This place was fantastic from start to finish. The drinks were creative and delicious, the food was exquisite and beautifully plated, and the service was absolutely impeccable. I cannot say enough good things about Principle. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and the indoor space was perfectly lit, warm, and cozy. My only regret is that this place isn't closer to home, because we would absolutely be regulars! If my son ends up going to Western Michigan, we will surely be making an appearance every time we're in town. Such a wonderful find in Kalamazoo! read more

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Our server was great but I didn't catch his name. Lighting in the rest was dim and intimate, great for a special occasion. I went for a friend's birthday and we had a large group that they were able to accommodate. The grilled zucchini was phenomenal and I had the swordfish for dinner was loved it. Peanut butter banana split was a great way to end the night. Some people had wine, mocktails, and cocktails and everyone enjoyed their drink. Overall great experience and would go here again for a meal! This spot is right downtown so parking wasn't ideal, but downtown Kalamazoo parking isn't bad, so we only had about a 5 minute walk to dinner. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Peanut butter banana split - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Great place for a upclass meal in a relaxing atmosphere. The whitefish and flank steak melted in our mouths. Next time we come to the west side of the state it is a place we will come back to. read more

This is an outstanding restaurant. Our service was exceptional and our food was so delicious! The duck wings were one of our favorites of the meal but everything we had was so fresh and perfectly executed. Our server Katie was excellent! The restaurant has a lovely interior. Very inviting and moody. read more

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Honestly, Principle was so insanely refreshing to me after months of a food slump. Principle features all my fav things: a romantic set up, correctly priced cocktails, huge ceilings and vintage vibe, simple menu and table service that feels and looks Divine. I mean, watching my server flip a table during busy dinners service was actually ART. Some notables: I cannot ever choose a drink, but that wasn't an issue here. Ttheir menu featured "Roll The Dice" which consisted of a liqueur, mixer and taste. The bartender creates it for you! Such an authentic touch!!! The menu was small, creative and the FLANK STEAK 1000/10. I personally ordered the Roasted chicken, the plates were small but absolutely perfect. read more

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Loved this restaurant with patio seating on a pedestrian-friendly street downtown. They have a nice selection of creative cocktails in the $12-15 range - although if you're not feeling fancy or flush, you can also score a PBR for $2. I tried a bourbon cocktail with rhubarb bitters and burnt honey that I can't say I've had anywhere else. Pork belly app, flavorful and colorful, was easy to share. Highlight of the meal was the Lake Superior whitefish, livened up with onions, potatoes and crisped-up leeks. For dessert I had the chocolate and butterscotch "pudding", which was tasty but firmer than I expected - it needed to be cut with a fork rather than scooped with a spoon. Wonderful service that was just the right level of attentive. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Pork belly app - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Amazing food; drinks; and service! Drew and his staff always do an amazing job! Everything was well done and tasty! It is an experience, not just dinner. read more

This place has amazing drinks and amazing food. Went here a few times and have liked it every time ive come. The service is good as well.

Very good quality, service, and food at a price. I do recommend the shrimp with the cheddar biscuits. You know the food is good when everyone in your group wants to share a bite of their dinner. 4 stars is very good food in my evaluation but value is not Excellent or outstanding but really good. Service was the highlight. Also the signature drinks were very good. read more

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This is a cool place for cocktails and inventive new American cuisine. Farm to table with a focus on quality ingredients. read more

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I couldn't decide what drink to get, so I chose the roll the dice option, which i thought meant our server would just pick a random cocktail for me, so imagine my surprise when she comes back to the table with actual dice to roll. We rolled rum, savory, and fruity. I was like, how are they gonna make it savory and fruity?? THEY DID. it was yummy as hell. For appetizer we got the duck wings. i've never had duck. its tastes like chicken and was so good i sucked the bones clean like a ravenous beast. I got the rainbow trout as an entree and my date got the oishii shrimp. I liked his more than mine, so we switched plates halfway through because he is in love with me. the trout was also good though. I meant to take pictures for my review but food was too good all I got photos of were the empty plates. I can't do anything right. read more

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Very smart menu. Cocktails are unique, with a lot of attention to detail when it comes to both the ingredients and the presentation. I tried a cocktail that had many of my favorite things: saffron, gin, hibiscus -- if it's still on the menu, I highly recommend you try it (if gin or vodka is your liquor of choice). Food was just as impressive. Duck wings had amazing flavor, but were a tad dry. Scallops were fresh with clean & complimentary flavors/textures, and the desserts were so decadent. Overall, great foodie experience. Pricing was about $60 per person with drinks. I also love the fact that everything is sourced locally. Staff were nice. Location was convenient with street parking. And the area itself is lively, with shops and bars. Whether youre visiting or live in the area, principle is worth trying! read more

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I'm a food snob from Chicago passing through Kalamazoo, and had a lovely meal here. Every aspect of this restaurant impressed me, and I'm hard to impress. It's a farm-to-table sort of menu, and everything looked good to me. I asked my server Alex for recommendations, and he steered me right every time. I started off the the Combat Ready cocktail, a smoky delight that really hit the spot after a weekend of hard work. I ordered the Burrata ravioli based on Alex's suggestion, and it was fantastic, many flavors and textures going on here. I wanted a red wine with the entree, and was offered a sample of the Sangiovese. It was excellent. With some red wine left after my entree, I chose the Chocolate Pudding with dark cherry compote and espresso crumbles, and I loved it. I'm not normally a fan of pudding since the texture is usually so bland. But the crunchiness of the espresso crumbles and slight chew of the cherries made it work for me. It's a lovely, relaxed vibe inside with chill music playing, conversation-friendly for sure. Everyone who works here should feel proud and the sublime experience they've created here. Bravo. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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One of the best in Kalamazoo. Top notch food and great cocktails. Charred broccoli and biscuits, any of their steak, Washington cocktail are always amazing. Professional and friendly staff. Great environment and basement lounge area is perfect for quick drink. read more

We were visiting Kzoo and had dinner at Principle which was just up the street from our hotel. Everything was wonderful. The atmosphere, our server and the food were all excellent. We started with a halloumi and caper appetizer, had a white fish and salmon entree and finished with a chocolate pudding dessert. Wonderful presentation and flavor. Not an inexpensive meal, but based on quality of food and service it was worth it. read more

What a great place. Our server was very attentive. We enjoyed every cocktail and all the food we tried. Cheddar biscuits are a must! The smoked broccoli was so good. Loved both of our entrees. It was a fantastic evening! read more

Told us the wait would be 20 mins. After an hour still not seated. They said computer glitch. Yeah right. Still didn't try to seat us. Waited another 15 mins. Didn't care. Our waitress was nice and food was good but the manager there was a class 1 a-hole to the 10th degree. I won't go into details but he should be fired for how he treats customers. read more

Wonderful food in a cozy, quiet space. Drinks are bougie but they've got a full bar with a speakeasy downstairs.

I went here for the first time for a friend's birthday. First off the staff were very kind and welcoming. He recieved a signed birthday card from staff as well which I thought was an excellent surprise! The food was delicious and the presentation was everything he hyped it up to be. We unfortunately ate too fast so pictures will definitely be a next time thing. We got the meal for two which I believe was fried chicken with champagne and an assortment of sides. We also got a really amazing seat in my option which set the ambiance for the birthday. read more

Great destination restaurant that offers a little romantic ambiance. They are gluten aware with dishes that are intentionally flavorful and you won't want to miss out on the dessert options! This is one of our top 3 choices of 2025. read more

Have I been here more than once? Yes. And will I be back again? Absolutely! The food is amazing and vibe is like no other. I'm originally from NJ/NY and finding restaurants that reminded me of home is important. I can say Principle, fits that image (without being overcrowded, loud and wildly expensive). It's a gem on the Kalamazoo Mall strip. This latest night out, I opted to dine alone and honestly, it was not awkward at all and I'd do it again. For the starter, I chose the cheddar biscuits. The absolute best treat paired with a bacon jam. What I'd do to have these everyday! They're warm and the cheese on top is so light and complements the fluffiness of the biscuit. Did I eat them all myself? Of course I did, and you can too. Next up was the flank steak, a perfect medium rare of course. The chimichurri was fresh and herby. I was hesitant about the polenta at first but it was tasty, well seasoned and added another level of complexity to the dish compared to a standard roasted or mashed potatoes. And for the dessert, I chose the basque cheesecake. The "basque" part wasn't my favorite as it added bitterness to a sweet treat. read more

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My entire family was delighted with Principle. We held a family dinner for 19 after our Mother/Grandmother's memorial service. Louise was so helpful in making the booking, and was able to accommodate an increase in our party only about 24 hours before arrival. Our servers, Sydney and Elizabeth, knew the menu, gave excellent recommendations and provided top-notch service. The atmosphere was great, and we could hold conversations without yelling. Our family ordered a wide variety of dishes (steak, pork chop, salmon, rainbow trout, swedish meatballs) and everyone thought their dinner was wonderful. Principle also served butter noodles and grilled cheese for the children in the party. The fish of the day (rainbow trout) and the Seared Halloumi appetizer plate were especially delightful. read more

I love trying new to me places when I travel, including when in Kalamazoo! I was excited to check out Principle and even more excited when I found out we'd be there during restaurant week. Nate and I tend to go to a lot of the same places over and over when we're in the area, so it was really nice to branch out. I made a reservation online for an early dinner before a show at Miller Auditorium recently. The vibe inside is a bit "upscale rustic," which was comfortable and welcoming. Our server was attentive and helpful. The restaurant week menu was a great deal: 3 courses for $45. Nate and I both opted for this and selected most of the options to split: cabbage, charcuterie board, scallops, truffle lasagna, chocolate cheesecake, and panna cotta. The food was all nicely presented and pretty delicious! The cabbage was great - I loved the blue cheese. It could've used a bit more salt but this was a nice starter to share. The charcuterie and cheese was fine, but nothing really that special. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the brown butter vinaigrette was delicious and decadent. The truffle lasagna was cheesy and rich. The noodles seemed house made and were a little thick and kind of tough in some spots, but the flavors were great. We loved both the desserts and they were huge! The blueberry panna cotta was probably our favorite, though. I would love to come back and try some items from their regular menu - nothing is over $35 which is awesome for a nicer spot. We found free street parking nearby and I enjoyed the decent low lighting as well as the fact that it wasn't super loud inside. Really nice spot! read more

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The food was amazing! Expensive but well worth it for the experience. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable and attentive. Make sure you make a reservation! It's not very large but the atmosphere was perfect! I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to start the night off with a bang! read more

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Excellent cocktails with a wide liquor selection and attentive service. The atmosphere is dark and moody, more bar than restaurant. It was a bit tricky to find on a rainy night. The food was good with decent portions, though some items like salads and bread were served separately. Our younger guest seemed a bit hungry afterward. read more

Whether celebrating a special occasion or just wanting a top-notch meal, this is my go-to place when in Kalamazoo. Whether vegetarian or omnivore, each dish we had last evening was outstanding and full of imagination and care (shaved zucchini and squash, crab cakes, blueberry BBQ meatloaf), an excellent bottle of pinot noir, and an incredible dish to share of housemade raspberry sorbetto. Even better was the service (thank you, Katie). And a quick chat with one of the founders was a nice touch. Even with the galley layout and exposed brick walls (and an incredible bar), the sound level never impeded conversation. Great location, too, on the famed Kalamazoo Mall. It's a nice touch to offer outdoor dining, as well, though yesterday was a bit cool to choose that option. read more

We went to Principle after a class at combat ready art! It was late but staff was wonderful, the drinks were delish and we just had some apps but they were great! Can't wait to go back and try some of the entrees! The vibes are also fabulous. Def get the biscuits!! read more

Principle Food & Drink - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Cocktails were excellent with a wide selection of liquor, and the service was attentive. The atmosphere is dark and moody, more like a bar with tables. It was a little tricky to find on a rainy night. The food was good with decent portions, though things like salads and bread were separate. I did wonder if our younger guest left still a bit hungry. read more

Yum. Subtle flavor layers abound at Principle. Everything on the menu looks well thought out and sounds delicious. I wanted one of everything. We weren't starving, and didn't have a reservation, so our work team shared the beet salad, charred broccoli and lamb pappardelle dishes at the bar, where we had great service and good recommendations. I don't love beets, but the salad carried those dirty nuggets, and my work team loved them! The lamb was in a broth over the pappardelle with yogurt and chickpeas. I may have to try to pull this recipe off myself so I can have it again. The bartender tried to talk us into dessert and failed, to my chagrin. The pudding sounded divine. Here's a shot at the broccoli, which should not be napped on. The combo of char and spice and bits of almond...crazy good. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I've been here numerous times and it has never disappointed me! Their meats are great and their veggies apps/entrees are fantastic. The drinks are phenomenal! Today, I got their seasonal punch bowl and it was delightful. The staff are always spot on! Their Peanut Butter Banana Split is everything. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Principle Punch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Ordered family style, Salmon Dip (lots of fish, would honestly be okaywith a little more filler ie a cream cheese, etc. but good) - Pistacio Gnocci (BOMB - would put that sauce on anything) - Scallops (really good) and last but certainly not least ... peanut butter banana split, may have been the best dessert Ive ever had. Brûlée banana Drinks were good (She wears Love Spell - added some soda to tone down the sweet and was perfect) and cold brew martinis. Wasnt anything that wasnt good, great vibes (90's hip hop/r&b) and ambiance, will be back! read more

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My yearly trek through Kalamazoo and another crazy good meal at Principle. The cheddar biscuits could be a franchise on their own. The carbonara of house-made thin spaghetti was full of flavor but a bit too rich for me to eat it all. And then I indulged in the dark chocolate pudding that had butterscotch sauce and chocolate & vanilla crumb on top - oh my. Wonderful ambiance and friendly service. Love this restaurant. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Chocolate Pudding - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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My son recently proposed to his girlfriend at Principle and held an intimate dinner with immediate family. From the onset, Buck could not have been more accommodating helping us coordinate the surprise event. The day of the bar manager Luis was there early as our point person and the staff could not have more fabulous. The private space was lovely and the food....out of this world!!! But I. The end it comes down to the people and they could not have been more gracious. Thank you for hosting a perfect evening. You all should be proud of this amazing establishment. read more

Flavor blending in all 3 dishes was not well developed. Tried two pastas, both were over salted. Swedish meatballs were a level up from the $8 ones at IKEA. Weak wine pours. Good server, welcomed our feedback. You'd be better off spending this amount of money elsewhere. read more

Duck wings were an interesting take on traditional wings. The special (walleye) was amazing. The chicken wasn't bad but wasn't anything special. We sat on the patio and the service was good. Overall not a bad spot. read more

My 1st visit at this restaurant and I was pretty satisfied with it. I had the sausage dish along with the cheddar biscuits. Both were very good. I also had the dark beer and was it very good. Service was good. The restaurant is downtown in a trendy area and had indoor and outdoor seating. Portion size is what you should eat, so if you are hungry, you may want to go somewhere else instead. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Sausage dish - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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The best feature of this restaurant is the outside seating. It has a great vibe and the service is on point! It has a limited food menu but drinks are plentiful! We enjoyed 3 small plates and all were excellent! read more

Excellence! We ate there last night. The flank steak was outstanding, wine was divine, service was fantastic, presentation of the plate so beautifu and flavors so unique and the price was well below the standard of what we receive! The ambiance was beautiful, romantic and peaceful! You need a GR location! read more

Had a wonderful evening at Principle! Started with a beer and a cold brew martini, was hoping for an espresso but it was still so good! I had the trout and my partner had the pork chop. My trout was so good, it comes with brussel sprouts and I don't like those that much, told the server and he was great and helped me out. Trout, sweet potatoes and green beans were delicious. Partner had the pork chop and he enjoyed it so fast I couldn't steal a bite. Great ambiance, helpful servers, good food but a smaller menu. Can't wait to come again. read more

Principle Food & Drink - Trout and Pork Chop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Feeling fancy? Head to Principle, where you will find exciting food, fancy cocktails, and amazing service! The duck wings were absolutely amazing! We parked in the parking ramp, several yards away, and were excited to find it one of the Free 90 minute parking. read more