I made a visit Monday afternoon around 2 because I knew the Pie Company had everything I was looking for: Cafe food, coffee, pie, free Internet and a quiet ambiance for reading.

When you walk into GT Pie, you’ll realize the setup is similar to Panera Bread. Basically, large menus behind the counter give you four main options — grilled sandwiches (paninis), deli sandwiches, salads and comfort food (pot pies and quiche). They offer a variety of homemade soups as well.

Again, GT Pie is setup very similar to Panera, including the overall look, menu layout and ordering process. Like Panera, they have a Your Choice Combo, which allows you to select two items, such as soup and a half sandwich, for $6.49. They also take your name when you order and have it ready at the counter within a few minutes. This is one of my favorite parts because I love giving them a fake “funny” name to see how the cashier reacts (if he dares).

Best of all, the 28th Street location is not nearly as crowded as the Panera down the road, so you can actually get some work done without all the noise and movement.

I grabbed the GT Grilled Cheese ($5.99). With the typical choice of an apple or chips on the side, I was delighted when the cashier offered a new option — blueberry applesauce. Why not?

For $2.99, you can add a drink and pie slice, so I got a coffee (unlimited refills) and Lakeshore Berry pie.

With slices cheddar and Havarti cheese, cherry wood smoked bacon and tomato between two pieces of fresh sourdough bread, this sandwich is lightly grilled and served hot. The sourdough is spot on and the blend of Havarti and cheddar is perfect. I live for bacon and GT’s cherry wood smoked is full of flavor — the slices were lean, not full of fat. As a deli-style sandwich, this basically was a home run in my playing field.

The applesauce had a deep purple hue, which was surprising because the taste was still predominantly apple. The blueberry was very subtle. I prefer a chunky applesauce, and this was very smooth and straightforward in flavor.

The pie is the prize at Grand Traverse Pie Company. I love the Lakeshore Berry because I get a little of everything — strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and apple. Somehow, it blends together in a moment that is heavenly. I got mine warmed (sometimes I get it to go and save it as a late night snack). The fruit is fresh and so full of flavor.

I suggest the crumb topping. Actually, I can’t imagine why anyone would get the pastry topping because the crumb is what makes GT so unique and amazing. There are plenty of other baked goods, including muffins, cookies, cakes, cheese pie and dessert bars.

Grand Traverse has 15 location all across the state and three in Indiana, including two in West Michigan — Norton Shore (5817 Harvey Street) and Kentwood (28th Street, across from Woodland Mall).

So many factors make Grand Traverse Pie Company a great place for regular visits (even during this visit the courteous staff  took my dishes away as I had my face in a book). If you’re looking for a great cafe meal and the best pie for miles, then this is your place.

Now note, Grand Central is a market first. The indoor atmosphere is about 75% market, 25% deli. There are a few tables and chairs — again, nothing fancy but it does the trick.

The menu isn’t crazy creative like Cherry Deli and Schnitz, but it offers the staples with a minor twist thrown around every so often. During my visit, I opted for the Turkey Day ($6.49), which featured turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce and mayo. Pretty normal, right? That is, until you add sweet potatoes to the mix.

I went with the grilled version of the sandwich, and was glad I did. The sweet potatoes were soft and almost acted like a chunky sauce, and complemented the turkey perfectly. It was like Thanksgiving dinner all over again, all stuffed together in between some fresh sourdough bread. In addition to grilled sandwiches, Grand Central also offers all of its sandwiches cold or as wraps.

My two dining partners opted for the Twisted Reuben ($6.49), which consisted of corned beef, pastrami, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and dijon mustard. They agreed with me here — the sandwich was pretty good and was filling, but not too over-the-top either.

If I had one complaint, I would actually want the sandwich stuffings to be heated a bit longer. Some bites were a bit luke-warm, but not enough for me to stop from engulfing it.

But if Grand Central does one thing right, it’s the fact that all its ingredients tasted so fresh. The store’s new owners, which took over last summer, have done a great job of expanding the market but keeping the deli that Grand Central has been known for over the years. And with its downtown location, it’s certainly a great alternative to the usual lunch hot spots.

Located in the old Quizno’s on 8th Street, the City Delicatessen did one thing right when they opened — it’s certainly much more appealing and attractive to the downtown atmosphere. It fits right in with the rest of the shops on 8th Street, almost as if it’s been there for years.

The inside atmosphere is clean and inviting, with several tables (tall and regular-sized) and a small ordering area. While it could use a little more of a personality, the big mural of Grand Rapids as you walk in is certainly a step in the right direction (though remember, this is Holland…).

I went ahead and ordered a Traverse sandwich ($6.99), featuring sliced turkey, swiss cheese, grilled onions, bacon and granny smith apple slices. The honey mustard added a bit of a kick to the already unique sandwich.

As I waited for my sandwich, I was surprised to see a little sample of frozen yogurt on my tray. And even though my mother told me to save desert for last, I couldn’t help myself. The strawberry-vanilla yogurt had a refreshing feel, almost cleaning my taste buds in preparation for the sandwich I was about to divulge.

My sandwich came out, with peppered kettle chips. The sandwich had a decent amount of flavor, though I was expecting more of an apple “kick” to each bite. The sandwich also seemed to fall apart pretty easily, making it a little difficult to eat. Despite this, it was still pretty good.

But the highlight of the meal? Surprisingly, the chips. They had a perfect amount of seasoning, and certainly weren’t your grocer’s plain old potato chips. The pepper wasn’t overpowering, and it definitely was a great companion to the sandwich.

If the City Delicatessen does one thing right, it’s the unique spin they put on seemingly normal deli items. While I’d like to see it expand its menu (it could take some cues from Cherry Deli in Grand Rapids), it seems to be a perfect fit for Holland’s relaxed downtown feel.

Ordering from their extensive selection of sandwiches is done from a menu board. After you ante up, you find a seat and one of the staff will bring your order to you. We had no more than a 10 minute wait, and this was at lunch time with a packed house. Sandee, my better half, and I both ordered 4-inch sandwiches (the smallest size) which turned out to be quite filling. They don’t scrimp on what goes between the bread slices. The sandwiches come with a side; chips, coleslaw, or warm scalloped apples. Sandee had the turkey sandwich and apples and I opted for the tuna salad sandwich with slaw. Our sandwiches were topped with lettuce tomato and mayo and were quite good.

The sides were another matter. Sandee felt that if they had only added a little cinnamon to her apples they’d be quite tasty. Perhaps it’s just a matter of tastes, but I prefer a slaw with finely diced cabbage and a creamy dressing. Pekadills uses a very watery dressing. The big problem though, was the cabbage which was trimmed into long (two inch) narrow threads. No matter how much I tried to get it all on my fork, there was always at least one dangler. This is not a good thing for guys with beards.

The highlight for us though, was the homemade asparagus soup which was made with asparagus harvested in the Montague area. We each had a cup of the yummy goodness which had a light but creamy base and plenty of asparagus.

The total bill for two 4″ sandwiches with sides, two cups-o-soup, and two pops was a twenty and a few pennies. In spite of our disappointment with the apples and slaw, we’d go back if only to try something from their ice cream counter and savor it on the patio. So next time you wander up into northern Muskegon County, give Pekadill’s a try.

As we walked in, we were immediately caught off guard by the fact that Schnitz is now nearly half the size it once was. Apparently Ada Bike Shop wanted more space, and Schnitz gave in. The change reduces quite a bit of seating, and all of those antique murals on the wall are no longer present. Nevertheless, it was 2 p.m., so we had no trouble finding an open booth along the window.

I had always made my own turkey sandwich during past visits, but this time I decided to go with the #23 — Mary’s Dilemma. The sandwich ($6.00/$5.00) featured smoked turkey breast, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo, all served on rye bread. My two dining partners chose the Brooklyn Reuben ($7.75/$6.75, with pastrami, swiss, sauerkraut and 1000 island dressing on grilled pumpernickel), and then a make-your-own turkey sandwich that was put together similarly to mine.

With the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavor that the sandwich encompassed. The ingredients were fresh, and the sandwich was packed full of turkey. What’s more, the half order was just the right amount of food for lunch. The Brooklyn Reuben seemed to be a great alternative to your standard reuben sandwich.

Schnitz’s lunch menu definitely passed the test. Full of options, you’re bound to find something you like. For the picky at heart, you can make your own sandwich as well. The deli also offers fresh sides, including pasta salad, cole slaw and redskin potato salad.

While the environment at Schnitz might not be as authentic as it once was, the staff is still very friendly and prompt with their service. But I would challenge Schnitz to regain some of its old look by adding new murals to the somewhat bare walls.

I would definitely eat at Schnitz again — for lunch. While I’ve tried their breakfast/brunch a few times, I’ve never actually enjoyed it. But they’ve definitely got the sandwich part of the restaurant nailed.

Immediately as I walked in I found a table and began to glance at the menu. While the restaurant was a bit cramped for the number of tables, I never saw more than one empty table during my visit. At the same time, the restaurant was clean, elegant, and relaxing, even in a tight space. After all, it’s not everyday you find a working fireplace inside a deli.

The menu has several offerings, but all are easy to understand. All sandwiches are the same price, $7.95, and come with a choice of a side. And the sides aren’t just limited to chips or fries. Instead, you can choose roasted red potatoes, potato salad, coleslaw, kettle chips or a gourmet deli salad.

My dining partner and I went up to the counter to order. After all, this is still a deli. And it is still completely hectic at lunch time.

Rudy went ahead and ordered the Black & Tan Dip, while I opted for a Turkey Jack Rabbit. Both of us chose potato salads, and waited back at our seats.

The Black & Tan Dip featured pork loin and roast beef simmered in a pork and beef au jus on a French Roll. While certainly not out of the ordinary, it seemed like a classic french dip sandwich that was presented quite well. The roll was fresh and firm enough to dip in the beef au jus sauce, but still didn’t match the pleasantness or excitement of Bistro Bella Vita, and its beef au jus sauce. My Turkey Jack Rabbit, on the other hand, featured roasted turkey, colby jack cheese and chipotle mayo, served on a San Francisco Sourdough bread. It featured just enough kick in the mayo to add a little extra flavor, in what might have been a not-so-special sandwich otherwise.

I would’ve liked to see the sandwiches a bit larger, but they were a decent size for your typical lunch.

Paired with the potato salad, the sandwiches were that much better. The potato salad wasn’t your sloppy salad that you can buy in tubs at Meijer. Instead, it featured large chunks of potatoes, fresh veggies, cheese and a light ranch dressing — all of which made for a great complementary dish.

In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, Ramona’s also offers catering services, which are paired with beverages from Martha’s Vineyard. Catering menus feature everything from a burger bar and sandwiches, to beef tenderloin and orange ginger glazed salmon.

All in all, I would recommend the deli experience at Ramona’s Table in a heartbeat. It’s a fairly quick meal with good flavors, and it’s very affordable. While I personally would’ve liked to be a bit more filled up after lunch, the sandwiches are certainly a reasonable enough size. And with its cramped setting, it would’ve been nicer if we would have been able to spread out a bit more (as a sidenote, Ramona’s does offer outside seating, when it’s not 30 degrees outside).

While it hasn’t topped Cherry Street Deli in my book, Ramona’s Table offers some really good deli options, and certainly holds its own.

Though I ate there a few times during college, my recent visit to Marie Catrib’s was my first in at least a few years. The place hadn’t changed much; the environment was bright, and the amount of people dining made it scream “community.” My dining partner and I waited a few minutes for a table to be cleared, and then sat down right by a corner window.

Now, we all know what a typical deli/cafe offers as far as sandwiches are concerned. Marie Catrib’s tries to step it up a notch, offering thick breads with fresh ingredients.

Both of us started out with one of the specials of the day, the two potato soup. While I was expecting something similar to a cream of potato soup, I was pleasantly surprised when the cup was filled with what looked to be chicken broth and a massive amount of sweet and yellow potatoes. My first bite of the soup consumed me with quite a few flavors, including a chipoltle-like spice I wasn’t expecting. But it wasn’t overly spicy, and it countered the sweetness of the potatoes well.

Being satisfied with the soup, I was interested to see if our sandwiches would live up to the excitement that we had just experienced. I went with the Chicken Cranberry sandwich, while Sam chose the Chicken Salad sandwich. While both included chicken, they ended up being quite different from each other. Both of us opted for some of their authentic cola, shipped directly from New Jersey.

My Chicken Cranberry sandwich was filled with chicken, provolone cheese, cream cheese spread, cranberries, and spinach — all atop a thick, toasted Challah bread. The cranberries countered the cheesiness perfectly, and hit the mark with the chicken. It could have used a bit more sweetness, but overall it was quite tasty. Sam’s sandwich, though not toasted, included chicken salad, lettuce, and tomato. While pretty good, he expected it to have more flavor, and was surprised by a lack of grapes, or what you would normally expect from a chicken salad sandwich.

While the sandwiches didn’t live up to the two potato soup, they were still quite good (and filling). We would’ve liked to see a bit more flavor with the sandwiches — they didn’t blow us away, but they definitely kept us full.

What’s more, we were a bit surprised by the prices. Our soups combined to cost nearly $8, with the sandwiches costing around $10 each. Both of us thought the food was good, but I’m not sure if that justified the prices.

All in all, Marie Catrib’s adds something to the East Hills scene that isn’t readily available — an alternative to your typical deli/cafe, with freshness that is hard to find elsewhere. Its natural atmosphere goes well with the neighborhood, and it’s definitely not going to be going anywhere soon.

The West Side of Grand Rapids is fierce, funky and a foodie’s paradise, if you know where to look. West Siders are a proud lot with Polish, Irish and (increasingly) Hispanic roots. And that is reflected in the food that you can find on the West Side.

Many come to the West Side for its unbeatable selection of Mexican eateries and a number of quirky bars that serve incredible hamburgers. But a restaurant tucked into a mostly residential neighborhood on Walker Avenue has quietly built a reputation as one of the best on the West Side.

The Westsider Cafe is nothing short than the West Side’s answer to East Hills hotspot Marie Catrib’s. Though different in many ways, both restaurants are built on food created with love and care. When you receive your plate at both places, it is clear that the owners care about food, how it tastes and how it is presented.

The Westsider Cafe is a product of its neighborhood and it shows in its menu. There are a number of Polish dishes: Golabki, homemade cabbage rolls stuffed with seasoned beef, pork sauteed onions and rice topped with red sauce ($6.95); Pierogies, homemade potato and cheese dumplings served with sauteed onions ($6.95); Kielbasa Plate, fresh kielbasa served with mashed potatoes ($6.95). The Westsider Cafe is known for its burgers and sandwiches as well. I’ve tried the Cubano with its roasted sliced pork loin, shaved ham, pickles, tangy mojo sauce and Swiss cheese ($7.50) that comes with a side of black beans and rice. It is the best Cuban sandwich I’ve had outside of Miami.

On a recent trip, I tried the Polish Reuben (also available in a corned beef and turkey version), a wonderful take on the classic. At $7.50, the Polish Reuben has kielbasa grilled with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese served on rye bread with thousand island dressing. It is as spectacular as it sounds.

A visit to the Westsider is not complete without trying one of its wonderful soups. The restaurant features a soup of the day and Dill Pickle Soup ($2.75 for a cup and $3.25 for a bowl), a creamy potato soup with slivers of dill pickle mixed in.

The Westsider also rocks out amazing breakfast food, which is available all day. GR Grub co-founder Bryan Esler tried the blueberry oatmeal pancakes ($4.50) on a recent visit and loved them. He received three huge pancakes loaded with blueberries and beautifully presented with fresh whipped cream and strawberry slices. I’ve had a number of Westsider skillets ($7.50), which range from Polish with kielbasa to Irish with corned beef to Cuban with roasted pork, ham, potatoes and black beans, topped with fresh salsa, green chile and shredded cheddar.

The restaurant also does a Cuban Eggs Benedict ($7.25) that looks great. Those looking for a more traditional cafe breakfast can find that too with eggs, meat and toast dishes available as well ($3.95 and up). I also love the 5th Street, two buttermilk biscuits topped with homemade sausage gravy and served with grilled redskins ($5.95).

The Westsider Cafe is housed in a former hardware store, across the street from the Walker Street Pharmacy and just up from the Dairy Queen. It can be a bit tricky to find if you don’t know the neighborhood very well. It is a homey place where regulars come in and say hello to each other. It is simply, but tastefully designed with hardwood floors and an open kitchen.

Simply put, the Westsider Cafe makes food that will knock your socks off. It serves the hearty, delicious food West Siders expect and it does slightly upscale cafe food better than anywhere else on the West Side.

I recently dined at Founders with two friends. We wanted to try something new to the three of us, and were in the mood for a good drink. We were greeted promptly by our waitress, who then gave us our menus. She told us she would come back to take our drink orders.

We focused on our food options first. We were disappointed by the limited options on the menu — all that Founders offered were sandwiches and a few appetizers. There were no burgers; not really anything you would expect to find in a bar. I opted for the special of the night, a meatball sub. My two dining partners ordered the Red’s Rye and reuben sandwiches. While we expected our waitress to take our order, we were informed that we would have to order at the deli window. Easy enough.

We got our sandwiches and hoped our waitress would come to check on us and see what we wanted to drink. She never came. Instead, we jumped to our feet and ordered at the bar. For a bar that has a few waitresses walking around, we were disappointed not to be asked what we wanted to drink.

I was overwhelmed by the amount of sauce on my sub. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it was very difficult to eat. I was impressed by the meatballs, however. The bread was nothing to rave about, but it suited its purpose. I just wish the sandwich didn’t literally go all over me in the process.

My dining partners, however, seemed to be split on what they thought of their sandwiches. The Red’s Rye sandwich, which features roast beef, capicoloa, muenster cheese, red pepper, tomato and chipolte mayo on rye bread, seemed to be on the spicy side, much more than we ever would have expected. The reuben was what you would expect; nothing fancy. But it was probably the best sandwich out of the three we ordered.

And, even at bars, most of us would expect fries or chips available as a free side with sandwiches. At Founders, however, chips were extra, and were just taken straight out of a bag. Not homemade, and certainly not worth paying extra for.

Now, Founders does have one thing going for it — the environment. It’s not too loud, and it is large enough where it’s not cramped together. You can actually talk without having to yell across the table. The ambiance is unique, in the fact that it features old wood and several chalkboards. It just looks cool, especially with little to no light.

But the lack of menu options completely dumfounded us. With its unique bar environment, we thought Founder’s would offer food options that would suit it. Instead, it stuck with safe deli sandwiches — which weren’t even that great.

Now, I understand that Founders is a brewery. You mainly go there for drinks. But that doesn’t mean it can’t have great food too.

And just to make sure I didn’t catch them on an off day, I visited again. On a more recent visit, I tried to stomach Cafe Stella’s taco bar and found the meat swimming in grease.

Two bad meals is not what I expected from chef Tommy Fitzgerald, whose other restaurants like Jimmy’s Ribs are very good.

Cafe Stella is located in the Riverview Center, a large office building that sits on the southwest corner of the 6th Street Bridge on the West Side, right on the Grand River. The restaurant itself functions more like a cafeteria for the building. The lunch rush is made up of Riverview Center office dwellers looking for a quick bite. And for them, a hot meal from Cafe Stella, with its grease and all, might be better than nothing. But that does not excuse the problems I found with the restaurant.

I visited Cafe Stella the first time with a group of former colleagues from The Grand Rapids Press. All of us picked different sandwiches, except for Press Business Reporter Chris Knape, who went with the special of the day — an Asian stir fry.

I love Italian sandwiches, so I decided on the Antonini ($5.99) with capicola, genoa, prosciutto, provolone, cheddar and giardinera. I took a few bites and smelled mold. I assumed the mold was on the bread, so I pulled the sandwich open and examined the bread for the cause of the smell. I couldn’t find any hint of mold on the bread. I assumed I might have had a bit of mold on the crust that I’d already eaten, and since I couldn’t find anymore mold on the bread, I proceeded to eat most of the rest of the sandwich.

As I reached the other end of the sandwich, the moldy smell became more pronounced. I peeled open the sandwich once again. This time I focused on the meat. The capicola was slimy and covered in a whitish film. I stuck my nose close to the meat and found the source of the mold smell. I passed the sandwich around to my lunch partners to make sure I had found the culprit. I notified the clerk at the counter and showed her the sandwich. She was apologetic and offered me a free chocolate chip cookie, which I turned down. I wasn’t looking for a free meal, but I did want to notify the staff of the problem. After a few minutes, the clerk returned to my table with a refund for my sandwich. Again, she was very apologetic, which I appreciated.

My other lunch partners, Press reporters Julia Bauer, Shandra Martinez and Nardy Bickel all said their sandwiches were just OK, though none of them had the problems I encountered with my Antonini.

I know a restaurant can have a bad day, so I decided to try Cafe Stella once again. This time, I brought along my 9-year-old daughter, Daisy. She is a big BLT fan, so she ordered the BBBBLT! ($5.29). The sandwich has extra “B”s in its name because of the amount of bacon supposedly found on it. Daisy really liked the sandwich, but there didn’t appear to be more or less bacon on it than an average BLT. Still, she gave it high marks.

I chose the daily special, a taco bar situated in an atrium just off the main dining area. I was given a hard and soft taco shell by the counter staff and made my way to the taco bar. Though it was about 12:30 p.m., midway through the lunch rush, the taco bar itself was in shambles. Cheese (the container that held it was empty) was all over the table, as was the shredded lettuce. The seasoned ground beef was swimming in grease and appeared as if it was not drained after it was browned. I squeezed as much grease out of the meat as I could and filled my tacos.

Apparently, I didn’t get as much grease out of the tacos as I planned as there was a pool of it on my plate when I finished. The one highlight from my trip to the taco bar was the choice of salsas, which appeared to be freshly made. They were very good.

The menu at Cafe Stella is inventive and there are several sandwiches that look like they would be worth a try. There is the Midge ($5.99) with turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce and spinach on grilled English muffin bread; the Lobster Martin on Rye ($5.99) with lobster, crab, petite shrimp, cheese with bacon, lettuce, tomato; and the grilled cheese deluxe ($5.29) with provolone, cheddar, swiss, tomato, mushrooms, onion and spinach.

Unfortunately, because of the quality issues I encountered, I can’t recommend anything at Cafe Stella. I assume Cafe Stella is a decent option for office workers at Riverview Center that didn’t have a choice before. But that’s about the only people I can recommend Cafe Stella to.