Coffee & Treats in Portage

Though the recipes are kept secret, the ingredients that go into Y'OPA Frozen Yogurt's eponymous dessert are proudly publicized. Yogurt-makers blend real dairy and fruit purees with probiotic cultures to create a rotating selection of flavors, nearly all of which are low in sodium and cholesterol. Said flavors run the gamut from nonfat birthday cake and sugar-free wild strawberry to seasonal options, such as chocolate mint. Only the toppings outnumber the self-serve shop's flavors. More than 70 – including fresh fruit, cookie dough, and baklava – can smother each customized treat.

White Velvet Frozen Yogurt tickles the milk of grass-fed Michigan cows with sprinkles of cane sugar until it giggles out rich, tart frozen yogurt. The tangy handcrafted semi-solid is then swirled into cups along with the tantalizing toppings of your choosing. Update staid fruit salad with concoctions involving blueberry, kiwi, strawberries, and dried pineapple, or swaddle a yowling sweet tooth with spoonfuls swimming in chocolate, cookies or cereal. Thanks to its simple, natural ingredients, the treat can be low in calories, sugar, and fat, and contains all the health benefits associated with natural yogurt, making it a healthier alternative to ice cream and frozen corn dogs.

At PlumCrazzy, patrons can sate their sweet tooth and grab a quick lunch in one stop, with a menu filled with ice cream, shakes, cupcakes, build-your-own sandwiches, soup, chili dogs, and more. Noontime diners can build their own sandwich, selecting from a variety of meats and cheeses and then piling on the fixin's ($5.50), or they can select a classic combination with a bowl of white chicken chili ($3.50) or chili dog ($2.50). For dessert, PlumCrazzy serves Michigan favorite Plainwell ice cream, with 39 regular flavors—six seasonal, seven sherbet, and three sugar-free varieties are also up for grabs, including the popular cake batter, black raspberry, molten chocolate cake, or strawberry cheesecake. Cap a meal with a small sundae ($4.25) or single-scoop waffle cone ($3.75). On Wednesdays, customers can BYOB—bring your own banana—for a $3.50 banana split (regularly $5.50).

Barista Blues West styles itself after an Italian café, creating a place where guests can sip and dine as they catch up with old friends. From the early hours of the morning onward, the staff creates the fresh-baked goods, soup du jour, and deli sandwiches that come stocked with more layers of meat than a linebacker on an all-kebab football team. As guests savor their meals with a hot tea or a bubbly italian soda, they can socialize at a sunny table or watch musician Michael Angelo strum and sing on select evenings.

Voted Best Student Hangout and one of the best venues for live music and performances by the Kalamazoo Gazette, The Strutt presents crowd-pleasing American fare and nightly musical entertainment for stimulating study breaks or an evening out. The menus feature appetizers that include the black-bean-queso dip ($5.95), and heartier stomach stuffers, such as The Sloppy José, which puts a spicy, south-of-the-border spin on a classic dish ($4.95). Meanwhile, meat eschewers can chew on plentiful vegetarian options, including the roasted-veggie quesadilla ($5.95) or the Blue Apple salad, with apples, raisins, red onion, toasted almonds, and gorgonzola tossed in shallot vinaigrette ($6.95). A full bar, extensive beer list, and nightly drink specials complement any meal or musical act, and the plentiful brunch –– with live jazz on Saturday and bluegrass on Sunday –– and breakfast make this spot a go-to from day to day after.

Let's Swirl tickles tonsils with an ever-revolving array of frozen yogurt in flavors such as birthday cake, pistachio, and pomegranate raspberry tart. Customers craft their own combinations, swirling together flavors such as strawberry-kiwi sorbet and key-lime sorbet. A cornucopia of confections is available to top icy creations, including sour gummy worms, Reese's Pieces, and Fruit Loops. Wholesome tidbits include blueberries, almonds, and granola.