12 Sample Scrumptious Dishes At The Best Local Restaurants In Holland, Michigan
Look, I’ve traveled the lower forty-eight, but nothing compares to the soul of a Michigan lake town, and downtown Holland is the crown jewel of that “Best State” energy. There’s a specific, intoxicating magic in the air here, a mix of crisp Lake Michigan breezes and the comforting, golden aroma of buttered toast from a dozen different griddles.
Walking these streets feels like entering a tiny food capital where everyone has a big opinion on who serves the best crust. Our local coffee shops are the heartbeat of the community, humming with the caffeinated energy of Hope College students and sun-baked cyclists, while the legendary “old guard” restaurants protect family recipes like state secrets.
Downtown Holland’s dining scene offers a world-class mix of historic Michigan charm and lake-to-table freshness, making it a must-visit destination for foodies and Great Lakes travelers. These spots tell the story of who we are.
1. Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant
Water laps against the seawall as gulls heckle the boats gliding past Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant at 216 Van Raalte Ave, Holland, MI. The dining room frames Lake Macatawa like a moving mural, with weathered wood and big windows that make sunset feel choreographed. Sit outside if the breeze cooperates, because the patio turns dinner into a small vacation.
If you arrive a little early, it’s worth lingering by the docks to watch masts sway and listen to rigging clink like soft percussion.
Great Lakes walleye arrives with a crackling crust and lemon that wakes everything up, while the smash burger leans smoky and reliably juicy. There is lake perch on Fridays, plus a Michigan cherry salad that dodges sweetness with sharp goat cheese. Fries stay hot and salted right.
If you’re sharing, order one fish option and one burger so the table gets both lake and diner comfort.
Expect a lively wait at peak hours, though the bar usually moves faster and overlooks the docks. You will want to time dinner to catch the sky go apricot, then violet. Parking is easy, and the stroll along the water after a meal makes dessert feel optional in the best way.
On cooler nights, bring a light layer, the lakeside air can flip from mild to brisk fast.
2. Seventy-Six Restaurant
The room at Seventy-Six Restaurant glows like a polished LP, all amber light and hushed clink at 52 W 8th St, Holland, MI. It feels grown up without being stiff, the kind of place where a well made martini meets a playlist that respects conversation. Servers know when to jump in and when to let dishes do the talking.
Seared scallops sit on silky purée, edged by citrus and a crisp sear that snaps just a bit. The short rib goes low and slow until a spoon is brave enough to act like a knife. Brussels sprouts hit that sweet char that makes skeptics return for seconds.
Opened by folks with local fine dining chops, it blends polish and neighborhood comfort. Reservations help on weekends; bar seats are prime for solo dining. Order one composed entrée and a veggie side, then linger over dessert, because their kitchen lands textures as confidently as flavors.
3. Butch’s Dry Dock
Housed in a handsome brick landmark, Butch’s Dry Dock at 44 E 8th St, Holland, MI treats wine like a language worth speaking clearly. Bottles line the walls with quiet authority, and the staff translates labels into stories instead of lectures. The room stays elegant yet relaxed, a graceful fit for celebrations or Tuesday splurges.
Steak au poivre brings pepper bite and cream-silk sauce, with frites that stay upright and crisp. The duck confit lands tender with edges that whisper crackle, and charcuterie boards arrive balanced rather than crowded. Pairings are honest: Burgundy sings with mushrooms, while Rhône warms up anything roasted.
Founder Butch TerHaar built a reputation on meticulous sourcing and hospitality that remembers faces. Book ahead for weekend prime hours, or slide into the bar for half pours and conversation. Tip: ask for a pairing flight tailored to your entrée.
You will leave understanding the menu and maybe yourself a little better.
4. Bowerman’s on 8th
The scent of apples drifting through Bowerman’s on 8th feels like a postcard from the farm at 8 W 8th St, Holland, MI. Sunlight pools over market shelves stacked with preserves and berries, and the café hums with stroller traffic and relaxed chatter. It is casual in the way that convinces you to stay longer than planned.
Apple cider donuts arrive warm with a cinnamon halo, while turkey sandwiches lean fresh with crisp greens and cranberry zip. Seasonal salads showcase peak produce, often with feta and toasted seeds for texture. Tomato basil soup comforts without heaviness.
The Bowerman family’s farm legacy roots the place, and you can taste that field-to-fork logic even in simple toast. Midday gets busy, but tables flip quickly. Grab a donut for now and a pint of berries for later.
The checkout line rewards patience with impulse jam decisions you will not regret.
5. DeBoer’s Bakkerij South
Morning at deBoer’s Bakkerij South greets you with butter and a faint cinnamon trail at 380 W 16th St, Holland, MI. Display cases glitter with pastries that look like small sculptures, and regulars trade nods over coffee. The room balances bakery bustle with café calm, which your first bite will happily confirm.
If you arrive early, you’ll catch trays cycling out, warm air fogging the glass for a second before everything settles back into order.
Dutch krakelingen offer crisp sugar snap, while oliebollen ride the line between doughnut and cloud. The breakfast plates shine: eggs cooked on point, thick bacon, and bread that proves the bakkerij’s pedigree. A smoked salmon benedict adds bright dill and lemon to the morning map.
Even a simple toast-and-jam moment feels upgraded when the bread has real character and chew.
Family owned with roots in Dutch baking traditions, deBoer’s keeps techniques tight and hospitality unpretentious. Weekend waits can stretch, so consider a weekday breakfast run. Pro move: order pastries first, then a savory plate, and treat the pastry as an intermission.
If you’re taking boxes home, ask what travels best, some items stay crisp longer than others. You will leave full and oddly light on your feet.
6. Lemonjello’s Coffee
A soft whirr of grinders and a parade of bikes at the rack set the tone at Lemonjello’s Coffee, 61 E 9th St, Holland, MI. Sun-bent windows, local art, and the low buzz of study sessions make it feel like a community living room. The soundtrack is gentle and productive without losing personality.
Espresso lands chocolatey with orange hints, while pour overs show off single-origin clarity. The hot honey latte rides sweet heat just right, and vegan muffins hold together with tender crumb. Scones lean flaky rather than dry, which earns repeat orders.
Opened near Hope College, it naturally attracts readers, scribblers, and pre-ride cyclists. Lines move briskly, and patio seats catch kind weather. Tip: order a smaller drink if you plan to linger, then refresh later so the crema stays vivid.
You will likely leave with a sticker and a new playlist.
7. Mizu Sushi
The quiet rhythm of knives on boards gives Mizu Sushi a calm pulse at 99 E 8th St, Holland, MI. Lighting stays soft enough for conversation but bright enough for gleaming fish. It is a neighborhood sushi bar that respects technique without making a spectacle.
You feel that confidence in the way plates arrive, tidy, deliberate, nothing trying to shout louder than the seafood.
Salmon nigiri drapes buttery and cool, while tuna offers clean mineral snap. Specialty rolls balance crunch and heat rather than piling on sauces, and miso arrives deep, not murky. Ramen broth simmers with patience, showing bones and time in every sip.
If you like contrast, order something crisp, like a tempura element or cucumber-forward roll, beside a simple nigiri set.
Chefs here are steady hands, happy to guide newcomers toward omakase-lite selections. Takeout moves quickly, but counter seats reward those who like to watch the sequence. Tip: start with two classic nigiri, add one roll, then decide if ramen is still calling.
On busy nights, that order also keeps timing smooth, so nothing sits too long. Pacing keeps flavors crisp and memory friendly.
8. Windmill Restaurant
The Windmill Restaurant feels like a reliable alarm clock you actually like, set at 28 W 8th St, Holland, MI. Checkerboard nostalgia meets steady service, and regulars seem to have lifetime rights to certain booths. Coffee refills happen as if by radar.
Pancakes arrive larger than expected with a butter gloss that melts into tiny rivers. The Dutch omelet packs ham and veggies without waterlogging the plate, and corned beef hash wins with crisp edges. Toast is properly browned, which sounds simple until it is not.
Open since the 1960s, it carries local breakfast lore with zero fuss. Bring cash as a backup, and expect a short wait on weekends. Order quickly and the kitchen answers even quicker.
When the plate lands, do not overthink syrup strategy. This is breakfast that forgives busy weeks and tempts early bedtimes.
9. Fricano’s Too
Fricano’s Too keeps the lights honest and the pies thinner than your willpower at 174 S River Ave, Holland, MI. There is a friendly clatter to the room, the kind born from families dividing slices with fast negotiations. The scent of toasted pepperoni edges should be bottled.
Pizzas are famously thin, with a crisp bottom that snaps clean and a modest layer of cheese. The classic pepperoni curls into tiny cups that hold flavorful oil, while sausage leans fennel forward. Order it well done if you like extra char-kiss on the crust.
Descended from the Fricano’s tradition that helped define Michigan thin crust, this outpost respects the blueprint. Expect quick service and backup napkins. Tip: a two topping medium vanishes faster than planned, so size up if hungry.
The leftovers, if they survive, reheat crisply in a skillet within minutes.
10. Taqueria Vallarta
Bright salsas gleam like traffic lights at Taqueria Vallarta, 347 W 17th St, Holland, MI. The griddle pops, the trompo turns, and the room fills with that taco-shop hum of fast decisions and faster plates. It is casual, friendly, and wonderfully focused on fundamentals.
Al pastor carves juicy with pineapple whispers, while carne asada picks up honest char. Corn tortillas arrive warm and doubled, ready for lime and diced onions. The salsa verde sparks clean heat, and the roja brings a slow, satisfying thrum.
Family run and consistent, it is beloved for portions that feel generous without blurring flavors. Order at the counter, snag a table, and keep napkins nearby. Tip: add a quesadilla for the table to test the cheese pull.
You will probably plan the next visit before the last taco disappears.
11. The Biscuit
Sun spills over small tables at The Biscuit, 513 E 8th St, Holland, MI, and the room smells like peppered gravy and good intentions. Service moves with practiced calm, smoothing out the weekend rush. It is the sort of brunch place that understands coffee is part food, part mood.
Biscuits strike a balance between flaky and sturdy, perfect under sausage gravy or berry jam. The Farmer’s Hash layers roasted veggies with eggs that arrive exactly over easy, and the hot sauce selection stays interesting. Pancakes lean tangy from buttermilk and land with browned edges.
Opened as a breakfast specialist, it earned loyalty through seasonal touches like rhubarb jam and local greens. Arrive early or join the queue with patience. Pro tip: split a sweet plate and a savory skillet to keep things diplomatic.
You leave full but never sluggish, which feels like a small miracle.
12. Hog Wild BBQ
Smoke hangs like a promise outside Hog Wild BBQ at 154 W Lakewood Blvd, Holland, MI. Inside, the line inches past trophies and chalkboard specials while the pit crew works with efficient calm. It smells like pepper, oak, and patience.
Pulled pork lands tender with pink-kissed edges, and ribs show deep bark that snaps before yielding. Brisket slices ride a nice balance between fatty and lean, with sauces that accent rather than smother. Mac and cheese brings comfort, and slaw cuts through the richness like a friendly referee.
Locally loved for fast service and consistent smoke, it is a great takeout move for beach evenings. Order combos to sample widely, then calibrate sauce heat on the side. Tip: ask for extra barky end pieces if available. Your car will smell irresistible, so bring willpower or extra napkins.