Restaurant Review: Paradise Cafe

1693 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo • Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 3 pm • Sat – Sun: 9 am – 5 pm

On a sunny spring day in Kalamazoo, I was out running errands and needed some coffee. I was feeling sluggish and had more stops to make.

I pulled into MIDTOWN FRESH MARKET on Westnedge, knowing they had a coffee shop there. It wasn’t until I was walking towards the door that I remembered that PARADISE CAFÉ had moved into that location.

Paradise Café opened in 2018 in Portage. At the time, I was living very close to that location but, for whatever reason, never made it there. I have been following them on social media from the start and loved their drool-worthy pictures of the crepes and other treats.

Then, in 2020 they moved locations into Midtown Fresh Market in Kalamazoo, and I moved out of Portage, so they weren’t as easy to get to. I was so happy on this day that I just happened upon them!

I walked into the Café and was immediately greeted by some employees. I approached the counter and examined their menu. I wasn’t planning on eating, but the Crepes just looked amazing. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity!

The barista answered some of my questions about their coffee choices. I was intrigued by the TURKISH COFFEE. He explained to me that Turkish Coffee is similar to two espresso shots and can be bitter. Although I’m a fan of strong coffee, this just didn’t seem like something I would like this day (although I do want to go back and try it!), so I went with a REGULAR COFFEE. This was a crepe filled with bananas and strawberries, topped with melted chocolate, and then drizzled with white and dark chocolate. How could I go wrong? I took my coffee and sat down as they prepared my crepe. The dining area had a few people there as they worked or chatted with friends. It was a cozy atmosphere, very clean, and was night and bright with big windows.

Shortly after, one of the employees brought my crepe over. I was so excited about what I saw! I have seen a lot of pictures of their crepes on their social media, and this one looked exactly like the ones they advertised.

The crepe itself took up the whole plate. The melted chocolate covered every corner, and the drizzle was very neatly placed. There were extra slices of bananas and strawberries on either side of my crepe. It was so pretty!

The taste was amazing. Sure, there was a lot of chocolate on there, but the fruit on the inside helped balance everything out, so it honestly didn’t taste too sweet to eat! The fruit on the inside was spread out enough that it wasn’t completely stuffed with the fruit, yet I had a piece in every bite.

And the actual crepe…. oh man, it’s been so long since I’ve had one, and I forgot how delicious they are! It was light and airy with just a touch of sweetness. It was simply perfect.

I was getting ready to leave and realized I had to share this deliciousness with someone else. I stopped back up to the counter and ordered an Oreo Crepe to bring home to my husband.

Once I got home with it, I showed him his treat, and again we were impressed with its visual. His crepe had crushed Oreos inside and was topped with white and milk chocolate.

He tried his first bite hesitantly, as he had never had a crepe before, but his eyes got larger as he chewed. He loved it! He began asking questions about where they were located and what else they offered because he knew we HAD to go back for another dessert sometime.

And we will!

I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to visit Paradise Café Creperie and Desserts, but so happy I was able to try them now. They offer even more that I need to get back to try. More sweet crepes, as well as savory crepes, smoothies, milkshakes, and tons of coffee and tea options. The service was friendly, the staff was knowledgeable, and the café is quaint and cozy. If you haven’t tried them yet, I urge you to! You will not be disappointed!

E.B. Precopio

Elizabeth is a hairstylist by day and 24/7 food enthusiast. She visits restaurants in the Kalamazoo area and blogs about her experience at feedmekzoo.com