During my travels throughout Michigan, I always try to find the out-of-the-way restaurants. These are usually well known to the locals and a few frequent travelers, but because they get enough regular traffic, they don’t need to spend on advertising to pull in new customers.
I have compiled my list of favorite overlooked restaurants here.
Meat BBQ
Meat BBQ is my favorite BBQ place in Michigan. The name says it all. Every time I’m in the Lansing area I try to stop in here. My favorite is the Nachos which is loaded with brisket, bacon and pork. Another great dish is the Meat Mountain. I suggest you come hungry because you will leave full. You can read my original Google review here.
Hearthstone Oven
The Hearthstone Oven is a little gem tucked away in downtown Ithaca. Travelers heading north up US-127 can find Ithaca just north of Lansing and a little south of Mt. Pleasant. You can sometimes hear the Mennonite women in kitchen singing and they bring out your home-cooked meal with a friendly smile. The food is great and the fresh baked goods are even better.
Old Boy’s Brewhouse
Old Boy’s Brewhouse is a must visit while I’m staying in Spring Lake or Grand Haven. Especially if you stay at the Spring Lake Holiday Inn, it’s just a short walk under the bridge alongside the water. On nice days they have a patio overlooking Spring Lake where you can watch the boats go by. The menu here seems to change by the season so it’s easy to always try something new. The Blueberry Wit is my favorite brew if it’s in season.
Go Jo Ethiopian Cuisine & Deli
The Go Jo Ethiopian Cuisine & Deli in Grand Rapids is something completely different for most people but please don’t let that stop you from trying it. I would recommend coming here with a friend or two and order the Family Combo. This gives you all a sampling of the different flavors of Ethiopian food which I was pleasantly surprised to find very delicious. The platter of food is served with injerra which is a spongy type of flat bread that is used to scoop up the food. Very interesting place to get something completely out of the ordinary.
Coty’s Landing
Coty’s Landing in Saginaw has some of what you’d expect from a bar & grill but they also have many choices beyond that. The wait staff was great, they have a good selection of beers, and the prices are good too! The dining area is quite large as is the outdoor patio so this is a great place to go with a large group such as the softball team or family celebration. I had wings that were awesome, and a burger that was great!
Herrick House
The Herrick House in downtown Clare is a quaint old house turned into a restaurant. The food here is home style sandwiches, paninis & burgers and the pies are outstanding.
Metzger’s
Metzger’s is located just west of Ann Arbor off of I-94. Old World German food is very reminiscent of what my Grandmother would make. I had the beef short ribs and German fried potatoes and was extremely happy.
Leg’s Inn
Bandito’s Fresh Mex Restaurant
Bandito’s “Fresh Mex” Restaurant is kind of tucked away in the back of a strip mall on Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor, but it’s definitely worth searching out. I had the #34 combo which I think was a chicken enchilada, taco and chimichanga. The service was quick and friendly and the food was delicious. The fajitas that were brought to table nearby smelled absolutely wonderful.
Z’s Bar & Restaurant
Z’s Bar & Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids has the typical American fare you’d expect from a bar restaurant but they do it well. The staff was friendly and they prices are refreshing compared to the surrounding downtown area. I like spicy foods and was really happy with the Inferno Burger. But don’t worry, it’s not all spicy choices.
O’s Pub & Grill
O’s Pub & Grill in Auburn is well known to the locals but if you’re driving down US-10 past Auburn you wouldn’t even know it was there. It’s worth taking a break from the hectic US-10 traffic to have a bite to eat and a relaxing drink at O’s. There’s certain specials almost every night of the week here and I think my family set a record at coming out for Taco Tuesday like 13 weeks in row, but I don’t know if that’s official. The other draw is Wednesday nights for the absolute best pork chop that is so incredibly juicy and tender. The Balsamic Brussel Sprouts are my favorite side and the Pub Pretzels with cheese are so good as an appetizer.
Molasses Smokehouse + Bar
Midland’s downtown area is a great place to spend an evening. They have the street blocked off for pedestrian traffic only and many nice little shops and restaurants to visit. One of our favorites is Molasses Smokehouse + Bar. The smoked meats here are top notch and so are the sides, but my go to is the smoked wings on the appetizer menu. These wings have a dry rub that is so flavorful and the meat is so tender and juicy.
Krzysiak’s House Restaurant
If you want a homecooked meal that reminds you of Grandma then Krzysiak’s House Restaurant in Bay City is the place to go. Krzysiak’s has a good mix of authentic Polish food and American cuisine. The buffet is a great way to sample everything and you will not leave hungry. You may have seen their polish sausage or Kluski noodles at your local grocery store.
Chaps
Chap’s in Armada is off the beaten path unless you happen to be driving through downtown Armada. If you have the chance to take a boondoggle through the area, I would recommend stopping in. The staff was extremely friendly and the wet burrito I had was delicious which I believe was the lunch special that day. They also have steaks and seafood and other specials for dinner.
Eddie G’s
The town of Marlette really isn’t on the way to anywhere for most people, but if you happen by that way stop in at Eddie G’s. We were there for my son’s baseball tournament and had over 30 people in our group when we stopped in. I was amazed at the staff for how they handled all our orders with ease and got everything correct. Also surprising was how quickly we got the food with as big a group as we were. I know the kids were happy with their burgers and my wife and I had nachos and quesadillas which were both really good.