We don’t get to Grand Rapids as often as I wish we did but when we do I have to stop at the Downtown Market. I love this place. They have higher end shops for meat, fish, spices, cheese, and bread. But, they also have several smaller places to get a bite to eat.

Being in landlocked Michigan fresh seafood is a rarity for us. My favorite spot to eat is Fish Lad’s at the market. The clam chowder is filled with bits of bacon and a nice hint of spice.

The stuffed trout had a potato, sweet potato, and bacon hash that was delicious. The lightly dressed arugula salad added a nice bit of texture and spice to the dish. This dish was not what I expected but I was glad I tried it.

You can’t see it in this picture but the portion of fish and chips was huge. The chips were hearty and perfectly cooked. They even had malted vinegar to add to the chips. The tartar sauce was not what I expected it to be at all. I first tried it expecting the usual mayo and dill pickle relish mix. Not even close! It was mayo, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. It added a whole different dimension to what could be an otherwise bland fish. So, yummy!

Of course we had to stop for cupcakes from Sweetie-licious Bake Shoppe. Love the frosting on these cupcakes! The kids also like the pies and cookies. It is always so hard to just choose one, two or three items.

A quick stop at Aperitivo for some of my favorite cheese, Gjetost. It has a creamy, caramel taste that is amazing.

Then to Love’s for some homemade ice cream. They have some amazing flavors and best of all you can do 1/2 scoops to mix and match your flavors!

We need to get to the market more often. The kids are planning on getting sushi and Thai food next time we go. I love that there is always something new to try. If you find yourself in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I highly recommend a stop at the market.