Oakland Thrive Restaurant Quest: Bittersweet Cafe in Holly
(Crystal A. Proxmire, July 20, 2025)
Holly, MI – Bittersweet Cafe is a quaint little restaurant in an historic building in the middle of the historic Downtown of Holly.
A friend and I went for lunch, enjoying the ambiance of the cafe’s back patio. My friend ordered the cheese quesadilla with chicken added to it. This had cheddar jack and parmsean cheeses in grilled tortilla with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and salsa. He also ordered the sausage corn chowder that has just a little bit of a kick to it.
I went for the Mushroom and Swiss burger, topped with grilled mushrooms and red onions. It came with chips and cole slaw. I also ordered one of their signature drinks – the cremosa. This is a mix of cream, soda water, and your choice of flavoring. I picked raspberry.
Bittersweet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast choices include cinnamon French toast, breakfast burritos, frittatas, and a selection of omelets. Later in the day choices include unique sandwiches like the Rose Manor Reuben made with corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island on Rye. The Firehouse Sub has Cajun-seasoned turkey breast, provolone, red onions, mild peppers, and BBQ sauce on a hoagie. Other choices include the Classic Tex Mex Wrap, Grilled Veggie Sub, and Harvest Ham Melt. Burgers come in different styles as well, including the Big Mike with two patties, American cheese, lettuce, red onions, pickles and Thousand Island.
There are also a dozen salad choices. Among them is the Victorian Spinach which has blue cheese, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. There’s also the Festival Tuna Salad featuring White Albacore tuna salad topped with boiled egg, tomato slices, shredded Colby Jack on a bed of mixed greens with honey French dressing.
Bittersweet Cafe is located at 112 S. Saginaw Street in Downtown Holly. Learn more at https://www.thebittersweetcafe.com/
With support from Oakland Thrive, Oakland County Times Editor and Publisher Crystal Proxmire is on a quest to try every restaurant in Oakland County. Oakland Thrive is a transformative force dedicated to nurturing local businesses. Since 2023, Oakland Thrive has helped foster success by connecting Oakland County businesses of all kinds with resources and expert advice, including specialized help for businesses in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Oakland Thrive is focused on bridging economic disparities, fostering inclusive growth, and ensuring equitable opportunities. Learn more about Oakland Thrive events, classes, and opportunities for small businesses at https://oaklandthrive.org/
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