Mr. President’s Lounge

Best bar in Kalamazoo, in my opinion. The interior is gorgeous in the coolest vintage way. I’m vegetarian but my husband and friends swear by the BBQ. They don’t have beer on draft but they have an ok selection of bottles. They also have some specialty martinis and of course mixed drinks.

A legend returns! When I was growing up in the Battle Creek area, Mr. Presidents is the place where all the «cool» folks went to get their party on! I remember back in high school driving past that place on a Friday night, envious of how happy and care fee everyone looked as they waited in line to go in, listening to the sounds of the party inside…
So I was excited when I heard someone had re-​opened it! My co-​worker beat me down there by a day, and he convinced me to check it out. SO the next day, he and I ventured forth.
First impressions, the outside looks nearly exactly like it did in the 80s, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A brief moment of confusion as I figured out which door was the actual entrance. Once inside, the first thing to hit me was the «feel». It definitely has a laid back, lounge ambiance to it. Lots of gorgeous wood, polished brass, and gleaming mirrors. Old school class. Smooth but upbeat jazz playing in the air. The main bar sits just pass the entry. The bartender was immediately attentive, professional, and friendly. She was a joy to interact with.
We sat at the bar. It was relatively empty, as to be expected being so new. There was a slightly rowdy table of 10 – 12 middle aged women celebrating a birthday in an adjoining room. They were having a grand time and the martinis were flowing! Their waiter seemed very attentive and even entertaining.
The food was really good. I had the rib tips and my friend had the brisket sandwich. The tips were tender and very flavorful. Nice sized portion for the price. I was told the brisket was well worth the wait. Which brings us to the only «ding» on the visit. I know they are still working out the kinks so I don’t hold this against them, but the food was really slow in coming. Considering there was only one other table in the place (at the time of ordering) it shouldn’t have taken that long. But as I said it’s a tiny complaint. And in their defense, the owner came out to apologize for the delay and gave my friend the sandwich on the house. we were both pleased.
Overall I would recommend giving Mr. Presidents a look. So far it looks like they are headed in the right direction!