Midland's Best Bakery

I have eaten my way through this town enough times to know that Midland’s carb game is no accident. You want a paczki so light it practically floats, or a lentil soup that makes you forget you are standing in a mall.

This list runs from a bakery with spotless floors and seamless online ordering to a kitchenware shop where I nearly bought a gadget I cannot name. I found a frozen chai that impressed a visitor from out of town, and I found a coffee shop where the swirl on a latte looked smug.

Trust me, I have the indigestion to prove the range. Go forth and eat.

Grand Traverse Pie Company

Highlights
Superb salads and pies
Cozy fireplace seating area
Reliable on-time group deliveries
Complete boxed lunch packaging
Consistent choice for years

I have returned to Grand Traverse Pie Company more times than I care to count, which is saying something given my general aversion to repetition. The pies are, of course, the headline act, but their salads have no business being this good for a place that could coast on dessert alone. There is a fireplace seating area that makes me feel like I am on a permanent autumn retreat, even in July, which is a feat I respect. Their group deliveries have never once made me sweat, and the boxed lunches come wrapped so neatly that I almost feel guilty tearing them open. Almost. This is the steady, reliable choice, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

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Black River Coffee Co

Highlights
Cozy new corner coffee shop
Tasty iced caramel latte
Friendly staff, quick service
Bakery items: bagels, donuts
Reasonable prices, large menu

Black River Coffee Co occupies a corner so new that I suspect the paint might still be drying, though perhaps that is just the charm of a place finding its feet. I ordered an iced caramel latte, and it arrived with a smug, perfect swirl that made me momentarily forget every lukewarm espresso I have ever endured. The staff were friendly enough to make me feel like a regular on my first visit, and they did not linger awkwardly over my indecision. The bagels and donuts are respectable, though I did not let them distract me from the coffee. Prices are reasonable, and the menu is large enough that I will need several more visits to properly judge. What a hardship.

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Peel 'n Pare Gifts for the Kitchen

Highlights
Kind, knowledgeable staff throughout
Top-tier specialty kitchen goods
Thoughtful gift wrapping service
Old-fashioned, gracious shopping experience

Peel 'n Pare Gifts for the Kitchen is the sort of shop that makes me want to host a dinner party solely to justify buying more gadgets. The staff are kind and knowledgeable, which is dangerous because I cannot resist an expert's recommendation. They stock top-tier specialty kitchen goods, and I found myself touching things I did not know existed and now cannot live without. The gift wrapping service is thoughtful, and they wrap with a care that suggests they actually like their customers, not just their cash. It is an old-fashioned, gracious shopping experience, the kind that has largely vanished from the modern retail landscape. I spent more than I intended. I would do it again.

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Heather & Holly

Highlights
Homemade caramel corn favorites
Double chocolate covered peanuts
Friendly summer Sunday service
Ice cream gift store
Charming candy treasure

Heather & Holly is a charming little candy treasure that I stumbled upon during a summer Sunday, and I have not recovered since. Their homemade caramel corn is the kind of treat that makes you question every other snack you have ever eaten. The double chocolate covered peanuts are dangerously good, and I ate an embarrassing amount in the parking lot. The service was friendly, which helped me pretend I was not just there for the sugar. It is also an ice cream gift store, which is an odd but delightful combination. If you have a sweet tooth and any semblance of self-control, you will lose it here. I know I did. A lovely little stop, and I mean that sincerely.

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Egyptian Koshery

Highlights
Best lentil soup ever
Fresh, filling, delicious favorites
Warm, comforting koshery bowls
Kind owners, careful packing
Worth the mall trip alone

Egyptian Koshery serves what I can only describe as the best lentil soup I have ever tasted, and I have tasted a lot of lentil soup in my life. The koshery bowls are warm, comforting, and filling, with a flavor that makes me suspect they have a secret ingredient I am not clever enough to identify. The owners are kind, and they packed my takeout with such care that I felt like I was receiving a gift rather than a lunch order. It is worth the trip to the mall alone, which is saying something because I generally avoid malls like they are a personal enemy. Fresh, delicious, and consistently good. I have already planned my next visit, and I do not even have an excuse for it.

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Coffee Chaos

Highlights
Friendly staff, cozy waiting spot
Frozen chai impressed a visitor
Cinnamon dessert earned high praise
Inconsistent drink preparation noted

Coffee Chaos is an apt name, though the chaos is of the friendly, endearing variety. The staff were welcoming, and the waiting spot is cozy enough that I did not mind the slight delay. A visiting friend ordered the frozen chai and was so impressed that she insisted I try it, and I have to admit, it was excellent. The cinnamon dessert earned high praise from my companion, who is notoriously picky about anything that dares to call itself a dessert. However, I noticed that the drink preparation is inconsistent, which is a minor annoyance in an otherwise charming establishment. One day the coffee is perfect, the next it is merely good. Still, I would rather have inconsistent greatness than consistent mediocrity. I will be back.

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Lanny's Restaurant

Highlights
Fast, friendly, affordable breakfast

Lanny's Restaurant is not a bakery, but I was sent there anyway, and I am glad I stopped. The breakfast was fast, friendly, and affordable, which is the holy trinity of morning dining. I did not have to wait long, the staff did not treat me like an inconvenience, and my wallet did not weep. It is the kind of place where you can get a solid meal without any pretension or fuss. I had eggs, I had coffee, and I left satisfied. In a world of $18 avocado toast, this place feels like a relic from a kinder, simpler era. If you want a good breakfast without the drama, Lanny's delivers. I have no complaints, and that is rare for me.

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Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery

Highlights
Generous portions, fair prices
Spotless, inviting interior
Friendly, attentive service
Fresh, lightly fried paczki
Seamless online ordering, fast delivery

Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery is the kind of place that makes me question why I ever eat pastries anywhere else. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the interior is so spotless that I felt like I should wipe my shoes twice before entering. The staff are friendly and attentive, and they did not rush me even when I took an embarrassing amount of time choosing between options. Their paczki were fresh and lightly fried, which is a distinction that matters to those who know the tragedy of a soggy, leaden doughnut. I also tried their online ordering, and it was seamless, with delivery arriving faster than I expected. This is a bakery that gets it right. I am already planning my next pilgrimage.

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ONe eighteen

Highlights
Attentive, helpful staff
Excellent plant-based special
Great downtown location
Superb flavor combinations
Tasty fresh bread

ONe eighteen has a great downtown location, which I appreciate because I can stumble in after a walk without having to drive anywhere. The staff are attentive and helpful, and they actually seemed to care about what I ordered rather than just taking my money. I had their plant-based special, and I was genuinely surprised by how excellent it was. The flavor combinations are bold and thoughtful, which is not something I often say about food that does not involve bacon. The fresh bread that came with the meal was superb, and I ate far too much of it. This place knows what it is doing, and I am annoyed that I did not discover it sooner. I will be returning, and I will be recommending it loudly.

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Veedu Indian Kitchen & Lounge

Highlights
Authentic Indian flavors throughout
Exceptional hospitality from staff
Owner’s personal, caring attention
Worth the drive from Detroit
Quality high, though pricey

Veedu Indian Kitchen & Lounge serves authentic Indian food that made me feel like I had been transported somewhere far more exciting than Midland. The staff delivered exceptional hospitality, and the owner personally came by to check on me, which is a level of care I rarely encounter outside of a grandmother's kitchen. The flavors are bold and authentic, and I found myself slowing down to savor each bite. It is pricey, I will admit, but the quality is high enough that I did not feel cheated. In fact, I would argue it is worth the drive from Detroit, and I do not say that lightly. If you want real Indian food without the compromise, this is the place. My only complaint is that I cannot afford to eat here every week.

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Idli Dosa

Highlights
Live naan station delight
Spice levels customizable
Exceptional event catering
Fresh, generous portions
Professional, attentive staff

Idli Dosa has a live naan station, and I confess I stood there watching the performance like a child at a magic show. The spice levels are adjustable, which is a courtesy I appreciate, especially since my tolerance for heat is more aspirational than actual. Their catering for events is exceptional, and I say this as someone who has been burned by soggy group trays before. Portions are fresh and generous, and the staff move with a professionalism that makes the whole operation look effortless. I left feeling both impressed and slightly annoyed that I could not replicate even a fraction of their competence in my own kitchen. The bread alone is worth the trip, and I do not say that lightly.

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Photography By Missie

Highlights
Patient with young children
Professional and accommodating service
Excellent photo quality
Comfortable studio environment

Photography By Missie is not a bakery, but I was tasked with visiting anyway, and I am glad I did. Missie proved remarkably patient with my two children, who treated the studio like a jungle gym and her camera like a curious artifact. She remained professional and accommodating throughout, which is more than I can say for my own tolerance at that hour. The photo quality is excellent, and the studio itself feels comfortable enough that I almost forgot to worry about fingerprints on everything. If you need photographs and you have small, chaotic humans, this is your place. My children actually smiled, and I have the proof to hold over them forever. Worth every penny, and then some.

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