Erbelli’s Pizzeria & Italian Bistro – Portage
8342 Portage RoadI’m not a big New Year’s Eve guy. I hate crowds. I hate the bar scene. I can honestly say it’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a bar on NYE…and the last one I went to was Buffalo Wild Wings and there was only our group and two other groups. It was empty and the way I like it.
J, on the other hand, likes going out. I feel bad because it seems like we never go out on weekends and it’s probably my fault. When we lived in Illinois, we went out almost every weekend, but we had a group of friends that all went to the same bar. Since moving to Michigan, we really haven’t made that many friends. We both work such weird jobs that it’s hard to socialize. All the people I work with are from Detroit and when we lived in Lansing, most of J’s co-workers were right out of college so going out on Saturday night meant two different things to us.
We both had to work NYE. J worked her regular schedule and was home early in the afternoon. I made it back to Kalamazoo a little after 7:00. I told her we could do whatever she wanted. If she wanted to go out to dinner and go dancing somewhere, we could. If she wanted to go karaoke, we could, but she had to find someplace. If we were gonna go out, I didn’t want to waste an hour after I got home looking for something. She found a place in Richland that was having a NYE tasting and a country band in a venue next door for an additional cover. I was on board. She called to see if we could get a table. I put the address in the GPS and waited for her to get ready. By the time we were ready to go, she changed her mind. We were both exhausted and really, she just wanted pizza somewhere relaxed where we could have a couple drinks. We had already tried Martini’s, but weren’t getting an answer, so I threw out another suggestion.
We ended up going to Erbelli’s Gourmet Pizza on Portage Road in Portage. I kept seeing that they were the winners of Best Gourmet Pizza and I want to try the best pizza. J called and asked if they had any seating. They said yes. When we got there, we had to chuckle a little bit. There was only one car in the parking lot. We were apparently the only ones that wanted pizza on New Year’s Eve. Well, not the only ones. A big group showed up at exactly the same time….more on that later. Read more…
Taco Bell – Dunkel Road, Lansing
3000 Dunkel RoadSo, I must be on a quest to eat at every Taco Bell in Lansing or something. I got out of work around 9:00 and headed to my hotel. When I stay in Lansing, I almost always stay at the Red Roof Inn on Dunkel Road. The closest restaurant is either Taco Bell or Subway. Both are right down the street as part of the Sunoco gas station just off I-494. I wanted something warm, so I chose Taco Bell.
Even though it was only 9:00, the counter was already closed. If I wanted tacos, I would have to go through the drive thru. In order to do that, you have to go all the way around the building. I’ve documented many times why I hate drive thrus and this expereience was no difference.
I pulled up to the speaker and waited. The girl working started talking before she clicked the button, so I only heard half of what she said. I just wanted tacos, so I clearly belted out my order of five crunchy tacos. What I heard back was, “Nachos supreme?” No, five crunchy tacos. The second time, she got it and told me to pull around. Read more…
Scalawags White Fish & Chips – South Lansing
6260 S. Cedar StreetI had a real hard time finding lunch. It seems like everywhere I wanted to go decided to close. My first attempt was Conrad’s College Town Grill. Since the kids are on break, they weren’t opening until 7 PM. My next attempt was Ramon’s, but they too were closed. I was frustrated at this point and just started driving. Somehow, I ended up in South Lansing near where we used to live. I was just going to hop back on the Interstate and go find fast food or something back near MSU. As I was making my way down Cedar, I noticed a new restaurant behind the Pizza Hut. Yay! New restaurant.
Scalawags White Fish & Chips is a small Northern Michigan chain. They have three stores now in the Lansing area. The newest location is on Cedar Street in the strip mall at the corner of Edgewood Boulevard. It has to be a fairly new joint. It wasn’t there when we moved from Lansing three months ago and there was no indication that anything was moving in to the space.
All of the other Scalawags locations have a pretty nice looking storefront. The South Lansing location is in kind of a rundown strip mall. They really stand out with the blue banner that boasts their logo and name that wraps around their corner of the building. The inside of the store is actually pretty nice. I don’t remember what was in the location before, but everything inside is new for Scalawags. The feeling I got was sort of like dining on an old wooden fishing boat. It was a pretty typical quick service restaurant set up. There were booths and tables in the front of the store. The small order counter was in the back. Read more…
Sawall Health Foods
2965 Oakland Drive- Kalamazoo, MI 49008
- (269) 343-3619
- No Known Website
Man, was I on a wild goose chase today. My dad bought J a Keurig one-cup coffee maker for Christmas. She’s not a big coffee drinker, but working the weird shift she does, she needs a pick me up every now and then. The cool thing about the Keurig is that they make hot cocoa and tea K-Cups. We got some coffee k-cups with the machine and we’ve just been using powdered hot cocoa, but she really wanted some chai tea. We saw the packages before Christmas but didn’t buy them. Now that Christmas is over, everyone is buying up the tea.
I drove all around Portage hitting every store that I thought would have them trying to find some chai tea. No one did. A lady at Macy’s told me that the tea is the most popular thing for these coffee makers and they’ve sold out since Christmas. Crap. Wasted trip.
Well, since I was out, I decided to drive around and explore a little more. J was sleeping and I had nothing better to do. Somehow, I ended up out by Western Michigan University.
Since moving here, you’ve listened to me bitch about not being able to find a bulk spice place. In my last post on the subject, someone mentioned Sawall Health Foods. Since I thought I was close, I went looking for it. Read more…
Press Release – Ann Arbor Restaurant Week
Of all places, J’s mom found info on this in Sunday’s Chicago Sun-Times. Ann Arbor is one of our favorite travel destinations (and no, I’m not a Wolverine’s fan). They have great restaurants, great shopping, and a great walkable downtown area….and two Whole Foods.
We haven’t completely decided if we are going to do this or not, but it’s very tempting. From the Main Street Ann Arbor website.
Restaurant Week January 17 – 22, 2010
January 17 -22, 2010
Visit www.annarborrestaurantweek.com for complete details and to view the menus from the 26 participating restaurants.
Experience the best of Downtown Ann Arbor’s dining scene during Ann Arbor Restaurant Week January 17 -22. Local chefs will create special three-course dinner menus for only $25 per person and lunch menus for $12 per person. Some casually priced restaurants will offer two for one deals at lunch and dinner.
Here’s how it works:
$12 Lunch: Each restaurant will create a special set of menu offerings all priced at $12. Restaurants may offer multiple courses, drinks, two for one, or something entirely different. Lunch is an open format, the choice is up to the restaurant.
$25 Dinner: All restaurants will be offering a three course dinner. Some will have a set menu, others will be offering a choice of items for each course, some will be offering two for the price of one.
Make reservations early to avoid disappointment, some restaurants were completely booked during Ann Arbor Restaurant Week June 2009. To view each participating restaurant’s incredible restaurant week menu go to www.annarborrestaurantweek.com.
Arbor Brewing Company
The Black Pearl
The Blue Nile
Blue Tractor
Cafe Felix
Cafe Habana
The Chop House
Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub
The Earle
Grange Kitchen & Bar
Gratzi
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
Jolly Pumpkin
Logan
Marnee Thai Restaurant
Melange
Miki Japanese Restaurant
The Melting Pot
Old Town Tavern
Pacific Rim
Palio
Parthenon Restaurant
Real Seafood Company
Seva Restaurant
Shalimar Restaurant
Vinology Wine Bar & RestaurantThis event is made possible by our friends and Gold Level Sponsors at Gordon Food Service and Valley City Linen, Silver Level Sponsor Frog Holler Produce and our Bronze Level Sponsor R. Hirt Jr. Co.
Quaker Steak & Lube – Portage, IN
6425 Ameriplex DriveA few years ago, my family and new girlfriend made the trip down to Bristol, TN for the spring Sprint Cup race. It was the second time my dad, brother and I had made the trip. It was J’s first time.
Around Knoxville, we drove by a place off the highway that looked awesome. All I saw were the words “steak” and “lube.” At the time, I thought it was some magical local place that served steak while getting your oil changed. When I got an Internet connection and searched the place, I found out it was a chain.
I had never heard of the place and never saw it again until we moved to Lansing. Along the way on I-94 we started seeing signs for Quaker Steak & Lube. For the last two years, I’ve been wanting to stop, but when J worked in Lansing, we always traveled at weird times and the extra hour drive usually prevented us from stopping.
After a quick trip home for Christmas, we loaded up and headed back towards Kalamazoo. We got just in to Indiana and I asked J if she was hungry. She said yeah, but she wanted to keep going. A few miles later, she asked if I had anything in mind. I told her I really wanted to try Quaker Steak & Lube. She changed her mind and said that sounded like a good idea, so we got off the highway.
Quaker Steak & Lube is just outside Portage, IN on Ameriplex Drive which is right next to I-94. It’s a small commercial area with a gas station, a couple restaurants and a huge Bass Pro Shop.
Quaker Steak & Lube got it’s start in Sharon, PA in the mid-1970’s. The original shop was actually an old service station that the original owner decided to run with. They decorated the place with license plates and old cars. The original concept was a cook your own steak which is where the “steak” part of the name comes from. They’re now more of a casual dining restaurant with their signature item being chicken wings which they even advertise on their signage. There are about 40 restaurants with most locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. This location in Portage would be the closest to Kalamazoo. Read more…
La Playita – Hometown, IL
4056 Southwest Highway- Hometown, IL 60456
- (708) 346-9563
- No Known Website
- Menu
After spending the rest of Christmas Day and the day after with my family, J and I headed back to Chicago for Christmas with her parents. J’s mom was working until early in the evening so first, J and I braved the mall traffic to pick up a few things. By the time we got back to the house, she had enough time to take a shower before her mom got home.
After exchanging gifts real quick, we headed back out to find something to eat. J suggested a Mexican restaurant that her parents are regulars at. J’s mom said she couldn’t remember if she had ever actually eaten in the store. They usually just carry out.
La Playita is on Southwest Highway near Pulaski Road in the Chicago suburb of Hometown. I think I saw on their menu that they actually have four locations in the area. The Hometown location is in a strip mall that kind of takes the shape of the angled intersection that surrounds it.
As we pulled up at 7:00 on a Saturday night, we noticed pretty quickly that we were the only ones there. In fact, we could see into the restaurant from the parking lot and the two waitresses were sitting at a table talking. When they saw us get out of the car, both got up and waited for us to take a seat.
The furniture is actually really nice. They have what looks like hand carved chairs and tables. We chose a booth that, again, looked hand carved. One of the waitresses came right over with menus, chips, and salsa. She set them down in front of me and J first, then J’s step-dad. She looked at J’s mom and asked if she actually needed a menu. I told you already they go there for take-out quite a bit.
We started with drinks and again, I’m odd man out. Drinking at dinner just isn’t my thing. I’m too hooked on sugar, so I got a Coke. J’s dad got a Miller Lite while J and her mom got blended margarita’s. Read more…
Burger King – Sawyer
6100 Sawyer RoadJ was one of the lucky ones. She had to work Christmas. Fortunately, she had to work Christmas morning which meant we could be on the road by one o’clock on the way to my parents back in Illinois. Everything went as planned. She got home. We loaded up the car and got on the road. I didn’t stop for my road Pepsi. I had a plan. I knew J would ask about lunch at some point, but being Christmas, our options were limited.
If there was any place between Kalamazoo and the Michigan border that would be open, of course it would be the truck stop. I gambled correctly.
Burger King is at the Travel America plaza just off I-94 in Sawyer. There’s also a Popeye’s and Taco Bell Express which also serves Pizza Hut pizza. The three fast food restaurants all sit in a little food court type area on one end of the travel plaza. Right next to it is a sit down restaurant and right next to that is the gas station. They’re all connected with one long hallway that runs along the front of the building.
I considered both chicken and tacos before ultimately deciding on burgers…that and J wanted to try the Funnel Cake sticks. Read more…
Panera Bread – Portage
5970 S. Westnedge AvenueI was hoping we could go all week without eating out. With my brother in town this past weekend, we ate out a lot more than we usually do. Call it laziness, but I have been really uninspired lately when it comes to cooking. I pulled out a carton of eggs from the fridge and was getting ready to fry up a couple eggs for lunch. The problem is, J doesn’t like eggs, so I was sort of being selfish.
As I was heating up the pan, J said she wanted some soup. She really means only one thing when she says she wants soup, so I put the eggs away, turned off the stove, and hopped in the car.
Panera Bread in Portage is on South Westnedge (like every other chain). It’s on the corner at Milham Road in front of one of the never-ending strip malls. Being the day before Christmas Eve, the parking lot was packed and they were all inside Panera.
J’s a huge Panera fan. I love their breakfast, but only like the menu the rest of the day. I don’t mind it, but I think it’s a bit pricey. It is quality food though, so I can’t complain too much.
The rest of Portage must agree with J. The place was pretty busy and it was closer to 2:00, so the lunch rush should have been winding down. Read more…
Steak ‘n Shake – Portage
5342 S. Westnedge AvenueYay! You get to hear my Steak ‘n Shake story. Well, not so much a story as a history lesson. You see, I lived in Peoria, IL for a little over five years after I graduated from college. I worked in news and our coverage area included both Peoria and Bloomington/Normal, IL. The thing that always surprised me about that area was the companies that called Central Illinois home. Peoria was lucky enough to be the World Headquarters for Caterpillar. Yes, THE Caterpillar. You didn’t see many John Deere’s around town and if you did, it wouldn’t be there long.
Bloomington, IL is home to State Farm Insurance. They have two huge complex’s on the main road in town. Bloomington is also home to Beer Nuts while Normal’s claim to fame is Steak ‘n Shake. The world headquarters aren’t there anymore, but the chain got it’s start in a Normal gas station (that is no longer there, btw). You can find a Steak ‘N Shake in almost every town in the area.
After dinner tonight, J said she had a craving for a milkshake and asked if I wanted one. I told her she wouldn’t have to twist my arm too hard. Since Steak ‘n Shake is pretty close and we both like their shakes, that’s what we chose.
The Portage Steak ‘n Shake is on South Westnedge just before you get to the I-94 ramps if you’re heading south. It’s actually connected to the Admiral gas station. Until a few days ago, I had always overlooked the 50’s diner. We were driving by and I looked at J and said, “I’ve never noticed that Steak ‘n Shake before.” Of course it’s been there since we’ve moved here, but being connected to the gas station sort of makes it blend in. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 