food & drink Restaurants / PEOPLE / reviews
dining listings
A guide to restaurants in Grand Rapids and beyond
The recommendations and reviews in the listings are the opinions of the editors. Restaurants are included by virtue of overall quality. We have created symbols to area restaurant amenities, which are defined in a legend at the end of this listing.
New American Upscale, contemporary cooking including ethnic twists on familiar standbys.
Electric Cheetah — Eclectic menu changes weekly with an emphasis on locally grown fare and creative combinations in urban setting. Unique Sunday brunch. 1015 Wealthy St SE, 451-4779. electriccheetah.com. L, D ¢-$
25 Kitchen And Bar — Dining and bar space on separate levels and a menu that offers 25 pizzas, 25 beers, 25 specialty cocktails, 25 appetizers and inventive entrees artfully presented. Open daily. 25 Ottawa Ave SW, 8055581. twentyfivegr.com. L, D $-$$
Gilly’s At The Bob — Innovative takes on seafood on the 1st floor of The BOB, complete with raw bar. Seasonal menu offers cuttingedge fare. 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com. L (Sat), D $-$$
Bar Divani — Wine flights, large array of spirits; classy surroundings. European-inspired food with plates meant for sharing, flatbreads, sushi and a variety of entrees. Closed Sun. 15 Ionia Ave SW, 774-9463. bar-divani. $-$$ com. L, D
Graydon’s Crossing — English pub serves Indian food with a British influence. Full bar features impressive array of specialty beers. 1223 Plainfield Ave NE, 726-8260. graydons $ crossing.com. L, D
OBistro Bella Vita — Big-city casual; fresh French and Italian cuisine, locally sourced and prepared over a wood fire. Mammoth martini bar, nice wine selection. 44 Grandville Ave SW, 222-4600. bistrobellavita.com. L, D $
Brewery Vivant — House-made beer and food in the style of traditional French and Belgian country dishes. The East Hills pub/ brewery is housed in a renovated funeral chapel. Most dishes are made with ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Open daily. 925 Cherry St SE, 719-1604. $-$$ breweryvivant.com. L, D _ Citysen Lounge — Limited but tantalizing selection of soup, salads, sandwiches and sharable small-plate creations. Happy Hour daily 4-7 pm. CityFlats Hotel, 83 Monroe Center, (866) 609-CITY. cityflatshotel.com. L, D ¢-$ Cobblestone Bistro — Eclectic, globally in-
Green Well Gastro Pub — Daily menu features comfort fare with a flare, emphasizing local ingredients. Full bar; more than 20 rotating draught beers, many from area microbreweries. Open daily. 924 Cherry St SE, 808-3566. the $-$$ greenwell.com. L, D
Licari’s Sicilian Pizza Kitchen in Celadon New Town, 2869 Knapp NE, serves up family recipes passed down through generations. Opened in April by Gianni and Lisa Licari, the eatery specializes in Sicilian style pies. Sciacciata is a classic stuffed pizza with a crispy crust on the top and the bottom. Sfinciuni is pizza with a thick pan crust, chunky sauce and bits of cheese buried under the sauce. Appetizers include arancini, crispy rice balls filled with meat sauce and mozzarella. Also on the menu are calzones, pasta and desserts. See licarispizzakitchen.com. spired menu executed with pizzazz in attractive surroundings, complete with fireplace, waterfalls and koi pond. 9818 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia, 588-3223. mycobble $ stone.com. B (weekends), L, D
Grill One Eleven — American-with-a-twist menu, full-service bar and lounge. Sunday Brunch buffet 10 am-2 pm, otherwise opens at 11 am. 111 Courtland Dr, Rockford 8633300. grilloneeleven.com. B (Sun), L, D $-$$ FGrove — Earth-to-table concept focuses on three- and four-course meals with a tilt toward sustainable seafood. Open 5-9 pm Tue-Sat. 919 Cherry St SE, 454-1000. grove restaurant.com. D $$ The Heritage — GRCC culinary arts students prepare gourmet dishes from steaks to vegan fare at a reasonable cost. Menu changes weekly. Wine available with dinner. Open Tue-Fri during academic year. Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, 234$-$$ 3700. grcc.edu/heritage. L, D Marco New American Bistro — Frenchcountry-casual offers creative dinner fare and pizza with a more casual lunch menu.
Photography by Johnny Quirin
Blue Water Grill — Wood-burning rotisserie and wood-fired pizza oven allow for inspired dishes from fresh seafood to beef. Nice wine selection and The BOB’s microbrews. Lakeside views, outdoor patio with fireplace, full-service bar. 5180 Northland Dr NE, 3635900. thegilmorecollection.com/bluewater. $-$$ php. L, D
Cygnus 27 — Stylized décor reflects a celestial theme that matches the views from the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza. Seasonally driven menu encourages sharing. Open Tue-Sat eves; Sun brunch Labor Day to Mother’s Day. 187 Monroe Ave NW, 7766425. amwaygrand.com. D $$
68 Grmag.com \ June 2012
GRM_06.12_PG66.95.indd 68
5/8/12 3:58 PM