We stopped at Eastern Kille Distillery after looking for something in a nicer part of town. The outdoor dining is nice and quiet, with lots of trees, good shade, and a super convenient QR to place orders. The QR made the group order very easy. There's zero road or traffic noise outside We love onion dip with chips and were surprised to see it on a menu. It did not disappoint, nor did anything else on the menu. The mojito was fresh and refreshing with a perfect balance of sweetness and mint. The bourbon smash was just slightly fruity, had a nice kick, and went down easy. I forgot to take photos of the pizzas, but we got the pepperoni with honey and the margarita. Both were fantastic, with perfect wood fired crust that were chewy, thin, and had great texture. This part of Michigan is loaded with unique spots to eat and if I lived here, I would definitely be back! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Bourbon Smash - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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We grabbed some amazing drinks on the patio while we waited for our table. Ordered a couple pizzas. They were great. Very lively atmosphere.

Excellent Pizza great service beautiful building so much to enjoy Our family really enjoys this place as we go often read more

So excited to have the opportunity to eat here finally! I love their location on Wealthy in GR and this new location is huge and beautiful! We sat out on their back patio and were able to order via our phones with a QR code. Started with drinks and apps and eventually tried the pizza! I loved how refreshing my garden spritz was alone with the insanely good olives that I ordered The veggie pizza I ate felt so satisfying but also didn't make me feel guilty being a wood fire pizza with a thinner crust. Coming with a group was easy during the week. Would definitely love to come again and explore the trails nearby and try more beverages on their menu Check this place out if you're ever in Rockford! read more

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My friends and I recently went here for a girl's night and it was really nice! There is amble parking at the restaurant which was really convenient and honestly a factor I take into consideration. The venue itself was massive and boasted a spacious indoor area as well as 2 outdoor seating options. My friends and I used two of the outdoor tables that came with umbrellas which were perfect for the summer day. We were able to order food and drinks through a qr code on the table. This was honestly really helpful in a large group where we could easily order whenever we needed to and manage our own separate checks. There were also servers and bussers who were incredibly diligent and helpful. I ended up getting the hot honey pepperoni pizza (it was discounted on Monday when we went!) and it was very tasty. It was a little oily and greasy but that's to be expected with something like this. I was a fan of the pepperonis they used and don't know what they're called to buy them for myself to eat. Overall, I'd definitely recommend coming out with friends or biking along the trail and stopping for a pizza. read more

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I had the opportunity to go with a bunch of gal pals and absolutely loved it! We all sat on their back patio and could order with a QR code. You could also split your tabs individually (LOVE THIS OPTION!) so it was easy from the jump without having to figure out who was paying, making it difficult for the servers and each table had a number so it was really simple for the teams just brought out food to the proper table. Surprisingly, the space out there was shaded, not too hot and quite comfortable even though the air temperature said it was a lot warmer than it felt. The food was brought out really prompt and delicious. We ordered woodfire pizza and it was steamy and delicious! We even got a good little cheese pull which isn't common on a woodfire pizza, which was a lovely little surprise! The crust wasn't too soggy or greasy and the ranch was just runny enough. The drink was probably my least favorite part, for the cost, it felt very small but that seems on par with any sort of cocktail spot in the GR area. But for the Monday pizza special, I'd definitely come again! If you're a biker... I'd definitely take the white pine trail from GR and bike up, and enjoy the trail, get a work out in and enjoy a slice before heading back home! read more

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We love the pizza there so much. We also got the chips and dip! Service ambiance everything is always great! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Dip trio, green giant pizza, pulled pork sandwich, pepperoni honey thyme, espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

What a nice break from our trip up north. We stopped during happy hour and the deals are awesome on food and drinks. We sat on the covered patio but got to watch the backyard and see all the families and bikers open in to enjoy everything including the live music. The inside dining was very classy looking and lovely. For drinks we stuck with old fashions and whiskey smashes. Both very well crafted and tasty. We got the pizza with pepperoni and honey. What a nice combination and it was on the happy hour deals too. The charcuterie board was a massive amount of cheese and meats. The service was great and fast and checking in on us frequently. You could tell they were all helping each other out which was nice to see as it got busier and busier. I would definitely pass through again on the way up north or back down. read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Charcuterie was massive. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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Delicious pizza and outstanding gin and tonics. Staff is friendly, helpful, and they like working there, I believe. Busy on Mondays because it's two for one pizza night, but we always get two or three to have plenty of delicious leftovers. I highly recommend Eastern Kille read more

Thr pizza and gin drinks are amazing. I love the proximity to the bike trail and the beautiful views of the forest. I cant wait to come back! Its the best pizza in the area. Unfortunately, we live 2 hours away, but looking forward to the next time! The only critiques I'd give is: let customers oder with real servers instead of QR codes. Also the drinks on the patio should not be served with disposable plastic cups. read more

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Really great vibe. Came here on a Saturday night, appreciate that they are open late. Great service,, drinks were good. Honestly, I love a thin crust pizza but this one was really just OK. However, the burrata- like appetizer was fantastic. My dessert was also just OK but my fiancé got the vanilla ice cream with olive oil, sea salt, and cookie pieces and that was fantastic. read more

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Excellent cocktails and pizza! The outdoor area is very kid friendly. We will definitely be back! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Outdoor fire pit. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

Always great food and drinks. Highly recommend the Pepperoni Honey Thyme pizza and the aviation drink.

After feeling like no restaurant in Rockford could compare to Grand Rapids, I finally found a favorite! Eastern Kille Distillery has hands-down the best ambience in town...an amazing outdoor space with both casual and more traditional seating, and a beautifully designed indoor area that's cool, airy, and elegant yet totally relaxed. It's also surprisingly kid-friendly, even though they currently don't have a kids' menu. We tried the Stracciatella, which was unfortunately too salty for my taste, and the pepperoni pizza with honey and thyme, which was creative and flavorful. That said, I'd suggest easing up on the pepperoni and spice, it was a bit much for my kids. I ordered the large mixed greens salad and it was extremely fresh and delicious. The service was a highlight. Our server was kind and attentive, despite being clearly stretched thin. She was doing everything ...serving, cleaning, bussing. It was honestly impressive but also a sign that more staff support is needed. I'd definitely recommend they add a kids' menu (even just fries or nuggets would go a long way!) and hire some bus staff to support the servers. Still, the ambience and experience were strong enough to keep me coming back. read more

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Service: we went towards their closing time but our server didn't rush us at all. He did hand us off to one of the bartenders but they had a smooth transition. Nice friendly staff. Food: we just ordered cocktails and the tees letches cake which was delicious!!! Ambiance: my brother and his wife told me this location is very different than their first one in downtown GR. This Rockford location is more upscale, minimalist decor, and very chic. There is an outdoor patio and I believe they do have a BBQ grill or food truck. read more

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We came here for drinks, and were able to order a Tiramisu right before the kitchen closed for the night. The aesthetic of Eastern Kille has changed drastically from when it was Gray Skies downtown, in a good way! We loved the old aesthetic (chill, laid back, homey), and also love the new aesthetic (large, sophisticated, a flirty bar scene in a movie should be filmed here); the cocktails have remained the same - strong and delicious. The three of us ordered a variety of drinks, and each one was unique and flavorful in its own right. The Tiramisu? Yummmmm spongey and decadent, perfect with a bourbon drink, and even an espresso martini. It would be the perfect place to host a small event, especially for those that love libations. Now that we live much closer, we are planning on stopping by to try out their pizzas and other menu items! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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Came here about a week ago on a Friday night for dinner. We were seated right away, but by the time we were leaving I think there were a couple parties waiting for tables. What a beautiful, modern, minimalistic interior design! I do not see restaurants that look like this in Rockford typically. Half of the building is the restaurant, and I'm assuming the other half is the distillery. The drink menu is very appealing in my opinion. I started with an espresso martini and then had a glass of white wine (I think it was chardonnay, I forget, and the wine list is quite small). They have a nice cocktail menu and obviously several liquors for tasting. We really enjoyed the caesar salad; the dressing was superb and I personally appreciate anchovies on a caesar salad, and my boyfriend enjoyed it too for his first time having anchovies. We shared the pepperoni/honey/thyme pizza, which was fantastic, and the veggie pizza, which was also fantastic. Neapolitan style pizza is my favorite (I'm from CT so New Haven/Brooklyn style pizza is my bias). Pizzas range from around $18-22, so obviously not cheap but they are about 14" in size. I think I would crave coming here about once every few months; it would be nice to see how they rotate their menu! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Pepperoni, thyme, and honey (bottom), Spring Veggie (top) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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What a beautiful distillery! I recently discovered this location and can't believe I hadn't been before. The drinks and pizza were both excellent! The pizzas are a bit on the pricey side, so I'd recommend going with a group and sharing -- totally worth it! read more

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One of our new favorites. My wife & I Usually go sit, at the bar & have a couple of handcrafted cocktails & appetizers. The staff here is tremendous, atmosphere great Beautiful modern scandinavian design. A must visit on your next date night. During the summer they have a very spacious patio that is nice & relaxing to dine on as well! read more

Eastern Kille is set back off a quiet road and doesn't appear to be a restaurant. In fact, I drove right past it! It's very spacious with big bar and in the summertime, ample outdoor seating. We were seated by one of the giant windows and watched deer walking through the woods. We both ordered the Notorious F.I.G. and really enjoyed it. For dinner I ordered the mortadella, pistachio and honey pizza. It was excellent. Totally loaded with mortadella. I think it would be cool to have an option of hot honey, but loved it as served. Great place. Looking forward to a return visit. read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Mortadella, pistachio and honey pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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What an amazing distillery, it's absolutely beautiful inside. We stopped in for cocktails which were perfect, will be back to try the pizza(it looked so good)! Loved sitting at the bar, the bartender was great and recommended some tasty drinks! If you are in the area check it out! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

Do you want handcrafted spirits, great cocktails, and awesome food? This is a place for you! Last time I went I had a charcuterie board with an old fashioned and the drink was spot on! Charcuterie board was elegant with great pairings! Wait times can be a little long on occasion, but no longer than you should expect from this sort of place. The place itself looks modern and upscale, and has a good amount of seating but will fill up fast for dinner time most of the week. Understandably so!! Only slight complaint is that it can be noisy sometimes so you may need to speak up to order. One thing that is really cool is you can buy spirits straight from there by the bottle, and local stores and supermarkets will have some of their products in stock! Definitely worth looking for at the local Meijer. Overall if you are in the Rockford area you need to go here! In fact it's something that should be on your list if you are traveling anywhere close by. read more

One of favorite places year round. Love the new Sunday brunch. Great spirits. Steenstras Old Fashioned is so good.

Eastern Kille opened a new tasting room/restaurant/production facility in Rockford in December 2023. Their former Ottawa location near downtown GR is now closed, so we decided to make the drive up to check out the new spot. (They also have a small cocktail bar on Wealthy Street.) I'd seen photos and knew the space would be beautiful, and I wasn't disappointed with the huge window overlooking the trees. There's an outdoor patio area that should be really nice in the summer. We arrived right after they opened at 3pm on a Friday and were seated right away. It was starting to get really busy when we left. Currently they don't take reservations so try to get there right at open or avoid peak times if you don't want to wait. The cocktails were mostly familiar and really reasonably priced in my opinion. We tried several: the getaway, chupacabra, doctor's orders, and electric slide. All were delicious and well balanced. My favorite was the electric slide as it was a little different. They also have N/A options which I always appreciate. The food menu includes wood-fired pizza and some shareables - we ordered the caesar salad and mortadella, pistachio & honey pizza. I haven't seen mortadella on many pizzas in the area so I was excited to try it. Verdict: food was delicious. I loooved the salad; I'd honestly go back just for that. It's simple but really well done and I love white anchovies so was happy to see they're included at no additional cost. The pizza was nicely charred and the crust held up well although this one doesn't have any sauce. The mortadella is rich with a few bites of peppercorn throughout. Overall this is a great addition to the area as I don't think Rockford has another cocktail-focused bar. Wait times for drinks and food were a bit longer, but they've only been open a week, so we were prepared for that. I'm looking forward to visiting again to try more pizza and drinks! read more

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This had such a fun vibe to it. Big windows and outdoor seating with big heat lamps by it with trees around the building. They had a great variety of mixed drinks with fun names (and the presentation of the drinks was great). We had some pizzas and cheesy bread and it was delicious! I liked how the traditional "pepperoni" pizza has honey in it--was a unique but not overwhelming feature. The menu did not have pictures but I checked Yelp to get an idea of what the food looked like which was helpful. We all had a great time! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Drink (can't remember the name but it had Chia I believe) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

I really cannot say enough about how much I love Eastern Kille. I've been a couple of times while visiting family, but honestly I would come to this place regularly if I lived in the area. Everything is on point. The interior has hip, modern, yet cozy vibes. There is an excellent outdoor patio, which I understand they've expanded since my first visit. There are beautiful tree-lined views every way you look. The service has also been top notch--friendly, attentive, and well informed. I've had some questions in the past about the various specialty liquors they distill, and I've received the benefit of my server's expertise and thoughtfulness in the form of tasters. The first time I visited was a happy hour scenario and we had some stracciatella with chili crisp, which was drool worthy. The second time, we ordered a pepperoni and honey pizza, a 'supreme' which had calabrian chili sauce and peruvian/sweety drop peppers with sausage and pepperoni, and some cheese bread. (I would love to give some of the more creative topping choices a try--mortadella & pistachio, and the veggie option, oh my!--if left to my own devices). All of the pizzas were well executed. The supreme is definitely spicy, in case that is not your thing. I could probably consume several of the black garlic caesar salads alone, it was just that tasty. (We split one large size for four of us, which worked well as an appetizer). The white anchovies we got on the side given our group's preferences, but wow...were those good. Nice and bright and lemony. They were also dressed with parsley and breadcrumbs even--talk about a nice touch. (This definitely made me want to try the anchovy appetizer some time.) Last, but certainly not least, the cocktails are all exceptional. Truly. The traditional ones are perfectly executed, the specialty ones are amazingly inspired. Everything has great balance IMO, and even though I tend to prefer some types of liquor over others, I must say of the ones we tried, I don't think there was a bad draw in the bunch. They also do tasters/flights if you want to sample their spirits, and they have some mocktail options as well. Eastern Kille does not miss in my book. Check it out! read more

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Eastern Kille Rockford just opened last week. I've been super excited about this place both because of EK's reputation and the development of this area of Rockford! It's fast becoming the hot area in town, starting with Third Nature Brewing and now with EK as another beautiful gathering place. Since it's new, the projected wait was up to an hour, but we were seated at the bar at just unter 40 minutes, which was nice; "under promise, over deliver," right?! We had already had dinner, so we went for drinks. The ambiance was beautiful, nice high ceilings, modern design with loads of wood and windows! I can't wait to see this place in the summer with their outdoor seating open and the combination of indoor and outdoor areas. Every staff member we encountered was kind and helpful. I started with a four-sample flight of Michigan bourbon, single-malt whiskey, fernet, and genepy. My partner got their Blue Spruce cocktail. They all were incredible. EK's bourbon, in my opinion, is a bit bitey, but still good. The single malt was delicious and what you'd expect for a whiskey. The Genepy was delicious and so herbal, such a blast of flavor! The fernet reminded me of a rhubarb amaro. We also ordered the focaccia appetizer and it was divine. And finally, we both tried the Notorious FIG, a fig and vanilla-infused bourbon old fashioned. That was delicious! We already have our next visit planned, this will become a regular place! Edit: went back the next day to try the pizza. OMG, it was amazing! Simple, clean, quality ingredients, done perfectly. We tried the mozzarella & basil, pepperoni, honey, & rosemary, and the sausage, pepp, onion, & red peppers; they are were epic! read more

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I am from out of state and needed to kill a few hours before my friends came in town for a fishing bachelor party. I randomly stopped by Eastern Kille and was absolutely blown away. The inside feels like if an Apple Store had a cocktail Genius Bar in the best possible way. Cocktails were outstanding, the staff was knowledgeable and the food was great..... oh wait there is also a peaceful outdoor area. Jealous locals get to visit this every day. read more

The food and drinks are great -- WHEN you get them is often an entirely different matter. The kitchen simply doesn't have the capacity for the four serving areas that they fill with guests. This often results in long waits for food, particularly on busy weekend evenings. As I mentioned, the food and drinks are worthwhile, but be prepared for a leisurely dining experience. read more

Waitlist process is absurd. Take walk-ins and do reservations. You are LOSING money with empty tables and irritating customers. Will seriously reconsider returning read more

If you judge a restaurant by how they approach their hummus plate, then you have to give EK 5 stars. The menu is simple, but the salads and appetizers are not side shows to the (very good) pizza; go ahead, order the Caesar and be glad you did. Love their dog friendly yard area and seasonally inspired cocktails too. The best restaurant in Rockford. read more

Loved the atmosphere. Came here a Saturday afternoon. The pizzas were great (highly recommend pepperoni, honey & thyme) and the G&T on draft! read more

Went on a busy Friday night, however with reservations we were seated quickly upon arriving. The drinks were spot on and amazingly good. The pizzas were also delicious and they had a vegetarian option. The distillery is beautifully built and the outside seating looked romantic with the lights as well. read more

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Love this place. The atmosphere, service, cocktails, and pizza. 4 solo stoves were outside with a lot of seating. We ate inside first and had white bean dip with carrots and crackers. My husband orders the sandwich - turkey, mortadella on naan with chips which he enjoyed. I ordered the featured pizza with bacon, cherry tomatoes, basil, mozz. The crust and fresh ingredients were delicious. Sat outside for a bit with a cocktail near one of the four solo stoves fired up. Live music added to the atmosphere with 2 men in guitars. read more

**Review for Eastern Kille Distillery** Eastern Kille Distillery: where they've managed to elevate the humble pizza to an art form and make cocktails that could bring tears to your eyes--if you're the type to cry over perfection. First, let's discuss the wood-fired pizza. It's not just pizza; it's a revelation. The Mortadella and Pistachio with honey is a combination so sublime it feels like it should be illegal. And the Potato pizza? Comforting, hearty, and so delicious you'll want to move in and make it a part of your daily routine. The Caesar salad, too, is a masterpiece. Crisp, fresh, and generously adorned with anchovies, it's Caesar salad as it was meant to be--bold, briny, and unapologetically flavorful. And then there are the cocktails. Let's be clear: Eastern Kille doesn't just make drinks. They craft elixirs. Their espresso martinis are, quite simply, the best. Perfectly balanced, just the right amount of kick, and so smooth you'll forget every other cocktail you've ever had. In short, Eastern Kille Distillery is a place where the food is extraordinary, the cocktails are divine, and every visit feels like an event. Bravo. read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - Mortadella pizza with pistachio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

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This place may have gotten too popular too quick without staff to support it. Came on a Thursday night. Checked in with the hostess and asked if the bar was open seating. She said it was and it just so happened we noticed a couple getting their bill. As they stood up the hostess came back and told us she was giving the bar seats to people who were waiting on a table. Eventually got a couple seats and ordered two cocktails that took close to 30 minutes to get. Half way through my old fashioned I noticed several fruit flies that must of been at the bottom of the glass and now were floating as the ice had moved. No I did not address this with the bartender they were slammed and she wasn't the one who made it. Very cool atmosphere with a hotel like setting. Hopefully they can get things figured out. read more

The new distillery and restaurant is amazing! Drinks and service were fantastic. We had three different pizzas and they were all very tasty and I highly recommend the cheesy bread and Caesar salad. Their draft gin and tonic is a must! The wait was long but worth it! I would have waited 4 hours to eat and drink here! If you are in Rockford come check this place out! The Ambiance will not disappoint! Make sure to buy a bottle on your way out and maybe some cool swag! read more

Eastern Kille Distillery - My brother and I at EK! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rockford, Michigan

The food is meh, not even the best pizza I've had. The building is has a cool look but service and food are just lacking. Would not recommend. Overpriced basic food. read more

We were so sad when Eastern kill, closed their original location. It was so close to our home and had such a lovely, chill vibe but we love them enough that we tricked up to Rockford to check out their new digs. Wow what upgrade! They were deservedly quite busy and even though we got there about 20 minutes after they opened, they were already nearly at capacity. We were seated at a lovely table facing the woods. Their location is very serene. Our server got our drink order and we spent some time studying new food offerings. Our drinks came out quickly and were skillfully made. I had the notorious FIG, while my husband opted for the nooner. Both were good, but that Nooner wow it was refreshing and so delightful. Our party got two pizzas. Ours being the mortadella, honey and pistachio, and our friends enjoyed the kale and squash. I love mortadella, and even though this is one of the pricier ones on the menu, it was entirely worth it. Overall, even though we miss them being close by, we clearly see that this was a smart move and we will be back again soon. read more

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Stopped on a Saturday with our adult kids and 2 grandsons . While we got a table right away it certainly filled up quickly after , excellent craft cocktails and traditional ones made with their spirits . Pizzas unique and tasty , they do need to work on drink and food timing , pizzas on top of the apps and salads , not coming back to ask for additional drinks . These are kinks that can be worked out in a new place . The ambiance is wonderful , bright and airy , the outside area will be great in summer and access to the white pine trail is tremendous. read more