Craftsman Chop Company
6905 Sears Dr, Portage, MI, 49024
Craftsman Chop Company Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Portage for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6905 Sears Dr
Portage, MI, 49024 - Phone (269) 327-2000
- Website https://www.thecraftsmanportage.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Christopher M.
Awesome place. Awesome food.
(5)Christopher M.
Awesome place. Awesome food.
(5)Kris K.
Have tried this restaurant on two occasions and was disappointed both times. Service was slow, meals were small portioned, expensive and not worth the price. Decor was fine and getting a reservation was not difficult.
(1)Priscilla C.
The food here is amazing. The drinks are amazing. And the staff is super amazing. Make sure to see Karla or Brandon at the bar, they will take good care of you. Prices are beyond reasonable for the quality of food. You will not be disappointed here, come have a drink and a bite to eat!! Fresh ingredients, prepared to perfection. Cooks are on point. Get here already.
(5)Brian M.
It's been several years since we've eaten at Craftsman Chop Company, and I think it's slid downhill. They wouldn't take a reservation over the phone stating "we're pretty full, but you can try and wait here". That should have been a cue to choose another restaurant, but for some reason we didn't. Arriving at Craftsman, we were told it would be a 30 minute wait. Looking around the restaurant, only about 70 of the tables were taken. After a 35 minute wait, we were seated at a booth that was available from the time we walked in. It was across from a table that stood in bussed for 90 minutes. No joke. As a matter of fact we discovered there was NO buss staff. The servers had to do it between waiting tables. You can imagine how motivated THAT makes them. The Chicken Nacho appetizer came first. It was baked hard into one chunk. Obviously unacceptable. We sent that back and hoped for the best on our meals. The food was just OK. for a Saturday night (5-9-2015) I can't believe this is the best they could do. There's far better within a mile of the restaurant, I doubt we'll try it again.
(2)Mike C.
Consistently great steaks! I had the New York strip special on Friday night and was very satisfied! 12 oz portion, tender, perfectly prepared with a crab reduction...it was delicious! Great bar, very friendly waitstaff, just a great experience.
(4)Gregg U.
Stopped by after reading many positive reviews. Was not disappointed the restaurant was clean, the waitstaff very attentive the food came out promptly. I had the tapa tuna over cilantro salad we also ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon all was excellent. The prices were very reasonable and the menu had something to please everyone. The beer and cocktail menu was impressive. This may become a favorite hangout for dinner.
(4)Johnathan D.
Short review, here we go. Service: A .... very polite and on top of our beverages Food quality: A+ .... everything was very fresh and full of flavor Presentation of food: A ... definitely fine dining for Kalamazoo Ambiance: B+ .... lighting was a little too dim for my taste, but this is a fancy restaurant for "Kzoo". Live music in the bar area was a nice touch and the restaurant is spaced out to the point where its not "too loud". Overall experience: Great for a dinner for 2 or 4. I definitely recommend the Sirloin and Scampi and the Wydham Australian Shiraz. Location is great too since it's near other places to eat and near the Crossroads movie theatre in case you're trying to do the typical "dinner and a movie."
(4)Jeff F.
The bar at craftsman is nice, be sure to ask for chips and dip with your drinks i have eaten at Craftsman several times and have been disappointed every time. Go for drinks but not the food. .
(1)Josh M.
I was a little apprehensive at first. I was actually pretty surprised though. Everything we ate was good. Our service was a little slow which kind of got to us and the family next to us was nuts, but that isn't the restaraunts fault. For being locally owned I give them extra points. I'd recommend it if you're around the mall and don't want to hit all the dull chains that people frequent in portage.
(4)Suzanne S.
The best Ahi Tuna this side of Maui! Seared to perfection, rare in the center, coated with black and white toasted sesame seeds. Side of ginger and wasabi, it was perfect. Will definately return for another dose. Loved the homemade chips with the french onion dip. Very tastey. This is my favorite meal and have tried it all over the country...it takes a very special chef to prepare it properly. Kudos to the chef!
(5)D W.
Ok steak and good parm wedges. Nice place. Not busy on weekdays.
(4)Tom H.
Locals generally like this place and I have to concur with their opinion. The restaurant and bar are laid out into two separate areas. The bar area has a higher noise level and sometimes hosts live music. They keep a little more festive atmosphere there and it has a more upbeat feel. The restaurant menu is available in either area. The restaurant separates into a more muted and intimate feel if you're going there to enjoy dining and conversation. I have to admit it's a great concept depending upon what type of environment you're in the mood for. There's a nice beer selection and some nice menu options. There are a couple of fish selections (ahi and salmon) but this place is more a steak house. Even that being said they have a large selection of salads including a nut and berry salad. Nice form. The salads I've tried have had fresh lettuce and crisp vegetables. The steaks are all under $20 which is pretty much unheard of in larger cities. They're prepared nicely and flavorful. The sandwiches and burgers are all under $10 so the price point for a restaurant of this caliber is impressive. Everything I've tried here has had a very good taste. The caliber of service I've had here has also been consistently good. This is a solid restaurant with all the way around. Great job here. 5 stars.
(5)P Yelp N.
Bar area great with live music and a multitude of excellently local beers. Very happy to see Gonzos BiggDogg Vanilla Porter on tap. Outstanding and crazy good deal for $3.50 a pint!
(5)Eric T.
Food was ok, services was slow the wine list are ok, even though I gave it three stars I would go back.
(3)Shawn B.
Food was ok, nothing special, place smelled a little funny.
(2)Jon W.
Sat at the bar and ordered their filet, food was good, atmosphere good. The service from bartender Katie was excellent.
(4)Julie A.
Wonderful! Great menu choices. Several gluten free options. Wait staff is friendly and courteous. If I'm ever in the area again I will return.
(5)Mike G.
Good solid restaurant with good food and drinks. It's better than most chains but I wouldn't say it's extraordinary. I can't say anything negative about them.
(4)Heather D.
This place is perfect for dinner. I had marinated cashew chicken and it was excellent! Perfect date night!
(5)Allison D.
Enjoyed my dinner here! Great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere
(4)Michael R.
My favorite place in Portage. Good beer selection and some of the best food. I think they have the best steaks and really love their Grilled garlic steak pressed sandwich. Really good bloody marys as well. Service is always good and they have a great wine selection and the servers seem pretty knowledgeable about their offerings.
(4)Jenna N.
The ambiance, service, and food here are excellent! I've come here a number of times and I've never been disappointed. The decor is warm and cozy, but still classy. I love the gorgeous stained glass windows on the wall between the bar and dining room. When you are seated you will get some of the most phenomenal chips and onion dip. I can imagine sitting here with friends and just eating chips (and appetizers) and having a beer (great selection of mixed drinks, wine and beer - draft and bottled). Today, I had the steak (a perfect medium) and garlic mashed potatoes - amazing! My husband had the mustard glazed pork chops with scalloped potatoes. Both were tasty and the portions were generous. We'll be back!
(5)Rachael H.
This place was pretty mediocre in regards to food and over all ambiance. The cocktails we're fine but unimpressive. Te decor was confused.
(3)Amy B.
Great atmosphere & great food! Steaks were cooked to perfection & the Shrimp Feast was delish! All very reasonably priced! - dinner for four with drinks was under $100. Also loved the homemade potato chips & dip as a starter. Service was a little slower than expected but we had a great time.
(4)Lily L.
I love Craftsman. I usually order the steak with bleu cheese crumbles. Never been disappointed with the steak. I LOVE the 'house-made' chips and dip. The ambiance is nice and intimate, with a bar on one side, and dining booths on the other. On occasion there is entertainment. I like that the menu changes every so often. Only complaint is that they got rid of the smashed garlic potatoes and replaced them with "grilled" mashed potatoes. I'm not too fond of them.
(5)Tonya R.
Been there before for lunch and always had good service and great food. This is a consistently good place to get a great lunch time meal. Fish tacos were very flavorful and has some nice spice. Service was quick and friendly and the prices are very comparable to that of your chain place's
(4)Kara M.
Great bar, awesome chips & dip when you arrive, mediocre food, slow service. This is one of my favorite places to go after work for happy hour because the bar is fantastic and the specials are pretty good, but I really dislike ordering food. The waitstaff, while friendly and nice, is very slow, and the food is never worth the wait. Why can't they cook a steak? Doesn't "Chop Company" imply that your specialty is steak? I've tried ordering the steak on at least four separate occasions (just hoping that it was a fluke), and I've always been disappointed. I like mine medium rare, and it's ALWAYS overcooked. I'd call it practically medium well. I even tried to mitigate this by ordering "medium rare but on the rarer side is fine" to the same result. It's one of the nicer restaurants in Portage, so I'm sure I'll keep coming anyway. I'll update this review if things improve (but someone else is going to need to convince me that the steaks have gotten better before I order one again).
(3)Dana B.
Received A1 service. On a business trip and needed to blow some time after checking out of my hotel. Justin the bartender is PHENOMENAL when it comes to customer service. My coffee was never below half full and he was not at all put off that I'd be squatting in his bar for a few hours doing paperwork. I will recommend the Craftsman to anyone I know coming out to the area. It was hard to choose something to eat because everything on the menu looked fantastic.
(5)Adam A.
Sat in the dining room after reading the reviews of how loud the bar area can get. This place was pleasant. Not a place I feel compelled to return. I did love the draft list. Almost completely Michigan beer and pretty good selections at that. It was 600pm. The lamb I ordered fell right of the bone but I am pretty sure it was cooked the day before then reheated. It was more like a stew on a bone than braised lamb. I did enjoy the sauce that accompanied it. I felt bad as I sliced into my first bite I heard the couple next to us tell the server they were celebrating a birthday and they came for the lamb. The server left then returned to tell them there was no more lamb for the evening. I felt terrible.
(3)Anthony P.
Food was very good, staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was good. I would definitely return the next time I am in Kalamazoo and recommend it for a good chance of pace from chain restaurants.
(4)Adam P.
With a name like Craftsman Chop Company, you would think cooking steaks would be their specialty. Not the case at all. The dinner party we were with all ordered steaks. The ribeyes were thin and overcooked. We reordered the filet hoping that they would be able to cook the next one medium rare. Upon it's late arrival I was disappointed to see that this too was medium well. I showed the waitress and she was annoyed, not by me but by the cook. She refunded the cost of the steak dinners and apologized for the cook. I'll give them one more chance but by the empty seats in the dining area it seems most of Portage is tired of the poor cooking as well.
(1)Ben B.
I grew up in Portage and passed the Craftsman many times. It seemed like a super-fancy place out of my price range. But on my first visit, I can say the prices are pretty reasonable and the food was good. The decor is decidedly suburban. It feels like the kind of place where older people eat. Indeed, most of the patrons seemed well into their 50s and beyond. Think more upscale Denny's. It's not romantic. A little stuffy. Our server was a very nice guy, who shared his opinions on the menu freely. We liked him. I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwich ($9) - lightly blackened chicken, bacon, pepperjack cheese, cajun aioli. I really liked it a lot. Had a nice pop of flavor and the bacon was crispy. For my side, I went with the Parmesan Potato Wedges. Our server admitted these were made from the leftover baked potatoes. They weren't great. I love the idea, but they would have been so much better as freshly cut, freshly fried wedges. Disappointing, but I can't say the server didn't try to warn me. We also had the Zucchini Fries ($4.50). These were really good. I wouldn't have known they were zucchini the menu didn't say so. They taste pretty much like regular fries. Nice. While I wouldn't take a date here, It's got good food and friendly servers. I suspect I'll be back.
(4)Kimberly G.
Very disappointing. From the appetizers to the "filets" the food was not good at all. A chain steakhouse would have been better.
(1)Andy E.
This place is a bit of a conundrum as it seems to have great potential, but came up lacking in my first experience. The interior decor is really nice and the bar area is probably the nicest in Kalamazoo. They have a well organized outdoor seating area, and the waitstaff is attentive and pleasant throughout. They have a varied menu and the wine / cocktail list is acceptable. The shortcoming on my recent visit was the food. The crab cake appetizer was mostly filling and the salmon I had as an entree was definitely over cooked. None of it tasted bad, I just expected better quality than I got. I will likely return to give it a second shot and will update my review.
(3)Aakash G.
Cough cough. This food is overrated. This is not a fine dining establishment. It's another chain restaurant. It's not a high level of cuisine by any stretch of the imagination. Tried many things, all very subpar. The sandwiches were the most embarrassing - expensive for almost no food. But it's probably better than Applebee's.
(2)Karissa K.
This place is great for foodies and those looking for a fancy dinner. Their food is delicious and they have a wide range of options. I definitely suggest seeing what the catch of the day is for fish, as well as their everyday specials. Their atmosphere is very cozy with dim lighting and nature inspired decor. Only downside is that it is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for in the quality of the food. My #1 suggestion is to get their homemade applesauce as a side for your meal. It's is heavenly.
(4)Montora T.
Came here for our anniversary. The food was decent. Had the steak sandwich and it was rather good. My husband had the reuben with broccoli & cheese, the cheese was the stuff you get in a jar, so that wasn't very impressive. When we got here there were six empty table that really needed to be bussed. They weren't that busy. 8:30 on a Saturday and only four table were full. Our waiter was decent. He disappeared for long periods, and it took way longer than normal to get our drinks/check. Aside from the decent food, the best part was the music. I'd try them again to see if it's improved, but I won't hold my breath.
(3)Mike S.
This place has great food and very reasonable pricing. Make sure to check on the daily food specials. I had the sirloin and crab cake special with broccoli as my side. This was only 10.99. I then had the 1/2 sandwich and soup for 7.99. I had the salmon BLT w/ tomato basil soup...both were delicious. For under $20.00, I had an outstanding meal!!! Next time I'm in the Kalamazoo/Portage area, I will be back.
(5)Carter H.
Good food, always something good on special. Service is fast and friendly and those pub chips are the bomb! My favorite place in portage to meet for a glass of wine.
(5)Kari C.
We had a last minute reservation for a very large party for a family gathering. We chose this restaurant because of location and it's reputation for classy. For the most part it was a great experience, and everyone enjoyed their food. The staff was great about dividing our bills and only got a couple bills mixed up. The only reason I did not leave 5 stars was the waitresses did not refill any of our drinks. Otherwise it was all in all a good experience.
(4)Kim P.
In a sea of retail and restaurants that is Portage, this place really stands out. I came here for lunch with colleagues on a quiet Monday afternoon and although the place wasn't exactly packed, I didn't feel like service was at all lagging. I ordered the 1/2 reuben and chicken soup. The reuben was obviously home made and was super rich and delicious. I'm still thinking about that reuben, and plotting how to recreate what they did in my home kitchen. I wish i had forgone the soup and just got a whole reuben sandwich. Portion sizes were not huge; I totally could have done it. Did I mention I can't stop thinking about that sandwich?!? They did something right, because I almost never act this way, I promise. So happy to have found this place for when I'm in town!
(4)Dennis L.
On the drive from Chicago to Detroit (or reverse), Portage just seems to be the right spot to stop for dinner. Thankfully, on my recent trip, my wife and I found the Craftsman Chop Company. I ended up ordering the Salmon BLT with parmesan potato wedges. Overall, I was impressed with the sandwich. The Salmon was moist and the flavors worked overall. The wedges were very flavorful, but a tad bit salty. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very relaxed. With that said, there is a big difference between the dining room and the bar area. Overall, good food and great value. We will certainly return during our future travels.
(4)Scott S.
We love the blackened shrimp Cobb salad. The atmosphere is great too. Great atmosphere friendly staff and a wonderful assortment of beers and good. You can't go wrong here.
(5)Suzanne S.
First of all, let me say I do like the "Chop House", as it is referred to in our home. We have been a few times and each time the food is really nice. The atmosphere is lovely and warm and inviting. My only recommendation is that I wish they used linens on the tables. It would truly "class it up".
(4)Brendan B.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in the Kalamazoo area. Every meal I've had here has been good. Drinks are always good as well. Service is always friendly and attentive. It's a very nice and cozy relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Charlotte S.
Love it. Friendly staff and great food. Baked pretzels are awesome and come with 3 dipping sauces. Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious. So many great options here!
(5)Rich M.
Great spot. Sat in bar area next to fireplace for drinks and dinner. Everything was excellent especially the Frangelico Mousse.
(5)Jeff T.
Yeah...I'm not throwing the 5 stars out there because of any one specific time being here or is it because they gave me some kick ass deal, but more because it's one of the nicer places outside of Kalamazoo and in the area of Portage. It seems as if Westnedge is littered with nothing but corporate eateries, severely limiting the local entrepreneur from any space of their own. Fortunately, CCCo. found a nice little area near the mall to call home. I've frequented CCCo. on a number of occasions from Happy Hour after work to dinner with the wife, and each time is calm, comforting, with a hint of romantic. Food is above par. Steak was cooked perfectly, light on salt, but full of flavor. Scalloped potatoes were spot on, and their salmon wrap really hit the spot. I would say their one downfall is appetizers. Crab cake was more filler than crab, flat breads are garlic overload, calamari is standard, but I will say their spinach dip is great. Lots of spinach, not so much fat and cream as some places do. At CCCo. I would like to see something like mussels or clams, an ahi app, or maybe just an update to their crab cake, a re-release party for the crab cake - WOO HOO! No, seriously, I vote for some rope grown mussels in white wine butter sauce served with scallions, fennel, a little italian sausage or chorizo, maybe some fresh parm and crusty bread, now that would be delicious, perfect for the winter months. I sure hope they are reading this...hint hint. So stop in sometime and check out some of their deals such as 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. My strip steak was on special on Friday, $16.99, not bad at all. The place has lots of seating, so I don't think reservations are needed, but servers may limit the amount of tables they take on, so a call ahead may be beneficial. Enjoy!
(5)Krista K.
One of my other favorite places to eat nearby! Great for Vegetarians, too. Their soups and salads are wonderful and will make adjustments for the picky eater (me). Worth trying and returning to.
(5)Mick B.
My family and I visited Craftsman Chop Company over Easter weekend at the suggestion of my sister and her husband. We were seated right away without any delay but if you are dining on the weekend, I'd suggest that you call ahead for reservations. I was very impressed with the selections on the menu, the quality of both the food and service, and the overall atmosphere. The decor is an arts and crafts style similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's "Taliesin" in Spring Grove, Wisconsin. The restaurant designer paid homage to Wright's prairie style without being too obvious about it; up to and including the typestyle used on the menus. Our waitress was efficient and eager to answer our questions and help with anything that we needed. Sis had the Pork Osso Bucco (shank on the bone) which is a must if you enjoy pork. I tried the sea scallops which I enjoyed. It looked to me like there's something on the menu that would please anyone. The bar area is also impressive with over 20 beers on tap and a cozy fieldstone fireplace. Although we didn't try any of them, there is a long list of specialty martinis and of course they have a full wine and liquor listing. When the check came, I felt the prices were very reasonable for what we got. I found out later that Craftsman is not a part of a chain and is locally owned. The bottom line is to try Craftsman if you are interested in quality food in an upscale but casual atmosphere. I am sure that you will be pleased and make this one of your regular places for dining out.
(4)Bill M.
My wife and I were traveling through the area and thought we'd try a locally owned steakhouse instead of a chain. We found this restaurant through Foodspotting and checked the reviews through Yelp. The hostess's welcome was cheerful, and the chips/dip they placed on the table was good. The steaks we ordered weren't up to snuff. We both ordered a 12-oz strip, but mine was almost the smallest I've ever seen. We think they brought my wife the 8-oz cut but the server plopped it on the table, looked at it for a moment, said "two 12-oz steaks.... yeah, right," and bailed out. The waitress was attentive but seemed distracted when we mentioned the steaks. Nothing was done about it. Too bad. I wish them well, but I'll probably go with one of the chains on the main drag there next time we're in town.
(2)Tiffany C.
This is my favorite place to go for a drink after work, they also have great nachos. Nice atmosphere, really nice to sit on the patio in the summer. Food is good, but each time i have been there for dinner nothing really catches my eye as a stand out that I would want to order. Would be nice if they would change up the menu occasionally or have seasonal specials. I always choose to sit on the bar side, it is much lively
(4)Gabrielle T.
AMAZING food, OUTSTANDING service, 20 beers on tap, huge menu, and it's locally owned! The owners genuinely care about their customers. Craftsman is a MUST for lunch or dinner. Favorite place in Portage/ Kalamazoo for sure! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Rick I.
My first choice in Portage for dinning out. The craftsmen has a nice relaxed atmosphere. A well rounded menu, friendly staff and even some live music to enjoy a drink with. This is a wonderful restaurant, reasonably priced with a great atmosphere. Get a steak, sandwich, or salad, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jason C.
Try the Pork Asso Buco. It's fantastic and super tender. The waitress said it was the best thing on the menu and it really was. We also had the ribeye and shrimp and that was very good as well. Atmosphere isn't my favorite, but not bad either. Food was fantastic and not overpriced.
(5)Elinor G.
Wonderful ambiance, great service and awesome food! The steak was delicious, vegetables were very flavorful and cooked to perfection.
(5)Jason R.
My second night in Kalamazoo I turned to a local suggestion to try Craftmans. Of course I checked it out on yelp first, but with only 2 reviews I knew it was either a local favorite that they didn't want to share with anyone else OR people were having too much of a good time here to put out a review (heaven forbid!). All I have to say is their $14 6oz sirloin and lobster tail rocked my socks off! First if all...wow...such a good deal. Secondly everything was cooked perfectly. The sirloin was very juicy :) Third, the 14 hands washington state cab paired with the meal topped it off. And finally, to top ME off the turtle cheesecake with it's caramel and chocolate was a beautiful ending to a perfect meal.
(5)J R.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I was still skeptical. here's my summary: Enjoyable dinner -great prices & specials during the week. Fine service, great prices & good food: I've posted pics of the rib-eye dinner & Kobe beef burger. I had the Thursday special: $8.99 for 8 oz. rib-eye (nicely char-grilled & cooked to medium well perfection). It comes with one side: however, I ordered a 2nd side for a few bucks more. I chose the veggie of the day-sauteed zucchini and cheesy scalloped potatoes. Hubby had the Kobe beef burger for $12!!! We had to make sure it was truly Kobe beef-which the waitress confirmed as the real deal. It was the first time we had it and definitely not the last. He also chose the cheesy scalloped potatoes as his side. Other sides include: baked potato, french fries, parmesan potato wedges, applesauce, roasted red potatoes, etc. Our daughter had the $5.99 fettucine noodles with butter & parmesan with a side of mixed fruit (i.e. fruit cocktail). She ate the entire meal so I guess I can't complain about the price...although $6 and $1.99 for her soda is a pricy meal for a 8 year old. The menu is vast and offers something for everyone. Included are prime rib, steaks, pasta, salads, wraps, etc. Oh, and they bring out kettle style chips with dill ranch sauce-nice touch. We enjoyed our dinner: Service was good, ambience-dimly lit and not very crowded at all. We also had $2.50 cosmopolitans (Thurs drink special) and $5.25 for the draft Rogue Dead Guy. They have at least a dozen beers on tap-nice selection, too. We will definitely be back!!!
(5)John W.
Absolutely great food and service. Hotel recommended this place and they were spot on. Couldn't be more pleased
(5)Mac G.
The post about the server and bartender Justin was spot on. Really knowledgeable guy with excellent suggestions and passion for food. The Tomato Soup was the.best I've had. The.sampler option is cool so I got to try Lake Superior Walleye and a superb aged Sirloin. House made chips were notable as were the scalloped potatoes and bread.
(4)Mark F.
Can't get a steak cooked properly. No manager in sight. Looks like this place is not a substitute for a dinner at Applebee's. Stay clear.
(1)Kelly C.
I love this place. The food is always good and they have reasonable prices and great deals each night of the week. Additionally, the wait staff is friendly and upon arrival you receive homedad chips with dip. The atmosphere is nice for a sports bar type locale and the live music is usually on point. I would recommend this to the more mature crowd but I would think anyone would enjoy it.
(5)Laura N.
I have eaten dinner by Craftsman Chop Co twice; once catered to a wedding and once at their restaurant. Neither time was I impressed. I did like the BBQ pork kabobs (I forget their name for them). Everything else was, I feel, a waste of money. The environment is nice, and the wait staff was friendly, however very slow (and this was early in the evening when they only had a handful of tables). Steak was overcooked, and the green beans tasted 'fishy'. The mashed potatoes were ok, probably the best item on my plate. They make themselves appear to be an upscale restaurant, but I've had better dinners elsewhere in town, for half the price. They really need to get some cooks that actually care about the dishes they are preparing.
(2)Terral A.
First time here today and I am impressed. This place is on Sears drive next to the Crossroads mall in Kalamazoo/Portage and is great. The menu had many selections and I was not disappointed. I tried the corned beef sandwich and it was very good. The wait staff was attentive, and the restrooms were very clean. Overall, I would definitely recommend the Craftsman to my friends and family. This may become one of my favorite restaurants in Kalamazoo. I can't wait to visit Kalamazoo and stop into the Craftsman for food and drinks.
(5)Jay R.
Went here just last night. It was a great experience overall, primarily driven by the knowledge of our server Justin. When you think of this place, think of warm comfort food. I had a Delmonico steak off the specials with a side of scalloped potatoes and a cup of Wild Mushroom Soup. I did not love the steak tenderness but the taste was great. Coffee rub! We sampled some of the other soups and sides too. Each was delicious. The applesauce should be renamed because that does not capture its amazingness. It was like an apple crumble minus the crumble. The negatives were 1.) Dining Room Ambiance - eh, decorated from World Market and 2.) The Menu- what kind of restaurant does this place want to be? Menu has everything short of the kitchen sink. Small drawbacks aside, Craftsman Chop is my new winter restaurant.
(4)D W.
Ok steak and good parm wedges. Nice place. Not busy on weekdays.
(4)Allison Y.
I ate lunch at Craftsman today. The chicken salad sand which was awesome! Another thing I love about this restaurant is the presentation of food. It makes me want to eat the food that much more. Quick service and excellent chips and dip as a free app.
(5)Kris K.
Have tried this restaurant on two occasions and was disappointed both times. Service was slow, meals were small portioned, expensive and not worth the price. Decor was fine and getting a reservation was not difficult.
(1)Rachael H.
This place was pretty mediocre in regards to food and over all ambiance. The cocktails we're fine but unimpressive. Te decor was confused.
(3)Amy B.
Great atmosphere & great food! Steaks were cooked to perfection & the Shrimp Feast was delish! All very reasonably priced! - dinner for four with drinks was under $100. Also loved the homemade potato chips & dip as a starter. Service was a little slower than expected but we had a great time.
(4)Lily L.
I love Craftsman. I usually order the steak with bleu cheese crumbles. Never been disappointed with the steak. I LOVE the 'house-made' chips and dip. The ambiance is nice and intimate, with a bar on one side, and dining booths on the other. On occasion there is entertainment. I like that the menu changes every so often. Only complaint is that they got rid of the smashed garlic potatoes and replaced them with "grilled" mashed potatoes. I'm not too fond of them.
(5)Tonya R.
Been there before for lunch and always had good service and great food. This is a consistently good place to get a great lunch time meal. Fish tacos were very flavorful and has some nice spice. Service was quick and friendly and the prices are very comparable to that of your chain place's
(4)Michael R.
My favorite place in Portage. Good beer selection and some of the best food. I think they have the best steaks and really love their Grilled garlic steak pressed sandwich. Really good bloody marys as well. Service is always good and they have a great wine selection and the servers seem pretty knowledgeable about their offerings.
(4)Adam P.
With a name like Craftsman Chop Company, you would think cooking steaks would be their specialty. Not the case at all. The dinner party we were with all ordered steaks. The ribeyes were thin and overcooked. We reordered the filet hoping that they would be able to cook the next one medium rare. Upon it's late arrival I was disappointed to see that this too was medium well. I showed the waitress and she was annoyed, not by me but by the cook. She refunded the cost of the steak dinners and apologized for the cook. I'll give them one more chance but by the empty seats in the dining area it seems most of Portage is tired of the poor cooking as well.
(1)Dana B.
Received A1 service. On a business trip and needed to blow some time after checking out of my hotel. Justin the bartender is PHENOMENAL when it comes to customer service. My coffee was never below half full and he was not at all put off that I'd be squatting in his bar for a few hours doing paperwork. I will recommend the Craftsman to anyone I know coming out to the area. It was hard to choose something to eat because everything on the menu looked fantastic.
(5)Kari C.
We had a last minute reservation for a very large party for a family gathering. We chose this restaurant because of location and it's reputation for classy. For the most part it was a great experience, and everyone enjoyed their food. The staff was great about dividing our bills and only got a couple bills mixed up. The only reason I did not leave 5 stars was the waitresses did not refill any of our drinks. Otherwise it was all in all a good experience.
(4)Mick B.
My family and I visited Craftsman Chop Company over Easter weekend at the suggestion of my sister and her husband. We were seated right away without any delay but if you are dining on the weekend, I'd suggest that you call ahead for reservations. I was very impressed with the selections on the menu, the quality of both the food and service, and the overall atmosphere. The decor is an arts and crafts style similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's "Taliesin" in Spring Grove, Wisconsin. The restaurant designer paid homage to Wright's prairie style without being too obvious about it; up to and including the typestyle used on the menus. Our waitress was efficient and eager to answer our questions and help with anything that we needed. Sis had the Pork Osso Bucco (shank on the bone) which is a must if you enjoy pork. I tried the sea scallops which I enjoyed. It looked to me like there's something on the menu that would please anyone. The bar area is also impressive with over 20 beers on tap and a cozy fieldstone fireplace. Although we didn't try any of them, there is a long list of specialty martinis and of course they have a full wine and liquor listing. When the check came, I felt the prices were very reasonable for what we got. I found out later that Craftsman is not a part of a chain and is locally owned. The bottom line is to try Craftsman if you are interested in quality food in an upscale but casual atmosphere. I am sure that you will be pleased and make this one of your regular places for dining out.
(4)Charlotte S.
Love it. Friendly staff and great food. Baked pretzels are awesome and come with 3 dipping sauces. Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious. So many great options here!
(5)Rich M.
Great spot. Sat in bar area next to fireplace for drinks and dinner. Everything was excellent especially the Frangelico Mousse.
(5)Bill M.
My wife and I were traveling through the area and thought we'd try a locally owned steakhouse instead of a chain. We found this restaurant through Foodspotting and checked the reviews through Yelp. The hostess's welcome was cheerful, and the chips/dip they placed on the table was good. The steaks we ordered weren't up to snuff. We both ordered a 12-oz strip, but mine was almost the smallest I've ever seen. We think they brought my wife the 8-oz cut but the server plopped it on the table, looked at it for a moment, said "two 12-oz steaks.... yeah, right," and bailed out. The waitress was attentive but seemed distracted when we mentioned the steaks. Nothing was done about it. Too bad. I wish them well, but I'll probably go with one of the chains on the main drag there next time we're in town.
(2)Jeff T.
Yeah...I'm not throwing the 5 stars out there because of any one specific time being here or is it because they gave me some kick ass deal, but more because it's one of the nicer places outside of Kalamazoo and in the area of Portage. It seems as if Westnedge is littered with nothing but corporate eateries, severely limiting the local entrepreneur from any space of their own. Fortunately, CCCo. found a nice little area near the mall to call home. I've frequented CCCo. on a number of occasions from Happy Hour after work to dinner with the wife, and each time is calm, comforting, with a hint of romantic. Food is above par. Steak was cooked perfectly, light on salt, but full of flavor. Scalloped potatoes were spot on, and their salmon wrap really hit the spot. I would say their one downfall is appetizers. Crab cake was more filler than crab, flat breads are garlic overload, calamari is standard, but I will say their spinach dip is great. Lots of spinach, not so much fat and cream as some places do. At CCCo. I would like to see something like mussels or clams, an ahi app, or maybe just an update to their crab cake, a re-release party for the crab cake - WOO HOO! No, seriously, I vote for some rope grown mussels in white wine butter sauce served with scallions, fennel, a little italian sausage or chorizo, maybe some fresh parm and crusty bread, now that would be delicious, perfect for the winter months. I sure hope they are reading this...hint hint. So stop in sometime and check out some of their deals such as 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. My strip steak was on special on Friday, $16.99, not bad at all. The place has lots of seating, so I don't think reservations are needed, but servers may limit the amount of tables they take on, so a call ahead may be beneficial. Enjoy!
(5)Krista K.
One of my other favorite places to eat nearby! Great for Vegetarians, too. Their soups and salads are wonderful and will make adjustments for the picky eater (me). Worth trying and returning to.
(5)Mac G.
The post about the server and bartender Justin was spot on. Really knowledgeable guy with excellent suggestions and passion for food. The Tomato Soup was the.best I've had. The.sampler option is cool so I got to try Lake Superior Walleye and a superb aged Sirloin. House made chips were notable as were the scalloped potatoes and bread.
(4)Jason C.
Try the Pork Asso Buco. It's fantastic and super tender. The waitress said it was the best thing on the menu and it really was. We also had the ribeye and shrimp and that was very good as well. Atmosphere isn't my favorite, but not bad either. Food was fantastic and not overpriced.
(5)Elinor G.
Wonderful ambiance, great service and awesome food! The steak was delicious, vegetables were very flavorful and cooked to perfection.
(5)Laura N.
I have eaten dinner by Craftsman Chop Co twice; once catered to a wedding and once at their restaurant. Neither time was I impressed. I did like the BBQ pork kabobs (I forget their name for them). Everything else was, I feel, a waste of money. The environment is nice, and the wait staff was friendly, however very slow (and this was early in the evening when they only had a handful of tables). Steak was overcooked, and the green beans tasted 'fishy'. The mashed potatoes were ok, probably the best item on my plate. They make themselves appear to be an upscale restaurant, but I've had better dinners elsewhere in town, for half the price. They really need to get some cooks that actually care about the dishes they are preparing.
(2)J R.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I was still skeptical. here's my summary: Enjoyable dinner -great prices & specials during the week. Fine service, great prices & good food: I've posted pics of the rib-eye dinner & Kobe beef burger. I had the Thursday special: $8.99 for 8 oz. rib-eye (nicely char-grilled & cooked to medium well perfection). It comes with one side: however, I ordered a 2nd side for a few bucks more. I chose the veggie of the day-sauteed zucchini and cheesy scalloped potatoes. Hubby had the Kobe beef burger for $12!!! We had to make sure it was truly Kobe beef-which the waitress confirmed as the real deal. It was the first time we had it and definitely not the last. He also chose the cheesy scalloped potatoes as his side. Other sides include: baked potato, french fries, parmesan potato wedges, applesauce, roasted red potatoes, etc. Our daughter had the $5.99 fettucine noodles with butter & parmesan with a side of mixed fruit (i.e. fruit cocktail). She ate the entire meal so I guess I can't complain about the price...although $6 and $1.99 for her soda is a pricy meal for a 8 year old. The menu is vast and offers something for everyone. Included are prime rib, steaks, pasta, salads, wraps, etc. Oh, and they bring out kettle style chips with dill ranch sauce-nice touch. We enjoyed our dinner: Service was good, ambience-dimly lit and not very crowded at all. We also had $2.50 cosmopolitans (Thurs drink special) and $5.25 for the draft Rogue Dead Guy. They have at least a dozen beers on tap-nice selection, too. We will definitely be back!!!
(5)John W.
Absolutely great food and service. Hotel recommended this place and they were spot on. Couldn't be more pleased
(5)Mark F.
Can't get a steak cooked properly. No manager in sight. Looks like this place is not a substitute for a dinner at Applebee's. Stay clear.
(1)Kelly C.
I love this place. The food is always good and they have reasonable prices and great deals each night of the week. Additionally, the wait staff is friendly and upon arrival you receive homedad chips with dip. The atmosphere is nice for a sports bar type locale and the live music is usually on point. I would recommend this to the more mature crowd but I would think anyone would enjoy it.
(5)Terral A.
First time here today and I am impressed. This place is on Sears drive next to the Crossroads mall in Kalamazoo/Portage and is great. The menu had many selections and I was not disappointed. I tried the corned beef sandwich and it was very good. The wait staff was attentive, and the restrooms were very clean. Overall, I would definitely recommend the Craftsman to my friends and family. This may become one of my favorite restaurants in Kalamazoo. I can't wait to visit Kalamazoo and stop into the Craftsman for food and drinks.
(5)Gabrielle T.
AMAZING food, OUTSTANDING service, 20 beers on tap, huge menu, and it's locally owned! The owners genuinely care about their customers. Craftsman is a MUST for lunch or dinner. Favorite place in Portage/ Kalamazoo for sure! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Rick I.
My first choice in Portage for dinning out. The craftsmen has a nice relaxed atmosphere. A well rounded menu, friendly staff and even some live music to enjoy a drink with. This is a wonderful restaurant, reasonably priced with a great atmosphere. Get a steak, sandwich, or salad, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jason R.
My second night in Kalamazoo I turned to a local suggestion to try Craftmans. Of course I checked it out on yelp first, but with only 2 reviews I knew it was either a local favorite that they didn't want to share with anyone else OR people were having too much of a good time here to put out a review (heaven forbid!). All I have to say is their $14 6oz sirloin and lobster tail rocked my socks off! First if all...wow...such a good deal. Secondly everything was cooked perfectly. The sirloin was very juicy :) Third, the 14 hands washington state cab paired with the meal topped it off. And finally, to top ME off the turtle cheesecake with it's caramel and chocolate was a beautiful ending to a perfect meal.
(5)Mike C.
Consistently great steaks! I had the New York strip special on Friday night and was very satisfied! 12 oz portion, tender, perfectly prepared with a crab reduction...it was delicious! Great bar, very friendly waitstaff, just a great experience.
(4)Gregg U.
Stopped by after reading many positive reviews. Was not disappointed the restaurant was clean, the waitstaff very attentive the food came out promptly. I had the tapa tuna over cilantro salad we also ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon all was excellent. The prices were very reasonable and the menu had something to please everyone. The beer and cocktail menu was impressive. This may become a favorite hangout for dinner.
(4)Johnathan D.
Short review, here we go. Service: A .... very polite and on top of our beverages Food quality: A+ .... everything was very fresh and full of flavor Presentation of food: A ... definitely fine dining for Kalamazoo Ambiance: B+ .... lighting was a little too dim for my taste, but this is a fancy restaurant for "Kzoo". Live music in the bar area was a nice touch and the restaurant is spaced out to the point where its not "too loud". Overall experience: Great for a dinner for 2 or 4. I definitely recommend the Sirloin and Scampi and the Wydham Australian Shiraz. Location is great too since it's near other places to eat and near the Crossroads movie theatre in case you're trying to do the typical "dinner and a movie."
(4)Jeff F.
The bar at craftsman is nice, be sure to ask for chips and dip with your drinks i have eaten at Craftsman several times and have been disappointed every time. Go for drinks but not the food. .
(1)Josh M.
I was a little apprehensive at first. I was actually pretty surprised though. Everything we ate was good. Our service was a little slow which kind of got to us and the family next to us was nuts, but that isn't the restaraunts fault. For being locally owned I give them extra points. I'd recommend it if you're around the mall and don't want to hit all the dull chains that people frequent in portage.
(4)Suzanne S.
The best Ahi Tuna this side of Maui! Seared to perfection, rare in the center, coated with black and white toasted sesame seeds. Side of ginger and wasabi, it was perfect. Will definately return for another dose. Loved the homemade chips with the french onion dip. Very tastey. This is my favorite meal and have tried it all over the country...it takes a very special chef to prepare it properly. Kudos to the chef!
(5)Adam A.
Sat in the dining room after reading the reviews of how loud the bar area can get. This place was pleasant. Not a place I feel compelled to return. I did love the draft list. Almost completely Michigan beer and pretty good selections at that. It was 600pm. The lamb I ordered fell right of the bone but I am pretty sure it was cooked the day before then reheated. It was more like a stew on a bone than braised lamb. I did enjoy the sauce that accompanied it. I felt bad as I sliced into my first bite I heard the couple next to us tell the server they were celebrating a birthday and they came for the lamb. The server left then returned to tell them there was no more lamb for the evening. I felt terrible.
(3)Kim P.
In a sea of retail and restaurants that is Portage, this place really stands out. I came here for lunch with colleagues on a quiet Monday afternoon and although the place wasn't exactly packed, I didn't feel like service was at all lagging. I ordered the 1/2 reuben and chicken soup. The reuben was obviously home made and was super rich and delicious. I'm still thinking about that reuben, and plotting how to recreate what they did in my home kitchen. I wish i had forgone the soup and just got a whole reuben sandwich. Portion sizes were not huge; I totally could have done it. Did I mention I can't stop thinking about that sandwich?!? They did something right, because I almost never act this way, I promise. So happy to have found this place for when I'm in town!
(4)Anthony P.
Food was very good, staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was good. I would definitely return the next time I am in Kalamazoo and recommend it for a good chance of pace from chain restaurants.
(4)Suzanne S.
First of all, let me say I do like the "Chop House", as it is referred to in our home. We have been a few times and each time the food is really nice. The atmosphere is lovely and warm and inviting. My only recommendation is that I wish they used linens on the tables. It would truly "class it up".
(4)Brendan B.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in the Kalamazoo area. Every meal I've had here has been good. Drinks are always good as well. Service is always friendly and attentive. It's a very nice and cozy relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Priscilla C.
The food here is amazing. The drinks are amazing. And the staff is super amazing. Make sure to see Karla or Brandon at the bar, they will take good care of you. Prices are beyond reasonable for the quality of food. You will not be disappointed here, come have a drink and a bite to eat!! Fresh ingredients, prepared to perfection. Cooks are on point. Get here already.
(5)Aakash G.
Cough cough. This food is overrated. This is not a fine dining establishment. It's another chain restaurant. It's not a high level of cuisine by any stretch of the imagination. Tried many things, all very subpar. The sandwiches were the most embarrassing - expensive for almost no food. But it's probably better than Applebee's.
(2)Karissa K.
This place is great for foodies and those looking for a fancy dinner. Their food is delicious and they have a wide range of options. I definitely suggest seeing what the catch of the day is for fish, as well as their everyday specials. Their atmosphere is very cozy with dim lighting and nature inspired decor. Only downside is that it is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for in the quality of the food. My #1 suggestion is to get their homemade applesauce as a side for your meal. It's is heavenly.
(4)Brian M.
It's been several years since we've eaten at Craftsman Chop Company, and I think it's slid downhill. They wouldn't take a reservation over the phone stating "we're pretty full, but you can try and wait here". That should have been a cue to choose another restaurant, but for some reason we didn't. Arriving at Craftsman, we were told it would be a 30 minute wait. Looking around the restaurant, only about 70 of the tables were taken. After a 35 minute wait, we were seated at a booth that was available from the time we walked in. It was across from a table that stood in bussed for 90 minutes. No joke. As a matter of fact we discovered there was NO buss staff. The servers had to do it between waiting tables. You can imagine how motivated THAT makes them. The Chicken Nacho appetizer came first. It was baked hard into one chunk. Obviously unacceptable. We sent that back and hoped for the best on our meals. The food was just OK. for a Saturday night (5-9-2015) I can't believe this is the best they could do. There's far better within a mile of the restaurant, I doubt we'll try it again.
(2)Ben B.
I grew up in Portage and passed the Craftsman many times. It seemed like a super-fancy place out of my price range. But on my first visit, I can say the prices are pretty reasonable and the food was good. The decor is decidedly suburban. It feels like the kind of place where older people eat. Indeed, most of the patrons seemed well into their 50s and beyond. Think more upscale Denny's. It's not romantic. A little stuffy. Our server was a very nice guy, who shared his opinions on the menu freely. We liked him. I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwich ($9) - lightly blackened chicken, bacon, pepperjack cheese, cajun aioli. I really liked it a lot. Had a nice pop of flavor and the bacon was crispy. For my side, I went with the Parmesan Potato Wedges. Our server admitted these were made from the leftover baked potatoes. They weren't great. I love the idea, but they would have been so much better as freshly cut, freshly fried wedges. Disappointing, but I can't say the server didn't try to warn me. We also had the Zucchini Fries ($4.50). These were really good. I wouldn't have known they were zucchini the menu didn't say so. They taste pretty much like regular fries. Nice. While I wouldn't take a date here, It's got good food and friendly servers. I suspect I'll be back.
(4)Kimberly G.
Very disappointing. From the appetizers to the "filets" the food was not good at all. A chain steakhouse would have been better.
(1)Andy E.
This place is a bit of a conundrum as it seems to have great potential, but came up lacking in my first experience. The interior decor is really nice and the bar area is probably the nicest in Kalamazoo. They have a well organized outdoor seating area, and the waitstaff is attentive and pleasant throughout. They have a varied menu and the wine / cocktail list is acceptable. The shortcoming on my recent visit was the food. The crab cake appetizer was mostly filling and the salmon I had as an entree was definitely over cooked. None of it tasted bad, I just expected better quality than I got. I will likely return to give it a second shot and will update my review.
(3)Montora T.
Came here for our anniversary. The food was decent. Had the steak sandwich and it was rather good. My husband had the reuben with broccoli & cheese, the cheese was the stuff you get in a jar, so that wasn't very impressive. When we got here there were six empty table that really needed to be bussed. They weren't that busy. 8:30 on a Saturday and only four table were full. Our waiter was decent. He disappeared for long periods, and it took way longer than normal to get our drinks/check. Aside from the decent food, the best part was the music. I'd try them again to see if it's improved, but I won't hold my breath.
(3)Mike S.
This place has great food and very reasonable pricing. Make sure to check on the daily food specials. I had the sirloin and crab cake special with broccoli as my side. This was only 10.99. I then had the 1/2 sandwich and soup for 7.99. I had the salmon BLT w/ tomato basil soup...both were delicious. For under $20.00, I had an outstanding meal!!! Next time I'm in the Kalamazoo/Portage area, I will be back.
(5)Carter H.
Good food, always something good on special. Service is fast and friendly and those pub chips are the bomb! My favorite place in portage to meet for a glass of wine.
(5)Dennis L.
On the drive from Chicago to Detroit (or reverse), Portage just seems to be the right spot to stop for dinner. Thankfully, on my recent trip, my wife and I found the Craftsman Chop Company. I ended up ordering the Salmon BLT with parmesan potato wedges. Overall, I was impressed with the sandwich. The Salmon was moist and the flavors worked overall. The wedges were very flavorful, but a tad bit salty. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very relaxed. With that said, there is a big difference between the dining room and the bar area. Overall, good food and great value. We will certainly return during our future travels.
(4)Scott S.
We love the blackened shrimp Cobb salad. The atmosphere is great too. Great atmosphere friendly staff and a wonderful assortment of beers and good. You can't go wrong here.
(5)Tom H.
Locals generally like this place and I have to concur with their opinion. The restaurant and bar are laid out into two separate areas. The bar area has a higher noise level and sometimes hosts live music. They keep a little more festive atmosphere there and it has a more upbeat feel. The restaurant menu is available in either area. The restaurant separates into a more muted and intimate feel if you're going there to enjoy dining and conversation. I have to admit it's a great concept depending upon what type of environment you're in the mood for. There's a nice beer selection and some nice menu options. There are a couple of fish selections (ahi and salmon) but this place is more a steak house. Even that being said they have a large selection of salads including a nut and berry salad. Nice form. The salads I've tried have had fresh lettuce and crisp vegetables. The steaks are all under $20 which is pretty much unheard of in larger cities. They're prepared nicely and flavorful. The sandwiches and burgers are all under $10 so the price point for a restaurant of this caliber is impressive. Everything I've tried here has had a very good taste. The caliber of service I've had here has also been consistently good. This is a solid restaurant with all the way around. Great job here. 5 stars.
(5)P Yelp N.
Bar area great with live music and a multitude of excellently local beers. Very happy to see Gonzos BiggDogg Vanilla Porter on tap. Outstanding and crazy good deal for $3.50 a pint!
(5)Eric T.
Food was ok, services was slow the wine list are ok, even though I gave it three stars I would go back.
(3)Shawn B.
Food was ok, nothing special, place smelled a little funny.
(2)Jon W.
Sat at the bar and ordered their filet, food was good, atmosphere good. The service from bartender Katie was excellent.
(4)Julie A.
Wonderful! Great menu choices. Several gluten free options. Wait staff is friendly and courteous. If I'm ever in the area again I will return.
(5)Mike G.
Good solid restaurant with good food and drinks. It's better than most chains but I wouldn't say it's extraordinary. I can't say anything negative about them.
(4)Heather D.
This place is perfect for dinner. I had marinated cashew chicken and it was excellent! Perfect date night!
(5)Allison D.
Enjoyed my dinner here! Great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere
(4)Jenna N.
The ambiance, service, and food here are excellent! I've come here a number of times and I've never been disappointed. The decor is warm and cozy, but still classy. I love the gorgeous stained glass windows on the wall between the bar and dining room. When you are seated you will get some of the most phenomenal chips and onion dip. I can imagine sitting here with friends and just eating chips (and appetizers) and having a beer (great selection of mixed drinks, wine and beer - draft and bottled). Today, I had the steak (a perfect medium) and garlic mashed potatoes - amazing! My husband had the mustard glazed pork chops with scalloped potatoes. Both were tasty and the portions were generous. We'll be back!
(5)Kara M.
Great bar, awesome chips & dip when you arrive, mediocre food, slow service. This is one of my favorite places to go after work for happy hour because the bar is fantastic and the specials are pretty good, but I really dislike ordering food. The waitstaff, while friendly and nice, is very slow, and the food is never worth the wait. Why can't they cook a steak? Doesn't "Chop Company" imply that your specialty is steak? I've tried ordering the steak on at least four separate occasions (just hoping that it was a fluke), and I've always been disappointed. I like mine medium rare, and it's ALWAYS overcooked. I'd call it practically medium well. I even tried to mitigate this by ordering "medium rare but on the rarer side is fine" to the same result. It's one of the nicer restaurants in Portage, so I'm sure I'll keep coming anyway. I'll update this review if things improve (but someone else is going to need to convince me that the steaks have gotten better before I order one again).
(3)Jay R.
Went here just last night. It was a great experience overall, primarily driven by the knowledge of our server Justin. When you think of this place, think of warm comfort food. I had a Delmonico steak off the specials with a side of scalloped potatoes and a cup of Wild Mushroom Soup. I did not love the steak tenderness but the taste was great. Coffee rub! We sampled some of the other soups and sides too. Each was delicious. The applesauce should be renamed because that does not capture its amazingness. It was like an apple crumble minus the crumble. The negatives were 1.) Dining Room Ambiance - eh, decorated from World Market and 2.) The Menu- what kind of restaurant does this place want to be? Menu has everything short of the kitchen sink. Small drawbacks aside, Craftsman Chop is my new winter restaurant.
(4)Tiffany C.
This is my favorite place to go for a drink after work, they also have great nachos. Nice atmosphere, really nice to sit on the patio in the summer. Food is good, but each time i have been there for dinner nothing really catches my eye as a stand out that I would want to order. Would be nice if they would change up the menu occasionally or have seasonal specials. I always choose to sit on the bar side, it is much lively
(4)D W.
Ok steak and good parm wedges. Nice place. Not busy on weekdays.
(4)Allison Y.
I ate lunch at Craftsman today. The chicken salad sand which was awesome! Another thing I love about this restaurant is the presentation of food. It makes me want to eat the food that much more. Quick service and excellent chips and dip as a free app.
(5)Rich M.
Great spot. Sat in bar area next to fireplace for drinks and dinner. Everything was excellent especially the Frangelico Mousse.
(5)Kari C.
We had a last minute reservation for a very large party for a family gathering. We chose this restaurant because of location and it's reputation for classy. For the most part it was a great experience, and everyone enjoyed their food. The staff was great about dividing our bills and only got a couple bills mixed up. The only reason I did not leave 5 stars was the waitresses did not refill any of our drinks. Otherwise it was all in all a good experience.
(4)J R.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I was still skeptical. here's my summary: Enjoyable dinner -great prices & specials during the week. Fine service, great prices & good food: I've posted pics of the rib-eye dinner & Kobe beef burger. I had the Thursday special: $8.99 for 8 oz. rib-eye (nicely char-grilled & cooked to medium well perfection). It comes with one side: however, I ordered a 2nd side for a few bucks more. I chose the veggie of the day-sauteed zucchini and cheesy scalloped potatoes. Hubby had the Kobe beef burger for $12!!! We had to make sure it was truly Kobe beef-which the waitress confirmed as the real deal. It was the first time we had it and definitely not the last. He also chose the cheesy scalloped potatoes as his side. Other sides include: baked potato, french fries, parmesan potato wedges, applesauce, roasted red potatoes, etc. Our daughter had the $5.99 fettucine noodles with butter & parmesan with a side of mixed fruit (i.e. fruit cocktail). She ate the entire meal so I guess I can't complain about the price...although $6 and $1.99 for her soda is a pricy meal for a 8 year old. The menu is vast and offers something for everyone. Included are prime rib, steaks, pasta, salads, wraps, etc. Oh, and they bring out kettle style chips with dill ranch sauce-nice touch. We enjoyed our dinner: Service was good, ambience-dimly lit and not very crowded at all. We also had $2.50 cosmopolitans (Thurs drink special) and $5.25 for the draft Rogue Dead Guy. They have at least a dozen beers on tap-nice selection, too. We will definitely be back!!!
(5)John W.
Absolutely great food and service. Hotel recommended this place and they were spot on. Couldn't be more pleased
(5)Mac G.
The post about the server and bartender Justin was spot on. Really knowledgeable guy with excellent suggestions and passion for food. The Tomato Soup was the.best I've had. The.sampler option is cool so I got to try Lake Superior Walleye and a superb aged Sirloin. House made chips were notable as were the scalloped potatoes and bread.
(4)Mark F.
Can't get a steak cooked properly. No manager in sight. Looks like this place is not a substitute for a dinner at Applebee's. Stay clear.
(1)Laura N.
I have eaten dinner by Craftsman Chop Co twice; once catered to a wedding and once at their restaurant. Neither time was I impressed. I did like the BBQ pork kabobs (I forget their name for them). Everything else was, I feel, a waste of money. The environment is nice, and the wait staff was friendly, however very slow (and this was early in the evening when they only had a handful of tables). Steak was overcooked, and the green beans tasted 'fishy'. The mashed potatoes were ok, probably the best item on my plate. They make themselves appear to be an upscale restaurant, but I've had better dinners elsewhere in town, for half the price. They really need to get some cooks that actually care about the dishes they are preparing.
(2)Terral A.
First time here today and I am impressed. This place is on Sears drive next to the Crossroads mall in Kalamazoo/Portage and is great. The menu had many selections and I was not disappointed. I tried the corned beef sandwich and it was very good. The wait staff was attentive, and the restrooms were very clean. Overall, I would definitely recommend the Craftsman to my friends and family. This may become one of my favorite restaurants in Kalamazoo. I can't wait to visit Kalamazoo and stop into the Craftsman for food and drinks.
(5)Tiffany C.
This is my favorite place to go for a drink after work, they also have great nachos. Nice atmosphere, really nice to sit on the patio in the summer. Food is good, but each time i have been there for dinner nothing really catches my eye as a stand out that I would want to order. Would be nice if they would change up the menu occasionally or have seasonal specials. I always choose to sit on the bar side, it is much lively
(4)Gabrielle T.
AMAZING food, OUTSTANDING service, 20 beers on tap, huge menu, and it's locally owned! The owners genuinely care about their customers. Craftsman is a MUST for lunch or dinner. Favorite place in Portage/ Kalamazoo for sure! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Josh M.
I was a little apprehensive at first. I was actually pretty surprised though. Everything we ate was good. Our service was a little slow which kind of got to us and the family next to us was nuts, but that isn't the restaraunts fault. For being locally owned I give them extra points. I'd recommend it if you're around the mall and don't want to hit all the dull chains that people frequent in portage.
(4)Suzanne S.
The best Ahi Tuna this side of Maui! Seared to perfection, rare in the center, coated with black and white toasted sesame seeds. Side of ginger and wasabi, it was perfect. Will definately return for another dose. Loved the homemade chips with the french onion dip. Very tastey. This is my favorite meal and have tried it all over the country...it takes a very special chef to prepare it properly. Kudos to the chef!
(5)Allison Y.
I ate lunch at Craftsman today. The chicken salad sand which was awesome! Another thing I love about this restaurant is the presentation of food. It makes me want to eat the food that much more. Quick service and excellent chips and dip as a free app.
(5)Christopher M.
Awesome place. Awesome food.
(5)Kris K.
Have tried this restaurant on two occasions and was disappointed both times. Service was slow, meals were small portioned, expensive and not worth the price. Decor was fine and getting a reservation was not difficult.
(1)Rick I.
My first choice in Portage for dinning out. The craftsmen has a nice relaxed atmosphere. A well rounded menu, friendly staff and even some live music to enjoy a drink with. This is a wonderful restaurant, reasonably priced with a great atmosphere. Get a steak, sandwich, or salad, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jason R.
My second night in Kalamazoo I turned to a local suggestion to try Craftmans. Of course I checked it out on yelp first, but with only 2 reviews I knew it was either a local favorite that they didn't want to share with anyone else OR people were having too much of a good time here to put out a review (heaven forbid!). All I have to say is their $14 6oz sirloin and lobster tail rocked my socks off! First if all...wow...such a good deal. Secondly everything was cooked perfectly. The sirloin was very juicy :) Third, the 14 hands washington state cab paired with the meal topped it off. And finally, to top ME off the turtle cheesecake with it's caramel and chocolate was a beautiful ending to a perfect meal.
(5)Mike C.
Consistently great steaks! I had the New York strip special on Friday night and was very satisfied! 12 oz portion, tender, perfectly prepared with a crab reduction...it was delicious! Great bar, very friendly waitstaff, just a great experience.
(4)Gregg U.
Stopped by after reading many positive reviews. Was not disappointed the restaurant was clean, the waitstaff very attentive the food came out promptly. I had the tapa tuna over cilantro salad we also ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon all was excellent. The prices were very reasonable and the menu had something to please everyone. The beer and cocktail menu was impressive. This may become a favorite hangout for dinner.
(4)Kim P.
In a sea of retail and restaurants that is Portage, this place really stands out. I came here for lunch with colleagues on a quiet Monday afternoon and although the place wasn't exactly packed, I didn't feel like service was at all lagging. I ordered the 1/2 reuben and chicken soup. The reuben was obviously home made and was super rich and delicious. I'm still thinking about that reuben, and plotting how to recreate what they did in my home kitchen. I wish i had forgone the soup and just got a whole reuben sandwich. Portion sizes were not huge; I totally could have done it. Did I mention I can't stop thinking about that sandwich?!? They did something right, because I almost never act this way, I promise. So happy to have found this place for when I'm in town!
(4)Anthony P.
Food was very good, staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was good. I would definitely return the next time I am in Kalamazoo and recommend it for a good chance of pace from chain restaurants.
(4)Suzanne S.
First of all, let me say I do like the "Chop House", as it is referred to in our home. We have been a few times and each time the food is really nice. The atmosphere is lovely and warm and inviting. My only recommendation is that I wish they used linens on the tables. It would truly "class it up".
(4)Brendan B.
One of my favorite places to eat when I'm in the Kalamazoo area. Every meal I've had here has been good. Drinks are always good as well. Service is always friendly and attentive. It's a very nice and cozy relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Kelly C.
I love this place. The food is always good and they have reasonable prices and great deals each night of the week. Additionally, the wait staff is friendly and upon arrival you receive homedad chips with dip. The atmosphere is nice for a sports bar type locale and the live music is usually on point. I would recommend this to the more mature crowd but I would think anyone would enjoy it.
(5)Jason C.
Try the Pork Asso Buco. It's fantastic and super tender. The waitress said it was the best thing on the menu and it really was. We also had the ribeye and shrimp and that was very good as well. Atmosphere isn't my favorite, but not bad either. Food was fantastic and not overpriced.
(5)Elinor G.
Wonderful ambiance, great service and awesome food! The steak was delicious, vegetables were very flavorful and cooked to perfection.
(5)Jon W.
Sat at the bar and ordered their filet, food was good, atmosphere good. The service from bartender Katie was excellent.
(4)Julie A.
Wonderful! Great menu choices. Several gluten free options. Wait staff is friendly and courteous. If I'm ever in the area again I will return.
(5)Mike G.
Good solid restaurant with good food and drinks. It's better than most chains but I wouldn't say it's extraordinary. I can't say anything negative about them.
(4)Heather D.
This place is perfect for dinner. I had marinated cashew chicken and it was excellent! Perfect date night!
(5)Allison D.
Enjoyed my dinner here! Great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere
(4)Jenna N.
The ambiance, service, and food here are excellent! I've come here a number of times and I've never been disappointed. The decor is warm and cozy, but still classy. I love the gorgeous stained glass windows on the wall between the bar and dining room. When you are seated you will get some of the most phenomenal chips and onion dip. I can imagine sitting here with friends and just eating chips (and appetizers) and having a beer (great selection of mixed drinks, wine and beer - draft and bottled). Today, I had the steak (a perfect medium) and garlic mashed potatoes - amazing! My husband had the mustard glazed pork chops with scalloped potatoes. Both were tasty and the portions were generous. We'll be back!
(5)Rachael H.
This place was pretty mediocre in regards to food and over all ambiance. The cocktails we're fine but unimpressive. Te decor was confused.
(3)Amy B.
Great atmosphere & great food! Steaks were cooked to perfection & the Shrimp Feast was delish! All very reasonably priced! - dinner for four with drinks was under $100. Also loved the homemade potato chips & dip as a starter. Service was a little slower than expected but we had a great time.
(4)Tonya R.
Been there before for lunch and always had good service and great food. This is a consistently good place to get a great lunch time meal. Fish tacos were very flavorful and has some nice spice. Service was quick and friendly and the prices are very comparable to that of your chain place's
(4)Michael R.
My favorite place in Portage. Good beer selection and some of the best food. I think they have the best steaks and really love their Grilled garlic steak pressed sandwich. Really good bloody marys as well. Service is always good and they have a great wine selection and the servers seem pretty knowledgeable about their offerings.
(4)Adam P.
With a name like Craftsman Chop Company, you would think cooking steaks would be their specialty. Not the case at all. The dinner party we were with all ordered steaks. The ribeyes were thin and overcooked. We reordered the filet hoping that they would be able to cook the next one medium rare. Upon it's late arrival I was disappointed to see that this too was medium well. I showed the waitress and she was annoyed, not by me but by the cook. She refunded the cost of the steak dinners and apologized for the cook. I'll give them one more chance but by the empty seats in the dining area it seems most of Portage is tired of the poor cooking as well.
(1)Tom H.
Locals generally like this place and I have to concur with their opinion. The restaurant and bar are laid out into two separate areas. The bar area has a higher noise level and sometimes hosts live music. They keep a little more festive atmosphere there and it has a more upbeat feel. The restaurant menu is available in either area. The restaurant separates into a more muted and intimate feel if you're going there to enjoy dining and conversation. I have to admit it's a great concept depending upon what type of environment you're in the mood for. There's a nice beer selection and some nice menu options. There are a couple of fish selections (ahi and salmon) but this place is more a steak house. Even that being said they have a large selection of salads including a nut and berry salad. Nice form. The salads I've tried have had fresh lettuce and crisp vegetables. The steaks are all under $20 which is pretty much unheard of in larger cities. They're prepared nicely and flavorful. The sandwiches and burgers are all under $10 so the price point for a restaurant of this caliber is impressive. Everything I've tried here has had a very good taste. The caliber of service I've had here has also been consistently good. This is a solid restaurant with all the way around. Great job here. 5 stars.
(5)P Yelp N.
Bar area great with live music and a multitude of excellently local beers. Very happy to see Gonzos BiggDogg Vanilla Porter on tap. Outstanding and crazy good deal for $3.50 a pint!
(5)Eric T.
Food was ok, services was slow the wine list are ok, even though I gave it three stars I would go back.
(3)Shawn B.
Food was ok, nothing special, place smelled a little funny.
(2)Kara M.
Great bar, awesome chips & dip when you arrive, mediocre food, slow service. This is one of my favorite places to go after work for happy hour because the bar is fantastic and the specials are pretty good, but I really dislike ordering food. The waitstaff, while friendly and nice, is very slow, and the food is never worth the wait. Why can't they cook a steak? Doesn't "Chop Company" imply that your specialty is steak? I've tried ordering the steak on at least four separate occasions (just hoping that it was a fluke), and I've always been disappointed. I like mine medium rare, and it's ALWAYS overcooked. I'd call it practically medium well. I even tried to mitigate this by ordering "medium rare but on the rarer side is fine" to the same result. It's one of the nicer restaurants in Portage, so I'm sure I'll keep coming anyway. I'll update this review if things improve (but someone else is going to need to convince me that the steaks have gotten better before I order one again).
(3)Dana B.
Received A1 service. On a business trip and needed to blow some time after checking out of my hotel. Justin the bartender is PHENOMENAL when it comes to customer service. My coffee was never below half full and he was not at all put off that I'd be squatting in his bar for a few hours doing paperwork. I will recommend the Craftsman to anyone I know coming out to the area. It was hard to choose something to eat because everything on the menu looked fantastic.
(5)Johnathan D.
Short review, here we go. Service: A .... very polite and on top of our beverages Food quality: A+ .... everything was very fresh and full of flavor Presentation of food: A ... definitely fine dining for Kalamazoo Ambiance: B+ .... lighting was a little too dim for my taste, but this is a fancy restaurant for "Kzoo". Live music in the bar area was a nice touch and the restaurant is spaced out to the point where its not "too loud". Overall experience: Great for a dinner for 2 or 4. I definitely recommend the Sirloin and Scampi and the Wydham Australian Shiraz. Location is great too since it's near other places to eat and near the Crossroads movie theatre in case you're trying to do the typical "dinner and a movie."
(4)Jeff F.
The bar at craftsman is nice, be sure to ask for chips and dip with your drinks i have eaten at Craftsman several times and have been disappointed every time. Go for drinks but not the food. .
(1)Jay R.
Went here just last night. It was a great experience overall, primarily driven by the knowledge of our server Justin. When you think of this place, think of warm comfort food. I had a Delmonico steak off the specials with a side of scalloped potatoes and a cup of Wild Mushroom Soup. I did not love the steak tenderness but the taste was great. Coffee rub! We sampled some of the other soups and sides too. Each was delicious. The applesauce should be renamed because that does not capture its amazingness. It was like an apple crumble minus the crumble. The negatives were 1.) Dining Room Ambiance - eh, decorated from World Market and 2.) The Menu- what kind of restaurant does this place want to be? Menu has everything short of the kitchen sink. Small drawbacks aside, Craftsman Chop is my new winter restaurant.
(4)Lily L.
I love Craftsman. I usually order the steak with bleu cheese crumbles. Never been disappointed with the steak. I LOVE the 'house-made' chips and dip. The ambiance is nice and intimate, with a bar on one side, and dining booths on the other. On occasion there is entertainment. I like that the menu changes every so often. Only complaint is that they got rid of the smashed garlic potatoes and replaced them with "grilled" mashed potatoes. I'm not too fond of them.
(5)Adam A.
Sat in the dining room after reading the reviews of how loud the bar area can get. This place was pleasant. Not a place I feel compelled to return. I did love the draft list. Almost completely Michigan beer and pretty good selections at that. It was 600pm. The lamb I ordered fell right of the bone but I am pretty sure it was cooked the day before then reheated. It was more like a stew on a bone than braised lamb. I did enjoy the sauce that accompanied it. I felt bad as I sliced into my first bite I heard the couple next to us tell the server they were celebrating a birthday and they came for the lamb. The server left then returned to tell them there was no more lamb for the evening. I felt terrible.
(3)Mick B.
My family and I visited Craftsman Chop Company over Easter weekend at the suggestion of my sister and her husband. We were seated right away without any delay but if you are dining on the weekend, I'd suggest that you call ahead for reservations. I was very impressed with the selections on the menu, the quality of both the food and service, and the overall atmosphere. The decor is an arts and crafts style similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's "Taliesin" in Spring Grove, Wisconsin. The restaurant designer paid homage to Wright's prairie style without being too obvious about it; up to and including the typestyle used on the menus. Our waitress was efficient and eager to answer our questions and help with anything that we needed. Sis had the Pork Osso Bucco (shank on the bone) which is a must if you enjoy pork. I tried the sea scallops which I enjoyed. It looked to me like there's something on the menu that would please anyone. The bar area is also impressive with over 20 beers on tap and a cozy fieldstone fireplace. Although we didn't try any of them, there is a long list of specialty martinis and of course they have a full wine and liquor listing. When the check came, I felt the prices were very reasonable for what we got. I found out later that Craftsman is not a part of a chain and is locally owned. The bottom line is to try Craftsman if you are interested in quality food in an upscale but casual atmosphere. I am sure that you will be pleased and make this one of your regular places for dining out.
(4)Charlotte S.
Love it. Friendly staff and great food. Baked pretzels are awesome and come with 3 dipping sauces. Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious. So many great options here!
(5)Bill M.
My wife and I were traveling through the area and thought we'd try a locally owned steakhouse instead of a chain. We found this restaurant through Foodspotting and checked the reviews through Yelp. The hostess's welcome was cheerful, and the chips/dip they placed on the table was good. The steaks we ordered weren't up to snuff. We both ordered a 12-oz strip, but mine was almost the smallest I've ever seen. We think they brought my wife the 8-oz cut but the server plopped it on the table, looked at it for a moment, said "two 12-oz steaks.... yeah, right," and bailed out. The waitress was attentive but seemed distracted when we mentioned the steaks. Nothing was done about it. Too bad. I wish them well, but I'll probably go with one of the chains on the main drag there next time we're in town.
(2)Jeff T.
Yeah...I'm not throwing the 5 stars out there because of any one specific time being here or is it because they gave me some kick ass deal, but more because it's one of the nicer places outside of Kalamazoo and in the area of Portage. It seems as if Westnedge is littered with nothing but corporate eateries, severely limiting the local entrepreneur from any space of their own. Fortunately, CCCo. found a nice little area near the mall to call home. I've frequented CCCo. on a number of occasions from Happy Hour after work to dinner with the wife, and each time is calm, comforting, with a hint of romantic. Food is above par. Steak was cooked perfectly, light on salt, but full of flavor. Scalloped potatoes were spot on, and their salmon wrap really hit the spot. I would say their one downfall is appetizers. Crab cake was more filler than crab, flat breads are garlic overload, calamari is standard, but I will say their spinach dip is great. Lots of spinach, not so much fat and cream as some places do. At CCCo. I would like to see something like mussels or clams, an ahi app, or maybe just an update to their crab cake, a re-release party for the crab cake - WOO HOO! No, seriously, I vote for some rope grown mussels in white wine butter sauce served with scallions, fennel, a little italian sausage or chorizo, maybe some fresh parm and crusty bread, now that would be delicious, perfect for the winter months. I sure hope they are reading this...hint hint. So stop in sometime and check out some of their deals such as 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. My strip steak was on special on Friday, $16.99, not bad at all. The place has lots of seating, so I don't think reservations are needed, but servers may limit the amount of tables they take on, so a call ahead may be beneficial. Enjoy!
(5)Krista K.
One of my other favorite places to eat nearby! Great for Vegetarians, too. Their soups and salads are wonderful and will make adjustments for the picky eater (me). Worth trying and returning to.
(5)Priscilla C.
The food here is amazing. The drinks are amazing. And the staff is super amazing. Make sure to see Karla or Brandon at the bar, they will take good care of you. Prices are beyond reasonable for the quality of food. You will not be disappointed here, come have a drink and a bite to eat!! Fresh ingredients, prepared to perfection. Cooks are on point. Get here already.
(5)Brian M.
It's been several years since we've eaten at Craftsman Chop Company, and I think it's slid downhill. They wouldn't take a reservation over the phone stating "we're pretty full, but you can try and wait here". That should have been a cue to choose another restaurant, but for some reason we didn't. Arriving at Craftsman, we were told it would be a 30 minute wait. Looking around the restaurant, only about 70 of the tables were taken. After a 35 minute wait, we were seated at a booth that was available from the time we walked in. It was across from a table that stood in bussed for 90 minutes. No joke. As a matter of fact we discovered there was NO buss staff. The servers had to do it between waiting tables. You can imagine how motivated THAT makes them. The Chicken Nacho appetizer came first. It was baked hard into one chunk. Obviously unacceptable. We sent that back and hoped for the best on our meals. The food was just OK. for a Saturday night (5-9-2015) I can't believe this is the best they could do. There's far better within a mile of the restaurant, I doubt we'll try it again.
(2)Ben B.
I grew up in Portage and passed the Craftsman many times. It seemed like a super-fancy place out of my price range. But on my first visit, I can say the prices are pretty reasonable and the food was good. The decor is decidedly suburban. It feels like the kind of place where older people eat. Indeed, most of the patrons seemed well into their 50s and beyond. Think more upscale Denny's. It's not romantic. A little stuffy. Our server was a very nice guy, who shared his opinions on the menu freely. We liked him. I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwich ($9) - lightly blackened chicken, bacon, pepperjack cheese, cajun aioli. I really liked it a lot. Had a nice pop of flavor and the bacon was crispy. For my side, I went with the Parmesan Potato Wedges. Our server admitted these were made from the leftover baked potatoes. They weren't great. I love the idea, but they would have been so much better as freshly cut, freshly fried wedges. Disappointing, but I can't say the server didn't try to warn me. We also had the Zucchini Fries ($4.50). These were really good. I wouldn't have known they were zucchini the menu didn't say so. They taste pretty much like regular fries. Nice. While I wouldn't take a date here, It's got good food and friendly servers. I suspect I'll be back.
(4)Kimberly G.
Very disappointing. From the appetizers to the "filets" the food was not good at all. A chain steakhouse would have been better.
(1)Andy E.
This place is a bit of a conundrum as it seems to have great potential, but came up lacking in my first experience. The interior decor is really nice and the bar area is probably the nicest in Kalamazoo. They have a well organized outdoor seating area, and the waitstaff is attentive and pleasant throughout. They have a varied menu and the wine / cocktail list is acceptable. The shortcoming on my recent visit was the food. The crab cake appetizer was mostly filling and the salmon I had as an entree was definitely over cooked. None of it tasted bad, I just expected better quality than I got. I will likely return to give it a second shot and will update my review.
(3)Aakash G.
Cough cough. This food is overrated. This is not a fine dining establishment. It's another chain restaurant. It's not a high level of cuisine by any stretch of the imagination. Tried many things, all very subpar. The sandwiches were the most embarrassing - expensive for almost no food. But it's probably better than Applebee's.
(2)Karissa K.
This place is great for foodies and those looking for a fancy dinner. Their food is delicious and they have a wide range of options. I definitely suggest seeing what the catch of the day is for fish, as well as their everyday specials. Their atmosphere is very cozy with dim lighting and nature inspired decor. Only downside is that it is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for in the quality of the food. My #1 suggestion is to get their homemade applesauce as a side for your meal. It's is heavenly.
(4)Montora T.
Came here for our anniversary. The food was decent. Had the steak sandwich and it was rather good. My husband had the reuben with broccoli & cheese, the cheese was the stuff you get in a jar, so that wasn't very impressive. When we got here there were six empty table that really needed to be bussed. They weren't that busy. 8:30 on a Saturday and only four table were full. Our waiter was decent. He disappeared for long periods, and it took way longer than normal to get our drinks/check. Aside from the decent food, the best part was the music. I'd try them again to see if it's improved, but I won't hold my breath.
(3)Mike S.
This place has great food and very reasonable pricing. Make sure to check on the daily food specials. I had the sirloin and crab cake special with broccoli as my side. This was only 10.99. I then had the 1/2 sandwich and soup for 7.99. I had the salmon BLT w/ tomato basil soup...both were delicious. For under $20.00, I had an outstanding meal!!! Next time I'm in the Kalamazoo/Portage area, I will be back.
(5)Carter H.
Good food, always something good on special. Service is fast and friendly and those pub chips are the bomb! My favorite place in portage to meet for a glass of wine.
(5)Dennis L.
On the drive from Chicago to Detroit (or reverse), Portage just seems to be the right spot to stop for dinner. Thankfully, on my recent trip, my wife and I found the Craftsman Chop Company. I ended up ordering the Salmon BLT with parmesan potato wedges. Overall, I was impressed with the sandwich. The Salmon was moist and the flavors worked overall. The wedges were very flavorful, but a tad bit salty. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very relaxed. With that said, there is a big difference between the dining room and the bar area. Overall, good food and great value. We will certainly return during our future travels.
(4)Scott S.
We love the blackened shrimp Cobb salad. The atmosphere is great too. Great atmosphere friendly staff and a wonderful assortment of beers and good. You can't go wrong here.
(5)