About

Saddleback Restaurant Group

Saddleback Restaurant Group is a Lansing based hospitality company focused on craft food, community connection, and creating spaces that bring people together. What began as a single BBQ restaurant has grown into a group of locally loved concepts, each rooted in quality, consistency, and connection.

Saddleback BBQ
Saddleback BBQ opened its first location in REO Town, Lansing in June of 2015. Known for authentic Southern style barbecue with a Midwestern influence, the menu is built around scratch made preparation, thoughtful sourcing, and a commitment to consistency and flavor.

In June of 2025, the original REO Town location underwent a guest experience renovation, refreshing the space while staying true to its neighborhood roots. The update also introduced a permanent, year round Mooville Ice Cream offering, expanding the experience for families and guests of all ages.

Saddleback BBQ expanded to Okemos in September of 2017, continuing its focus on approachable, high quality barbecue and welcoming hospitality.

Slice by Saddleback
In December of 2021, Saddleback Restaurant Group launched its first non BBQ concept, Slice by Saddleback, a fast casual pizzeria focused on quality ingredients, house made dough, and bold flavors. Inside the restaurant, pizzas are baked in a brick oven for consistent heat and signature texture. For off site events and catering, the team operates a mobile wood-fired pizza oven, bringing the same experience directly to guests.

The concept carries the same commitment to craft and consistency that defines the group’s restaurants, offering a menu designed for everyday dining, takeout, and catering.

Coach’s Pub & Grill
In March of 2025, Saddleback Restaurant Group acquired Coach’s Pub & Grill, expanding into the neighborhood sports bar and grill space while keeping the Coach’s name and identity intact. The goal has been to continue evolving the restaurant into a community centered gathering place that delivers great food, great people, and memorable experiences.

Coach’s hosts a growing lineup of events and programming including a summer volleyball league, weekly Tuesday Trivia, and the Coach’s Annual Buck Pole. The first annual event in 2025 welcomed well over 1,000 guests, and the team expects the event to continue growing in the years ahead. The group continues to introduce new specials, events, and experiences that keep the restaurant vibrant and connected to the local community.

Ownership and Philosophy
Saddleback Restaurant Group is owned by Matt Gillett, a lifelong hospitality professional with more than a decade of leadership experience in Lansing’s restaurant scene prior to launching Saddleback BBQ. Matt’s passion for hospitality, food, and community continues to guide the company’s growth and culture.

Across all concepts, the focus remains the same: serve food made with care, create welcoming environments, invest in the community, and build places people are proud to return to again and again.

In addition to its restaurants, Saddleback Restaurant Group offers full service catering for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and community gatherings, delivering the same level of quality and hospitality off site as guests experience in the restaurants.

 

Contact
Catering: catering@saddlebackbbq.com

General info: info@saddlebackbbq.com

Owner Matthew Gillett: matthew@saddlebackbbq.com

 

Addresses

Saddleback BBQ  REO-Town
1147 S. Washington
Lansing, MI 48910
(517) 253-7556

Saddleback BBQ  Okemos
1754 Central Park Dr
Okemos, MI 48864
(517) 657-2917

Slice by Saddleback  Lansing 
3135 S. Pennsylvania Ave
Lansing, MI 48910
(517) 220-4693

Coach's Pub & Grill  Lansing 
6201 Bishop Rd.
Lansing, MI 48911
(517) 882-2013