Road Trip in Michigan up Hwy 131

So I will be driving with some friends in August from South Bend up to Boyne City/Harbor Springs via Highway 131. I have never been up this way in Michigan, and wanted to stop by some places relatively close to the highway as we travel that were both good and preferably somewhat local in terms of the food (pasties, etc). I have seen a few posts that mention areas somewhat around the neighborhood, but none seem to be geared toward the Hwy 131 roadtrip. Any thoughts much appreciated.

Are you going up 31 to 196 and picking up 131 at Grand Rapids? If so, you should find tons of stuff about the Blue Star and Red Arrow highways. If you have something specific in mind (burgers, fruit stands, pies, ice cream, etc), ask about that and I'm sure there will be tons of recommendations.

I take the 94-196-131 route north to my family's cottage in MI. I typically make my stops along the Blue Star highway but two places I have bookmarked off 131 north of Grand Rapids are Fricano's Pizza in Grand Rapids and Latitudes Roadhouse & Steelhead Tavern in Howard City. Fricano's is west coast Michigan pizza, and yes, it is its own distinct style of pizza. It's sort of a small chain now with a few locations in western MI. I have been to the original location in Grand Haven, so I can't vouch for the location in GR, but if it's close to as good as the one in Grand Haven, I'd say it's definitely worth a stop.


Fricano's pizza - it's a very thin crust stye

I have not been to Latitudes, but it looks like a good place grab some seafood and beer.

Fricano's Pizza
http://www.fricanospizza.com/
5808 Alpine Ave. NW • Comstock Park, MI (just north of Grand Rapids off 131)

Latitudes Roadhouse & Steelhead Tavern
http://latitudes-steelheads.com/
101 East Edgerton Street
Howard City, MI

Thanks for the feedback, BigT. That pizza looks particularly delicious to me right now.

Founder's Brewery is worth a stop, and is in Grand Rapids, albeit outside the city center as you approach Grand Rapids from 196. There's unfortunately not a lot along 131. There's a pasty shop in downtown Cadillac that looks intriguing, but I've never stopped. Short's Brewing Company is in Bellaire, MI, a somewhat short detour from 131.

try martini's in kzoo on westnedge
owner is a chicago guy

269-388-8883

Don't be put off by their daunting slogan: "Feeding More Than Man's Hunger"

Martini's
832 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 388-8883
http://www.martinis.biz

I had Fricano's in Kalamazoo in May after wanting to try one of their locations. I ordered it well done as I was concerned about the crust not being crispy enough. Didn't matter. The top was well done but the crust simply doesn't get crisp. I felt the pizza was no big deal at all and a big letdown in the taste dept. If my memory serves me right, Mr. Scrib's Pizza in Muskegon (and Grand Haven) was pretty good, and really greasy (if you like that sort of thing which I do when I'm in the mood). I'd go there again but it's not on your way, is it?

Ok, how about a can't miss diner? Rosie's Diner in Rockford, MI just north of Grand Rapids. It was featured on the first ever Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Great food and classic diner atmosphere.

Rosie's Diner
4500 14 Mile Rd NE (M-57) (Exit 101)
Rockford, MI
http://www.rosiesdiner.com/

Ram4 wrote:
Ok, how about a can't miss diner? Rosie's Diner in Rockford, MI just north of Grand Rapids. It was featured on the first ever Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Great food and classic diner atmosphere.

Rosie's Diner
4500 14 Mile Rd NE (M-57) (Exit 101)
Rockford, MI
http://www.rosiesdiner.com/

I've got to disagree. Avoid Rosie's Diner at all costs.

stevez wrote:

Ram4 wrote:
Ok, how about a can't miss diner? Rosie's Diner in Rockford, MI just north of Grand Rapids. It was featured on the first ever Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Great food and classic diner atmosphere.

Rosie's Diner
4500 14 Mile Rd NE (M-57) (Exit 101)
Rockford, MI
http://www.rosiesdiner.com/

I've got to disagree. Avoid Rosie's Diner at all costs.

Steve-

FWIW, my dogwalker is from Rockford and reports that Rosie's has changed hands and is doing better since your visit some years ago.

aschie30 wrote:

stevez wrote:
I've got to disagree. Avoid Rosie's Diner at all costs.

Steve-

FWIW, my dogwalker is from Rockford and reports that Rosie's has changed hands and is doing better since your visit some years ago.

I hope that's true. The place is so cool, it deserves better. Personally, I'll wait for a firsthand report from a trusted LTHer before I go back. I'm not taking one for the team at that location again (especially since I was not the first to report on how bad it was).

Rosie's may be victim of the DDD effect whih I experienced firsthand at yet another restored diner just the other day. I visited the Big Star Diner on Bainbridge Island in Washington State based on it being on the DDD list. The place looked great on the clip on the DDD website and I was looking forward to the salmon hash and eggs. Evidently, the place was packed after the appearance and the owner cashed out and sold it. It's now changed hands several times, no longer serves the dishes that put them on the map (no salmon hash), and the crowds, which used to line up out the door, have vanished. Although the waitress was wonderful, the food was lacking and we had to have a Khudo breakfast a short time later.

stevez wrote:

aschie30 wrote:

stevez wrote:
I've got to disagree. Avoid Rosie's Diner at all costs.

Steve-

FWIW, my dogwalker is from Rockford and reports that Rosie's has changed hands and is doing better since your visit some years ago.

I hope that's true. The place is so cool, it deserves better. Personally, I'll wait for a firsthand report from a trusted LTHer before I go back.

Well, you're not going to get a firsthand report from a "trusted" LTHer (whatever that is) if you ding it almost every time it's mentioned. I've got no dog in this hunt, I'm just sayin'.

aschie30 wrote:Well, you're not going to get a firsthand report from a "trusted" LTHer (whatever that is) if you ding it almost every time it's mentioned. I've got no dog in this hunt, I'm just sayin'.

Well, you're up that way fairly often. Don't just criticize, give us a report. I'd love to have Rosie's back in my rotation.

Are you looking for recommendations in the Little Traverse Bay area, too, or just en route? My family has a place up there, so I can offer a few suggestions in that area, or you could read this post.