Fireside Tap & Grill

This evening seemed like such a perfect day for an outdoor meal, so we had planned to get fries and root beer from Simonton Lake Drive In, but as we approached, the amount of people who had the same idea was overwhelming, so we just kept driving. We ended up in Michigan, Edwardsburg to be exact and decided to try a restaurant that I had heard about a few times, Fireside Tap & Grill. From the outside it doesn't look like much, and with the amount of cars parked outside and across the street, I wasn't sure that we would even find a seat, but it was getting late so I persisted. Inside I was greeted with a "seat yourself" sign and about twice as much seating as I had expected from the outside, there was a bar in the middle, but otherwise all of the seating is family friendly. We started with hand batter pickle chips as an appetizer and they were great, we both could have gone for more batter, but they were still tasty. Our little man got the pretzel bites appetizer for his meal, they were filled with cheese and he was in heaven. Our waiter admitted that they pretzels weren't handmade, but considering our son ate the entire order (which he never does) we can't complain about that.

Despite the fact that the burgers were on special (every Wednesday) for $2.00 and $2.50 for a cheeseburger, my hubby opted for one of their many specialty burgers, The Santa Fe. His burger was topped with guacamole (an Albert family favorite), batter fried jalapeño slices, pico de gallo, sour cream and pepper jack cheese and I'm fairly certain he finished it in less than 5 minutes if that tells you how good it was. He really loved the fries, too, which were seasoned and as he says "hard to describe."

I ordered an old standard, a fried pork tenderloin, I mean it has the word "famous" in it, how could I resist? When this giant morsel came to my table it was evident that it was hand pounded and battered, I cut it in half and proceeded with vigor. It was a delicious sandwich, I even tried a few bites with the honey mustard that came with my kiddo's pretzel bites and that was a killer combination. My sandwich came with housemate potato chips and those were delicious as well.

Michigan is so close, but we never seem to make our way up there to eat! That changes today as we found this gem that we will HAVE visit again soon, because there too many awesome looking dishes on the menu not to go back. So if you are looking for delicious, affordable American food that the whole family can enjoy check out Fireside Tap & Grill off of State Road 12 in Edwardsburg!

Five Star Dive Bar

If you know us, you know that we really aren't into the bar scene, neither of us has ever really had a taste for alcohol, BUT when we hear that a bar has good food we are more than happy to check it out on one of our treasured kiddo-free date nights. The Elkhart area has had a burger competition and Five Start Dive Bar made it pretty dang far in the bracket, so we thought it would be worth a try. Just be warned that while the restaurant serves awesome food, it is not health food! We started with fried mushrooms, my hubby's favorite, and they were huge with an awesome, crispy batter.

I expected my hubby to try the smokehouse burger that was in the competition, but there was a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and tomato on the menu and that was all he needed to know. The Five Star Grilled Cheese with a side of hand cut fries was a pretty ideal meal for my hubby and the perfect comfort food to boot!

I ordered my standard, go to fish and chips and while this wasn't my favorite version, it was solid and really tasty! The fries were delicious as well, you just can't beat hand cut fries!

We overheard the folks at the table behind us raving about a dessert so I had to know what it was, they said the words fried and cheesecake in the same sentence and I was sold! We were presented with three "egg rolls" covered in caramel, and when I bit into that crispy wrapper and was met with the warm creamy cheesecake, I was in heaven. The fried cheesecake isn't on the menu, but you officially have the inside scoop on this killer dessert!

If you're looking for a great bar, bar food that's better than bar food, or just someplace to hang out and play pool or listen to local talent, check out Five Star Dive Bar on East Jackson in Elkhart. Just don't forget to ask for the fried cheesecake!