The Backyard of Kalamazoo

Awesome plays for the kiddos to play. Everyone was very friendly! Definitely going again.

Had my son’s 2nd birthday party here on Saturday and it was amazing despite the cold and the wind the staff was amazing very attentive. My son had the best time can’t wait to throw more parties here!!!!

Awesome atmosphere and amazing for kids. However Mother’s Day brunch was extremely underwhelming. When we left our table to take my grandson out to play all our drinks and everything was removed from our table. The food was scant and not very good at all. We were so excited to visit and it was very disappointing!

As always had a great time at The Backyard tonight! I love being able to confidently take both kids to dinner solo while my husband is away. I get the same meal each time because the food is amazing- Brussel sprouts and pulled pork sandwich. The sprouts are out the world and I wish I could make them that tasty at home.

We went for the first time today and absolutely loved it! We loved getting to sit by the playroom and chat while the kids played and still have eyes on them while being able to enjoy time as adults. Drinks were great, and the pickle pizza was amazing! Prices were set well and got good sized portions too! My kids loved the chicken tenders and fries! Highly recommend to anyone with kiddos, it was so nice being able to enjoy a meal out- my toddler is crazy so normally eating out isn’t a possibility for us. We will be back!

Had a birthday party there it was so nice and the staff treated us like family! Love this place we will be back.

Kid-friendliness: So much for the kids to do!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Charcuterie Board

I was very excited for this place and tried to give them the benefit of the doubt being a new business but I’ve been disappointed. The service always seems understaffed and I’ve had to go to bar just to get service. Two weekends ago we thought we would give them another chance and came with a party of 10. (6 kids, 4 adults) we paid for yard admission and sat outside and were back and forth from our table chasing kids etc. we all ordered meals and as soon as we paid we were asked how many were still sitting there and to move to a smaller table because a party of 24 was coming. I thought the whole point of this place was to be able to bring kids and enjoy time. I thought it was extremely rude to be asked to move once we paid!!!

Service: 1

The Backyard of Kalamazoo is a spectacular and indispensable space that was much needed in SW Michigan. It embraces the community in a way that is nothing short of admirable, providing an unforgettable ambiance of warmth and familiarity.
The bubbling atmosphere of the restaurant extends into the camaraderie of the yard, filled with endless games and laughter.
This past September I had the favorable occasion of having my wedding and reception hosted here. From the very beginning the owners embraced my vision, and all the changes I made to it throughout (thanks again!!) The staff did a beautiful job setting up and taking care to ensure a smooth and joyful experience from start to finish. Our bartender, for our private bar, crafted pretty and delicious drinks all the while making engaging conversation with our crew. (A little shout out for crying along side the rest of us and being a truly special part of our big day!!) The food was easily as remarkable as the rest. Both the charcuterie board for our cocktail hour and the BBQ buffet were displayed beautifully, delicious, and priced to please! Although I had my doubts about quantities, we had leftovers enough for a week, (bonus points in my book). The chef and all the kitchen staff were fantastic and catered everything beautifully around our festivities.
In a world where wedding planning can be overwhelming & expensive, The Backyard of Kalamazoo provides a charming and quaint alternative without sacrificing any of the magic. Thank you once again, to the owners, staff, and customers who congratulated & celebrated with us. I loved every second of my wedding day here. Everyone got to relax, be present, and fully enjoy themselves in a space, that without a doubt, is built for families of all shapes and sizes to have a great time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Charcuterie Board, Pulled Pork

Great service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Backyard Classic Burger, Fries, Chicken Tenders

Absolutely recommend! The SouthWest Michigan MomTok group came here for our first meet up and we cannot say enough good things. Being a large group of moms with their kids, we made sure to call ahead for seating but it’s not required. The outside space is SO much more than I expected! Everything from toddler zone to pool tables to soccer to connect 4 and beyond with lots of seating options. As a group of moms we felt safe and comfortable being able to see our kids inside and outside (indoor play area with viewing? Yes please!). Food was yummy and quick and the service was AMAZING! Our server had a tough task that she handled with grace and the music bingo was hype. 12/10 recommend!

I recently visited The Backyard of Kalamazoo and had an exceptional experience from start to finish. I ordered the burger with pulled pork and bacon, and it was absolutely outstanding. The burger was juicy, the pulled pork added a perfect smoky flavor, and the crispy bacon brought everything together beautifully.

Beyond the fantastic food, what really stood out was the outstanding service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without hovering. They also knew their beer selection well, recommending a local brew that paired perfectly with my meal.

One of the best parts of The Backyard is the outdoor play area. It’s perfect for families with kids, offering a safe and fun space where children can play while parents relax and enjoy their food. The laid-back atmosphere combined with the play area makes it a great spot for families to dine out together without any stress.

Between the incredible service, top-notch food, and family-friendly environment, The Backyard of Kalamazoo is a place I’ll definitely be returning to. If you’re looking for a spot that caters to both adults and kids, with great food and drinks, this is it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fries, Pulled Pork

Fun place to bring the family. Amazing food

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Showed up on a random Thursday afternoon about 2pm. 9/12/24. Giant outside area. Inside dining area good size. Seats maybe like 40 people. Ordered rodeo burger that was good. She ordered some chicken taco. She said it was the best taco she ever ate. 3 year old ordered pig in a blanket. It was not a good choice but there are other things on menu that would have been better for him. He was so distracted by the inside play room that he had no want to waste his time messing with food. Waitress very nice and welcoming. Adult beverages available. Inside play room available. Inside play room is 2-5 year old age based toys. Bunch of barbie, cars, trucks, dress up costumes, and other stuff. We were pretty much the only ones there. Everywhere inside was very clean. Then we ventured outside. Random outside yard games scattered on the property such as a giant connect 4, cornhole, life sized checker board, basketball hoops, a pool table, pretty much anything you would see bring played at a back yard bbq or campground. Then the children area..... I must say,,, they hit the nail on the head on this one. With zero bad intentions, it totally looked like they went to every yardsale and grabbed all the kid equipment they could find. Equipment being the little houses, activity center with the slide attached, fake bbq grill, a pink vanity to do your makeup, like everything. All lined up in 2 rows, side by side by side. Maybe 200 feet long. Outside green carpet creating a kind of neighborhood 50 feet wide. Then down the middle of this neighborhood, there are seesaws and other bulletproof outside kid equipment. Then, at the far end, there were an assortment of tricycles, push cars, scooters, Flintstone powered kid cars. Nothing that could go fast and run over other kids. Mr Lee, the 3 year old with us, was the only one out there. After we eventually ripped him out of the inside play area, he was kind of bummed since inside had everything we wanted to play with. We went to the kids area. There is a chalk wall to doodle on maybe 40 feet long. Random stuff attached to wall like xylophone, random noise maker, activity boards. Then he spotted all the stuff. He went door to door of those play houses and had to check each one out. If it had a button, he pushed it. Sitting pavilions are providing with outdoor couches, chairs, and tables for us grown folks. He eventually ran back and said he found two spaceships and invited me to go blast off with him. So quite content with sitting, I drug my carcass up to go to blast off. At the other end of the neighborhood, there was another sitting pavilion. That's when he checked out all the cars and scooters. While we sat in the pavilion, we were served fake imaginary banana bread fresh from the kids' grill that was placed in the neighborhood. I ate all mine. .... all in all,, perfect idea. Great concept. Don't know what it will be in the winter months. Waitress lady, while giving the initial lowdown, said that on occasions, that they have inflatable stuff out there. Conclusion, bring your kids from 0-6. Let them loose outside and let them go at it. Good food. 2 bucks for outside area wristband.... oh, I talked to the guy working out there. I asked about all the equipment they had. He said much of it purchased new. Some were from marketplace. I know each of those houses are like $200 each. There is a jeep one out there that I know goes for $300.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Rodeo Burger, Pig in a Blanket

The backyard of this place is not your ordinary hangout spot - it's a truly unique and exciting idea that guarantees a fun-filled experience for you and your family! Imagine a vibrant and lively space where you can relax and enjoy quality time together. From thrilling games to cozy seating areas, this backyard has it all. So, gather your loved ones and get ready for some unforgettable fun in this amazing and entertaining oasis!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Backyard Classic Burger, Fries, Chicken Tenders

This was our first time here. All in all not a bad experience, just a little overpriced in my opinion. The concept is great. Our server was very nice. The food was good, but not worth what it cost in my opinion. Before tip, for two kids meals and two adult cheeseburger meals with one cocktail it was over $80. Then you have to pay separately to go to the play area. The play area was very big and very clean. Our kids had a good time. They have a ton of outdoor toys for young kids, but our 8 year old was almost too old for the stuff they had. I guess with colder weather setting in maybe they had already retired the inflatables for the year. Maybe we will try it again next summer.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Fries, Rodeo Burger