Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use. ~ Emily Post
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| The motto of the Crazy Horse in Holland! |
As our readers know, the Lakeshore Dining Divas aren’t only about food (though we admit that we’re “foodies”). We also like to spotlight people and organizations in the community that are truly making a difference… helping better people’s lives. So, in recent months, we’ve focused on “Dancing with the Local Stars” (a Muskegon-based annual fundraiser for food pantries) and the Katty Shack 5K/1 mile Walk/Run to benefit The Crime Victim’s Foundation, to name a few.
For our April dining adventure, we decided to visit the Crazy Horse Steakhouse & Saloon in Holland, a restaurant that is legendary for not only its steaks but also its generosity. Dollar bills – hundreds of them! – that end up being donated to needy people and organizations are tacked onto the walls and tucked into just about every imaginable spot. It’s a sight to behold.
Our visit took place on Tuesday evening, April 29. It’s only about a 15-minute drive from Grand Haven to this “Best of West Michigan” (voted ten years in a row) restaurant.
Kelle had never been to the Crazy Horse before, so Nancy insisted that we pause before entering so she could hear the horses. Sure enough!… if you linger outside the Crazy Horse, you can hear the sound of whinnying horses! We arrived promptly at 6:00 p.m. and were seated almost immediately in a cozy booth. The crowds started gathering shortly afterwards… but (fortunately!) Crazy Horse has both an indoor waiting area and benches outdoors.
Our cute and peppy waitperson (Suzanne) was a real delight… friendly, full of recommendations and always smiling. When we asked her how long she’d been working at Crazy Horse, she replied, “I’ve been here so long, I can’t even remember… 15 years? 17 years? Something like that.” Since employee turnover in restaurants can be as high as 100 percent (or more!), we found this absolutely incredible. What loyalty! Obviously, the Crazy Horse’s owner and management team pay attention to and take good care of their staff.
So… back to the dollar bills. The Crazy Horse’s website proclaims, “Thanks to the Crazy Horse customers, we’ve donated over $100,000 to date.” When dollar bills tacked up with push-pins started to appear on the restaurant’s walls over 15 years ago, the Crazy Horse began donating them to charity. According to Suzanne, Hurricane Katrina victims were first. Over the years, donated dollars have gone towards Haiti Relief Efforts, 9/11 Relief, VOX United, Breast Cancer Research, Women in Transition, Benjamin’s Hope, The Outdoor Discovery Center, and countless other worthy causes.
A few days later we had a chance to talk to the owner, Mark Herman, and this is what he told us!
A few days later we had a chance to talk to the owner, Mark Herman, and this is what he told us!
"I am very fortunate to have such a long term and incredible staff. I have had the restaurant for 18 plus years and in that time I have had one restaurant manager, Heather Laninga, and one Chef, Ryan Lanning. This promotes a long term staff and consistent food quality, and yet another reason we have been awarded "Best Restaurant" in Holland for eleven years in a row!
The dollar bills on the walls began with one customer many, many years ago and it caught on. Now we get so many dollar bills on the walls that I donate them to local charities and people in need. We have donated over $100,000.00 in the past 15 years! It has become our story."
Mark Herman, Owner
Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon
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"Since Suzanne said that the Crazy Horse's Tenderloin Filet was her personal favorite, I decided to give it a try. After 17 years working there, I figured it had to be good! It came with your choice of soup or salad (I chose the basic salad) and a side dish ("Side Saddle"). I opted for the Maple Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes as my side dish, which was delicious.
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| "Walking into the Crazy Horse reminded me of being in Houston again and brought back good memories. I've been living on the lakeshore a little over three years and don't venture to Holland very much. So I was eager to go some place new and different. I had no doubt I was going to order a steak and decided on a medium rare New York Strip. Wow ~ I couldn't believe it took up the whole plate! I wasn't able to finish it so my dogs and I enjoyed some the next day. Yup, they are steak lovers too! I was stuffed and didn't think dessert was a possibility, but Suzanne said we have to try a bite size one to share. I'm glad we did since it was just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth without feeling like you over-indulged. It's nice to have those bite size options. Crazy Horse is one of a kind and unique in the way they go about helping others. I loved seeing all the dollar bills hanging on the wall and couldn't wait to tack on a few of my own. Be sure to check out the back wall before you leave and see all the people that benefited by patrons sharing the love." |
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| "Wonderful dessert when you only want a few bites!" |
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| The back wall showcases all of the charities funded by Crazy Horse. |
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| Crazy Horse Steakhouse & Saloon Lakewood Blvd. at 2027 North Park Dr. Holland, MI 49424 616.395.8393 www.crazyhorsesteakhouse.com Mon-Thur 11:00 am - 9:30 pm Fri-Sat 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Closed Sunday Diva Tips:
Bring plenty of $1.00 bills so you can hang a dollar and serve up some love!
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The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter. Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.
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