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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.1


                         BIG BUCK BREWERY & STEAKHOUSE, INC.

                                1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN


1.   PURPOSE

     The purpose of Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") is to promote the interests of Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse, Inc.,
a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), by providing employees of the Company
and certain independent contractors with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary
interest in the Company and thereby develop a stronger incentive to contribute
to the Company's continued success and growth.  In addition, the granting of
stock options will assist the Company in attracting and retaining key personnel
of outstanding ability.

2.   DEFINITIONS

     Wherever used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings set forth
below:

     2.1  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     2.2  "Committee" means a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
designated by such Board to administer the Plan and composed of not less than
two directors.  Beginning on the date the Company first registers the Stock
under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each member of the
Committee must be a "disinterested person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

     2.3  "Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means a stock option which is
intended to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of
the Code.

     2.4  "Non-Statutory Stock Option" or "NSO" means a stock option that is not
intended to, or does not, qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in
Section 422 of the Code.

     2.5  "Option" means, where required by the context of the Plan, an ISO or
NSO granted pursuant to the Plan.

     2.6  "Optionee" means a Participant in the Plan who has been granted one or
more Options under the Plan.

     2.7  "Participant" means an individual described in Section 5 of this Plan
who may be granted Options under the Plan.

     2.8  "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     2.9  "Stock" means the par value, $.01 per share of the Company.

     2.10 "Subsidiary" means any corporation, other than the Company, in an
unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the
corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns 50% or
more of the voting stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

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3.   ADMINISTRATION

     3.1  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full
power, subject to the provisions and restrictions of the Plan, to grant Options,
construe and interpret the Plan, establish rules and regulations with respect to
the Plan and Options granted hereunder, and perform all other acts, including
the delegation of administrative responsibilities, that it believes reasonable
and necessary.

     3.2  The Committee shall have the sole discretion, subject to the
provisions of the Plan, to determine the Participants eligible to receive
Options pursuant to the Plan and the amount, type, and terms of any Options and
the terms and conditions of option agreements relating to any Option.

     3.3  The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option granted hereunder in
the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to carry out the terms of
the Plan.

     3.4  Any decision made, or action taken, by the Committee arising out of or
in connection with the interpretation and administration of the Plan shall be
final, conclusive and binding upon all Optionees.

4.   SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     4.1  NUMBER.  The total number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance
upon exercise of Options under the Plan is Six Hundred Thousand (600,000).  Such
shares shall consist of authorized but unissued Stock.  If any Option granted
under the Plan lapses or terminates for any reason before being completely
exercised, the shares covered by the unexercised portion of such Option may
again be made subject to Options under the Plan.

     4.2  CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  In the event of any change in the
outstanding shares of Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend,
split, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination,
exchange of shares, or rights offering to purchase stock at a price
substantially below fair market value, or other similar corporate change, the
aggregate number of shares which may be subject to Options under the Plan and
the terms of any outstanding Option, including the number and kind of shares
subject to such Options and the purchase price per share thereof, shall be
appropriately adjusted by the Committee, consistent with such change and in such
manner as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable to prevent
substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to or available for
Optionees.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in no event shall any
fraction of a share of Stock be issued upon the exercise of an Option.

5.   ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

     The following persons are Participants eligible to participate in the Plan:

     5.1  INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only
to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, including officers and directors
who are also employees of the Company or any Subsidiary.

     5.2  NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS.  Non-statutory stock options may be
granted to (i) any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including any
officer or director who is also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary;
and (ii) any consultant to, or other independent contractor of, the Company who
is not a director of the Company.

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6.   GRANT OF OPTIONS

     6.1  DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.  Subject to the terms, conditions, and 
limitations set forth in this Plan, the Company, by action of the Committee, 
may from time to time grant Options to purchase shares of the Company's Stock 
to those eligible Participants as may be selected by the Committee, in such 
amounts and on such other terms as the Committee in its sole discretion shall 
determine. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, twenty-five percent 
(25%) of the Options granted under this sub-section shall become vested upon 
the completion of 12 continuous months of employment from the date of grant, 
with vesting of another twenty-five percent (25%) of the Options upon 
completion of each subsequent 12 month period of employment, over a 
continuous four year period.

     6.2  LIMITATIONS.  Options specified under Section 6.1 above may be (i)
"Incentive Stock Options" so designated by the Committee and which, when
granted, are intended to qualify as incentive stock options as defined in
Section 422 of the Code; (ii) "Non-Statutory Stock Options" so designated by the
Committee and which, when granted, are not intended to, or do not, qualify as
incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code; or (iii) a combination of
both.  The date on which the Committee approves the granting of an Option shall
be the date of grant of such Option, unless a different date is specified by the
Committee on such date of approval.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect
to the grant of any Incentive Stock Option under the Plan, the aggregate fair
market value of Stock (determined as of the date the Option is granted) with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
an Optionee in any calendar year (under all such stock option plans of the
Company or Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000.  Each grant of an Option
under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written stock option agreement between
the Company and the Optionee setting forth the terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the Plan, under which the Option so granted may be exercised
pursuant to the Plan and containing such other terms with respect to the Option
as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine.

7.   OPTION PRICE AND FORM OF PAYMENT

     The purchase price for a share of Stock subject to an Incentive Stock
Option granted hereunder shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of
the Stock.  For purposes of this Section 7, the "fair market value" of the Stock
shall be determined as follows:

          (a)  if the Stock of the Company is listed or admitted to unlisted
     trading privileges on a national securities exchange, the fair market value
     on any given day shall be the closing sale price for the Stock, or if no
     sale is made on such day, the closing bid price for such day on such
     exchange;

          (b)  if the Stock is not listed or admitted to unlisted trading
     privileges on a national securities exchange, the fair market value on any
     given day shall be the closing sale price for the Stock as reported on
     either the Nasdaq National Market System or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on
     such day, or if no sale is made on such day, the closing bid price for such
     day as entered by a market maker for the Stock;

          (c)  if the Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, is
     not admitted to unlisted trading privileges on any such exchange, and is
     not eligible for inclusion in either the Nasdaq National Market System or
     the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the fair market value on any given day shall be
     the average of the closing representative bid and asked prices as reported
     on the Nasdaq System, and if not reported on such system, then as reported
     by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. or such other publicly available
     compilation of the bid and asked prices of the Stock in any
     over-the-counter market on which the Stock is traded; or

          (d)  if there exists no public trading market for the Stock, the fair
     market value on any given day shall be an amount determined in good faith
     by the Committee in such manner as it may reasonably determine in its
     discretion, provided that such amount shall not be less than the book value
     per share as 

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     reasonably determined by the Committee as of the date of determination or
     less than the par value of the Stock.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
granted to any Optionee then owning more than 10% of the voting power of all
classes of the Company's stock, the purchase price per share of the Stock
subject to such Option shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of
the Stock on the date of grant of the Incentive Stock Option, determined as
provided above.

     Except as provided herein, the purchase price of each share of Stock
purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be paid:

          (a)  in United States dollars in cash or by certified check, bank
     draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; or

          (b)  through the delivery of shares of Stock valued at fair market
     value at the time the Option is exercised (as determined in the manner
     provided under this Plan); or

          (c)  by a combination of both (a) and (b) above; or

          (d)  by such other method as may be permitted in the written stock
     option agreement between the Company and the Optionee.

     If such form of payment is permitted, the Committee shall determine
procedures for tendering Stock as payment upon exercise of an Option and may
impose such additional limitations and prohibitions on the use of Stock as
payment upon the exercise of an option as it deems appropriate.

     If the Committee in its sole discretion so agrees, the Company may finance
the amount payable by an Optionee upon exercise of any Option upon such terms
and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time such Option is granted
under this Plan.

8.   EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

     8.1  MANNER OF EXERCISE.  An Option, or any portion thereof, shall be
exercised by delivering a written notice of exercise to the Company and paying
to the Company the full purchase price of the Stock to be acquired upon the
exercise of the Option.  Until certificates for the Stock acquired upon the
exercise of an Option are issued to an Optionee, such Optionee shall not have
any rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to such Stock.

     8.2  LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS ON EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.  In addition to any
other limitations or conditions contained in this Plan or that may be imposed by
the Committee from time to time or in the stock option agreement to be entered
into with respect to Options granted hereunder, the following limitations and
conditions shall apply to the exercise of Options granted under this Plan:

          8.2.1     No Incentive Stock Option may be exercisable by its terms
     after the expiration of 10 years from the date of the grant thereof.

          8.2.2     No Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan to an
     eligible Participant then owning more than 10% of the voting power of all
     classes of the Company's stock may be exercisable by its terms after the
     expiration of five years from the date of the grant thereof.

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          8.2.3     To the extent required to comply with Rule 16b-3, Stock
     acquired upon exercise of an Option granted under to the Plan may not be
     sold or otherwise disposed of for a period of six months from the date of
     grant of the Option. 

9.   INVESTMENT PURPOSES

     Unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is in
effect with respect to Stock to be purchased upon exercise of Options to be
granted under the Plan, the Company shall require that an Optionee agree with
and represent to the Company in writing that he or she is acquiring such shares
of Stock for the purpose of investment and with no present intention to
transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of such shares of Stock other than by
transfers which may occur by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
and no shares of Stock may be transferred unless, in the opinion of counsel to
the Company, such transfer would be in compliance with applicable securities
laws.  In addition, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 is in effect with respect to the Stock to be purchased under the Plan, each
certificate representing any shares of Stock issued to an Optionee hereunder
shall have endorsed thereon a legend in substantially the following form:

     THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED WITHOUT
     REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT")
     AND WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS,
     IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTION(S) CONTAINED THEREIN.  NO TRANSFER OF THESE
     SHARES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE MADE EXCEPT PURSUANT TO
     EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS UNDER SUCH LAWS UNLESS THE COMPANY
     HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH
     TRANSFER OR DISPOSITION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH LAWS
     AND, FOR ANY SALES UNDER RULE 144 OF THE ACT, SUCH EVIDENCE AS IT
     SHALL REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THAT RULE, OR APPLICABLE STATE
     SECURITIES LAWS.

10.  TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS

     No Option granted under the Plan shall be transferable by an Optionee
(whether by sale, assignment, hypothecation or otherwise) other than by will or
the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined under the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.  An Option shall be exercisable
during the Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee or, if permissible under
applicable law, by the Optionee's guardian or legal representative.

11.  TERMINATION OF OPTIONS

     11.1 GENERALLY.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, if an
Optionee's employment with the Company or Subsidiary is terminated (hereinafter
"Termination") other than by death or Disability (as hereinafter defined), the
Optionee may exercise any Option granted under the Plan, to the extent the
Optionee was vested in and entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
Termination, for a period of three months after the date of Termination or until
the term of the Option has expired, whichever date is earlier.

     11.2 DEATH OR DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE.  In the event of the death or
Disability of an Optionee prior to expiration of an Option held by him or her,
the following provisions shall apply:

          11.2.1         If the Optionee is at the time of his or her Disability
     employed by the Company or a Subsidiary and has been in continuous
     employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) since
     the date of grant of the Option, then the Option may be exercised by the
     Optionee until the earlier of one year following the date of such
     Disability or the expiration date of the Option, but only to the extent the
     Optionee was vested in and entitled to exercise such Option at the time of
     his or her Disability.  For the purpose of this Section 11, the term
     "Disability" shall mean a permanent and total 

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     disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  The determination
     of whether an Optionee has a Disability within the meaning of
     Section 22(e)(3) shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.

          11.2.2         If the Optionee is at the time of his or her death
     employed by the Company or a Subsidiary and has been in continuous
     employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) since
     the date of grant of the Option, then the Option may be exercised by the
     Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
     Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution, until the earlier
     of one year from the date of the Optionee's death or the expiration date of
     the Option, but only to the extent the Optionee was vested in and entitled
     to exercise the Option at the time of death.  

          11.2.3         If the Optionee dies within three months after
     Termination, the Option may be exercised until the earlier of nine months
     following the date of death or the expiration date of the Option, by the
     Optionee's estate or by a person who acquires the right to exercise the
     Option by will or the laws of descent or distribution, but only to the
     extent the Optionee was vested in and entitled to exercise the Option at
     the time of Termination.

     11.3 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.  If the employment of an Optionee is terminated
by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, then the Committee shall have the
right to cancel any Options granted to the Optionee under the Plan.

     11.4 SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION FOR MISCONDUCT.  If the Committee reasonably
believes that an Optionee has committed an act of misconduct, it may suspend the
Optionee's right to exercise any Option pending a determination by the
Committee.  If the Committee determines that an Optionee has committed an act of
embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of an obligation owed to the
Company, breach of fiduciary duty or deliberate disregard of the Company's rules
resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company, or if an Optionee makes an
unauthorized disclosure of any Company trade secret or confidential information,
engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition with respect to the
Company, or induces any party to breach a contract with the Company, neither the
Optionee nor the Optionee's estate shall be entitled to exercise any Option
whatsoever.  In making such determination, the Committee shall act fairly and
shall give the Optionee an opportunity to appear and present evidence on the
Optionee's behalf at a hearing before the Committee.

12.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

     12.1 The Committee may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law,
suspend or terminate the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided,
however, that no such revision or amendment shall (a) materially modify the
eligibility requirements for Participants as set forth in Section 5 hereof; (b)
increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued
pursuant to Options, except in accordance with Section 4.2 hereof; (c) reduce
the minimum Option price per share as set forth in Section 7 hereof, except in
accordance with Section 4.2 hereof; (d) extend the period of granting Options;
or (e) materially increase in any other way the benefits accruing to Optionees
without the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is
required for compliance with the requirements of any applicable law or
regulation.

     12.2 No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan shall, without
the Optionee's consent, alter or impair any of the rights or obligations under
any Option theretofore granted to him or her under the Plan.

     12.3 The Committee may amend the Plan, subject to the limitations cited
above, in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Incentive
Stock Options meeting the requirements of future amendments to the Code.

     12.4 In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, each Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of
such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee.

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The Committee may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such instance,
declare that any Option shall terminate as of a date fixed by the Committee and
give each Optionee the right to exercise his or her Option as to all or any part
of the Option, including Stock as to which the Option would not otherwise be
exercisable.  In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be
substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
successor corporation, unless the Committee determines, in the exercise of its
sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, that the
Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option in full including Stock as
to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable.  If the Committee makes
an Option fully exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event
of a merger or sale of assets, the Committee shall notify the Optionee that the
Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date
of such notice, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such
period.

13.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     13.1 NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.  No person shall have any claim or
right to be granted an Option under the Plan, and the grant of an Option under
the Plan shall not be construed as giving an Optionee the right to continued
employment with the Company.  The Company further expressly reserves the right
at any time to dismiss an Optionee or reduce an Optionee's compensation with or
without cause, free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, except as
provided herein or in a stock option agreement.

     13.2 TRANSFER OF STOCK AND PAYMENT OF WITHHOLDING TAXES.  The Company shall
have the right to require that payment or provision for payment of any and all
withholding taxes due upon the grant or exercise of an Option hereunder or the
disposition of any Stock or other property acquired upon exercise of an Option
be made by an Optionee.  Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock
Option may not be disposed of by the Optionee before the later of two years from
the date of grant or one year from the date of exercise unless adequate
provision is made for payment to the Company of funds sufficient for payment of
any withholding and other taxes required by any governmental authority in
respect of the disposition of such Stock.  The Company may place a legend on
certificates restricting the transfer of Stock issued pursuant to Incentive
Stock Options in order to obtain compliance with tax withholding requirements. 
The Committee shall have the right to establish such other rules and regulations
or impose such other terms and conditions in any agreement relating to an Option
granted hereunder with respect to tax withholding as the Committee may deem
necessary and appropriate.

     13.3 GOVERNING LAW.  The Plan shall be administered in the State of
Michigan, and the validity, construction, interpretation, and administration of
the Plan and all rights relating to the Plan shall be determined solely in
accordance with the laws of such state, unless controlled by applicable federal
law, if any.

14.  EFFECTIVE DATE

     The effective date of the Plan is January 19, 1996.  No Option may be
granted after January 19, 2006 provided, however, that all outstanding Options
shall remain in effect until such outstanding Options have expired or been
canceled.