This review is not about the quality of the food at this establishment because we left before placing an order. Last summer (mid-June), we did eat here and it was outside in the back. It was a lovely setting with excellent food and service. Because of that wonderful experience, we decided to come back and celebrate our friend's birthday. I made a reservation over month ago and was looking forward to another wonderful dining experience like we had last summer. This turned out to not be the case. It started out well with a text stating that our table was ready (nearly an hour before our reservation time). I thought that maybe they were not too busy and the timing of our culinary adventure was going to be great. When we arrived the young lady at the host stand greeted us and walked us over to our table. When we saw it, I looked around to see if there was a better location because it looked cramped on an initial glance. On the other side of the room, there was a four person table that was empty and I requested that one. She told me that it was for a reservation for four people and our party was only three. So, we went back to our table and proceeded to sit down. The seats were very uncomfortable and there was very little space between the seats and the adjacent table. The table was a four person table that had a quarter of it cut out to create a three person table and jammed into a protruding wall. It was oddly configured and would require the person sitting solo to reach around the wall to access the rest of the table. I understand why this was created (to accommodate more people), however, it also created a bad dining experience. We decided to leave and find a different restaurant to celebrate our friend's birthday. I must say that even though we made our reservation over a month ago, it did not matter because we were given a bad place to sit. And, with the price of the dining experience there, the management should be ashamed of themselves for thinking that reconfiguring a four person table to accommodate three people by cutting and jamming it into a tight space is acceptable because they need a larger restaurant is unacceptable. We will not be returning to this restaurant. read more

Excellent vibe Creative menu Excellent service Have gone a few times and certainly going back read more

Hands down 5 stars. Our waitress Lindsey was phenomenal. Super friendly and welcoming. Definitely a higher end restaurant in the area. It's a tapas place so "small plates" all shareable. We had the BBQ Carrots, Sunflower Burrata, Pickled Beets, crunchy potatoes, Thai coconut shrimp, and the bread and butter. Each meal came out separately but it was so nice bc you were able to enjoy it and it came out at the perfect temperature and decor was impeccable. Thank you for great service guys! Such a great time! read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - BBQ carrots - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Even better than last time. We sat at the bar by the kitchen. A lot of fun to watch the work and detail that goes into the dishes. Service was even better this time. Pacing was excellent. Food - still excellent. There seemed to be a high proportion of staff:customers. I believe I counted 10 total staff hustling and bustling while we were there. Anyway, bravo, will return and continue recommending to others! read more

Just love the shareable small plate offerings. The service was friendly and attentive. Had the cozy corner table perfect for our threesome behind the front door. read more

Excellent dining experience! Such great flavors & beautiful presentation. Server was knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The food has a modern twist with Asian influence. We enjoyed a nice sparkling sake that paired really well with both the entree and dessert. Highly recommend this place if you are a foodie. Do not sleep on the Mille Cake! read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - Egyptian Cotton and Daisy Buchanan - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Houndstooth is a great little place to enjoy dinner and cocktails. They have an eclectic menu with unique dishes. We always order the BBQ carrots with orange segments and cumin cream and the sunflowers & burrata. The duck wings are delicious as well. Last time we visited, we tried the milk-braised pork paccheri and slow steak served with a charred cabbage wedge. Both were very flavorful and the steak was cooked to perfection. Try the Out of Focus cocktail with your meal. We usually ask for Bjorn. He is a great server and is very knowledgeable when it comes to explaining the dishes. read more

My girlfriend and I came here for her birthday and the food was AMAZING!!! From the appetizer to the entree to the drinks... delicious!

Great Atmosphere, great service, great cocktails. Our favorite dish was the duck wings. The Halibut was terrible. It was so salty that it wasn't even edible. read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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Spectacular, some of the best food I've had in the state of Michigan. I was able to sit at the bar and watch the chef prepare courses. Flavors were complex, well balanced, and elevated. Will go again anytime I'm driving through to chicago! read more

Excellent food. You pick items from the menu and it' comes out in courses. Somewhat like family style where everyone tries a portion of each dish. Keeps everyone engaged with the people surrounding them instead of zoning in on their individual plate of food. I think the prices were reasonable considering the quality and atmosphere. There are no restaurants in the area with this type/quality of food. The only thing I miss from living in the city is the food. Nice find. read more

Great! I liked sitting at the bar and watching the whole process of cooking and plating the dishes. They truly care about the food quality and its presentation. 10/10 recommend. read more

We went on a Friday night and has a reservation at the bar. It wasn't near the cooking area, so it was better for us. Small plates were wonderful. We had the Heirloom Tomatoes, Sunflowers n' Burrata, Black Bean Chicken. And Chocolate Semifreddo for dessert. All were excellent but we liked the burrata the best. Service was attentive and the bartender was great in telling us about the various wines and specialty cocktails. read more

Three things you need to know about Houndstooth... 1. You'll feel a great energy and vibe as soon as you walk in the door. It's in a renovated space in a historic Benton Harbor building on the outskirts of the Arts district. I'm not sure if the feeling comes from the digs or the people working there or both but you can tell that people are ecstatic to be there. 2. The menu is creative and inspired by the chef/owners personal experiences - we tried a number of dishes, all were fabulous and presented with enough time in between each one to savor it and truly discover the uniqueness about the dish. 3. The cocktails and menu compliment each other well and will change with the seasons and availability of ingredients. Given the quality of the food and portion sizes, your meal at Houndstooth will be an exceptional value as well. Oh yeah, DO NOT miss the creamsicle poke cake! read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Unique & tasty meal. Surprised that silverware weren't kept clean in napkins when set out, as they were set directly onto the bare counter and tables for guests. Between cold/flu season & hoping people are being conscientious to not spread germs it was disappointing to not see that addressed. Even before Covid hit the world, it is good practice to be more sanitary. read more

Not good, Great. And not SW Michigan, passable-as-great, but legitimately amazing. The space is beautiful. Contemporary design, yet not at all fussy. Chill, warm, welcoming, lovely. Even the bathrooms are lovely. Every aspect of our experience was considered, and it shows. Decor, plates and bowls, flatware, and of course food. An open kitchen that sparkles like jewelry next to the warm tones of the dining room. The space compliments the style of food perfectly. The food was amazing. Prices are on point, as are portions. Nothing gimmicky (man I hate gimmicky). They're cooking with intention. Everything on the menu is within reach, approachable and delicious. The dishes were so well balanced, flavors, textures, presentation, all of it. They took the time to give each dish that extra little nudge that puts it over the top, and makes my eyes light up and my heart beat a little faster. Not good, Great. The service was as smooth as silk on opening night. On opening night! I didn't see a hint of hesitation, fumbling, or nerves from the front or back of the house. Presentations were beautiful. Space was beautiful. Cocktails were bright and balanced and joyous. This isn't what we're used to seeing around here, and I'm so glad for it. I feel lucky that this is in my town. The air inside Houndstooth was thick with chatter and music and warmth and love. I went in for a meal and left with stars in my eyes, imagining the whole neighborhood bustling with life again. A restaurant that can do that much is a really special place. I thought a lot about how to pen a review that did my experience last night justice, and honestly I think I'm falling a little short. Just Go. GO! read more

Love love love this place. There's nothing on the menu you won't like and the specialty drinks are so good. The service is top-notch and the ambience Is so fun and inviting read more

Been here multiple times now and have absolutely not one complaint. Not only is the customer service top notch, the owners/chefs are there every night working. Servers and host staff are all incredibly friendly. Go ahead and just close your eyes and point to something randomly on the menu because it is guaranteed to be the best meal you've had (but also do yourself a favor and order the BBQ carrots). We will be back again and again and again and will always recommend Houndstooth. Being that the restaurant is so great, people reserve a seat ahead of time regularly. So if you're planning to eat here, call ahead or go to their website and make a reservation. It is time well spent. read more

After reading the excellent reviews I have to agree- they are spot on about this gem of a place! I'd just like to add that I live in downtown Chicago with many good restaurants to choose from, but I'd rather return to Houndstooth and explore the rest of their menu than eat at another restaurant back home. I also felt like the prices were reasonable for the quality and portion sizes compared to similar restaurants in Chicago. My partner and I had the Vietnamese wings, the BBQ carrots, the fish of the day (a panko-crusted branzino), and the lemon merengue budino. When I was asked which dish was my favorite, I honestly could not decide. Every single one was delicious in its own way! I liked that you could see the chefs and the whole staff "working it," and there was genuine enthusiasm and excitement in what they were doing. read more

I'm just not a fan. Too expensive, too crowded, too bougie. I know some people love it, but I don't get it.

We came to the area from Chicago for our anniversary, and this was perfect for a celebration. I love being able to try many dishes that are all unique, so this place was perfect. I would highly recommend this place overall, but that doesn't mean all dishes knocked it out of the park. I'm going to rate the dishes purely on taste. I have further thoughts at the end. BBQ CARROTS 8/10. I love roasted carrots, especially ones that taste grilled. I think this dish was light, flavorful, and well-balanced. This comes with about 4-5 carrots. BIRRIA BUNS 9.5/10. This was delightful. So hot, fresh, and luscious buns of pork dipped in broth. Really unique dish that we wish we could have eaten at least two more apiece. This comes with two buns. SLOW STEAK 7/10. I saw images for this dish on Yelp that was different than how I got this dish. I was really looking forward to getting it how it is in the pics. I understand things change over time, etc, but dang! In the pics, this dish has sliced pieces of steak; but when I got it, it was a small filet. Overall disappointed especially because I don't think this dish is worth the price. CRUNCHY POTATOES 8/10. These were crunchy and paired very well with a picante/cream sauce. I am a slut for crunchy potatoes, so of course, I liked these. They weren't the MOST amazing potatoes I've ever had, but honestly, the bar is pretty high. BREAD & BUTTER 11/10. This was one of the most interesting things I've ever seen/eaten. When you think "bread and butter", this is not what you envision. These were two, delightful pillows of bread that have a thick coating of chives completely coating one side. This was also a dish that we wish we could've had two more pieces each. You must get this. JAPANESE NOODLE DISH 11/10. You also must get this. This dish is not on the menu on their website, so I'm not sure if it's a limited-time deal. This has duck, bacon, and loads of gochujang. What else could you ask for? Savory, spicy, saucy. That's all I want in a dish. MUST GET THIS. Ok so... the majority of the food was out of the park good. But my only gripe is the value for some dishes. But hey I understand this is an upscale environment, so that's really what I signed up for. I would go back and make some different choices from the menu, that's all. The service was also outstanding, honestly. Hand and foot type service while also leaving you be. Perfection in my opinion. Alright well, you get the point. Make your reservation now. read more

Excellent food, excellent drinks nothing to complaint about other than is really hard to make a reservation since they are always booked..

This restaurant is outstanding. My husband and I were in the area visiting family and understandably many restaurants were closed early in the week, so when we saw that Houndstooth was open on Tuesdays we quickly made a reservation. We were able to sit at the counter to watch all of the dishes being created which was really cool- plexiglass barriers in place to keep Covid safe but still allowed us to watch the cooking process. Our server was amazing and recommended that we get a few small plates and a large plate to share which was the perfect amount for 2 people. I think the tuna sashimi small plate was my favorite but my husband has not shut up about the seared steak with cashew cream sauce and seared cabbage since we've had it. Houndstooth was an unexpected gem for us and I highly recommend anyone in the area stop by for a meal. read more

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It's my absolute favorite restaurant in town. I always make it a point to stop in when my best friend is in town and the food and service never disappoint. I absolutely recommend if you are looking for some great cuisine, drinks, and atmosphere! read more

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Great environment, attentive servers, really unique a d delicious food. We have friends who make the drive from Chicago for dinner at houndsrooth. Handcrafted cocktails. If you can't get in try their 2nd venture Animal nearby. Very different concept, great food and drinks. read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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Wow! Over impressed with the food and cocktails! Our server, Emily was great at going over options and how everything can work together. 1st time here and it won't be the last! The mixologist was able to go over each cocktail we had (3) because we sat at the counter, giving us in depth descriptions. Just a great vibe overall. read more

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This place is pretty cool! Local farm-to-table style with an industrial vibe. We did get lost trying to find the place. Totally unassuming in the middle of construction. The drinks are great! Infusion of fresh and unique ingredients. Better if the waiter knew the local spirits/wine/beer from the area. The food is also pretty good! The chef is trying a new take on various dishes. Ordered the bbq carrots - can really taste the smoke on this one - crispy and tasty . Crunch potatoes was also tasty - crunchy with a side of what tastes like malt vinegar which I loved! The haystacks was a new take - it was loaded with various fresh ingredients. I liked it but it will be a surprise to those who know the OG haystacks. The coconut flounder was interesting with the side of rice cake - it was also a fresh take on a Thai-style curry - wish it had more flavor and heat to it. Hope to have a more bold flavor in the dishes next time. Overall I would go back. Great job Benton Harbor for bringing this in! read more

Although Benton Harbor is just across the bridge from St. Joseph's beautiful waterfront, I was unsure of what to expect from this restaurant. Houndstooth is an oasis in the "come back" area of downtown Benton Harbor. Small, discrete, tasteful, meticulously clean and an open kitchen to view every step of food prep. We were greeted and seated immediately; they are realistic with their reservation times. Drinks arrived quickly - and kudos to the bartender/hostess who was a pleasure to watch in her efficient style and ample pours. Small plates are a preferred dining style for our dining group. We shared a Mexican inspired seafood appetizer with shrimp and large chunks of fresh crab. Excellent. The preparation of the flatbread "cracker" was unique and marvelous and light - like a crispy pretzel. That was followed by a fresh Sushi-grade tuna dish, cooked to perfection. Because of some health concerns, the kitchen served the accent sauces on the side for us as well as the mushrooms for the next dish. The largest and most substantial item on the menu was an expertly prepared steak. These are slow roasted to a very medium rare, then flash fried for a minute or two to finish off prior to serving. Perfection! Crispy potatoes and roasted sweet carrots complimented the main course perfectly. Dessert was a light but rich chocolate ice cream frozen between chocolate crusts with a fresh and light salted caramel topping as accent. A wonderful end to an exquisite and simple meal. You will enjoy this restaurant - casual dress, unpretentious atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff and exquisite food preparation. We will be back! read more

The food conjured by Cheyenne and James is pure magic! Our experience this evening was magnificent, and our meal was superb! Service was top notch! And the restaurant is beautiful and inviting. There were four adults in our party, and we shared 2 bottles of Zinfandel, 5 share plates, two orders of the bread & butter, and all three desserts. Our shares included Rock Shrimp Spring Rolls, Short Rib Tartare, BBQ Carrots, Paccheri, and the Black Bean Chicken. Without a doubt every single dish was elevated excellence, but my personal favorites was the Black Bean Chicken and the Paccheri. The Bread & Butter sounds so unassuming, but the milk bread topped with the black garlic and chopped chives is what dreams are made of, thus our need to place a second order. The desserts were...WOW! Originally we were only going to order 2 to share between the four of us, but I'm glad we decided to splurge and order all three on the menu. Each one was decadent and yummy. I'm obsessed with the Vanilla Panna Cotta. Needless to say, we will be back as soon as possible. The only thing the Houndstooth did wrong, was to raise the bar so high that other local restaurants will feel subpar. read more

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Casual funky and cool. With tapas and some of the best food you've ever eaten. Great cocktail list excellent small and large plate choices. Knock down drag out good food. @jamesbeard jury where are you ? read more

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Absolutely awesome flavors in every dish and delectable drinks served by the bartender...what more can you ask for?!!!

I just had the best rotisserie chicken of my life here and I've been looking for a while. When it comes to rotisserie chickens I'm no stranger. I've tried all the rotisserie chickens where I live and have now expanded past our state lines into uncharted territories of juicy flavorness. Highly recommend stopping here while visiting Carter next door. read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

I'll start off by commenting that the food was good, well presented, and delicious, which is why we chose to come here while visiting the St. Joseph area. If you aren't dining with children or have time constraints, my remaining comments won't pertain to you. We were visiting the St. Joseph area on vacation with our young children and wanted a delicious meal. I acknowledge that this establishment may not regularly cater to families with younger children, however, I would expect some flexibility in their service staff when there are. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. The meal is tapas style, the entire dining experience is expected to take ~2-3 hrs. We let our waiter know ahead of time to bring our plates all at once, as we have young children, and they wouldn't last 2-3 hrs. He acknowledged and placed our 9 plates tapas order. As the initial plates came out, I noticed that new plates weren't coming until we finished the 1-2 plates that had come out before it, I mentioned again to bring all the plates out as soon as possible. Again, he acknowledged and said he would do so and move our remaining plates ahead of the line. 2 hours into our meal we had 3 plates remaining and the children were getting antsy. I asked the waiter how long to expect our remaining plates, and he sarcastically asked, "why do you have an appointment to be at?" at that comment we were taken aback. Clearly on a Friday night at 730pm, that was not the case. He didn't answer our question, thereafter I requested our remaining plates we boxed and we left the restaurant. Again, delicious food, but if you are dining with young children or have time constraints, there doesn't seem to be much flexibility in their service. read more

Went to houndstooth for the first time tonight. Wasn't sure what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar and were able to watch all of the dishes be curated and enjoyed all of our dishes. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Blown away! The venue has a casual chill vibe, and yet it's a great high end menu. Everything was so flavorful and top notch and it's absolutely at the caliber of top Chicago restaurants. Loved everything. Some of what we liked most: carrots!!, pork pasta, sea bass donburi, scallops, short rib tartare. The house old fashioned is excellent with a unique flavor. read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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Tucked into a quaint space downtown with very little signage may have been one of the beet overall restaurant experiences I've had in my life to date. We are not consistently fancy diners, and at first the menu at Houndstooth was intimidating, however our waiter was fantastic and took the time to explain ever single item on the menu. The restaurant serves many small plates and they recommend splitting 4-6 between each other Everything sounded so good we ended up at 6 rather quickly. We started with the garlic milk bread (photo included), which was crispy, and salty on the outside but fluffy and slightly sweet on the inside, it was incredibly well balanced and I honestly could have eaten a full loaf. Next we had the BBQ carrots (also a photo) which were unlike any vegetable I've tasted, smoky, sweet and tender, these may have been my favorite dish of the night. From there we moved on to the paccheri and duck wings, the paccheri was a pasta dish with pork and a sort of cream that was a great choice for a chilly February evening and the duck wings were an elevated take on hot wings that I would be more than willing to serve at my super bowl party tonight! Lastly we enjoyed the slow steak and crunchy potatoes to finish our meal. The slow steak was reverse seared in a mole sauce based crust. It wasn't saucey itself but had an outer layer that was a wonderful pairing with the tender juicy center of the steak. The crunch potatoes were an awesome side to pair with the steak and covered with a crema sauce that balanced well with the picante vinaigrette on the bottom. I tried their house old fashioned recommended by the staff and also what I believe was called the seismic wave, this served as my dessert as it was a martini with their homemade cold brew and a chocolate finish. I wish I would have taken more photos, we started off strong but the food was so delicious that it quickly drew out focus away from our phones. I would highly highly highly recommend Houndstooth to anyone that's looking to celebrate an evening of decadence. You will not be disappointed. read more

Houndstooth Restaurant - Garlic Milk Bread - New American Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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We loved our visit here. Such unique dishes, all excellent! If you're looking for a unique dining experience, try it!

Simply a remarkable restaurant. Went for a private event, with a multi-course wine-pairing dinner. Each course was creative, not fussy, and just delicious. Wine selection was exquisite. Cannot speak highly enough about how wonderful the experience at Houndstooth is. Among the extraordinary dishes we had was a tuna creation with a tonnato sauce. This dish might be - and I know this sounds crazy - the best restaurant dish I have ever had. I've lived in and around the food mecca of Ann Arbor for 30 years, eaten at every great restaurant there, and many times as well at the outstanding Red Haven in East Lansing. Houndstooth might very well best them all. What an incredible little place. Destination dining without a question. The good people of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are indeed lucky to have this place to go to on a regular basis. read more

An amazing culinary and cocktail experience...in an odd part of town. Everything is top class and I can't imagine you'd leave disappointed.

Novelty of it all. Each bite was delectable. Fish, carrot, potato, bean or sauce all of it is individually perfect and then together explosive. read more