Kalamazoo, MI

[SheilaAnn]

I am in town for a hot minute sept 12-14. Any dining suggestions? We are flying into MDW (Chicago) and driving over.

[58limited]

I've never been there but Rustica looks interesting (google search) and The Beer Exchange caught my eye. Other than that I can only give you a Glenn Miller reference.

[mrteddyprincess]

Kay. Kay ay el ay em ay zee ooh ooh ooh what a gal! 58limited and I are thinking along the same lines.

I was there this summer on my way to Grand Rapids. I had a delightful lunch at a brewery that I can't remember what it was called. I don't think you're going to find any shortage of good dining. Let us know how it goes!

B

[FireMan]

Hey der, look up der grills der.

[Alan Brice]

Ehh.

[barelfly]

Growing up as a kid, this is where the Little League World Series was held for 13yo baseball. I remember this because our coach would say it with every 90’ sprint we ran…saying we were that much closer to Kalamazoo!

hope you have a great time and find some good grub!

[bbqLuv]

You may want to see the Bean there. The Bean (Cloud Gate) in Chicago | Choose Chicago
It is a "Must see"

[SheilaAnn]

bbqLuv I grew up in Chicago. Been going to grant park long before there was a bean 🤣🤣🤣 I’m hoping to get my team to want to grab Italian beefs before we head out to Kalamazoo. But one person is a veg. Sigh.

[tmaan235]

SheilaAnn Feel your pain brother...
How to deal with the one nail that is sticking up...,

[Draznnl]

Pepper and egg sandwich for the veg SheilaAnn or are eggs out too?

[Allon]

SheilaAnn

veg as in idiot, eating preference or combination??

[SheilaAnn]

😆😆😆

Eating preference. She is truly one of the smartest people I know. I’m thrilled to have her on the team.

[MarkN]

SheilaAnn I worked in the K-zoo area for 10 years. I am familiar with a lot of lunch places. Oh, and places to stop for a beer before heading home from work (Latitude 42, One Well Brewing, and Presidential Brewing Company [where I know the owner]).

Some of our favorite haunts for lunch were Cove Lakeside Bistro, Bab El Salam (if you are into Middle Eastern cuisine; no website), and A Thai Cafe (also no website). I am most familiar with places that are a few minutes south of Kalamazoo itself (Portage). There are others in Portage and in Kalamazoo itself. If you can give me some idea of what you are looking for, I could probably come up with a few others.

[SheilaAnn]

MarkN fish fry! Specifically lake perch or walleye.

[MarkN]

I can't help you with a Fish Fry in Kalamazoo. I even checked with some of the locals I used to work with and none of them knew of any. Seems like more of a Wisconsin thing.

[Reds Fan 5]

Bell’s Brewery tap room in downtown Kalamazoo is a cool space with good food.

[MarkN]

If memory serves, it is also known as Bell's Eccentric Cafe (that's the side with the food). Or maybe I'm wrong.

[SheilaAnn]

Actually our welcome reception is at Bells on the Thursday night.

[MarkN]

Yes, there's Bell's Brewery/Eccentric Cafe and the out-of-the-way church turned into a brewery and restaurant Texas Corner's Brewing Company. For a unique Brunch experience (at least that's what I have been there for) there's the Crow's Nest. And I should also add (considering this website) Barret's Smokehouse.