Upping the Ante at Room 94 Taps and Bourbon

Odawa Casino bets on a different kind of customer with their newest restaurant

By Greg Tasker | April 20, 2024

For gamblers and non-gamblers alike, the dining options at many casinos are often lackluster—a sandwich shop, small café, or a standard all-you-can-eat buffet.

Odawa Casino in Petoskey is out to change that dynamic.

The casino is upping its food and drink game with a new venture, Room 94 Taps and Bourbon. Located in the casino’s former buffet space, Room 94 exudes an inviting, welcoming vibe with an eclectic menu, a solid selection of bourbons and cocktails, and Michigan craft beers on tap, including two brewed on the premises.

“We wanted to come up with a concept, something that was new and hipper—we’re trying to get a younger crowd in here,” says Alan Bouschor, who is director of marketing for Odawa Casino, owned by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. “We were drawn to the concept of a taproom, but we wanted to elevate it further. So, we expanded our vision to include bourbon, engaging bar games, a distinct atmosphere, and complemented it all with a unique food and drink menu expertly crafted by our chefs and bartenders.”

Making the Menu

Indeed, Room 94 boasts a modern industrial vibe but with much of the decor in warm tones of brown and tans. Vapor fires add to the ambiance. Lounge areas surround TVs, and the space offers a variety of bar games, including pool, darts, and pinball. Odawa plans to open a patio—a first for its restaurants—in the spring.

The former Waas-No-De Buffet closed during the pandemic and never reopened. One of the reasons for revamping the space has been a decline in the popularity of buffets at casinos, and the team at Odawa wanted to envision something fresh.

“There is nothing else like this anywhere in northern Michigan,” says Mickey Cannon, Odawa’s food and beverage director. “It’s more like something you’d see in Rochester Hills or Birmingham [in metro Detroit]. We’re one of a kind.”

Cannon, who has a long history in the food and beverage industry in northern Michigan (he’s the talent behind the former Tuscany Bistro in Traverse City), brews the beer and oversees the menu. Currently, there are two in-house brews on tap, Stone Cold Pilsner and Dancing Moose IPA. The other craft beer selections include Short’s Soft Parade and Cheboygan Brewing’s Blood Orange Honey.

In the kitchen, the restaurant smokes its own meats, makes its own BBQ and other sauces, uses local produce as much as possible—from a tribal garden and local farmers—and makes its dough and sauce for its popular stone-fired pizzas. “We’ve sold 1,000 pizzas since we opened [in January],” Cannon says.

The biggest menu sellers are the Smokehouse Sandwiches, burgers, and the Wonton-Wrapped Fried Pickle (a pickle spear wrapped with ham and swiss cheese and then in a wonton wrapper before being fried). The Street Tacos, with protein options such as beer-braised smoked pork carnitas or extra crispy chicken thighs, are also standouts.

Among the sandwiches, the King of Smoke is a customer favorite. It’s a combination of brisket, pulled pork, and pork belly, topped with onion rings, fried cheddar curds, and Asian slaw, accompanied by a cup of gochujang sauce for dipping.

Beer & Bourbon

“Nothing goes better with smoked foods than beer and bourbon,” Cannon says. “It’s the perfect combination.”

The bourbon selection includes staples like Buffalo Trace, Basil Hayden, Maker’s Mark, and Wild Turkey but also higher-end choices like Eagle Rare 10 Year, Weller Special Reserve, and Blanton’s.

In addition, Room 94 has partnered with Maker’s Mark to create its own special release, a bourbon aged for an additional nine weeks in barrels fitted with custom-wood finishing and hand-selected staves.

An important part of the restaurant’s mantra is ensuring good customer service. And that includes educating the staff on the various bourbons and craft beer and making sure they’re able to help customers make choices when a favorite might not be available.

“We’re educating our staff about what they’re serving. You have to know what you’re presenting. You have to learn new products and learn about our bourbons. You have to know what your products are and be able to educate customers as well,” says Frank Mona, who is manager of Room 94. Like Cannon, he has a long history in the industry but on the libations side, having worked for his family liquor and wine stores in southeast Michigan as well as martini bars.

A New Crowd

Room 94 is named after a major milestone for the tribe: In September 1994, the tribe was reaffirmed as a federally recognized sovereign nation. That designation has opened up economic ventures for the tribe, helping fund tribal services, such as healthcare, and encouraging economic growth in other areas.

“That reaffirmation gave us the ability to do businesses like this,” Cannon says. “It helps sustain tribal enterprises and services.”

In redesigning the former buffet room, the tribe strived to create an inclusive and inviting space. Room 94 Taps and Bourbon is open to everyone, whether or not you’re hitting the casino floor. It’s situated near the casino’s concert stage and conference rooms, with the dining room and bar open and visible to guests or visitors passing by.

“Room 94 is really a place for everyone. We’re not here just for the gamers, we’re here for everyone,” Cannon says. “It’s a place to come and have fun.”

While the demographics of casino goers have generally skewed older, there is some data showing an increase in interest among younger generations, with Gen Z being more likely to hit the casino than their millennial counterparts. Room 94 is targeting younger crowds to enjoy its food, drinks, and entertainment.

“We’re trying to attract more outside customers and marketing to the 21 to 40-year old crowd,” Cannon says. “They can come on Friday and Saturday nights and play pinball, throw darts, or watch the ball game. That was our vision when we opened Room 94 and that’s what’s happening. We’re happy to see that.”

Find Room 94 Taps and Bourbon inside Odawa Casino at 1760 Lears Rd. in Petoskey. odawacasino.com/room-94