Mount Pleasant’s Favorites
Every college city has their historic downtown spot that entails popular hangout areas, different activities, and great food. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is home to Central Michigan University. Its downtown area is filled with hidden treasures, and many local bars and restaurants. During the night the town turns into a hot-spot for the multiple bars that are spread across the area. Mount Pleasant is popular for its diversity in their restaurant choices across the city. According to https://www.opentable.com/n/northern-mi/northern-michigan/mt-pleasant-restaurants, Mt. Pleasant is known to reflect all corners of the culinary globe.
Although Mount Pleasant’s restaurants have some of the same and/or similar menu items, they all differ from one another. A popular breakfast hot spot for the town is Stans. Stans is a homestyle American breakfast and lunch diner. Their platters are served with a retro vibe, and with their classic, vintage style. Stans has a 4.4 star rating and is located on Broadway St. in the heart of downtown. Their specialty menu item is their “House Special”. It includes fresh baked cold turkey, with homemade coleslaw on homemade white or whole wheat bread for a low price of $6.50. Stans is a low-priced breakfast and lunch diner with all the food options you could think of.
Mount Pleasant has multiple authentic options such as Los Aztecas, Midori Sushi, and Dragon Express. Los Aztecas is a family-operated Mexican eatery that serves favorites such as margaritas and burritos in modest digs. They have a 4.4 star rating and is located on Blue Grass Rd. Their menu includes American fares such as burgers and hotdogs, but they have a wide variety of their ethnic choices. Their specialty items include “Pollo Norteno”, and “Camarones Especiales”. Pollo Norteno is grilled chicken covered with cheese dip and topped with pineapple slices with a cherry on top for a low price of $8.25. Camarones Especiales is shrimp and onions simmered in their special sauce, and served with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and three flour tortillas for a price of $15.25. Los Aztecas is known to be one of the most authentic ethnic places that Mount Pleasant has to offer.
If you’re looking for a more modern, chic ethnic place, Midori Sushi is the place to go. Midori Sushi is a rustic-sleek Japanese place for sushi and inventive martinis with a long bar and street side patio. They have a 4.4 star rating and is located on E Broadway St. Their menu includes different specialty items that may not be familiar to the everyday person. Some of their specialty options include “Pan Seared Duck Breast”, and “Yellowtail Serrano”. “Pan Seared Duck Breast” includes Maple Leaf Farms Pekin duck with wild mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus, and plum-port reduction for $24. “Yellowtail Serrano” includes Honolulu Fish Co. Japanese hamachi sashimi with ponzu sauce, serrano pepper, and cilantro for $13.
If you want a more laid-back vibe while eating, Dragon Express is the choice. It is a Chinese joint that draws a college crowd for heaping plates of familiar dishes such as orange chicken. With a 4.2 star rating it is located on W Broomfield St. closer to the dorms. While they have most of the familiar Chinese dishes, their specialty items include Shrimp with Lobster Sauce for $8.25, and Dragon Chicken for $7.95.
Mount Pleasant is also home to one of the most diverse hot dog gatherings. Dog Central is an upbeat counter-serve joint offering signature and classing hot dogs with a wide variety of toppings. Its 4.5 star rating brings in college students during the night, and the famous “Man v. Food” show. They are located on E Michigan St. in downtown Mt. P, close to the bars to attract the people on their way home. Their menu as a whole is diverse, but some of their choices include “The Detroit Dog”, “The Cuban Dog”, and “The Cowboy Dog”. “The Detroit Dog” has chili, mustard, and onion topped on top. “The Cuban Dog” has house roasted pork, ham, shredded pickle, cheese and mustard. “The Cowboy Dog” has onion rings, and barbecue sauce. These hot dogs all range in price from $2-$4.
A more deli-style, sandwich shop is Max and Emily’s located on E Broadway St. downtown. Its relaxed eatery dispenses breakfasts, soups, salads, and creative sandwiches, plus baked goods give this shop a 4.6 star rating. While they have the typical burger options, their menu mostly consists of their sandwich creations. Some of their creations include: “The Russian Spy”, and “King Arthur”. “The Russian Spy” includes smoked turkey, hickory smoked ham, scallion cream cheese, Russian dressing, kale, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato,and grilled on sourdough for $9.25. “King Arthur” has double smoked turkey, double hickory smoked ham, double applewood smoked bacon, cheddar and Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and served between three slices of sourdough for $13.95.
A more traditional, friendly of all appetites is Cheers. Cheers is a neighborhood hangout with a full bar and a salad buffet serving heft portions of American favorites located on High St. Its 4.3 star rating include typical options such as Fish n Chips, and Fajitas (with chicken, shrimp, or steak). Its specialty items, such as Seared Ahi Tuna, includes a spicy seared Ahi Tuna served with mixed greens, grape tomatoes, toasted almonds, red onion, wonton crisps, orange segments and finished with a sesame ginger dressing for only $12.99. Additionally, its Seafood Quesadilla includes shrimp and surimi crab with fat free cheddar, with mushrooms, red onions, and peppers topped with lettuce, tomato, and green onion for $9.49.
While not all of the local eateries were listed, Mount Pleasant is filled with hidden treasures that include different ethnic foods, deli’s, bar and grill’s, and your everyday neighborhood restaurants. Each restaurant has the typical American fare choices for those who may not like to go out of their comfort zone when trying new things. The specialty items throughout all of the restaurants all represent a diverse version of common food items but with a twist.
According to www.mountpleasantwow.com, Dog Central, Max & Emily’s, and Midori Sushi have been named 3 of the top 14 restaurants in Mount Pleasant. If you’re looking around Mount Pleasant for date night or just to go out with friends, these options will satisfy your cravings for any appetite.
