Whenever someone visits me, there is always one requirement: we go to Mugly’s. There is something magical about this restaurant in a Best Western. This particular hotel restaurant is located in Allen Park, Michigan, which has underground salt mines underneath it. This has nothing to do with my favorite local restaurant; I just think it’s a nice fact!
My first visit to Mugly’s in Allen Park was on my second visit to Michigan. We made an offer on a house and I had to fly out here to do the inspection.
I was a girl on a budget and booked a room at the local Best Western, thinking it would be a passable place to stay. I wasn’t expecting to stay in a pink castle in a small town in Michigan.
The first night of our trip, we were tired, worn out from traveling, and just wanted to eat. We thought we would grab a quick bite to eat at the restaurant downstairs and then head back to our room.
We walked down a hallway filled with pictures, articles, and even some artifacts related to local automotive history. Then we entered Mugly’s and felt like we had been transported to another world.
Which was true in a way. At one point, the bartender told us that the bar, as well as some of the other fine wood accents, were imported piece by piece from Ireland early in the history of this Michigan hotel restaurant.
At Mugly’s, you feel like you’re not only in another place, but also in another time. A time when food was prepared and presented with pride.
The French onion soup pictured above is some of the best I’ve ever had. It’s always served piping hot and the broth feels downright luxurious in the mouth. Topped with perfectly melted cheese, it’s the perfect start to a meal that will be much better than you expect.
I have such a hard time deciding what to order when I visit this restaurant hidden in a hotel in Michigan. You can’t go wrong with a salad though. The lettuce is so crisp you can hear the crunch of each leaf.
However, there is nothing bad on the menu at Mugly’s… and I’ve been there so many times that I’ve tried most of them! From delicious fresh fish and chips to more simple burgers and sandwiches like the one at the club in the picture above, you can’t go wrong ordering anything from the menu.
One thing this Allen Park restaurant has on their menu that I haven’t seen anywhere else is refried green beans. Whenever I order them with someone I don’t know yet, they always turn up their noses at it, but the appetizer plate is empty before our main course is even served.
That’s just how it should be, because these fried green beans are nearly perfect. They’re crispy and flavorful without feeling greasy. And the dipping sauce is cool and flavorful, a perfect complement!
I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but one of my favorite dishes when I go to Mugly’s in Allen Park is the Chicken Strip Dinner. In my opinion, they are by far the best chicken fingers in town.
Pro tip: Order the Chicken Strip appetizers and a simple Caesar salad and combine them to make the best Crispy Chicken Caesar of your life. It’s a real game-changer.
Another pro tip: Don’t skip dessert. My favorites are chocolate cake and ice cream, but every single sweet offering is the stuff dreams are made of. And as with all of Mugly’s dishes, the presentation is a step up from what you’d expect at a Best Western.
I love bringing first-time visitors to the Motor City because it’s like taking a trip back into the city’s history, but in an understated, accessible way. The history of the area is present everywhere you look in the restaurant and hotel.
There are two things you must do before you leave Mugly’s: First – on your way out the door, stop at the grand piano and give Mugly’s nose a little rub. According to hotel legend, this is supposed to bring good luck!
Second, when you walk out the door, turn left instead of right and walk down the grand hallway. There are some incredible antique pieces of furniture and a vintage staircase where you can hear the rustle of clothes from days gone by. Mugly’s is truly a magical place. Anywhere that keeps the history of the Motor City alive is fine with me.
I don’t know why, but when friends visit me in Michigan, it’s always a weird feeling to take them to this hotel and restaurant. But once they take the first bite, they get it.
I bet you will too. Let me know, OK?
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