The Peanut Barrel

"The Peanut Barrel has been a favorite stop for Michigan’s Best for many years. We stopped there in 2014 for Michigan’s Best Neighborhood Bar, returned for Michigan’s Best Fries in 2017, and made it a top destination for best “college eats” in 2018. And they have an awesome burger, too! But when faced with a pandemic, what’s your local neighborhood bar to do? Owners Joe and Jennifer Bell decided it was time to “have fun and make you smile.” They put eight “survival kit” specials exclusively on their take-out menu late last year, including discount offers for Long Island Iced Teas and olive burgers. “We thought this would be a fun way to do it,” said Jennifer Bell, whose husband has worked at the bar since it opened in 1973. The Olive burger is its top seller. It is made with fresh, never frozen, beef delivered daily and gets pattied by hand in the kitchen before hitting the griddle. The chopped olive and mayo blend make it a salty good complement to the rich beef. The pumpernickel bun is a good choice, too. Other popular offerings are the Rueben sandwich, hand-cut French fries and the Tuna Melt. And don’t forget a Long Island Iced Tea."