Upscale food in casual atmosphere

Since 2006. This place is sitting on the St. Joe River next to the famous retired camelback bridge in Mottville. Jaywalker Restaurant has great views of both along with some nice signature menu items like their prime rib served Thursday-Sunday or their fall off the bone ribs. Try the fried green beans instead of fries. They are also known for an appetizer of "pork wings". Full menu including many other appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Entree's also include fried chicken, steaks, fish and pasta. One more signature item is the Motherload burrito. Desserts include carrot cake and their homemade cookie sundae. Full bar with some microbrews. Bring the whole family. No need to dress up. Good food and good service. Check out the guide for more details.

Good fish at a bar and grill

In 1894 a beekeeper was waiting for his fishing buddy and carved a piece of wood to look like a frog which he threw in a pond. When a large bass attacked it he decided to make more from a broomstick handle. Such was the beginning of Heddon & Sons Fishing Lures. Heddon became the largest in the world and the old ones are highly collectible. To honor that history this local bar in Dowagiac calls itself The Wounded Minnow Saloon. Lots of fishing lures are displayed here. Even though the Dowagiac factory closed in 1984 the Heddon lures are still made in Ft. Smith AR. This place obviously is known for fish! Nightly specials offer fish and a friday fish fry is very popular. They are also known for pizza. They do have good burgers, appetizers, sandwiches and even Chicago or coney dogs. Some desserts are offered. Neat atmosphere with high tin ceilings and exposed brick walls in this downtown spot. Lots of bar stuff as well like large TVs where we watched Notre Dame beat Michigan. A couple of pool tables out of the way and you have a small town bar and grill with good food and good drinks. Even a nice selection of specialty beers. I really like this kind of place and look forward to going back for some more fish. Check the guide for more details.

Nice lunch and cupcakes!

New in downtown Kalamazoo in 2012, however the Garden Gate Cafe had its beginnings in Shipshewana in 2007, Nancy Knoblock sold that location in 2011 and has opened this place. She knows how to run a lunch spot and how to make great food. Try the beet salad or mango ginger. Maybe have it with their signature homemade chicken salad on a grilled pretzel bun. Soups can be served in a sourdough bread bowl. They have other deli sandwiches, wraps and panninis. However you can go in just for some water street coffee and one of their amazing cupcakes or muffins. I had the key lime cupcake which was so good, I can't wait to get back and try all the rest. Oh, and don't forget the quiche. Catering and special cupcake club events are worth looking into. Nice people and a great addition to downtown. More info in the guide.

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.

New to Portage!

New location of a Kalamazoo campus area landmark. Portage welcomes The Big Burrito to the Moorsbridge shopping center. A little different atmosphere with no alcohol, however the food is just as good! I like the chorizo and egg burrito with their hottest sauce served in a squeeze bottle. My wife likes the veggie with rice, cheese and guacamole. The salsa is fresh made and all burritos are made to order, including the three foot long "don't even think about it" classic. Order at the counter then they will bring everything to you. Nice atmosphere with good service. Check out the guide for more details.

Nice fish place on US 12

New in 2011. This older place(formerly Lakeside)has been completely redone with a nautical theme and gives tiny Jerome a flagship dining spot. Get it? The Deck Down Under has roots from the Gulf and brings us some nice seafood offerings. Raw oysters, peel and eat shrimp, crab cakes, conch fritters, boom boom shrimp and fried calamari just to start. I had the fish tacos made with grouper which you can order pan seared, blackened or deep fried. The fish and chips can be ordered in similar fashion using either grouper or catfish. They have good sides as well, we tried the onion rings and the hand cut fries. Both were excellent as was the New England clam chowder! The hush puppies looked good also. Desserts are made in house and include key lime pie and creme brulee. I had the creme brulee and was very happy with it. They have other stuff like pizza and burgers along with a kids menu, so bring the whole family. They have live music on Friday-Saturday evenings. It is so loud you will not be able to converse. Good music, just too loud for conversation. It becomes more of a night spot then. Good food, nice atmosphere and good service. My recommendation is to call first and eat before the music starts.