James & Shirley Balk Café

The sandwiches (4 choices) and salads are very large. One sandwich (along with either a side salad or bowl of soup) would be enough for 2 folks to share for a med-day meal. Very clean area with ver good food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Very good cafe for lunch on the ground of the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Had an excellent Reuben and my wife enjoyed her salad. Reasonable prices for the quality of food that was received. Also decor was light and airy and all the windows filled the space with natural light.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

The James & Shirley Balk Café at the Meijer Sculpture Gardens serves up fresh food. Can take a hot minute because it’s prepared fresh, not a sandwich made hours earlier and propped under a heat lamp. Reasonably good selection of food and an extensive drink selection, even catering to those who like to drink wine from a can. Decent amount of seating and everything taken care of nicely. Biggest drawback is extremely limited cell service in the restaurant, so don’t expect to be able to message someone to let them know you got their lunch. The Chiluly glass on the ceiling is definitely worth checking out.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was hungry for food, Not judgement!

My siblings and I were checking out the ice cream and the cashier told us there were more options over by the front, we went to check there wasn’t any. So we were looking at the snacks that are in the cooler unfortunately we couldn’t find anything we could all agree on so we just grabbed some cups to get some ice water (free). As we’re getting our water my sibling accidentally got lemonade so I told him to just pour it out. out of no where the cashier comes behind us and tells him to dump it out in a very rude demeanor. we just go on to order some food we ended up getting the cheese pizza as we’re checking out I feel very rushed, the cashier just seems like she really didn’t want us there as I’m tapping my card she goes and holds It down? I’m not sure why, I didn’t see her do that to anyone else. We’re eating and I can help but notice that she is watching us the entire time and as I go to put the dishes away she is staring me down I genuinely don’t understand why she was so rude we weren’t in there for very long and we weren’t loud so I can’t understand what the point of her attitude was. Im very disappointed

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

We enjoy stopping here occasionally on a visit to the gardens. Usually we go for a little lunch or a small snack. We were planning to have an early dinner before closing, so we checked that it closed at the same time online as we planned our visit. The issue we found is that when you get there it says the menu closes at 4:00 in the cafe closes at 5:00. We'd love to see that posted online.

I had the portobello Cheesesteak and it was absolutely delicious! Everything was super fresh and the baked goods were a must try as well! The lemon blueberry cookie was the perfect after dinner treat!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

4 stars because of our wait. That could be our timing to eat.
The Chihuly sculpture on the ceiling is a must see. The outside eating space is lovely with sculptures and plants.
The food was good. We shared a chicken sandwich. Plenty for the two of us. Prices are like what you'd pay anywhere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Dine under the beautiful Glass Art of the artist Chihuly. Good food selection and reasonable prices.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5