Here at Revue, we believe West Michigan’s dining and drinking scene punches well above its weight.
We have incredibly driven, passionate and innovative people creating a stellar constellation of experiences across the region—Scandinavian cuisine, tapas, wild breweries, vegan coffee shops, dive bars. It’s almost too much to process, and you might find yourself revisiting the same list every time you think about going out.
That’s where we step in, attempting to bring our years of experience trying every spot in town to the table. While we’re certainly not saying these are objectively the best restaurants and bars around, we are saying these are some of our favorite spots we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to locals and visitors alike.
Here are a few of Revue’s top picks for any occasion.
First Drink Date: Pursuit of Happiness
1426 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids
For your first date, this champagne and cocktail bar has something for everyone, including beer, espresso and N/A options. That means you don’t have to worry about what they do or don’t drink! Plus, the big windows and clean, modern design creates a vibe that’s not too fussy but not too casual.
First Dinner Date: The Commons
547 Cherry St., Grand Rapids
For your first meal together, we like a spot that’s cozy and welcoming, and The Commons fits the vibe perfectly. The menu boasts classics like burgers and goulash. With lots of wood paneling, wallpapers and vintage furniture, it’s like having a meal at your grandma’s house—but maybe even tastier (no offense, meemaw).
Anniversary: Café Mamo
1601 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
With limited seating that gives a view right into the small, open kitchen, Café Mamo feels a bit like having a private chef come to your house. That includes a friendly and knowledgeable staff, a legit wine program, and a weekly rotating menu based on fresh, local ingredients. It’s just as perfect for a special occasion like an anniversary as it is for any night of the week.
Nightcap: Eastern Kille Wealthy
634 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
When you’re done with dinner, or even your post-meal drink, and want to grab one more to cap things off, EK Wealthy is there for you. This hip cocktail lounge is abuzz with activity later into the night, thanks to an inventive, acclaimed cocktail program and all-around great vibes.
New American: Principle Food & Drink
230 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
It’s hard to pin down exactly what “New American” means, but Principle is the perfect example. They take classics like meatloaf and pork chops and elevate them to something entirely different from your typical home cooking—not to mention the stellar cocktails. Every plate that comes to the table is a delightful surprise.
GR Institution: San Chez Bistro
38 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
San Chez has been around since 1992, and we don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between comfortable and upscale, and the menu of top-notch tapas (along with a daily brunch) has been bringing people together with a shared dining experience for decades now. If you’ve never been, you’re simply missing out.
Patio: Archival Brewing
6266 W. River Dr. NE, Belmont
Known for their recreations of historic and forgotten styles of beer, and an excellent kitchen, Archival is well worth a visit year-round. But once it’s warm enough to enjoy a pint outdoors, this is especially the place to be. There are multiple fire pits, yard games, tons of seating, and a beautiful view—along with plenty of events, including outdoor yoga and live music. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!
Food + Beer: Harmony Brewing Co.
1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids
From the moment they opened their doors, Harmony has been known for their pizza. The uniquely fluffy crust pairs perfectly with lightly-sauced, topping-forward pies, and makes for irresistible breadsticks as well. That alone would be plenty, but we’re blessed that they make great craft beer and cocktails to go with the ‘za.
Creativity: The Unicorn Tavern
415 S. Beechtree St., Grand Haven
Voted Best Restaurant in Grand Haven by our readers, the Belgian-inspired Unicorn Tavern is unapologetically bold. They like to have fun with their menu, aesthetics and taproom atmosphere. Expect everything from Belgian dishes like Schnitzel and Mitraillette to classics like mac & cheese and steak & frites. Plus, lots of beer, cocktails and wine.
New Flavors: The Søvengård
1232 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids
There are only so many New Nordic restaurants in America, and certainly only one in Grand Rapids. Don’t let this intimidate you: It’s all approachable, but refreshingly unique. They offer dishes like risotto, walleye and short rib with a Scandinavian approach. That means plenty of seasonal ingredients, including roasted root vegetables, fresh herbs and plenty of pickled things.
Innovative Drinks: Speciation Cellars
928 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
For innovation on the beverage side, Speciation reigns supreme. What started as a wild brewery has expanded into cider, seltzer and wine. You’ll find saisons and sours loaded with fruit and other flavors, aged in foeders and puncheons, all served in a taproom that celebrates nature.
Imaginative Cocktails: Drip Drop Cocktail Room
445 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids
Drip Drop isn’t afraid to make anything into a cocktail. The Cornbread Old Fashioned and avocado Margarita are proof enough of that. You can find less adventurous drinks here as well, but for those of us who like to try entirely new experiences, this is your spot. And the menu changes frequently thanks to their inventive bartenders, so you have plenty reason to come back again and again.
Wine Bar: Good Good Good
1590 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Good Good Good feels like a wine bar (and flower shop) for the modern age. Its interior, filled with fresh blooms and natural light, is clean and minimalist yet cozy and relaxing. The husband and wife duo who run the place are passionate about natural wine and flowers, but completely unpretentious and excited to welcome you into their world. Think you don’t like wine? They might just change your mind.
Hidden Gem: Nightwatch Lounge
201 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
Chances are, you’ve walked right past Nightwatch Lounge without even realizing it. It’s a classy place downtown, full of lovely art, offering boundary-pushing cocktails and mocktails. If your friends don’t know about it, you’ll seem real cool when you lead them behind a nondescript door in The Plaza Apartments and up a stairwell to this hidden gem.
Beer Crawl: Downtown Holland
Downtown Holland is a wonderful little haven of craft beer that, in our opinion, isn’t discussed enough. In one visit, you can very easily and quickly walk from Tulip City Brewstillery to Big Lake Brewing, to New Holland Brewing, to Our Brewing Co., to Hops at 84 East. And not even a mile off are Brew Merchant and Brewery 4 Two 4 (which has some of the best beer in West Michigan, in our opinion).
Bar Crawl: Michigan Street
It may be the Medical Mile up the hill, but down the road, Michigan Street becomes the perfect place for a bar crawl. Start at Duke’s Social House, hop next door to Glass House, then Bob’s Sports Bar (don’t forget the chambong), the iconic Birch Lodge (perfect for bar bites), 7 Monks Taproom for craft beer, and Logan’s Alley for even more. Then you can cap things off with Elbow Room on Fuller! We’d just suggest you avoid drunk driving the tempting e-scooters all around.
Pile of Meat: Two Scotts Barbecue
536 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids
Two Scotts has barbecue down to such an impeccable science—or maybe it’s more of an art—the meat is the star. All you really need is a ½ pound of pulled pork, brisket or burnt ends, along with a flight of sauces for dipping, and you’re good to go. But of course, it doesn’t hurt that their sides like pimento mac & cheese and collard greens are killer too.
Vegan (& GF): FIKA
1359 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
No meat? No problem. From the owners of Rise Authentic Baking comes FIKA, a coffee shop and eatery in Creston doing incredible things with an all vegan, entirely gluten-free menu. If you think meat and dairy are necessary for delicious food, or for some reason you’re a big gluten stan, FIKA will prove you wrong. Get the Tot + Sausage Hash and thank us later.
Dive Bar: The Derby
816 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids
Picking just one dive bar in all of West Michigan is by no means easy, but Derby embodies the ethos while still making everybody feel comfortable. They have the wood-everywhere design, the darts, the jukebox, pool table, microwaved snacks, cheap drinks, and most importantly, good vibes.
REVUE'S QUICK PICKS
We don’t have space to list every single amazing eatery in West Michigan, but here are a few of our favs, if you’re new to town or just looking to expand your horizons.
Fried Chicken
616 Batter Mix
Cousin’s Tasty Chicken
New York Fried Chicken
Chinese
Chopstick House
First Wok
Rice Wok
Indian
Pind Indian Cuisine
Roti Indian Kitchen
Mithu Srilankan & Indian Cuisine
Italian
Palio
Mangiamo
Nonna’s
Mediterranean
Chicago Style Gyro
Sheshco Mediterranean Grill
Zivio
Mexican
Iker’s Tacos
El Granjero
Mezkla Taqueria (Holland)
Thai
Bangkok Taste
Lai Thai
Bangkok Flavor (Kalamazoo)
Lunch
Schnitz Deli
KCM
One Stop Coney Shop
Breakfast
Crow’s Nest (Kalamazoo)
Cherie Inn
Morning Star Café (Grand Haven)
Pizza
The Mitten Brewing
Quarantino’s
Fricano’s (Grand Haven)
Burgers
Black Napkin (duh)
Nonla Burger (GR & Kalamazoo)
O’Briens Deli & Burgers
Wings
Mike’s Wings
LFG (Kalamazoo)
Wing Kingz
