But tonight, fortunately for me, was not one of those nights. Tonight my husband and I took in the classic Muskegon date night: Indie flick at Harbor Theatre followed by a warm pink and purple sunset at the sugar sanded beach of Pere Marquette Park. But not before stopping by Frosty Oasis on Sherman Boulevard for ice cream, of course!

My husband M. ordered his usual. Well, not his usual. It wasn’t the chocolate Monster Malt.  He’s watching his portion sizes. Or something like that.

Instead, M. ordered the “medium,” which honestly folks, is more like a “large.” Like ordering the new “small” drink at Burger King (but that’s another review in another place). And, though I can’t speak for him, I do know it was nearly gone by the time we drove past the dog beach.

Seems like, when it comes to food, West Michigan likes it large. Which maybe is why there are literally hundreds of options on the “Frosty O” menu board.

Have you seen that thing? Wowzers. You almost need to pull up a lawn chair to give yourself enough time to consider all the ooey-gooey options, or at least until you find that perfect little morsel of goodness crying out to you.

Will it be Grand Haven’s famous Pronto Pup? A freshly made elephant ear or caramel corn, or maybe a Gummy Bear Flurry? It can honestly be overwhelming if you don’t know your taste buds well.

In my case, Ashby’s “Ultimate Peanut Butter Brownie” hard ice cream in a homemade waffle cone had my name written all over it — like a good sale on chicken breast at Meijer.

But as with the malt, a ‘small’ it was definitely NOT.

‘Small’ just doesn’t seem fair. It does not describe the heaping mounds of ice cream molded to my delicate cone, or the intensely rich peanut butter and goodness in my first bite.

It was heaven on a cone — is what it was (cue the choir of angels). A hard, hand-packed mountain of vanilla ice cream with swirls of velvety smooth peanut butter ribbon blended with just the right amount of brownie bites to satisfy the chocoholic in me. Every bite was sinfully delicious.

But it wasn’t just the ice cream, or the lack of preschoolers in the backseat, that took me back to being 17 years old on the way to the beach with my sweetie. The handmade waffle code sealed the deal.

It was rich, and crunchy, and fresh. And big. It was the perfect place for the last drops of melted, syrupy peanut butter cream to pool in before I devoured the last crumb. Every drip on my hand from that bottomless cone reminded me of the joys of being a kid with an ice cream cone.

Now, what the ingredients were, I can’t say. I honestly don’t know (but definitely some hints of almond). I don’t know if it was made with organic milk or fair trade chocolate. I doubt it. And as much as I appreciate all that is good and right with those elements, I equally appreciate enjoying a deliciously refreshing ice cream cone while watching a sunset with my best friend.

And anyway, I’m convinced the finest ingredients for a summertime date night on the Lakeshore include, “Frosty O” and a Lake Michigan sunset.

Just one disclaimer: There’s often a long line to place your order at Frosty Oasis. But that’s a good thing, right?

The waiter, a familiar face named Brian, craftily flips up our brightly hued coffee mugs with a thumb in each ring holder and sets them right-side up on the table as he welcomes us in for brunch. It’s time.

Morning Star Café is conveniently located downtown in Grand Haven — a beautiful beach town with a strong local flavor and many fun attractions. On top of the selection of must-see, must-do, must-eat is this beloved joint on Washington Street.

The café is full of life and color. It embraces a southwestern Arizonian ambiance. The color palette features bright purples and darker peach and vivid blue walls. Cactus plants make multiple appearances. The walls have happy cartoon photos of tea sets and beach themes, but the star of the show is the pottery mosaic wall.

The left side back wall is artistically covered with broken pottery — plates and mugs of all colors fashion a rainbow of kitchenware that you just want to touch. Just behind the mosaic is a bar for patrons to eat at with a prime view of the chefs at work — probably the best seat in the house!

Saturday morning here equals fresh, scrumptious breakfast fare for a crowded collection of hungry and dedicated customers. And this time there was no line and no wait; rare but much appreciated. And I never mind the usual wait because I know what is to come. For those who have not yet tasted their delicious food, don’t despair. Once your name is called and you take your first bite, you may forget you waited at all.

I flipped through the three-fold menu and settled on China Mist Iced Tea ($1.75) while my boyfriend ordered a Mocha Java ($3.95). The iced tea was standard and refreshing, but I have had better. The mocha java which combines dark star coffee, chocolate, and whipped cream hit the spot for him, though.

My order consisted of oatmeal cakes with dried cranberry and brown sugar ($6.75) off of the Gourmet Griddle. My boyfriend decided on the Denver Omelet: ham, green pepper, onions and cheddar cheese with a side of breakfast potatoes ($7.95). The oatmeal cakes were piping hot and flavored by the hint of brown sugar. The creamy butter appeared opaline with cinnamon flecks and the Michigan pure maple syrup tasted really, really good. The juxtaposition of dried cranberry and soft oatcake resulted in a nice texture fusion. I also favored the sweet thickness of the syrup with the cool, thin, refreshing tea. I snagged a few breakfast potatoes from across the table. They were tasty, then again who messes up potatoes?

The omelet treated my boyfriend well: Flavorful, filling, and fun to eat. We happily felt well-fed but not overbearingly full.

If you do arrive at a particularly active period, there is room outside to sit and socialize. Not to mention nice shops to explore and a charming local bookstore called The Bookman right next door. Nothing makes me happier than food and books, truth be told.

Morning Star succeeds at being that one place. You know, the one place everyone recommends. “Oh you’re going to Grand Haven; make sure you check out Morning Star Café!” The owners Lisa and Will Passinault have been preparing awesome homemade food since 1995. With good conversation, a friendly and appropriately chatty waiter, and simple but satisfying food, Morning Star is the perfect way to start a Saturday.