About The Butler
Conveniently located in downtown Saugatuck (voted one of America’s Coolest Small Towns), The Butler has been a staple of casual waterfront and outdoor dining for more than 60 years. The Butler restaurant is recognized throughout West Michigan for its quality dining, spectacular views of Kalamazoo Lake harbor and the Saugatuck boardwalk, and of course, its signature Butler Burger.
This spring, The Butler’s premier location is being heightened with the addition of a two-story, open-air patio! The deck will seat 250 guests and will be the perfect setting for outdoor dining and the return of live music during warm weather.
Our History
The Butler is one of Saugatuck’s oldest, continuously used buildings. Built in 1892 as a steam powered grist mill, our building was sold to a Great Lakes sailor in 1900. With a few modifications, the building reopened as The Hotel Butler, a beautiful summer resort, in 1901.
The Hotel Butler remained a successful hotel and restaurant for decades. In 1961, Verser and Pat White took over operations of The Hotel Butler and shut down the hotel portion of the building in 1971. With the removal of the two top stories, the building reopened as a restaurant only in 1972, now called The Butler.
For decades, the Whites and their family ran the restaurant. In 2021, RedWater Restaurants was proud to acquire The Butler into our restaurant family.
What We’re Known For
Today, The Butler is known for our exceptional American cuisine and fresh seafood — and, of course, our famous Butler Burger. We’re the hotspot in downtown Saugatuck for outdoor dining and waterfront views.
After your meal, why not explore? The Butler is within walking distance of many of Saugatuck’s bed & breakfasts, shops, art galleries, and more. We’re just a short scenic drive from Saugatuck’s Oval Beach and beautiful Lake Michigan.
Our Values
Our mission is to deliver exceptional and unique experiences to our guests through our people-first culture.
It’s no secret why people keep coming back to our restaurant and event venue. We believe in the simple promise of delicious food, exquisite ingredients, and exceptional service. We abide by four simple values:
- Guests: We do whatever we can for our guests. We can only say, “Yes.”
- Food: Our food is consistently delicious. We serve items as described and anticipated by our guests.
- Hospitality: We deliver an exceptional customer service experience that makes our guests feel like they come first.
- Team: We work as a committed, competent team that is dedicated to making our guests’ experience one they will enjoy.
What We’ve Got Planned for the Future
Private Dining
Fresh For The Season
We’re excited for our customers to enjoy new dishes without worrying about losing any favorites. The best of The Butler is here to stay — and grow. Check out our menu to see what’s new.
Shaking Things Up
Craving a cocktail? We've got your fix! Take a peek at some of our seasonal beverages handcrafted by our talented team of bartenders.
An Elevated Outdoor Dining Experience
Our brand new two-level deck is now complete! Join us during the summer to enjoy your meal while getting the best views of the lake in Saugatuck.