East Lansing, Okemos Eateries Opening

There are two new restaurants to choose from on the east side of the Greater Lansing region.

In East Lansing, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is opening its first Michigan franchise on Grand River Avenue across from the Michigan State University campus.

Julia Doyle, director of public relations, touted the freshness of the food.

“All of our food is cooked to order, served hot, fresh and as fast as possible — we do not have heat lamps in our restaurants,” Doyle said. “Our chicken fingers are handmade in our restaurants every day. They are always fresh and never frozen and made from premium chicken. Our award-winning secret ‘Cane’s Sauce’ is also made daily in each of our restaurants by our managers.”

The restaurant also offers crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast. The 3,000-square-foot eatery will seat 65 and have a walk-up window. It is expected to open in early October.

Joe’s on Jolly is the newest addition to the Okemos dining culture, and owner Joe Goodsir said the restaurant, which seats 355, has many unique features.

“We’ll have classic shareables, and we have great salads, great handhelds, wagyu burgers that no one else in the area has, plus we have gourmet Neapolitan-style pizzas and five great entrees,” said Goodsir, who also owns Capital Prime.

An outdoor dining area behind the restaurant, Joe’s Backyard, has a variety of seating, a bar and picnic tables set up next to a firepit.

“It has a more casual feel to it, and it has two cornhole lanes,” Goodsir explained.

There’s also an indoor arcade room with seating.

“There’s nothing like it in Okemos,” Goodsir said. “Meet at Joe’s, eat at Joe’s.”