George S.'s Profile

Overall an OK experience but nothing particularly exciting. I went safe in the first trip with Brenda's Favorite: eggs, pancakes, and sausage (can't go wrong there). The pancakes were hardly light and fluffy but rather a bit on the thin side. It did, however, add a nice crispiness to them (I mean that in a good way). Service was good and there was a very positive sense of community. There were clearly a lot of regulars and folks knew each other's names.

If you're in the neighborhood LouAnn's is a place to try. It's nice to see the small, neighborhood places with a regular clientele in our neighborhood. I'll be back for lunch sometime.

These folks are fantastic. I was in town for 3 weeks and ran small print jobs almost every day. They were fast and friendly. A real pleasure to do business with.

I was in Grand Rapids for a 3-week business stay. Morning Glory was a great little B&B and a far better option than a box-like room in a motel. Very friendly and the breakfasts were great. I wouldn't hesitate to stay again and recommend it if you are in the area.

Isles is simply the best in town- perhaps anywhere. This is -in no way whatsoever- your chain coffee shop from the suburbs. The buns and scones are made fresh, by hand, from scratch. You may even have to wait while they come out of the oven.

Try the puppy dog tails and cinnamon buns, of course. But don't pass up the chocolate chip cookies which are some of the best ever. The scones are a very nice treat and a bit less of a sugar rush than buns and tails.

In the summer and on weekends expect long lines on the weekends but it is well worth the wait. It's rather warm inside - that's the oven baking your fresh goodies! There is limited seating inside but plenty outside. Wi-fi is free.

Be patient, treat these artists with all due respect, and please tip.

Cinnamon bun dance anyone?

The Twin cities has some fantastic roasters and Coffee & Tea Ltd. is perhaps the best among them. The folks here know their coffee. Price is very reasonable and the product is far superior to the surrounding shops. Only concern is a lack of indoor seating. But in the summer there is nothing nicer on a Saturday morning than coffee on the bench outside talking with passers-by.

And yes, the kopi luwak is really as amazing as they say and worth $10/cup. I kid you not.
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Absolutely fantastic. Bobbi is simply the most gracious host. Fantastic breakfast and the rooms were plush. The house is really a home and there is a very genuine and unpretentious feel about the place. We stayed for 3 nights on a business trip and were in the upstairs of the carriage house. The price difference between the The Bohemian and the standard motels in town made the choice simple. The B&B was simply a better deal.

We are back in town for at least 7 more days this year and we have already booked our rooms.

Some very good coffee here. Not everyone here knows their coffee well but if you get the right barista you can get a real education. Ask about their relationship with the coffee grower! Overall I'm impressed with what The Beat is up to: good coffee, personable and knowledgeable staff, a good effort toward local art and music, and even a spiritual connection. The nearby Isles Bakery takes the prize for pastry (best buns in town) but not for java. For Uptown coffeeshops serving real coffee The Beat takes the lead.

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