Clarkston Union

The Clarkston Union is in Downtown Clarkston on the East side of Main St. just North of Waldon Rd.
 

This is a good beer bar in Northern Oakland County.  You will always find a packed house here.  Young, old, trendy, famous faces, regular folks, you name it.  We arrived at 8:30 on Saturday night and there was about an hour and a half wait for a table.  Fine with me.  There was a large selection of good beer to choose from while we waited.  Including a cask of Bell's Hopslam.

This strong, sweet nectar was served up in a snifter for $6.50.

Nice, warm, and hoppy!

There were at least 32 beers on tap to choose from including the firkin of Hopslam, two ciders, and one root beer for the kids and designated drivers.  The Union also has a full bar.  Getting service at the bar during peak hours can be rather difficult however, so be prepared.


The building is a former church and is a rather small space.  The ceilings are high as you would expect in what used to be a church.  The altar area at the back is now a cozy waiting area with comfortable seating and a disco ball.

The food comes with some premium prices but typically does not disappoint.  There is a raw bar available Thursday through Saturday starting at 6pm.  Appetizers run anywhere from $5.25 for chips and salsa to $8 for Union Dip (goat cheese with wild mushrooms and caramelized leeks served with croutons) and $12 for the Chargrilled Shrimp Salad.  There are a number of tasty salads and sandwiches and burgers are available for $9-10.

The signature dish here is their Mac and Cheese.  It is available for $6.25 for a half order and $12.50 for a full order and you can add aged ham for a little extra.  They also have a half order lobster & jalapeno version at market price.  This night it was $17.

There are plenty of specials that change regularly.  Meatloaf (duck and turkey today), pot pie (Santa Fe chicken), and plowshare are all listed on chalkboards up by the open kitchen area.

Each table also has a paper insert to the menu listing the other dinner specials.  Available were Almond Crusted Grouper ($18.50), Chicken Fried Chicken ($16.50), Corned Beef and Cabbage ($16), and Beef Tenderloin Skewers ($19).

I chose the Duck & Turkey Meatloaf which was well cooked and not too dry.  I thought that the duck added a subtle boost to the flavor, but suspect that the turkey took the lion's share of the ratio here.  It was served with carrots and chunky mashed potatoes and covered with a gravy that was well seasoned.

 

One of my companions opted for the Flat Iron Salad grilled medium rare:

"Cooked right.  Good flavor Wasabi dressing packed full of flavor but not too hot.  The cheese complemented the dressing and meat nicely."

Photographs compliments of Fermentation Nation