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Metro Grand Rapids opened last month with the goal of changing the city’s music industry forever. The new venue at 1901 S. Division Ave. — previously occupied by Yester Years Lounge — was created specifically to act as a launching pad for West Michigan’s up-and-coming musicians of all genres. Metro has 20 beers on tap, a “concise” kitchen menu and an outdoor patio.
Whoever replaced Grand Rapids’ beloved Marie Catrib’s surely knew they have absolutely humongous shoes to fill, but Kingfisher Restaurant and Deli seems up to the challenge. The new restaurant from the owners of Early Bird Cafe and Littlebird brings back many of the Meditteranean and European flavors of Marie Catrib’s, with dishes like a fattoush salad, eggplant caponata and hummus toast. Head to 1001 Lake Dr. SE any day of the week for breakfast, brunch or lunch — 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — with dinner and drinks coming soon! Also, keep an eye out for the deli’s forthcoming opening.
After closing for roof repairs last year, fans wondered what would become of Citizen, a tiki restaurant in Creston. The answer comes in the form of River North Public House, open now at 2115 Plainfield Ave. NE. Now branded as a community restaurant and watering hole, River North’s food leans toward comfort food and American classics, with burgers, sandwiches, salads and entrees like Mac & Cheese and Grilled Sirloin Tip Steak. The drink menu has shifted too, moving from tiki drinks to a more classic list of beer, wine and a few specialty cocktails.
If you see a cloud of smoke rising from Saugatuck, don’t call the fire department — that’s just Baldy’s Smoked Meats. The new fast-casual barbecue restaurant at 340 Water St., Saugatuck has a custom-built smoker that can hold 1,800 pounds of meat per cook cycle, which also makes Baldy’s a full-service caterer. Award-winning pitmaster George has more than 35 years of experience smoking meats. Combine that with house-made rubs, mops and sauces and you’ve got our mouths watering. Stop in for smoked meat, sandwiches and classic barbecue sides.
After years of making and distributing mead, Grimsby Hollow Meadery finally has its own tasting room in Middleville. The cozy new spot at 4525 N. M-37 Hwy is serving up cheese, small plates and tons of mead, with flavors like smoked pumpkin, red raspberry, pecan pie, oak-aged traditional and more. The owners, Dave and Mandy, have tasted hundreds of meads while running meadbuzz.com, so they clearly know their stuff.
This year, Jess Carae won best Makeup Artist in Best of the West, so plenty of voters should be excited to know she opened her own business last month. Jess Carae Beauty Bar brings all the services you can imagine to 940 W. Fulton St., from bridal party makeup to eyelash extension, microblading, makeup application and hair styling. It’s the perfect place to make yourself feel special.
—Compiled by Josh Veal
