Aug 25, 2010

Time to feature one of my all time favorites!


This place calls itself Saugatuck's "Marquee dining spot". What looks like an ordinary neighborhood bar with a marquee is in fact one of the area's best dining stops. Phil's Bar and Grille has some great items like their lobster cobb salad or the portabella mushroom sandwich. I really like the broasted chicken dinner and the burger is fantastic! The burger is served on their in house baked ciabatta bread. I get the gorgonzola cheese on mine. Everyone is still talking about the gorgonzola dip. They are also known for ribs and have been voted "best bar & grill" on the lakeshore. All salad dressings, sauces and soups are housemade. Everything we have tried has been delicious! The atmosphere inside is quaint with brown paper tablecloths and crayons so you can draw. Full bar with very good drinks. They have a small outside seating area. When you are finished you get a small cup of animal crackers. Check out the guide for details.

Aug 18, 2010

Try to find this one!


This place has been hidden away since 1978. Take a drive in the country to see if you can locate the Country Road Steak Barn. Between Butler and Girard. The building is an old pole building, the parking lot is gravel, the inside seems like most bars except it has a neat fieldstone fireplace to go with the pool table. It is the first time I have enjoyed an excellent prime rib dinner while watching people play pool. I would go back anytime for that prime rib as well as the salad bar or the soup. My wife had good tender and crispy fried chicken. Our other friend liked the prime rib as well as I did. They have other steaks, fish and chicken dishes. This is another one of the places that make this guide so useful.

Aug 15, 2010

New place added in Paw Paw


New in 2010. This place has a very gregarious owner(Tim) who may even come out to meet you and shake your hand while carrying a package of his top quality hot dogs. Red's Root Beer Drive-In in Paw Paw is a nice addition to the area dining scene. I really liked the chili dog on my first trip and I really liked the hamburger on my second. These along with other offerings like chicken, fish and pulled pork sandwiches are available in a basket that includes coleslaw or apple sauce and fries. With my dog and burger I had a frosted mug of fresh made daily homemade root beer. Tim makes the root beer fresh every morning from their own recipe. They have a much larger menu than most other root beer places in the area, in total square footage and in items offered. The menu hangs down from the carport. Carhops take your order and deliver it on trays that hang over your window. You can also get onion rings, fried mushrooms and poppers. For dessert try a rootbeer float, cone, brownie sundae or Red's special seasonal desserts from the special board. Recently it was strawberry shortcake. Nice place with very good food!

Aug 2, 2010

After the fire, better than ever!


This place has been around under current ownership for 10 years, however they were damaged when the place next door burned. After being closed for 7 months, they have rebuilt a very attractive place. The Broadway Grille in downtown Union City is family owned and operated with a very nice menu and some unique offerings. They bake some of their breads in house. I had the french dip on the house baked bread and was very impressed. They have a wide variety in their menu from sandwiches to mahi mahi dinners. Known for their wraps, south of the border items(with housemade pico de gallo), large salads or salad bar, toasted grinders, steaks, chops, ribs and housemade desserts. Add a kids menu, a full bar and you have a very good pizza place. Oh yeah, the pizzas! They are housemade with lots of styles like bbq chicken, herbivore or carnivore. This place is hard to pin down because in a small town everyone has their favorites and Scott caters to his customers, however you can bet it is good and designed to put a smile on your face. They will have outdoor seating soon. Check out the guide for more details.