Black Lotus Brews Local Burgers and Beer for Clawson

Clawson is not just a residential family community: It also boasts a downtown-style area where many of Michigan’s hidden food gems reside. These range from sushi, such as that found at Noble Fish, to a good burger, such as that served by .

The brewery, located at the corner of 14 Mile and Main Street, is not called a brewery for dress-up. It genuinely brews its own beers, and to compliment them, boasts some of the best bar food in southeast Michigan.

That may seem like an overstatement, especially given the brewery's low-maintenance appearance. Its wooden exterior and black, gothic lettering make The Black Lotus seem like a regular pub-style spot. The interior is not much different: all wooden decorations and a no-fuss area for brewing, cooking and eating.

What makes The Black Lotus Brewery unique, then? That it honestly brews its own beer is a start. When I walked in and sat down, the integrity of the drinks was obvious, as a manager worked alongside his employees on the most recent brews. When a waitress approached the table, she offered a drink right away, and when I asked what was available, she knew all the brews by heart.

I ordered The Gift, but when she saw my uncertainty with so many options, she was thoughtful enough to bring a small taste first: It was an amber-colored, light-bodied Belgian ale with notes of clove and banana.

Loving the first taste, I ordered a tulip of it. A tulip is a glass used for Belgian beers, often mistaken for a wine glass. Its shape helps the customer smell and taste the drink properly. 

Next was the meal, and I had another difficult time deciding from among so many options. Again, I asked the waitress for her suggestions, and she pointed out the burgers, sweet potato fries and even fried pickles. 

What was unique to the burger selection was the options of meat. The Black Lotus Brewery not only offers classic beef burgers, but also buffalo or mushroom burgers. Buffalo, or bison, is becoming a trend in many states, mostly in the South; it is difficult to find a buffalo burger in Michigan, so I took her up on the buffalo burger with a side of sweet potato fries and a starter of fried pickle spears.

The burger menu is a build-your-own style, so I ordered mine with swiss cheese, sauteed portabella mushrooms and Lotus sauce — the restaurant's specialty sun-dried tomato sauce. The pickle spears arrived first and were hot and breaded. They were crispy and salty from the pickle, but most notably, their batter had a ranchlike taste, which really set them apart from the Southern tradition of fried pickles.

The burger arrived next. The bottom bun was a little soggy — a small disappointment that happens when the bun isn’t toasted. I had ordered my burger medium rare, however, and that was what I received. Buffalo meat is already leaner and more healthful than beef, without sacrificing taste — resulting in a juicy, meaty burger that was definitely a mouthful. The melted cheese, sauteed mushrooms and the creamy Lotus sauce helped make the low-fat burger even more moist, resulting in a tasty sandwich.

The sweet potato fries were well-seasoned with salt and pepper, and they showed no signs of the softness or sogginess that can result from being left under a heat lamp too long. These fries were hot and crispy alongside the burger, and I knew my plate was fresh.

I had planned on ordering dessert — the stout float, beer with ice cream, had been in the back of my mind. But the heavily breaded pickles, fried sweet potatoes and hefty burger left me full and loaded with leftovers. The waitress was kind enough to box my food up for me, however, and I left spending only about $25, including a 20 percent tip.

The great deal of burger, fries, starter and beer — not to mention leftovers and a full stomach — reaffirmed that The Black Lotus Brewery is, in fact, one of the gems of the state. It does not just offer the classics alongside fresh, craft brews, it also offers twists that are at the top of the national food game, such as buffalo burgers and sweet potato fries.