15 restaurants we desperately miss in Holland

HOLLAND — For the holidays this year, we decided to take a look back. With all the talk about new chains and must-haves, we decided to ask Hollanders what old-school restaurants they miss the most.

Here's what they said:

Ottawa Beach Inn

Until it was purchased in 2014, the half-century-old business at 2155 Ottawa Beach Road was owned by Tim Overway — owner of Hog Wild BBQ in Holland Township. The restaurant was known for fresh ocean fish, homemade soups, fresh-caught lake perch and walleye. It was converted by existing owner River and Odi Hospitality Group to Playa Tacos and Tequila in 2022.

Orlando's Italian Restaurant

Once located at 667 Hastings Avenue, later home to Goog's Pub and Grub, Orlando's Italian Restaurant once served up well-known stromboli, pizza puffs and other goodies to Hollanders. Orlando Grossi eventually shuttered the eatery and started his own catering company.

Froggy's

When Froggy's and 84 East combined at 80 and 84 E. Eighth St. to become Hops at 84 East, Froggy's got the short end of the stick. Menu items included "froggy dogs," burgers and fresh-cut fries. Around the time the restaurant closed, hot dogs were selling for less than $3.50 and burgers averaged less than $5 each.

At one point, ownership hoped to sell and relocate the affordable favorite, but alas, Froggy's is long gone.

Mama's House

Mama's House reportedly once rivaled Windmill Restaurant for early morning eats near the corner of River Avenue and Douglas Avenue. Once, in April 2009, all meals for the day at Mama's House were covered by an anonymous local business owner. Residents say the building was also home to Bimbo Burger and Right Angle.

Pereddies

Pereddies was an Italian staple in Washington Square for about 35 years. Longtime owners Chris and Pia Brown sold to Pamela and Sacha Ratti in August 2018. The higher-end, sit-down eatery was known as much for its deli as its restaurant, which sold bread daily.

The couple listed the business for sale in 2019, then opened an art gallery, Galleria, in the neighboring storefront. When the pandemic hit, Galleria took over the restaurant space and became host to artwork, coffee, baked goods and even Italian food.

The business' bistro, according to its website, is open 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Menu items include pizzas, garlic bread and ravioli. Galleria still sells artisan breads, include baguettes, focaccia, challah bread, cachitos and pinwheels (both of which are stuffed with meat and cheese).

Country Seasons

One of the most frequently listed missed restaurants is Country Seasons, which was once located in today's Family Fare complex on Butternut Drive. A model train in the business was much beloved. An old matchbook cover with the restaurant's logo was available on eBay until late October.

Peking House

If you've ever wondered about the empty building adjacent to Captain Sundae on Douglas Avenue, legend says it was once Peking House, a revered Chinese restaurant that left a serious void when it closed. The 6,566-square-foot building, built in 1984, is currently listed for sale at $750,000. The building was also home to Tres Lobos.

Port O Call

Port O Call once sat near River Avenue and Douglas Avenue in Holland. According to its historic sign, which still hangs in a collection in Holland, the restaurant was known for beer, cocktails, wine and burritos.

Muzzy's

By far, the most oft-named missed restaurant in Holland is Muzzy's. The business had locations at 200 W. Washington in Zeeland and 35th and Washington in Holland. The eatery, "where broiling makes the difference," was best known for hot, melty cheese, curly fries, burgers, chicken and fish, long before McDonald's was widespread. Before Muzzy's, the Holland site was home to the Dutch Maid Drive-In.

Subs N More

This downtown favorite remained at 45 E. Eighth St. until 2019, after the building was purchased by Crust 54. That's where Subs N More started in 1993, but a location on Phoenix Street in South Haven remains open. The affordable eatery was best known for pizza, nachos, breadsticks, subs, salads and potato skins.

Mr. Steak

One of Holland's higher-end restaurants, Mr. Steak at 175 E. Eighth St. was later renamed Finley's, like several locations in Michigan in the 1990s. It became Pietro's later that decade and was eventually torn down. The site was near a Pizza Hut built downtown in 1973 and demolished in 2018. Mr. Steak was known as "the family place."

Bill Knapp's

Bill Knapp's was born in Battle Creek in the 1940s and eventually spread to five states and dozens of locations. Holland's location was at 636 E. 24 St. In addition to its well-known chocolate cake, Knapp's was known for fried chicken, ham croquettes, potatoes au gratin, bean soup and biscuits.

All locations closed by the early 2000s after dwindling popularity in the '90s. Holland's location was converted into office space, and is expected to soon be demolished for a new gas station.

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For a long time, the eatery's chocolate cake survived, after the recipe was sold to Awrey's Bakery of Livonia. Awrey's supplied the cake, and other Knapp baked products, to local grocery stories.

But Awrey's went out of business earlier this year. It wasn't immediately clear how that'll affect future availability of Knapp's favorites.

Jose Babushka's

Before it held Olive Garden, before it held Golden Corral, before it held Mesquite Willies, the plot of land at 12420 Felch St. near The Shops at Westshore was home to Jose Babushka's, which also had locations in Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Kentwood and Wyoming.

The restaurant was known for Mexican-Polish fare, but by the mid 1990s, it was gone. Two decades later, the eatery was rebooted in Grand Rapids, where it remains open, but locals still miss the old days.

JJ Finnegans

JJ Finnegans closed its doors for the last time at Westshore Mall (now The Shops at Westshore) in 2009. The nearly 6,000-square-foot restaurant had a full bar and served a variety of food, including pizza, burgers and Mexican food.

The business opened in 1989.

The Hitching Post

Located at the corner of River Avenue and 10th Street, The Hitching Post was a much-loved breakfast spot. It was, at one point, a converted railroad car, according to local lore, and had tasty cinnamon rolls. Before it became The Hitching Post, the railroad car was home to the Wooden Shoe Diner.

— This story was written with assistance from Remembering Holland, Michigan; hundreds of comments from hungry locals; and The Sentinel archives. Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 15 restaurants we desperately miss in Holland