West Branch — I used to be a Taco Bell junkie. After high school, my money was frittered away on bean burritos, meal deals, and gallons of syrupy Baja Blast. My friends and I went so much that when we skipped a week, the cashier asked if we were OK.
But now, I have a new philosophy: Avoid the corporate crap at all costs. It’s dehumanizing and not as tasty as local eateries in the heart of small towns.
Maybe it started when the local Taco Bell in my town employed artificial intelligence to take orders instead of a teen. I can’t stand the too-loud tone of the computer-generated woman who confirms your menu choices. I will never order there again.
Maybe that morphed into a realization that these national (or international, in Taco Bell’s case) fast-food chains don’t care for the customer one bit. There’s nothing local about them, except for the people they still employ, who are trying their best to earn a living by serving you.
Where do you go then? Where can a family turn when traveling to Michigan’s beaches or its forests this summer?
The local joints are just a few more minutes by car past the golden arches, red hat, and purple bell. They are on the Main Streets that run through small towns across the state and the entire country.
Instead of McDonald’s or Burger King, we drove just a few more minutes into West Branch to go to The Harvest Grill. This is a family-run business. Two teens set the tables and bussed dishes, and our waitress was also in the kitchen, cooking up our food.
The burger I had was fantastic. The homemade bun and fixings were fresher and more flavorful than the ones served through a drive-thru window. Despite its slogan to “Have It Your Way,” Burger King won’t give you a burger cooked medium—according to food safety and all that.
The price for my hamburger and sweet potato fries was actually about the same as a large meal at BK or McDonald’s these days, but the tip for the service probably made the stop marginally more expensive.
It was worth every penny.
Instead of pushing on to the next exit for a typical fast-food chain and cramming food at the wheel, I got to eat and spend time with the family.
It was also a great place to use the restroom and stroll Main Street to stretch our legs afterward.
The town is charming, with its brick buildings and American flags proudly on display. The food at The Harvest Grill is good, hot, and local. There are specials every day.
But you’ll never know what they are, unless you stop.
Brendan Clarey is deputy editor of Michigan Enjoyer.
