Café '36 2965 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

"Great food, great atmosphere. So happy they have reopened. Neighborhood feel"

"Shockingly expensive for dining in a grocery store. Drinks are overpriced, food costs so much I couldn't afford to be disappointed. I've been to some nice places in town but I felt like this place was trying to hard to make money. $30 for two average cocktails is absurd. $24 for Burata? Server was extra friendly and knowledgeable. We try to tip well whenever we go out but cost of menu items limited our decision making in regards to tip. It's a very nice place don't get me wrong but i don't think it was for me. Might give it another shot."

"The fries were really good. Pretty much all the food we ordered was delicious. Pricey, however they make it worth it!"

"Right now, this is the first restaurant I suggest to people in Kalamazoo. I believe Café 36 is the top restaurant when considering service and food. The ambiance is wonderful. The mix of black booths and white chairs makes the room look clean and modern. The place settings are white mats and black napkins. The ying yang of simple contesting colors is soothing and elegant. The neatness calms you has soon as you walk in. It might be the low ceiling or other insolation, but this restaurant is more quiet than other restaurants in Kalamazoo—you can interact with your dining partners without fear of losing your voice the next day. But there is one potential downside to being above a grocery store and you experience can be different depending on your mood and where you sit. We sat over looking the grocery store which places you just above the commercial neon lighting. On a bad day this could easily give someone a migraine. Fortunately, our party of four adjusted quickly and we enjoyed overlooking the isles and making jokes about the isle marker for local honey and wondering which isle is stocked with honey from Vermont. Another note about the atmosphere The gently manner of the of the setting is mirror in the friendless and grace of its staff. Everyone we interacted with is welcoming and excited about what they do. On my first visit the chef walking through the restaurant was easily pulled aside by a server to explain the intricacies shrimp sticks and their dipping sauce (which are fantastic btw). The food we had at Café 36 was wonderful. I have a special for the week, a beef tenderloin with blue cheese sauce, garlic potatoes, and asparagus. The meat was cooked to a perfect pink medium rare and the blue cheese on top added a salty tang. The grilled asparagus gave the dish a smoky element and was cooked to the point where it still had an al dente snap. My wife and mother in-law had the other weekly special: beef cheeks with pasta and a cream sauce. I don’t remember all the components, but I ate of their plates as much as I tried to keep them from eating mine. My father in-law had the hanger steak with fries. Again, the steak was cooked perfectly, and the Moroccan spices paired well with this flavorful cut of meat. Overall, Café 36 is a great fine dining experience and one you can have while still being casual. The staff is dressed up, but I don’t think I say one customer with a jacket and only a few with a button up shirt. The food and the staff aren’t pretentious. They just seem to love what they do and that means I love what they do. And I will be back to share in the enthusiasm."

"(Disclaimer) We happen to know the chef on a personal level and my wife and I decided to make the trip down from Grand Rapids to check out his new digs. Somehow Sawall has successfully combined a gourmet grocery store with a great dining experience. The staff was professional and courteous, Chris was our waiter and Max delivered 3 wonderful courses to our table. We started with the grilled asparagus w/ cauliflower puree, split the baby ice-berg salad , I had the short rib for my main course (all pictured), and my wife enjoyed the cauliflower steak. The food was fabulous and well worth the drive. Chef Jason Tilmann and his creations are are a rare find in Michigan. Put this place on your list as a must try!"