Kalamazoo, MI. trip planning

I am planning a weekend Amtrak trip to Kalamazoo and would appreciate any food related or other advice anyone might have. Thanks!

Abandon all hope...
No, not really.

There's a couple of brewpubs in the downtown: Bell's (IIRC), and Olde Peninsula. The former is supposed to be pretty good.

Otherwise, you need to get out of the downtown, closer to the University.
There's a decent Indian place called "Indian Cuisine" out in the boondocks of Portage.

There's one other very good place, but the name completely escapes me.

I've never eaten at Bell's brewpub but they are an excellent microbrewery, very big on the more expensive but very flavorful dry-hopping.

Yeah, visiting the Bell's brewery is the motivation for the trip. I have been a huge fan for a quite a few years. Having spent the last couple years in Houston where it was completely unavailable has inspired the trip.

Bell's is probably your best -- and perhaps only -- bet. The downtown of Ka'zoo has been blighted for years, and I'm sure the closure of large parts of Pharmacia hasn't helped. There really isn't much left of *anything* in the downtown, but at least Bell's is close to the train.

Now if you were driving, you could have more fun staying on Rt. 12 along the lakefront in IN and MI... but that's another show.

I’d been hoping to make a trip to Kalamazoo, specifically to visit Bell’s on Eccentric Day, and asked about it on Chowhound a while ago. The answers, here and here, were very helpful and I hope they’ll be of use to you. I wasn’t able to make the trip but still want to get to Kalamazoo one of these days so would love to hear your report.

During my last trip to kalamazoo I was able to come up with a real diamond in the rough. Dan's Fish & BBQ shanty on riverview dr. The barbecue was good but not impressive. However the fish was fresh and quite excellent. But the main reason to go see Dan are his homemade soups. There are always at least 4 different soups waiting for you. He will let you sample until your hearts content. I heartily recommend the turtle soup or his gumbo. If you are very lucky he may have some gumbo made up with alligator as well. I brought a 1/2 gallon of each home with me (cost around 10.00) and savored every drop. The soups tend to sell out early . Also, the locals consider the neighborhood to be on the wrong side of the tracks but I doubt if any chicagoan would even take notice. Too bad, it is their loss.

Dan's Fish & Bar B Que Shanty
Address: 701 Riverview Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Phone: (269) 344-7653

One thing I failed to note in my recent report on a visit to Avec (Avec Post, scroll down to March 15 entry by JiLS) was that I sat next to lovely and engaging couple from Kalamazoo. They indicated that, more or less, they come to Chicago when they want to eat (they were having appetizers at Avec, dinner at Blackbird). If that's too far to drive, they enjoy the areas between Union Pier and St. Joseph on the Red Arrow Highway, an area of which I am also quite fond. But back on point, which is Kalamazoo, perhaps you should drown your sorrows in a strong Bloody Mary with a good, strong rib of celery .

http://www.fooddancecafe.com/pages/home_/home.html

"locally grown food integrated into bold, full-flavored dishes"

vegetarian friendly !!

closest comparison: lula cafe

i usually order the veggie hustle sandwich.

an old 1950's gas station transformed into a cofffee shop
located near the train tracks, in a smoke free enviroment
it's a very cute place and they are open until late !!

WATER STREET COFFEE JOINT
315 E WATER ST

(269) 373-2840


but for an EXCELLENT mocha,

go to the:

Fourth Coast Cafe
(269) 383-0202
816 S Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

OPEN 24 HOURS !!
it's also smoking friendly.