3 Sisters Sandwich Company Brings Fresh Food and a Family Story to Battle Creek

There are restaurants where you walk in, order your food, eat and leave.

Then there are places where, before you’ve even finished your meal, you feel like you’ve gotten to know the people behind the counter.

3 Sisters Sandwich Company is one of those places.

Located at 425 Capital Ave NE in Battle Creek, 3 Sisters is a brand-new locally owned sandwich shop that immediately caught my attention. After stopping in to give it a try, I found plenty to like about the food, but the story behind the restaurant and the people running it may have impressed me even more.

Meet Dory, Sherry and the story behind 3 Sisters

During our visit, we had the opportunity to talk with Dory, who explained where the name 3 Sisters comes from.

And yes, there really are three sisters.

Dory is the middle sister. She told us the sisters enjoyed making food and cooking together, and the restaurant’s name became a way of honoring that bond. Her older sister has since passed away, which gives the name an even deeper meaning.

Dory is the sister working in the restaurant today, but she has another “sister” alongside her.

That’s Sherry, her friend of more than 40 years.

Dory and Sherry couldn’t have been more friendly or welcoming during our visit. We asked questions about the menu, talked about the new business and chatted while we ate. It never felt forced. They simply made us feel welcome.

For a brand-new local restaurant, that kind of hospitality matters.

Now, let’s talk about the sandwiches

I ordered the BC Market Steak & Cheddar, and this was a very good sandwich.

According to the menu, it starts with seared ribeye, sharp cheddar cheese and sweet onion jam, served on grilled garlic sourdough.

The combination works.

The beef was flavorful and juicy, the melted cheese brought everything together, and I especially liked the sweetness from the onion jam. The sourdough was nicely grilled and crisp without becoming hard or soggy, something that can make or break a hot sandwich.

This is a hearty sandwich. You’re not leaving hungry.

My wife went with the Harvest Moon Turkey Melt, made with smoked turkey, crisp bacon, mozzarella, sweet cranberry mayo, fresh spinach and ripe tomatoes on garlic-grilled sourdough.

Again, this isn’t your standard turkey sandwich. The combination of ingredients gives it considerably more character than something you’d expect from a typical sandwich chain.

That’s one thing I noticed throughout the menu. There are familiar ingredients, but 3 Sisters is putting its own spin on them.

Don’t overlook the sides

We also wanted to try a couple of the sides, and I’m glad we did.

I chose the coleslaw, which was cool, creamy and smooth with plenty of dressing. It paired especially well with the hot steak and cheddar sandwich.

The red-skinned potato salad was another winner. You could immediately taste that it was made with actual fresh potatoes rather than having that processed texture you sometimes find in prepared potato salads.

Both sides tasted fresh and fit exactly with the homemade, neighborhood-sandwich-shop feel of the place.

And then we spotted the cookies...

While we were there, trays of desserts were sitting near the counter, including some pretty impressive-looking cookies.

There were traditional varieties along with cookies topped with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and they certainly didn’t hurt the atmosphere.

Between the sandwiches, salads, wraps, sides and desserts, there’s quite a bit more here than the name “sandwich company” might initially suggest.

A comfortable little neighborhood spot

The restaurant itself also deserves some attention.

It’s clean, bright and comfortable, with a small dining area if you’d rather eat there instead of taking your food home. The floral wall, black tables and industrial-style lighting give the room some personality without trying too hard.

And there’s something else I loved seeing.

They have board games.

UNO, Yahtzee, Phase 10, Scrabble and several others are available for customers to play. It’s a small detail, but it says something about the atmosphere Dory is trying to create.

This isn’t supposed to be a place where you’re rushed through the line and out the door.

It’s a neighborhood sandwich shop where you’re welcome to stick around for a while.

This is exactly the kind of new local business I enjoy finding

After more than 40 years working in restaurants myself, I tend to notice the little things.

Is the restaurant clean? Is the food handled with care? Do the people working there seem happy you’re there? Does the food taste like somebody actually thought about what they’re serving?

On this visit, 3 Sisters checked those boxes.

The sandwiches were delicious. The sides tasted fresh. The restaurant looked great.

But what I’ll probably remember most from our first visit is Dory and Sherry.

They were genuinely friendly, happy to answer our questions and proud of what they’re building. Once Dory told us the story behind the restaurant’s name, 3 Sisters stopped being just another new sandwich shop.

It became a local business with a story.

And those are the businesses I’m always happiest to introduce to Battle Creek.

3 Sisters Sandwich Company
425 Capital Ave NE
Battle Creek, MI 49017
269-364-5043

Questions You Might Have

Q: Where is 3 Sisters Sandwich Company located?
A: 3 Sisters Sandwich Company is located at 425 Capital Ave NE in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Q: What does 3 Sisters Sandwich Company serve?
A: The menu includes specialty sandwiches and grinders, paninis, wraps, salads, breakfast options, homemade-style sides and desserts.

Q: Can you eat inside 3 Sisters Sandwich Company?
A: Yes. The restaurant has a casual dine-in area, and customers can also order food to take with them.