Taste & Tour: A Walkable Progressive Dinner in Downtown Saugatuck
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but dinner—with its drinks, appetizers, entrées, and desserts—is surely the most exciting. Those possibilities expand even more in a place like Saugatuck, where inviting dining and drinking venues abound—all within mere blocks of each other. And just when you thought you couldn’t do it all in one night, enter the progressive dinner: the chance to taste your way through town, course by course. Sample well, save room, and read on for all the evening holds, from a flavorful kick-off at Lady Bird to a low-key nightcap at Wally’s.
Lady Bird: Appetizers and Pre-Dinner Drinks (+ an overnight stay)
This recently opened restaurant excels in bright, flavorful food and drink in cozy environs. During warmer months, snag a table in their sizeable, charming courtyard—but for all other times of the year, make it a spot at the bar. It’s here you can sift through the cocktail list, a thoughtful compilation of classics with a signature, seasonal twist (a martini features fig jam and honey; a margarita incorporates pomegranate). Pair them up with any of the plates from chef Matt Bush and team, such as the Filet Mignon Flatbread (with blue cheese, shaved fennel, and balsamic reduction) or Firecracker Brussels Sprouts (with maple agrodolce and pickled red onions).
Bowdie’s Chophouse: Entrées
The entire menu is worthy of exploration at this intimate steakhouse, which rivals some of the best in big cities everywhere. But you’re in for a memorable evening if you focus your attention on the entrées—Faroe Island salmon or brined and roasted half chicken, and, of course, the USDA Prime beef steaks. The filet mignon is the most popular (and the most tender) option, but those looking to go big can opt for the porterhouse, a 40-ounce, bone-in filet on one side and strip steak on the other that’s perfect for sharing. Accompany your order with one of the menu’s side dishes—namely the Lobster Mac or truffle fries.
Pennyroyal Café & Provisions: Dessert (to stay)
Those seeking a sit-down dessert experience—and the chance to walk off some of their meal—will enjoy the 20-minute stroll to Pennyroyal Café & Provisions, where chef Missy Corey puts forth seasonally inspired fare from morning to evening. Spring for the Caramel Apple Upside Down Tart, Chocolate Hazelnut Opera Cake, or Basque Cake (a sugar cookie cake with a pastry cream center—and their most popular post-dinner order). Consider them alongside any of the restaurant’s after-dinner drinks, a selection spanning thoughtful cocktails, digestifs, and coffee-based creations.
Sweet Spot Saugatuck: Dessert (to-go)
For a sweet fix just footsteps from Bowdie’s, head to this candy and ice cream shop to peruse more than 150 premium gummy candies, an array of high-quality chocolate pralines and Mackinaw City fudge, and three dozen flavors of ice cream (all made in Michigan). Whichever flavor you choose, order it in a waffle cone—the team makes six different kinds here.
Wally’s Bar & Grill: After-Dinner Drinks
This restaurant and bar is a year-round favorite for its crowd-pleasing plates, laid-back vibes, and live music line-ups. Wind down the evening with any of their beers on draft, including lagers, IPAs, pale ales, and stouts, such as Bell’s Lager of the Lakes and Founders All Day IPA, and discover locally made options like Crane’s Apple Cherry Cider or Saugatuck Brewing Company’s Oval Beach Blonde. Those with a preference for wine will find it here, with more than a half dozen available by the glass.
