This time I got them carry out from the Erbelli’s Portage location. I ordered a 14 inch Erbie bread and two pan pizzas which were the New Yorker and the Captain Shish Kabob Pizza. The Erbie bread is always a hit. The cheesey goodness and garlic and Italian seasonings makes it the best cheezie bread in town. The New Yorker is for anyone who loves pepperoni. This pizza has two different kinds of pepperoni. It has a large cut pepperoni under the cheese and then their regular on top. It is loaded with flavor and the kids loved it. The Captain Shish Kabob Pizza is a little bit more oriented for adult taste buds as it was not like any pizza the kids have ever had before. The adults loved this pizza though. On this one, instead of pizza sauce, it is Erbelli’s own buttermilk ranch and Frank’s Red Hot for it’s base. On top is marinated grilled chicken, smoked applewood bacon, mozzarella cheese, sliced red onions, green peppers, juicy pineapple and sharp cheddar cheese then it’s swirled with our tasty BBQ sauce. I’ve never had a pizza quite like this. My brother-in-law could not get enough of it.

I wanted to take some pictures of the food but I had to take the dog out for a quick walk when I got home. When I got back, I found that everyone was already divouring the food so it was too late for a good picture of what these masterpiece pizzas looked like.

So, if you are in the mood for Kalamazoo and Portage’s best pizza, you can rest assured that you can find it at either of Erbelli’s locations.

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Here is a look at their take out menu on the right. Today I got the brisket meal. The meat is flavorful and tender. It comes with a horseradish sauce on the side too. On the side it comes with a crisp coleslaw and backed beans with sausage. It’s a hearty meal that is a great change of pace from other restaurants in the area.

People loved their pulled pork too, but I’m not big on pulled pork in general so I don’t order it often. Their smoked chicken salad sandwich may be my favorite. The smoked chicken really stands out. By far the best chicken salad that I have ever had.

I highly recommend visiting Barrett’s Smoke House. Go their and pickup some of their great smoked meats to go. Be sure to also pick up a take out meal and check out all of their great side dishes that they have in the cooler too.

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I love this place. They have two locations, one downtown Kalamazoo, and the other in the Westwood Plaza at West Main and Drake. I went to the one on West Main tonight and took out some of my favorite food. I ordered the cheeseburger with everything including jalapenos, a coney dog with everything, a Chicago dog with everything and an order of fries. I know that is a lot of food, but I don’t get to come here very often so I made my visit count.

I ate the cheeseburger first, actually I ate it so quick that I forget to take a picture to show here on the blog. Coney Island makes one of my favorite burgers in town. It is simple but full of flavor. I always get it with jalapenos too for a little extra kick.

I prefer chili dogs to Chicago dogs, but I decided to mix it up and order one of each. The Chicago dog and excellently seasoned tomatoes and cucumber plus a pickle slice. It was delicious.

Their chili dog is great too. I recommend it with everything which is yellow mustard, chili and lots of diced onions (these are the reasons that I can only eat them when my wife is out of town). The onions stay with you, but man do they ever taste good.

The Coney Island also makes some of the best fries in town too. Be sure to not forget those when you stop in.

So, if you are in the mood for full flavor American classic comfort food, stop by either one of the two Kalamazoo Coney Island locations, just remember to bring a breath mint

Directions to downtown location

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Directions to West Main and Drake location

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(Having a hard time loading images on my macbook, will update tomorrow)

Erbelli’s award in the Best Pizza category comes as no surprise. The restaurant has earned awards in this category for years, including a spot in the 2000 Readers’ Choice Awards and five years running as the Best Gourmet Specialty Pizza at the Portage Pizza Fest. This year, however, they moved up to the number one spot to claim the top award for the entire area.

Another award Erbelli’s is proud to accept is the #1 Best Italian Restaurant in the area. Past of this win is attributed to dedicated owner Greg Erb’s frequent visits to Italy to pick up new ideas and concepts. As a result, diners enjoy authentic Italian flavors and get the full experience of a welcoming Italian restaurant. Additionally, Erbelli’s was also voted the first runner-up for Best Family Restaurant and the #1 Best Place for Lunch in the Kalamazoo area.

A new award for Erbelli’s this year was the #1 Best Wait Staff award. This is a huge honor for Erbelli’s. At the restaurant, they have always placed a high value on service, training wait staff for at least two or three weeks before letting them take tables on their own. Plus, waiters and waitresses at Erbelli’s pride themselves on getting to know customers by name, which adds a personal touch to the dining experience.

With the recent expansion of Erbelli’s to include a full bar, it’s a huge honor for them to be included in the Best Martinis category. Erbelli’s earned the second runner-up spot in this section.

A new burger joint has opened up in Kalamazoo. Well, reborn or resurrected may be a better way of putting it. Nisker’s been a local favorite for their char broiled taste with their delicious burgers, dogs, curly fries and all around great menu. Lou Niskers started the business back in 1986 after a career as a professional hockey player.

A few years back, Lou sold the business but it kept the same name. The food was still good, but many locals said that the restaurant was just not the same. The good news for us is that Lou along with two business partners, John Hempel and Earle Martin. Together, they reopened the business as Lou Nisker’s State Burger.

When you first walk in, you see why it is called State Burger. There is a feeling of being on a road trip with the décor of the establishment. As you walk in, you follow the yellow dotted line to the register where you place your order. Trying to figure out what to order the first time is almost overwhelming since the place smells so good and everything on the menu makes you want to try it.

You place your order at the register which is an area that is decorated with license plates from across the country. After you place your order, you take a step to the right and choose what toppings you want for your burger, dog, sandwich or wrap. Again, the toppings look so good it can be hard for some to make a decision. If you are unsure of what to order just go with one of the State burger classics, you can’t go wrong there.

On my first visit earlier in the week, I ordered the organic “New Buffalo Beef-alo Burger.” This 6 oz. organic burger has ½ the calories of lean beef and 75% less cholesterol than a roasted, skinless chicken breast. For a side I had their famous curly fries. The meal was great. I had never had buffalo meat before and I was pleased. I will definitely order it again.

I had an errand for lunch that brought me in the vicinity of Nisker’s State Burger again later in the week and I had to stop in. This time I ordered two chili dogs and an order of curly fries. Next item I think I will just order one chili dog as they are very filling. Their dogs are ¼ pound and are 100% beef. There is something about the way Lou cooks these that make them different than any other dog in town. The chili is made in house from ground sirloin. The buns are made in house every morning and are put on the grill to give them a bit of a crunch and added flavor.

Part of what sets The State Burger apart from other burger joints are what they call “The State Burger Advantage”:

• 100% Prime ground sirloin burgers made fresh daily – No preservatives and never frozen!
• Fresh buns baked daily in their own ovens – original and wheat
• Include as many State toppings or sauces as you wish – 18 different choices
• Homemade marinades (6), sirloin chili, sweet sirloin beans and State BBQ sauce
• 100% organic “Beef=alo” and veggie burgers
• They use only: Skinless, boneless chicken breast, Ground all-white meat turkey, Certified Angus Beef for their steak, 100% all-beef hot dogs, Canola Oil for cooking
• They hand cut their curly and sweet potato fries daily from whole Idaho potatoes
• Their hand-dipped shakes and malts are made with real ice cream, not soft serve

Check out Lou Nisker’s State Burger for yourself at:

6385 S. Westnedge Ave
Portage, MI 49002
269-324-4866

The London Grill

This past weekend Aimee and I went to one of my favorite Kalamazoo restaurants with our good friends P and J. We decided to go downtown and have dinner and drinks at The London Grill.

If you have never been there, we highly recommend it. Their unique menu brings you the flavors brought home from patriots returning from years of service in the British Empire. Their quality food is noticeably fresh and cooked right on a grill in sight of most of the diners. Their food is also complemented with British ales, ports and scotches. There are two locations, one in downtown Kalamazoo and one in Plainwell.

Papadum

When you first sit down you are brought out a plate of papadum with tomato chutney. In case you have never tried them, papadum is a thin and crispy Indian side dish which can be best described as a cracker of flatbread. Paired with the sweetness of the chutney makes for a tasty combination that is a perfect appetizer that is light and does not fill you up.

On the chalkboard you can find The London Grill specials of the day. I debated about ordering one of the delicious sounding specials, but instead opted for my favorite dish on their menu, the sautéed cod. Aimee and J ordered the whitefish Grenoble and P ordered the curried potatoes and peas. For drink, Aimee ordered a vodka and soda, J a glass of white wine, P a two hearted ale (one of my favorites), and I ordered the Boddingtons Pub Ale on draft.

Whitefish Grenoble

The food was amazing. Aimee and J’s whitefish Grenoble was perfectly cooked. It is a pan-seared Lake Superior whitefish coated with seasoned flour. It is garnished with lemon, tomatoes and capers and served with grilled veggies and jasmine rice. The fish was expertly seasoned and the grilled veggies with the rice made for a perfect dish.

P’s Indian dish was very good too. The thing about The London Grill is that it just may have the best Indian food in town even though their Indian menu is limited. The seasoning was excellent and P was very happy he ordered the special.

sautéed cod

My sautéed cod was amazing. The dish is two Atlantic cod fillets that are pan sautéed then topped with a spicy chili black bean sauce. On the side is a spicy and tangy shredded cabbage salad and rice. This cod is a dish that I could easily eat every time that I go there. When most people think cod, they think fish and chips. This is so much more, you have to try it.

The London Grill is a true gem of Kalamazoo. Everything is done right. The setting is quant yet classy. The bar reminds you of a true pub. The food has a story and the flavors are unmatched anywhere in town. I am looking forward to our next visit to The London Grill of Kalamazoo.

The London Grill
214 E Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI. 49007

Old Burdicks

On Easter Sunday, Aimee and I wanted to go out to eat for dinner. The problem was which restaurants would be open. Many Kalamazoo restaurants were open for brunch, but had already closed in time for dinner. We decided to try our luck at Burdick’s figuring they would be open since there are inside the Radisson.

Aimee is a fan of Burdick’s for two reasons, first for their bloody marys, and second, their mahi mahi sandwich. I have never been a big fan of Burdick’s but decided I would give it a try again.

The restaurant was fairly crowded for a Sunday night. We looked around and noticed it was mostly college age people dining and drinking. We soon found out why.

We were sat by our hostess right in the middle of the entrance in a high traffic area. There were several empty tables nearby so we choose one that was along a wall so we would not be in the middle of everyone moving around.

Mahi Mahi Sandwich

Then we sat. And we sat, and we sat some more until we were finally greeted by a waiter. He took our drink orders and Aimee ordered her bloody mary. She loves their bloody Marys because they have their own recipe for the mix. I ordered a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. The waiter told us that everything was half off on Sunday’s which was a pleasant surprise.

The news of the half off menu prompted me to skip the burger that I was eyeing on the menu and instead order a full rack of ribs. Aimee ordered her mahi mahi sandwich and had it prepared blackened style.
Our drinks came first. The bloody mary was really excellent; it is a perfect blend of fresh tomato flavor, heat, and spices. My Two Hearted Ale was excellent as usual.

Our meals came were served shortly after. Aimee skipped the pineapple which usually comes on the top of the sandwich and instead asked for lettuce, onion, tomato, and mayo. I have to say that she knows what she is doing because it was much better this way then with the pineapple and mango salsa which it is usually served with. For her side dish she had the mashed potatoes and gravy which were also very good

Rack of Ribs

My ribs started out pretty good. The meat was cooked well and it just fell right off the bone. Things were looking good. However, with each rib, the meat was tougher, there was more connective tissue, and it became less and less enjoyable. My side dishes were fries and slaw. The fries were pretty good; they had a bit of spice to them too. The coleslaw seemed old. It lacked the tangy flavor that I am used to and it was dry.

When our bill came, I quickly realized that the waiter meant that only the drinks were half off, not the food. This may have explained the younger crowd at Burdick’s that evening.

All in all the food was ok in my opinion. Aimee was happy with her meal, but I have certainly had much better ribs from other restaurants in Kalamazoo.

Old Burdick’s Bar and Grill
2747 South 11th Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49009-2177
(269) 372-1596

Long Branch Saloon & Eatery

Today for lunch a colleague and I decided to make the drive to Vicksburg to go to one of our favorite places for lunch. If it wasn’t so far south of my home it would probably be one of my favorite places to go for a burger and beer in the evening.

The restaurant is called the Long Branch Saloon & Eatery. When you first walk in, there are plenty of tables to choose from. To the left is a nice sized dining area with tables and booths. To the right is the bar with more tables. Further down past the bar is more seating and if you keep walking it looks like it is an area for bands and DJ’s. If you keep walking, you can go outside through a door wall to their patio which has a few tables, a heater, a fire pit, and a nice view with a small pond. I bet this place is a lot of fun at night.

The atmosphere was very country and inviting. There was country music playing on the radio. Much of the furniture looked to be hand made out of carved wood. On one wall was a collection of some of the biggest largemouth bass I have ever seen! There were also some old time decorations on the wall like an old metal Chesterfield cigarette sign and more.

Gumbo

We were taking a late lunch so there were plenty of seats for us to choose from. We both knew that we wanted burgers as we have had great success with them from the Long Branch on previous visits. I ordered a cup of the gumbo and the Blue Bayou Burger which is Cajun seasoned beef with blue cheese dressing. On the side it comes with either Long Branch fries or Long Branch sweet potato chips. I went with the sweet potato chips which are served with a side of maple syrup. While I wasn’t sure what to expect from that combo, I am pleased to say that I loved it. I swear I could eat those every day they are so good.

My colleague Kevin ordered the Long Branch White Chicken Chili (one of his favorites) and the Olive burger which comes loaded with olives and mayo.

We both loved our meals. The soups were great but the burgers take the cake. Everything about my burger was right. The bun had great texture and wasn’t too heavy. The meat was cooked perfectly and the toppings of blue cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. Even the pickle was good.

Blue Bayou Burger

I really want to come back and try more from the menu, but it is hard to stray away from their burgers. Kevin had his eye on the St. Louis Ribs and I would like to try their walleye, their salmon, and I know their beef tenderloin steak has got to be great.

I highly recommend this place if you like a good burger and a down home atmosphere. I talked briefly with owners and they are some really nice and down to earth local folks who take pride in what they do. So if you are looking for a new place to eat, or perhaps a place to catch a game or to have a beer then the Long Branch Saloon & Eatery is definitely worth a visit.

Long Branch Saloon & Eatery
606 Spruce St.
Vicksburg, MI. 49097
(269) 649-1961

Fricano's of Alamo

Last night Aimee and I were debating about where to go for dinner. She was craving pizza, but I had pizza for lunch on Friday and was looking for something different. We made a compromise and chose an Italian restaurant that is pretty close to our home.

We decided to go to Fricano’s of Alamo. Even though Fricano’s has a Kalamazoo address, they are actually located in Alamo Township.

We arrived at about 8 PM and found the restaurant was still quite busy. We decided to sit closer to the bar because it felt a little more private as the main dining room was pretty full.

We were quickly greeted by a very friendly waitress named Kaylei. To start with, Aimee ordered a Martini and I ordered a Bell’s Amber Ale. I love Bell’s Beer and have not had an Amber Ale in a while so it sounded pretty good. We were not sure how the Martini would be because it was not on the menu.

Martini and Bell's Amber Ale

The beer was great as usual but Aimee’s martini was not as dirty as she hoped it would be so Kaylei brought out some extra olive juice. While this does fix the problem of the taste to a degree, it would have been much better if it was shaken into the drink. Aimee was not asked what kind of vodka she wanted in the martini and in hindsight we should have specified. We have a feeling that it was the cheap well vodka because the taste just wasn’t there and the drink was so inexpensive on our bill.

Caesar Salad and Bread

For our meals, Aimee ordered a mushroom and olive pizza. I was torn between the Italian sausage with peppers in a marinara sauce served over penne or my old Italian food standby: chicken fettuccine alfredo. I was torn so I asked Kaylei which one she liked more and she said that they both are very good, but she would order the fettuccine alfredo so I took her advice. Aimee ordered a side Caesar salad to go with her pizza and I also chose the Caesar salad as my side. I could have chosen two other salad styles or the minestrone soup.

Fricano's Pizza

Our salads were quite good and we were also brought out Italian bread with oil and herbs for dipping. The salad was fresh and the dressing was excellent. The Italian bread was simple, but has a nice flavor and was excellent dipped in the olive oil and herbs.

Aimee loved her pizza. Fricano’s still uses the same pizza recipe that they used when they first opened in Alamo Township back in 1979. Their pizza is excellent. It only comes as a 12” size and it has a very thin and crispy crust. The sauce, cheese and toppings were all perfect.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

I also thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The pasta was excellent, the sauce was rich and creamy, and the grilled chicken was prepared perfectly. The portion was large which is great because it let me have some leftovers for lunch on Sunday.

Fricano’s may be a little out of the way for some, but it is definitely worth the trip. We like the environment. It’s the perfect family place or a great place to dine with friends. Down to the simple red and white checkered table cloths to the locals stopping in for a quick beer, Fricano’s is famous for a reason. We can’t wait to go back in the summer. The views from the table side are beautiful farm fields with plenty of deer grazing on the warm, sunny grass.

Fricano’s of Alamo
7454 North 6th Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 342-0808

Nina's Taqueria of Augusta

On Saturday, Aimee and I had to make another visit to our accountant in Augusta. By the time we left I was starving, so we asked the locals if they had a favorite restaurant they could recommend. They asked if we like Mexican food. It turns out that we love Mexican food. In college, I worked at the Mi Ranchito that used to be on Westnedge.

Just a couple of hundred yards down the road from our accountant’s is Nina’s Taqueria. I heard from some friends in the past that Nina’s was a very good Mexican restaurant. When you drive up from the outside the building is small with orange stucco. The same simple design carries into the inside. The seating is very casual; it is definitely no Don Pablo’s. The food makes this little place a big gem.

Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole

Nina’s Taqueria makes some delicious, authentic Mexican food. Nina’s reminded me of some of the taco stands in Southern California-nothing fancy, just good food.

To start with, our waitress brought us some of the best chips I have had in a long time. They were thick and warm, almost like crunchy pitas. The salsa was fresh and flavorful, with just the right amount of heat. Our accountant raved about the guacamole so we knew we had to order some. The guacamole was excellent. It was fresh, clean and the perfect mix of tomato, onion, and a dash of salt to bring the flavors together.

Enchiladas Verdes

For our entrees, Aimee ordered the enchiladas verdes and I ordered a combination of one taco and two enchiladas. Aimee’s enchiladas were cheese and onion and the dish came with rice, beans, and sour cream.

For my meal, I chose the steak fajita meat in the taco, one enchilada had ground beef, and one had barbacoa beef. I was happy to be able to have so many options for my fillings. All were good but the steak fajita was probably my favorite. I also ordered the verdes sauce for my enchiladas as I have always been a fan of enchiladas verdes.

The food was great. It was a nice change of pace from the Qdoba’s and national chain Mexican food that I have had lately. The prices were also very reasonable.

Enchiladas and Taco

So if you are in the Augusta area and are looking for a place to eat, we definitely recommend stopping by Nina’s Taqueria for some delicious authentic Mexican food.

Nina’s Taqueria
111 E. Michigan Ave
Augusta,  MI. 49012
(269) 731-5300