Bell's Eccentric Cafe

Recommended by the hotel staff and I am so glad they did. We were not planning to stop by here but since the front desk staff mentioned it was a most visit we decided to walk there since it was only like 8 min from the hotel. I got a beer flight of 4 and hubby got 3 and all the beers were awesome and very reasonable price. We also ordered their hotdog and when I am telling it was good it cause it was AMAZING, probably hands down the best hotdog I had on a very long time.. that combination of the beef link, ham and shredder pork was something I never had before. We came for the beer but their snacks didn't disappointed.

Always wanted to check out this brewery, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! The beer selection was excellent, with something for every taste, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I visited on a Saturday, so parking was a bit of a challenge—people were circling the block looking for a spot—but it was worth the effort. Definitely planning to come back, maybe on a weekday when it’s a bit less busy, to fully enjoy everything this place has to offer. Food looked great coming out, but did not eat this time. For sure will next time I come here.

Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo is a really cool stop. Great atmosphere, awesome beer selection, and just a fun place to hang out whether you’re grabbing food, listening to live music, or just trying some local brews. Definitely one of those places you have to check out if you’re in town.

Finally made it to, IMO, the Home of the Best IPA. I’ve been drinking Bell’s IPA for over a decade and finally accomplished this bucket list. Took the train in from Milwaukee. Was an easy journey. The service was superb as well. Kind, funny and informative. They had others on tap as you would expect from this superior brewery that were excellent. One surprise was the cider. It was very yummy. 😋 🍎 One special note I need to make: I left my expense thermos behind but didn’t realize it until I was traveling back. I called them up, they found it, and mailed it back to me at no charge. I couldn’t believe it. It was part and parcel of my total experience. 🤩

I have long enjoyed Bell's beer and the lore around Eccentric Cafe. This was my second attempt to visit, after coming years ago on a Monday when they are closed. This time, we came on a Friday at about 7pm, and they had a concert starting at 8pm. Understandably it was packed, but there were several factors that lead me to rate my experience as much less than expected. Here are some: 1. Getting a table: We were told by event staff seated near the door that the restaurant seating was "first come service". We had already called earlier and knew they don't take reservations, but there is no way to get a table other than to wander and hover and hope someone gets up. We ordered drinks and lurked around until a table opened up. 2. Ordering: Once a table was obtained, one person had to hold the table while another went up to wait in line again and order food. I was given a beacon and told it could take 45-60 minutes. 3. Getting food: The beacon went off around 35 minutes, but when I went up it had stopped buzzing. I was told sometimes there is a false alarm and to wait until it didn't stop buzzing. It started buzzing a couple more times until it didn't seem to be stopping. I went up and found the four meals I ordered on a huge tray and told I could take the tray and bring it back. I felt like they were short staffed so I had been co-opted to work there, and I already wanted to quit. I thought about how I was asked to tip every time I ordered a drink and food. People working there were treading water, and so were the customers. Every surface seemed to be sticky. The poor experience will stick with me even longer. 2. The food: I hoped for redemption with the food, but alas. I ordered "The Noli", a smash burger, which costs $15, that has "bacon jam, orange hot honey, goat cheese, chipotle mayo, brioche bun". It fit neatly on the tips of my fingers (see photo) and the toppings looked like they were scooped out of a dish and squished on top. The brioche bun looked old and I could see where someone pinched it to plop it on top. It tasted good, with some gristle on the smash patty and the blending of flavors, but at $15, it was underwhelming. In combination with the service, it was a dismal outcome. Will I continue to drink Bell's beer? No doubt. The Cherry Oberon was excellent, and I even allowed myself to have an Oktoberfest in August. Would I come here for a concert? Probably. Will I eat elsewhere before any concert I might see here? Definitely. Would I come here for dinner on a night when there's no event to see if it's a better experience? Not a chance. There are too many better restaurants in the area to bother.