8 Places in Mt. Pleasant to Check Out for Food and Drinks

Anytime we travel to an area we start to compile a list of places we enjoy going to get food and drinks. We also like to do something that we call "Adventure Dining" where we pair an outdoor adventure with food and beverage. The more we have visited the Mt. Pleasant area, the more this list has grown. Here are 8 places to check out in the area!

Let's talk coffee to start and we have three places on the list.

Ponder Coffee

Ponder Coffee is located right downtown and we have been here multiple times for a great pour over coffee. The setting is exactly what we look for in a coffee shop and there is also seasonal outdoor seating and food options to go with the coffee. Lattes and seasonal drinks also fill the menu. 

@mi_playground Open to recommendations #mtpleasant #tiktokfood #miplayground #cmu ♬ WII SHOP TRAP - Flixterr

Pleasant City Coffee

Also located right downtown Mt. Pleasant is Pleasant City Coffee. This is another great setting with a cool outdoor patio out back. We were there during summer and the conditions felt right for an iced latte, specifically the banana nut latte. To go along with coffee, there is a crepe menu as well as bagels. A unique part about Pleasant City is that they also have beer and cocktail menus along with other non-alcoholic beverage options. 

@mi_playground Adventure Dining in Mount Pleasant Michigan. #adventuredining #mountpleasnt #centralmichigan #foodtok ♬ original sound - mi_playground

Ignite Donuts

Ignite Donuts has delicious donuts but also offers sandwiches so we had to try them both. It is a great combo! If you stop in early before a CMU football game and get donuts for your tailgate, you are going to be the star of the show. Coffee and shakes are also on the menu. 

@mi_playground Ignite Donuts, Ponder Coffee and Mt. Pleasant fall vibes. #donuts #coffee #butfirstcoffee #mtpleasant ♬ original sound - mi_playground

It is time to switch from caffeine to food!

Wood Shop Social

Wood Shop Social is a gastropub with a great menu. We were told we had to try the Japanese Fried Chicken as it is a crowd favorite and it was very good! It is a unique item and is listed under shareables. We recommend giving it a try. We also had the smashburger and fries. When a smashburger is on a menu we are almost always getting it! Wood Shop Social also has a great tap list and cocktail menu and different daily specials including happy hour and late night shareables for half off on Fridays and Saturdays. 

@mi_playground Hiking at Sylvan Solace nature preserve and food from Wood Shop Social in Mt. Pleasant. #mtpleasant #centralmichigan #adventuredining ♬ original sound - mi_playground

Hunters Ale House

Hunters Ale House is a brewery and a restaurant with a large outdoor seating area. We were there during a perfect summer day so we enjoyed the patio. A unique part about the brewery is its collaboration with the Central Michigan University Fermentation Science program. Beyond the beer is a full bar menu along with a large food menu. We went with boneless wings and a charcuterie board to go with a pint. It is hard to beat a patio day!

@mi_playground Adventure Dining in Mt. Pleasant #miplayground #merlinbirdid #mtpleasant ♬ original sound - mi_playground

Summit Smokehouse

Summit Smokehouse is a full-on bbq restaurant and tap room that is housed with Mountain Town Brewing Company. Here is our recommendation. Get the Ultimate Sampler! It comes with brisket, pulled pork, pulled turkey, wings, cornbread and a choice of 2 sides. This is plenty of food to share with a friend or a few friends depending on how hungry you are! We paired our sampler by trying all of the bbq sauces and a pint. 

@mi_playground Summit smokehouse sampler platter #miplayground #mtpleasant #michiganfood ♬ original sound - mi_playground

Dog Central

A hot dog restaurant in a college town. We knew it had to be good! One of the signature dogs and fries is the way to go. It is a popular late night spot but we enjoyed it for lunch. Also be on the lookout for where the Dog Central food truck may be!

@mi_playground Dog Central #mtpleasant #cmu ♬ original sound - mi_playground

Freddie's Tavern

The first time we went to Mt. Pleasant multiple people told us to go to Freddie's Tavern and get a burger and fries. When multiple people tell us to go to the same spot we usually listen and we are glad we did! To go along with the burger we had the garlic parm breadsticks. 

@mi_playground Freddie’s Tavern #mtpleasant #miplayground #centralmichigan ♬ original sound - mi_playground

We know that there are more places in Mt. Pleasant that we need to try so please let us know where we should go next!