Barbed Wire Cafe

Barbed Wire Cafe is a beloved nostalgic diner located at 140 S Main Street in the heart of Plainwell, Michigan. This unique establishment was born from the love story of Gary and Barb Bechtel, who met, courted, and ultimately got married at the very diner Barb would one day own. Barb took over the Plainwell Diner in June 2016, and together with Gary, they tore down the original building and adjoining bait shop in May 2017, constructing a stunning new diner from the ground up. The interior showcases an incredible collection of farm antiques, Plainwell memorabilia, and vintage signs, including a piece of the original Plainwell bowling alley, metal tin ceiling tiles from T.G.I. Friday's, and a 1939 World War I license plate at the veterans table. The custom-designed old school booths were brought to life by Ron Root of Roots Canvas. The menu features made-from-scratch cooking using only the finest ingredients—potatoes are never frozen, fries are hand-cut, and they serve Cadillac coffee decaffeinated using water rather than chemicals. Breakfast and lunch are served seven days a week, with dinner available three nights weekly. Sundays feature their legendary Sunday Chicken with all the fixings. Indoor and outdoor dining is available, and the diner has nearly quadrupled its seating capacity since reopening.