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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This new place has turned the table on a bank. Building a nice restaurant in a former bank building strikes me as irony. The Vault Coffee House and Wine Bar opened in January in downtown Vicksburg. Not only is it downtown, it is also on part of a lake called sunset pond. Overlooking this pond is their very large outdoor patio which will be fun as the weather warms. The owners are former coffee shop people and I think intended this place to be more of a coffee shop and wine bar. While being that, it has also morphed into a popular restaurant. Nice sandwiches with a twist like the wrap my wife had called the Baja with chicken and avocado. I had their soon to be famous stuffed olive burger. On our second trip I had the soup and sandwich special which offered a very nice seafood bisque and a good deli style ham sandwich. My wife had another wrap. This time it was the Thai wrap with peanut sauce that she liked a lot. They are also getting known for their house made potato chips. They offer breakfast with crepes, French toast and their excellent coffee. Dinner includes the sandwiches described above along with steaks and pasta. The daily specials are always worth checking out. Kid and family friendly. Nice space in front with couches for relaxing with your coffee or wine. Growing wine selection and good craft beer choices. Live music sometimes, so check their facebook page. Nice owners Clint and Michelle with a true desire to offer Vicksburg a special place for food and drink. Check out the guide for more details.

New in 2013. The latest Millennium Group offering is now open in Portage. The Centre Street Tap House is similar to the Central City Tap House located downtown Kalamazoo connected to the Epic Bistro. Portage has more room than downtown and easier parking. Great atmosphere and lots of TVs to watch the game. I like the lamb sliders or the bangers and mash. Nice burger selection along with many other sandwiches. Lots of great appetizers including tater tots and deviled eggs. For entrees, try the gourmet mac and cheese or the flat iron steak. Like craft beer? Large selection with both local and international quality beers both on tap and in bottles. The wine lovers can buy by the glass and they even have wine on tap! This place did a good job for us the second day they opened, so it looks like a nice addition to Portage.

New in 2013. This place has made a serious investment in Portage to become the town's first micro-brewery. Latitude 42 Brewing Co. is a first class effort by Joe Stafford and co. to offer great beers and excellent food to go with them. The atmosphere is very nice. Set up like a cross between a sports bar and a brewpub. I had the burger on the second night they were opened. I had to wait a little for it which was expected, however, I got a very good burger cooked the way I ordered with hot crispy fries. Great job handling a "quiet" opening that resulted in as much as a two hour wait for a table due to the crowds! I tried the powerline porter and the milk of amnesia stout which were both very good. I had tried the red beard before at a city of Portage outdoor concert. The red beard is a good summer beer. Nice place with good beer and good food. I noticed familiar employee faces from around the area. They also did a good job of hiring an excellent staff. Their brewer from Hawaii also knows what he is doing. I am sure more good things will come from this group! Check the guide for more details.

New breakfast place added

This Portage breakfast joint is worth a visit. The Daily Grind Cafe just north of West Lake is very cozy with very good food and great service. You can sense the owners pride in all areas. The omlets are excellent and filled to the max with quality ingredients. The sausage is ground fresh daily. The bacon is thick sliced and the steaks are tender. My toast and potatoes were done just right. On an earlier visit I had the crunchy french toast with corn flakes cooked into the batter. They also make homemade biscuits and gravy. With that they won the "best breakfast" in Kalamazoo county award from the gazette. I have not tried the burgers for lunch which are also fresh ground, however they won 2nd place for their burgers in the gazette as well. Cozy place with good food and local owners working everyday in the place! What more do you want? Check out the guide for more details.

West Lake Drive In has reopened!!

Since 1962. This place has been a landmark in Portage and even opened one year before Portage was a city. Now with only its second owner in its history, the Neeb family has reopened one of my favorite spots. Many people love the West Lake Drive In and the good news is the Neebs are going to keep it open until the end of October. Gravel parking lot and beautiful view of West Lake make this setting one of a kind. The food is the other draw. I really like the burgers including the olive burger. The fries are good and so are the onion rings. I also really like the perch sandwich while my wife loves the grilled cheese. I always get a milk shake although they do have very good root beer. I hope this place stays unchanged including the carhop service. Since the Neebs grew up on the lake they know what makes this place special. Good luck to them and thanks.

Classic Drive In since 1962

I don't know what took me so long to stop at this place. I absolutely love drive-in restaurants and Lutz's Drive In between Decatur and Dowagiac is a classic. Carhops wait on you or you can go inside to their 60 seat restaurant. Mr. Lutz opened this place 50 years ago in 1962 and still goes to work there. The neon sign is a classic "route 66" style landmark. They serve the traditional drive-in fare like burgers, dogs, rootbeer and baskets. However, their most popular item is their pizza! They start making pizza when they open at 11am. They also offer Alaskan pollock for Friday night fish fry or a seafood dinner including crabcakes! I almost forgot to tell you they do have prime rib! A full offering of ice cream options and some great homemade pies like the peach we had or try the lemon meringue or german chocolate. This place is a classic summertime must visit. Check the guide for details.

I know they are a chain!

I don't usually blog about chain restaurants, but I really like this one. I have been waiting for the new Five Guys Burgers and Fries to open in Portage. My daughter introduced us to them in the D.C. area a few years ago. Excellent burger and the fries are just as good. Not much else to say since this is basically all they do. This may be the best burger chain in the U.S. This one is not going into the guide because it is a large national chain, however I did want to tell you it is now open and they are very good!

Small town tavern and eatery

This place has a neat, rustic look which gives Darb's Tavern and Eatery in Mason a very nice atmosphere for good food and a good place to watch sports on their flat screen TVs that line the walls. Known for their burgers and Mexican food, they actually have a large menu including daily specials, lots of sandwiches, pizza and even steaks. My burger was very good and the homemade bowl of chili was good as well. We also tried the cheesy breadsticks that were very good, leading me to want to try the pizza next visit. They make several items in house like hand breaded onion rings. There is a kids menu and some nice looking desserts like the pumpkin crisp on the day we visited. Live music on Saturday nights. Nice selection of microbrews. Their menu is online. Check the guide for more details.

Yes to Family Style!

I have avoided this place because I made a bad assumption that it was just another bad diner. After all it is a converted Big Boy. I was wrong. I tried the Oasis Family Restaurant in Three Rivers due to comments on the internet that said it was a good place. When you first walk in you notice how nicely decorated it is with well dressed employees. Very professional and comfortable atmosphere. Our service was excellent and we were very impressed with the large menu. We tried lemon chicken and barbeque chicken with sides of sweet potatos that were fresh cut. The salads were very good and so was the rice pudding that came with the meal! Very impressed and looking forward to going back for more. Our next visit I tried the pasta which was very good and I paid the $2 upcharge to get one of their amazing cakes for dessert. This is the place to go for desserts! Lots of choices and great quality. This place has an excellent build your own burger menu along with many other sandwiches and is known for having excellent breakfast offerings. I was surprised and pleased with such a nice family style dining place that reminds me of some favorites in the Detroit area.

New place in Mattawan

This place is a sister restaurant to the Portage location. The East Egg in Mattawan is very nice with good food and all items priced under $7. The benedicts are excellent including one not offered in Portage served with prime rib. Homemade corned beef hash is topnotch. Best coffee around since they serve Waterstreet coffee. Nice atmosphere and service. Bacon is thick and high quality along with bakery quality breads for toast. Good sausage which is ground fresh daily as is their hamburger. Burgers are good for lunch as well as the wraps. These people know how to run a restaurant and give good value with quality products. Check out the guide for more details.

Time to feature a good Battle Creek spot!

This place in Downtown Battle Creek does everything. From breakfast to late night bar with live entertainment. The Griffin Grill and Pub is "good for what ales you". They start with a full breakfast menu featuring a cinnamon roll big enough for two. At 11am lunch starts with hand pattied fresh burgers, soup of the day or their two daily soup offerings of hot pepperjack potato and homemade chili. Lots of other sandwiches including the fish made with the same hand breaded prime cod used in their "famous fish & chips" known as the best in the area(very good!). Daily they offer their fish & chips along with "bubble & squeak". Friday & Saturday add corned beef & cabbage and shepherds pie to round out the irish/english pub fare. Yes they have lots of other items like appetizers, salads, steaks, chicken, shrimp, kids menu and desserts. 14 TV's for game day and 33 beers on tap. They are the only ones in the area featuring 2 cask conditioned hand pulled ales! Lots of Michigan microbrew beers and others from england and ireland. Small wine list and full bar. Check their website for live music. Check the guide for more details.

Heading to Ann Arbor today?

Since 1911. Check out this historic bar and restaurant in Chelsea. The Wolverine Food & Spirits is a classic bar that also serves good food. Back in 1911 it opened as an all night diner for travelers and truckers using then major highway US 12. In the '60's started serving liquor by the glass and now is known for steaks, burgers and fish. They are especially known for their award winning flat iron steak(Michigan beef contest 2005). Fish specials daily. I had a burger and a bowl of their homemade chili and was impressed. Large menu has something for everyone, so take the whole family. Large screen TV's if you want to watch the game. If you are so inclined they do offer a liverwurst sandwich. Check out the guide for more details. Note: I don't suggest you wear all green if you visit today even though you would match the color of their awning??

New "old" Burger joint just opened!

Newly opened burger joint in the old Nisker's location on S. Westnedge in Portage is Lou Nisker's State Burger. Mr. Nisker has returned to reopen his old location with a newly redecorated and improved place. He heard his former restaurant he originally opened in 1986 and sold 20 years later had closed. With a couple of old friends he returned to town and opened State Burger in the same spot. All burgers are prime ground sirloin made fresh daily and never frozen. Fresh buns baked daily in their own ovens and several homemade products like 6 marinades, sirloin chili, sweet sirloin beans and State BBQ sauce. Chicken, beefalo, fish, hot dogs and veggie burgers also. We really like the hand cut curly fries. Hand dipped shakes and South Haven s'mores. Kids menu. Welcome Lou Nisker back to town after a couple of year absence! Check the guide for more details.

Burger and a car wash?

This place in Mattawan seems out of place until you go in and see a nice burger joint and sandwich shop. Chamois Burgers serves fresh burger never frozen, grilled on a nice char grill and served on a fresh bun. Simplicity and quality make a good burger in my world. Indoor seating, ice cream and subs come with the package. Not to mention their chicago dog! Good fries with skin on. For those of you who do not already know, a chamois is a porous leather used to dry a car after washing. It is pronounced "shammy". I only add this as so many have ordered the "cham oyz" burger that it is getting funny. Check the guide for more details and if you spill any food on your car you are in the right place!