Red Rooster Tavern in North Muskegon with Chef Char!

It's finally summer in this part of the USA and we couldn't resist a drive "up north" again. We know Michigan is considered pretty far north for the rest of the nation, but folks in Michigan still like to say they are going "up north" to their cottage, for a weekend getaway, or in our case for dinner.  We just like the fact that we're going someplace new and different that includes a gorgeous drive. Not hard to find around here.  

We took the Lake Michigan scenic route to get to the Red Rooster which was part of the reason we made this our July dining adventure. Expect to drive on a winding curvy road that is heavily wooded.  Next thing you know there's a break in the woods, and you are so close to Lake Michigan you think you are driving on the beach.  

We were excited that Chef Char was able to join us for dinner at the Rooster.  The last time we had the pleasure of her company was at The Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar in December.  She has a new adventure going on in her life and we were thrilled to hear about it in person.  

The Rooster offers a very casual and laid back atmosphere so it won't be a problem if you stop in after rolling off one of the beautiful beaches that are close by.  They were advertising live music from Wednesday through Saturday.  We chose to dine on a Tuesday night and were disappointed to learn we missed out on the band.  

Egg Rolls with Dipping Sauce ($8) House made with pork, cabbage, peas and soy, wrapped in a wonton wrapper.  Served with a side of sweet chili and soy.

"We thought this appetizer was delicious and would order it again!"

Steamed mussels on a bed of gluten free pasta ($18)

Kelle:  "This entree turned out to be a disappointment since there wasn't any sauce whatsoever!  We assume it absorbed into the pasta.  However, I was glad to see the menu offered a lot of gluten free options and would gladly stop back to the Rooster for a burger or their famed burrito."    

Goat Cheese Salad ($8) with mixed greens tossed in orange vinaigrette, candied walnuts, apples, and three baked panko encrusted pieces of goat cheese.

Carla:  "I wanted something lighter than a hamburger and ordered the salad with goat cheese.  There was a ton of spinach, but it would have been better if the stems had been removed.  The panko crusted goat cheese was very dry.  I'm with Kelle!  Wish I had ordered a burger." 

Quesadilla ($8) flour tortilla shells filled with baby spinach, queso fresco, and the Rooster's homemade sauce.

Nancy:  "My quesadilla was a little boring, though I must confess that I'm a girl who likes spicy foods.  Nevertheless, it was exactly as described (that is, spinach and cheese inside a flour tortilla).  I was hoping it would be a little more distinctive, so I probably wouldn't order it again."

Bari:  "My quesadilla was quite tasty.  Perhaps the chorizo helped add the zip to it.  I'm not sure that I'd order it again, but who knows depending on my mood?  I agree with the comments about ordering a burger next time and definitely when there is music.  My past experiences with the Red Rooster were burgers and bar food with music, hanging out with sailors and others.  I think they should "stick to their knitting" so to speak and not try to be too fancy.  Old "road houses" or whatever they were/are called should consider specializing in good "bar food."  I did have a nice glass of red wine.  Darn, now I don't remember what it was.  I'll have to bring the notebook along."
 

Jack Daniels' burger ($9) with cheddar cheese, bacon, haystack onions, jack sauce.

Chef Char:  "My burger was cooked to the temp I ordered, medium well.  The crispy bacon strips and battered onions added a little crunch and flavor to the cheeseburger.  The jack sauce, which our waiter told me was "Jack Daniels and pineapple juice and other stuff" when I inquired (not that I was asking for the recipe, but his description was only slightly helpful).  I did not see or taste any of the sauce described on my burger when it came, which was disappointing.  Overall, the burger was what I would expect to see served at a bar and it was fully cooked.  The menu offered several other burgers with different and interesting topping combinations that might be worth a try."



The Red Rooster Tavern
2998 Scenic Drive
North Muskegon, MI
231.744.4006


Be sure to like us on Facebook!  www.facebook.comwestmichdiningdivas


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.  

Harbor View Grille in Whitehall with Bari, Nancy & Kelle

Our Harbor View Grille Adventure

Always up for an adventure, the Dining Divas decided to head northward to Harbor View Grille in Whitehall for our June review.  It's a little over a half-hour drive from the Tri-Cities area... a beautiful drive straight up US-31.

The Harbor View Grille is situated on White Lake, which connects to Lake Michigan via a narrow channel, so whether you're seated inside the restaurant or outdoors on the patio, there's a gorgeous view of the water.  In fact, Bari shared a story with us about running a sailboat aground on White Lake (we hope we're not embarrassing her by mentioning this snafu).

We arrived at the Harbor View on Friday (June 6) around 6:45 p.m., and were seated at an indoor table immediately.  (We opted to dine indoors, as it was a little on the cool side that evening).  A whiteboard at the entrance announced the evening's specials, which included deep-fried Montague asparagus as an appetizer and two different perch specials.

Nancy chose to try the Boffo Brown Ale, brewed by the Marshall, Michigan, Dark Horse Brewery.    It was excellent!  Bari chose a glass of cabernet.  And, we unanimously agreed that since it's the season for asparagus, we needed to sample Harbor View's deep-fried version (although we were also mighty tempted by the deep-fried onion rings).  And the asparagus was terrific!

With finger-food as a first course, Nancy said she wanted to use the restroom to wash her hands.  Upon returning to the table, she announced, "You have GOT to go wash your hands... it's AMAZING!"  

WHAT!?!  Anxious to check out the amazing hand-washing experience, off marched Kelle and Bari to the restroom.  What's so special is that Harbor View has an fragrant jar of hand scrub (plus soap, lotion and a bottle of mouthwash) on a ledge above the sink, which leaves your hands feeling smooth, silky, and oh-so-heavenly smelling.  (As we didn't venture into the men's room, we're not sure if the same is offered there.)  But, it's DEFINITELY worth a stop.

Kelle and Nancy ordered the evening's sauteed perch special, which features Lake Erie yellow perch.  It was accompanied by a fresh salad and served on a bed of rice, with sauteed vegetables.  Nancy recalled that in days of yore (1970s), an old Michigan joke was that if you fell into Lake Erie, you'd decay - not drown (due to polluted water).  But, massive clean-up efforts over the years have resulted in dramatic improvements in water quality, and a return to economically important fish species - like the fabled perch.

For dessert, we decided to try Harbor View's chocolate cake.  After all, who wouldn't be tempted by a description that features not only chocolate, but cream cheese!?!  We ate every bit of it... delicious!  (Bari says "speak for yourselves: she only tasted the whpped cream 'cause she's not a chocolate fan.")

On the return trip, the Divas drove South Shore Drive around White Lake when we noticed a sign for the Lakeside Inn.  (It's just past the golf course.)  Curious, we made the right turn, discovering it has risen from the ashes.   (Nancy was long gone and sound asleep through this part of the journey so she missed our little adventure!)  But Bari and Kelle left her in the car to snooze on her own and went inside to check out the new decor and menu.  They let us know it opened up a few months ago, so we decided it was worth a trip back this summer.  We saw a spectacular sunset while cruising on South Shore Drive, but just missed it setting at Duck Lake State Park where you are driving almost right next to Lake Michigan on a short stretch of the road.  A lot of the locals were lined up in their cars since they know this view is next to none.  The drive home made our entire evening a delightful adventure.  

Definitely worth ordering!

Kelle:  "This dish was so tasty and well-prepared.  I could only eat half of it and enjoyed the rest for lunch the next day.  This was only my second time to Harbor View Grille and I was anxious for Bari and Nancy to come.  I'm impressed with all the gluten free options on the menu and the fact that I can come back and get a juicy burger on a gluten free bun.  Next time it's a burger and the deck for me!"

Nancy:  "The perch was absolutely luscious… served in a lemon-y sauce, dusted in seasoned flour and pan fried.   Like Kelle, I couldn't finish it all… and particularly after the asparagus appetizer and generously sized tossed salad (plus, our waiter told us that all of Harbor View's salad dressings are homemade!). Nevertheless, I did make room for the yummy Triple Chocolate Cake.  ;-)  All in all, definitely worthy of an excursion to Whitehall!"

Bari:  "After seeing an order with onion rings, I knew that I'd have them.  My first choice was to join Kelle and Nancy with perch; however, I wanted it in a basket with those onion rings.  That was not to happen-perch was only available for the dinners-so I went to plan B:  a Mushroom Swiss Olive burger with onion rings.  My meal arrived and looked yummy and it was.  The bun was particularly delicious with the burger and the fixings.  The coleslaw was nice, but my focus was on diving into the burger and onion rings.  (I did share them with Nancy and Kelle)."

The jar in the middle made washing our hands so much fun since our skin was incredibly smooth and soft after using it.  We must confess that we washed our hands once we arrived AND again before leaving!  

Bari checking out the good stuff in the ladies room!

The Harbor View Grille overlooks White Lake & the White River Wetlands

Diva Tips!

We tried to make a reservation since we were driving up on a Friday night, but you can only reserve a table for parties of eight or more.  You are within walking distance of a few shops in downtown Whitehall if you end up having a wait time.  (We were planning to peek inside Posh!)

Great place to sit outside on the deck for a mesmerizing view. 

If you're heading south and have the time after dinner, take the scenic route along South Shore Drive.  We saw a breathtaking view of the sunset along the way.  

Harbor View Grille

115 North Mears Avenue

Whitehall, MI  49461

231.893.0403
www.harborviewgrille.com

Be sure to like us on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/westmichdiningdivas

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.  

Crazy Horse Steakhouse & Saloon in Holland ~ "Hang a Dollar"

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

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!

"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

"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.

My tenderloin also was served accompanied by sautéed garlic butter mushrooms, which were fantastic.  Even Kelle (a non-mushroom fan) had to agree.  So, the photo doesn't do justice to my succulent steak... it looked - and tasted- far better than what you see here."

"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."  

"Wonderful dessert when you only want a few bites!" 

The back wall showcases all of the charities funded by Crazy Horse.

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! 

Be sure to like us on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/westmichdiningdivas

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.