Best burger in Jackson?

This place has won the Jackson Citizen Patriot readers choice award for Best Burger for several years in a row. Schlenker's Sandwich Shop has beaten some very stiff competition. Jackson has some great burger places! Maybe it helps that they have been open since 1927. This is a small burger joint that seats a few people around a U shaped counter. The burgers are served wrapped in wax paper. Fries and pie are good. Great burger! Click on their name in this paragraph for more review and details.

Great pizza near Jackson

This place has one of the best stuffed pizza's you will find. That and a great sports bar atmosphere make Klavon's Pizzeria & Pub a must visit. They have a large menu with lots of other pizza, sub and sandwich offerings, including burgers. Click on their name in this paragraph to be taken directly to their info. Take the whole family or just go watch the game. Very nice place! It is worth the short trip in the country to get to it.

Hidden away in Jackson

You could visit Jackson for years and never find this place. Someone has to tell you about it, then you have to map it, because it is a former house in a residential neighborhood. However, it will be worth it when you find the Oak Tree Lounge. This place is a popular lunch spot for downtown workers and a nice bar and grill for dinner. Known for their five daily homemade soups from original recipes, like white chicken chili, corn chowder or creamy tomato. Great burgers and many other sandwiches. How about hand dipped fish? Small place but cozy. Many original items like their voo doo chicken sandwich. You will see why this place is a local favorite. Full bar and great food. My kind of place.

New addition in South Haven

You may think I am starting to lose it, but you have to prove me wrong. Check out the Lakeside Entertainment Center bowling alley with attached bar and restaurant for a really nice menu! How about their famous seafood chowder as a prelude to all you can eat whitefish on friday night. Do you like mahi mahi, lake perch, alaskan pollock, clam strips or yellowfin tuna steak? They have it served several ways. Like steak instead? How about a new york strip, prime rib or a blackened delmonico. Nice sandwich selection, but be sure to try the burgers. The pizza looked very good as well. Like wraps? Try the moroccan chicken wrap with a spinach dressing. Lots of appetizers like oysters on the half shell or shrimp jammers. I would not have believed this place was good if I had not tried it more than once. Check out the guide for details.

New place added in Buchanan on the River!

New in August 2009. How about a nice upscale but casual barbeque place overlooking the St. Joseph river on a scenic drive road just north of town. Check out the Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern in Buchanan. Everything made from scratch including the barbeque sauces. Try pulled pork, beef or chicken with the sweet and tangy or the spicy sauce. Nice bar and great selection of Michigan beers and wines. Hardwood floors, paper tableclothes and a chalkboard menu give this place a special upscale yet casual feel. This is worth a nice scenic drive along the river or take time to visit Michigan's only cave. Check it out! Look in the guide for details and more review.

Chicago comes to Kalamazoo!

If you like the great sandwich joints in Chicago that serve italian beef, italian sausage and chicago dogs. You have to check out Pops Italian Beef & Sausage at the Campus Point Mall in Kalamazoo. Since 1980 in Chicago. Now with 10 locations including 2 in Indiana and now Kalamazoo. The beef and sausage is cooked and cut right on location. They also have burgers, gyros and chicken sandwiches available. You no longer have to do a "road trip" to get an authentic Chicago style italian beef. However, you could do a late light run since they are open till 3am Thursday-Saturday. More details in the guide.

New place added in Sumnerville

Since 1835. I am not kidding. This is the oldest business in Michigan. Andrew Jackson was President when the Old Tavern Inn opened in this tiny town. Not only is this a place worth finding because it opened during our 7th President (Lincoln was number 16), they also have very good food. Known for their goulash, fried chicken and burgers. They also have fish, soups and sandwiches. Full bar and menu for the whole family. Check out the guide for more details.

New place in Manitou Beach near Jackson

How about a log cabin built in 1950 near beautiful devils lake. Lyons Family Dining and Tavern is very nice and features a large stone fireplace. Soups made from scratch, nice choice of fish such as whitefish lightly breaded and deep fried or pan fried perch. Steaks, chops and chicken are all offered along with many appetizers, salads and sandwiches. Known also for their tavern burger and some nice pastas. While this is a place to take the whole family, they do have a nice drink selection including a made in Michigan wine list. Nightly specials such as Thursday burger night or Saturday prime rib. Take a drive along the lake and enjoy this fine out of the way restaurant. Check out the guide for more details.

New place added in Allen

Step back in time to a place that feels like going to grandma's for dinner. The Outpost Grille in Allen is old country style with mismatched furniture and antiques everywhere. That makes sense since it is in the center of Michigan's "antique capitol". If you like antiques, you will love it here and if you don't care about them try this restaurant anyway. Home cooking with a nice menu of comfort foods for the whole family. You may not see your grandma here, but you will see someone's grandma. Mostly lunch type offerings like sandwiches, burgers and soups along with ice cream, shakes and desserts. They are only open during the day, so don't go at dinner time. Great place for Sunday dinner buffet. Check the guide for hours and other details.

New place added in Sister Lakes

My favorite breakfast spots usually have a bakery attached or at least some homemade baked goods on the menu. If you try The Wright Place in Sister Lakes leave room for a homemade muffin, cinnamon roll or pecan roll. Famous for giant european style pancakes that hang over the edge of your plate. Full menu with lunch items as well. Very good food! Check the guide for more details.

This Creamery makes their own Ice Cream-watch them!

I hope you will make the trip to this special place near Nashville, MI. A real dairy farm creamery called Moo-Ville Creamery. They even have a pipeline from the farm to the creamery. Very nice Ice Cream parlour with restaurant/store. Indoor and outdoor seating. We liked sitting outside while watching the kids in the petting zoo. This is especially nice for young children with all the farm animals! Check the guide for some of the 67 flavors and other details.

Saugatuck this weekend!

Are you attending the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck this weekend? Starts Thursday at 6pm-Sunday at 9pm. While there, try one of my favorite places for a sandwich and drink while sitting out on the water at the Red Dock Cafe'. They even have live music Sunday's from 4pm-8pm. Also, go to the guide and just enter Saugatuck under the "city" section and read about my other favorites like Phil's or Ida Reds Cottage. Also, check Douglas, Holland, South Haven etc. for other nearby places. More details in the guide.

Best Burger? Best Mexican Food?

Some say this is the best burger around! You have to try the North Shore Inn in Benton Harbor. Others say they have the best mexican food. I have never had a better chile relleno anywhere. I have even gone here for a lunch burger, went to play golf and came back for a mexican dinner after golf. This place is hard to find, but worth it. They also have limited hours and do not have the mexican food all the time. Check the guide for details. If you go for the food rather than the decor, this place will be a favorite. They also have Old Style on tap.

New Addition to the Guide.

This new restaurant in Sawyer is a great addition to a great independent restaurant area along the shoreline. Fitzgerald's in downtown Sawyer is modeled after "Public Houses" or "pubs" as we know them from the British Isles. This one even has a feeling of a "speak easy" since you enter thru curtains. Great atmosphere with a nice menu. For lunch you can get the daily "pub roast" which varies in selection choices of beef, pork or turkey. They always have french onion soup. Also, try the fish & chips or the shepherd's pie. For dessert try the sticky toffee pudding. Great selection of Michigan microbrew beers and Michigan wines among others. Most are available by the glass. The knowledgeable bartender Carry can help with pairings if needed. For dinner you can still have the fish & chips and shepherd's pie or try the roasted chicken, country cassoulet (french) or cherry pork madeira. They make a strong effort to use local ingredients as much as possible. Many from local farmer's markets. Same desserts as well as some special things baked up by the inhouse baker (Carry again). I had warm from the oven apple turnovers the day I was there. They also have special events and live jazz music on Thursday evenings. Don't miss this one.

New "made from scratch" place added in Plainwell

I like places where everything is made from scratch! If you feel the same way, you have to try Nancy's Kitchen Kafe in Plainwell next to Plainwell Ice Cream. Nancy started with catering and box lunches, however this last spring opened up a restaurant in the back. Small but nice. The prices are more than fair and the food is great! I had the the Cran-Turk Cheese for $6.75. This was a whole wheat wrap with real roasted turkey, cream cheese and some amazing cranberry chutney that Nancy found and will eventually run out of till next year. One of the best sandwiches I have had! I also warmed up with her Chicken Gumbo soup which was very good. She has a different homemade soup every day. Dinner specials are ever changing as well. For January it was Chicken and Dumplings every Thursday! This place also serves breakfast on Saturdays. Check the guide for more details, such as hours and web address.

This is why I started this Guide

I finally went to the Riverview Tavern along the St. Joe river west of Constantine. I had driven by several times during the day and was not sure it was open. I stopped and looked in the windows as well as the hours on the door and made plans to come back. You step back in time in this out of the way place you will never forget. Check out the details in the dining guide and get there before they close for the winter.