Art’s Bar and Grill

13 04 2008
  • 809 E. Kalamazoo St.Art's Bar and Grill
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517)482-8328
  • No Known Website
  • Menu

Art’s Bar and Grill claims to be Lansing’s oldest sports bar serving up award winning pizza and out of the ordinary pub food. After doing some Internet research, my girlfriend and I decided to give it a shot for a Saturday night dinner.

We both had a few reservations as we were heading to the bar.  The neighborhood surrounding Art’s is full of rundown buildings and it just didn’t look that inviting…nor did the exterior of Art’s, but we thought we’d give it a chance anyway since it has been highly recommended on the web.

When you walk in, you come right to the main dining room.  There’s also a bar area to the back and video games are spread throughout the space.  We found a table near the back of the dining room near the shuffleboard table.   There was only one waitress working the entire restaurant and she was busy.  She noticed us right away and yelled over that she’d be right there.  After unloading her tray
filled with drinks, she came over with menus and took our drink order.  After coming back with drinks we were ready to order.

My girlfriend went with the chicken strip basket.  Deep fried chicken strips and fresh cut fries.  YES!  FRESH CUT FRIES!  This place already scores extra points with me.  She liked the chicken and the fries and the portion size was more than enough for her with a little left over for me so I could get a quick bite of the chicken.

I went for a house special.  Art’s Burger.  I didn’t realize what I was getting into when I ordered this.  1lb. of burger broken up into two 1/2lb patties that had a 2oz. slice of ham wedged between them.  With cheese on top, this made for one helluva sandwich.  I couldn’t even get the thing in my mouth.  The burger was nice and juicy and the ham and bun were both toasted adding this amazing flavor.  The burger came with chips on the side and a pickle.  The waitress asked me if I wanted fries and I said yes assuming that the fries would replace the chips, but they didn’t.  I got a huge side of the fresh cut fries on top of the meal. I think it goes without saying, but I definately did not leave the table hungry.

Art’s was a chance we took and we’re both so glad we did.  The clientel was all over the board including many different social groups.  Art’s has great pub food in a great atmosphere.  From my table I could see at least three different TV’s including a giant screen projection in the corner.  After a little hesitation up front, we will probably be going back to Art’s regularly.

 


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Categories : Burgers, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews, Sports Bar

Michigan Brewing Company

12 04 2008

We were on our way to the Tanger Outlets in Howell on a Saturday afternoon, but both my girlfriend and I were really hungry, so we decided to stop before we got there. A sign along the highway advertised the Michigan Brewing Company. After a quick conference with her, I hopped off I-96 and went looking for the pub. Our first attempt was met with disappointment. We pulled up to a building that had for sale or lease signs on it. Thinking it was closed, we almost left, but she noticed a sign tha said “Visit us at our new location. Turn at McDonalds.” So, we went up the road and took a right at the McDonald’s into a business park.

After a short drive down the road, we pull up to a building that looks more like an office building than a restaurant and only a sign in the parking lot marks the place as the Michigan Brewing Company. We both kind of look at each other and wonder if this is the right place. Then, we notice people sitting at some tables through the window.

When you walk in, again, it looks more like an office than a restaurant. There’s a small shopping area off to the left then you walk through a big empty room to get to the first dining room. The pub is split up into a bar area which you get to by walking through a dining room area. We walked into the bar and found a table near the back of the space. The tables were the high pub tables with high back chairs. The decor was very rustic and really what you look for in a brew pub. The bartender came over with menus and gave us a few minutes to look over the beer menu. They only serve their beers and root beer…didn’t even have soda.

We both went for the Sunset Amber Lager, which according to their menu is “A refreshing, crisp and clean amber colored lager. Made in a Vienna-style with distinct caramel malt flavor and aroma.” It was a little bitter for my taste and a very heavy, filling beer. Both of us had a little trouble finishing.

For lunch, I had the Hog’s Heaven Sandwich. The sandwich is a shredded pork sandwich which tasted like it came from a can served on a ciabatta roll with a pickle spear and kettle chips. The sandwich was alright, but like I said, it wasn’t fresh made on site. It was a litltle small and not incredibly filling.

My date got the Twisted Turkey sandwich which was turkey, provlone, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and mustard served on a pretzel roll. She really liked her sandwich commenting more than once that it was tasty. For her, the portion was just right as she had a few extra chips for me.

The Michigan Brewing Company seemed like a place where beer lovers gather. We stopped in around 1 on a Saturday and there were quite a few guys there enjoying a cold one. There are no TV’s, so it’s not a place to go watch a game and have a beer. It’s more of a gathering spot for good converstaion. A lot of guys were coming in with pony kegs to get refilled and most everyone had a jug that they were getting refilled.

The atmosphere was interesting adn the food was alright. For those that like micro-brews, this would definately be a stop. I’m not a huge micro-brew fan myself, but it was a good meal just off the highway.

 


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Categories : Brew Pub, Local Flavor, Michigan, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews, Webberville

Fleetwood Diner – Ann Arbor

11 04 2008
  • 300 S Ashley St                                                                      Fleetwood Diner
  • Ann Arbor, MI 48104
    (734) 995-5502
  • Website
  • Menu

I’m gonna start by saying the Fleetwood Dine was a huge surprise. I was at the University of Michigan for work, so when it came time for lunch, I put the Fleetwood in my GPS and went looking for a neighborhood diner. What I found was this great little shack located just off downtown. I actually drove by it twice cussing at my GPS because I couldn’t find it. It was hidden behind a delivery truck.

I had eaten at the sister restaurant in Lansing and was expecting the same thing. The food was the same, but the atmosphere was totally different. The size is ridiculous. In the entire restaurant, there are 6 tables and less than10 stools at the counter.

I was by myself, so took a seat at the counter and the waitress asked if I needed a menu. I did, but I really didn’t. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a coke. It took about 10 minutes for the lone cook working the flattop just on the other side of the counter to send my order up. The waitress got sidetrack with some punks who came in wanting to start trouble, but still was able to not neglect her other customers.

My bill was a little over $7 and in less than a half hour, I had a decent meal. The burger was nothing special and the fries were out of the bag…it was classic diner grub in a truly classic…and unique diner.


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Categories : 24-Hour Diner, Ann Arbor, Big Ten Tour, Diner, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Biggby Coffee

11 04 2008
  • 6439 S Cedar St
  • Lansing, MI 48911-5960
  • Phone: (517) 393-2332
  • Website
  • Menu

Biggby Coffee got it’s start in East Lansing, MI in 1995. 12 years later, they’ve expanded to 150 shops in the midwest. I had never heard of it before coming here, but my girlfriend was told it was a local place, so she wanted to try it. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so I just went in to check it out, but I found out they do serve sandwiches and salads for lunch.

It was late afternoon when we stopped in so the place was pretty empty. There was a college student on her laptop doing homework while drinking a coffee and a few people sitting at the tables. My girlfriend placed her order then waited while the barista made the drink. In total, we were in the store less than 5 minutes. I asked how it was and she said it was good and better than that big chain I hate so much.

The atmosphere is that of a typical coffeehouse. Lots of dark woods and low lighting and of course, they offer Wi-Fi for those looking to get a little work done.


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Categories : Coffee, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Cottage Inn Pizza

11 04 2008
  • 1995 Cedar Street
  • Holt, MI 48842-1831
  • Phone: (517) 699-1000
  • Website
  • Menu

We had a coupon for Cottage Inn and decided one Sunday night to give a shot. The coupon was for a large family meal deal. I couldn’t find that on the menus I had or online so we didn’t really know what we were getting when we ordered. The person on the other end of the phone asked what I wanted on two pizzas, so I knew at least that much, but when the delivery guy arrived, we knew we’d be eating pizza for a few days.

The deal came with two large pizzas. We got one pepperoni and one cheese. It also came with salad and cheese sticks.

Since the pizza would be good for lunch the next day, we dove into the sides. The salad was really only enough for two of us. It was the standard mixed greens with croutons and a few vegetables. It came with two packages of Italian dressing. The cheese sticks were good. Thick pieces of bread covered in cheese sauce with a marinara on the side. They weren’t rock hard like breadsticks but still had a great flavor with the cheese baked into it.

Once we finally dived into the pizzas, we found a great flavor in the sauce. A little bit tangy that went well with the mozzerella layered on top. I had a little problem with the cheese as it kept wanting to come off with one bite.

The size of the meal deal was a lot for just two people. We ate pizza for lunch for three days…and trust me, I’m not complaining about that. With the coupon we had, the meal was free, but t looks like it normally runs about $30.

I see Cottage Inns all over the place and it seems like they cater a lot of public functions, so I assume they are they pizza place in Mid-Michigan. It was good, but still too much like the other chains. We will most definately order again, but we continue looking for unique pizza in Lansing.


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Categories : Holt, Local Flavor, Michigan, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews

The Post Bar

11 04 2008
  • 213 Ann St
  • East Lansing, MI 48823-4320
  • Phone: (517) 332-7678
  • Website
  • Menu

We were walking around downtown East Lansing on a Sunday afternoon looking for lunch when we came across The Post. It was a nice day, so we decided to eat out on the patio which was a good thing because (and here’s the I’m getting old in me) the music inside the restaurant was so loud we had a hard time just communicating with the waitress that we wanted to sit outside.

We took a table next to the building and the waitress came with drinks and menus. The first thing that just jumped off the menu were the appetizers. We usually don’t do apps for lunch but my date had to try the macaroni and cheese bites. Little chunks of Macaroni and cheese breaded and deep fried served with a side of ketchup on a bed of lettuce. Three hours later, she’s still saying they were “fantastic” and asking if I could make them here at home. Surprisingly, we got quite a few in the basket and they probably could have been a meal by themselves. Definately a unique and very taste idea.

For lunch, I went with The Post Burger with cheddar. Not a bad burger, but nothing special either. It was juicy and a decent size. The fries were crinkle cuts out of the bag. Between the sandwich, fries, and macaroni and cheese bites, I left stuffed.

My girlfriend ordered the Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad. A bed of mixed greens was topped with grilled chicken, bbq sauce, avocado, bacon cucumber, onion, and shredded cheese then served with ranch on the side. The grilled chicken had a great flavor to it and the BBQ sauce was a KC sweet style. Even after raving about the cheese bites, she had enough compliments left for the salad.

With two Pepsi’s, the bill was just under $30. The Post is a great alternative to the chains and take out places near Michigan State and they provide a great atmosphere for both dining and a night out.


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Categories : Burgers, East Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews

Coach’s All-American Pub-Grill

11 04 2008
  • 6201 Bishop Rd
  • Lansing, MI 48911-6208
  • Phone: (517) 882-2013
  • Website
  • Menu

Coach’s is your typical sports bar. There’s a bar when you walk in, multiple pool tables, dart boards, and dozens of TV’s. There’s also two pretty large dining rooms where they serve not your typical pub food.

My girlfriend and I stopped in on a Saturday night for dinner. We were a little worried because the NCAA tournament was on, but surprisingly, the place wasn’t crowded. We showed ourselves to a table in the first dining room and a server was right behind us to get drinks.

The menu had your typical pub fare plus entrees and unique pizza combinations including calzones. My date ordered the chicken strip and fries basket plus a side salad. She liked the crispy fries and said her chicken strips were good. I grabbed a bite of one and it all tasted like someone opened a bag and dumped them in the deep fryer. Doesn’t matter what I think, she enjoyed her dinner and that’s what really coungts.

I ordered the Bourbon Chicken Dinner. Two boneless chicken breasts come covered in a Bourbon BBQ glaze with fries, a salad, and a cheese breadstick. The BBQ was sweet and added a nice touch to chicken. THe fries were the same as my dates. The portion was a pretty good size. I didn’t leave stuff, but I didn’t leave feeling cheated either. The side salad was your typical greens with croutons, cucumber, and tomatos. I got the Italian dressing which was a little thicker than usual, but still good.

The bill with three drinks was about $30. There’s a lot on this menu I really wanted to try. I’ve heard the pizzas were good, the burgers looked good and there were a few more dinners that looked appetizing. Coach’s really tries to be more than just another sports bar and with this menu, they are succeeding at doing so.


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Categories : Burgers, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews, Sports Bar

Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shop

11 04 2008
  • 118 S Washington Sq
  • Lansing, MI 48933-1704
  • Phone: (517) 482-8049
  • Website
  • Menu

My girlfriend and I were checking out downtown Lansing one day and decided to stop into Kewpee for lunch. They had a menu posted outside and some of the selections looked interesting so we figured why not. The waitress claimed that Kewpee is famous for their burgers, which include an Oliveburger and a Cherry Burger…for once in my life, I probably should have had the burger.

Instead, I went with the club sandwich. Usually, my girlfriend orders the club…I order the burger, and I end up saying I should have got the club. Not this time. It should have been a sign as to how the meal was going to go when the waitress brought our drinks in styrofoam cups…but I was hoping the food would make up for that. We both ordered a side of fries with our sandwiches and the waitress brought those to the table before the sandwiches like they were an appetizer. My g/f liked the fries noting they were nice and crispy. To me, they’re just out of the bag fries.

Our sandwiches came a few minutes later. Like I said, I got the club. It was served on hamburger bun…not toasted white bread or something that would have provided less bread than a hamburger bun. There were a couple slices of ham and turkey, a slice of provolone, a piece of lettuce, a half slice of tomato and probably 3 gallons of mayo. Needless to say, I wasn’t all that happy with the sandwich.

My girlfriend ordered the BLT. Lots of bacon, and lettuce on toasted white bread. She didn’t really comment on the food. She just said she didn’t have an appetite because of a smell in the store. I’ll be nice and not write what she said it smelled like, but it was enough to make her lose her appetite.

The Kewpee has a really good location and the restaurant itself has a neat layout with exposed brick and separators that make sure you have a private dining experience. Maybe the burgers are great, but I’m not sure I want to give them another chance to try. Our meal, which neither of us were happy with, still cost $18….I could have made it at home for less than $5


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Categories : Burgers, Downtown, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

Dairy Dan

11 04 2008
  • 7035 S Cedar St
  • Lansing, MI 48911
  • (517) 268-1264‎

     

  • No Website Known

     

  • No Menu Online

     

Dairy Dan’s is a little ice cream shop in the south side of Lansing. We got a craving for ice cream one night and I had noticed it while out running errands, so we went back and got some ice cream.

The shop is a little shack with a walk up window, a drive thru and a few picnic tables all outside. The menu is posted on the windows…with pictures. We both got a peanut butter cup flurry….flurry sounds a lot like Blizzard, doesn’t it…yeah. It was just like the more famous treat, but they added whipped cream and a cherry.

There were a lot of other interesting creations…it was just cold the night we were there so we didn’t want to look around too much..just get our ice cream and leave. Both flurries cost us about $7 and it only took a few minutes. I’m sure the wait is longer in the summer.

 

 


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Categories : Ice Cream, Lansing, Local Flavor, Reviews

Champion Sports Bar and Grill

11 04 2008
  • 2440 Cedar St
  • Holt, MI 48842-2104
  • Phone: (517) 694-7660
  • No Website Known
  • Menu

Champion Sports bar is your classic sports bar with TV’s everywhere, lots of beer, and decent pub food. We stopped in for a business meeting which happened to be on the same day as the Detroit Tigers season opener, so there were quite a few guys at the bar and it got loud everytime someone hit a pop fly.

We walked in and showed ourselves to a table near the back of the restaurant to try and get away from the sports crowd. This is where the horrible service started. We sat there for a good 10 minutes before one of the ladies in my party got up to find a waitress. About the time she got up, the waitress noticed and came over and took drink orders. It took about 10 minutes to get those drinks and menus. Then she left again and it took another 10-15 minutes to for her to come back to actually take the order.

I ordered the blackened burger. Really it was just a burger with cajun spices, but it was pretty hot for a burger. I was a little surprised and had to keep grabbing my Pepsi (which also took a while to get refilled). The sandwich came with fries which were the ordinary out of the bag crispy fries.

My girlfriend ordered the blackened chicken salad. When she asked the waitress what kind of dressing they had, the waitress replied, “we pretty much have anything.” Well, that was true as long as you didn’t want a vinegrette. The salad did come piled with chicken pices and she said it was good.

The other two ladies in my party split between a sandwich and a salad. One ordered a fajita salad and had them put it in a taco shell. The other had a chicken sandwich. Neither of them made any comment to me about their meals, but both finished and were too stuffed for desert.

The waitress came back one more time to see if we wanted anything and at that point, one of the ladies I was with asked for the check…not sure if the waitress would ever come back. The price for four of us was about $40, but it took over and hour and a half to eat a meal at a sports bar. The food was ok. The atmosphere and the bar area are great if you’re wanting to watch a game, but the waitress was not very on top things and it really dragged the place down.


Comments : 7 Comments »
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Categories : Holt, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews, Sports Bar, Uncategorized

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