BBQ in Harbor Country

This BBQ joint is near Warren Dunes and Sawyer. Right on Red Arrow Hwy it looks like a carryout place from the road. Once inside Smokin' Woodys Char-B-Q is a classic. Indoor seating is comfortable and they have a neat screened porch in back that makes you feel like you are down south. Great rib tips, smoked chicken and smoked sirloin lead the way, but don't miss the racks of ribs or the pulled pork sandwiches. They also have red hots, hot links and brats. The burger looked very good as well. Nice salads with their smoked meats on top as well as sides like corn on the cob, cole slaw and baked beans. You do not know what potato you will get so just go with it. No alcohol. Fun place for the family with lots of great BBQ. Check out the guide for more details.

New place added in Saugatuck

This is not something you would expect to find in this little harbor town. However these people from Kentucky have brought real southern BBQ to town in a brand new restaurant called The Hickory Pit BBQ. They make you feel right at home and want you to enjoy the food from their roots. I can't wait to get back to town for another of their pulled pork sandwiches. I also want to try the real Kentucky specialty soup called burgoo which is traditionally cooked outdoors in iron kettles over an open wood fire for 12 or more hours. They also have brisket, ribs and chicken along with all the fixins' like cornbread, baked beans and potato salad. Try something original like the bar-b-que pie, smoked bologna or smoked ham! Finish with their pie of the day. Everything made from scratch by people who want to put a smile on your face.

New Orleans style deli & bakery

New Orleans comes to Middleville in the form of Big Easy Deli & Bakery. The owners had lived in Gulf Shores, AL for several years savoring New Orleans style food from their close proximity and because that style is very prevalent all over that part of the gulf. Open for breakfast and lunch you could start your morning with local roasted coffee, a housemade muffin, pastry or strudel and move on the Bourbon Street croissant. How about a nice quiche with house baked bread for toast. Lunch has that same great bread in several sandwich options like a pulled pork po'boy with coleslaw on top or a shrimp po'boy. Their signature sandwich is the muffelatta which rivals any I have had on Bourbon Street. Don't miss the gumbo. The owner is up at 3am baking her breads, muffins and turnovers so we can enjoy all this homemade goodness. Daily specials like red beans and rice on Monday and jambalaya on Tuesday. Always chef choice fish on Friday. This place is worth a drive so check it out. More details in the guide.

Try this newer place in South Haven

This place is behind Clementine's on a side street, however many people have found it. So much so that they have doubled in size in only a couple of years. The menu is large, mostly homemade and fresh.
Maria's A Taste of Italy has really done things right. Lasagna is their best seller. I really like the pasta shells. Pizza is hand tossed with homemade sauce and lots of topping choices. Don't miss the sweet pepper crab soup on weekends or the mussels in red sauce under the seafood section. Many go just for the salads. How about a tuscan chicken caesar or a traverse city salad. During the season try Maria's antipasto. Great breadsticks as well as a large sandwich assortment. Try the italian beef or sausage. Maybe both for a combo. The capaccio comes with hard salami, cappicola and pepperoni. How about the johnny D which is an open faced homemade meatball sandwich covered with their marinara and cheese then baked! Palazzolo's gelato, crane's pies and homemade cookies can be purchased there or to go. Click the highlighted name above for more details.

Most Drive-ins are now open!

Its that time of year when we want to roll down the windows and get some fresh air. How about a visit to one of several drive-ins listed in the guide. We have one in Jackson, Marshall, Coldwater, Portage, Paw Paw, Coloma and South Haven. Search the guide for Diners & Drive-ins. Time for a frosted mug of root beer? Do you miss a tray hung over the edge of your window? How about roller skating car hops? One of these may have the best baby back ribs around(picture the flintstones). Some have been around since the 1930's. Most are open by now, but you may want to call first(West Lake). Pretend you are on Route 66(more about that later). This is an All American pastime. Enjoy your hot dog!

Very special Chicago style eats in Kalamazoo!

This place is non-descript from the outside and mostly take-out on the inside with only four stools at a counter for seating. However, once you have had the food at Ray Rays Italian Beef & Sausage , it will keep you coming back. The italian beef is great either plain or "dipped". Maybe add hot giardinieria peppers or even add italian sausage. The pulled pork is cooked out back on charcoal and comes with hot or mild bbq sauce. I like the hot! The fries are cut fresh and may be the best in town. My wife loves the bbq chicken which she gets with the hot bbq sauce and it falls off the bone. Real "Maxwell St." polish sausage, chicago dogs and several hamburger choices will satisfy a diverse crowd. Call first if you want their famous italian meatball sandwich, they run out often! Find this place and you will thank anyone who told you about it. Thanks Lindsey!

Do you like diners? New addition in Three Rivers

Since 1969. This place seems small from the outside, the inside is larger than you would think and nicely decorated as a diner. Try Goldies Diner in Three Rivers for this town's "readers choice" award winning "best burger". Chicago dogs, newly added pulled pork cooked on premises for 10 hrs! Good pizza and everyone goes to get Sherman's ice cream. Click on their name in this paragraph for more details and their menu is on their website.

Nice BBQ in Jackson

This fairly new place has really caught on. Nice southern atmosphere and excellent BBQ at the Rocky Top Beer BBQ in Jackson. Meats smoked for 12 hours. Even smoked prime rib. Their hot spicy bbq sauce is great on the pulled pork or beef brisket. Try deep fried twinkies or deep fried corn on the cob. How about some sweet potato or pecan pie with a big mason jar of sweet tea. Large menu and full bar. Check out the guide for longer review and all the 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.

Out of the area, but worth talking about!

Most of you have heard of Ann Arbor's famous Zingerman's Deli. Many are not aware of their other restaurant out near I94 at Jackson Rd. This one is called Zingerman's Roadhouse and is a large, nice, sitdown and be waited on place. Bon Appetit calls the Roadhouse one of the "top 10 new barbecue restaurants". Chef Alex Young and staff offer "really good american food!" as it says in their self description. Regional dishes are served using the best and freshest ingredients possible. Well known products like Nueske's applewood bacon, Pasolivo olive oil, American Spoon and of course corned beef from Zingerman's deli. These products or others like them go into their Tennessee Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Texas Beef Brisket or Chesapeake Bay crab cakes. Don't miss their mac and cheese with vermont cheddar or their burger which is ground fresh twice a day. They have daily specials and a full bar however, be prepared for higher prices than you are used to. Check out the guide for more details. Very good food!!

Two places added in Battle Creek

How about a place that has been in Downtown Battle Creek since 1932! I just made my first visit?? Old fashioned good food, cafeteria style at Shrank's Cafeteria. This place closes at 6pm and is not open on the weekends, however catch them when they are. The place looks pretty plain and old fashioned but the food is very good!

I was pleasantly surprised to find one more good Mexican place in Battle Creek. Antonio's is small but has a nice atmosphere, good service and very good food. Starting with the made from scratch quacamole and homemade chips. They have nice nightly specials and are easy to get to on Columbia just off M-66.

Check the guide for details on both places.

New Drive-In added

If you like driving around lakes and the Lake Michigan shoreline during the summer evenings and weekends like I do you may run across some neat places. Check out Eddies Drive-In near Paw Paw lake and Coloma. They make some pretty big claims....then back them up! Great olive burgers and they claim to have the best Ribs on the planet...GUARANTEED! Check the guide for hours and days they serve ribs. Big menu and roller skating carhops. Check it out!

Looking for some BBQ takeout for this weekend?

Check out some great takeout BBQ to go with your camping, beach or cookouts this weekend! One of my favorites is Hog Wild BBQ in Holland. I also like Ranch House BBQ in South Haven. Good pulled pork at The Walldorf in Hastings and Arcadia Brewery in Battle Creek as well. Nice addition to burgers and dogs! Check them out in the guide.

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.

I had great Corned Beef and Cabbage at.....

I ended up at the Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro in Hastings for St. Patrick's day lunch. That was probably the most tender corned beef I ever had. They also have a great beer called the State Street Oatmeal Stout. Lunch included potatoes, carrots, cabbage and raisin bread. This is my second visit and both have been great. I hope you had a meal as good! When it is not St. Patrick's day, try the wood fired pizza's or the slow roasted barbeque items like ribs, brisket or pulled pork. This is a full restaurant and brewpub with many beer choices along with sandwiches, appetizers, soups, fish and steaks. Check out more details in the guide.

New Addition, a 50's Style Diner in Kalamazoo

A new 50's style diner with great barbeque in Kalamazoo. Check out the Metro Diner & 411 Blues Club. We went on a Thursday evening around 8pm. The diner is in between a large bar and a smaller Blues Club. I had a great 1/2 rack of ribs with their homemade bbq sauce along with a baked potato and coleslaw for only $7. My wife had an omlet (served till 2am) with hashbrowns and toast for only $3.50. While we were eating the blues music started up next door which was open to us thru large cutouts so we could watch as well as listen. We had a couple of drinks and stayed till 10:30pm. Blues is Thursday-Sunday nights. Check the guide for more details. Great place...especially if you like barbeque and blues!