Do you need some help in finding the best restaurants in Kalamazoo? We’ve featured 10 of them below.
1. Middle Eastern Appetite
While the website may be barebones, Middle Eastern Appetite’s menu is anything but. Filled with fresh flavors from the Mediterranean, they’ve earned a reputation for refreshingly tasty meals. Middle Eastern Appetite is open from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday-Wednesday and from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday.
How do you feel about fresh veggies, juicy meat, and soft, fluffy flatbread? If you’re a fan, Middle Eastern Appetite is an excellent stop. Their meals are crispy, filled with spices and wonderful texture, and are quite filling. All in all, if you need a meal that won’t leave you feeling greasy, guilty, or (importantly) still hungry, swing by Middle Eastern Appetite.
Go to Middle Eastern Appetite’s Facebook page to get in touch.
2. The Park Club of Kalamazoo
The Park Club of Kalamazoo is a longstanding heart to Kalamazoo’s finer part of life. The Park Club has served members for over a century, opening in 1904. Over those years, they’ve developed a reputation for friendly, personal service, excellent meals, and comfort. The Park Club of Kalamazoo is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sundays.
Their lunch and dinner menus are seasonal, varying from month-to-month. Each seasonal selection includes only the freshest, most painstakingly-sourced ingredients, bringing out fresh, local flavor. You’ll find steaks, lambchops, and delicate panfried fish, alongside countless other wonderful plates.
Go to The Park Club of Kalamazoo’s Facebook page to learn more.
3. Crow’s Nest
The Crow’s Nest is one of Kalamazoo’s most well-known stops for a hearty breakfast. They’re known for luxurious yet simple classic American breakfasts, and they come through in spades with each meal. And nowadays, you can enjoy their meals from the comfort of your couch thanks to their new delivery service! The Crow’s Nest is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.
Crow’s Nest boasts a broad, yet well-tested menu of breakfast classics and innovation alike. You’ll find omelets and benedicts, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, French toast, and more. Each item is made with locally-sourced meat, eggs, cheese, and bread, ensuring you get the best bite possible each time.
Head to the Crow’s Nest’s Facebook page to reach out.
4. Studio Grill
Studio Grill was founded in 2010. Since then, they’ve grown the Kalamazoo area into a place for community, art, and tasty eats. They boast menu items for vegans, gluten-free eaters, and vegetarians, and make each meal local ingredients from Ope’s, Renzema’s, and local farmers & ranchers. Studio Grill is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
Whether you’re there for breakfast or lunch, Studio Grill has a number of excellent options for you. For breakfast, you’ll find all of the classics; pancakes, omelets, hashes, and biscuits smothered in homemade gravy. For lunch, you’ll quickly discover that the burgers, fries, sandwiches, wraps, and vegan snacks are all to die for.
Swing by Studio Grill’s contact page to get in touch.
5. Principle Food and Drink
Principle Food and Drink is Kalamazoo’s must-see location for cocktails, fresh meals, local ingredients, and friendly service. They opened in 2015, and since have grown into a rustic, homely eatery right in the heart of Kalamazoo. Principle Food and Drink is open from 4:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, from 4-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and closed on Mondays.
You’ll find loads of snacks and sips at Principle Food and Drink. Their cocktail menu is one of the best in Michigan, boasting countless creative cocktails and tasty aperitifs. And their food menu – oh, their food menu. You’ll find small plates consisting of confit duck wings, marinated tuna, and halloumi, alongside entrees boasting fresh lamb, beef, and poultry.
Go to Principle Food and Drink’s Facebook page to reach out.
6. Elysium
Elysium, named after the paradise of Greek mythology, is certainly aptly named. They’re dedicated to creating a one-of-a-kind dining experience chock-full of quality ingredients, attentive staff, and a welcoming environment. Elysium is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and from 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Elysium is closed Sunday-Monday.
Elysium boasts a number of extensive menus – from beer, wine, and cocktails to tasty eats, they’ve got a bit of everything. Their dinner menu consists of handmade soup du jour rotating each day, a number of appetizers in multiple flavor ranges, and an extensive entree menu. The entrees range from filet mignon with a mushroom & mustard sauce to a Caribbean salmon bowl and everything in between.
Go to Elysium’s contact page to get in touch.
7. Theo & Stacy’s Downtown
Theo & Stacy’s Downtown is a great one-stop-shop for homely, Greek-American meals in Kalamazoo. Created by first-generation Greek immigrants, Theo & Stacy’s is perhaps the most passionate, loving establishment on this list. Theo & Stacy’s Downtown is open from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed on Sunday.
While the main draw at Theo & Stacy’s is their lunch and dinner menu, the breakfast eats shouldn’t be left by the wayside. You’ll find Greek-American breakfasts that take classic American meals and bring a bit of Mediterranean flair to them. And for lunch or dinner, there are the usual suspects; pita wraps, Greek specialties like Mousaka and Pastitsio, and more.
Swing by Theo & Stacy’s Downtown online ordering page to get yourself a taste.
8. Rustica
Rustica is a standout on this list, if only due to the inspiration of their menu. Upon entering, you’ll find flavors from Italy, France, Spain and a number of other corners of Europe. In business since 2009, Rustica has developed a reputation for friendly, relaxing, and, well, rustic dining. Rustica is open from 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and from 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Rustica’s menu is like taking a step into the European countryside, but with a touch of refinement in every plate. You’ll find flavors from the south of France, Italian coast, and the Spanish countryside, each filled with top-notch ingredients and flavorful takes on numerous classics.
Go to Rustica’s reservation page to grab a table.
9. Zooroona Restaurant
Zooroona is a tale of the American Dream; founded by the children of Iraqi immigrants, Zooroona was born in 2009. They bring friendly service and Arab culture to the Midwest, and one would think it’s worked out quite well for them! Over the past decade Zooroona has beceom a centerpiece in the Kalamazoo community, and for good reason. Zooroona is open from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, from 12-9 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 12-8 p.m. on Sundays. Zooroona is closed Monday-Tuesday.
Zooroona’s dinner menu is genuinely excellent. They offer both vegan and gluten-free alternatives, and serve up each meal with a touch of love. Tabbouleh, hummus, and al dar bring flavor to the appetizer menu, and the usual suspects of pita wraps and tender biryani and kebabs are also quite present.
Go to Zooroona Restaurant’s contact page for more information.
10. Namsan Korean Restaurant
And finally, we make it to a true standout on this list – Namsan Korean Restaurant. While they’re a relatively new entry into the Kalamazoo food scene (founded in 2018), they’ve quickly established themselves as a great stop for true Korean cuisine. They’re open for takeout from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week, only open for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Those unfamiliar with Korean fare will find that it’s something (more likely than not) entirely new to their palate. While this may surprise some, the simultaneously tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors of Namsan’s take on Korean snacks is simply unbeatable. You’ll find crispy gyoza, hot pots, Korean BBQ, and more at Namsan – so grab a taste.
Go to Namsan Korean Restaurant’s Facebook page to get in touch.
