Cafe '36 - Kalamazoo

I've been looking forward to tasting the Cafe 36 for some time and finally had my chance to eat here. I was in a group of 7 people. The restaurant is very interesting. It is about Sawall's Health Food Store and overlooks the islands of the goods while buyers browse. It is not a huge area but a cozy area to eat and visit with friends. We started with drinks and the laundry board. I highly recommend this as it was abundant and varied with cheese, fruit, meat, olives, etc. Very delicious. The bread was a rosemary seasoned pita-like bread that was warm and quite tasty. We also had shrimps that are fried spring rolls with a sauce that is for dying! I ordered the short ribs. Large part of meat-atop potatoes with sawed root vegetables and garnished with some types of spores. The taste was great and the meat was not too fat as it can often occur with short ribs. My colleague ordered the chicken pots. This court came out and his preparation was ready. The server poured steam engraving from a boat over the bowl and then added a large piece of puff pastries and then finished the rest of the engraving above. It looked fantastic. Other guests ordered the Mussels, Wild caught Sockeye salmon, Atlantic Char and Filet mignon. All Entrees looked excellent and no complaint was heard by this writer when we dined. The dessert menu looked great and they also had a selection of Tawney Port wines to choose. We didn't order desserts when we were stuffed from dinner. My only complaint is the noise level. The area is open and with high ceilings, the floor is concrete and there are many echoes of other Diner's voices, chairs moving over the floor etc., etc. It made it difficult for us all to entertain and listen during our visit.

Delicious food and great service! Menu changes seasonally. Wine, beer, and cocktails. My Mom has a number of food restrictions and there are lots of options for her here.

Was totally surprised. My daughter from NYC was very impressed with the food quality. Fantastic.

I went here for the first time this year! I had the best Filet Mignon ever!! It was melt in your mouth tender! Great service and prices were reasonable! I had a great mixed drink also. I did not even know there was a restaurant above the store. This was a girls night out group that I went with, we have tried a lot of new restaurants together. This one was a great one! I can’t wait to go back!!

However, being located above a grocery store does bring a unique vibe to the place, and depending on where you sit, the atmosphere can vary. We chose to sit near the commercial neon lighting of the grocery store, which, on a bad day, might be overwhelming for some. Fortunately, our group of four quickly adjusted, entertaining ourselves by joking about the local honey displayed on an island, along with jars of honey sourced from Vermont. Regarding the atmosphere, the friendly and attentive staff mirrored the restaurant's inviting setting. Every staff member we interacted with was warm and genuinely enthusiastic about their roles. On my first visit, the chef even took the time to explain the intricacies of the shrimp dish and its accompanying sauce, which was phenomenal. As for the food, it was truly exceptional. I chose the weekly special: beef tenderloin topped with blue cheese sauce, served with garlic potatoes and asparagus. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, exhibiting a lovely pink hue, while the blue cheese added a delightful salty richness. The grilled asparagus contributed a smoky flavor and was cooked just right, offering a satisfying crunch. My wife and mother-in-law opted for the other weekly special: beef cheeks with pasta and cream sauce. I can’t recall every detail, but I couldn't help sneaking bites from their plates as I tried to not snatch them away. Meanwhile, my father-in-law ordered the hanger steak with pommes frites, which was also expertly cooked, enhanced by Moroccan spices that paired beautifully with the flavorful cut of meat. Overall, Café 36 delivers a wonderful culinary experience while maintaining a casual atmosphere. The staff is well-dressed, and although many patrons opt for jackets, it’s perfectly acceptable to see guests in button-up shirts as well. The food and service are not pretentious; instead, they exude a genuine passion for their craft, which in turn makes me appreciate their work even more. I look forward to relishing this enthusiasm again on my next visit.