One of the best drinking bars and spots in Kalamazoo, especially come summer time. Filled with concerts in their backyard, a few trains driving by in the background and good Weather, you'll never want to leave the bells backyard. If they had better food options this would be 5 stars but all things considered, great brewery. read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Oberon day! - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I love supporting local businesses - and Bell's is one of the biggest draws for Kalamazoo, because of its leading role in the craft beer scene in town. That said, I give it four stars because no matter where you sit, it's really loud in there. I wish that something could be done about the noise, because it keeps me from going there more often. The Pros (it's a long list!): The staff are friendly, even when they are overworked. We started to sit in the restaurant area yesterday, while waiting for a concert in the back room. Our server kindly checked to see if we could sit in the back room while we were waiting - the answer was yes! Tip: Order at the bar, in the back room, if you're there for an event. You'll have to bus the food to your own table, but it's worth it to not move. The decor is wonderful! Clean, crisp lines, interesting items to look at, and Michigan everywhere. My favorite are the floor tiles. Take a peek! The menu - WONDERFUL. Locally sourced items, creative ingredient pairing, and clever ways to made a standard dish better - We all got the Oarsman's Latest Catch, and it was one of the best fish sandwiches ever! I wish the bun had been less thick, so I could taste the grilled fish more, but I just took half off. The fries were cold, which may have been because we ordered from the bar. The accoutrements for the sandwich were genius and quite delicious. Handicap accessibility is mostly a hit. The bathrooms were wide, spacious, and easy to get into the handicap stall. There was a ramp outside, and inside, the paths were open. If it is crowded, I bet it is an issue because people never pay attention. Because we were there for a back room concert, the only regular size tables were up the stairs - down on the main floor, they had tall tables with tall stools. It was so busy that I wasn't sure who to ask to help, so made do. I really like this restaurant (and brewery)... hope you can visit! read more

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Strange how the like to profit off of selling merchandise for your dog in their store, but aren't dog friendly in their beer garden. Also I don't like to be lied to by the staff that it is Michigan state regulations when we all know that is not the case otherwise 100s of other breweries with outside pet friendly areas would be closed down. If don't like dogs don't sell dog merchandise and don't have your staff lie about regulations that don't exists... read more

The beer was fine, but the food was underwhelming. I ordered the Pub Dip ($15), as the menu description sounded interesting. What arrived was rather sad looking. The bun was soggy and fell apart quickly. The sliced beef was scarce and minimally topped with an unmemorable sauce -- was there cheese at all? The au jus was beige and nearly flavorless. The french fries were thin McDonalds-style, but soggy. I'm happy to say the pickle spear was fine. All in all, I could have made a much better version of the Pub Dip from the deli counter at any supermarket. The server was pleasant and quick with my beer orders, but had to come back with napkins and ketchup, but no fork or salt & pepper. When in town, I'll return for a beer, but will eat elsewhere. read more

The bartenders were super friendly and patient! I was visiting from out of town and got a flight of the styles i usually like. I had slightly higher hopes for the beer, but that is always subjective - they do have a good selection to choose from. Food was a little more disappointing, the pierogi platter sounded like a good amount of food but unfortunately was not. Everything tasted pretty good but for the price, I would have wanted more food. read more

Wonderful selection of brews and tasty snacks! I saw they have live music sometimes and their outdoor garden/ seating area looked amazing! read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Brew menu - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

They have good food and great beer. I had the maple garlic wings, which were phenomenal. Only giving 3 stars because they wouldn't fill my (clean) growler from another brewery. I need another growler like another hole in my head. This is the only brewery I've been to in Michigan with this policy read more

A friend of mine from Kalamazoo recommend this place to us and boy are we glad we took her up on the offer. We live in Downtown Chicago, but we're coming back from Mi hogan so we needed to grab lunch and this place is a WINNER! Located inside a historic building (which is really neat and impressive on the inside too). Near the railroad tracks makes me wonder if this place was once a train stop station or something like that? ERIN was our waitress. She was attentive and fun. We had the grass feed cheese burger that cones with a salad of greens and sweet cherry tomatoes. We also ordered a side of their FAMOUS and oh so TASTY onion rings. I highly recommend you get the onion rings for sure. They cone in a bowl and there are plenty to be shared or just devour by yourself! They are literally the BEST onion rings I've ever had! One thing I noticed about their ketchup dispenser was that it had a date sticker (which shows the freshness). We also checked out their large patio and huge backyard with a stage you guys for live music! I wish we could of had the opportunity to stay longer and catch one of their live bands. Well we will surely come back when we are in town! read more

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Great selection of Bells, the food menu got cut back most likely due to covid. Ordering food was easy and the food came out quickly and as ordered. read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Beer flight and a double two hearted. - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Sh*t sucks. We had such an indelible experience my first time here in June 2013. The beers were crazy good. They had a plethora of taproom exclusive brews. That was a big deal since we can get Bell's flagship beers and any damn liquor store, so it's great when you can try beers not sold in stores from the source. Anyhow, the overall vibe was just awesome, and had we not had to hit the road to head up to Grand Rapids, we undoubtedly would've stayed longer. I didn't think 6 years would go by since the next visit, but they definitely lost their appeal. This time around, the beer list was limited and not enticing whatsoever. This type of cookie cutter bullsh*t gives credence to people who always want to support the "small guy" (which Bell's is not). Even worse than the beer was the service. Some of the most aloof mouth breathers I've seen in a minute. When they weren't disappearing, they were rudely tossing our utensils on our table that they didn't give us enough of in the first place. Our friend said it best, he (our main server) looked like he rather be skateboarding. You could see "dooooooon't caaaaare" written across his face the whole time. The one thing they had going for them was the food. Delicious wings, onion rings, poutine, and salad. It's a damn shame considering how excited I was to finally return. Now, it may not make the cut next time I'm back in Kalamazoo. read more

The Best. Burger. Ever. was had on our visit to Bell's Eccentric Cafe. And when I saw BEST, I mean the truly best burger ever. The vibe here is fantastic - loved the service, the cleanliness, the hip and casual decor all around us. The menu is extensive enough, and the beer list was amazing as well. Well-chilled beer on a hot day does not disappoint. Ever. And the store next door was one of the best beer stores I've ever visited. And on this trip, I visited quite a few. Thanks Bell's for a truly memorable visit. And friends - if in doubt, order the burger - it's smashed and delicious. read more

Great place and food, but place is not allowing dogs. Okay. With a respect to the rule we left the dog on the shade and tied it to the pole. We simply couldn't leave it in the car because of the hot day. Once entered the restaurant again we let the hostess know that we left the dog outside. She said: okay. We ordered food, just got it and started to enjoy the outdoors sitting. But all of the sudden, we were approached by the man who said the dog couldn't be outside the restaurant either. what a craziness. We literally were kicked out right in the middle of having meal. I wish we were told the dog was not allowed anywhere around outside the restaurant either. We'd pick another place from the beginning. But kicking us out when they already knew the dog was leashed outside the entrance to the place,when we already ordered food...this is unacceptable. read more

I've always loved their two hearted ale and when I found out we were coming to Kalamazoo for a Bachelorette party, we had to make this a stop. Awesome brewery and I tried their Poolside ale on tap...amazing!!! I would definitely come back so much fun here. read more

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I overheard thebgrocery store cashier ranting about how good the Hopsoultion Beer was at Bell's. So, my sister, BIL, and I ventured to Bell's. Menu is bar food-ish. Burgers, Wraps, Sandwiches, Pizza, etc. I order the Cajun Shrimp Roll. 86'd the cajun beet slaw. Who puts beets in slaw? Anyway, it was regular. Nothing to write home about. My sister and BIL ordered the popcorn appetizer. 2 bowls. Now, for the important part. We drank beer! I heard the Two Hearted Ale is delicious. And, in fact, it is. My sister ordered the Porter and BIL the Amber Ale. All delicious. All worth ordering. Reasonable prices, friendly service. My $.02 Order beer, forego the food. read more

First, save this trip for when the weather is nice. You're going to want to come and sit out in the backyard. #gardengoals are now a thing thanks to the setup Bell's has designed and maintained so well. Second, order a rare beer. Initially I was disappointed by the tap list knowing that several of the styles I can get at my local liquor store, but I found fandom in the select rare beer offerings written on the board. Third, pair your beers with some snacks. The popcorn and onion rings are top-notch, and I was especially pleased to see that Bell's includes Indianapolis-based Smoking Goose on their meat and cheese board. Fourth, pop in to the general store before you head out. There's free stickers at the cashier's counter. Fifth, don't skip this spot. Bell's is iconic to not only Michigan but also to indie craft breweries everywhere. Come pay your dues at their eccentric cafe. read more

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Great to finally get to visit Bell's Brewery ("Eccentric Cafe"). Located in Kalamazoo, it's not too far off the major highway and easily accessible. The brewery is pretty big with lots of free parking available. The decor inside is awesome; very colorful but with a warm feeling. There's plenty of tables, lots of bar space and a few high tops around the area. They also have a nice beer garden area outdoors. You'll obviously get the wide selection of Bell's most famous brews, as well as some seasonal stuff, I was hoping for some more rare stuff though, such as Hopslam or Black Note but oh well. I only came in for a couple of beers so I wasn't able to check out the food this time around. Just around the building is the Bell's store featuring all the available beer they have to go, in addition to lots and lots of apparel and home brewing equipment. Purchased a couple of items and while checking out I was pleased to find out that all the stickers and buttons on the front counter were free!! Definitely a great stop if you're in the area! read more

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Top notch service the atmosphere is one in a million the environment as a is beyond worth the experience!

Epic beer and good food! The staff were all really great and the brewery tour was fun. Fresh Two Hearted ale just can't be beat!!

Good food! Loved the cherry bomb burger with a Two hearted chaser! Beer garden is great! Beer is exceptional!

Great bar, plenty of room and plenty of beer! This place was packed at 1pm, it was the busiest of the three bars that I went to. The Chefs board was very good. There wasn't any crumbs left at the end. The staff and atmosphere were fantastic and there is plenty to choose from. They also have a gift store where they sell hops, beer making products, beer, clothes, etc. read more

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Stopped by after a day of skiing (boys) and shopping (girls). They still had one order of chicken and waffles and one in our party jumped on it. We should've asked whether that order (that was left over from breakfast) was actually made this morning and left to warm under a light for several hours because the waffles were so dry they disintegrated whenever she cut into them with a knife. And they were cold. They were drizzled with syrup for effect but there was no other syrup to pour over them. On the bright side, the chicken was good and hot. Sorry this review focuses on one dish but the limits prohibit me from really going on... read more

Stopped in here while my son was at a soccer camp at WMU because, well, Kalamazoo. I had the best turkey sandwich ever! I was really hungry so that may have something to do with my rating but it was really really good. The turkey wasn't crappy lunch meat it was thick but not too thick for a sandwich. The bri and apple and onions gave it so much flavor! The French fries are also the kind I like thin crispy on the outside. Of course the beer was delicious. I only had a small pour of their Special Double Cream Stout on Nitro. read more

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Fun atmosphere & good beers on tap. I will say though, what's with the DEVILED EGGS APPETIZER? Who the hell is drinking beer and eating deviled eggs? So gross. read more

Even though I'm not a huge beer person, I've of course heard of Bells, and it was our first stop during my "Beercation" this past weekend, as we were staying with friends who live in Kalamazoo. What I really like about this place is that it can be as quiet or as loud as you want it to be, we were dining in so we got a table far away from the bar and it was relatively quiet. If you're looking for a night out, the bar is lively and a little bit loud, and looked fun. I ordered the burger on special, the chimichurri burger, which was very good. It had fries with it which were about average. We ordered a few beers and also a sampler, the Christmas beer is only $2 right now for any size which was a great deal. My boyfriend really liked the Hopslam beer and surprisingly I liked it too, he didn't think I would. He ordered the pulled pork sandwich and liked it as well. I love the building the restaurant is housed in, too, it was all exposed brick and made for a really nice atmosphere. I would come back here again when in the area. Don't forget to check out the General Store as well, he bought himself a keychain and I bought myself a beer glass. read more

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I love Bell's - the beer and food are great & the garden shows are amazing. The fries make me sad about life though. Please consider changing them :( read more

We all know Bell's makes fantastic beer, but the food here is awesome too! My husband and I shared the Cherry Bomb Smash Burger and the Coney Dogs, damn delicious! But the what made it even better was the service. Becky was on it straight out! Quick, personable and answered all our questions. She helped make it an experience. Thank you Bell's and Becky! read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Becky at Bell's! Ask for her! - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I love this place! We split the hummus plate and I got a couple of beers but I started with a beer flight. The flavors I had were Strawberry Milkshake, Tart IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale, and Mead. Personally the mead is always my favorite. It makes me feel like Thor and I just really love the light sweetness off of the beer. I remember they had an agave mead which was basically a tequila beer. Loved it so much! The other brews were equally good, just not my default preference. The tart IPA hit like a sour but went down like an IPA. Strawberry Milkshake was nitrobrewed so it had a really good creaminess without being too sweet. It's a must do in Kalamazoo for me! read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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First time going to the Cafe. I've heard great things about the place and have always wanted to try it out. I highly recommend to those who have tried to go sometime! The food is great and they have quite a few options for everyone to choose something read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Nachos - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Great beer and amazing entertainment, awesome customer service and the food is killer.

Everyone knows the beer here is amazing. We get it... great. Know what else is amazing here? The food. It is definitely overshadowed by the beer, but holy heck, these brownies will knock your socks off (definitely ask the server which beer to pair). Another quick fun fact... did you know Bell's has their own butcher? I am not one to suggest ordering a charcuterie board, mostly for the below reasons: 1. Ordering a charcuterie Board makes me feel a bit pretentious 2. You never know what you are getting yourself into 3. I can never remember WTF they say when they do a quick run through of the cheeses and meats (this is your snow white Jezebel soft cannondale from northern south central Oklahoma - I dont know WTF that means) With that being said, get that meat board in your life. Anyway, this is what I am getting at: while you are here throwing back a Two Hearted, do yourself a solid and get something to eat. Specifically the trout or the Michigan Cherry Bacon Burger. read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Don't pretend that you are only here for the beer - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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I thought I was going to fall head over heels for Bell's Eccentric Cafe but sadly that didn't happen. I'm a fan of Bell's beers and tried some new, delicious brews at their pub but the atmosphere was eh, the food was meh and the service wasn't fantastic. Bell's was also insanely busy on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in September so I imagine it to stay busy...pretty much at all open hours. You can pick any four beers from their draught list for a sampler set and the price will vary depending on which you pick. While at Bell's I tried Two Hearted (their flagship IPA which I've had a million times but I wanted it straight from the source), Uranus (kek...a double black IPA), Kalamazoo stout, Coffee Mustache (spiced beer), Boiling Pot (pale ale), Venus (blond ale - another from their planet series) and Roundhouse IRA. Sadly I didn't find anything over the moon delicious but 'twas fun to try beers at their brew house. Skip the food. We tried the pork belly skewers and deviled eggs. I love pork belly. I love deviled eggs. Both of these tasted bland and weren't fantastic. Especially the eggs. This may be a drastically bold statement but I do believe this is the least favorite brewery I've been to yet. That being said, I plan to give it another go next time I'm in MI. Mayhaps it was just an off....day/server/table/everything. Go for the beer, get food somewhere else, and try to go in off peak hours! read more

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Great beer selection and quality! Food is amazing, too! We will be back for sure! Hubby had the habanaro ribs and they were fire and I had the smash burger. Yum! read more

My family was in Kalamazoo and looking for dinner, so we poked our head into the Bell's Brewey Restaurant, Bell's Eccentric Cafe. First of all, the service, fantastic! Our server was slammed with other tables, and she was so helpful and attentive. Handled the Saturday evening crowds like a champ. I was also ecstatic to be able to make my way through the beer options. They have a larger batch of Bell's beers that are just great. I had the Third Coast Ale and the Straight Science. The menu is good, it's a cafe so you'll see salads, burgers, sandwiches only. But everyone was well pleased. Beware the the burger has a slight spice, but I still recommend it! The food was filling and delicious. We also grabbed some appetizers. They are known for their Scottish Eggs, but found ours to be a tad burnt and dry. So, to me, not worth the price (this is the only thing keeping me from a 5-star review). When we make our way back up to Kalamazoo for family later this year, it's only our list to visit again. read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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I feel very safe and comfortable visiting the beer garden, even during a snow storm! We were given free gloves and a 20% off token to use in the store, and stayed very warm with the patio heaters! read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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What a great find!. Great food, great atmosphere and an amazing selection of beer. Even the bathrooms were a 10 for style and cleanliness read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Great beer selection - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Loved this spot! We were driving through Michigan for what seemed like FOREVER and decided we were hungry. Thankfully, Bell's came to the rescue! If we would have had more time, I would have loved to take a tour, but really wanted to get home.... We visited mostly for lunch, but did try out two of the beers. I am totally blanking on the name of my beer, but it was citrusy and light and not very hoppy - very delicious! For lunch, I had the chicken wrap and also got a taste of the brisket dip. Definitely skip the chicken and have the brisket - I thought the chicken was a tad off on texture - it may be that it was just the end pieces from a nice chicken, but it was a bit off...the flavor of the sandwich itself was good, with nice dressing and really fresh vegetables. The brisket however - WOW! Flavor explosion - I wish I could have snuck a few more bites. The bun was a perfect consistency to pick up the au jus, the meat was delicious and the cheese/dressing was just a perfect mixture of flavor. Chips on the side were ok, the pickle was quite sour, but a good pickle showing. The outdoor patio was adorable - I think they must do concerts there and other events and it's really a perfect space for it. Indoors is also quite pleasing and it's warm and comfortable. The store has a great mix of clothes and beer brewing (and wine making) equipment. Definitely worth a stop in, though we didn't buy anything. Growlers are good for two weeks (prior to opening) and have approx 10 beers...a bit too much for me, but would be a great idea for a party! Worth a visit to this great brewery and cafe! read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Lovely patio! Eat outside! - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Jacob enjoyed Bell's so much on our Beercation that it was the lone brewery we visited twice during our three days in the area. The cafe was hopping on a Friday night, but service wasn't too hard to get. Jake did a flight. Samples (5oz) are priced individually at anywhere between $2 and $5 depending on gravity. They had a huge selection of beers to choose from, but no gateway beers for non-beer drinkers like myself, a la' Soft Parade. That would have been nice. I tried their cider but it was laughably bad. We ordered a couple apps while hanging out and got whammied with what we thought were soft pretzels... but ended up being a bag of pretzel rods with dipping sauces... $6 for that seemed like a rip-off. So now you know. Don't order the pretzel app unless you want some pretzel rods and Schuler's cheese. The buffalo chicken and naan bread was excellent, though. The space is open and interesting. There are tchotchkes on the walls to look at, and lots of seats and standing space for groups. Parking is limited, so carpool if you can. Overall, we enjoyed our visits to Bell's! If you love beer, this is the spot for you. If you don't drink beer, you're limited to white or red wine, or lackluster cider. read more

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Always have amazing food and a great selection of the best brew you can get in Michigan!! The building is sweet and the Biergarten is so cool, just plan on hanging for quite a while since this place gets packed! Oh and by the way, service rocks here as everyone helps out and makes it easy! read more

My friends and I have been to Bell's Eccentric Café twice now over the past two years but we would have gone more if we lived closer to Kalamazoo. We spent all of our time in the enclosed outdoor seating area by the music stage. Of course the perfect weather made it a terrific experience, but so did the wonderful food selections, the efficient and fast service, just about every style on tap of Bell's beers, and an overall groovy experience. Highly recommend. read more

Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Outside seating - Music Venues Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Beers are great. Food is good. Brewery and patio are always laidback and accommodating. Make sure you check the live music schedule as it can get loud during shows, so simply know what kind of vibe you'll be entering. Ww will absolutely return. read more