I kind of dig REO Town. It's not Old Town, but I like that's it's not trying to be either. It has…read moreits own vibe. Just a quick skip across I-496 from downtown Lansing, the shops, salons, and eateries offer a small town feel as there's just enough walkability/bike access. However, it has plenty of edgy eclectic charm to balance the adjacent park and garden spaces making it an attractive location for many festivals. The anchors of the area include GM's Grand River Assembly Plant. the Board of Water & Light that occupies a former train depot, and several visual and performing arts hubs. The area has seen good BBQ, coffee, craft beer, New American, breakfast, and pizza but longevity continues to be a challenge. Even this month's review, REO Town Clubhouse, has gone through a change over the last 24 months having just been Ellison's Brewing Co. which we reviewed in August of 2023. REO Town Clubhouse took over a massive footprint on S. Washington and benefits from the previous facility upgrade work turning the warehouse into a brewhouse. The transition to the Clubhouse has been nothing short of extraordinary with modern lighting, seating, and décor in abundance. Marketed as an Italian restaurant, pizza shop, event space, and pool hall, REO Town Clubhouse aims to have a lasting place in the area and serve as a new anchor for entertainment. Walking in and you will be immediately taken aback by the sheer vastness. To the left, you'll find the upstairs event space, which is spacious and lovely, as is the main dining room on the first floor. To the right sits the pool hall, which is also quite large offering sharks and beginners alike enough room to run the table. In the middle sits the pizza shop with its rounded stone hearth oven shrouded in beautiful teal tile. What's Uneven? The brunch menu is intriguing, offering many traditional American breakfast items and others with a more Italian flare. I arrived around 11 on a Sunday morning with my much better half and the littlest of my daughters, having seen the brunch service started at 9 AM on REO Town Clubhouse's own social media. We walked into a mostly empty restaurant and a service crew that seemed to be scrambling to find their sea legs as coffee had not yet been brewed and the waitstaff, while very pleasant, reminded me of a team that hadn't yet had their first cup of coffee yet either. The food was also fairly uneven. My Biscuits and Gravy ($15) was quite tasty. The gravy was creamy and savory with notes of black pepper and the biscuits were dense enough to stand up to the gravy but not sit too heavy afterwards. The golden fried potatoes were crispy, and the sausage patties were large and packed with sage flavor. My much better half enjoyed a Bloody Mary ($9) that had a Caprese skewer atop the glass. She also ordered the Sweet Crespelle Crepes ($15) that looked better than they tasted. The lemon curd overpowered the palette, and the Sugar Cured Ham ($4) is an absolute waste of protein and money. Limp and lifeless with not a single hint of sugar to be found nor a streak of a sear on the meat itself. What's Better I met a mentor/friend/colleague for lunch and had a much better experience. We both ordered the Lunch Pasta Combo. The Caesar salads were fresh and plentiful, especially to be part of lunch combos. I had the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($14) and though the crushed tomatoes will never be my favorite, the meatballs were large and packed with layers of garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese. The pasta was a bit overcooked, but the dish overall was solid. My companion ordered the Chicken Alfredo ($16) and said it was one of the best she'd ever had. Thick and creamy alfredo sauce was a yummy revelation. The chicken was more well done than I typically care for but spot on for her. She wanted me to be sure to relay that she would return at least 17 times. Best Bite The Fried Shrimp ($16) with a Calabrian pepper sauce were very good. The breading on the shrimp had been fried hard enough to withstand the oil and butter-based bath in which they rested. The sauce was tasty and perfectly spicy for lunch.

I've brought my other half here for dinner twice! Our first time, we were impressed with quality…read moreservice though the food could have used more seasoning. Service was so good I'd give 4/5 for the first visit, even with bland food. Our second trip was substantially better. A bottle of wine, an app, two entrees, plus an exceptional server. Reese (sp) provided just the right amount of attentiveness. 5/5. Will be back.

We have visited Lansing Shuffle several times. Each time we have enjoyed the atmosphere, options,…read moreand prices. On this particular instance we attended a "roadtrip" event. For a cover charge you got to sample nice sized portions from each location. The MC was hilarious, the DJ fantastic, it was open to everyone. It was an all around good time! The parking can be a major annoyance but once you find a space it's worth it! I do wish that there were table wipes readily available since the tables turn over so quickly but don't always get wiped down between patrons.

I went 2 different nights it was walking distance from my hotel and made it easy and simple. The…read morefirst night I had a boozey milkshake from Browndog and then something from Takitos AF. I liked the milkshake a lot my only issue was that to get the booze you had to walk across the place to the bar to get the shot for it. I wish it was blended in when they were making the milkshake easier to mix it that way. The thing i got from Takitos AF was ok i forget what it was called but would not get it again. The second night I went i went to Browndog and just got food this time I got the picante quesadilla and that was very good would definitely get it again it i could.

What an amazing atmosphere and the FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING!!! The service was great and the mimosas…read morewere tasty. Highly recommended

What's Good This is the kind of place I generally root for…read more Locally owned, attention to ambience and identity, a focused menu that doesn't try to do too much, and an effort to make you feel welcomed. Batter Up Bistro reminds me of several places I've visited in New Orleans with a jazz trio playing ragtime as I enjoyed brunch and maybe a midday Hurricane cocktail. The interior is rustic chic while still being warm and inviting and I really enjoyed the beverages I ordered. The Apple Crisp Latte ($8) I ordered for my breakfast visit was hot and made me feel even more cozy. Apple simple syrup paired with house coffee blend and oat milk with notes of cinnamon was very pleasing to the palette without been blown away by apple flavor. The Baron ($15) was a pre-dinner cocktail with whiskey, ginger beer & liquor, almond bitters, and a hickory smoked finish. It was strong, but not breathtaking, a well-balanced flavor profile. What's Really Good Dinner service was suitable even if a bit slow, especially given the few diners that were also in attendance that evening. The bar tender was also waiting tables and while he was capable and hospitable, he clearly had too much on his plate running the front of house solo. I started with the Sea Scallop appetizer ($17). Three substantial scallops with a dill forward dusting sit atop a lovely, creamy parsnip puree. The puree was slightly sweet and the microgreens that were likely intended more as a garnish offered a nice textural note. The scallops were cooked uneven if I'm being honest where only one out of the three had a desirable brown crust and the other two were grayer. Dinner went up several notches with the Pan-seared Salmon ($32) which I ordered blackened. The fish was tender and flaky, and the blackened seasoning was right on target. The salmon paired quite well with the roasted Brussels sprouts, which themselves had a lovely char, and the wild rice. I also appreciated the accompanying blackberries which offered a touch of sweetness without compromising earthiness. Best Bite My first visit was a bit lonely as I was the only patron dining on a Thursday mid-morning. Perhaps the previous day's snowfall had scared others away, but I was itching to get out and about finding the breakfast selections a respite from winter's doldrums. I ordered the Eggs Benny ($20) with perfectly poached eggs atop their delightful house baked toast which was dense enough to hold up the thinly sliced ham, eggs, microgreens, and herbaceous hollandaise sauce. The sauce was rich and creamy with a pleasant punch of lemon and dill. The dish is served with garlic and herbed red skin breakfast potatoes and they were a hit. Also, a star was the side of thick cut bacon ($8) which was smokey and a perfect medium cook. Chef Cari came out to express her gratitude for my visit, which only made me wish more folks had joined me that day.

We went to a wedding that COP catered and the food was amazing. When it came time to book the…read morecaterer for my own wedding in July 2024, we wanted COP. We met and discussed options and made a down payment for her services. About a month before the event, she sent us a message that she would no longer be able to cater for us due to a traumatic accident. We gave her time to heal and get through PT but now, a year after paying our deposit, we still have not gotten it back. We also no longer get responses to emails or txts. Wanted to share our experience so others do not have this same experience with COP.

I utilized Center of the Plate for a Baby Shower. The owner is extremely professional and timely…read morein responding to questions. She offered great suggestions and help us to find a great option within our budget when the party kept growing in guests. Communication was great through the planning period and she arrived early to deliver the food. She even helped out with a few other non food related tasks when we didn't even ask her to do so. The food was OUTSTANDING! The absolute best catered food I have ever had. The food was very flavorful, beautifully presented and high quality. Guests raved about the food and a few went back for seconds and thirds. Having owned an event planning company and worked on planning many events that required catering service, I must say that Center of the Plate is the best I've ever worked with and apparently a best kept secret of Lansing.

If zero stars were possible, that's exactly what this venue would get from us. Our wedding day took…read moreplace in a truly beautiful setting, and if not for the endless issues with the staff, it would have been a perfect five-star experience. My wedding day should have been a joyful, worry-free celebration, and while my incredible coordinator and wedding party worked tirelessly to shield me from issues, the venue's rude and unprofessional behavior added unnecessary stress and frustration for everyone involved. Throughout the day, the venue staff acted with an astonishing lack of respect toward my coordinator, who was repeatedly interrupted and questioned about matters that had already been addressed. One of the most disruptive issues revolved around our dog (a well-behaved pug, who napped half the time he was there). He had been present at pre-event meetings, and nothing was ever mentioned about restrictions on him being there. Yet, on the day of the wedding, the venue staff fixated on him, even though he was only briefly there. The staff repeatedly pestered not only our coordinator but also our other vendors--including our photographer and bartender--to "confirm the plan" regarding the dog, over and over. My coordinator handled this graciously, keeping me blissfully unaware, but the venue's disruption and hostility were completely unwarranted. To make matters worse, the venue's staff began to hound my coordinator about our departure time early in the evening, despite our clear timeline and previous agreements. They insisted on last call announcements as early as 9:30 p.m. and returned multiple times to "remind" everyone that we needed to be out by midnight, making us feel unwelcome long before the event was even close to ending. There was no help or hospitality, either. Basic requests were met with resistance--when we needed additional trash bags, they refused to replace full ones and only begrudgingly provided a bag at the end of the night after the groom attempted to make peace. Simple requests, like unlocking the door or providing a bandaid were met with irritation, as though we were inconveniencing them. On top of this unprofessional behavior, they withheld $100 of our deposit solely because of our dog, even though he'd been present at previous meetings without issue. Additionally, and most shockingly, one of the staff even insulted my sister-in-law, calling her an inappropriate name. Had my coordinator and wedding party not gone above and beyond to handle all of this quietly, my day would have been overshadowed by these issues. But no couple should have to endure this type of treatment, and no one should ever have to rely on their wedding party to absorb such poor behavior from a venue. I cannot recommend this place to anyone seeking a respectful, cooperative environment on their wedding day, no matter how beautiful the setting.

Our wedding reception was held here. The experience was awesome. The staff was very helpful and…read morefriendly. Our reception ran very smoothly with no mishaps. We are so happy that we decided to go with the Cadillac Room. There was no better choice!

Think Space is a fantastic venue to hold a meeting of any kind! Work Meeting, Board Meeting,…read moreNon-Profit Meeting, Book Club; you name it, Think Space will make it a wonderful experience. The staff made sure the event was prepared for success. Our experience could not have been better & I highly recommend Think Space for your next meeting space!

From the owner: Think Space is a unique business meeting and retreat center focused on providing you a creative and…read moreamazing experience. We have spent countless hours in dull conference rooms struggling to stay awake and wishing there were a better way to energize our meetings and improve results. That's why we created Think Space, where new ideas are born. We believe when you combine the right elements, inspiration and creativity ensue. We have those key ingredients - a passionate team of innovators, a historic building on the banks of the Grand River, and a focus on creativity, flexibility, and comfort. Think Space is specifically designed to help your team have fun and productive meetings. Whether you seek to invent the next great product or you simply want to energize a training session, Think Space is your destination for something different.

Making their own spirits, beer, etc plus food! Had a nice…read morebite, beer, and even got a roadie (something to put in the cooler). They have to go beverages and good beer. I bought the tag a brew, stickers, etc. I managed not to buy a t-shirt... I confess the biz cat had me at hello.. leave me alone I am enjoying the sun. Great spot and not too far away you can actually buy real swords and stuff. So make it a day trip!

They have a weekly euchre league, trivia nights, craft night and more. It's a great place to go for…read morefun.

what a beautiful and well kept park! the trails are very wide and there was plenty of shade. I love…read morethat it can take me to so many parts of Lansing. Bike, stroller, running, and walking friendly!

Such a fun park to tube at! You are never too old to sled- my group of friends in their mid…read moretwenties had a ball here. The park does a great job organizing time slots so the hill doesn't get too busy. Multiple lanes to sled from and the conveyer belt saves so much time and energy of exhausting yourself just on the trip up. The track is fun for racing and group tubing for all ages. Highly recommend for a fun day outing!