Here’s a common refrain every homebrewer with decent chops has heard dozens of times: “Your beer is really good. You should open a brewery.”

While it may often be a polite declaration from a gracious recipient of free beer, it has nonetheless empowered more than a handful of hobbyists to consider making the leap into the professional leagues. 

However, making that jump is not as easy — or as inexpensive — as it may sound.

Justin Whitman, the bar manager at Donkey admitted to us that when he and his staff have trouble coming up with cocktail names, they tend to lean on band names. Well bravo, team. The Velvet Underground manages not only to taste like a smoky NYC bar circa 1964, its Day-Glo orange also looks like it could have doubled as a prop in Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

Not that long ago, going up north for the weekend meant stepping back in time by leaving cellphone coverage and craft beverages behind for a few days.

Restaurant Week GR is a celebration of outstanding local food. It’s an opportunity to try something new while experiencing the best that Grand Rapids restaurants have to offer. We sent Revue writers to four participating restaurants for a sneak preview of what’s coming to your table.