KICKED UP

by CARLY SIMPSON

Grab a seat at Elk Rapids’ newest hangout, Foundry Bar & Grill, where the team is taking American eats and giving them a craft-level touch.

For andre bushell, it doesn’t get better than the #6. Thick slices of sourdough from Detroit Bread Bakery. Sizzling ribeye. Caramelized onions. “Oooo sauce”—a blend of barbecue and mayo. Melty muenster and cheddar cheese topping it all off.

Adam Earle is a wings guy. Parmesan-garlic. Creamy buffalo. Peach poblano BBQ. If they’re on a menu, he’s ordering them. And then there are the burgers. Build your own or go with Earle’s favorite, the Spicy Jam: a half-pound patty topped with a fried egg, hash browns and sweet jalapeño bacon jam. It’s the stuff of dreams.

Bushell, Earle and a third partner, Loren Akerman, are the trio behind Elk Rapids’ newest restaurant, Foundry Bar & Grill. It’s the eatery’s second location, the first opening in East Jordan in 2019. The group is working toward a May opening in Elk Rapids.

But in a market flooded with wings and burgers, what makes it special? “It’s American food, but it’s scratch-made,” Bushell says. “We’re always asking, ‘How can we elevate what we do, take it to a craft level?’” The answer: Use as many local products as possible, including Michigan Craft Beef, produce from Revolution Farms and spirits crafted by Iron Fish Distillery.

Both restaurants are “urban rustic, edgy and high-energy,” Bushell adds, while also being family-friendly. Here are a few things we love about each location:

Foundry East Jordan: Patio overlooking the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix, upper deck with views of the lake and an eagle’s nest, live music.

Foundry Elk Rapids: Streetside patio with downtown views, cornhole and live music; garage doors create a family-friendly section and a bar side.

Foundry Bar & Grill

151 River St., Elk Rapids

101 Main St., East Jordan foundrybg.com