First time here! Omg!!! It's sooo cute! Orchards all around and Pie PiEe piE... We chose Raspberry Rhubarb. Ummmm! Not too sweet. Excellent!
(5)
Bart S.
I was just thinking about some pie. the best I ever had I think is from Cranes- they have winter hours- daily 11AM-4PM, closed on Monday's... Is it the crust and local fruit used, maybe so, or just the formula they use to create their pies. I also like their apple cider too. Can't wait to get back there.
(5)
Christina d.
TRY THE PIE FLIGHT. If you're in the mood for fresh-picked, homemade fruit pie, the pie flight is the only way to go. You get four little mason jars filled with samplings of Crane's delicious pies for just $7. The smile they will put on your face is thrown in for free. We were driving around the area sampling local brews, and the lovely ladies at Virtue cidery tipped us off to this local favorite. Crane's seems to be a staple in the community for you-pick-it fruit, pies, and wines. In the midst of all the breweries and wineries offering flights of their goods, it only makes sense to add a flight of pie for dessert! Or breakfast. Or any time, really.
(5)
James S.
Go for the pie. If you want lunch or dinner try someplace else. My rating: Four stars for the pie. Two stars for the food and service. The Good: I really like the building and decorations. Looks like the building was converted from an old barn or packing building. Sort of a country theme as you would expect. Back towards the restrooms there is a lot of aviation memorabilia. The pies are very good. The Bad: The wait around lunch will be very long. The food menu is limited to soup, salads and sandwiches. The food was not as good as the pie. While our waitress was very nice and kept reassuring us (three times) that our food was on the way; we waited an hour for our food (in addition to the hour we had already waited to get in).
(3)
jack q.
Picked up a cherry pie and preserves. Cool, funky place and the pie was just delicious. Very friendly folks, too.
(5)
Elyse K.
Order a pie flight! What a brilliant idea! I brought red raspberry muffins home - they're the size of my closed fist and absolutely yummy delicious! Can't wait to return to Fennville and Crane's!
(5)
Abby J.
Unbelievably good pie. There's nothing else to say. The place is adorable, so quaint and rustic. The regular food isn't anything to write home about but the pie is so effing good that I would eat off their kitchen floor if it meant I could have pie for dessert.
(5)
Livia C.
The best place I ever ate. The best apple butter, apple butter bread, chili, sloppy joe, Apple cider (although it is better hot), and apple pie. I love this place and I only have had good experiences. I highly recommend this restaurant. Give them business and definitely buy an apple pie to go!
(5)
Paul T.
Corn Maze is an annual favorite. Food is solid and reliable. Hearty. Not a foodie place but who cares...get a piece if cobbler and let yourself go!!!!
(5)
Steve V.
Horrible!! I purchased 2 pies today for a special event and they are awful. The pumpkin pie is under done and tastes like mush while the apple pie is so burnt and over done that it won't come out of the pan. Stay away. Your grocery store has better pies
(2)
Christine F.
After our trip to the U Pick Orchard, we drove over to Crane's Pie Pantry. The wait for the actual restaurant was about 1.5 hours (OMFG), but we got some pie to go and sat on the grassy hill, overlooking the orchard. I got pumpkin (can't forget the whipped cream!) and my husband got apple. We also got some hot apple cider and some apple cider donuts. The pumpkin pie was huge and delicious. You can't go wrong with pumpkin pie. The apple pie was delicious as well, and it was chocked full of apples, cinnamon and spice. The cider was sweet and wonderful (un-pasteurized cider FTW) and the donuts were fluffy, sweet and heavenly. A great stop for sweets after picking some apples. Highly recommended!
(4)
Karen S.
I love pie. I love Saugatuck. From now on, every visit to the area will include a trip to Crane's. I ate a warm piece of peach pie after my lunch, and it was exquisite. I took home pieces of the cherry crisp, cherry pie, and raspberry pie. All were delightful. I highly recommend stopping here to try some pie even if it's out of your way. I anticipate many long drives just to get some pie.
(5)
Am D.
Have been meaning to rate this place for a year. The soup, bread, and apple butter were excellent.
(5)
Rick C.
Hmmm. Where to begin..Let's start with the pies. We shared the cherry and raspberry- rhubarb pie a la lode with apple butter ice cream. They were all pretty good. I think the best thing I had was the unpasteurized apple cider. Now to the bad. Maybe it's just me, but this place also has a lot of creepy elements. Walking into this place right before you open the doors to the dining area, I kept getting this Bates motel, Rob Zombie horror movie vibe. One nervous look at my wife and I could see she felt the same way. This place has been around for a loong time, so I can understand that the direction they went with the decor. I was just not a fan. On the way out, we were also treated to a stuffed dog with a sign that said, "This is Betsy, She's from Chicago." As a dog owner and lover, this creeped me the F out. Good luck Betsy..
(3)
Tom T.
Good food. Fun place for kids. Get there early in the summer and fall or you will not be able to park within a block of the place and you will have to wait a few hours for a table.
(4)
Seth P.
OH JESUS! THE BOMB! The raspberry pie is the best pie filling I have EVER had. And what -- apple butter ice cream? Indescribable. Like nothing I have ever imagined. The multifarious historical chotchkes are amusing and fascinating, (and there's a lot of deadly serious WWII stuff), and the orchard setting is beautiful. Good music in the background, too.
(5)
Jenny G.
POOR, POOR SERVICE!!! Don't go here if you are looking for a pleasurable dining experience! The owners are awful, and need to take a class on customer service! They act like YOU are the one who should feel priviledged to eat at their restaurant! My husband and I live in the area, and have been coming here for years, usually bringing groups of family and friends with us. Although we usually order at the outdoor stand, and ride the hayride, instead of going inside. This time, we had to dine inside since the outdoor stand was closed. We waited an hour to be seated, outside in the cold and rain. When we finally sat down and ordered our desserts, the apple crisp arrived dried out, hard and cold. I was in no mood to complain, nor were our guests, so we started eating it anyway. My husband, however, was not happy and told the waitress he didn't care for his. She took the bowl, and my husband got up to walk around with our restless daughter. Thirty minutes later, and our waitress still had not come back to our table. I had to flag down a table busser to get a to-go box for us, and when we finally got our bill, we had been billed for all desserts, including my husbands, which he sent back! When my husband took the bill up and explained that we should have only been charged for 4 desserts instead of 5, THE OWNER told him that he was paying for ALL 5 desserts, or he could LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! Wow! My husband tried to insist on just paying for the 4 desserts, as he thought that was fair, but was simply told to leave!!! I cannot believe anyone would run their business this way! We will certainly not be back, and we will be telling everyone we know about this awful experience! So, I guess they got their wish!
(1)
Joshua H.
this place truly knows their pie. I stopped in for a cherry pie, the signed grabbed me off the highway and I don't regret it ,it was delicious hands down the best cherry pie I've ever had. Nice place. Old country feel in the middle of a farm
(4)
Abbey C.
We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry yesterday after picking apples at Crane's Orchards next door. We didn't eat in the restaurant, so I can't comment on that, but the bakery is wonderful. They have a great selection of fruit pies, preserves, breads, cakes, cider, etc. Everything looks amazing and the items we purchased did not disappoint. We bought some blueberry muffins, apple cider doughnuts, and apple cider. The doughnuts were still warm when we bought them and were the best I have ever had. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious. The prices are reasonable (1 dozen doughnuts for $6) and the staff very friendly. The bakery is small and fairly busy, but they did a good job of moving the crowds through quickly. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful fall day than a trip to Crane's Orchards followed by a stop at the Pie Pantry.
(5)
Del A.
If you want to go there for dessert this might be the place to go if you want to go there for lunch or dinner not such a good choice for service is slow and the food is bad
(1)
Mike B.
What a pleasant surprise! After picking apples and navigating through the corn maze, I took my wife and kids to Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch. We had a light lunch to save room for dessert. The chili was very good, and it came with some excellent apple-butter bread. Yum! The family had a corned beef sandwich and BLT, which was also pretty good. The food was tasty and the atmosphere cozy, but the dessert was the reason we came. The raspberry pie a-la-mode was good, apple doughnut simple but warm and yummy, and pumpkin pie a little on the soft side...but tasty. My absolute favorite thing was the apple cider; only $1 with free refills. It tasted just like eating apples! The cider, bread, doughnuts, and chili are all highly recommended, and the rest was certainly good enough. Fun place.
(4)
Micki O.
really into pie? like fresh breakfasts? how bout fruit picking? then cranes is perfect for you! i live in illinois but when my family comes down to michigan for camping or just for a fun trip, cranes is the best restaurant there is. i am in love with their fruit pies--so fresh, so good. and for breakfast a nice warm doughnut would be nice... wouldn't it? well cranes has the perfect apple cider doughnuts for a nice start to your morning. their apple cider is warm and delicious and fruit picking is always fun. it is even fun to just look around cranes, they have a lot of old posters models and great antiques. can't wait for the next trip to michigan!!!!!
(5)
J. N.
Heard the food is great, all I had was pie. I have had peach and blueberry pies from Crane's both of which were excellent... and, I don't really like pie much! It is a cute farm, very charming with friendly, helpful staff. It's a must when visiting Benton Harbor/South Haven areas. I can't wait to go back and have lunch, and of course a peach pie... all to myself. Check it out, worth a drive!
(4)
Larry B.
good for breakfast and of course pie.
(4)
Connie G.
Stopped here on Sunday, as we sat and waited for our server, which was a little slow, we had time to look at all the antiques on the walls and read the menu, which has basically pie, and more pie on it. I think they could make a killing if they added Country Breakfast's like Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, Home fries, and country ham and sausage. They do have Apple Butter Bread French Toast.......so we settled for a hamburger which comes only well done, and their homemade sloppy joes, which both were tasty. The Spiced Hot Cider was not a favorite of my daughters who is a lover of hot cider. We then decided to share a piece of the Apple Pie. It was by far one of the best apple pies I have had at a restaurant, I must say it came close to one of my homemade apple pies. Yummy.... The cold cooler attached to the restaurant to get fresh apples from to make your own pies is nice. The bakery on your way out to pay, is filled with tempting treats. We bought some apple butter to go, and a peck of Ida Red apples to make our own pie, since that is the kind they said they used in their pies, and we headed out. Just outside the back door is a Stuffed REAL dog, named Betty.....worth the second look.... Worth the trip out of the way......we will be back.....
(4)
Amy D.
This place is the best! I got married in Saugatuck in June, and chose to have Crane's fruit pies instead of a traditional cake. I was very happy with my choice. Everyone who works there was very accomodating, and I even got to go in ahead of time for a very YUMMY free tasting. Would highly recommend them for wedding or other special event pies.
(5)
Jenni I.
This family farm restaurant is absolutely worth the trip! We stopped for lunch and started with apple butter bread which comes out warm, soft, and filled with delicious sweet apple butter. The roast beef and cheddar panini had caramelized onions making for a tasty sandwich. The vegetable sandwich with pesto was fresh, healthy and delicious. There is a wide range of homemade dessert options. We had apple crisp and blueberry pie, both fresh and yummy. We took home pie from their bakery, too. This is definitely an enjoyable place to eat!
(5)
Sean Y.
Incredible apple pie and peach cobbler. There are a lot of antiques decorating the place but the old mannequins are creepy. Definitely worth stopping off the highway if you are in the area.
(4)
Katie K.
I have been going to Crane's for almost 30 years and it is a must stop every time I am in the area. The decor consists of antiques and the building is old, but don't let that turn you off. I typically don't like non-chocolate desserts but I love the fresh pies at Crane's. My husband usually gets whatever is in season, but I always order the apple crisp. They also have fresh and frozen desserts to bring home and enjoy. The non-dessert menu consists of simple, homemade comfort food. Be advised - Crane's does not serve soft drinks but they do have fresh apple cider to wash your meal down with.
(5)
Liz F.
Great way to spend a morning if you're visiting the area. Pick your own raspberries, peaches, blueberries, whatever's in season. Then head on over to the pie pantry for some lunch and a delicious slice of Crane's amazing pie. There's a serious baker or two in this family business -- all of the baked goods are phenomenal, and this comes from a baker who is generally pretty critical of other people's wares. Fresh bread served plain or with apple butter as an appetizer? You'll be a believer once you've tried it! A spindle full of donuts? Can't go wrong. The pie of course is amazing. My favorite is the blueberry. Well worth a stop or two if you're in the area.
(5)
Mike D.
We only stopped for lunch, but we got a bake-at-home pie to go that I'm really looking forward to digging into! Lunch was good - simple sandwiches - at a great price. The apple sauce, apple bread and apple cider are phenomenal. Next time we'll try the pick your own fruit.
(5)
Lauren D.
We discovered Crane's a few years ago and has now become an annual stop when we head up to Michigan in the fall. I am a raspberry pie fan and theirs is delicious. But my favorite flavor would be Cherry - its to die for! Other favorites of my family are the apple pie and apple and cherry crisps. They also have an orchard for apple picking (and other fruits during the summer months). Also - try the cider donuts...great fall treat.
(5)
Anne M.
I would LOVE a Crane's pie right about now... Not a piece, but an entire pie. We did the full Crane's experience - first we went apple picking in their massive apple orchard. We filled just a small bag of apples ($.89/lb), but we were amongst other groups who were filling up entire wagons and baskets. Prior to our apple adventure, we were given fresh sliced samples of about 5 different kinds of apples (there were even more from which to choose). After we selected a number of perfect apples from the rows and rows of trees, we checked out and headed down the road to the good stuff... the pie. Crane's restaurant / bakery is in a huge old barn filled with antiques and odd apple relics. It seemed part museum, part barn, part restaurant, and part bakery, and it was awesome. They serve a full menu, but we wanted just dessert and coffee. We both went the classic route and ordered a slice of apple pie. He ordered his with ice cream; I ordered mine with a slice of swiss cheese (why? because it was an option I'd never seen offered before, so I tried it. The waitress explained it is an old fashioned way to eat pie that provides a sweet/salty combo). The cheese was an interesting addition, and I liked it, but I don't think I'll be recreating that combo on my own. I like pie just the way it is in its glorious natural state, sans cheese. We hit up the bakery in a major way on the way out, and even bought a frozen pie so we can recreate the magic in our own kitchen.
(5)
Matt W.
If you're going for deserts, you won't be disappointed. Crane's pies are everything everybody says they are. Delicious. The atmosphere is family friendly, the staff is polite and prompt. Going for dinner, though? I'd pass. They'd be better off letting everybody know that their dinner menu is similar to diner food. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll be alright. But for the price of their dinner menu, just go for the pie.
(3)
Yael J.
Great u- pick and the restaurant is nice and close so you have your days outing all in one place. Lots of memorabilia around to look at. The food was okay. They have wine tastings, cider tastings, and pie flights. But I learned pie is better on a plate and not smushed up in tiny jars - as cute as the presentation may be. The cherry pie tasted a bit over cooked. Just buy a slice of pie instead of going the flight route.
(4)
Christine T.
Frozen self serve area has a treasure trove of take home. Look closer at the sugar free options as they use sucralose... so it may be sugar free but the added additives were not something I was looking for. Baked goods for take away a solid bet.
(4)
Kim E.
Hands down my favorite place to eat when in town! I always get the Sloppy Joe andna Sweet Cider to drink....you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Allison F.
After a wholesome afternoon of apple picking, you have to stop in for donuts and cider...and chili...and pie...and ice cream...and granola...and apple butter..and caramel...and then of course you have to take some home. Be careful coming in, because you'll be tempted to have one of everything from the store. It's homestyle, homegrown, and homemade...just like mom would make!
(5)
Robert B.
This place has the most eclectic, funky dining rooms in the entire state of Michigan. Their menu is interesting too. It's like eating lunch or dinner at a cider mill and bakery. I tried a cup of chili with shredded cheese that hit the spot. Make sure to save room for pie. It's the best part!
(4)
Donna C.
It would be difficult to find a better pie anywhere in the U.S! The Apple is wonderful, the blueberry unbelievably good. Add vanilla ice cream and you have perfection. In the fall they recently added hard cider to their menu and it is delicious. I highly recommend the tart apple cider, but they have one for every taste. The pear cider is also very good. The wait staff is friendly and efficient and are usually family or local college girls...so be sure to be generous when tipping.
(5)
Matt C.
Wish I took some photos.... I had a fantastic, hand made veggie burger...my kids split a kids grilled cheese-it was massive and glad we split it...my wife had a very good bowl of tomato basil soup and a slice of Apple butter bread...fantastic Apple butter! They don't serve pop, just a heads up. Didn't get pie, but did get a 1/2 dozen donuts-they are like Apple fritters...very good! Would love to go back to do the u-pick in their orchards!
(4)
Kera C.
Most amazing place ever! I have been going to Crane's every time is come to Saugatuck, MI. The food is so good and so fresh, the ingredients are amazing. I love the setting of Crane's, the whole place is filled with antiques, it makes me feel like I am back with my grandma. The pie's are so good and so is the cider. If you are in the area stop at Crane's even if it is for a cup of cider and a slice of pie.
(5)
Brooklyn B.
I loved my ham and swiss sandwich! It tasted delicious especially when I dunked it in my soup! Yum yum!
(5)
Zamibe B.
The food was great! I got the Turkey Club and a Iced Coffee, the sandwich was moist and very flavorful and the coffee was smooth. The prices were a little high and the kettle chips were not good (unsalted)
(4)
Annette J.
Fall! My favorite season! So glad to see you again! And so glad you brought your friends cider and doughnuts along. I've missed them too! I'm a bit of a cider mill junkie. I try and hit as many as I can in the fall and although my favorites reside in southeast Michigan (Franklin, hollaaaa!) Crane's is my western Michigan go-to. The doughnuts are perfect--greasy and warm with a touch of nutmeg. The cider is cold and crisp (I prefer my cider cold so we'll usually just grab a half gallon out of the fridge and go to town). The apple and cherry pies are fabulous with a flaky crust and not too sweet filling. The apple cinnamon bread? Love grabbing a loaf and taking it work for breakfast in the mornings. Toasted up with a little bit of their apple butter? Great, great, great! The space itself can be a little off putting, to be honest. I love the rustic old fashioned look to it. Taxidermied animals actually fascinate me and the dusty antiques around get me excited rather than stressed. But I can see how folks who are fans of dust free establishments and weirded by a stuffed dog from 1930 might not find the place so charming. I've admittedly never eaten at the restaurant but every time I've gone in I've seen the place packed with happy customers so I'm assuming they're not freaked out by the decor either. The land around the Pie Pantry is impressive. Orchards for as far as the eye can see. In the summer they'll have peaches (so good!) and in fall come the apples. They have U-Pick available for both should you want to take home some fresh fruit. Across the street you can take advantage of their U-Pick berries in the summer as well. In the summer they'll start growing the corn for their massive Maize Maze but I've never been in town late enough into fall to wander around but it does look impressive. If you love the baked goods and the cider and want to get some of their awesome jams but are a little thrown off by the ambiance then make your way over to the newly opened Crane's In the City in Holland. It's a smaller, more modern place (although still decorated with antique furniture and old timey press clippings) but with all the great Crane's products you'll come to love. However, if you're into old fashioned charm like myself Crane's Pie Pantry is the perfect place to spend a summer or fall afternoon.
(4)
Dr. Z.
Third trip there, stopped off on the way North. (and coming home, too, for more baked goods by the request of "Herself") Always an enjoyable stop to stretch your legs and chow down. The best bet? Get the Apple Butter French Toast. That's why they are there, that's they're deal. There are some great tempting items in the bakery section, lots that might be good for a take-home delight. Apple butter, Apple butter bread, blueberry everything, etc. Nice staff, very friendly. Clean operation. And then... there's "Betty the Dog". Among all of the odd collection of antiques and an interesting lean towards vintage aviation memorabilia, Betty the Dog can always be found sitting on an antique winter sleigh, where she has resided since 1930's. Google that ! I have a picture of her here on this Yelp review.
(4)
Tracey M.
Arrive R-E-A-L-L-Y hungry... if you plan to eat both a meal and pie (and trust me, you don't want to skip the pie here! Everything about my visit to Crane's Pie Pantry was great! A group of us went on a Saturday afternoon in May. We had no trouble getting seated. Service was prompt and I never felt like I had to seek someone out to get something. The food was good and the pie was AMAZING! (Which I'd hope it would be for a pie pantry!) If you're a fruit pie fan like I am, and will be in the Fennville area, at the very least you must stop in for a piece of their fruit pie. It's my understanding that all the fruit they use in their pies is from their orchard that is just across the street. On this particular visit, even though I was full from my meal I indulged anyhow in a piece of apple pie -- which was outstanding! (And for the record, I'm very picky about apple pie so kudos to Crane's!) Overall, as far as I'm concerned, Cranes's Pie Pantry is a must visit whenever I'm visiting the area.
(5)
Sallie G.
While on a visit to Holland, MI for our annual girl trip, my 2 friends and I had eaten a wonderful lunch at Cranes in the City. We weren't leaving for a couple of days so didn't want to buy a pie yet. The day we left we drove to Fennville on our way home and purchased our pies. Each of us got a couple of pies as well as the same apple butter bread we had eaten in the City Cristo sandwich at Cranes in the City. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant looked fun but we were planning to eat at Tabor Hill Winery. Since beginning our girl trips some years ago we have made a tradition of buying a pie to take home. In my opinion, this was the best of all the pies we have ever purchased. I personally make a pretty darn good pie but theirs was wonderful - I had the raspberry rhubarb.
(5)
Erin H.
Crane's is the perfect experience and worth going back again and again based on what's in season! If you want to pick some apples or peaches and have a good meal you picked the right spot. It's a cool old building filled with all sorts of funky, fun, interesting and historical junk! The atmosphere is casual, warm and welcoming. Expect a good basic meal with comfort food options - the grilled cheese is my favorite. After your meal go buy frozen fruit pies to take home or some other item they make from the scads of fruit orchards that surround the place! On a pretty fall day this place is PACKED! They also have an amazing CORN MAZE during the Halloween season.
(5)
John C.
Chile was great and the desserts are worth a long drive to get there.
(5)
Cheryl I.
We stopped in for lunch on a rainy day after visiting the winery right down the road. What a cute little place with great food and prices. Had their homemade wild rice and mushroom soup with a slice of warm fresh home made white bread and apple butter on the side. So good and only $4.50 I think. We took a slice of blueberry pie and 2 giant chocolate chip cookies to go. Hubs had a burger and chips and a pickle with coffee. A great place to stop.
(4)
Karen J.
We stopped for a quick dinner. The burger and tuna melt were nothing special, but oh my God the pie....I would've eaten 4 slices (with ice cream!) if left to my own devices. If you love fresh baked pies in a multitude of different flavors, go to Crane's if you're in the area. Oh yeah, the service is efficient and very friendly.
(3)
Steve L.
This place has to be seen. Tables are a mixture of antiques and the decor is loaded with posters, print ads, and memorabilia from mostly WWII era. The meal was just so-so. My cheeseburger was served medium well as I was not asked how I would like it cooked. Given a choice, I would have preferred medium rare. I thought my wife's tuna melt was pretty bland, but she seemed happy with it. The apple cider on the other hand tasted fresh and crisp despite being served in June, definitely not apple season. We both had blueberry pie. The crust was perfectly flakey, but we found the filling to be a little too lemony, a just a touch to thin. On other trips to Crane's we have been served pies too die for. So food I give a C and deserts and cider I give an A-.
(4)
Brian J.
This place is a must when I'm headed to South Haven. The decor is earnest and homey. Sealed floors, antiques, old newspapers on the restroom walls. If you like a sloppy joe then this is mecca (sorry Chick Inn). Couple that with friendly service, fresh cider, rhubarb pie that will make you cry=nirvana. Plenty of fresh pastries to purchase as you exit and a great lunch stop before heading to Saugatuck/Holland/etc for the the day. Now I want to drive to Fennville, I should have eaten before writing this.
(5)
Brian K.
FAMOUS FOR: - Fruit Pies - Unpasteurized Apple Cider (5/10) - Cider Donuts (6/10) I TRIED - Apple Butter French Toast (5/10) - Raspberry Rhubarb Pie (3/10) - Apple Crisp (6/10) The place is very rustic. They have old flyers and ads framed all over the walls, and all sorts of country things (i.e. butter churn, rocking chairs) around the place. But, if you're reading this, chances are you're already standing in line or seated, so you know exactly what the place looks like and you need to know what to order, because that's exactly what I did when I sat down. APPLE CIDER I have to admit, I only have stereotypical knowledge of "The Country Life" so forgive me ignorance. When we all ordered some of the juice, and they walked out with what looked like a milk gallon jug, I was a little disappointed. I really can't even tell you what I was expecting, but I think it was something more...authentic. What that means, I dunno. Anyway, I'm not a connoisseur of apple ciders, but this just tastes straight up like local grocery store apple cider. It's by no means bad in any way, it's just, normal. CIDER DONUTS I've been apple picking before, so apple donuts aren't anything new to me. These were like mini donuts, but they weren't really anything to write home about. I used to have these apple donuts at some orchard in Indiana that were almost crispy, and so incredibly moist and buttery, that it was just absolute heaven. These...well...they weren't. FRENCH TOAST As you can see, "apple" is a big thing here. Apple Butter is their other big thing too. So, the apple taste is not unnoticeable, but it doesn't really attract a lot of attention either. What can I say, it's just regular ol' french toast and bacon. Nothing spectacular, nothing even out of the ordinary from how mom used to make it when we were little. RASPBERRY-RHUBARB PIE I got this pie as a suggestion from our waitress. I don't even know what a rhubarb is, but after this experience, I know I don't like it. Now, I'm not really a pie guy, I prefer cake. I do like the Hostess pies, though, even though that doesn't do much for my credibility. I figured that a pie so good that the mayor would land his helicopter here would make even a not-so-enthusiastic-pie-guy like me appreciate the pie. Nope. Didn't happen. The crust was whatever, but berry mixture was just so intense that I was squinting my already Asian eyes almost out of existence! There were people around the table who did like pie, and they didn't think it was all that great either. So, I'm sorry Mayor of Fennville, I'm going to have to disagree. APPLE CRISP So, my pie experience was a bust, but I do like apple pie, so I thought maybe the Apple Crisp will blow my mind... Nope, my mind's still here, in tact, not even a bruise. Again, nothing bad, it's just, I've had and can get the same or better any time I want. ALL IN ALL Well, I left full, and wasn't disgusted, so I guess the place did its job.
(2)
o m.
Great summer driving destination to enjoy very old farm building with great county antique decor, the pantry make homemade apple pie and apple drinks. I must stop for lunch while driving a beautiful western Michigan apple and grape farms land before arriving Sagatag, ( the food can be inconsistent......... 2 stars!!) 4 2/1 stars for county antique decor
(5)
Priscilla F.
This place is fantastic! We got a cup of chili and the Crane's apple panini for lunch. Chili was good, but to the sweeter side. The panini was absolutely delicious. The food came out really fast and was hot. The cider is great and definitely worth getting. For dessert we got the apple crisp with ice cream, apple dumplings with whip cream and a cider donut. Go with the apple crisp with ice cream, by far the best out of what we got.,
(5)
Bridget K.
Walking into Crane's Pie Pantry was like walking into my grandma's house. It is full of antiques and various art work from times of old. I made sure to get the apple cider. It was amazing! I don't think I'll be able to drink regular apple cider ever again. We weren't here for the cider. We were here for the pie. When a place has a sign saying they have the best pie, you need to try it. I got a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. It was one of the best pieces of pie I have tasted! My mom opted for the rhubarb pie which she loved! My dad was a huge fan of the blueberry pie. I cannot wait to visit Saugatuck again, so I can visit Crane's Pie Pantry!
(4)
Lauren B.
This is a place that is great at what they do. The menu is no-frills but well executed. Their cider is delicious as is their apple bread and pies. My favorite part was the atmosphere-- a hodgepodge of old chairs and tables, walls filled with memorabilia and even old toys hanging from the ceiling. If you're going to any of the many nearby vineyards, it's worth stopping in for a meal or just to peruse the bakery.
(4)
Winchester D.
have you ever had oats in a veggie burger? yes, oats that you make oatmeal with? neither have i, until i came to this place. when you walk in this place, the first thing you realize is that someone raided grandma's stash of knick naks. their specialty is pie. EVERY. SINGLE. KIND. OF. PIE. even pies that have ingredients that have no business being together. like rhubarb and strawberries. like rhubarb and anything else. why would you put rhubarb in anything sweet!?!?!? why does rhubarb exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do beets exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do yams exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do sweet potatoes exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did not have the apple cider, but everyone says it is the bomb. because of the drought they did not have apple pie. i really want to come back and try pie. not the ones with the icky ingredients listed above.
(5)
Jim H.
What can I say, best pies in America, that's what I can say!!! Always have to bring a big cooler to bring some home. My friends in Nashville always ask for me to bring them some too!
(5)
Amber L.
We all have been places we wish we could revisit; food we wish we could eat again; and overall people/places/things that put us in a nostalgic state- "a bittersweet longing for things of the past." Crane's apple cider donuts are one of these for me! They are hands down, the BEST donuts I have EVER had! While visiting family in Michigan last year, we ended up passing Crane's and decided to stop on a whim. The farm was cute, the staff was friendly, and everything looked delicious. We picked up some cherry jam for a gift, looked longingly at the pies, and then decided to pick up some donuts. Admittingly, my husband was the one who sealed the deal, as I wasn't necessarily wanting to spend extra money on donuts that looked mediocre. I am more than happy to admit I was wrong! Those donuts were so darn good. I have been longing for one ever since.
(5)
dawn v.
Go for the pie! DO NOT miss the pie! It's the whole point of going. I am reviewing the pie and the various jams, jellies and fruits available here. The rhubarb crisp pie is phenomenal! The individual apple tarts/pies are too good to be true. Go up the street to "salt of the earth" for an unequal dinner experience and then stop here for pie as dessert. It's an unforgettable foodie experience!
(5)
Sue T.
I was disappointed not to find fresh fruit for purchase here and the U-pick was closed. However, the cherry crisp was excellent - with crunchy oatmeal & flour topping. The cider was served in handled pint canning jars. Unfortunately mine tasted watery and flat. The atmosphere is homey with concrete floors and the requisite antique farm implements and old photos and advertisements on the walls. They have frozen fruit pies for take-home--so bring a cooler.
(3)
Deborah E.
Last weekend's Saugatuck adventure can be summed up with these oft repeated questions: 1. "When are we going to Crane's?" 2. "How many pies are we getting?" 3. "Four pies for five people - is there a problem?" 4. Repeat. One of those sweltering days we all jumped in the car and bombed over to Cranes's in Fennville - only miles from Saugatuck. The place is stuck in a time warp circa 1945. Located on huge orchard acreage, it is a restaurant, too, but for us the goal was one thing and one thing only - PIE! Well, and a dozen cider donuts that we began eating in the store. Pies were right out of the oven - literally. SO hot we had to create little areas for them to reside in the car - we treated them like the Crown Jewels - with their box lids open so they could vent. Cherry, blueberry, apple and peach - these pies were truly some of the best pies we had ever eaten. And at only $13.25 per pie - worth every penny!
(5)
Liz K.
Been coming here for 20 years and it never fails to be great! I love everything about this place - from the quirky decor that is always entertaining to look at, the cold storage room for apples (smells so good!), their chili, spiced cider, apple butter bread, even to the crazy taxidermied dog, Betty, who bids you farewell on your way out... Crane's has been a family tradition every fall since I can remember, and I'm so happy to be bringing my new husband here to check it out now. It can get INSANE on the weekends... so, my recommendation, play hooky from work and go during the middle of the week. Then you won't be stuck waiting in the line!
(5)
Kathy M.
The pies appear to be the only reason to go here and are the reason for the generous 3 stars. The antique decor is fun and the wait staff is nice, but the meals we had for lunch a few days ago were really average, or less. The highly recommended chili tasted like sweet barbecue sauce. I like sweet barbecue sauce--on barbecue, but not in chili. The apple butter bread is just a rather dry bread with apple butter swirled in before baking. It looks nice when sliced, but is no different than bread would be with apple butter smeared on it, which you can get here. The home baked wheat bread was tasteless and the most exotic cheese available was white cheddar. No sodas of any kind did not please my young nephews, who are only allowed that treat when they eat out. On the plus side, we had 4 desserts and all were excellent. The chocolate pecan pie was the winner.
(3)
Kelly M.
Yelp, you rarely disappoint, but today, you did. We went to Crane's from an ad in a tourist trap magazine and yelp. So why a 3? Well, the bakery area is a MESS to try and manuever. Seriously- there is sort of a system? Maybe not? The people behind te counter were obviously irritated about filling orders The decor is crazy, but we knew this going in, so I am not dinging them for that. The cider was good- not AMAZING. The donuts were meh and smallish We have not delved into the apple butter bread We had an apple strudel- it was under done :( Too early to pick apples, but their orchard, well, it looks amazing. I mean picturesque amazing.
(3)
Zoran O.
This place is THE BEST fresh fruit pies I have ever had - period. They are an orchard so they get all their fresh fruit in the back. Their Apple Cider - Unpasteurized - is amazing and always grab a gallon on the way back home to Chicago!! IF you have not had unpasteurized in the past - you have NO idea what you are missing!!!!! Heaven!!!! They also have a restaurant with some typical farm menu items - all nice and well done.
(5)
Marcie B.
We had been to the U-pick earlier in the day on Sunday, and we ate lunch at the Mexican place down the street. We went for a drive over to Lake Michigan (and a walk to the beach) and decided to stop back to try the pie on our way home. We both really enjoyed our pie. My husband had apple pie and I had blueberry pie (made with Splenda). Our toddler was so busy eating a Ginger Gold that we'd picked earlier, that we were both able to enjoy our pie without much help from him. I'd rate the taste of the pie 5/5! Why 2 stars? 1. The service was horrendous. I would hate to see this place on a busy autumn weekend (we were still officially in mid August). We were seated right away, but must have waited at least 15 minutes to see a server to give our drink orders. Service 1/5 2. The menu did not say that the apple cider was unpasteurized. My husband found this information on the underside of our place mat after the baby and I had already drank some. I'm 6 months pregnant and would not have elected to drink unpasteurized cider (or give it to my toddler) had I been given that information. I do find some comfort in the fact that cider presses are not allowed to use fallen apples in the state of Michigan. Food Safety 1/5 3. They don't offer soft drinks. I like to have a diet soda in a restaurant. They only offered cider, iced tea or water. Drink Selection 1/5 4. The check out area was a mess, it was hot, crowded and not very efficient. Check out 1/5.
(2)
Gareth D.
I used to request pie instead of cake for my birthday as a little kid, so I started this love affair pretty early. For pie fans, this place is great--very Midwest and it offers so many tempting options. They have freshly baked pies in many flavors, utilizing Michigans great produce, and also offer take and bake options that will make your abode smell great. Sugar free (presumably for diabetics because I don't think there's anything low cal about them) is available too.
(5)
L.M. H.
Went for lunch, on a Sunday. We walked in and just stood there because the sign said wait to be seated. There were plenty of tables open, but the people working just walked right by us, until I finally said something. We got our table sat down and waited quite awhile to get menus and drinks, Lol drinks, all they had was water, coffee, or cider. Both my kids burgers were great, my hot panini sandwich was served cold and mushy, ick. My wifes veggy burger she said was good, but how good can a veggy burger be, again ick. Waitress when she finally started waiting on us was very good, friendly, and had really good humor with the kids, cutoos to her for that. Desert was real good as this is a bakery, pie house. I think the two girls waiting tables were doing the best that they could. I don't think they were expecting that amount of crowd to be coming in for lunch, because of the warm streak in the middle of March everybody was out enjoying the weather. With more staff on, I think my panini would have been hot, and all the other flaws gone. We will try this place again and see if it was a fluke. P.S. Absolutely no 3G, and hardly any signal at all for your phone here at Cranes, so if your planning your next gps or maps on your iPhone, don't even attempt it here. I got one bar on a iPhone 4s, nearly impossible to do anything on it. Cheers!
(3)
Dr. Z.
Third trip there, stopped off on the way North. (and coming home, too, for more baked goods by the request of "Herself") Always an enjoyable stop to stretch your legs and chow down. The best bet? Get the Apple Butter French Toast. That's why they are there, that's they're deal. There are some great tempting items in the bakery section, lots that might be good for a take-home delight. Apple butter, Apple butter bread, blueberry everything, etc. Nice staff, very friendly. Clean operation. And then... there's "Betty the Dog". Among all of the odd collection of antiques and an interesting lean towards vintage aviation memorabilia, Betty the Dog can always be found sitting on an antique winter sleigh, where she has resided since 1930's. Google that ! I have a picture of her here on this Yelp review.
(4)
Tracey M.
Arrive R-E-A-L-L-Y hungry... if you plan to eat both a meal and pie (and trust me, you don't want to skip the pie here! Everything about my visit to Crane's Pie Pantry was great! A group of us went on a Saturday afternoon in May. We had no trouble getting seated. Service was prompt and I never felt like I had to seek someone out to get something. The food was good and the pie was AMAZING! (Which I'd hope it would be for a pie pantry!) If you're a fruit pie fan like I am, and will be in the Fennville area, at the very least you must stop in for a piece of their fruit pie. It's my understanding that all the fruit they use in their pies is from their orchard that is just across the street. On this particular visit, even though I was full from my meal I indulged anyhow in a piece of apple pie -- which was outstanding! (And for the record, I'm very picky about apple pie so kudos to Crane's!) Overall, as far as I'm concerned, Cranes's Pie Pantry is a must visit whenever I'm visiting the area.
(5)
o m.
Great summer driving destination to enjoy very old farm building with great county antique decor, the pantry make homemade apple pie and apple drinks. I must stop for lunch while driving a beautiful western Michigan apple and grape farms land before arriving Sagatag, ( the food can be inconsistent......... 2 stars!!) 4 2/1 stars for county antique decor
(5)
Brian K.
FAMOUS FOR: - Fruit Pies - Unpasteurized Apple Cider (5/10) - Cider Donuts (6/10) I TRIED - Apple Butter French Toast (5/10) - Raspberry Rhubarb Pie (3/10) - Apple Crisp (6/10) The place is very rustic. They have old flyers and ads framed all over the walls, and all sorts of country things (i.e. butter churn, rocking chairs) around the place. But, if you're reading this, chances are you're already standing in line or seated, so you know exactly what the place looks like and you need to know what to order, because that's exactly what I did when I sat down. APPLE CIDER I have to admit, I only have stereotypical knowledge of "The Country Life" so forgive me ignorance. When we all ordered some of the juice, and they walked out with what looked like a milk gallon jug, I was a little disappointed. I really can't even tell you what I was expecting, but I think it was something more...authentic. What that means, I dunno. Anyway, I'm not a connoisseur of apple ciders, but this just tastes straight up like local grocery store apple cider. It's by no means bad in any way, it's just, normal. CIDER DONUTS I've been apple picking before, so apple donuts aren't anything new to me. These were like mini donuts, but they weren't really anything to write home about. I used to have these apple donuts at some orchard in Indiana that were almost crispy, and so incredibly moist and buttery, that it was just absolute heaven. These...well...they weren't. FRENCH TOAST As you can see, "apple" is a big thing here. Apple Butter is their other big thing too. So, the apple taste is not unnoticeable, but it doesn't really attract a lot of attention either. What can I say, it's just regular ol' french toast and bacon. Nothing spectacular, nothing even out of the ordinary from how mom used to make it when we were little. RASPBERRY-RHUBARB PIE I got this pie as a suggestion from our waitress. I don't even know what a rhubarb is, but after this experience, I know I don't like it. Now, I'm not really a pie guy, I prefer cake. I do like the Hostess pies, though, even though that doesn't do much for my credibility. I figured that a pie so good that the mayor would land his helicopter here would make even a not-so-enthusiastic-pie-guy like me appreciate the pie. Nope. Didn't happen. The crust was whatever, but berry mixture was just so intense that I was squinting my already Asian eyes almost out of existence! There were people around the table who did like pie, and they didn't think it was all that great either. So, I'm sorry Mayor of Fennville, I'm going to have to disagree. APPLE CRISP So, my pie experience was a bust, but I do like apple pie, so I thought maybe the Apple Crisp will blow my mind... Nope, my mind's still here, in tact, not even a bruise. Again, nothing bad, it's just, I've had and can get the same or better any time I want. ALL IN ALL Well, I left full, and wasn't disgusted, so I guess the place did its job.
(2)
Christine F.
After our trip to the U Pick Orchard, we drove over to Crane's Pie Pantry. The wait for the actual restaurant was about 1.5 hours (OMFG), but we got some pie to go and sat on the grassy hill, overlooking the orchard. I got pumpkin (can't forget the whipped cream!) and my husband got apple. We also got some hot apple cider and some apple cider donuts. The pumpkin pie was huge and delicious. You can't go wrong with pumpkin pie. The apple pie was delicious as well, and it was chocked full of apples, cinnamon and spice. The cider was sweet and wonderful (un-pasteurized cider FTW) and the donuts were fluffy, sweet and heavenly. A great stop for sweets after picking some apples. Highly recommended!
(4)
Steve V.
Horrible!! I purchased 2 pies today for a special event and they are awful. The pumpkin pie is under done and tastes like mush while the apple pie is so burnt and over done that it won't come out of the pan. Stay away. Your grocery store has better pies
(2)
Karen S.
I love pie. I love Saugatuck. From now on, every visit to the area will include a trip to Crane's. I ate a warm piece of peach pie after my lunch, and it was exquisite. I took home pieces of the cherry crisp, cherry pie, and raspberry pie. All were delightful. I highly recommend stopping here to try some pie even if it's out of your way. I anticipate many long drives just to get some pie.
(5)
Am D.
Have been meaning to rate this place for a year. The soup, bread, and apple butter were excellent.
(5)
Seth P.
OH JESUS! THE BOMB! The raspberry pie is the best pie filling I have EVER had. And what -- apple butter ice cream? Indescribable. Like nothing I have ever imagined. The multifarious historical chotchkes are amusing and fascinating, (and there's a lot of deadly serious WWII stuff), and the orchard setting is beautiful. Good music in the background, too.
(5)
Micki O.
really into pie? like fresh breakfasts? how bout fruit picking? then cranes is perfect for you! i live in illinois but when my family comes down to michigan for camping or just for a fun trip, cranes is the best restaurant there is. i am in love with their fruit pies--so fresh, so good. and for breakfast a nice warm doughnut would be nice... wouldn't it? well cranes has the perfect apple cider doughnuts for a nice start to your morning. their apple cider is warm and delicious and fruit picking is always fun. it is even fun to just look around cranes, they have a lot of old posters models and great antiques. can't wait for the next trip to michigan!!!!!
(5)
J. N.
Heard the food is great, all I had was pie. I have had peach and blueberry pies from Crane's both of which were excellent... and, I don't really like pie much! It is a cute farm, very charming with friendly, helpful staff. It's a must when visiting Benton Harbor/South Haven areas. I can't wait to go back and have lunch, and of course a peach pie... all to myself. Check it out, worth a drive!
(4)
Larry B.
good for breakfast and of course pie.
(4)
Mike D.
We only stopped for lunch, but we got a bake-at-home pie to go that I'm really looking forward to digging into! Lunch was good - simple sandwiches - at a great price. The apple sauce, apple bread and apple cider are phenomenal. Next time we'll try the pick your own fruit.
(5)
Katie K.
I have been going to Crane's for almost 30 years and it is a must stop every time I am in the area. The decor consists of antiques and the building is old, but don't let that turn you off. I typically don't like non-chocolate desserts but I love the fresh pies at Crane's. My husband usually gets whatever is in season, but I always order the apple crisp. They also have fresh and frozen desserts to bring home and enjoy. The non-dessert menu consists of simple, homemade comfort food. Be advised - Crane's does not serve soft drinks but they do have fresh apple cider to wash your meal down with.
(5)
Liz F.
Great way to spend a morning if you're visiting the area. Pick your own raspberries, peaches, blueberries, whatever's in season. Then head on over to the pie pantry for some lunch and a delicious slice of Crane's amazing pie. There's a serious baker or two in this family business -- all of the baked goods are phenomenal, and this comes from a baker who is generally pretty critical of other people's wares. Fresh bread served plain or with apple butter as an appetizer? You'll be a believer once you've tried it! A spindle full of donuts? Can't go wrong. The pie of course is amazing. My favorite is the blueberry. Well worth a stop or two if you're in the area.
(5)
Kelly M.
Yelp, you rarely disappoint, but today, you did. We went to Crane's from an ad in a tourist trap magazine and yelp. So why a 3? Well, the bakery area is a MESS to try and manuever. Seriously- there is sort of a system? Maybe not? The people behind te counter were obviously irritated about filling orders The decor is crazy, but we knew this going in, so I am not dinging them for that. The cider was good- not AMAZING. The donuts were meh and smallish We have not delved into the apple butter bread We had an apple strudel- it was under done :( Too early to pick apples, but their orchard, well, it looks amazing. I mean picturesque amazing.
(3)
Zoran O.
This place is THE BEST fresh fruit pies I have ever had - period. They are an orchard so they get all their fresh fruit in the back. Their Apple Cider - Unpasteurized - is amazing and always grab a gallon on the way back home to Chicago!! IF you have not had unpasteurized in the past - you have NO idea what you are missing!!!!! Heaven!!!! They also have a restaurant with some typical farm menu items - all nice and well done.
(5)
Amber L.
We all have been places we wish we could revisit; food we wish we could eat again; and overall people/places/things that put us in a nostalgic state- "a bittersweet longing for things of the past." Crane's apple cider donuts are one of these for me! They are hands down, the BEST donuts I have EVER had! While visiting family in Michigan last year, we ended up passing Crane's and decided to stop on a whim. The farm was cute, the staff was friendly, and everything looked delicious. We picked up some cherry jam for a gift, looked longingly at the pies, and then decided to pick up some donuts. Admittingly, my husband was the one who sealed the deal, as I wasn't necessarily wanting to spend extra money on donuts that looked mediocre. I am more than happy to admit I was wrong! Those donuts were so darn good. I have been longing for one ever since.
(5)
dawn v.
Go for the pie! DO NOT miss the pie! It's the whole point of going. I am reviewing the pie and the various jams, jellies and fruits available here. The rhubarb crisp pie is phenomenal! The individual apple tarts/pies are too good to be true. Go up the street to "salt of the earth" for an unequal dinner experience and then stop here for pie as dessert. It's an unforgettable foodie experience!
(5)
Sue T.
I was disappointed not to find fresh fruit for purchase here and the U-pick was closed. However, the cherry crisp was excellent - with crunchy oatmeal & flour topping. The cider was served in handled pint canning jars. Unfortunately mine tasted watery and flat. The atmosphere is homey with concrete floors and the requisite antique farm implements and old photos and advertisements on the walls. They have frozen fruit pies for take-home--so bring a cooler.
(3)
Annette J.
Fall! My favorite season! So glad to see you again! And so glad you brought your friends cider and doughnuts along. I've missed them too! I'm a bit of a cider mill junkie. I try and hit as many as I can in the fall and although my favorites reside in southeast Michigan (Franklin, hollaaaa!) Crane's is my western Michigan go-to. The doughnuts are perfect--greasy and warm with a touch of nutmeg. The cider is cold and crisp (I prefer my cider cold so we'll usually just grab a half gallon out of the fridge and go to town). The apple and cherry pies are fabulous with a flaky crust and not too sweet filling. The apple cinnamon bread? Love grabbing a loaf and taking it work for breakfast in the mornings. Toasted up with a little bit of their apple butter? Great, great, great! The space itself can be a little off putting, to be honest. I love the rustic old fashioned look to it. Taxidermied animals actually fascinate me and the dusty antiques around get me excited rather than stressed. But I can see how folks who are fans of dust free establishments and weirded by a stuffed dog from 1930 might not find the place so charming. I've admittedly never eaten at the restaurant but every time I've gone in I've seen the place packed with happy customers so I'm assuming they're not freaked out by the decor either. The land around the Pie Pantry is impressive. Orchards for as far as the eye can see. In the summer they'll have peaches (so good!) and in fall come the apples. They have U-Pick available for both should you want to take home some fresh fruit. Across the street you can take advantage of their U-Pick berries in the summer as well. In the summer they'll start growing the corn for their massive Maize Maze but I've never been in town late enough into fall to wander around but it does look impressive. If you love the baked goods and the cider and want to get some of their awesome jams but are a little thrown off by the ambiance then make your way over to the newly opened Crane's In the City in Holland. It's a smaller, more modern place (although still decorated with antique furniture and old timey press clippings) but with all the great Crane's products you'll come to love. However, if you're into old fashioned charm like myself Crane's Pie Pantry is the perfect place to spend a summer or fall afternoon.
(4)
Deborah E.
Last weekend's Saugatuck adventure can be summed up with these oft repeated questions: 1. "When are we going to Crane's?" 2. "How many pies are we getting?" 3. "Four pies for five people - is there a problem?" 4. Repeat. One of those sweltering days we all jumped in the car and bombed over to Cranes's in Fennville - only miles from Saugatuck. The place is stuck in a time warp circa 1945. Located on huge orchard acreage, it is a restaurant, too, but for us the goal was one thing and one thing only - PIE! Well, and a dozen cider donuts that we began eating in the store. Pies were right out of the oven - literally. SO hot we had to create little areas for them to reside in the car - we treated them like the Crown Jewels - with their box lids open so they could vent. Cherry, blueberry, apple and peach - these pies were truly some of the best pies we had ever eaten. And at only $13.25 per pie - worth every penny!
(5)
Priscilla F.
This place is fantastic! We got a cup of chili and the Crane's apple panini for lunch. Chili was good, but to the sweeter side. The panini was absolutely delicious. The food came out really fast and was hot. The cider is great and definitely worth getting. For dessert we got the apple crisp with ice cream, apple dumplings with whip cream and a cider donut. Go with the apple crisp with ice cream, by far the best out of what we got.,
(5)
Bridget K.
Walking into Crane's Pie Pantry was like walking into my grandma's house. It is full of antiques and various art work from times of old. I made sure to get the apple cider. It was amazing! I don't think I'll be able to drink regular apple cider ever again. We weren't here for the cider. We were here for the pie. When a place has a sign saying they have the best pie, you need to try it. I got a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. It was one of the best pieces of pie I have tasted! My mom opted for the rhubarb pie which she loved! My dad was a huge fan of the blueberry pie. I cannot wait to visit Saugatuck again, so I can visit Crane's Pie Pantry!
(4)
Lauren B.
This is a place that is great at what they do. The menu is no-frills but well executed. Their cider is delicious as is their apple bread and pies. My favorite part was the atmosphere-- a hodgepodge of old chairs and tables, walls filled with memorabilia and even old toys hanging from the ceiling. If you're going to any of the many nearby vineyards, it's worth stopping in for a meal or just to peruse the bakery.
(4)
Winchester D.
have you ever had oats in a veggie burger? yes, oats that you make oatmeal with? neither have i, until i came to this place. when you walk in this place, the first thing you realize is that someone raided grandma's stash of knick naks. their specialty is pie. EVERY. SINGLE. KIND. OF. PIE. even pies that have ingredients that have no business being together. like rhubarb and strawberries. like rhubarb and anything else. why would you put rhubarb in anything sweet!?!?!? why does rhubarb exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do beets exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do yams exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do sweet potatoes exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did not have the apple cider, but everyone says it is the bomb. because of the drought they did not have apple pie. i really want to come back and try pie. not the ones with the icky ingredients listed above.
(5)
Jim H.
What can I say, best pies in America, that's what I can say!!! Always have to bring a big cooler to bring some home. My friends in Nashville always ask for me to bring them some too!
(5)
Liz K.
Been coming here for 20 years and it never fails to be great! I love everything about this place - from the quirky decor that is always entertaining to look at, the cold storage room for apples (smells so good!), their chili, spiced cider, apple butter bread, even to the crazy taxidermied dog, Betty, who bids you farewell on your way out... Crane's has been a family tradition every fall since I can remember, and I'm so happy to be bringing my new husband here to check it out now. It can get INSANE on the weekends... so, my recommendation, play hooky from work and go during the middle of the week. Then you won't be stuck waiting in the line!
(5)
Kathy M.
The pies appear to be the only reason to go here and are the reason for the generous 3 stars. The antique decor is fun and the wait staff is nice, but the meals we had for lunch a few days ago were really average, or less. The highly recommended chili tasted like sweet barbecue sauce. I like sweet barbecue sauce--on barbecue, but not in chili. The apple butter bread is just a rather dry bread with apple butter swirled in before baking. It looks nice when sliced, but is no different than bread would be with apple butter smeared on it, which you can get here. The home baked wheat bread was tasteless and the most exotic cheese available was white cheddar. No sodas of any kind did not please my young nephews, who are only allowed that treat when they eat out. On the plus side, we had 4 desserts and all were excellent. The chocolate pecan pie was the winner.
(3)
Jenny G.
POOR, POOR SERVICE!!! Don't go here if you are looking for a pleasurable dining experience! The owners are awful, and need to take a class on customer service! They act like YOU are the one who should feel priviledged to eat at their restaurant! My husband and I live in the area, and have been coming here for years, usually bringing groups of family and friends with us. Although we usually order at the outdoor stand, and ride the hayride, instead of going inside. This time, we had to dine inside since the outdoor stand was closed. We waited an hour to be seated, outside in the cold and rain. When we finally sat down and ordered our desserts, the apple crisp arrived dried out, hard and cold. I was in no mood to complain, nor were our guests, so we started eating it anyway. My husband, however, was not happy and told the waitress he didn't care for his. She took the bowl, and my husband got up to walk around with our restless daughter. Thirty minutes later, and our waitress still had not come back to our table. I had to flag down a table busser to get a to-go box for us, and when we finally got our bill, we had been billed for all desserts, including my husbands, which he sent back! When my husband took the bill up and explained that we should have only been charged for 4 desserts instead of 5, THE OWNER told him that he was paying for ALL 5 desserts, or he could LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! Wow! My husband tried to insist on just paying for the 4 desserts, as he thought that was fair, but was simply told to leave!!! I cannot believe anyone would run their business this way! We will certainly not be back, and we will be telling everyone we know about this awful experience! So, I guess they got their wish!
(1)
Joshua H.
this place truly knows their pie. I stopped in for a cherry pie, the signed grabbed me off the highway and I don't regret it ,it was delicious hands down the best cherry pie I've ever had. Nice place. Old country feel in the middle of a farm
(4)
Rick C.
Hmmm. Where to begin..Let's start with the pies. We shared the cherry and raspberry- rhubarb pie a la lode with apple butter ice cream. They were all pretty good. I think the best thing I had was the unpasteurized apple cider. Now to the bad. Maybe it's just me, but this place also has a lot of creepy elements. Walking into this place right before you open the doors to the dining area, I kept getting this Bates motel, Rob Zombie horror movie vibe. One nervous look at my wife and I could see she felt the same way. This place has been around for a loong time, so I can understand that the direction they went with the decor. I was just not a fan. On the way out, we were also treated to a stuffed dog with a sign that said, "This is Betsy, She's from Chicago." As a dog owner and lover, this creeped me the F out. Good luck Betsy..
(3)
Tom T.
Good food. Fun place for kids. Get there early in the summer and fall or you will not be able to park within a block of the place and you will have to wait a few hours for a table.
(4)
Abbey C.
We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry yesterday after picking apples at Crane's Orchards next door. We didn't eat in the restaurant, so I can't comment on that, but the bakery is wonderful. They have a great selection of fruit pies, preserves, breads, cakes, cider, etc. Everything looks amazing and the items we purchased did not disappoint. We bought some blueberry muffins, apple cider doughnuts, and apple cider. The doughnuts were still warm when we bought them and were the best I have ever had. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious. The prices are reasonable (1 dozen doughnuts for $6) and the staff very friendly. The bakery is small and fairly busy, but they did a good job of moving the crowds through quickly. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful fall day than a trip to Crane's Orchards followed by a stop at the Pie Pantry.
(5)
Del A.
If you want to go there for dessert this might be the place to go if you want to go there for lunch or dinner not such a good choice for service is slow and the food is bad
(1)
Mike B.
What a pleasant surprise! After picking apples and navigating through the corn maze, I took my wife and kids to Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch. We had a light lunch to save room for dessert. The chili was very good, and it came with some excellent apple-butter bread. Yum! The family had a corned beef sandwich and BLT, which was also pretty good. The food was tasty and the atmosphere cozy, but the dessert was the reason we came. The raspberry pie a-la-mode was good, apple doughnut simple but warm and yummy, and pumpkin pie a little on the soft side...but tasty. My absolute favorite thing was the apple cider; only $1 with free refills. It tasted just like eating apples! The cider, bread, doughnuts, and chili are all highly recommended, and the rest was certainly good enough. Fun place.
(4)
Connie G.
Stopped here on Sunday, as we sat and waited for our server, which was a little slow, we had time to look at all the antiques on the walls and read the menu, which has basically pie, and more pie on it. I think they could make a killing if they added Country Breakfast's like Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, Home fries, and country ham and sausage. They do have Apple Butter Bread French Toast.......so we settled for a hamburger which comes only well done, and their homemade sloppy joes, which both were tasty. The Spiced Hot Cider was not a favorite of my daughters who is a lover of hot cider. We then decided to share a piece of the Apple Pie. It was by far one of the best apple pies I have had at a restaurant, I must say it came close to one of my homemade apple pies. Yummy.... The cold cooler attached to the restaurant to get fresh apples from to make your own pies is nice. The bakery on your way out to pay, is filled with tempting treats. We bought some apple butter to go, and a peck of Ida Red apples to make our own pie, since that is the kind they said they used in their pies, and we headed out. Just outside the back door is a Stuffed REAL dog, named Betty.....worth the second look.... Worth the trip out of the way......we will be back.....
(4)
Marcie B.
We had been to the U-pick earlier in the day on Sunday, and we ate lunch at the Mexican place down the street. We went for a drive over to Lake Michigan (and a walk to the beach) and decided to stop back to try the pie on our way home. We both really enjoyed our pie. My husband had apple pie and I had blueberry pie (made with Splenda). Our toddler was so busy eating a Ginger Gold that we'd picked earlier, that we were both able to enjoy our pie without much help from him. I'd rate the taste of the pie 5/5! Why 2 stars? 1. The service was horrendous. I would hate to see this place on a busy autumn weekend (we were still officially in mid August). We were seated right away, but must have waited at least 15 minutes to see a server to give our drink orders. Service 1/5 2. The menu did not say that the apple cider was unpasteurized. My husband found this information on the underside of our place mat after the baby and I had already drank some. I'm 6 months pregnant and would not have elected to drink unpasteurized cider (or give it to my toddler) had I been given that information. I do find some comfort in the fact that cider presses are not allowed to use fallen apples in the state of Michigan. Food Safety 1/5 3. They don't offer soft drinks. I like to have a diet soda in a restaurant. They only offered cider, iced tea or water. Drink Selection 1/5 4. The check out area was a mess, it was hot, crowded and not very efficient. Check out 1/5.
(2)
Gareth D.
I used to request pie instead of cake for my birthday as a little kid, so I started this love affair pretty early. For pie fans, this place is great--very Midwest and it offers so many tempting options. They have freshly baked pies in many flavors, utilizing Michigans great produce, and also offer take and bake options that will make your abode smell great. Sugar free (presumably for diabetics because I don't think there's anything low cal about them) is available too.
(5)
L.M. H.
Went for lunch, on a Sunday. We walked in and just stood there because the sign said wait to be seated. There were plenty of tables open, but the people working just walked right by us, until I finally said something. We got our table sat down and waited quite awhile to get menus and drinks, Lol drinks, all they had was water, coffee, or cider. Both my kids burgers were great, my hot panini sandwich was served cold and mushy, ick. My wifes veggy burger she said was good, but how good can a veggy burger be, again ick. Waitress when she finally started waiting on us was very good, friendly, and had really good humor with the kids, cutoos to her for that. Desert was real good as this is a bakery, pie house. I think the two girls waiting tables were doing the best that they could. I don't think they were expecting that amount of crowd to be coming in for lunch, because of the warm streak in the middle of March everybody was out enjoying the weather. With more staff on, I think my panini would have been hot, and all the other flaws gone. We will try this place again and see if it was a fluke. P.S. Absolutely no 3G, and hardly any signal at all for your phone here at Cranes, so if your planning your next gps or maps on your iPhone, don't even attempt it here. I got one bar on a iPhone 4s, nearly impossible to do anything on it. Cheers!
(3)
Erin H.
Crane's is the perfect experience and worth going back again and again based on what's in season! If you want to pick some apples or peaches and have a good meal you picked the right spot. It's a cool old building filled with all sorts of funky, fun, interesting and historical junk! The atmosphere is casual, warm and welcoming. Expect a good basic meal with comfort food options - the grilled cheese is my favorite. After your meal go buy frozen fruit pies to take home or some other item they make from the scads of fruit orchards that surround the place! On a pretty fall day this place is PACKED! They also have an amazing CORN MAZE during the Halloween season.
(5)
John C.
Chile was great and the desserts are worth a long drive to get there.
(5)
Cheryl I.
We stopped in for lunch on a rainy day after visiting the winery right down the road. What a cute little place with great food and prices. Had their homemade wild rice and mushroom soup with a slice of warm fresh home made white bread and apple butter on the side. So good and only $4.50 I think. We took a slice of blueberry pie and 2 giant chocolate chip cookies to go. Hubs had a burger and chips and a pickle with coffee. A great place to stop.
(4)
Karen J.
We stopped for a quick dinner. The burger and tuna melt were nothing special, but oh my God the pie....I would've eaten 4 slices (with ice cream!) if left to my own devices. If you love fresh baked pies in a multitude of different flavors, go to Crane's if you're in the area. Oh yeah, the service is efficient and very friendly.
(3)
Steve L.
This place has to be seen. Tables are a mixture of antiques and the decor is loaded with posters, print ads, and memorabilia from mostly WWII era. The meal was just so-so. My cheeseburger was served medium well as I was not asked how I would like it cooked. Given a choice, I would have preferred medium rare. I thought my wife's tuna melt was pretty bland, but she seemed happy with it. The apple cider on the other hand tasted fresh and crisp despite being served in June, definitely not apple season. We both had blueberry pie. The crust was perfectly flakey, but we found the filling to be a little too lemony, a just a touch to thin. On other trips to Crane's we have been served pies too die for. So food I give a C and deserts and cider I give an A-.
(4)
Brian J.
This place is a must when I'm headed to South Haven. The decor is earnest and homey. Sealed floors, antiques, old newspapers on the restroom walls. If you like a sloppy joe then this is mecca (sorry Chick Inn). Couple that with friendly service, fresh cider, rhubarb pie that will make you cry=nirvana. Plenty of fresh pastries to purchase as you exit and a great lunch stop before heading to Saugatuck/Holland/etc for the the day. Now I want to drive to Fennville, I should have eaten before writing this.
(5)
Lauren D.
We discovered Crane's a few years ago and has now become an annual stop when we head up to Michigan in the fall. I am a raspberry pie fan and theirs is delicious. But my favorite flavor would be Cherry - its to die for! Other favorites of my family are the apple pie and apple and cherry crisps. They also have an orchard for apple picking (and other fruits during the summer months). Also - try the cider donuts...great fall treat.
(5)
Amy D.
This place is the best! I got married in Saugatuck in June, and chose to have Crane's fruit pies instead of a traditional cake. I was very happy with my choice. Everyone who works there was very accomodating, and I even got to go in ahead of time for a very YUMMY free tasting. Would highly recommend them for wedding or other special event pies.
(5)
Jenni I.
This family farm restaurant is absolutely worth the trip! We stopped for lunch and started with apple butter bread which comes out warm, soft, and filled with delicious sweet apple butter. The roast beef and cheddar panini had caramelized onions making for a tasty sandwich. The vegetable sandwich with pesto was fresh, healthy and delicious. There is a wide range of homemade dessert options. We had apple crisp and blueberry pie, both fresh and yummy. We took home pie from their bakery, too. This is definitely an enjoyable place to eat!
(5)
Sean Y.
Incredible apple pie and peach cobbler. There are a lot of antiques decorating the place but the old mannequins are creepy. Definitely worth stopping off the highway if you are in the area.
(4)
Lisa P.
First time here! Omg!!! It's sooo cute! Orchards all around and Pie PiEe piE... We chose Raspberry Rhubarb. Ummmm! Not too sweet. Excellent!
(5)
jack q.
Picked up a cherry pie and preserves. Cool, funky place and the pie was just delicious. Very friendly folks, too.
(5)
Elyse K.
Order a pie flight! What a brilliant idea! I brought red raspberry muffins home - they're the size of my closed fist and absolutely yummy delicious! Can't wait to return to Fennville and Crane's!
(5)
Christina d.
TRY THE PIE FLIGHT. If you're in the mood for fresh-picked, homemade fruit pie, the pie flight is the only way to go. You get four little mason jars filled with samplings of Crane's delicious pies for just $7. The smile they will put on your face is thrown in for free. We were driving around the area sampling local brews, and the lovely ladies at Virtue cidery tipped us off to this local favorite. Crane's seems to be a staple in the community for you-pick-it fruit, pies, and wines. In the midst of all the breweries and wineries offering flights of their goods, it only makes sense to add a flight of pie for dessert! Or breakfast. Or any time, really.
(5)
James S.
Go for the pie. If you want lunch or dinner try someplace else. My rating: Four stars for the pie. Two stars for the food and service. The Good: I really like the building and decorations. Looks like the building was converted from an old barn or packing building. Sort of a country theme as you would expect. Back towards the restrooms there is a lot of aviation memorabilia. The pies are very good. The Bad: The wait around lunch will be very long. The food menu is limited to soup, salads and sandwiches. The food was not as good as the pie. While our waitress was very nice and kept reassuring us (three times) that our food was on the way; we waited an hour for our food (in addition to the hour we had already waited to get in).
(3)
Bart S.
I was just thinking about some pie. the best I ever had I think is from Cranes- they have winter hours- daily 11AM-4PM, closed on Monday's... Is it the crust and local fruit used, maybe so, or just the formula they use to create their pies. I also like their apple cider too. Can't wait to get back there.
(5)
Paul T.
Corn Maze is an annual favorite. Food is solid and reliable. Hearty. Not a foodie place but who cares...get a piece if cobbler and let yourself go!!!!
(5)
Livia C.
The best place I ever ate. The best apple butter, apple butter bread, chili, sloppy joe, Apple cider (although it is better hot), and apple pie. I love this place and I only have had good experiences. I highly recommend this restaurant. Give them business and definitely buy an apple pie to go!
(5)
Anne M.
I would LOVE a Crane's pie right about now... Not a piece, but an entire pie. We did the full Crane's experience - first we went apple picking in their massive apple orchard. We filled just a small bag of apples ($.89/lb), but we were amongst other groups who were filling up entire wagons and baskets. Prior to our apple adventure, we were given fresh sliced samples of about 5 different kinds of apples (there were even more from which to choose). After we selected a number of perfect apples from the rows and rows of trees, we checked out and headed down the road to the good stuff... the pie. Crane's restaurant / bakery is in a huge old barn filled with antiques and odd apple relics. It seemed part museum, part barn, part restaurant, and part bakery, and it was awesome. They serve a full menu, but we wanted just dessert and coffee. We both went the classic route and ordered a slice of apple pie. He ordered his with ice cream; I ordered mine with a slice of swiss cheese (why? because it was an option I'd never seen offered before, so I tried it. The waitress explained it is an old fashioned way to eat pie that provides a sweet/salty combo). The cheese was an interesting addition, and I liked it, but I don't think I'll be recreating that combo on my own. I like pie just the way it is in its glorious natural state, sans cheese. We hit up the bakery in a major way on the way out, and even bought a frozen pie so we can recreate the magic in our own kitchen.
(5)
Matt W.
If you're going for deserts, you won't be disappointed. Crane's pies are everything everybody says they are. Delicious. The atmosphere is family friendly, the staff is polite and prompt. Going for dinner, though? I'd pass. They'd be better off letting everybody know that their dinner menu is similar to diner food. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll be alright. But for the price of their dinner menu, just go for the pie.
(3)
Yael J.
Great u- pick and the restaurant is nice and close so you have your days outing all in one place. Lots of memorabilia around to look at. The food was okay. They have wine tastings, cider tastings, and pie flights. But I learned pie is better on a plate and not smushed up in tiny jars - as cute as the presentation may be. The cherry pie tasted a bit over cooked. Just buy a slice of pie instead of going the flight route.
(4)
Christine T.
Frozen self serve area has a treasure trove of take home. Look closer at the sugar free options as they use sucralose... so it may be sugar free but the added additives were not something I was looking for. Baked goods for take away a solid bet.
(4)
Kim E.
Hands down my favorite place to eat when in town! I always get the Sloppy Joe andna Sweet Cider to drink....you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Allison F.
After a wholesome afternoon of apple picking, you have to stop in for donuts and cider...and chili...and pie...and ice cream...and granola...and apple butter..and caramel...and then of course you have to take some home. Be careful coming in, because you'll be tempted to have one of everything from the store. It's homestyle, homegrown, and homemade...just like mom would make!
(5)
Robert B.
This place has the most eclectic, funky dining rooms in the entire state of Michigan. Their menu is interesting too. It's like eating lunch or dinner at a cider mill and bakery. I tried a cup of chili with shredded cheese that hit the spot. Make sure to save room for pie. It's the best part!
(4)
Donna C.
It would be difficult to find a better pie anywhere in the U.S! The Apple is wonderful, the blueberry unbelievably good. Add vanilla ice cream and you have perfection. In the fall they recently added hard cider to their menu and it is delicious. I highly recommend the tart apple cider, but they have one for every taste. The pear cider is also very good. The wait staff is friendly and efficient and are usually family or local college girls...so be sure to be generous when tipping.
(5)
Matt C.
Wish I took some photos.... I had a fantastic, hand made veggie burger...my kids split a kids grilled cheese-it was massive and glad we split it...my wife had a very good bowl of tomato basil soup and a slice of Apple butter bread...fantastic Apple butter! They don't serve pop, just a heads up. Didn't get pie, but did get a 1/2 dozen donuts-they are like Apple fritters...very good! Would love to go back to do the u-pick in their orchards!
(4)
Kera C.
Most amazing place ever! I have been going to Crane's every time is come to Saugatuck, MI. The food is so good and so fresh, the ingredients are amazing. I love the setting of Crane's, the whole place is filled with antiques, it makes me feel like I am back with my grandma. The pie's are so good and so is the cider. If you are in the area stop at Crane's even if it is for a cup of cider and a slice of pie.
(5)
Brooklyn B.
I loved my ham and swiss sandwich! It tasted delicious especially when I dunked it in my soup! Yum yum!
(5)
Zamibe B.
The food was great! I got the Turkey Club and a Iced Coffee, the sandwich was moist and very flavorful and the coffee was smooth. The prices were a little high and the kettle chips were not good (unsalted)
(4)
Abby J.
Unbelievably good pie. There's nothing else to say. The place is adorable, so quaint and rustic. The regular food isn't anything to write home about but the pie is so effing good that I would eat off their kitchen floor if it meant I could have pie for dessert.
(5)
Sallie G.
While on a visit to Holland, MI for our annual girl trip, my 2 friends and I had eaten a wonderful lunch at Cranes in the City. We weren't leaving for a couple of days so didn't want to buy a pie yet. The day we left we drove to Fennville on our way home and purchased our pies. Each of us got a couple of pies as well as the same apple butter bread we had eaten in the City Cristo sandwich at Cranes in the City. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant looked fun but we were planning to eat at Tabor Hill Winery. Since beginning our girl trips some years ago we have made a tradition of buying a pie to take home. In my opinion, this was the best of all the pies we have ever purchased. I personally make a pretty darn good pie but theirs was wonderful - I had the raspberry rhubarb.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lisa P.
First time here! Omg!!! It's sooo cute! Orchards all around and Pie PiEe piE... We chose Raspberry Rhubarb. Ummmm! Not too sweet. Excellent!
(5)Bart S.
I was just thinking about some pie. the best I ever had I think is from Cranes- they have winter hours- daily 11AM-4PM, closed on Monday's... Is it the crust and local fruit used, maybe so, or just the formula they use to create their pies. I also like their apple cider too. Can't wait to get back there.
(5)Christina d.
TRY THE PIE FLIGHT. If you're in the mood for fresh-picked, homemade fruit pie, the pie flight is the only way to go. You get four little mason jars filled with samplings of Crane's delicious pies for just $7. The smile they will put on your face is thrown in for free. We were driving around the area sampling local brews, and the lovely ladies at Virtue cidery tipped us off to this local favorite. Crane's seems to be a staple in the community for you-pick-it fruit, pies, and wines. In the midst of all the breweries and wineries offering flights of their goods, it only makes sense to add a flight of pie for dessert! Or breakfast. Or any time, really.
(5)James S.
Go for the pie. If you want lunch or dinner try someplace else. My rating: Four stars for the pie. Two stars for the food and service. The Good: I really like the building and decorations. Looks like the building was converted from an old barn or packing building. Sort of a country theme as you would expect. Back towards the restrooms there is a lot of aviation memorabilia. The pies are very good. The Bad: The wait around lunch will be very long. The food menu is limited to soup, salads and sandwiches. The food was not as good as the pie. While our waitress was very nice and kept reassuring us (three times) that our food was on the way; we waited an hour for our food (in addition to the hour we had already waited to get in).
(3)jack q.
Picked up a cherry pie and preserves. Cool, funky place and the pie was just delicious. Very friendly folks, too.
(5)Elyse K.
Order a pie flight! What a brilliant idea! I brought red raspberry muffins home - they're the size of my closed fist and absolutely yummy delicious! Can't wait to return to Fennville and Crane's!
(5)Abby J.
Unbelievably good pie. There's nothing else to say. The place is adorable, so quaint and rustic. The regular food isn't anything to write home about but the pie is so effing good that I would eat off their kitchen floor if it meant I could have pie for dessert.
(5)Livia C.
The best place I ever ate. The best apple butter, apple butter bread, chili, sloppy joe, Apple cider (although it is better hot), and apple pie. I love this place and I only have had good experiences. I highly recommend this restaurant. Give them business and definitely buy an apple pie to go!
(5)Paul T.
Corn Maze is an annual favorite. Food is solid and reliable. Hearty. Not a foodie place but who cares...get a piece if cobbler and let yourself go!!!!
(5)Steve V.
Horrible!! I purchased 2 pies today for a special event and they are awful. The pumpkin pie is under done and tastes like mush while the apple pie is so burnt and over done that it won't come out of the pan. Stay away. Your grocery store has better pies
(2)Christine F.
After our trip to the U Pick Orchard, we drove over to Crane's Pie Pantry. The wait for the actual restaurant was about 1.5 hours (OMFG), but we got some pie to go and sat on the grassy hill, overlooking the orchard. I got pumpkin (can't forget the whipped cream!) and my husband got apple. We also got some hot apple cider and some apple cider donuts. The pumpkin pie was huge and delicious. You can't go wrong with pumpkin pie. The apple pie was delicious as well, and it was chocked full of apples, cinnamon and spice. The cider was sweet and wonderful (un-pasteurized cider FTW) and the donuts were fluffy, sweet and heavenly. A great stop for sweets after picking some apples. Highly recommended!
(4)Karen S.
I love pie. I love Saugatuck. From now on, every visit to the area will include a trip to Crane's. I ate a warm piece of peach pie after my lunch, and it was exquisite. I took home pieces of the cherry crisp, cherry pie, and raspberry pie. All were delightful. I highly recommend stopping here to try some pie even if it's out of your way. I anticipate many long drives just to get some pie.
(5)Am D.
Have been meaning to rate this place for a year. The soup, bread, and apple butter were excellent.
(5)Rick C.
Hmmm. Where to begin..Let's start with the pies. We shared the cherry and raspberry- rhubarb pie a la lode with apple butter ice cream. They were all pretty good. I think the best thing I had was the unpasteurized apple cider. Now to the bad. Maybe it's just me, but this place also has a lot of creepy elements. Walking into this place right before you open the doors to the dining area, I kept getting this Bates motel, Rob Zombie horror movie vibe. One nervous look at my wife and I could see she felt the same way. This place has been around for a loong time, so I can understand that the direction they went with the decor. I was just not a fan. On the way out, we were also treated to a stuffed dog with a sign that said, "This is Betsy, She's from Chicago." As a dog owner and lover, this creeped me the F out. Good luck Betsy..
(3)Tom T.
Good food. Fun place for kids. Get there early in the summer and fall or you will not be able to park within a block of the place and you will have to wait a few hours for a table.
(4)Seth P.
OH JESUS! THE BOMB! The raspberry pie is the best pie filling I have EVER had. And what -- apple butter ice cream? Indescribable. Like nothing I have ever imagined. The multifarious historical chotchkes are amusing and fascinating, (and there's a lot of deadly serious WWII stuff), and the orchard setting is beautiful. Good music in the background, too.
(5)Jenny G.
POOR, POOR SERVICE!!! Don't go here if you are looking for a pleasurable dining experience! The owners are awful, and need to take a class on customer service! They act like YOU are the one who should feel priviledged to eat at their restaurant! My husband and I live in the area, and have been coming here for years, usually bringing groups of family and friends with us. Although we usually order at the outdoor stand, and ride the hayride, instead of going inside. This time, we had to dine inside since the outdoor stand was closed. We waited an hour to be seated, outside in the cold and rain. When we finally sat down and ordered our desserts, the apple crisp arrived dried out, hard and cold. I was in no mood to complain, nor were our guests, so we started eating it anyway. My husband, however, was not happy and told the waitress he didn't care for his. She took the bowl, and my husband got up to walk around with our restless daughter. Thirty minutes later, and our waitress still had not come back to our table. I had to flag down a table busser to get a to-go box for us, and when we finally got our bill, we had been billed for all desserts, including my husbands, which he sent back! When my husband took the bill up and explained that we should have only been charged for 4 desserts instead of 5, THE OWNER told him that he was paying for ALL 5 desserts, or he could LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! Wow! My husband tried to insist on just paying for the 4 desserts, as he thought that was fair, but was simply told to leave!!! I cannot believe anyone would run their business this way! We will certainly not be back, and we will be telling everyone we know about this awful experience! So, I guess they got their wish!
(1)Joshua H.
this place truly knows their pie. I stopped in for a cherry pie, the signed grabbed me off the highway and I don't regret it ,it was delicious hands down the best cherry pie I've ever had. Nice place. Old country feel in the middle of a farm
(4)Abbey C.
We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry yesterday after picking apples at Crane's Orchards next door. We didn't eat in the restaurant, so I can't comment on that, but the bakery is wonderful. They have a great selection of fruit pies, preserves, breads, cakes, cider, etc. Everything looks amazing and the items we purchased did not disappoint. We bought some blueberry muffins, apple cider doughnuts, and apple cider. The doughnuts were still warm when we bought them and were the best I have ever had. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious. The prices are reasonable (1 dozen doughnuts for $6) and the staff very friendly. The bakery is small and fairly busy, but they did a good job of moving the crowds through quickly. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful fall day than a trip to Crane's Orchards followed by a stop at the Pie Pantry.
(5)Del A.
If you want to go there for dessert this might be the place to go if you want to go there for lunch or dinner not such a good choice for service is slow and the food is bad
(1)Mike B.
What a pleasant surprise! After picking apples and navigating through the corn maze, I took my wife and kids to Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch. We had a light lunch to save room for dessert. The chili was very good, and it came with some excellent apple-butter bread. Yum! The family had a corned beef sandwich and BLT, which was also pretty good. The food was tasty and the atmosphere cozy, but the dessert was the reason we came. The raspberry pie a-la-mode was good, apple doughnut simple but warm and yummy, and pumpkin pie a little on the soft side...but tasty. My absolute favorite thing was the apple cider; only $1 with free refills. It tasted just like eating apples! The cider, bread, doughnuts, and chili are all highly recommended, and the rest was certainly good enough. Fun place.
(4)Micki O.
really into pie? like fresh breakfasts? how bout fruit picking? then cranes is perfect for you! i live in illinois but when my family comes down to michigan for camping or just for a fun trip, cranes is the best restaurant there is. i am in love with their fruit pies--so fresh, so good. and for breakfast a nice warm doughnut would be nice... wouldn't it? well cranes has the perfect apple cider doughnuts for a nice start to your morning. their apple cider is warm and delicious and fruit picking is always fun. it is even fun to just look around cranes, they have a lot of old posters models and great antiques. can't wait for the next trip to michigan!!!!!
(5)J. N.
Heard the food is great, all I had was pie. I have had peach and blueberry pies from Crane's both of which were excellent... and, I don't really like pie much! It is a cute farm, very charming with friendly, helpful staff. It's a must when visiting Benton Harbor/South Haven areas. I can't wait to go back and have lunch, and of course a peach pie... all to myself. Check it out, worth a drive!
(4)Larry B.
good for breakfast and of course pie.
(4)Connie G.
Stopped here on Sunday, as we sat and waited for our server, which was a little slow, we had time to look at all the antiques on the walls and read the menu, which has basically pie, and more pie on it. I think they could make a killing if they added Country Breakfast's like Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, Home fries, and country ham and sausage. They do have Apple Butter Bread French Toast.......so we settled for a hamburger which comes only well done, and their homemade sloppy joes, which both were tasty. The Spiced Hot Cider was not a favorite of my daughters who is a lover of hot cider. We then decided to share a piece of the Apple Pie. It was by far one of the best apple pies I have had at a restaurant, I must say it came close to one of my homemade apple pies. Yummy.... The cold cooler attached to the restaurant to get fresh apples from to make your own pies is nice. The bakery on your way out to pay, is filled with tempting treats. We bought some apple butter to go, and a peck of Ida Red apples to make our own pie, since that is the kind they said they used in their pies, and we headed out. Just outside the back door is a Stuffed REAL dog, named Betty.....worth the second look.... Worth the trip out of the way......we will be back.....
(4)Amy D.
This place is the best! I got married in Saugatuck in June, and chose to have Crane's fruit pies instead of a traditional cake. I was very happy with my choice. Everyone who works there was very accomodating, and I even got to go in ahead of time for a very YUMMY free tasting. Would highly recommend them for wedding or other special event pies.
(5)Jenni I.
This family farm restaurant is absolutely worth the trip! We stopped for lunch and started with apple butter bread which comes out warm, soft, and filled with delicious sweet apple butter. The roast beef and cheddar panini had caramelized onions making for a tasty sandwich. The vegetable sandwich with pesto was fresh, healthy and delicious. There is a wide range of homemade dessert options. We had apple crisp and blueberry pie, both fresh and yummy. We took home pie from their bakery, too. This is definitely an enjoyable place to eat!
(5)Sean Y.
Incredible apple pie and peach cobbler. There are a lot of antiques decorating the place but the old mannequins are creepy. Definitely worth stopping off the highway if you are in the area.
(4)Katie K.
I have been going to Crane's for almost 30 years and it is a must stop every time I am in the area. The decor consists of antiques and the building is old, but don't let that turn you off. I typically don't like non-chocolate desserts but I love the fresh pies at Crane's. My husband usually gets whatever is in season, but I always order the apple crisp. They also have fresh and frozen desserts to bring home and enjoy. The non-dessert menu consists of simple, homemade comfort food. Be advised - Crane's does not serve soft drinks but they do have fresh apple cider to wash your meal down with.
(5)Liz F.
Great way to spend a morning if you're visiting the area. Pick your own raspberries, peaches, blueberries, whatever's in season. Then head on over to the pie pantry for some lunch and a delicious slice of Crane's amazing pie. There's a serious baker or two in this family business -- all of the baked goods are phenomenal, and this comes from a baker who is generally pretty critical of other people's wares. Fresh bread served plain or with apple butter as an appetizer? You'll be a believer once you've tried it! A spindle full of donuts? Can't go wrong. The pie of course is amazing. My favorite is the blueberry. Well worth a stop or two if you're in the area.
(5)Mike D.
We only stopped for lunch, but we got a bake-at-home pie to go that I'm really looking forward to digging into! Lunch was good - simple sandwiches - at a great price. The apple sauce, apple bread and apple cider are phenomenal. Next time we'll try the pick your own fruit.
(5)Lauren D.
We discovered Crane's a few years ago and has now become an annual stop when we head up to Michigan in the fall. I am a raspberry pie fan and theirs is delicious. But my favorite flavor would be Cherry - its to die for! Other favorites of my family are the apple pie and apple and cherry crisps. They also have an orchard for apple picking (and other fruits during the summer months). Also - try the cider donuts...great fall treat.
(5)Anne M.
I would LOVE a Crane's pie right about now... Not a piece, but an entire pie. We did the full Crane's experience - first we went apple picking in their massive apple orchard. We filled just a small bag of apples ($.89/lb), but we were amongst other groups who were filling up entire wagons and baskets. Prior to our apple adventure, we were given fresh sliced samples of about 5 different kinds of apples (there were even more from which to choose). After we selected a number of perfect apples from the rows and rows of trees, we checked out and headed down the road to the good stuff... the pie. Crane's restaurant / bakery is in a huge old barn filled with antiques and odd apple relics. It seemed part museum, part barn, part restaurant, and part bakery, and it was awesome. They serve a full menu, but we wanted just dessert and coffee. We both went the classic route and ordered a slice of apple pie. He ordered his with ice cream; I ordered mine with a slice of swiss cheese (why? because it was an option I'd never seen offered before, so I tried it. The waitress explained it is an old fashioned way to eat pie that provides a sweet/salty combo). The cheese was an interesting addition, and I liked it, but I don't think I'll be recreating that combo on my own. I like pie just the way it is in its glorious natural state, sans cheese. We hit up the bakery in a major way on the way out, and even bought a frozen pie so we can recreate the magic in our own kitchen.
(5)Matt W.
If you're going for deserts, you won't be disappointed. Crane's pies are everything everybody says they are. Delicious. The atmosphere is family friendly, the staff is polite and prompt. Going for dinner, though? I'd pass. They'd be better off letting everybody know that their dinner menu is similar to diner food. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll be alright. But for the price of their dinner menu, just go for the pie.
(3)Yael J.
Great u- pick and the restaurant is nice and close so you have your days outing all in one place. Lots of memorabilia around to look at. The food was okay. They have wine tastings, cider tastings, and pie flights. But I learned pie is better on a plate and not smushed up in tiny jars - as cute as the presentation may be. The cherry pie tasted a bit over cooked. Just buy a slice of pie instead of going the flight route.
(4)Christine T.
Frozen self serve area has a treasure trove of take home. Look closer at the sugar free options as they use sucralose... so it may be sugar free but the added additives were not something I was looking for. Baked goods for take away a solid bet.
(4)Kim E.
Hands down my favorite place to eat when in town! I always get the Sloppy Joe andna Sweet Cider to drink....you won't be disappointed!
(5)Allison F.
After a wholesome afternoon of apple picking, you have to stop in for donuts and cider...and chili...and pie...and ice cream...and granola...and apple butter..and caramel...and then of course you have to take some home. Be careful coming in, because you'll be tempted to have one of everything from the store. It's homestyle, homegrown, and homemade...just like mom would make!
(5)Robert B.
This place has the most eclectic, funky dining rooms in the entire state of Michigan. Their menu is interesting too. It's like eating lunch or dinner at a cider mill and bakery. I tried a cup of chili with shredded cheese that hit the spot. Make sure to save room for pie. It's the best part!
(4)Donna C.
It would be difficult to find a better pie anywhere in the U.S! The Apple is wonderful, the blueberry unbelievably good. Add vanilla ice cream and you have perfection. In the fall they recently added hard cider to their menu and it is delicious. I highly recommend the tart apple cider, but they have one for every taste. The pear cider is also very good. The wait staff is friendly and efficient and are usually family or local college girls...so be sure to be generous when tipping.
(5)Matt C.
Wish I took some photos.... I had a fantastic, hand made veggie burger...my kids split a kids grilled cheese-it was massive and glad we split it...my wife had a very good bowl of tomato basil soup and a slice of Apple butter bread...fantastic Apple butter! They don't serve pop, just a heads up. Didn't get pie, but did get a 1/2 dozen donuts-they are like Apple fritters...very good! Would love to go back to do the u-pick in their orchards!
(4)Kera C.
Most amazing place ever! I have been going to Crane's every time is come to Saugatuck, MI. The food is so good and so fresh, the ingredients are amazing. I love the setting of Crane's, the whole place is filled with antiques, it makes me feel like I am back with my grandma. The pie's are so good and so is the cider. If you are in the area stop at Crane's even if it is for a cup of cider and a slice of pie.
(5)Brooklyn B.
I loved my ham and swiss sandwich! It tasted delicious especially when I dunked it in my soup! Yum yum!
(5)Zamibe B.
The food was great! I got the Turkey Club and a Iced Coffee, the sandwich was moist and very flavorful and the coffee was smooth. The prices were a little high and the kettle chips were not good (unsalted)
(4)Annette J.
Fall! My favorite season! So glad to see you again! And so glad you brought your friends cider and doughnuts along. I've missed them too! I'm a bit of a cider mill junkie. I try and hit as many as I can in the fall and although my favorites reside in southeast Michigan (Franklin, hollaaaa!) Crane's is my western Michigan go-to. The doughnuts are perfect--greasy and warm with a touch of nutmeg. The cider is cold and crisp (I prefer my cider cold so we'll usually just grab a half gallon out of the fridge and go to town). The apple and cherry pies are fabulous with a flaky crust and not too sweet filling. The apple cinnamon bread? Love grabbing a loaf and taking it work for breakfast in the mornings. Toasted up with a little bit of their apple butter? Great, great, great! The space itself can be a little off putting, to be honest. I love the rustic old fashioned look to it. Taxidermied animals actually fascinate me and the dusty antiques around get me excited rather than stressed. But I can see how folks who are fans of dust free establishments and weirded by a stuffed dog from 1930 might not find the place so charming. I've admittedly never eaten at the restaurant but every time I've gone in I've seen the place packed with happy customers so I'm assuming they're not freaked out by the decor either. The land around the Pie Pantry is impressive. Orchards for as far as the eye can see. In the summer they'll have peaches (so good!) and in fall come the apples. They have U-Pick available for both should you want to take home some fresh fruit. Across the street you can take advantage of their U-Pick berries in the summer as well. In the summer they'll start growing the corn for their massive Maize Maze but I've never been in town late enough into fall to wander around but it does look impressive. If you love the baked goods and the cider and want to get some of their awesome jams but are a little thrown off by the ambiance then make your way over to the newly opened Crane's In the City in Holland. It's a smaller, more modern place (although still decorated with antique furniture and old timey press clippings) but with all the great Crane's products you'll come to love. However, if you're into old fashioned charm like myself Crane's Pie Pantry is the perfect place to spend a summer or fall afternoon.
(4)Dr. Z.
Third trip there, stopped off on the way North. (and coming home, too, for more baked goods by the request of "Herself") Always an enjoyable stop to stretch your legs and chow down. The best bet? Get the Apple Butter French Toast. That's why they are there, that's they're deal. There are some great tempting items in the bakery section, lots that might be good for a take-home delight. Apple butter, Apple butter bread, blueberry everything, etc. Nice staff, very friendly. Clean operation. And then... there's "Betty the Dog". Among all of the odd collection of antiques and an interesting lean towards vintage aviation memorabilia, Betty the Dog can always be found sitting on an antique winter sleigh, where she has resided since 1930's. Google that ! I have a picture of her here on this Yelp review.
(4)Tracey M.
Arrive R-E-A-L-L-Y hungry... if you plan to eat both a meal and pie (and trust me, you don't want to skip the pie here! Everything about my visit to Crane's Pie Pantry was great! A group of us went on a Saturday afternoon in May. We had no trouble getting seated. Service was prompt and I never felt like I had to seek someone out to get something. The food was good and the pie was AMAZING! (Which I'd hope it would be for a pie pantry!) If you're a fruit pie fan like I am, and will be in the Fennville area, at the very least you must stop in for a piece of their fruit pie. It's my understanding that all the fruit they use in their pies is from their orchard that is just across the street. On this particular visit, even though I was full from my meal I indulged anyhow in a piece of apple pie -- which was outstanding! (And for the record, I'm very picky about apple pie so kudos to Crane's!) Overall, as far as I'm concerned, Cranes's Pie Pantry is a must visit whenever I'm visiting the area.
(5)Sallie G.
While on a visit to Holland, MI for our annual girl trip, my 2 friends and I had eaten a wonderful lunch at Cranes in the City. We weren't leaving for a couple of days so didn't want to buy a pie yet. The day we left we drove to Fennville on our way home and purchased our pies. Each of us got a couple of pies as well as the same apple butter bread we had eaten in the City Cristo sandwich at Cranes in the City. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant looked fun but we were planning to eat at Tabor Hill Winery. Since beginning our girl trips some years ago we have made a tradition of buying a pie to take home. In my opinion, this was the best of all the pies we have ever purchased. I personally make a pretty darn good pie but theirs was wonderful - I had the raspberry rhubarb.
(5)Erin H.
Crane's is the perfect experience and worth going back again and again based on what's in season! If you want to pick some apples or peaches and have a good meal you picked the right spot. It's a cool old building filled with all sorts of funky, fun, interesting and historical junk! The atmosphere is casual, warm and welcoming. Expect a good basic meal with comfort food options - the grilled cheese is my favorite. After your meal go buy frozen fruit pies to take home or some other item they make from the scads of fruit orchards that surround the place! On a pretty fall day this place is PACKED! They also have an amazing CORN MAZE during the Halloween season.
(5)John C.
Chile was great and the desserts are worth a long drive to get there.
(5)Cheryl I.
We stopped in for lunch on a rainy day after visiting the winery right down the road. What a cute little place with great food and prices. Had their homemade wild rice and mushroom soup with a slice of warm fresh home made white bread and apple butter on the side. So good and only $4.50 I think. We took a slice of blueberry pie and 2 giant chocolate chip cookies to go. Hubs had a burger and chips and a pickle with coffee. A great place to stop.
(4)Karen J.
We stopped for a quick dinner. The burger and tuna melt were nothing special, but oh my God the pie....I would've eaten 4 slices (with ice cream!) if left to my own devices. If you love fresh baked pies in a multitude of different flavors, go to Crane's if you're in the area. Oh yeah, the service is efficient and very friendly.
(3)Steve L.
This place has to be seen. Tables are a mixture of antiques and the decor is loaded with posters, print ads, and memorabilia from mostly WWII era. The meal was just so-so. My cheeseburger was served medium well as I was not asked how I would like it cooked. Given a choice, I would have preferred medium rare. I thought my wife's tuna melt was pretty bland, but she seemed happy with it. The apple cider on the other hand tasted fresh and crisp despite being served in June, definitely not apple season. We both had blueberry pie. The crust was perfectly flakey, but we found the filling to be a little too lemony, a just a touch to thin. On other trips to Crane's we have been served pies too die for. So food I give a C and deserts and cider I give an A-.
(4)Brian J.
This place is a must when I'm headed to South Haven. The decor is earnest and homey. Sealed floors, antiques, old newspapers on the restroom walls. If you like a sloppy joe then this is mecca (sorry Chick Inn). Couple that with friendly service, fresh cider, rhubarb pie that will make you cry=nirvana. Plenty of fresh pastries to purchase as you exit and a great lunch stop before heading to Saugatuck/Holland/etc for the the day. Now I want to drive to Fennville, I should have eaten before writing this.
(5)Brian K.
FAMOUS FOR: - Fruit Pies - Unpasteurized Apple Cider (5/10) - Cider Donuts (6/10) I TRIED - Apple Butter French Toast (5/10) - Raspberry Rhubarb Pie (3/10) - Apple Crisp (6/10) The place is very rustic. They have old flyers and ads framed all over the walls, and all sorts of country things (i.e. butter churn, rocking chairs) around the place. But, if you're reading this, chances are you're already standing in line or seated, so you know exactly what the place looks like and you need to know what to order, because that's exactly what I did when I sat down. APPLE CIDER I have to admit, I only have stereotypical knowledge of "The Country Life" so forgive me ignorance. When we all ordered some of the juice, and they walked out with what looked like a milk gallon jug, I was a little disappointed. I really can't even tell you what I was expecting, but I think it was something more...authentic. What that means, I dunno. Anyway, I'm not a connoisseur of apple ciders, but this just tastes straight up like local grocery store apple cider. It's by no means bad in any way, it's just, normal. CIDER DONUTS I've been apple picking before, so apple donuts aren't anything new to me. These were like mini donuts, but they weren't really anything to write home about. I used to have these apple donuts at some orchard in Indiana that were almost crispy, and so incredibly moist and buttery, that it was just absolute heaven. These...well...they weren't. FRENCH TOAST As you can see, "apple" is a big thing here. Apple Butter is their other big thing too. So, the apple taste is not unnoticeable, but it doesn't really attract a lot of attention either. What can I say, it's just regular ol' french toast and bacon. Nothing spectacular, nothing even out of the ordinary from how mom used to make it when we were little. RASPBERRY-RHUBARB PIE I got this pie as a suggestion from our waitress. I don't even know what a rhubarb is, but after this experience, I know I don't like it. Now, I'm not really a pie guy, I prefer cake. I do like the Hostess pies, though, even though that doesn't do much for my credibility. I figured that a pie so good that the mayor would land his helicopter here would make even a not-so-enthusiastic-pie-guy like me appreciate the pie. Nope. Didn't happen. The crust was whatever, but berry mixture was just so intense that I was squinting my already Asian eyes almost out of existence! There were people around the table who did like pie, and they didn't think it was all that great either. So, I'm sorry Mayor of Fennville, I'm going to have to disagree. APPLE CRISP So, my pie experience was a bust, but I do like apple pie, so I thought maybe the Apple Crisp will blow my mind... Nope, my mind's still here, in tact, not even a bruise. Again, nothing bad, it's just, I've had and can get the same or better any time I want. ALL IN ALL Well, I left full, and wasn't disgusted, so I guess the place did its job.
(2)o m.
Great summer driving destination to enjoy very old farm building with great county antique decor, the pantry make homemade apple pie and apple drinks. I must stop for lunch while driving a beautiful western Michigan apple and grape farms land before arriving Sagatag, ( the food can be inconsistent......... 2 stars!!) 4 2/1 stars for county antique decor
(5)Priscilla F.
This place is fantastic! We got a cup of chili and the Crane's apple panini for lunch. Chili was good, but to the sweeter side. The panini was absolutely delicious. The food came out really fast and was hot. The cider is great and definitely worth getting. For dessert we got the apple crisp with ice cream, apple dumplings with whip cream and a cider donut. Go with the apple crisp with ice cream, by far the best out of what we got.,
(5)Bridget K.
Walking into Crane's Pie Pantry was like walking into my grandma's house. It is full of antiques and various art work from times of old. I made sure to get the apple cider. It was amazing! I don't think I'll be able to drink regular apple cider ever again. We weren't here for the cider. We were here for the pie. When a place has a sign saying they have the best pie, you need to try it. I got a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. It was one of the best pieces of pie I have tasted! My mom opted for the rhubarb pie which she loved! My dad was a huge fan of the blueberry pie. I cannot wait to visit Saugatuck again, so I can visit Crane's Pie Pantry!
(4)Lauren B.
This is a place that is great at what they do. The menu is no-frills but well executed. Their cider is delicious as is their apple bread and pies. My favorite part was the atmosphere-- a hodgepodge of old chairs and tables, walls filled with memorabilia and even old toys hanging from the ceiling. If you're going to any of the many nearby vineyards, it's worth stopping in for a meal or just to peruse the bakery.
(4)Winchester D.
have you ever had oats in a veggie burger? yes, oats that you make oatmeal with? neither have i, until i came to this place. when you walk in this place, the first thing you realize is that someone raided grandma's stash of knick naks. their specialty is pie. EVERY. SINGLE. KIND. OF. PIE. even pies that have ingredients that have no business being together. like rhubarb and strawberries. like rhubarb and anything else. why would you put rhubarb in anything sweet!?!?!? why does rhubarb exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do beets exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do yams exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do sweet potatoes exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did not have the apple cider, but everyone says it is the bomb. because of the drought they did not have apple pie. i really want to come back and try pie. not the ones with the icky ingredients listed above.
(5)Jim H.
What can I say, best pies in America, that's what I can say!!! Always have to bring a big cooler to bring some home. My friends in Nashville always ask for me to bring them some too!
(5)Amber L.
We all have been places we wish we could revisit; food we wish we could eat again; and overall people/places/things that put us in a nostalgic state- "a bittersweet longing for things of the past." Crane's apple cider donuts are one of these for me! They are hands down, the BEST donuts I have EVER had! While visiting family in Michigan last year, we ended up passing Crane's and decided to stop on a whim. The farm was cute, the staff was friendly, and everything looked delicious. We picked up some cherry jam for a gift, looked longingly at the pies, and then decided to pick up some donuts. Admittingly, my husband was the one who sealed the deal, as I wasn't necessarily wanting to spend extra money on donuts that looked mediocre. I am more than happy to admit I was wrong! Those donuts were so darn good. I have been longing for one ever since.
(5)dawn v.
Go for the pie! DO NOT miss the pie! It's the whole point of going. I am reviewing the pie and the various jams, jellies and fruits available here. The rhubarb crisp pie is phenomenal! The individual apple tarts/pies are too good to be true. Go up the street to "salt of the earth" for an unequal dinner experience and then stop here for pie as dessert. It's an unforgettable foodie experience!
(5)Sue T.
I was disappointed not to find fresh fruit for purchase here and the U-pick was closed. However, the cherry crisp was excellent - with crunchy oatmeal & flour topping. The cider was served in handled pint canning jars. Unfortunately mine tasted watery and flat. The atmosphere is homey with concrete floors and the requisite antique farm implements and old photos and advertisements on the walls. They have frozen fruit pies for take-home--so bring a cooler.
(3)Deborah E.
Last weekend's Saugatuck adventure can be summed up with these oft repeated questions: 1. "When are we going to Crane's?" 2. "How many pies are we getting?" 3. "Four pies for five people - is there a problem?" 4. Repeat. One of those sweltering days we all jumped in the car and bombed over to Cranes's in Fennville - only miles from Saugatuck. The place is stuck in a time warp circa 1945. Located on huge orchard acreage, it is a restaurant, too, but for us the goal was one thing and one thing only - PIE! Well, and a dozen cider donuts that we began eating in the store. Pies were right out of the oven - literally. SO hot we had to create little areas for them to reside in the car - we treated them like the Crown Jewels - with their box lids open so they could vent. Cherry, blueberry, apple and peach - these pies were truly some of the best pies we had ever eaten. And at only $13.25 per pie - worth every penny!
(5)Liz K.
Been coming here for 20 years and it never fails to be great! I love everything about this place - from the quirky decor that is always entertaining to look at, the cold storage room for apples (smells so good!), their chili, spiced cider, apple butter bread, even to the crazy taxidermied dog, Betty, who bids you farewell on your way out... Crane's has been a family tradition every fall since I can remember, and I'm so happy to be bringing my new husband here to check it out now. It can get INSANE on the weekends... so, my recommendation, play hooky from work and go during the middle of the week. Then you won't be stuck waiting in the line!
(5)Kathy M.
The pies appear to be the only reason to go here and are the reason for the generous 3 stars. The antique decor is fun and the wait staff is nice, but the meals we had for lunch a few days ago were really average, or less. The highly recommended chili tasted like sweet barbecue sauce. I like sweet barbecue sauce--on barbecue, but not in chili. The apple butter bread is just a rather dry bread with apple butter swirled in before baking. It looks nice when sliced, but is no different than bread would be with apple butter smeared on it, which you can get here. The home baked wheat bread was tasteless and the most exotic cheese available was white cheddar. No sodas of any kind did not please my young nephews, who are only allowed that treat when they eat out. On the plus side, we had 4 desserts and all were excellent. The chocolate pecan pie was the winner.
(3)Kelly M.
Yelp, you rarely disappoint, but today, you did. We went to Crane's from an ad in a tourist trap magazine and yelp. So why a 3? Well, the bakery area is a MESS to try and manuever. Seriously- there is sort of a system? Maybe not? The people behind te counter were obviously irritated about filling orders The decor is crazy, but we knew this going in, so I am not dinging them for that. The cider was good- not AMAZING. The donuts were meh and smallish We have not delved into the apple butter bread We had an apple strudel- it was under done :( Too early to pick apples, but their orchard, well, it looks amazing. I mean picturesque amazing.
(3)Zoran O.
This place is THE BEST fresh fruit pies I have ever had - period. They are an orchard so they get all their fresh fruit in the back. Their Apple Cider - Unpasteurized - is amazing and always grab a gallon on the way back home to Chicago!! IF you have not had unpasteurized in the past - you have NO idea what you are missing!!!!! Heaven!!!! They also have a restaurant with some typical farm menu items - all nice and well done.
(5)Marcie B.
We had been to the U-pick earlier in the day on Sunday, and we ate lunch at the Mexican place down the street. We went for a drive over to Lake Michigan (and a walk to the beach) and decided to stop back to try the pie on our way home. We both really enjoyed our pie. My husband had apple pie and I had blueberry pie (made with Splenda). Our toddler was so busy eating a Ginger Gold that we'd picked earlier, that we were both able to enjoy our pie without much help from him. I'd rate the taste of the pie 5/5! Why 2 stars? 1. The service was horrendous. I would hate to see this place on a busy autumn weekend (we were still officially in mid August). We were seated right away, but must have waited at least 15 minutes to see a server to give our drink orders. Service 1/5 2. The menu did not say that the apple cider was unpasteurized. My husband found this information on the underside of our place mat after the baby and I had already drank some. I'm 6 months pregnant and would not have elected to drink unpasteurized cider (or give it to my toddler) had I been given that information. I do find some comfort in the fact that cider presses are not allowed to use fallen apples in the state of Michigan. Food Safety 1/5 3. They don't offer soft drinks. I like to have a diet soda in a restaurant. They only offered cider, iced tea or water. Drink Selection 1/5 4. The check out area was a mess, it was hot, crowded and not very efficient. Check out 1/5.
(2)Gareth D.
I used to request pie instead of cake for my birthday as a little kid, so I started this love affair pretty early. For pie fans, this place is great--very Midwest and it offers so many tempting options. They have freshly baked pies in many flavors, utilizing Michigans great produce, and also offer take and bake options that will make your abode smell great. Sugar free (presumably for diabetics because I don't think there's anything low cal about them) is available too.
(5)L.M. H.
Went for lunch, on a Sunday. We walked in and just stood there because the sign said wait to be seated. There were plenty of tables open, but the people working just walked right by us, until I finally said something. We got our table sat down and waited quite awhile to get menus and drinks, Lol drinks, all they had was water, coffee, or cider. Both my kids burgers were great, my hot panini sandwich was served cold and mushy, ick. My wifes veggy burger she said was good, but how good can a veggy burger be, again ick. Waitress when she finally started waiting on us was very good, friendly, and had really good humor with the kids, cutoos to her for that. Desert was real good as this is a bakery, pie house. I think the two girls waiting tables were doing the best that they could. I don't think they were expecting that amount of crowd to be coming in for lunch, because of the warm streak in the middle of March everybody was out enjoying the weather. With more staff on, I think my panini would have been hot, and all the other flaws gone. We will try this place again and see if it was a fluke. P.S. Absolutely no 3G, and hardly any signal at all for your phone here at Cranes, so if your planning your next gps or maps on your iPhone, don't even attempt it here. I got one bar on a iPhone 4s, nearly impossible to do anything on it. Cheers!
(3)Dr. Z.
Third trip there, stopped off on the way North. (and coming home, too, for more baked goods by the request of "Herself") Always an enjoyable stop to stretch your legs and chow down. The best bet? Get the Apple Butter French Toast. That's why they are there, that's they're deal. There are some great tempting items in the bakery section, lots that might be good for a take-home delight. Apple butter, Apple butter bread, blueberry everything, etc. Nice staff, very friendly. Clean operation. And then... there's "Betty the Dog". Among all of the odd collection of antiques and an interesting lean towards vintage aviation memorabilia, Betty the Dog can always be found sitting on an antique winter sleigh, where she has resided since 1930's. Google that ! I have a picture of her here on this Yelp review.
(4)Tracey M.
Arrive R-E-A-L-L-Y hungry... if you plan to eat both a meal and pie (and trust me, you don't want to skip the pie here! Everything about my visit to Crane's Pie Pantry was great! A group of us went on a Saturday afternoon in May. We had no trouble getting seated. Service was prompt and I never felt like I had to seek someone out to get something. The food was good and the pie was AMAZING! (Which I'd hope it would be for a pie pantry!) If you're a fruit pie fan like I am, and will be in the Fennville area, at the very least you must stop in for a piece of their fruit pie. It's my understanding that all the fruit they use in their pies is from their orchard that is just across the street. On this particular visit, even though I was full from my meal I indulged anyhow in a piece of apple pie -- which was outstanding! (And for the record, I'm very picky about apple pie so kudos to Crane's!) Overall, as far as I'm concerned, Cranes's Pie Pantry is a must visit whenever I'm visiting the area.
(5)o m.
Great summer driving destination to enjoy very old farm building with great county antique decor, the pantry make homemade apple pie and apple drinks. I must stop for lunch while driving a beautiful western Michigan apple and grape farms land before arriving Sagatag, ( the food can be inconsistent......... 2 stars!!) 4 2/1 stars for county antique decor
(5)Brian K.
FAMOUS FOR: - Fruit Pies - Unpasteurized Apple Cider (5/10) - Cider Donuts (6/10) I TRIED - Apple Butter French Toast (5/10) - Raspberry Rhubarb Pie (3/10) - Apple Crisp (6/10) The place is very rustic. They have old flyers and ads framed all over the walls, and all sorts of country things (i.e. butter churn, rocking chairs) around the place. But, if you're reading this, chances are you're already standing in line or seated, so you know exactly what the place looks like and you need to know what to order, because that's exactly what I did when I sat down. APPLE CIDER I have to admit, I only have stereotypical knowledge of "The Country Life" so forgive me ignorance. When we all ordered some of the juice, and they walked out with what looked like a milk gallon jug, I was a little disappointed. I really can't even tell you what I was expecting, but I think it was something more...authentic. What that means, I dunno. Anyway, I'm not a connoisseur of apple ciders, but this just tastes straight up like local grocery store apple cider. It's by no means bad in any way, it's just, normal. CIDER DONUTS I've been apple picking before, so apple donuts aren't anything new to me. These were like mini donuts, but they weren't really anything to write home about. I used to have these apple donuts at some orchard in Indiana that were almost crispy, and so incredibly moist and buttery, that it was just absolute heaven. These...well...they weren't. FRENCH TOAST As you can see, "apple" is a big thing here. Apple Butter is their other big thing too. So, the apple taste is not unnoticeable, but it doesn't really attract a lot of attention either. What can I say, it's just regular ol' french toast and bacon. Nothing spectacular, nothing even out of the ordinary from how mom used to make it when we were little. RASPBERRY-RHUBARB PIE I got this pie as a suggestion from our waitress. I don't even know what a rhubarb is, but after this experience, I know I don't like it. Now, I'm not really a pie guy, I prefer cake. I do like the Hostess pies, though, even though that doesn't do much for my credibility. I figured that a pie so good that the mayor would land his helicopter here would make even a not-so-enthusiastic-pie-guy like me appreciate the pie. Nope. Didn't happen. The crust was whatever, but berry mixture was just so intense that I was squinting my already Asian eyes almost out of existence! There were people around the table who did like pie, and they didn't think it was all that great either. So, I'm sorry Mayor of Fennville, I'm going to have to disagree. APPLE CRISP So, my pie experience was a bust, but I do like apple pie, so I thought maybe the Apple Crisp will blow my mind... Nope, my mind's still here, in tact, not even a bruise. Again, nothing bad, it's just, I've had and can get the same or better any time I want. ALL IN ALL Well, I left full, and wasn't disgusted, so I guess the place did its job.
(2)Christine F.
After our trip to the U Pick Orchard, we drove over to Crane's Pie Pantry. The wait for the actual restaurant was about 1.5 hours (OMFG), but we got some pie to go and sat on the grassy hill, overlooking the orchard. I got pumpkin (can't forget the whipped cream!) and my husband got apple. We also got some hot apple cider and some apple cider donuts. The pumpkin pie was huge and delicious. You can't go wrong with pumpkin pie. The apple pie was delicious as well, and it was chocked full of apples, cinnamon and spice. The cider was sweet and wonderful (un-pasteurized cider FTW) and the donuts were fluffy, sweet and heavenly. A great stop for sweets after picking some apples. Highly recommended!
(4)Steve V.
Horrible!! I purchased 2 pies today for a special event and they are awful. The pumpkin pie is under done and tastes like mush while the apple pie is so burnt and over done that it won't come out of the pan. Stay away. Your grocery store has better pies
(2)Karen S.
I love pie. I love Saugatuck. From now on, every visit to the area will include a trip to Crane's. I ate a warm piece of peach pie after my lunch, and it was exquisite. I took home pieces of the cherry crisp, cherry pie, and raspberry pie. All were delightful. I highly recommend stopping here to try some pie even if it's out of your way. I anticipate many long drives just to get some pie.
(5)Am D.
Have been meaning to rate this place for a year. The soup, bread, and apple butter were excellent.
(5)Seth P.
OH JESUS! THE BOMB! The raspberry pie is the best pie filling I have EVER had. And what -- apple butter ice cream? Indescribable. Like nothing I have ever imagined. The multifarious historical chotchkes are amusing and fascinating, (and there's a lot of deadly serious WWII stuff), and the orchard setting is beautiful. Good music in the background, too.
(5)Micki O.
really into pie? like fresh breakfasts? how bout fruit picking? then cranes is perfect for you! i live in illinois but when my family comes down to michigan for camping or just for a fun trip, cranes is the best restaurant there is. i am in love with their fruit pies--so fresh, so good. and for breakfast a nice warm doughnut would be nice... wouldn't it? well cranes has the perfect apple cider doughnuts for a nice start to your morning. their apple cider is warm and delicious and fruit picking is always fun. it is even fun to just look around cranes, they have a lot of old posters models and great antiques. can't wait for the next trip to michigan!!!!!
(5)J. N.
Heard the food is great, all I had was pie. I have had peach and blueberry pies from Crane's both of which were excellent... and, I don't really like pie much! It is a cute farm, very charming with friendly, helpful staff. It's a must when visiting Benton Harbor/South Haven areas. I can't wait to go back and have lunch, and of course a peach pie... all to myself. Check it out, worth a drive!
(4)Larry B.
good for breakfast and of course pie.
(4)Mike D.
We only stopped for lunch, but we got a bake-at-home pie to go that I'm really looking forward to digging into! Lunch was good - simple sandwiches - at a great price. The apple sauce, apple bread and apple cider are phenomenal. Next time we'll try the pick your own fruit.
(5)Katie K.
I have been going to Crane's for almost 30 years and it is a must stop every time I am in the area. The decor consists of antiques and the building is old, but don't let that turn you off. I typically don't like non-chocolate desserts but I love the fresh pies at Crane's. My husband usually gets whatever is in season, but I always order the apple crisp. They also have fresh and frozen desserts to bring home and enjoy. The non-dessert menu consists of simple, homemade comfort food. Be advised - Crane's does not serve soft drinks but they do have fresh apple cider to wash your meal down with.
(5)Liz F.
Great way to spend a morning if you're visiting the area. Pick your own raspberries, peaches, blueberries, whatever's in season. Then head on over to the pie pantry for some lunch and a delicious slice of Crane's amazing pie. There's a serious baker or two in this family business -- all of the baked goods are phenomenal, and this comes from a baker who is generally pretty critical of other people's wares. Fresh bread served plain or with apple butter as an appetizer? You'll be a believer once you've tried it! A spindle full of donuts? Can't go wrong. The pie of course is amazing. My favorite is the blueberry. Well worth a stop or two if you're in the area.
(5)Kelly M.
Yelp, you rarely disappoint, but today, you did. We went to Crane's from an ad in a tourist trap magazine and yelp. So why a 3? Well, the bakery area is a MESS to try and manuever. Seriously- there is sort of a system? Maybe not? The people behind te counter were obviously irritated about filling orders The decor is crazy, but we knew this going in, so I am not dinging them for that. The cider was good- not AMAZING. The donuts were meh and smallish We have not delved into the apple butter bread We had an apple strudel- it was under done :( Too early to pick apples, but their orchard, well, it looks amazing. I mean picturesque amazing.
(3)Zoran O.
This place is THE BEST fresh fruit pies I have ever had - period. They are an orchard so they get all their fresh fruit in the back. Their Apple Cider - Unpasteurized - is amazing and always grab a gallon on the way back home to Chicago!! IF you have not had unpasteurized in the past - you have NO idea what you are missing!!!!! Heaven!!!! They also have a restaurant with some typical farm menu items - all nice and well done.
(5)Amber L.
We all have been places we wish we could revisit; food we wish we could eat again; and overall people/places/things that put us in a nostalgic state- "a bittersweet longing for things of the past." Crane's apple cider donuts are one of these for me! They are hands down, the BEST donuts I have EVER had! While visiting family in Michigan last year, we ended up passing Crane's and decided to stop on a whim. The farm was cute, the staff was friendly, and everything looked delicious. We picked up some cherry jam for a gift, looked longingly at the pies, and then decided to pick up some donuts. Admittingly, my husband was the one who sealed the deal, as I wasn't necessarily wanting to spend extra money on donuts that looked mediocre. I am more than happy to admit I was wrong! Those donuts were so darn good. I have been longing for one ever since.
(5)dawn v.
Go for the pie! DO NOT miss the pie! It's the whole point of going. I am reviewing the pie and the various jams, jellies and fruits available here. The rhubarb crisp pie is phenomenal! The individual apple tarts/pies are too good to be true. Go up the street to "salt of the earth" for an unequal dinner experience and then stop here for pie as dessert. It's an unforgettable foodie experience!
(5)Sue T.
I was disappointed not to find fresh fruit for purchase here and the U-pick was closed. However, the cherry crisp was excellent - with crunchy oatmeal & flour topping. The cider was served in handled pint canning jars. Unfortunately mine tasted watery and flat. The atmosphere is homey with concrete floors and the requisite antique farm implements and old photos and advertisements on the walls. They have frozen fruit pies for take-home--so bring a cooler.
(3)Annette J.
Fall! My favorite season! So glad to see you again! And so glad you brought your friends cider and doughnuts along. I've missed them too! I'm a bit of a cider mill junkie. I try and hit as many as I can in the fall and although my favorites reside in southeast Michigan (Franklin, hollaaaa!) Crane's is my western Michigan go-to. The doughnuts are perfect--greasy and warm with a touch of nutmeg. The cider is cold and crisp (I prefer my cider cold so we'll usually just grab a half gallon out of the fridge and go to town). The apple and cherry pies are fabulous with a flaky crust and not too sweet filling. The apple cinnamon bread? Love grabbing a loaf and taking it work for breakfast in the mornings. Toasted up with a little bit of their apple butter? Great, great, great! The space itself can be a little off putting, to be honest. I love the rustic old fashioned look to it. Taxidermied animals actually fascinate me and the dusty antiques around get me excited rather than stressed. But I can see how folks who are fans of dust free establishments and weirded by a stuffed dog from 1930 might not find the place so charming. I've admittedly never eaten at the restaurant but every time I've gone in I've seen the place packed with happy customers so I'm assuming they're not freaked out by the decor either. The land around the Pie Pantry is impressive. Orchards for as far as the eye can see. In the summer they'll have peaches (so good!) and in fall come the apples. They have U-Pick available for both should you want to take home some fresh fruit. Across the street you can take advantage of their U-Pick berries in the summer as well. In the summer they'll start growing the corn for their massive Maize Maze but I've never been in town late enough into fall to wander around but it does look impressive. If you love the baked goods and the cider and want to get some of their awesome jams but are a little thrown off by the ambiance then make your way over to the newly opened Crane's In the City in Holland. It's a smaller, more modern place (although still decorated with antique furniture and old timey press clippings) but with all the great Crane's products you'll come to love. However, if you're into old fashioned charm like myself Crane's Pie Pantry is the perfect place to spend a summer or fall afternoon.
(4)Deborah E.
Last weekend's Saugatuck adventure can be summed up with these oft repeated questions: 1. "When are we going to Crane's?" 2. "How many pies are we getting?" 3. "Four pies for five people - is there a problem?" 4. Repeat. One of those sweltering days we all jumped in the car and bombed over to Cranes's in Fennville - only miles from Saugatuck. The place is stuck in a time warp circa 1945. Located on huge orchard acreage, it is a restaurant, too, but for us the goal was one thing and one thing only - PIE! Well, and a dozen cider donuts that we began eating in the store. Pies were right out of the oven - literally. SO hot we had to create little areas for them to reside in the car - we treated them like the Crown Jewels - with their box lids open so they could vent. Cherry, blueberry, apple and peach - these pies were truly some of the best pies we had ever eaten. And at only $13.25 per pie - worth every penny!
(5)Priscilla F.
This place is fantastic! We got a cup of chili and the Crane's apple panini for lunch. Chili was good, but to the sweeter side. The panini was absolutely delicious. The food came out really fast and was hot. The cider is great and definitely worth getting. For dessert we got the apple crisp with ice cream, apple dumplings with whip cream and a cider donut. Go with the apple crisp with ice cream, by far the best out of what we got.,
(5)Bridget K.
Walking into Crane's Pie Pantry was like walking into my grandma's house. It is full of antiques and various art work from times of old. I made sure to get the apple cider. It was amazing! I don't think I'll be able to drink regular apple cider ever again. We weren't here for the cider. We were here for the pie. When a place has a sign saying they have the best pie, you need to try it. I got a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. It was one of the best pieces of pie I have tasted! My mom opted for the rhubarb pie which she loved! My dad was a huge fan of the blueberry pie. I cannot wait to visit Saugatuck again, so I can visit Crane's Pie Pantry!
(4)Lauren B.
This is a place that is great at what they do. The menu is no-frills but well executed. Their cider is delicious as is their apple bread and pies. My favorite part was the atmosphere-- a hodgepodge of old chairs and tables, walls filled with memorabilia and even old toys hanging from the ceiling. If you're going to any of the many nearby vineyards, it's worth stopping in for a meal or just to peruse the bakery.
(4)Winchester D.
have you ever had oats in a veggie burger? yes, oats that you make oatmeal with? neither have i, until i came to this place. when you walk in this place, the first thing you realize is that someone raided grandma's stash of knick naks. their specialty is pie. EVERY. SINGLE. KIND. OF. PIE. even pies that have ingredients that have no business being together. like rhubarb and strawberries. like rhubarb and anything else. why would you put rhubarb in anything sweet!?!?!? why does rhubarb exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do beets exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do yams exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do sweet potatoes exist?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did not have the apple cider, but everyone says it is the bomb. because of the drought they did not have apple pie. i really want to come back and try pie. not the ones with the icky ingredients listed above.
(5)Jim H.
What can I say, best pies in America, that's what I can say!!! Always have to bring a big cooler to bring some home. My friends in Nashville always ask for me to bring them some too!
(5)Liz K.
Been coming here for 20 years and it never fails to be great! I love everything about this place - from the quirky decor that is always entertaining to look at, the cold storage room for apples (smells so good!), their chili, spiced cider, apple butter bread, even to the crazy taxidermied dog, Betty, who bids you farewell on your way out... Crane's has been a family tradition every fall since I can remember, and I'm so happy to be bringing my new husband here to check it out now. It can get INSANE on the weekends... so, my recommendation, play hooky from work and go during the middle of the week. Then you won't be stuck waiting in the line!
(5)Kathy M.
The pies appear to be the only reason to go here and are the reason for the generous 3 stars. The antique decor is fun and the wait staff is nice, but the meals we had for lunch a few days ago were really average, or less. The highly recommended chili tasted like sweet barbecue sauce. I like sweet barbecue sauce--on barbecue, but not in chili. The apple butter bread is just a rather dry bread with apple butter swirled in before baking. It looks nice when sliced, but is no different than bread would be with apple butter smeared on it, which you can get here. The home baked wheat bread was tasteless and the most exotic cheese available was white cheddar. No sodas of any kind did not please my young nephews, who are only allowed that treat when they eat out. On the plus side, we had 4 desserts and all were excellent. The chocolate pecan pie was the winner.
(3)Jenny G.
POOR, POOR SERVICE!!! Don't go here if you are looking for a pleasurable dining experience! The owners are awful, and need to take a class on customer service! They act like YOU are the one who should feel priviledged to eat at their restaurant! My husband and I live in the area, and have been coming here for years, usually bringing groups of family and friends with us. Although we usually order at the outdoor stand, and ride the hayride, instead of going inside. This time, we had to dine inside since the outdoor stand was closed. We waited an hour to be seated, outside in the cold and rain. When we finally sat down and ordered our desserts, the apple crisp arrived dried out, hard and cold. I was in no mood to complain, nor were our guests, so we started eating it anyway. My husband, however, was not happy and told the waitress he didn't care for his. She took the bowl, and my husband got up to walk around with our restless daughter. Thirty minutes later, and our waitress still had not come back to our table. I had to flag down a table busser to get a to-go box for us, and when we finally got our bill, we had been billed for all desserts, including my husbands, which he sent back! When my husband took the bill up and explained that we should have only been charged for 4 desserts instead of 5, THE OWNER told him that he was paying for ALL 5 desserts, or he could LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! Wow! My husband tried to insist on just paying for the 4 desserts, as he thought that was fair, but was simply told to leave!!! I cannot believe anyone would run their business this way! We will certainly not be back, and we will be telling everyone we know about this awful experience! So, I guess they got their wish!
(1)Joshua H.
this place truly knows their pie. I stopped in for a cherry pie, the signed grabbed me off the highway and I don't regret it ,it was delicious hands down the best cherry pie I've ever had. Nice place. Old country feel in the middle of a farm
(4)Rick C.
Hmmm. Where to begin..Let's start with the pies. We shared the cherry and raspberry- rhubarb pie a la lode with apple butter ice cream. They were all pretty good. I think the best thing I had was the unpasteurized apple cider. Now to the bad. Maybe it's just me, but this place also has a lot of creepy elements. Walking into this place right before you open the doors to the dining area, I kept getting this Bates motel, Rob Zombie horror movie vibe. One nervous look at my wife and I could see she felt the same way. This place has been around for a loong time, so I can understand that the direction they went with the decor. I was just not a fan. On the way out, we were also treated to a stuffed dog with a sign that said, "This is Betsy, She's from Chicago." As a dog owner and lover, this creeped me the F out. Good luck Betsy..
(3)Tom T.
Good food. Fun place for kids. Get there early in the summer and fall or you will not be able to park within a block of the place and you will have to wait a few hours for a table.
(4)Abbey C.
We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry yesterday after picking apples at Crane's Orchards next door. We didn't eat in the restaurant, so I can't comment on that, but the bakery is wonderful. They have a great selection of fruit pies, preserves, breads, cakes, cider, etc. Everything looks amazing and the items we purchased did not disappoint. We bought some blueberry muffins, apple cider doughnuts, and apple cider. The doughnuts were still warm when we bought them and were the best I have ever had. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious. The prices are reasonable (1 dozen doughnuts for $6) and the staff very friendly. The bakery is small and fairly busy, but they did a good job of moving the crowds through quickly. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful fall day than a trip to Crane's Orchards followed by a stop at the Pie Pantry.
(5)Del A.
If you want to go there for dessert this might be the place to go if you want to go there for lunch or dinner not such a good choice for service is slow and the food is bad
(1)Mike B.
What a pleasant surprise! After picking apples and navigating through the corn maze, I took my wife and kids to Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch. We had a light lunch to save room for dessert. The chili was very good, and it came with some excellent apple-butter bread. Yum! The family had a corned beef sandwich and BLT, which was also pretty good. The food was tasty and the atmosphere cozy, but the dessert was the reason we came. The raspberry pie a-la-mode was good, apple doughnut simple but warm and yummy, and pumpkin pie a little on the soft side...but tasty. My absolute favorite thing was the apple cider; only $1 with free refills. It tasted just like eating apples! The cider, bread, doughnuts, and chili are all highly recommended, and the rest was certainly good enough. Fun place.
(4)Connie G.
Stopped here on Sunday, as we sat and waited for our server, which was a little slow, we had time to look at all the antiques on the walls and read the menu, which has basically pie, and more pie on it. I think they could make a killing if they added Country Breakfast's like Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, Home fries, and country ham and sausage. They do have Apple Butter Bread French Toast.......so we settled for a hamburger which comes only well done, and their homemade sloppy joes, which both were tasty. The Spiced Hot Cider was not a favorite of my daughters who is a lover of hot cider. We then decided to share a piece of the Apple Pie. It was by far one of the best apple pies I have had at a restaurant, I must say it came close to one of my homemade apple pies. Yummy.... The cold cooler attached to the restaurant to get fresh apples from to make your own pies is nice. The bakery on your way out to pay, is filled with tempting treats. We bought some apple butter to go, and a peck of Ida Red apples to make our own pie, since that is the kind they said they used in their pies, and we headed out. Just outside the back door is a Stuffed REAL dog, named Betty.....worth the second look.... Worth the trip out of the way......we will be back.....
(4)Marcie B.
We had been to the U-pick earlier in the day on Sunday, and we ate lunch at the Mexican place down the street. We went for a drive over to Lake Michigan (and a walk to the beach) and decided to stop back to try the pie on our way home. We both really enjoyed our pie. My husband had apple pie and I had blueberry pie (made with Splenda). Our toddler was so busy eating a Ginger Gold that we'd picked earlier, that we were both able to enjoy our pie without much help from him. I'd rate the taste of the pie 5/5! Why 2 stars? 1. The service was horrendous. I would hate to see this place on a busy autumn weekend (we were still officially in mid August). We were seated right away, but must have waited at least 15 minutes to see a server to give our drink orders. Service 1/5 2. The menu did not say that the apple cider was unpasteurized. My husband found this information on the underside of our place mat after the baby and I had already drank some. I'm 6 months pregnant and would not have elected to drink unpasteurized cider (or give it to my toddler) had I been given that information. I do find some comfort in the fact that cider presses are not allowed to use fallen apples in the state of Michigan. Food Safety 1/5 3. They don't offer soft drinks. I like to have a diet soda in a restaurant. They only offered cider, iced tea or water. Drink Selection 1/5 4. The check out area was a mess, it was hot, crowded and not very efficient. Check out 1/5.
(2)Gareth D.
I used to request pie instead of cake for my birthday as a little kid, so I started this love affair pretty early. For pie fans, this place is great--very Midwest and it offers so many tempting options. They have freshly baked pies in many flavors, utilizing Michigans great produce, and also offer take and bake options that will make your abode smell great. Sugar free (presumably for diabetics because I don't think there's anything low cal about them) is available too.
(5)L.M. H.
Went for lunch, on a Sunday. We walked in and just stood there because the sign said wait to be seated. There were plenty of tables open, but the people working just walked right by us, until I finally said something. We got our table sat down and waited quite awhile to get menus and drinks, Lol drinks, all they had was water, coffee, or cider. Both my kids burgers were great, my hot panini sandwich was served cold and mushy, ick. My wifes veggy burger she said was good, but how good can a veggy burger be, again ick. Waitress when she finally started waiting on us was very good, friendly, and had really good humor with the kids, cutoos to her for that. Desert was real good as this is a bakery, pie house. I think the two girls waiting tables were doing the best that they could. I don't think they were expecting that amount of crowd to be coming in for lunch, because of the warm streak in the middle of March everybody was out enjoying the weather. With more staff on, I think my panini would have been hot, and all the other flaws gone. We will try this place again and see if it was a fluke. P.S. Absolutely no 3G, and hardly any signal at all for your phone here at Cranes, so if your planning your next gps or maps on your iPhone, don't even attempt it here. I got one bar on a iPhone 4s, nearly impossible to do anything on it. Cheers!
(3)Erin H.
Crane's is the perfect experience and worth going back again and again based on what's in season! If you want to pick some apples or peaches and have a good meal you picked the right spot. It's a cool old building filled with all sorts of funky, fun, interesting and historical junk! The atmosphere is casual, warm and welcoming. Expect a good basic meal with comfort food options - the grilled cheese is my favorite. After your meal go buy frozen fruit pies to take home or some other item they make from the scads of fruit orchards that surround the place! On a pretty fall day this place is PACKED! They also have an amazing CORN MAZE during the Halloween season.
(5)John C.
Chile was great and the desserts are worth a long drive to get there.
(5)Cheryl I.
We stopped in for lunch on a rainy day after visiting the winery right down the road. What a cute little place with great food and prices. Had their homemade wild rice and mushroom soup with a slice of warm fresh home made white bread and apple butter on the side. So good and only $4.50 I think. We took a slice of blueberry pie and 2 giant chocolate chip cookies to go. Hubs had a burger and chips and a pickle with coffee. A great place to stop.
(4)Karen J.
We stopped for a quick dinner. The burger and tuna melt were nothing special, but oh my God the pie....I would've eaten 4 slices (with ice cream!) if left to my own devices. If you love fresh baked pies in a multitude of different flavors, go to Crane's if you're in the area. Oh yeah, the service is efficient and very friendly.
(3)Steve L.
This place has to be seen. Tables are a mixture of antiques and the decor is loaded with posters, print ads, and memorabilia from mostly WWII era. The meal was just so-so. My cheeseburger was served medium well as I was not asked how I would like it cooked. Given a choice, I would have preferred medium rare. I thought my wife's tuna melt was pretty bland, but she seemed happy with it. The apple cider on the other hand tasted fresh and crisp despite being served in June, definitely not apple season. We both had blueberry pie. The crust was perfectly flakey, but we found the filling to be a little too lemony, a just a touch to thin. On other trips to Crane's we have been served pies too die for. So food I give a C and deserts and cider I give an A-.
(4)Brian J.
This place is a must when I'm headed to South Haven. The decor is earnest and homey. Sealed floors, antiques, old newspapers on the restroom walls. If you like a sloppy joe then this is mecca (sorry Chick Inn). Couple that with friendly service, fresh cider, rhubarb pie that will make you cry=nirvana. Plenty of fresh pastries to purchase as you exit and a great lunch stop before heading to Saugatuck/Holland/etc for the the day. Now I want to drive to Fennville, I should have eaten before writing this.
(5)Lauren D.
We discovered Crane's a few years ago and has now become an annual stop when we head up to Michigan in the fall. I am a raspberry pie fan and theirs is delicious. But my favorite flavor would be Cherry - its to die for! Other favorites of my family are the apple pie and apple and cherry crisps. They also have an orchard for apple picking (and other fruits during the summer months). Also - try the cider donuts...great fall treat.
(5)Amy D.
This place is the best! I got married in Saugatuck in June, and chose to have Crane's fruit pies instead of a traditional cake. I was very happy with my choice. Everyone who works there was very accomodating, and I even got to go in ahead of time for a very YUMMY free tasting. Would highly recommend them for wedding or other special event pies.
(5)Jenni I.
This family farm restaurant is absolutely worth the trip! We stopped for lunch and started with apple butter bread which comes out warm, soft, and filled with delicious sweet apple butter. The roast beef and cheddar panini had caramelized onions making for a tasty sandwich. The vegetable sandwich with pesto was fresh, healthy and delicious. There is a wide range of homemade dessert options. We had apple crisp and blueberry pie, both fresh and yummy. We took home pie from their bakery, too. This is definitely an enjoyable place to eat!
(5)Sean Y.
Incredible apple pie and peach cobbler. There are a lot of antiques decorating the place but the old mannequins are creepy. Definitely worth stopping off the highway if you are in the area.
(4)Lisa P.
First time here! Omg!!! It's sooo cute! Orchards all around and Pie PiEe piE... We chose Raspberry Rhubarb. Ummmm! Not too sweet. Excellent!
(5)jack q.
Picked up a cherry pie and preserves. Cool, funky place and the pie was just delicious. Very friendly folks, too.
(5)Elyse K.
Order a pie flight! What a brilliant idea! I brought red raspberry muffins home - they're the size of my closed fist and absolutely yummy delicious! Can't wait to return to Fennville and Crane's!
(5)Christina d.
TRY THE PIE FLIGHT. If you're in the mood for fresh-picked, homemade fruit pie, the pie flight is the only way to go. You get four little mason jars filled with samplings of Crane's delicious pies for just $7. The smile they will put on your face is thrown in for free. We were driving around the area sampling local brews, and the lovely ladies at Virtue cidery tipped us off to this local favorite. Crane's seems to be a staple in the community for you-pick-it fruit, pies, and wines. In the midst of all the breweries and wineries offering flights of their goods, it only makes sense to add a flight of pie for dessert! Or breakfast. Or any time, really.
(5)James S.
Go for the pie. If you want lunch or dinner try someplace else. My rating: Four stars for the pie. Two stars for the food and service. The Good: I really like the building and decorations. Looks like the building was converted from an old barn or packing building. Sort of a country theme as you would expect. Back towards the restrooms there is a lot of aviation memorabilia. The pies are very good. The Bad: The wait around lunch will be very long. The food menu is limited to soup, salads and sandwiches. The food was not as good as the pie. While our waitress was very nice and kept reassuring us (three times) that our food was on the way; we waited an hour for our food (in addition to the hour we had already waited to get in).
(3)Bart S.
I was just thinking about some pie. the best I ever had I think is from Cranes- they have winter hours- daily 11AM-4PM, closed on Monday's... Is it the crust and local fruit used, maybe so, or just the formula they use to create their pies. I also like their apple cider too. Can't wait to get back there.
(5)Paul T.
Corn Maze is an annual favorite. Food is solid and reliable. Hearty. Not a foodie place but who cares...get a piece if cobbler and let yourself go!!!!
(5)Livia C.
The best place I ever ate. The best apple butter, apple butter bread, chili, sloppy joe, Apple cider (although it is better hot), and apple pie. I love this place and I only have had good experiences. I highly recommend this restaurant. Give them business and definitely buy an apple pie to go!
(5)Anne M.
I would LOVE a Crane's pie right about now... Not a piece, but an entire pie. We did the full Crane's experience - first we went apple picking in their massive apple orchard. We filled just a small bag of apples ($.89/lb), but we were amongst other groups who were filling up entire wagons and baskets. Prior to our apple adventure, we were given fresh sliced samples of about 5 different kinds of apples (there were even more from which to choose). After we selected a number of perfect apples from the rows and rows of trees, we checked out and headed down the road to the good stuff... the pie. Crane's restaurant / bakery is in a huge old barn filled with antiques and odd apple relics. It seemed part museum, part barn, part restaurant, and part bakery, and it was awesome. They serve a full menu, but we wanted just dessert and coffee. We both went the classic route and ordered a slice of apple pie. He ordered his with ice cream; I ordered mine with a slice of swiss cheese (why? because it was an option I'd never seen offered before, so I tried it. The waitress explained it is an old fashioned way to eat pie that provides a sweet/salty combo). The cheese was an interesting addition, and I liked it, but I don't think I'll be recreating that combo on my own. I like pie just the way it is in its glorious natural state, sans cheese. We hit up the bakery in a major way on the way out, and even bought a frozen pie so we can recreate the magic in our own kitchen.
(5)Matt W.
If you're going for deserts, you won't be disappointed. Crane's pies are everything everybody says they are. Delicious. The atmosphere is family friendly, the staff is polite and prompt. Going for dinner, though? I'd pass. They'd be better off letting everybody know that their dinner menu is similar to diner food. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll be alright. But for the price of their dinner menu, just go for the pie.
(3)Yael J.
Great u- pick and the restaurant is nice and close so you have your days outing all in one place. Lots of memorabilia around to look at. The food was okay. They have wine tastings, cider tastings, and pie flights. But I learned pie is better on a plate and not smushed up in tiny jars - as cute as the presentation may be. The cherry pie tasted a bit over cooked. Just buy a slice of pie instead of going the flight route.
(4)Christine T.
Frozen self serve area has a treasure trove of take home. Look closer at the sugar free options as they use sucralose... so it may be sugar free but the added additives were not something I was looking for. Baked goods for take away a solid bet.
(4)Kim E.
Hands down my favorite place to eat when in town! I always get the Sloppy Joe andna Sweet Cider to drink....you won't be disappointed!
(5)Allison F.
After a wholesome afternoon of apple picking, you have to stop in for donuts and cider...and chili...and pie...and ice cream...and granola...and apple butter..and caramel...and then of course you have to take some home. Be careful coming in, because you'll be tempted to have one of everything from the store. It's homestyle, homegrown, and homemade...just like mom would make!
(5)Robert B.
This place has the most eclectic, funky dining rooms in the entire state of Michigan. Their menu is interesting too. It's like eating lunch or dinner at a cider mill and bakery. I tried a cup of chili with shredded cheese that hit the spot. Make sure to save room for pie. It's the best part!
(4)Donna C.
It would be difficult to find a better pie anywhere in the U.S! The Apple is wonderful, the blueberry unbelievably good. Add vanilla ice cream and you have perfection. In the fall they recently added hard cider to their menu and it is delicious. I highly recommend the tart apple cider, but they have one for every taste. The pear cider is also very good. The wait staff is friendly and efficient and are usually family or local college girls...so be sure to be generous when tipping.
(5)Matt C.
Wish I took some photos.... I had a fantastic, hand made veggie burger...my kids split a kids grilled cheese-it was massive and glad we split it...my wife had a very good bowl of tomato basil soup and a slice of Apple butter bread...fantastic Apple butter! They don't serve pop, just a heads up. Didn't get pie, but did get a 1/2 dozen donuts-they are like Apple fritters...very good! Would love to go back to do the u-pick in their orchards!
(4)Kera C.
Most amazing place ever! I have been going to Crane's every time is come to Saugatuck, MI. The food is so good and so fresh, the ingredients are amazing. I love the setting of Crane's, the whole place is filled with antiques, it makes me feel like I am back with my grandma. The pie's are so good and so is the cider. If you are in the area stop at Crane's even if it is for a cup of cider and a slice of pie.
(5)Brooklyn B.
I loved my ham and swiss sandwich! It tasted delicious especially when I dunked it in my soup! Yum yum!
(5)Zamibe B.
The food was great! I got the Turkey Club and a Iced Coffee, the sandwich was moist and very flavorful and the coffee was smooth. The prices were a little high and the kettle chips were not good (unsalted)
(4)Abby J.
Unbelievably good pie. There's nothing else to say. The place is adorable, so quaint and rustic. The regular food isn't anything to write home about but the pie is so effing good that I would eat off their kitchen floor if it meant I could have pie for dessert.
(5)Sallie G.
While on a visit to Holland, MI for our annual girl trip, my 2 friends and I had eaten a wonderful lunch at Cranes in the City. We weren't leaving for a couple of days so didn't want to buy a pie yet. The day we left we drove to Fennville on our way home and purchased our pies. Each of us got a couple of pies as well as the same apple butter bread we had eaten in the City Cristo sandwich at Cranes in the City. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant looked fun but we were planning to eat at Tabor Hill Winery. Since beginning our girl trips some years ago we have made a tradition of buying a pie to take home. In my opinion, this was the best of all the pies we have ever purchased. I personally make a pretty darn good pie but theirs was wonderful - I had the raspberry rhubarb.
(5)