Best places to eat in East Lansing?

Specifically, breakfast and sandwich places that are unique and can’t really find elsewhere.

Go!!

Breakfast. Not el.
http://www.goldenharvestlansing.com/

Sandwich?
Subway?

No idea what's there now.  Best EL breakfast restaurant, ever?

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Breakfast. Not el.
http://www.goldenharvestlansing.com/

Sandwich?
Subway?

golden Harvest is the most overrated restaurant on the planet Joe. Followed very closely by Zingermans

Jersey Giant

Is MEAT BBQ still there?

duffy munn wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Breakfast. Not el.
http://www.goldenharvestlansing.com/

Sandwich?
Subway?

golden Harvest is the most overrated restaurant on the planet Joe. Followed very closely by Zingermans

Zingerman’s is OK. But, $75 for a Rueben is a little high.

duffy munn wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Breakfast.  Not el.
http://www.goldenharvestlansing.com/

Sandwich?
Subway?

golden Harvest is the most overrated restaurant on the planet Joe. Followed very closely by Zingermans

I love Zingerman’s and just for clarity the -1 is from me for such a terrible take.

duffy munn wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Breakfast.  Not el.
http://www.goldenharvestlansing.com/

Sandwich?
Subway?

golden Harvest is the most overrated restaurant on the planet Joe. Followed very closely by Zingermans

It's been a while... what other breakfast focused places are around?

And yeah 3 zingermans sandwiches you are looking at a hundred. But you will be full.

InTenSity wrote:Is MEAT BBQ still there?

Yep, Meat is good. Saddleback. The breweries aren't bad. None of those are sandwiches or breakfast.

I know of a place that makes chili with Kobe beef but it’s not exactly in East Lansing. Or close to East Lansing.

These are mostly in Okemos sorry

Taste of Thai is always good

There’s a pho place in Hannah plaza. Not a big pho guy, but they have a dish there called Vietnamese pad Thai that I really dig

I like Persis for Indian. I used to prefer Sindhu but they changed owners and it isnt as good anymore. It’s been like a year though maybe I should give them another shot

I think I like luckys better than Stillwater, two steakhouses right next up each other. Stillwater is certainly fancier, but I think luckys overall probably tastes better. I guess it depends on what you’re looking for there. 

Hitting Applebees for appetizers followed by going next door for entrees at Cracker Barrel is a delectable option.

Are any of these the best restaurant? Probably not. But I guess it depends on what you want

I just remembered that I should note that I have two small children so if a place doesn’t make takeout a central focus of their business model I probably don’t get to go very often

NigelUno wrote:

duffy munn wrote: golden Harvest is the most overrated restaurant on the planet Joe. Followed very closely by Zingermans

Zingerman’s is OK.   But, $75 for a Rueben is a little high.

Zingerman's Tomato Soup is a meal in itself.

Their sandwiches are very good, pretty big & expensive, big city pricing.

Northside Grill in A2 is good for breakfast & lunch. Pretty busy so expect to wait.

https://sites.google.com/site/thenorthsidegrilla2/

Vinology in A2 has $18 all you can drink, almost, Mimosas & Bloody Mary's for Sunday brunch.  Food prices are okay and food is good.  Not as popular as it should be when the students aren't in town.

https://vinologya2.com/brunch/

Not EL, but Soup Spoon is good.

Breakfast:  love Fleetwood.  Although never at breakfast time.  Meaty Hippie Hash for the win.

Sandwiches:  Habana Delight or Joses's Cuban.  One is a food truck and the other is in a gas station, you're getting that shit to go.

Jolly Pumpkin has good sandwiches, cheesy bread, and fries. Charlie Kang’s isn’t fancy but is always good. Don’t forget tots at Crunchy’s. There’s always a tiny plastic bottle of wine and a 100 Grand bar from Walgreen’s.

NigelUno wrote:Not EL, but Soup Spoon is good.

Probably the best in Ingham county

Hey Pantry what’s that place over on the west side?

duffy munn wrote:

NigelUno wrote:Not EL, but Soup Spoon is good.

Probably the best in Ingham county

The People's Kitchen might qualify as unique. Never been. Heard the menu is a little quirky, or more for foodies. Borderline EL.

I think the guy from Golden Harvest started it, but don't think he's there anymore.

Soup Spoon is just always good.

It does suck that we always have these discussions and it's a struggle to come up with good options in EL.

NigelUno wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

Probably the best in Ingham county

The People's Kitchen might qualify as unique. Never been. Heard the menu is a little quirky, or more for foodies. Borderline EL.

I think the guy from Golden Harvest started it, but don't think he's there anymore.

Soup Spoon is just always good.

It does suck that we always have these discussions and it's a struggle to come up with good options in EL.

Thanks for the recommend. I will check it out.

NigelUno wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

Probably the best in Ingham county

The People's Kitchen might qualify as unique. Never been. Heard the menu is a little quirky, or more for foodies. Borderline EL.

I think the guy from Golden Harvest started it, but don't think he's there anymore.

Soup Spoon is just always good.

It does suck that we always have these discussions and it's a struggle to come up with good options in EL.

Peoples Kitchen is very good. The menu is a bit quirky and very limited but I've never had a bad meal there. The vibe is cool too yet the acoustics are really bad. When it's packed the place is LOUD and it's hard to carry on a conversation. The sound of people talking seems to bounce off the ceiling to the floor.

Back from half-price pizza Sunday at Crunchy's.

I'm a simple dude who doesn't need much.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Back from half-price pizza Sunday at Crunchy's.

I'm a simple dude who doesn't need much.

How was it? I haven't had a pizza at Crunchys in quite some time.

duffy munn wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Back from half-price pizza Sunday at Crunchy's.

I'm a simple dude who doesn't need much.

How was it? I haven't had a pizza at Crunchys in quite some time.

not bad and half-price (dine in only on Sundays) makes it even better.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

How was it? I haven't had a pizza at Crunchys in quite some time.

not bad and half-price (dine in only on Sundays) makes it even better.

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

Pizza pizza is what you feed the kids when you and the wife have date night.

duffy munn wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
not bad and half-price (dine in only on Sundays) makes it even better.

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

You only get one pizza for $5

But also I appreciate the straight forward ness of their approach. A hot n ready. What is it? It’s hot. And it’s ready. There is no claim of quality or taste or anything else. Just that it is both hot and it is ready.

One other thing on LC- it isn’t that bad. I mean it’s not good. But it’s not bad. I think dominoes is significantly worse.

I agree Dominos is worse. That said, I'd rather have pretty much any bar burger then either.

duffy munn wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote: not bad and half-price (dine in only on Sundays) makes it even better.

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

If you want to road trip a little east try Spagnulos in Okemos/Williamston. Further distance and to the west is Cuginos on Grand Ledge. Both are very good but eating there is a must. I know this is a touch out of your comfort zone Bob but I think you'll like the vibe in both places too.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

You only get one pizza for $5

But also I appreciate the straight forward ness of their approach. A hot n ready. What is it? It’s hot. And it’s ready. There is no claim of quality or taste or anything else. Just that it is both hot and it is ready.

One other thing on LC- it isn’t that bad. I mean it’s not good. But it’s not bad. I think dominoes is significantly worse.

Ok maybe I'm being a little harsh on Little Ceasars. Probably because when I was a kid and young adult in was actually very good. It went down hill when pizza! pizza! was introduced. No question in my mind they went to different ( aka cheaper) ingredients.

Plus I'm not a fan of the Ilitch family so this may taint my opinion.

Pizza is such a nebulous food.  Too many "styles" and too many preferences to be able to identify "good" pizza for everyone. It might as well be pasties.

duffy munn wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote: doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

If you want to road trip a little east try Spagnulos in Okemos/Williamston. Further distance and to the west is Cuginos on Grand Ledge. Both are very good but eating there is a must. I know this is a touch out of your comfort zone Bob but I think you'll like the vibe in both places too.

thanks man - I've been to Spagnuolo's, but it's been a while. Definitely pre-pandemic.

And I've heard about Cuginos but I'm not sure I want to be in Grand Ledge after dark.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

Pizza is always better when you dine in. No matter how good the pie, it loses something when carried out or delivered. This is why I half blame Tom Monaghan for the demise of good pizza in this great country. Delivery pizza sucks.

The other half of the blame goes to Mike Illitch. Pizza pizza=garbage garbage. When you pay $5 for two pizzas you are getting exactly what you pay for. And hot n' ready is code for sitting under a hot lamp in a cardboard box for at least 30 minutes

doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

Art's pizza is great, as is Cosmos.

StylesGShmooth wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote: doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

Art's pizza is great, as is Cosmos.

nice - I've had Cosmos, but it's been a while.

Never had Art's pizza, but their smoked wings are quite tasty.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

If you want to road trip a little east try Spagnulos in Okemos/Williamston. Further distance and to the west is Cuginos on Grand Ledge. Both are very good but eating there is a must. I know this is a touch out of your comfort zone Bob but I think you'll like the vibe in both places too.

thanks man - I've been to Spagnuolo's, but it's been a while. Definitely pre-pandemic.

And I've heard about Cuginos but I'm not sure I want to be in Grand Ledge after dark.

The streets of downtown Grand Ledge are certainly mean but if you're packin' your glock you should be fine Bob

StylesGShmooth wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote: doesn't deem to be a good place for pizza in the greater East Lansing area these days. Wife and I have been to Sleepwalker in REO Town a time or two and it might be the best in the area.

Art's pizza is great, as is Cosmos.

I haven't had Arts pizza in a while but it was always too heavy for me. shit weighs about 10lbs. But I have been checking out Arts for breakfast lately and it's outstanding and reasonably priced