Terry's Blog about Dining & Drinking in Southwest and South-Central Michigan

2017-01-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

This place is new in 2016. A very nice micro-brewery is now open in Sister Lakes called Sister Lakes Brewing Company. Roomy, comfortable and decorated with old signs from former area businesses. The Morin family has been coming to Sister Lakes from Illinois since the 1930's when great grandpa bought a cottage there. I tried a flight and had two other seasonal beers as well and liked them all. The Driftskipper winter warmer was outstanding. It was a dark beer with eight spices added (cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, coriander and orange). I also was impressed with the Brown, Porter and Chocolate Milk Stout. They have a nice menu with several sandwiches and appetizers, however I did not eat on this visit. I will update after my next visit. I also like their slogan "Fostering Community, One Pint At A Time". Nice place, nice people. Check out the guide for more details.

2016-11-30T12:44:00.000-05:00

New in 2016. This place is in the space that formerly was Dogs With Style near the State Theatre on the downtown Kalamazoo mall. The ChauHaus Schnitzel Station offers a German food menu in a small space with a counter and 3 or 4 tables. You order at the counter and pick up your food. The food is on a paper menu with more offered on a chalkboard. The schnitzel comes in both chicken and pork. I tried the pork sandwich with hot German potato salad. Both were excellent. The bun was also notable and I believe they are made locally by Victorian Bakery. The schnitzel is also offered as a plate with 2 sides chosen from german potato salad, sauerkraut, red cabbage or spätzle. They have brats and other sausages made for them by Youz Guys Sausages in Portage. I want to try one of those next visit. They have soups, salads and frankfurters as well. Also, they make fresh meatballs daily in house, both meat and vegetarian. I tasted them and they are also very good! Limited hours so check first. Check the guide for more details.

2016-10-03T13:03:00.000-04:00

This place is new in 2015. Well known Chef and James Beard award semi-finalist Matt Millar has opened a place trying to tie his Northern experience with his Southern roots. The Southerner is named after a train that traveled from North to South. His menu features items from both and ingredients from local farms as well as from farms in Tennessee. I had always read about Nashville hot chicken but had never tasted it. I finally tried it here and wow!. Perfectly cooked chicken coated with a great hot sauce which was hot! This piece of chicken was then served on perhaps the best biscuit I have ever had. I took one bite and was hooked. My wife had a pulled pork sandwich she liked a lot. It came with buttered Anson Mills antebellum grits soaked in whey. They were great. Since myself and others she overheard were going on and on about the biscuit she had to try one for dessert. It came with a small jar of honey butter and jam in the same container. She loved it and we both can't wait to return. Known for fried chicken and northern whitefish sandwiches as well, along with breakfast featuring the same biscuit as well as a good looking cinnamon roll. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner in a nice location looking over the river and the boats. A full bar with lots of creative cocktails and nice craft beer selection. You have to try this place! See the guide for more details.

2016-08-11T08:34:00.000-04:00

New in 2016. This place has Cajun and Creole style food like gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee and red beans and rice. Several others as well. J. Gumbo's in Kalamazoo also offers "bayou" appetizers like crawfish cheese dip and voodoo nachos. Po'Boy sandwiches like the drunken chicken or voodoo chicken. They also have a few interesting desserts. This place has a walk up ordering with a dining area inside and out. Neat artwork on the walls. My wife had the red beans and rice and I had the jambalaya. We want to try the whole menu. You can mix the offerings for a slight upcharge or even get a smaller bowl. Kids menu. No alcohol. Neat place and a nice addition to Kalamazoo. Check out the guide for more details.

2016-07-01T09:04:00.001-04:00

This place has had instant success in Portage. Monelli's Italian Grill & Sports Bar lives up to its name. Nice Italian menu along with burgers, pizza and a large selection of craft beers. Large television screens to watch the game decorate most walls. This is the second location, the first being in Grand Rapids. Lots of appetizers so you can snack through the games. Try the boom boom shrimp or the portabella crostini. Lots of salads like caprese or avocado and strawberry. I had the lasagna which was very good and I especially liked the sauce. My daughter had the vodka sauce and was very impressed. The meatballs are very good and next time I will have spaghetti and meatballs. Look at entrees and you can even get a meatball dinner. They have steak, chicken and fish for dinner including Italian meatloaf and Sicilian marinated steak. They also have paninis wraps and subs. I also want to try their Stromboli soon.

2016-05-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Anna's House in Holland opened in 2016. The original of the four locations opened in 2002. This place is large, has a 50's diner feel, great service and above all great food. They have taken breakfast to a new level. Large menu with lots of omelettes, skillets, pancakes etc. They are known for their focus on special diet needs like vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free and chemical free meats. None of that seems to have affected the taste or quality of the food. My wife had the potato pancakes with goat cheese and an applesauce reduction. I had the eggs benedict with large and tasty slices of ham. The cinnamon rolls are great looking and I saw the candied pecan and banana stuffed French toast go by that I will order next time. Fresh squeezed orange juice, other fresh baked items like muffins and some excellent coffee make this place special. They also have house made corned beef hash, turkey bacon and sausage as well as chicken sausage. Don't miss the chicken n' waffles, sweet potato and brussel sprouts hash or the red velvet pancakes. So many choices! Yes, they have lunch. Burgers, paninis, sandwiches and wraps. Also, lots of salads. Decorated with lots of coffee pots and teapots all around along with several large tasteful murals of diner scenes like Mel from Mel's diner t.v. show.

2016-04-07T09:04:00.000-04:00

New in 2015. This place is outside of the small town of Climax in a former grocery store. The building is now half grocery store/meat market and half BBQ joint. Bowman's BBQ and Meat Market is an eclectic blend of operations. The BBQ menu is extensive offering pork, brisket, sausages, chicken, fried bologna and ribs. Ribs, brisket and rotisserie chicken are offered after 5pm. Great sides like baked beans, mac n cheese, potato salad and coleslaw. Don't forget wings, pizza and subs. Dessert can be the amaretto bread pudding which is great or go down to the ice cream area and try several flavors of Ashby's brand. I want to try the Rajun' Cajun' pizza next time or the ribs. I liked the pork sandwich with Carolina gold sauce on it. Oh, they also have a bar featuring 6 taps with a nice craft beer selection! You feel like you are having a indoor picnic. Nice place, nice people and worth the drive. Check out the guide for more details.

2016-03-24T08:28:00.002-04:00

I finally tried a taco place I had heard was very good. The original location opened in 2010 and now they recently bought the former Mexicali space for a second location, allowing them to serve alcohol. Taqueria San Francisco in Battle Creek is a treasure with excellent tacos and to my surprise what looked like a small mostly carryout place was a sit down restaurant with a nice dining area. The menu was large with all your favorites. The chips and salsa starter was with the flaky multilayered chips I like best and a thick fresh tasting salsa. They have horchata, but no alcohol at this location. I had both soft shell and hard shell tacos which were both some of the best I have had. They have all the special stuff like menudo and lengua. They open early and have several breakfast options like huevos con chorizo or rancheros. They have a chalkboard special every day as well as daily lunch specials. I want to go back until I try most everything! Nice people, great food and great prices. Check out the guide for more details.

2016-02-01T13:27:00.000-05:00

This place is new in 2015. Located in the old Bennigan's, Aubree's Pizzeria and Grill on Kalamazoo's North-East side is a nice place for sports viewing with a beer and a good pizza. Part of a small Michigan chain from Ypsilanti's Depot Town started in 1972. Decent beer selection, lots of pizza options and a full menu of burgers, sandwiches and appetizers. I really liked our pizza which had a very nice crust and tasty sauce. I look forward to going back for the burgers etc.

2015-11-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

This place opened recently in South Portage and brings very good Mexican food to this area. La Finca Mexican Restaurant looks fairly ordinary, but the food is very good. We sat down to excellent chips with a very nice salsa. I ordered three different tacos and my wife had the chicken quesadillas. They came out quickly and were excellent. We also really liked the squeeze bottles of red and green hot sauce which were both good. The service was very good and nice. No alcohol. We are looking forward to trying other menu items as well as some of the weekend specials like mole or birra. Many Mexican restaurants have opened recently, but this one is a "don't miss".

2015-10-19T16:11:00.000-04:00

Brite Eyes Brewing Co. in Kalamazoo is a nice place with a great atmosphere and good food and drink. It is also a coffee shop offering breakfast and deli style lunch offered the rest of the day. My wife had a nice salad and I had a stacked hot ham and cheese sandwich which were both very good. I also have had the beers twice which were both flights. I have tried all but the mango IPA. I liked the blonde ale, the pale ale and the regular IPA. The seating area includes stools at the bar and tables. The dining room is two stories with a loft area which is not open to the public, but creates a nice feel. The windows are large and look over the city. When I paid at the counter, I spied a dessert which was a peanut butter crunchy square that was excellent. The menu is limited but offers some nice things. Good food and good craft beer! My kind of place. Check the guide for more details.

2015-09-25T07:09:00.000-04:00

The ethnic variety of restaurants around Kalamazoo has really grown. In nearby Mattawan we now have Nonla Vietnamese Street Food. Located downtown in a building that used to be Kazoopy's. The space is small but does have an outdoor patio in good weather. They also seemed to do a good carryout business. Street food is mostly pho or "noodle soup" and banh mi which means wheat bread and refers to sandwiches. These sandwiches use a bread much like baguettes due to the French influence in Vietnam. They then spread mayonnaise on the bread and add meat, pickles, cucumbers, jalapenos and other veggies. It seems most street food is in one dish. We tried the braised ginger chicken in a clay pot, which is a rice dish all in one bowl. It was very good and featured a marinade including star anise, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, jalapenos and fennel. This was served on jasmine rice with a fried egg on top. They do have a dessert of the day as well as a variety of soft drinks. Great addition to the food scene in this area! Check out the guide for more details.

2015-07-06T13:52:00.000-04:00

I read in one of my beer magazines that a bar in Delton was brewing their own beer. I had been past Tujax Tavern many times and thought it was just a small town bar. I decided to check it out for the beer and found a couple of nice brews and a very good restaurant. My beer was a Mud Lake Stout which was very good. It does look and feel like a local bar, but they have a chef and an expanded kitchen which allows them to prepare some pretty impressive stuff. Their burger is fresh ground to their specifications and never frozen. I had a burger and thought it was very good. They make their own bread, pizza crust, salsa and as many other items as they can. The bread is even sold by the loaf from a bread display which can include cookies, croutons and muffins. Next time I want to try the burger with peanut butter and jalapeno jelly. They have daily specials listed on the in house board. They also have a smoker and make great brisket and corned beef. They are well known for burgers, pizza on their house made crust, brisket and their reubens. They have lots of other sandwiches, wraps, salads and appetizers as well. I do want to go back at night and try some chef specials like pan fried walleye or perch. I would also like to try the whitefish Grenoble or one of the pasta dishes. This place was a nice surprise and I can't believe I am just finding it. Nice place and nice people. Check out the guide for more details.

2015-06-10T09:41:00.000-04:00

New in 2015. This place is the reincarnation of my formerly favorite burger joint in Battle Creek. Mike Dezotell Jr. has brought back the family BC Burger concept under the name Cereal City Burger. The new location is better, but the place is still small with only 15 seats. They make burgers the same way as the old BC Burger using only fresh 80/20 burger and fresh veggies. The parking is limited, but they do a large carryout business. The potatoes do not come from a fryer but instead are grilled with some nice seasoning. They are better than fries! Simple place with great burgers! Check out the guide for more details.

2015-04-06T09:37:00.000-04:00

This place just opened bringing a brewery, hard cider and restaurant all together in an old Church building. The Texas Corners Brewing Company is a much anticipated offering from the Schultz family which has apples, cider, donuts and many other farm products in Mattawan. They also have a Bison herd. This new restaurant has a chef from North Carolina and a smoker out back. In addition to the burgers which include bison, they have many items from the smoker. My wife and I both had the smoked half chicken which was deboned, dry rubbed and smoked. The chicken was from Otto's and was tender and full of flavor. It sat on roasted veggies of carrots and asparagus. The side was homemade potato salad which was excellent. I also really liked the atmosphere of high Church ceilings, hardwood floors and lots of light. I have tried their ciders before which are very good, although the night we went the license had not yet arrived. They now have it and are serving 3 ciders and a porter. I look forward to going back for the drinks and another great meal. Sandwiches, ribs, steaks and smoked items all look good. They also have all housemade desserts. Nice place and nice people. Check out the guide for more details.

2015-03-09T19:46:00.001-04:00

Oshtemo is home to a new African restaurant called Jambo African Cuisine. This place is very unique and I have never heard of anything on the menu. However, when I read the detail, many dishes sounded very good. I tried the Samosas which are deep fried pastry dough filled with ground beef, spices, garlic, ginger and lentils. The spicy sauce served with them also helped make the dish. I tried a side dish called Dengu which was chickpeas sautéed with red onion, olive oil, coconut milk, tomatoes and salt. My main dish was called Pilau which was beef cooked with chopped onion and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and coriander seed served over brown rice. All were very tasty. Only soft drinks here, but try the juice of the day. My visit they offered pineapple and ginger juice. They have lots of other dishes I will try on future visits. I will try the warm dessert of the day sometime when I order less food. The lady that owns this place is from Tanzania and speaks Swahili. This is order at the counter food, but that allows you to see the food and ask questions. Plenty of comfortable seating. Great addition to the ethnic food scene offered in the Kalamazoo area. Check out the guide for more details.

2015-02-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

This place has been a staple on Paw Paw lake since 1962. The building is even older and used to be a grocery store. The Board of Trade is a traditional restaurant and bar suitable for the whole family. For lunch I had their Rueben made with in house cooked corned beef. My friend had the 8oz. top sirloin open faced steak sandwich. Both were excellent and we would go back for the same thing. They are also known for their French dip, burgers, stacked ham & cheese and perch sandwiches. Lots of appetizers including jalapeno cheese balls and coconut shrimp. Dinner features several steaks, ribs, fried chicken, prime rib, pork chops and seafood like Alaskan salmon, lake perch and shrimp. Dessert features pies and ice cream. Kids menu and more of a restaurant than bar atmosphere make this a good family place.

2015-01-31T22:48:00.000-05:00

I seem to be visiting new breweries more than anything else lately. I was very happy to not only find another good microbrewery but also a German restaurant. Territorial Brewing Company in Battle Creek has excellent German style beers and a nice German inspired menu. The name is to honor people who used to travel the old Territorial road that stretched across Michigan and passed through Battle Creek. So far I have tried seven of their beers including ones I don't normally pick because you can see through them. I had kolsch, hefeweizen, black lager, pilsner and dopplebock to name a few and all had very good flavor. I normally don't order anything but ales. One of the beers has "Harmonia" in the name honoring the small town near here where Sojourner Truth lived in her days in Battle Creek. I was very impressed and look forward to trying all their beers regardless of style. For food we have tried the soft pretzel, knackwurst with sauerkraut, fries with porkbelly and very good bread pudding. They offer several German wursts, frankfurters, German style pulled pork braised in beer, schnitzel, rainbow trout, burgers and even mac n cheese made with house made spatzle. They also offer salads, surf n turf and wings. Check out their website for the full menu and other details.

2014-12-21T09:11:00.000-05:00

New in 2014. Add one more Micro Brewery to the Kalamazoo craft beer scene. One Well Brewing is well located just off the highway on Portage Road and in the large and diverse Millwood neighborhood. Their name comes from the concept of a well being a common meeting place for a community. I think they can become that with the neat atmosphere of rustic woodwork and a neat wrap around bar. They are very into the local arts community and were hosting a Kalamadoodle event the night we visited. No food yet, but they have free popcorn and cheap peanuts so far. I tried the Bad Adz brown ale named for the company that did a lot of the woodwork. Very nice beer. I also tried the SimcoeRillo IPA made with Simcoe and Amarillo hops. Also, a good example of a craft IPA. I finished with the Xalapa which was a jalapeno infused blonde ale. Fairly mild with nice overall flavor. The owners were working behind the bar. Great atmosphere, good beer and nice people! Check out the guide for more details.

2014-11-06T14:22:00.000-05:00

This place has had a lot of people talking and eagerly waiting. Finally Ziingo Urban Asian has opened in Woodbridge Shopping Center in Portage. Created by the Chinn Chinn people of Mattawan, expectations have been high. The concept is completely different from Chinn Chinn and is strictly carry-out. A large chalkboard gives you options as you go to the counter and pick your rice or noodles, sauce, meat or tofu, topping and finishing ingredients. I had the pad thai noodles, green curry sauce, steak, brussel sprouts, onions, topped with sprouts and finished with sesame seeds. You can add soy or sirachi and other sauces at the end. Sodas and waters are in the cooler then you leave. Excellent food, priced reasonably and ever changing options and combinations. When we want carry-out this will be a favorite! Note: long lines move fast. Check out the guide for more details.

2014-10-09T09:24:00.001-04:00

I don't know if this place will revive downtown Constantine, but it is worth getting off the highway to visit. Constantine Brewing Company, LLC has a neat atmosphere with a bar area and a second room filled with picnic tables and a stage. They keep six beers on tap. I had the Emperor's Victory Stout which was very smooth and good. My wife tried the fruity wine which was ok. I missed the BBQ because we got there too near closing time, however they served me a fantastic cup of their chili they call "Matt's Famous Chili". I talked to the cook who said he had worked on that recipe for 30 years. I do want to go back for more beer and BBQ. They have pulled pork and brisket with daily specials. All food is made from scratch with as many local ingredients as possible. The beer is good, the food is good. Nice friendly place. Check out the guide for more details.

2014-08-30T08:11:00.000-04:00

This place was rebuilt in 2011 after a 2010 fire. However it has an inscription on the fireplace about it being a fur trading post in 1809. After the fire that nearly took the owner's life (she was rescued by neighbors who brought a ladder to her window, which she crawled out of with her hair on fire)the rebuild still has an old feel to it. The ceiling is covered in old doors inside, and shutters on the nice screened porch. We sat on the porch with a nice view of Devil's Lake. This classic lake area bar and grill in Manitou Beach used to be called the Manitou Beach Inn and now is the Manitou Bar and Grill. They are known for burgers and their famous soups the most famous being the cabbage chowder. I had a pulled pork sandwich which was very good. My wife had a southwest salad with grilled chicken with housemade dressing. Our friends had fish dinners perch and salmon. Everything was very good and we will go back. Lots of specials mean a constantly changing menu. The atmosphere is great and provides live entertainment after dinner hours. Nice family run operation. Check out the guide for more details.

2014-08-15T08:56:00.000-04:00

New in 2014. This place has as good a location as you can get. Right on the South Haven harbor next to the Idler. Admiral Jack's Bar and Grill has a great view of the harbor, the drawbridge and the tall ship. Notice their dinghy dock runs the length of the business. We tied our dinghy up and walked right up for drinks and dinner. Very cool! I had their perch sandwich with tater tots which was very good. My wife had a chicken wrap with potato salad that she really liked. I had a craft beer from Founder's and she had a cocktail. This is an open air bar and grill with an unbeatable view, good food and a full bar. They have a good craft beer selection, lots of summer drink concoctions and shot specials when the drawbridge is up. This place is owned by the Joe's Bar and Grill people and will be very popular. I will update the listing in the guide when I get more info. This is a must visit while in South Haven! Check the guide for more details.

2014-08-01T09:11:00.000-04:00

Since 2014. Located in the former space of Arie's London Grill. This place has a very Michigan theme. Starting with the name The Lost Raven to honor the lost days when the Raven was common in lower Michigan and is now relegated mostly to the U.P. and the tip of the lower peninsula. The ingredients are mostly from Michigan including the beers, wines and spirits. I started with a "Michigan" mule using Michigan vodka along with their house made ginger beer. My wife had a special cocktail using Michigan made gin and fresh blueberries. For my meal I had a sandwich called the peachy pig made using peachy pulled pork, bacon, onion peach jam and arugula on a nice locally made bun. Very good! My wife had the crispy whitefish with tomato, greens and pesto mayo on brewers bread. I had a taste of that as well and it was also very good. They offer some very original items. Appetizers include pub poutine with nettle-leek gravy, truffle crème fraiche and Michigan cheddar curds. Also, try the great lakes fish cakes made with house smoked Lake Superior whitefish and arugula pesto. Soups include roasted lily using seasonal lilies, herbs, bread crisp and white cheddar. Nice selection of salads like pulled pork or steak and blue cheese. Other sandwiches are offered including veggie or burgers. Pasta dishes looked good with offerings like marinara and primavera as well as chicken and pork belly alfredo. After 4pm the menu broadens to include cassoulet, 1/2 chicken, tomato and fennel whitefish, lamb shank and top sirloin. This is a true Michigan farm to table place with a very nice atmosphere and very good food made in an open kitchen by people who care. A must visit place for our area!

2014-06-27T10:19:00.000-04:00

Since 1907. This landmark bar/restaurant sits on historic North Territorial Road which was formerly a horse trail. The historic Inverness Inn sits across from the Inverness Country Club golf course near North Lake not far from Chelsea. The Main dining room is a log cabin with a stone fireplace and a mounted moose head. This bar/restaurant has good food. I liked the burger with homemade potato chips and a Bell's beer. The menu is large with lots of other burgers, appetizers, salads and sandwiches. They also have lots of interesting dinner items like ribs, steak, fish and chicken. They are also known for their south of the border offerings and are reputed to be one of the best places to get pizza in the area. I have lots of things to try on my next visits! They offer a kids menu and some nice desserts, so take the whole family. Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday. They also offer a lighter menu with smaller sized meals. Full bar and neat history make this a must see place. Check out the guide for more details.