The Historian — Restaurant in Chikaming Township

I have been to the HIstorian many times. The food is outstanding, as is the beverage program. To have a place like this in the area is such a boon. The only downside is the service, which is sub-par. Having spent thirty years in the restaurant industry myself, it's always a frustrating experience to dine here with regards to service. The servers are extremely friendly and nice, but there is no attention to detail, and clearly, there has been no real training. At our last visit, our food was auctioned off ("who had the...?"). This is what position numbers are for. When the food was served, the server reached over my friend on my left to put my plate down, instead of walking around her and serving the food to my left ("serve to the left, clear from the right" is a basic dining rule), It's easy to follow and makes such a difference. Glasses should be held by the stem. Servers should check back often. When the food is served, the server should ask, "Is there anything else I can bring for you at this time?"" It's a simple question that can solve so many problems. For instance, at our last visit, I had to get up and ask for something that one of my friends wanted, and I walked back to the server station only to find three servers relaxing and talking. This usually happens every time I dine at The Historian. Also, do not clear plates until the whole table has finished dining, another basic tenet of service. We had dessert, and our dirty plates stayed on our table until we left the restaurant. It was not busy, and someone could have easily done this. Also, it was not busy, and the server put the check down while we were still finishing our dessert. I understand if it's busy and you need to turn the table, then you do it as a last resort. The servers have no real knowledge of the wine menu. Whenever we ask a question about a particular wine, no one ever knows the answer, and these are basic questions. Do you do wine tastings? You should at least do tastings of your WBG pours (which are fabulous, by the way! Where can you get a Sancere or a Gruner Veltiner by the glass anywhere in Southwest Michigan?!). Thank you for listening, and I'm sorry for the long rant. Good service would make this place so much better!!! Hire someone to come in and do an afternoon of service training. Your diners...

I was super excited about this place. Pictures and reviews were very promising. I went with a group of 8 people to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant was super cute and the atmosphere was upscale. Upon being seated, the waitress was not very warm; she wasn’t unpleasant but not welcoming or helpful when it came to the menu. She did not give any suggestions and stood quietly on one side of the table for orders. The end of the table didn’t even get to add an app because they were not even addressed.

Appetizers were decent, I liked the whipped feta. Drinks were very disappointing. No one at my table ordered past their first drink. When it came to the entrees, most of the table was unhappy. The people who got the Salmon and the pork belly tacos were happy. 3 of the 8 ordered the steak frites. Every plate was under the ordered temp. My husband’s was blue and he ordered medium rare. I ordered the shawarma and only could get through half. The pita was dry, the chicken had little to no seasoning and very heavily charred. My friend that ordered the special bruschetta with poached shrimp was served undercooked shrimp. The food runner took this plate back and brought back two better cooked shrimp but at this point my friend no longer was interested. One free dessert was offered to fix this mistake, but we didn’t take them up on the offer. To say the least, we were highly disappointed and would...

Fancy cocktails with a side of charm? Don’t miss The Historian when visiting Southwestern Michigan.

What was once a humble bakery/deli has been transformed into a stylish cocktail lounge and restaurant. But don’t let the word “fancy” throw you—it’s not pretentious. Think friendly fancy with a warm, welcoming vibe.

The space is clean, the ambiance inviting, and the service attentive. Just a heads-up: when it’s full (and it often is), it can get a bit loud. Reservations are definitely a smart move.

The cocktails are top-notch—creative, balanced, and beautifully presented. But don’t stop there. The food is equally impressive, with thoughtful dishes that go beyond the usual. If you skip the appetizers, you might be able to save room for the bread pudding. It’s worth it!

Enjoy a relaxing weekend in Michigan. Stay at a cozy cabin at The Lakeside Cabins Resort in Three Oaks. Pair it with a great meal, and a memorable drink—what more could...