Fodor's Expert Review Everyday People Cafe

Don't judge this restaurant by its dull, gray façade: a bit of art-deco flair in its logo and interior provides a warm, welcoming backdrop to some of the best food in town. A recent award from Grand Rapids Magazine for Best Restaurant in the "Lakeshore" category just shouts the fact a little further. Locally sourced, made-in-house dishes include the starter wasabi pea-crusted ahi tuna with sweet miso dipping sauce and Thai chili aioli. For your main course, try the Gorgonzola pork chop, a 12-ounce roasted local pork chop with caramelized onion jam and Gorgonzola cheese. For lunch, an over-the-top (in a good way) BLT with a fried local organic egg and avocado mayo. At brunch, dress up your own Bloody Mary with house-pickled veggies and local meats and sausages, and smother your golden malted waffle with mascarpone, fruit and Michigan's own bourbon maple syrup. Dine al fresco to the tunes of live jazz during the summer every Thursday through Sunday (generally starting mid-June).