats. Pulled pork and sausage were delicious but the ribs I did end up getting were very burnt. Our waitress was quick, but seemed annoyed. Drinks were good. I’d give it another try, but try to go earlier to get the brisket

Fun place to hangout with the family on a Friday evening. The young ones love the pinball machines upstairs while waiting for the food. The adults likes the bar and its drinks choices. The food was very good, for my uneducated taste bud it’s as good as most BBQ places down in Texas. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive, a perfect combination.

There was some type of pub crawl going on the night we went. Though, with that, the wait wasn't terribly long. We waited upstairs in the comfy chairs in the corner. Some fun spooky decorations were up there for Halloween. Great vibe. We were texted that the table was ready so walked down to our table. We shared the Loaded Potato Pizza that was surprisingly good. Then, the Pork Belly Burnt Ends which were the best around and the yummy Baby Back Ribs. Note: They don't bring all the sauces out to the table unless you ask because some are refrigerated. Make sure to ask for those cause they are yummy. Try them all, you may be surprised which ones you'll like. Though I didn't try the super spicy one. I am pretty sure it wouldn't like me. The rest perfect. So after the amazing meal, took home some Butterscotch Pudding which was very tasty. If you are in the area this is the place to stop.

Fantastic food! Friendly staff! Clarkston does not disappoint when it comes to great locally owned restaurants. The menu is set up in a way that allows you to try various items or go all in with one. One warning, this is not a quick in and out establishment, I'd recommend at least 90 minutes (it's worth it). Be sure to check out their online menu for additional drinks and seasonal fare.

Fantastic spot. We tried the Woodshop Pizza, Burnt ends, and triple meat platter, and mac and cheese. To be honest the burnt ends were ok. I loved the Woodshop pizza - the pizza in general is tasty and wood fired with fantastic crust. We had the triple meat platter - my favorites were the chicken then the pulled pork and then the brisket. The chicken came right off the bone so perfectly. The Mac and cheese was delicious. Cute restaurant. Plenty of TV's if you are looking to catch a sporting event. I would definitely come back.

One of my favorite places in Michigan. Staff is always engaging and kind. Great environment for any size group (yourself to big groups). Portion sizes are large and filling, worth the price. I tend to always get the pulled pork (recommend). I got the brisket this time and it was not my favorite sadly.. not a ton of flavor. I probably wouldn't get that again. However, I will definitely be coming back!

Always a great time at the Union woodshop right down on Main Street in downtown Clarkston location. They have an upstairs bar and games with a downstairs restaurant. The menu Has lots of options lots of taste. I always enjoy the backlot burger with the Memphis mayo and the six piece smoked chicken wings. The Smokey taste is always perfect after taste ,The signature union, mac & cheese, and the union tater tots are the best side around town . Check out the union woodshop for great service and great food. Prices could be a little bit better. There should be no up charge on the mac & cheese or the tater tots. The fries are absolutely terrible soaked in oil all 20 times that I've been to the union woodshop I would never order the french fries !!

We part of the street side as this is kind of in a downtown Clarkston area. I really enjoy barbecue and we had the opportunity to try many things on the menu. All the pictures you see was only for three people. The food was really good. I would say that anything barbecue insides are a great selection. Not a huge fan of the pizza probably not something you would get if you were visiting a place like this. I would recommend everything else that you can get. The service was very friendly and fast. The ambience was bright and really love it, I would definitely come back here again. We enjoyed it so much that I gave gift cards to this restaurant to different friends and family so they can try it out.

We love the Union Woodshop! Husband got the porker and I had a brisket sandwich. Both outstanding and smoke on it was amazing. Also had burnt ends as an appetizer. If you're coming here don't skip the Mac and cheese! Be ready for a wait. Some of the best BBQ around.

Very pricey. No combo platters for any of the meats by themselves. It makes no sense. They are lucky there is not much competition. Much better places in Metro area that have lower ratings but are better than this because they have more competition. 3 meat rib included a crunchy end piece, not for 12 dollars. The sausage was dry and tasted store bought. Other ribs were okay, pulled pork was okay. All sides were good but no side only combo. 3 star food, 1 star prices.

Great service and great food. Had a $5 marg for happy hour and it was still made fresh , not a pre-mixed. As a vegetarian there is a lot of options here which I appreciate. Love coming here & will be back. They also decorate the top floor for the holidays with special cocktails and it's super cute.

Woodshop has long been our go to restaurant for bbq. This visit was very disappointing. I always get the brisket and this time it was quite tough. I had to use a knife to cut it, and even then it was work to cut off a slice. My husband ordered the chicken and while good, the quantity left a little something to be desired. Quality seems to have gone down in the past year or so.

Ok, this is the second within 2 days I've been here. 7/31/24 & 8/2/24 The 1/4Lb meal wasn't what I expected. My friends and I were waited on by Sam. Young man. He was pleasant and served us spot on. But, I expected the meat to be somewhat a little bit more than 2 pieces. And the fact it was warm almost cool was not what I expected either. Fries are fries and slaw the same. I like this place but, the meat needs to arrive at the table hotter than mine was this time.

This is what I call an elevated dive bar. From the second you step out of your car you can smell the bbq smoke, and it smells delicious. Inside they have quite the ambiance as you feel like you're up north. The food was excellent and the service was good but a little slow. We'll definitely be back!

Great atmosphere in the building. The drinks were fantastic. I had a couple very stiff cocktails. They do not skimp on the alcohol at all.I had the burger and it was fantastic. The fries are really good too! My wife had the "Woodshop" pizza. This is a fantastic value! Great price for way more than 1 person can eat.

Sorry CK that! The prices got cranked up from my last review over the last year. The pulled pork sandwich is now $17 and doesn't come with a side just chips, sides are five to six bucks extra. Yeah I know wow. Still enjoyed it but my wallet didn't.

The pop up bar was super cute upstairs, it's too bad that the bartender that ended up helping my friends and I ended up being terribly rude and snarky. When asking about placing an order for food (which had been done before- earlier in the night for an appetizer/ you can only eat out or caryout boxes upstairs) she responded with I have to take everyone's drink orders before I can help you. Then proceeded to talk about us to another couple as food proceeded to go to other bar patrons. Not entirely sure what was wrong with this girl but she had a major attitude from the jump. We ended up going downstairs for dinner. It would have been a larger bill and higher tip for the folks upstairs not sure why she was acting so crass. Hopefully she gets it together for the best interest of her brand and the business.

This place is highly overrated! Went for a birthday dinner. Server seemed much too busy to wait on tables, even though the restaurant was quite slow at 5pm on a Friday night. Food portions were ridiculously small for the price, and the "sides" are about the equivalent of two bites of food. Don't waste your time or your money.

This place has gone downhill. A lot. It used to be hopping. Packed. Busy. On a Friday night it's empty. Huh? The menu changed a lot. Prices up. And baby back ribs that I'm gnawing at to get the meat off the bone. Large party and most were disappointed. I guess the other options in town have given the public pause to eat here again. And maybe with good reason.

Solid BBQ joint. Came on a Thurs night around 8PM and were able to get seated right away at a high top in the bar area. The place was about half full and there was plenty of seating for large groups. They had some decent brews on tap including Three Floyds Barbarian Haze. My bride went with the salmon ($25) and enjoyed it. I ordered the half pound of pulled pork ($14) and it was good - liked the mustard style sauce as it had good flavor. Both our our entrees came with a small cup of slaw and pickles (they were good). It seemed to take quite awhile for the food to come out. Not sure if they were short staffed in the kitchen or not. Service from our bartender Thoth was super friendly.

Everything here was great. It's a really nice place with good service. The food was amazing. The Mac and cheese we were nervous would be too hyped up but it was great. The bologna sandwich was great, coleslaw was great and the cherry pork salad was amazing. The brisket was good but it didn't hit the top of the list.

Love the funky retro and machine shop vibe. Pizza, burgers, bbq. Try the tots- they are mad delicious and "lactaid" worthy if you get my drift . They had good drinks like a spicy or non spicy Bloody Mary- and a full beer and liquor bar. Service was quick and friendly. Would definitely go back!

Always a busy place usually with more than an hour wait. I picked a weekday off peak time and had immediate seating. The service was as expected. The staff knew what they were doing but nothing extraordinary. Ambiance is ok. Hundreds of tiny log ends glued to the walls are supposed to give the illusion of being in a wood shop but it doesn't work. It looks like wood ends glued to the wall. The menu could use help. I would suggest a hearty meal as an option. Maybe a little more protein options. All in all, I was pretty disappointed. It really has potential.

Our server was so great. I wish I remembered his name-he was quick on his feet and very friendly. The drinks were large and strong! We ordered tons of food and everything was great. We really enjoyed the Mac and cheese and cheesy potatoes. I don't think there was outdoor seating but the inside is very spacious and well decorated. A little dark for the older folks, but it wasn't an issue for me. They don't have ranch dressing, but the bleu cheese dressing was actually very good and similar to ranch (not usually a fan of bleu).

Went with a large group and we all ordered something different. Everything was so good. The Union always knocks it out of the park so you can't go wrong with any choice. We tried all sides as well and every single one is a slap-in-the-face flavor! The top for me is Mac and Cheese, then collards, then baked beans. Great beer selection. Cool place to hang at the bar or sit and eat- large groups or small.

Following contact with the manager who was extremely kind and apologetic. They offered a gift card To try any of the restaurants again.

Bartending upstairs was the slowest service I ever had and she was mean for no reason will not be going back to this place on a Saturday night. Drinks were good just will be waiting at the bar for 20 min before getting served and this was at 7pm when the bar was empty.

I truly don't know why I have never been here before tonight. I have been missing out. I was so excited to be here tonight and it did not disappoint. I ordered a Bloody Mary and my fiancé had a beer. The salt on the rim of my bloody was delicious. I'm not sure what it was. I'm think maybe some kind of bbq salt rub. The mix was not a familiar mix to me so I'm thinking that was homemade. It has a little spice to it which I liked. It was so good that I had another and my fiancé had one too. We had the fried pickle app. It was a very generous portion and they were long spears. The sauce for dipping was amazing and the breading on them was good too. For dinner I got the 101. I got white meat chicken, the sausage and brisket. My favorite was the sausage. It was spicy. For my sides, I got the potato salad which the server recommended and Mac and cheese because she said that's what a lotta people get. I loved the potato salad and the mac and cheese was good but nothing special to me. My fiancé got the veggie burger and fries. I had a bite and didn't love it. He didn't either. I really liked the shiitake "bacon". I thought they were delicious. I loved the variety of the different sauces. My favorites were the Korean and the Alabama white sauce. My fiancé liked the Tennessee. The food was great enough to go back but I want to mention the server. She was the best server I have had in a very, very long time and that's coming from a former server :) she said she worked there for ten years and I think her name was maybe Tiffany but I could be wrong on that. Anyways, she was so friendly, knew everything about everything on the menu, funny, and gave top notch service! Thank you for such a great night out. We really enjoyed it!

The Union Woodshop USED to be my favorite BBQ joint in the metro Detroit area. The new menu is TERRIBLE. C'mon man...ala carte for everything?? $5.00 for a cornbread muffin? What happened to the combo plates?? My wife, my son and I had dinner and it cost almost $120.00. WTF??? I guess I'm going to have to find another BBQ place with realistic prices. https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g42081-d1756156-r931457989-Union_Woodshop-Clarkston_Michigan.html#

I cannot believe I'm giving The Woodshop only 3 stars. This used to be my favorite restaurant, and the only place I'd eat authentic smoked meat. This past week my pulled pork wasn't good. Not that it wasn't great, but it wasn't even that good. My Mac and cheese was delicious as always. My husband's sausage and brisket were good (not great), and his corn muffin was very tasty. All of the sauces were delicious. I'm hoping this was a one off because based on this experience I wouldn't go back. Our server was very kind and on top of things, and it was much quieter than I remember.

What a great experience. Since I live in Ohio, I'm sure going to miss this place. We were seated pretty fast and our orders went right in quickly. I got their throwback burger and it was pretty good. I was addicted to their SC sauce so I bought 4 bottles. It's that darn good. Their ice cream was also AMAZING! Hoping to be back someday in the future.

Service was great but they have changed the menu, pricing has gone through the roof and the food is subpar at best now. They charge $5 for a corn muffin, are you kidding me? Your pricing on muffin mix didn't go up that much. Won't go there again. New BBQ place opened not far from here. Hope they take all the business from this overpriced joke.

What used to be our # 1 place to go in Clarkston and an affordable experience has become a place that has just out priced our community. This is sad to write this review because we used to love this place. They are absolutely gouging their customers moving their items to ala carte and I don't recommend going there as their food isn't worth the prices they are now charging. It is clear they are struggling as we used to wait for a table and now when we go there are many open tables. 2 drinks two meals and our kids shared a plate was over $165. If you like getting charged Nashville rates for drinks this is your place. If you don't mind buying a $4 chocolate milk that cost them .$50 this is your place. We will never come here again. Super disappointed in this experience.

Great barbecue..and most famous for Mac and cheese. The service is really good too! I am taking off a point for the ambiance...dark and LOUD. It could really use some acoustic treatment

How much wood does a woodchuck chuck??? Answer and Kid Rock will personally escort you to your table! Just kidding, but now that I have your attention, you get beer here served in mason jars....how cool is that. Beer in jars that your grandma stored pickled whatever in. Not the same jars mind you, that would be a health violation, but there is something cool about sipping an awesome craft brew from a mason jar. Of course I call it a Jason Jar for obvious reasons. Get anything BBQ'd here, any meat, just get it, super duper good. Already mentioned beer, check! Mac and cheese - yes please!! So Bawittdabaa, duet with Sheryl Crow, and come on down to the woodshop for some down home fun!!

Great food and atmosphere. Would go there again. The only reason for the 4 stars is that the 3 times we have been there, the meals were inconsistent. Two times our ribs were literally 'to die for', the third time not so much. Update: Went back again and food was great. Salmon was a little dry though. I Loved the Mac n' cheese. My husband's chicken was amazing. I'm getting that next time

It's the Mac & cheese! Delicious food, unique atmosphere in an old church, the bar is always fun!

I like it.... Mikey. He likes it! He likes it! Everything is great. Hope you were there for headcheese.

The food is good, but over priced. There is definitely better bbq options for less cost. Drinks are fancy and service is good.

We love Union Woodshop. We love all their establishments! We have been coming here for over a decade. Every experience we leave happy & are thankful for leftovers! The barbecue that comes from this place is simply amazing! From the brisket to the pulled pork, the spicy sausage to the chicken- everything is top notch. You may order the 101 & get a little bit of everything! The sides are just as good as the meat. I love the jalapeño sweet potato mash. Such a great fusion of flavors! The cornbread is baked to perfection. Let me tell you about the mac n cheese. It has been voted, "The Best of..." so many times, and you will know why when you take a bite. The noodles are smothered in a delicious Béchamel sauce, perfectly tucked under a protective layer of crusted cheese- all the components of an award winning dish. Union offers this dish at every Union establishment (thank you!) The staff is friendly and upbeat. The ambiance is fun. Be sure to swing into ANY of the Union establishments, but Union Woodshop is our favorite, especially in Clarkston!

This is painful but this place has really declined in terms of what you get and what you pay. Everything is now Ala Carte, so you no longer get a side or 2 with your plate. For 2 kids, and 2 adults sharing with no alcoholic beverages our total was $110. Each side was between 5 and 6 dollars. The brisket, for $20 you get 4 pieces, 6 spare ribs $25. I used to love this place. I came here before it was restaurant of the year and Guy Fiere. Hopefully this can be corrected because on a Friday night there were plenty of tables available...which never used to be the case either.

There's a reason this place was on Guys Diners, Drive-ins and Dives! If you're in Michigan, stopping here is a must! I had the best brisket I've ever eaten here. Its slow smoked for 14 hours and it shows in the flavor. Tender and packed with flavor, I could eat this every day. Combined with ultimate comfort food sides, Dianne's Cheesy Potatoes and Union Mac and Cheese it was difficult to decide what to eat first!

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of all Union Joints. Union Woodshop is truly the best of the best though and if I had my pick of Union Joints on any given day, I would always 10 out of 10 pick Union Woodshop, despite loving all the other ones fiercely. There's just nothing better than their BBQ. I even brought my Southern friend here one day and in her words, the BBQ here was "not bad". WHOA! LOOK OUT! That is probably as high as a compliment could get from a Southerner and I'll take it on behalf of the Woodshop! Tons of things here are great, but at this point, after having tried a lot of the menu, my tried and true favorite that I always get nowadays is the brisket. It is unbeatable and just the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth time of richness that nothing else can quite ever compare to. Except for the cornbread that comes with the brisket, and the onion rings you can order as a side, and the Union mac you can order as the other side. Literally the perfect meal - SORTED. You're welcome :)

I love coming here! Such a cozy, comfortable environment with the way the seats are arranged. I've come here during holiday season, for which they decorated SO beautifully, as well as throughout football season, and I love it! I've only really had some of their cocktails, which I've loved, and the mac and cheese, which is also good.

not as good as a few years ago, furnishings are worn, food ok but not great...pizzas which use to be very good are now less than average, little sauce, little toppings and a even less cheese...little C's for 6.00 has more. So sad loved this place for years but now either the management doesn't care anymore or they change cooks for the worse....its a staple of clarkston management needs to fix it again...

Arrived here around 530 on a Sunday before a concert with 4 people they said the wait would be around 30 mins. Luckily they have a nice bar area upstairs from their restaurant. Grabbed a couple drinks while waiting for our table. My friend got the herbie something cocktail. It was made with fresh water melon we watched the bartender muddle and make it was so good and refreshing! At about the 30 min mark we got a text that our table was ready. We got our table quickly and ordered another round of drinks. We all ordered the watermelon drink because It was so good. Unfortunately I think due to the level of business downstairs the drink was premade. It was really sweet and not as good as the first :( As far as the food everything came out hot and fresh. We were disappointed because they were out of burnt ends and I guess running very low on brisket. We got a mushroom pizza, Mac and cheese and two burgers. Would definitely go back.

Disappointing! Not one to give bad reviews as we know we all can have a rough day. From the moment we walked in we felt as an inconvenience. Hosts were unfriendly, and made sure to sit everyone as close as possible even though bigger areas were open and had staff for service. Bathroom never restocked paper towel and I personally asked twice, very nicely. Really it wasn't over all as clean as in the past. Windows had fingerprints and dust covering them. Waitstaff was meh.... Seemed rushed and never really gave the chance to order or finish before walking away. Food was cold! This was the sad part as the food was some of our favorite. Woodsticks lost the fluff. The burnt ends not to bad, brisket and pulled chicken was ok but would have been better served hot or warmer. Had to ask to have water refilled. Just over all bummed as we make it a point to drive a good distance (hour plus depending) for what we would consider good bbq. Maybe they just expanded too much and are starting to lose quality.

This used to be our favorite place for BBQ. Since it takes an hour to get there, we go about twice a year. Six of us went for dinner yesterday. The menu has changed since the last time we were there. We used to have to wait an hour, this time we walked right in. Obviously, others have noticed the change and have stopped going there. Everything is now ala carte which increased the price per person considerably. $30 for bbq per person? No thanks. We decided not to get cocktails as we always do, just to make the tab more reasonable. The Mac and cheese as always was so delish! My pulled pork sandwich was lukewarm at best. They have out priced themselves in a very competitive bbq joint. Our server (a young lady) was excellent! Bad Brad's is a ten minute drive from my home. I will continue to support them with my business.

If the restaurant's goal is to go out of business, it's working. It's sad because it used to be where our whole family went to celebrate birthdays and special events and the last time we were there we vowed no more. The menu has less, everything is more expensive, some of the best items on the old menu died with COVID, and what remains is hit or miss and they don't even offer Two-Hearted anymore - come on! When people ask me where they should eat when visiting Clarkston the Woodshop is no longer on the list. Please change how this place is managed, bring back what EVERYONE in Clarkston used to love!

The food was awesome and the service was great! Was the best mac & cheese I have ever had!. I would definitely recommend throwing any calorie counting or carb restrictions you may have out the window and just indulge and try the mac & cheese!

The food was fresh, hot and great tasting, service was on point and overall a very pleasant experience. Highly recommend we had bunt ends, the burger was amazing and the chicken wings were the bizzomb.

This is a excellent "BBQ" restaurant to enjoy while walking or shopping in downtown Clarkston. The food is fabulous when it comes to brick oven pizza or BBQ ribs, brisket, and chicken to name a few. In the summer there is patio seating (Photos attached) and indoor seating (6 feet distancing of course) due to COVID-19 currently. I was here for a birthday dinner with friends on October 11, 2020. The rustic atmosphere is relaxing with a friendly attentive staff that shows fast service as well as the kitchen chefs! The appetizers and many items on the menu's are very tasty with flavor and comforting for a satisfying appetite. The drinks, brews or shots from the bar are plenty and amazzzing! There's upbeat Rock and Roll music as well playing lightly in the background so its still relaxing to chat with friends while visiting and dining here. When I return again to visit, I will be ready to indulge in a burger combo with fries or onion rings! And a mug of beer on tap as well! :-)

Great brisket, fries and Tennessee mayo are amazing. Sweet potato casserole and mac&cheese are always great sides. Waitstaff are friendly and the restaurant is very comfortable