Louise Earl Butcher -- An Absolutely Perfect Evening!…read more We had the pleasure of attending a wedding reception dinner at Louise Earl Butcher in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday evening, October 10th, and I can honestly say it was one of the finest dining experiences I have ever had. From beginning to end, the entire evening was exceptional. The food was phenomenal, the atmosphere was outstanding, and the hospitality was second to none. First, a huge thank-you to Matt and Cindy, the owners, for creating such a special establishment. It's obvious that an incredible amount of pride, thought, and attention to detail goes into everything they do. What truly sets Louise Earl Butcher apart, though, is the way the owners and their team make an evening feel special. We were wonderfully assisted by Whitney, Vicky, and Adam, and I want to recognize each of them for helping make this such a memorable experience. Their friendliness, attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality were exceptional. They helped create an atmosphere where everyone could relax, enjoy the evening, and celebrate the happy couple without worrying about a thing. Great service is one thing; making guests feel genuinely welcome is something entirely different. Whitney, Vicky, and Adam absolutely delivered! Now, let's talk about the food! The menu was spectacular. We started with Kabocha Squash Bruschetta featuring roasted squash, toasted pepitas, and brie on toasted baguette, along with roasted mushroom polenta bites prepared with local mushrooms, shallots, garlic, herbs, and white cheddar. Both were outstanding introductions to the meal. The kale Caesar salad was fresh and flavorful, with Parmesan cheese, fresh-baked croutons, roasted tomato, and house Caesar dressing. Then came the main course: the 100% grass-fed beef strip loin roast, served with duck-fat-roasted potatoes, broccolini, tatsoi, bok choy, and house chimichurri. I have enjoyed some excellent steaks and beef dinners over the years, but this strip loin was truly exceptional. It was, without question, one of the best beef dishes I have ever had. The quality of the beef, the preparation, and the combination of flavors made it a standout course that deserves special recognition all on its own. And the dessert? Chocolate crème brûlée with perfectly caramelized sugar and fresh berries. An outstanding finish to an incredible dinner! The beverage selection was equally impressive, including the signature Wisconsin Old Fashioned, the Berry Lemonade Smash, an excellent selection of spirits and wines, and local and regional craft beers. Every detail of the evening felt thoughtfully planned. However, as remarkable as the food was, the true highlight was the atmosphere and the people who made it all happen. There are plenty of places that can serve a good meal. Far fewer can create an experience that makes you remember the evening long after you've left. Louise Earl Butcher did exactly that. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and perfectly suited for a wedding celebration. Everything felt comfortable, special, and beautifully executed. Matt and Cindy deserve enormous credit for building a business where outstanding food and genuine hospitality go hand in hand. Whitney, Vicky, and Adam deserve special recognition for the part they played in making the evening so enjoyable. A restaurant is only as good as the people behind it, and this team is clearly doing something right. Myles and Madi's wedding reception was a wonderful celebration, and Louise Earl Butcher helped make it an unforgettable one. Matt and Cindy, thank you for the wonderful experience. Whitney, Vicky, and Adam, thank you for your outstanding service and hospitality. You all contributed to an evening that was absolutely perfect in every way. I've enjoyed plenty of restaurants over the years, but this experience truly stands out. When you combine extraordinary food, a beautiful atmosphere, attentive service, and people who genuinely care about what they do, you get something truly special. If you're looking for a place that delivers more than just dinner--somewhere that makes an occasion memorable--I cannot recommend Louise Earl Butcher highly enough. Five stars aren't enough! Exceptional food, an unforgettable beef strip loin, an incredible atmosphere, and a staff that made the entire evening special. Matt, Cindy, Whitney, Vicky, and Adam, thank you for a truly outstanding experience. We look forward to returning!

This place is so cute and the people are even better!! I passed by once after hearing people talk…read moreabout the shop and realized it wasn't too far from my normal routes. They have an really incredible selection of local meats, Italian products, and wines from all over. They have a really cool event space connected to the main shop that they host events in or it can be rented out. I've really loved all of the meats I've gotten here and definitely notice the increase in quality and am willing to keep money within local businesses and farms!

LOCAL GEM ALERT Stopped by for a hearty breakfast while…read moretraveling through. Seating for less than 50 people but it's comfortable. Tables and counter seating available. Dining next to a deli case and general store. This place does a little of everything! Kids meals - mickey mouse shaped pancakes were a win with my 2 kids. Breakfast meat - bacon and sausage was phenomenal. CRISPY bacon and handmade sausage patties the size of hamburgers! Should be as they are also a deli and smokehouse. Great flavor! Spouse had the "Ralphie" 2 fried eggs on English muffin topped with bacon and sausage gravy served with shredded hash browns. I had the "Sink" veggie scrambled eggs with cheese and toast. Quick service. Friendly. Reasonable prices - $40 before too. $5 kids bfasts.

Been meaning to come here for a while and it did not disappoint. Quaint diner inside of a gas…read morestation...doesn't get much better than that. The corned beef hash was delicious and my Husband loved his eggs Benedict. Coffee was very very good. Some dishes are a bit more than others (mine was $9 but a simple breakfast Sammy was only 5). Staff was friendly and food came out very fast. Might be our new Sunday tradition. Zero complaints.

Their slogan: "At Parkside Foods, you are only a stranger here once"…read more A somewhat scary grocery store (particularly the clientele), with a GREAT meat counter. 10 different types of pepperoni, and they make all their own sausages. The breakfast sausages and homemade bratwurst are really tasty. So, if you are looking for something special in sausages and homemade meats treats, stop by here. Skip the rest of your grocery-buying for another store.

I used to live a couple blocks away from this neighborhood grocery store. It's nice since there's…read moreno other place to pick something you maybe missing for a certain recipe within minutes. Since it's located in the neighborhood, it has a very quaint small town feel to it. It's cleaned up quite a bit and it's meat selection is pretty awesome. Everything is always fresh and lots of homemade sausage and kielbasa. Not a place you'd go all out grocery shopping b/c the produce section is pretty limited. Fair pricing, quality meats and friendly service.

Love this market's mission, people, and products! They also do so much more than source from…read moreminority owned and local businesses; they invest in communities (hello Freedom School, Soul-to-Soul, Pay it Forward). With online ordering for curbside pickup or delivery, street parking spots, and a bike rack, it's a very accessible store. I was expecting to spend a lot my first time here (and was happy to), but everything is so reasonably priced for the quality. I always leave surprised at my total. Highly recommend the meats here (chorizo, lamb, pork sausage...everything).

We made a family trip out to South East Market today. They have branded themselves as a locally…read moresourced fresh food market. They also have a pay it forward program to improve healthy food access to all. I came with my husband, 2 yo, and 3 mos old. It is a quaint little two aisle store. There were no pushcarts available just small hand baskets, so it was a little bit of a handful to carry baby and guide a toddler around. However, besides that, I loved the careful selection of everyday items that they had on display. I found it interesting that there's a mixture of higher end canned foods and frozen meats but then reasonably priced fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. My toddler grabbed a bruised apple in the free basket and I picked up some day old challah bread for French toast. My husband especially liked the farm list at the front of the store listing all the local farms that they sourced their food from, and how far they were away. The furthest was 23 miles away! Alice Waters would be proud (: Anyhow, love their mission and hope this place finds its niche for all it wants to stand for along with an inspiration for some yummy meals. Street parking is available and one of the closest side streets is on Kalamazoo and Hancock.

Amazing! Sat down to eat in company of my two sons, wife and mother in law. Our orders were chicken…read moretacos, steak tacos tostadas and a quesadilla. We got an order of chips and guacamole. EVERYTHING was fabulous. Dinning room was filled with locals (good sign), staff was incredibly efficient, friendly and accommodating. Can't wait to get back.

Tacos and Coca Cola = my last meal…read more And when you want a place that offers the best tacos in town, Maggie's Kitchen is that place. I am told that their extensive menu has loads of other delectable options. And maybe some day I will expand my horizons. ...but for now, I will settle with the best tacos in town.

When I lived nearby I relied on this place to grab everything for a fast, cheap meal. Their…read morepre-spiced chicken is ready to go. Grab some tortillas, cheese, avocados, jalapeno, a few beers, some of their house made salsa....... Dinner in a few minutes relaxing at home. I am really fond of this store and get back when I can.

Everything about this place was just worse than what's expected from a grocery store and just…read moredidn't meet expectations. Aside from the unpleasant aroma, there was loud annoying (to me) music playing, it was not bright or friendly looking inside, and just not pleasant at all really. I came here for some things I couldn't get from a larger grocery store, and I got a tortilla press which was pretty low quality, some masa harina which was fine, and some dried chiles that were pretty good. I was surprised that some of the produce was very bad quality, like rotting avocados with the pits exposed. If you need to shop here for some reason or it's convienient, there are some good things, but there are better places in town and online.

Definitely the best tacos in town. The steak and pastor tacos are my favorite, but tripa is also…read morevery good! If you're not feeling like tacos, try the enchiladas. They are served with a slightly sweet, unique sauce and are topped with delicious crumbled cheese. On one visit, my friend ordered a gordita with al pastor meat, and that was also very tasty. The shop has recently provided more seating room, so its great for both dining in and take out. I recommend pairing your meal with a pineapple jarritos and maybe finishing with a coconut paleta. Sparta is lucky to have such a wonderful restaurant!

Best Tacos ever!! Friendly service and quick delivery of your order.. A must stop in Sparta,…read moreMichigan

The butcher shop in the back is so delicious!! We got the Al Pastor and it was so flavorful and…read moretender. We will be back!