Grand Rapids Magazine February 2020

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR STAYING HEALTHY PLUS MILINDA YSASI

EASTERN KILLE

BOOP DE BOOM COFFEE

+

Celebrating Black-owned businesses Owners bridge the gap in a growing city

BRIDAL

FASH ION Unique gowns for the bride who wants to stand out on her wedding day

honored to serve the finest people, communities, & real estate for over 30 years

Katie-K Team 616.291.3552 Katie@Katie-K.com 1555 Arboretum Dr. SE, Suite 101, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Featuring

Log & Timberframe

14th Annual

SHOWCASE

LAKEFRONT

Visit with • Cottage, Log Home & Timberframe Builders

Cottage & Lakefront Living Show - Grand Rapids™

• Lakefront & Cottage Property

MARCH 27-29, 2020

• Docks & Lifts • Boats • Resort Developers • Cottage Decorators • Furniture & Decor • Watertoys • Seawall Construction • Lake Management • Cottage Services • Unique Accessories • Cottage Living Seminars

Produced by SHOWSPAN, INC. 2121 Celebration Dr, NE Grand Rapids, MI 1-800-328-6550

Sponsored in part by

DeVos Place GRCottageShow.com

contents FEB. 2020 VOLUME 57, ISSUE 2

FEATURES

38

A PROMISING FUTURE BL ACK-OWNE D BUS IN E SS E S R EADY TO T H R IVE.

BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

46

BRIDAL FASHION WA LK TH E AIS LE IN ST Y L E .

STYLED BY JENNIFER PICKERING

On cover: Whispers and Echos Roma Dress, $1,295, BHLDN, bhldn. com; Maison Bedard Star Boots, $550, maisonbedard. com; Angular Earrings, Oxidized Sterling Silver, $275, Emmaelizabethjewelry. com; Kathryn Ann Bridal Veil, $450, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings.com This page: Daalarna Water Colour Dress, $8,250, daalarna.hu; Emerald and Gem Silica Statement Earrings, Oxidized Sterling Silver, $595 and Large Opal Fire Ring, Sterling Silver, $265, both from emmaelizabethjewelry.com

P H OTO G R A P H BY J O E A L I S A

4

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

COVER JOE ALISA

contents / feb ua y

every issue 8 63

editor's letter dining guide

80

gr gems

A guide to the area's best eateries

Discover Cottage Bar

people + places 10

80

35

city

The Infamous Stringdusters and "Say Yes to the Dress"

12

voice

14

guide

16

issues

Milinda Ysasi raises her voice on the city commission

Celebrate Galentine's Day at these hot spots Recreational marijuana is coming to a city near you

18

profile

20

moments

Carol Moore plans historic church renovation

Highlights from First Friday Gallery Hop and Ada Chili and Beer Festival

look + feel

22

gear

23

home

24

wellness

26

style

27

expert

Bar cart must-haves Transform your space with Classic Blue Soak, meditate and crash your way to better health Urban jungle Improve your heart health

food + drink

12 6

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

30

table

34

create

35

cheers

36

must-try

Dinner and a movie at One Twenty Three Tavern Leo's crème brûlée Eastern Kille Distillery Boop de Boom Coffee at Creston Brewery COCKTAIL BRYAN ESLER COTTAGE BAR JOHNNY QUIRIN MILINDA YSASI KELLY SWEET

Covering Grand Rapids Since 1964

www.grmag.com | info@grmag.com Publisher: John Balardo | Associate Publisher: Jason Hosko

We asked our staff: What band or artist would you have perform at your dream wedding?

Editorial Editor: Tim Gortsema Managing Editor: Charlsie Dewey Copy Editor: Tom Mitsos Editorial Interns: Rachel Matuszewski, Amelia Pasqualone Contributors: Jaye Beeler, Julie Bonner Williams, Ann Byle, Sam Easter, Austin Langlois, Deidre Remtema, Tricia van Zelst

Ron Pope! This one-man band is an amazing singer and an even more amazing songwriter. His lyrics are raw, true and pull at the heartstrings.

Design Art Director: Lindsay Emeigh Graphic Designers: Keagan Coop, Robin Vargo Contributors: Joe Avila, Michael Buck, Angela Ciccu, Bryan Esler, Stacy Feyer-Salo, Jennifer Pickering, Johnny Quirin, David Sparks, Kelly Sweet, Wealthy Studios

LINDSAY EMEIGH

Sales General Inquiries: Advertisingsales@grmag.com Advertising Director: Jenn Maksimowski Account Executives: Chelsea Carter, Jessica Laidlaw, Renee Looman, Craig R. Rich, Bri Rodriguez, Susan Smalley, Amanda Smiley Receptionist/Office Assistant: Alisha Andres To Order Reprints: Receptionist – (616) 459-4545 My favorite band is Coheed and Cambria.

They’re very melodic in their music and they tell a story, literally, through it.

"Pearl of the Stars" would be a fantastic song for a wedding!

CHRISTOPHER PALUCH

JEREMY LELAND

John Legend! I love his soulful vibe, and hopefully he’d bring Chrissy as a plus one.

ASIA JONES

School-Age Spring Break Fun!

TIM GORTSEMA

I think it would be a lot of fun to have Rainbow Kitten Surprise perform at my wedding! Check them out if you haven't already.

BRI RODRIGUEZ

Production Production Director: Jenine Rhoades Senior Production Artist: Robert Gorczyca Production Artist: Stephanie Daniel Advertising Coordinator: Robyn Bankston Advertising Designers: Melissa Flores-Loera, Christian Lott, Daniel Moen, Kendra Okamoto, Christopher Paluch, Marcus Thompson, Amanda Zwiren Web Digital Strategy Director: Nick Britsky Digital Operations Director: Gerald Blakeslee Web Project Lead: Matthew Cappo Web Project Assistants: Mariah Knott, Luanne Lim, Kevin Pell, Bart Woinski

Prince would be amazing! For current bands, I would choose Bruno Mars or Chicago due to the energy and variety they bring to the stage.

Can I pick AC/DC performing "Highway to Hell?" No? Then I'll go with Van Morrison performing "Tupelo Honey," which was the father/daughter dance at my daughter Claire's wedding.

IT IT Director: Jeremy Leland

Lionel Hampton and his orchestra, add a young Frank Sinatra on voice, Buddy Rich on drums and Maynard Ferguson on trumpet.

Lots of energy from the dream combo and the ability to slow it down with a lot of soul.

Circulation Director Of Audience Development: Michelle VanArman Circulation Manager: Riley Meyers Circulation Customer Service: (866) 660-6247

Definitely Journey.

I have seen them in concert five times now! They have the best songs!

Marketing Marketing & Events Director: Mary Sutton Marketing & Events Manager: Andrea Straw Digital Marketing Coordinator: Asia Jones Marketing & Events Assistants: Lauren Krzisnik, Alexis Mellos

MICHELLE VANARMAN

Administration Director Of Business Operations: Kathie Gorecki Publishing Coordinator: Kristin Mingo Accounting Associates: Natasha Bajju, Andrew Kotzian, Katie West

Stevie Nicks, because how incredible would it be to be serenaded by the Queen of Rock and Roll?!

See your Program Director to Enroll Today! www.appletreekids.cc

NEW

EDITION! “Everything you need about condo living.”

— GLENN HAEGE, AMERICA’S

to know

MASTER HANDYMAN

NICK BRITSKY

CONDO LIV2ING E THE AUTHORITATIVE GUID to Buying, Selling, and ium Operating a Condomin

R, ESQ. ROBERT M. MEISNE

ANDREW KOTZIAN

Published By Gemini Media, LLC CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | President: John Balardo Grand Rapids Magazine (ISSN 1055-5145) is published monthly by Gemini Media. Publishing offices: 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1444. Telephone (616) 459-4545; fax (616) 459-4800. General e-mail: grminfo@grmag.com. General editorial inquiries: editorial@grmag.com. Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI and at additional mailing offices. Copyright ©2019 by Gemini Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Grand Rapids Magazine, 401 Hall St., SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1444.

Subscription rates: one year $24, two years $34, three years $44, in continental U.S.; Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and U.S. possessions, one year $35. Subscriptions are not retroactive; single issue and newsstand $4.95 (by mail $7.50); back issue $7 (by mail $9), when available. Advertising rates and specifications at grmag.com or by request. Grand Rapids Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

A BOOK BY BINGHAM FARMS, MI ATTORNEY ROBERT M. MEISNER, ESQ.

AVAILABLE AT MOMENTUMBOOKS.COM GR M AG .CO M

7

editor's letter / connect

BEHIND THE SCENES

Celebrate love Grand Rapids is seeing an increase in minorityowned businesses opening downtown, particularly Black-owned businesses.

Love is in the air with our February weddings issue. If you got engaged over the holiday season and are in the process of planning your upcoming nuptials, enjoy the collection of stunning wedding dresses available at local retailers around town starting on p. 46.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum served as the backdrop for this photoshoot and proved the perfect place to highlight these gowns.

Whether you are celebrating love with a significant other or a group of friends this month, we have suggestions on where to go for a Galentine’s brunch or a Valentine’s date. Personally, I love getting together with a group of friends for brunch at San Chez.

February also is a great month to focus on self-care. While you can certainly book an afternoon at your favorite local spa, we have some alternative care strategies for you to consider in “Soak, meditate and crash your way to better health” on p. 24. Ax throwing, anyone? Or maybe you’d like to give goat yoga a go? Whichever option you choose, managing your stress is important for your overall health. Since it’s American Heart Month, we spoke with Dr. Thomas Boyden of Spectrum Health about ways to reduce your risk for heart disease.

In this issue, we also spoke with newly elected Second Ward City Commissioner Milinda Ysasi. She is the first Latina to serve on the Grand Rapids City Commission. While we know plenty about the issues Ysasi cares about from her campaign, we got to know a little more about her background and how she enjoys spending her time.

Speaking of firsts, Grand Rapids is seeing an increase in minority-owned businesses opening downtown, particularly Blackowned businesses. Jermale Eddie, owner of Malamiah Juice Bar and Eatery, and Brian Mosby, owner of Mosby’s Popcorn, have relocated their businesses to downtown hotspots, while new businesses Ambiance GR, GRNoir and Mel Styles are open or in the process of opening this year.

February is a great month to get out and enjoy our local restaurants. We explored the newly opened One Twenty Three Tavern at Studio Park, talked with the co-owners of Eastern Kille Distillery (formerly Gray Skies) and got Leo’s pastry chef Dana Wilmer-Lucas to share her recipe for vanilla bean crème brûlée with us.

Take care!

Stylist Jennifer Pickering steams various wedding dresses before our team's daylong photoshoot at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Next issue

Grand Rapids is becoming a foodie destination thanks to some fabulous resturants that have opened. We take a look at the city's best restaurants.

On the radio

Join Managing Editor Charlsie Dewey at 9:45 a.m. Thursdays, as she presents the Weekend City Guide with Shelley Irwin on WGVU Radio FM 88.5 and 95.3.

On TV

Managing Editor Charlsie Dewey joins Shelley Irwin each month on WGVU’s “Community Connection” program to discuss what’s inside Grand Rapids Magazine.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Charlsie Dewey Managing Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine

There are tons of ways to reach us. By mail: Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Email: cdewey@grmag.com. Be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number. Or @grmag @grmagazine @grmagazine follow us online at grmag.com or on social media:

8

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Erick Gerson is the owner of E.G. Makeup. He works with clients across Michigan and his work has been featured in most of the major magazines of West Michigan, as well as in several national and international magazines.

EDITOR TERRY JOHNSTON BEHIND THE SCENES KEAGAN COOP CONTRIBUTOR DAVID BURGES PHOTOGRAPHY

people+places THE GUIDE TO YOUR CITY

PROFILE

Church to art hub page 18

» PLUS: CITY COMMISSIONER MILINDA YSASI RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA TOP GALENTINE'S SPOTS

The 145-year-old Third Reformed Church is undergoing a transformation into an arts hub.

P H OTO G R A P H BY DAV I D S PA R K S GR M AG .CO M

9

people + places / city

TOP EVENTS

Don't miss

We've rounded up our top events this month.

COMPILED BY TRICIA VAN ZELST

Grand Rapids Ballet Feb. 14-16 Experience “Eternal Desire” with the GR Ballet. Performances from “Romeo & Juliet,” “Wild Sweet Love” and two world premieres by artistic director James Sofranko.

7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m.

Sun. Peter Martin Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth Ave. SW. $30 and up. grballet.com.

Winter Beer Festival

The Lumineers Feb. 11 Folk-rock band The Lumineers stop their tour bus in Grand Rapids this month for a concert sure to draw a few tears. The band is touring in support of its latest album “III,” which tells the story of drug and alcohol addiction in three acts following multiple family members and showing how addiction is cyclical and far reaching. The album was released in September. 7 p.m. Feb. 11, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St. $36 and up. vanandelarena.com.

Feb. 22 Bundle up for the 15th annual Winter Beer Festival. This annual outdoor event celebrates Michigan’s craft beer industry with more than 150 participating breweries and 1,000 beers. Attendees receive 15 tasting tokens with their ticket, which they can exchange for 3-ounce samples (note that some specialty beers will require 2 or more tokens per 3-ounce sample). The festival includes local music performances, other entertainment, ice sculpture demonstrations and food is available for purchase. There also are warming firepits.

1-6 p.m. Feb. 22, Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 W. River Drive NE, Comstock Park. mibeer. com/winter-festival.

Muskegon Winter Sports Complex Weekends in February Did you know West Michigan has a luge track that is open to the public? Muskegon Winter Sports Complex is a wonderland for winter sports enthusiasts, and through March 8, the complex offers Learn to Luge Weekends. The classes are available to anyone age 8 and up.

The sessions last for 2½ hours and will give you a thrill as you race through the wood-lined track at speeds up to 30 mph.

Fri.-Sun. $49-$55. 462 Scenic Drive, Muskegon. msports.org.

Visit grmag.com for a complete list of upcoming calendar events and to submit events.

10

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

BALLET COURTESY JADE BUTLER LUGE COURTESY MUSKEGON WINTER SPORTS COMPLEX BEER ISTOCK

Lacy Galas, right, and her husband Miles.

‘Say Yes to the Dress’

CITY

Bluegrass vibes This month will see The Infamous Stringdusters return to Grand Rapids.

“It’s been many years since we’ve had a show in Grand Rapids. Michigan has turned out to be quite the bluegrass state, and we are very excited to be coming back your way,” said Andy Hall, member of the band.

The quintet stops its tour bus at St. Cecilia Music Center on Feb. 6. The Infamous Stringdusters are performing songs off of their latest album, “Rise Sun,” the follow up to the 2018 Grammy Awardwinning album “Laws of Gravity.”

“We’ve got all the new songs from our last record ‘Rise Sun’ in regular rotation in

BAND COURTESY AARON FARRINGTON COUPLE COURTESY TLC

The Infamous Stringdusters

our sets, as well as all manner of fresh jams and some new tasty covers. Each year, we add a lot to our repertoire,” Hall said.

He promised the performance will include all the “high energy” and “improvisation” fans have come to love from the band — plus a “new light package.”

“Rise Sun” begins and ends with a message of hope, and Hall said the title track is his favorite on the album. “It really is the flagship song of that message of hope I spoke of,” he said. “What really puts it in the top slot for me is seeing what it does to the crowd. It’s really fun to watch.”

Purchase tickets at scmc-online.org.

Lacy Galas of Rockford is getting married, and she’s inviting all of Grand Rapids to watch. Galas is one of 52 brides taking part in TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: America.” The 10-episode series kicked off Jan. 4, and Galas and her husband Miles are prominently featured in episode eight, which plays this month.

Galas, who has been a fan of the show since ninth grade, called the experience “unforgettable.”

“This opportunity was unlike anything my husband and I have ever experienced. By far, the most memorable event of our lives! Between being ambushed by the crew in Michigan, experiencing New York for the first time, meeting 51 other amazing couples, enjoying 'Cake Boss' cake and being officiated by Randy (Fenoli) while wearing the dress of my dreams, we could not have asked for more.”

Galas found out she and her husband would be part of the show in an unexpected way. “Several months after applying, I was booked to do the makeup for a wedding in Grand Haven. I arrived at a huge, beautiful house on Lake Michigan. I entered the gorgeous home to find my family, my fiancé, a large camera crew and Randy Fenoli telling me I'd won the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

GR M AG .CO M

11

people + places / voice

VOICE

Raising her voice City Commissioner Milinda Ysasi was sworn in on Dec. 17.

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI

"... And then I saw what was happening at the city level, investments to become a more equitable city, a lot of private partnership, and so I felt like this was a good way to bring my background into that policymaking body."

Milinda Ysasi

// PHOTOS BY KELLY SWEET

Milinda Ysasi has called Grand Rapids’ second ward home for 10 years, and she was recently elected to be its city commissioner. With an unmatched work ethic inherited from her father and a spirit of compassion, her to-do list includes ensuring employment and business opportunities, a safe and accessible public safety system, and infrastructure and community investment.

What inspired you to run for city commission? For the last four years, I’ve been working at The SOURCE, we’re a nonprofit; I used to work in the private sector. In this role, I was able to see the deeper realities of people, what they’re facing here in Grand Rapids while they’re working. So many people working 40 to 50 to 60 hours a week and still unable to meet their basic needs.

And then I saw what was happening at the city level, investments to become a more equitable city, a lot of private partnership, and so I felt like this was a good way to bring my background into that policymaking body.

What was your favorite part of your education? I went to (Grand Valley State University) for undergrad and finished my MBA at MSU. Grand Valley is where I met my husband. It’s where my experience and leadership flourished. I was the president of the Latino Student Union. We got to know more about funding for student activities at GVSU, then we created the coalition of people of color groups to receive more funding into our organizations called the Cultural Board. We had the chance to go to national conferences and learn about leading at that collegiate level.

How do you spend your free time?

I have been told that I don’t know how to relax. It’s probably true. I feel like I should never be wasting time, especially now. I’m looking forward to reading the about 20 books I bought during the campaign that I had no business buying. And I love spending time with my niece, Luna; she was born during the election in May. I just love her. She has the cutest little face.

12

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

What is one of your favorite restaurants in GR? The place that is a go-to spot is Terra.

I’ve never met a pizza that I didn’t like. The servers there really seem to know people and people from the neighborhood. It’s in the second ward, it’s a place of celebration.

What genre of book do you read? I like a lot of history books of the Latino experience. It’s important to me in understanding our culture.

I grew up in West Michigan so I lived a pretty isolated life until I went to college. Most of the other Latino people I knew were my family. I want to reread Michelle Obama’s book. I got the opportunity to go see her in Detroit last year, but I feel like I can understand a little bit more. Nowhere on the same level as them, but just some of the things that I think she dealt with as a woman of color.

Where would you love to travel?

My sister and I have this 50 by 50, where we want to go to the 50 states by the time we’re 50. I’m 39, so I think we can do it.

What is the best piece of advice you have received? The best piece of advice is ‘not everyone’s going to like you,’ and then I would add, ‘you can still build relationships.’

As women involved in public service, there’s a lot of criticism about what we say, wear and look like. Just because you’re not best friends with people or don’t hang out with them socially, or maybe you don’t even care to talk to them other than business, there still can be relationships.

I want people to like me, and that has been a challenge. I’m working on it every day.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed for space and clarity.

PHOTO CONTENT PHOTO CREDIT

GR M AG .CO M

13

people + places / guide

Wax Poetic Candle Bar gives you a chance to mix your own scents or select a premade candle, including scents like Berry White and Down by the Sea.

GUIDE

Galivanting with your gal pals

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI

“What’s Galentine’s Day?” Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) asks in the second season of the NBC show “Parks and Recreation.” “It’s only the best day of the year. Every Feb. 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and boyfriends at home, and we just kick it, breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”

Galentine’s Day has since become commonplace in many friend groups. So, this February, gather your closest friends/ gal pals and hit the town.

To start the day on a full stomach, head to brunch with your tribe. If you have a small group, try Brown Butter Creperie and Café, 1436 Wealthy St. SE. Its variety of sweet and savory crepes, along with Belgian waffles is sure to hit the spot before your next activity.

Next, help your friends get in touch with their creative side while adding to the relaxation in their home. Wax Poetic Candle Bar, 1423 Lake Drive SE, gives you a chance 14

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

to mix your own scents or select a premade candle, including scents like Berry White and Down by the Sea. A few blocks away, your best friends can treat themselves to something new at one of several boutiques and clothing stores on Cherry or Wealthy streets.

By this time, your friends probably are getting hungry again, which is the perfect time to stop for dessert. Le Bon Macaron, 951 Cherry St. SE, is a great choice, offering classic macaron flavors like chocolate, vanilla and coffee, along with creative creations including poppy seed, hibiscus and milk chocolate passion fruit.

If your squad is a bigger party, start your Galentine’s Day at Lucy’s Cafe, 1747 Plainfield Ave. NE, which has plenty of space for larger groups. Indulge in your favorite breakfast classics, including omelets, pancakes and egg scramblers.

Lucy’s cares about your vegan or gluten-free friends as well, providing yummy options.

Partake in a day of ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle (top left), making candles at Wax Poetic Candle Bar (top right), or indulging in macarons from Le Bon Macaron (above).

Your group can enjoy the winter season by ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center NW, followed by a relaxing yoga session at one of several yoga studios around town.

End your afternoon with margaritas and tacos at Donkey Taqueria, 665 Wealthy St. SE.

ICE RINK COURTESY EXPERIENCE GR CANDLE MAKING COURTESY WAX POETIC CANDLE BAR MACARONS COURTESY CHELSEA ADRIAANSEN

Morganite earrings with yellow and white diamonds by Scott Carey

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 85 MILLION MILLENNIALS IN THE U.S. ALONE

INVEST IN WHAT THEY’RE BUYING!

616-949-0900 866-949-0907 Contact Ted Vogt and Carol Dehen for more information.

Designer Jewelry In-house Custom Design Expert On-site Jewelry Repair 978 Cherry St SE, GR MI 616-459-5075 shop@metalartstudioinc.com Tu-Fr 10-5, Sat 12-4 or by appointment Park free in our lot!

www.mosaicwealthmanagment.com

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC All investing involves risk including loss of principal.

No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

people + places / issues

ISSUES

Cities prepare to corner marijuana market While some municipalities have opted out, others are ready for the promised gold rush.

BY SAM EASTER

// PHOTO BY MICHAEL BUCK

Mike Burns, the city manager in Lowell, is a clean-cut government functionary — hardly a poster child for Michigan’s new recreational marijuana boom. He spent nearly 10 years as a Macomb County deputy sheriff before he found himself in city government. He referees football in his spare time.

But nearly a year after Lowell city leaders declined to ban recreational pot shops, businesses are hungry to corner the marijuana market in the small West Michigan town of about 4,000 people.

And the phone is constantly ringing.

“I get four calls a day,” he said in November. “My philosophy is that they’re legitimate businesses. We do have a lot of people who are in that industry who are interested in coming to Lowell. My thought is that we treat them no different than we would any other business.”

Lowell is just one example of the seismic shift in public opinion on marijuana over the last decade, during which support for legalization has surged. According to Pew Research Center, 67% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana, up from just 12% in 1969. Michigan’s Proposal 1, which legalized recreational use in 2018, passed by a 12-percentage-point majority. Marijuana, once the stuff of deadly serious anti-drug ads, is losing its boogeyman reputation.

There is a long list of communities that, under Michigan’s new law, have opted out of actually hosting marijuana shops, 16

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

meaning that while recreational possession and consumption will be legal there, sales will not. But there still are numerous cities in Michigan that are building regulations to welcome recreational marijuana — and the scramble to capture customers has the makings of a gold rush.

Grand Rapids is among those communities that are expected to welcome recreational dispensaries, but it’s still building its precise policy. Right now, city leaders are approving plans for local medical marijuana facilities. Landon Bartley, a senior planner with Grand Rapids, said more than 20 have been given the nod, after which they’re cleared to go after “permitting and build-out” and state licensing.

“We reasonably expect, potentially, to have some medical facilities open — if not by the end of the year, by early 2020,” Bartley said in November.

But recreational marijuana — the core of 2018’s statewide vote — is another matter.

City leaders passed an ordinance earlier this year that affirms that Grand Rapids will “opt-in” and welcome recreational marijuana businesses. But that ordinance notes that the “license issuance date” won’t be until April 20 (get it?), and Bartley points out that there is a ways to go with actual licensing law. “(The current ordinance) just says, if there is marijuana use in the city, it will require a license,” he said. “So, when we say, yeah, we’re going to permit them, sure.

I’m just not sure which ones, and in what manner, at this point.”

Bartley said Grand Rapids is unlikely to have a purely recreational marijuana dispensary open in 2020, though a medical marijuana shop may be able to jump across the notional aisle and sell recreational products sooner. But, given the lack of firm regulations in place just yet, it’s still hard to be precise.

And all those regulatory questions mean observers are watching closely. Tami VandenBerg is a local marijuana advocate and was a vocal supporter of Proposal 1. She said she is working with business partners toward medical permissions for a Division Street “provisioning center.” She pointed out there’s a significant movement afoot for local businesses to get started right away — and if that’s with medical permitting, so be it.

“I think every person applying for a medical marijuana license, anywhere in the state, is doing that based on the hope that they will also be able to do recreational at some point,” she said. Besides, she added, what happens to the demand for medical supply when recreational stores open?

But she also added concerns that the new licenses for marijuana shops be distributed to local owners, too. She’s worried that state and city regulations are creating the unintended consequence of pricey real estate in the zones where pot sales will be permitted and that the only people who will get their hands on a license will be the wealthy.

“This is kind of a once-in-a-generation wealth-creating opportunity for Grand Rapidians that, so far, has not been realized,” she said.

Paul Farage is owner of the Society of Healing Arts Institute, an Eastown business that helps connect clients with medical marijuana cards. He said he’s worried about what he sees as red tape keeping people out of the market —including him.

“I talk to a lot of growers, I talk to a lot of people who are looking or have put money into being a dispensary,” he said.

“Everybody’s waiting.”

Paul Farage owns the Society of Healing Arts Institute, which helps connect clients with medical marijuana cards.

“I talk to a lot of growers, I talk to a lot of people who are looking or have put money into being a dispensary.”

Paul Farage

PHOTO CONTENT PHOTO CREDIT

GR M AG .CO M

17

Third Reformed Church has stood at the corner of Hermitage and Diamond since 1875. The church is now undergoing a renovation into a community arts hub.

PROFILE

Church to art hub

Carol Moore purchased the historic church and is leading it through a transformation.

BY JULIE BONNER WILLIAMS

// PHOTOS BY DAVID SPARKS

Maybe it’s the voices of the first church members of 1875 whispering guidance. Maybe it’s the spirit of the historic church itself speaking. Whatever the source, Grand Rapids’ historic Third Reformed Church, 1001 Hermitage St. SE, seems to be leading the way in its own restoration process, as current owner, Carol Moore, listens — and works.

“The building tells you what to do, and it’s just kind of fun to take its lead,” said Moore, who lived just blocks from the church for over 40 years. After passing the building daily 18

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

people + places / p ofile

for decades, Moore saw the 19th-century church becoming dilapidated after its last use as a Latino church.

“I’ve been walking by and driving by for the 41 years I’ve lived here. … For the last decade or more, it’s been going down, down, down. I just thought, ‘Isn’t anybody going to take care of this building?’ It went up for sale, and I made an offer,” said Moore, who purchased the church in October 2017.

That offer was $100,000, which Moore paid out of pocket. Her projections for completion of the renovations are about $5 million, for which she’s relying partly on donations, and five years’ time.

Moore’s love of historic buildings grew during her early life in Savannah, Georgia, and is now the impetus behind her handson, all-in approach to restoring historic buildings in Grand Rapids. On her list of eight restored buildings thus far is the Wealthy Theatre, joined most recently by the Third Reformed Church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and currently in the process of being returned to its glory days — but with a twist. After nearly two centuries as a place of worship, the building will be given a new life as a community arts hub.

“This is a restoration for an adaptive reuse of this beautiful historic building.

It will focus on the arts, whether they are performing arts, literary arts, visual arts. …

It’s a resource within a neighborhood that draws from all the surrounding area. We value diversity and inclusion,” Moore said.

Among those she has met with about the future life of the building is Jennifer Williams, principal of nearby Congress Elementary School. According to Moore, the two had a long meeting about future collaboration with the goal of strengthening the neighborhood through its students’ involvement with the arts.

Keeping her focus on invigorating the neighborhood community, Moore rolls up her sleeves and gets into the process herself, engaging in projects like removing oak trim from the interior that she stripped and refinished at home. Noting she leaves the carpentry to those with the proper acumen, her hands-on approach to historic preservation includes having sanded floors, finished woodwork and painting.

While donations totaling about $40,000 have come in, as well as donated resources from area businesses, the project has brought challenges as well as generosity and enthusiasm. One of those challenges

“The building tells you what to do, and it’s just kind of fun to take its lead.”

Carol Moore

Carol Moore undertakes her ninth historic renovation.

came by way of high voltage wires a mere 4 feet from the west side of the building. Ironically, the church had been built before electricity, yet with the wiring so close to the building’s exterior wall, for decades, it was unsafe to do repairs or painting there, where scaffolding couldn’t be raised.

“There was a lot that happened to get (the power company) to move those wires. … It took a lot of persuading, but they came through. That opened up a whole opportunity for us to work on that side of the building,” Moore said.

The building’s history also reflects the changing life of the city.

First built to serve the early Dutch population, the church was sold after the congregation relocated in 1968. The building was then home to a Black congregation before a Latino congregation worshipped there. During its lifetime, the church has celebrated change and diversity, something it will continue to be part of in bringing together the community to celebrate the arts together. That time in its future is much anticipated, as are various parts of the restoration itself.

The aesthetic value of the building is what many are excited about, such as seeing the restoration of the church’s antique stained glass windows, yet the reality is it’s the infrastructure that must first continue to be made sound.

Having purchased the building in autumn, the first step in this ongoing project was taking measures to prevent further damage from water and snow. Since then, the steeple and cupola have been restored, and the church continues to lead the way, revealing as time and effort continue, what needs to be done next. Moore’s vision is to keep the building as close to original as possible, down to details such as original paint colors that can be identified.

Attached to the church is a parsonage, a smaller venue that Moore identifies as having wonderful potential itself, saying it would be ideal for smaller gatherings.

With the dream of a grand re-opening still a few years in the future, Moore is undecided about the performance that will lead off that day, but what’s certain is it will be a celebration of the arts, and that the church, with noteworthy acoustics, provides an optimal venue for musical performances and dance.

“Last October, we had an open house. About 300 people showed up to tour the building,” Moore said. “Members of the Grand Rapids Symphony played, we had a dancer who danced. It was so exciting to see people so happy to perform in this building. … There were so many smiling faces. That is what this building is meant for now.

This is the future of this building.”

GR M AG .CO M

19

people + places / moments

Around town Enjoying city life

2 3

1

2 1 3

4 5

7 6

8

First Friday Gallery Hop The first Friday of each month, galleries and retailers along South Division between Fulton and Cherry streets are open from 6-9 p.m. for First Friday Gallery Hop. Pictured (left to right): 1 Briana Trudell and Travis Mathis 2 Michele Bosak and Erin Schaenzer 3 Madison May and Sophia Thomas

20

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Ada Chili and Beer Festival Ada Township hosted its Chili and Beer Festival on Dec. 7 at the Community Church parking lot. Attendees enjoyed a selection of chili and beer, along with entertainment.

Pictured (left to right): 1 Luis Luch and Mark Luehmann 2 Tommy Danforth and Gim Lee 3 Travis Kuipers, Cody Geers, Dave Milanowski, Josh Williams and Bob Kuipers 4 Kristin Guitar, Michelle Roub, Shelly Schefka and Gabby Schefka 5 Pup Riley and Sarah Silvestri 6 Jessica Tyrell, Ava Tyrell, Logan Tyrell, Beck Doyle, Mae Doyle and Kayla Doyle 7 Paul Wright, Adam Hillary and Travis Russell 8 Phil LaViolette, Tom LaViolette and Tommy LaViolette

PHOTOS JOHNNY QUIRIN

look+feel KEEPING YOUR MIND AND BODY HEALTHY

Learn how to use Classic Blue, Pantone's Color of the Year, in your home.

HOME

Feeling blue page 23

» PLUS: LIVE A HEARTHEALTHY LIFE BAR C ART MUST-HAVES ALTERNATIVE THER APIES

P H OTO G R A P H CO U R T E SY D E I D R E I N T E R I O R S GR M AG .CO M

21

look + feel / gea

GEAR

At home bar Mix up anyone's favorite drink with these essentials.

BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

// STYLED BY JENNIFER PICKERING

The bar cart is having a resurgence, and we are here for it. A well-stocked bar cart means you can mix up anyone's favorite drink at the drop of a hat. Whether you are hosting a party or have unexpected guests, make sure your bar cart has all the essentials.

Clockwise from far left: Bar Cart, $299, West Elm, westelm.com; Whiskey Decanter, $185, Drink Tool Stand, $198, both from Mason Jones, masonjonesshops. com; Cocktail Shaker, $40, Sur La Table, surlatable. com; Gentlemen’s Hardware Whiskey Glasses, $22, Woosah, spreadingthewoosah.com; Virginia Cocktail Nuts, $18.95, Mason Jones; Various Books, $73-$78, Duffield Lane, duffieldlane.com; Various Books, $16.95-39.95, Drinks Poster, $4.95, both from Rebel, rebelgr.com; Craft Beer Glasses, $36, Woosah; Copper Mugs, $19.95 each, Sur La Table; Cocktail & Soda Syrups, $22.95 each, Rebel; Craft Cocktail Syrup Set, $36, Mason Jones; Wine Decanter, $26, My Sweet Peony, mysweetpeony.com; Martini Glass, $75, Woodbury Cocktail Carafe, $130, Simon Pearce Wooden Spoon, $35, all from Mason Jones

22

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

BAR CART ANGELA CICCU

look + feel / home

This hue is a delight to incorporate into the home, and it blends seamlessly with most colors and any style.

HOME

Feeling blue

Pantone’s Color of the Year is a perfect fit for Michiganders.

BY DEIDRE REMTEMA

Living in Michigan, we are never more than 20 minutes from freshwater. The color blue, in all its forms, resonates deeply with those who live, work and play in this great state. That’s why the Pantone Color Institute color for 2020, Classic Blue, is so fitting for our region!

Every year, Pantone, which provides the universal color matching system for the design and print industry, announces its color of the year in reaction to technology, world events, culture and environmental influences.

Classic Blue is calming, universally loved, timeless and modern all at once.

This hue is a delight to incorporate into the home, and it blends seamlessly with most colors and any style.

Grounded, rich and bright Mixing warm and cool colors together in the home creates the most dynamic combination. Warm and cool tones are abundant in nature and, when combined in an innovative way, create maximum energy and interest.

BLUE WALLS COURTESY DEIDRE INTERIORS PAINT LIDS ISTOCK

Aztec Yellow 2152-20

Dusk Pink 2013-40

Kendall Charcoal HC-166

Harbor Haze 2136-60

Aztec Yellow is a bold, deep saturated color with a hint of zing. It doesn’t fall flat and complements blue in a rich way.

Dusk Pink is a cool pink with a hint of coral and creates a lighter, breezier mood when combined with any shade of blue. For neutrals, we love to mix Kendall Charcoal with any hue. A light room with Kendall Charcoal and Classic Blue will feel classic and a bit serious, if that is the mood you are looking for. Lastly, Harbor Haze is a soft, cool blue that presents a monochromatic palette when combined with Pantone’s Classic Blue.

Our favorite combination is a home with a mix of all these accent colors. The possibilities are endless with tile, paint, fabric, wallpaper, trim, rugs and art.

3 expert tricks for using Classic Blue If you are afraid of color but want to experiment, introduce a favorite hue in your entry or powder bathroom. They are small areas and can handle a lot of personality.

We love to use blue in unexpected ways, trim on a pillow or drapery can be a fun accent.

If blue is your favorite color, consider painting your front door in a high gloss lacquer of Classic Blue for added texture and personality.

Deidre Remtema is the principal and creative director of Deidre Interiors, a boutique residential interior design firm specializing in turnkey services for custom homes. Deidre Interiors serves clients in both city and country landscapes, vacation properties and legacy homes.

GR M AG .CO M

23

Caption tk Caption tk Caption tk Caption tk Caption tk Caption tk Caption tk

Goat yoga is a fun way to de-stress.

WELLNESS

Soak, meditate and crash your way to better health Alternative therapies are helping to relieve stress and live in the moment.

BY ANN BYLE

These days, it’s all about relieving stress, shedding anger and tapping into our best selves. Therapy is a huge help — with guidance from a qualified professional. But sometimes, folks would rather bash old computers, hurl plates at a wall or paint calming lake and tree scenes. Then there’s ax throwing and floating in dark saltwater for an hour.

There has been a lot of research around mindfulness — such as the benefits of yoga, meditation, breathing and body-centered psychotherapy — as ways to relieve stress, reduce insomnia, reduce anxiety and depression, and handle social anxieties.

The Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness offers classes and workshops on topics ranging from Mindfulness-Based Stress 24

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Reduction to Eat for Life: Mindful Eating.

So, where does plate-throwing and yoga with goats fit in?

“All of these things are somewhat body centered which, therapeutically, has been helpful,” said April Kaiserlian, LMSW, co-founder of Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness and a body-centered psychotherapist. “These types of activities are the lighthearted side of the healing journey."

And there’s a place for “lighthearted," said Kaiserlian. "These activities get people out of their heads and into body-centered practices. Fun is an incredible way to cultivate healing.”

Tyler Phaneuf runs Phlot, which offers individual float tanks filled with Epsom salt that allow “floaters” to relax in a dark, quiet,

body-temperature environment.

“Floating helps reduce stress, anxiety, muscle tension and chronic pain, as well as lowers blood pressure and helps athletes heal,” Phaneuf said. “It also takes a meditation practice to a new level.”

He dreams of adding another flotation room, saunas and massage rooms to round out the experience, noting that the number of floaters has increased as more people hear about it.

“Flotation helps people cultivate a more ‘being’ mode,” Kaiserlian said. “The body knows there isn’t much it can do while floating, which supports ‘being.’”

She points to other healing modalities such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, taking a baking class, painting and even laughter GOAT YOGA (BOTH PAGES) ISTOCK

look + feel / wellness

“Things like goat yoga keep you in the present moment; you’re not thinking about the past or the future. You can experience joy instead of anxiety.

You can keep away from the woulda, coulda, shouldas.”

Angela McElroy

yoga. “It’s about people getting out of their heads and into their bodies,” Kaiserlian said.

Angela McElroy is owner of Dorr to Eden, which offers goat yoga during the summer months. It’s yoga with goats sitting on the yoga mats, nuzzling a neck, wandering through the group — and occasionally pooping on a mat.

“Two years ago, we did two goat yoga classes. As people were leaving, they said how much the class brought them joy and made them laugh,” said McElroy, a former social worker and now a doctor of naturopathy. “If you can bring a little laughter and joy back into the world, that’s great.”

McElroy is certified in equine therapy, which she does at Dorr to Eden, too. She invites her miniature donkey into the yoga events and has a tortoise that kids can visit with and even paint.

“Things like goat yoga keep you in the present moment; you’re not thinking about the past or the future,” she said.

“You can experience joy instead of anxiety.

You can keep away from the woulda, coulda, shouldas.”

Goat yoga and floatation aside, Kaiserlian encourages participants in these alternative well-being therapies to pay attention to the emotions that are prompting the desire to break things, shoot things or escape into an activity, as well as pay attention to when these things don’t work.

“Working through rage can be cathartic, but sometimes it can trigger trauma,” she said. “Notice that, and if you experience a trigger, you may need additional support.

Also, you can smash something and have a release, but have you discovered the information behind that emotion?”

There’s growing research behind mindfulness and body-centered psychotherapy, among other things, but not so much about things like goat yoga and rage rooms.

“These things are outside the bell curve.

They are on the edges and can be a doorway into deeper work,” Kaiserlian said. “They are less threatening, there is less judgment and less stigma.”

Alternative therapies: Looking for something to calm your nerves, de-stress after a long week or take your mind off the difficult things in your life? The list below provides an overview of the many alternative well-being therapies around Grand Rapids. Visit websites or Facebook pages, read reviews, get recommendations and choose the best alternative therapy for you.

Relaxation and healing therapies: Phlot — flotation in a sensory-reduced environment; phlotgr.com Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness — mindfulness tools to manage your stress and increase health and well-being; randrapidscenterformindfulness.com Dorr to Eden-Naturopathy and Animal Enhanced Growth — healing the mind, body and soul with animals and herbs; bit.ly/DorrToEden and dorrtoeden.org Yoga — studios around the city offer varied times and practices Massage therapy — locations around the city offer varied times and modalities Acupuncture of West Michigan — customized treatment plans; acupunctureofwestmichigan.com Holistic Care Approach — multidisciplinary wellness center; holisticcareapproach.com

Creative therapies: Brush Studio — art class meets night out, also available for private parties; brushgr.com Bamboo Studio — private parties and art classes; bamboostudiogr.com The Mud Room — pottery painting, wood signs, pottery wheel studio, handprints; themudroom.us Pottery Lane — six-week classes and Girls Night Out; potterylanegr.com Michigan Fibre Studio — instruction in wide variety of fiber arts; michiganfibrestudio.com GRCC Cooks — cooking classes for all levels; bit.ly/GRCCcooks

Assertive therapies: Break Room Therapy — physically release emotions by smashing things; breakroomtherapy.com Grand Rapids Escape Room — you have 60 minutes to escape or complete the challenge; grandrapidsescaperoom.com The Great Escape Room — Sherlock-themed escape room adventures; thegreatescaperoom.com Target Axe Throwing — combine urban lifestyle with rural action; targetaxethrowing.com Terra Firma — bouldering (climbing without ropes) for all levels; climbterrafirma.com Inside Moves — top rope and lead climbing, as well as bouldering; insidemoves.com CKO Kickboxing — burn fat, reduce stress, tone up; ckokickboxing.com GR M AG .CO M

25

look + feel / style

STYLE

Urban jungle Mix neutrals, animal prints and textures for a safari-inspired look.

WRITTEN AND STYLED BY JENNIFER PICKERING

// PHOTOS BY ANGELA CICCU

The urban jungle or safari trend was seen all over the runways in September for spring 2020. Expect to see colors of greens, tans, rusts and even animal prints. This trend can be as subtle or bold as you want it to be. Opting for tailored blazers and coats paired with leather pants in complementing colors is the perfect understated look. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try a utility jumpsuit paired with a leopard print or panama-style hat.

Little Wings Design Braided Wrap Bracelet, $30, Gemini Handmade

Piper Adonya Earrings, $30, Lolë

Neutral Camo Pullover, $98, Evereve

A model walks the runway in Prada's 2020 Resort Collection during New York Fashion Week.

Link Belt, $15, Gina’s Boutique Kimball Top, $112, Duffield Lane

Musette Bag, $118, Gemini Handmade

Leather Bracelet, $23.50, My Sweet Peony

Kork-Ease Cinca Bootie, $190, Evereve Dolce Vita Issa Bootie, $170, Evereve

26

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Mod Pep Pants, $64, Lennon and Willow RUNWAY COURTESY PRADA BLACK BOOTS/BROWN BOOTS/SWEATER COURTESY EVEREVE

look + feel / expe t

“The main culprit is lifestyle, and if we were doing better ... the overwhelming majority of the patients who have heart disease would not have it.”

Thomas Boyden

EXPERT

Tips for a hearthealthy life February is American Heart Month.

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI

With the rush of the holidays and New Year’s celebrations behind us, February is a good time to remind everyone of the importance of staying healthy, which also can align with maintaining New Year’s resolutions.

American Heart Month is promoted in hospitals and health organizations throughout Grand Rapids to keep everyone safe from cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in men and women, though 80% of coronary artery disease and plaque buildup is preventable through change in lifestyle, according to doctors.

“The main culprit is lifestyle, and if we were doing better with diet, doing better with exercise, managing stress, sleeping a little bit better and not drinking too much, the overwhelming majority of the HEART CHECK-UP ISTOCK/SORBETTO

patients who have heart disease would not have it,” said Thomas Boyden, M.D. and program director of preventive cardiology at Spectrum Health.

Besides those with chronic medical conditions, the risk of heart disease can be lowered through paying attention to basic health needs. Medication provides only temporary solutions.

“Bypass surgery goes around disease, stents compress disease, but they don’t eliminate it. So that disease still exists in a patient and much of their risk of that disease is still there even after procedures.

Medications help control the risk of a disease, but they don’t change the disease,” Boyden said.

Boyden called nutrition and exercise the most critical components. He has found the

Mediterranean diet to be the most effective in reducing risk. While many drug trials have seen differences in the placebo versus the real drug changes in a year, the Mediterranean diet saw changes within a month.

The Mediterranean diet, which is a plantbased diet involving the elimination of all animal products, reduced fats and oils, has been backed by the Cleveland Clinic and the University of California, San Francisco.

Boyden said the combination of nutrition, stress management and exercise can help reverse heart disease.

For those struggling with heart disease or looking to take preventive measures, Boyden suggested educating family members and prioritizing sleep. Boyden uses nutrition as treatment as often as medication. The help of family members to enforce diet change can be vital. Sleep is another critical component to heart health, as many patients also are diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Inadequate sleep leads to increased stress levels, which advances plaque buildup.

Identifying sources of stress can lead to health improvement and become the catalyst for finding ways to relax.

For more information, visit spectrumhealth.org.

GR M AG .CO M

27

GET TICKETS NOW March 4, 2020

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

JW Marriott Grand Rapids grbj50women2020.eventbrite.com

JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNITY’S MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Women are leaders in their industries and recognizable in the West Michigan business community.

These established women chart the direction for their employees and organizations and their influence impacts the entire region.

The 50 women selected will be honored at the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s The 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan event, joined by the business community and the region’s most influential women business owners, leaders, policy-shapers and decision-makers.

GOLD SPONSORS

FLORAL SPONSOR

Contact sponsor@grbj.com or 616.459.3010 to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities

food+drink DIVE INTO THE CITY’S GREATEST EATERIES AND BARS

CREATE

Crème brûlée page 34

» PLUS: NEW COFFEE SHOP OPENS ONE TWENTY THREE TAVERN Leo's pastry chef Dana Wilmer-Lucas shares her recipe for crème brûlée.

5 VALENTINE'S DAY SPOTS

P H O T O G R A P H B Y S TA C Y F E Y E R - S A L O GR M AG .CO M

29

One Twenty Three Tavern's Scottish Faroe Island salmon with fingerling potatoes and lemon vinaigrette.

Dinner and a movie TABLE

One Twenty Three Tavern serves the perfect movie date.

BY JAYE BEELER

// PHOTOS BY BRYAN ESLER

At Studio Park’s One Twenty Three Tavern, executive chef Ben Kaja teases wonderful flavors from his “large plates,” like his grilled Scottish Faroe Island salmon, which dazzles with fingerling potatoes, green beans, zucchini, brown butter and roasted lemon vinaigrette.

Or his Frenched chicken breast served atop roasted root vegetables, spinach, Italian sausage, white beans and basil pistou — a spin on deconstructed cassoulet, of sorts. “This is all about 30

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

food + drink / table

having fun,” Kaja said. “From the very moment that you come in.”

Kaja blends the delicate and complex into an absolute feast, from his jackfruit carnitas with avocados, tomatillos and goat cheese crema to his Brussels sprouts, crispy fried into a crunchy salad dressed with miso-lime vinaigrette.

The former Green Well sous chef auditioned for the head chef spot at One Twenty Three Tavern by wowing J.D. Loeks, president of Studio C, the company behind Studio Park, with meatloaf; Loeks is a bigtime meatloaf fan.

“Part of my interviewing process was to make him, and other executives, meatloaf — talk about daunting!” Kaja laughed. “I knew that I needed to make it perfect. It’s a blend of pork, beef short ribs, brisket and chuck. So, I decided to make a red-eye gravy, which is traditionally made with a country ham.”

The fat renderings from the country ham are splashed “with a little coffee — preferably coffee that has sat on a burner for two hours until it gets that almost burnt taste,” Kaja explained. “Instead of the country ham, which is hard to acquire in Michigan, I use smoked bacon. To make it work well with meatloaf, I sweeten mine with a little brown sugar, balance it with tangy cider vinegar and round it out with charred chili powder until I get the right nuances and depth of flavor.”

Studio C corporate chef Jeff Finan suggested pairing the meatloaf with colcannon mashed potatoes, an Irish classic whirled with cabbage, scallions, sour cream and butter. The result: Loeks loved the meatloaf smothered in Southern charm, and Kaja found himself heading up the hottest kitchen in town.

“This is all about having fun. From the very moment that you come in.” Ben Kaja

Top: A group of friends enjoy a night out at One Twenty Three Tavern. Left: Popular Southern comfort food, shrimp and grits.

Setting the mood One Twenty Three is beautifully kitted out with gorgeous, locally crafted walnut tables, high black wingback leather chairs, retro buttoned booths, globe lighting, high ceilings, gorgeous glass and brickwork, and spectacular warehouse-inspired windows welcoming you into a little secret showhouse.

The open kitchen, on the bar side, equally becomes part of the wonder.

“Everything here was created custom, really, tables carefully crafted, the menu, fireplace — all designed to inspire conversations,” Kaja said. “We want to be a place where stories happen.”

GR M AG .CO M

31

food + drink / table

One Twenty Three Tavern's Frenched chicken breast with roasted root vegetables and Italian sausage.

32

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Crafting stories Kaja brings more than food to the plate, he’s also spinning stories with his food. Having hopscotched the country, he brings regional tastes and culture together at One Twenty Three with his dishes.

His influences stem from time spent in Santa Cruz, California; Blacksburg, Virginia; Clemson, South Carolina; and Richland, Michigan, where it all started in the family kitchen.

For instance, the burger and shrimp and grits are both far more complex than their names suggest. The burger is a blend of chuck, brisket and short-rib that is fired to juiciness and then piled with bacon-onion marmalade, gouda, dill pickle aioli into a brioche bun; while the grits are teased to deliciousness in buttermilk and crowned with pan-fried shrimp, low-country andouille gravy, marinated tomatoes and scallions.

The 12-person French country communal table is a wonderful spot to claim for a One Twenty Three family-style dinner.

The tavern offers five (three-course) menu options, including Appalachian Trout Feast, German Sauerbraten, Game and Polenta Dinner, Chicken and Dumplings, and Pork Roulade, all of which create a unique experience for diners.

And of course, adjacent to the newest Celebration Cinema, One Twenty Three is all about storytelling and entertainment experiences.

fun facts about Ben Kaja How he got his start: Ben Kaja’s cooking career started with his Michigan meat and potatoes roots. “I started making barbecue chicken when I was 10,” said Kaja, a 1997 graduate of Gull Lake High School.

A literary background: Kaja earned his bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of California Santa Cruz and his master’s degree in poetry from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Lowcountry and football: “In 2010, I moved down to Clemson, in upstate South Carolina.

Soon after, I was introduced to shoreline cooking during some research-driven stints in Charleston, and that’s all defined by the coast, day’s catch and low-country, place-based ingredients. That was just a wonderful time of learning. I just dove into that world,” said Kaja who even cooked for Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney at the Lighthouse Restaurant on Lake Keowee and hosted wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ ESPN draft party at the now-closed Red Minnow, an Appalachian trout restaurant.

One Twenty Three Burger topped with bacon-onion marmalade.

“American Pickers”: “I will also never forget cooking for the guys from ‘American Pickers,’ Kaja said. “They stopped in at Red Minnow in Central, (South Carolina), which was rustically themed like a mountain trout cabin. It was an Appalachian museum, of sorts. They even offered to buy several of the relics on the wall!

That was a fun surprise on a Tuesday night in the sleepy town of Central. They were in the area prospecting for treasures and said the rustic-inspired food was ‘the best thing they had found in their travels in the upstate so far.’”

GR M AG .CO M

33

food + drink / c eate

CREATE

Crème brûlée

This dessert is easier to make than it looks.

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI

// PHOTO BY STACY FEYER-SALO

Leo’s pastry chef Dana Wilmer-Lucas promises making crème brûlée is “actually quite easy” — and sure to impress guests. The French dessert, meaning “burnt cream,” only requires a few highquality ingredients to create. Wilmer-Lucas suggests splurging on vanilla bean paste, allowing the dish to sit in the fridge overnight, and serving it with fresh berries.

Try it at home: 1 quart heavy cream 1½ cups sugar 1½ cups egg yolks Pinch of salt 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Preparation: Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the custard base, mix the egg yolks, sugar and pinch of salt together on low speed until combined in an electric mixing bowl with a paddle attachment.

Next, bring the cream to a scald in a small saucepan over medium heat, just under a boil. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the hot cream to the egg mixture. Then add the vanilla bean paste or extract. Pour into 6-to-8-ounce ramekins until almost full.

Place ramekins in a baking pan and carefully add hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover pan with foil and poke two holes in the corner to let out steam.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the custards are set. They should gently jiggle when shaken. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and cool at room temperature, then refrigerate until they are firm.

To serve, sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar evenly over the top of each custard and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar is caramelized. Another way to caramelize the sugar is to boil it for a few minutes. Watch carefully to make sure the caramel doesn't burn.

Finally, allow the custard to sit at room temperature for a few minutes until the caramelized sugar hardens.

34 34

G UU AA RR Y Y2 2 00 22 00 GR RA AN ND D R RA AP P II D DS S M MA AG GA AZ Z II N NE E / / JFAEN BR

PHOTO CONTENT PHOTO CREDIT

food + drink / chee s

“Eastern Kille is a name that allows us to tell the story of where we are from and highlight the location’s unique role in creating whiskey.”

Steve Vander Pol

CHEERS

New name, same spirits Gray Skies Distillery rebrands as Eastern Kille Distillery.

BY AUSTIN LANGLOIS

// PHOTOS BY BRYAN ESLER

Late last year, Gray Skies Distillery unveiled its new brand — Eastern Kille Distillery — due to a trademark dispute with another spirits company. Co-owner Steve Vander Pol gave us the inside scoop on the new name and its origins.

While you’ll find Eastern Kille’s spirits in many liquor stores across the state, if you haven’t been to its tasting room in Monroe North (at the corner of Ottawa Avenue and Fairbanks Street) you’ll have to add it to your list. It’s a communal, cozy spot with an expansive bar and varied seating.

You can’t miss the massive sky print that envelops the back wall behind the bar.

From the citrusy Barrel Finished Gin to the sweet and spicy Michigan Straight Bourbon to the smooth and dark Coffee Liqueur, there’s a libation for everyone’s tastes. The distillery focuses on Michiganmade, small-batch whiskey, gin and vodka. In fact, its location and how its spirits are made are the inspiration for the new name.

“We initially named our distillery in January and pictured barrels resting for years under those gray, wintry skies, which inspired our original name, Gray Skies Distillery,” Vander Pol said. “We wanted to continue that location-based tradition with our new name, as well. Kille comes

from Middle Dutch — a language spoken between 1050 and 1500 — and roughly translates to riverbed or water channel.

Our distillery sits in a river valley a few hundred yards away from the eastern bank of the Grand River. Eastern Kille is a name that allows us to tell the story of where we are from and highlight the location’s unique role in creating whiskey.”

True to its local theme, Eastern Kille uses municipal water sourced from Lake Michigan (filtered via activated carbon to remove impurities) and sources grain from Midwest grain mills.

“We are a grain to glass distillery, meaning for all our bourbon, rye and other whiskeys, we bring in grain and turn it into whiskey before it leaves our facility. This includes mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging and bottling, all on-site,” Vander Pol said.

This spring, Eastern Kille will launch its first 4-year-old bourbon that will be bottled in bond — which means it meets the U.S. government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits.

“A Michigan-made, bottled-in-bond spirit is a rare thing to offer,” Vander Pol said, “and we are very proud of our focus on bourbon, which is allowing us to bring it to market.”

Eastern Kille offers small-batch whiskey, gin and vodka.

GR M AG .CO M

35

food + drink / must-t y

Boop de Boom Coffee is located inside Creston Brewery.

MUST-TRY

Creston Brewery diversifies

Taproom offers coffee during morning and daytime hours.

BY CHARLSIE DEWEY

// PHOTO BY JOHNNY QUIRIN

Cailin Kelly and her fellow co-founders of Creston Brewery are turning the idea of a coffee shop that serves beer and wine on its head by turning their brewery into a coffee shop during the morning and daytime hours.

Commuters on their way to work or remote workers looking for a comfortable third office 36

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

can settle into one of the tables or booths in the taproom and enjoy their favorite coffee drink from Boop de Boom Coffee.

Kelly opened Creston Brewery in August 2016 alongside her husband Vincent Lambert, and another couple, Scott Schultz and Molly Bouwsma-Schultz. The foursome

have seen their brewery flourish in the Creston neighborhood since then; Kelly said the coffee shop was a logical next step.

While other neighborhoods in Grand Rapids have a plethora of coffee shops lining their retail corridors, a coffee shop has been surprisingly absent from the Creston neighborhood.

Initially, Kelly planned to open the coffee shop in its own space, but soon it became clear the taproom was a perfect location for the venture.

“Since we already had this beautiful space, we decided to do it here and create this collaborative, open-space environment,” Kelly said. She noted the concept is more familiar on the country’s West Coast, where taprooms are trying to serve a variety of people in their spaces.

Boop de Boom uses The Sparrows coffee, and Kelly said Lori Slager-Wenzel, owner of The Sparrows, has been sharing advice since the inception of the project.

You’ll also find pastries from Kind Crumbs and bagels from Herman’s Boy. The coffee shop serves Suu Kuu sparkling water — a CBD and mineral-infused water — and Spirit Tea. While the Creston neighborhood isn’t quite booming like some of Grand Rapids’ other neighborhoods, Kelly is hopeful development will drive more growth in the area.

“We have big dreams,” she said.

“We would love to see the space filled constantly with people working, and artists, community activists and different types of people coming together. We envision having different events here where we can sit down with commissioners or get to know your local police officer. All four of us are community-minded, and we’ve been community activists, so I guess that is our focus, bringing people together in a supportive, loving atmosphere.”

editor's pick

Enjoy a romantic night by candlelight or even head to the rooftop, which features fire pits, blankets and warm beverages.

Reserve your table early as New Hotel Mertens is sure to be packed.

Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts, and Amore Trattoria Italiana is one of my favorite places in the city to get it. In part, it’s because I receive a heaping portion upon ordering this decadent dessert made with layers of mascarpone cream, ladyfingers dipped in espresso, chocolate and amaretti cookies.

But you really can’t go wrong with any dessert at Amore. The cannoli, panna cotta and spumoni bomba are all terrific.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to whip up Amore-level desserts at home? Well, chef Jenna Arcidiacono agrees. On Feb. 8, she is offering a class demonstrating how to make anywhere from four to six of Amore’s desserts.

The class takes place from 2-3 p.m., but the bar will open at 1:30 p.m., so show up early for a drink beforehand.

Arcidiacono said seats are limited, so arrive early to score a spot.

If you’re looking for an intimate dining experience with food that reminds you of home, look no further than Grove, 919 Cherry St. SE. Grove is for adventurous and unpredictable eaters, as well as those who enjoy the classics, from steak to duck leg confit. The menu at Grove changes regularly, so you are sure to have something different for your next visit.

Amore Trattoria Italiana's blackberry tiramisu

TOP 5

Valentine's Day restaurants Celebrate love at these establishments.

BY AMELIA PASQUALONE

Grand Rapids’ burgeoning restaurant scene fills just about every niche and features tons of places to spend a romantic evening with your significant other. And if you happen to be single this year, no worries; you can celebrate love with friends and family, too!

Just don’t forget to show your furry friends at home some love with leftovers.

Looking for a Valentine’s Day brunch you won’t forget? Check out The Friesian Gastro Pub, 720 Michigan St. NE. From stuffed pancakes to a bloody mary board for the ages, this gastropub is sure to blow your date away. If

you’re visiting from out of town, it’s only a five-minute walk to the Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids, no Uber necessary!

Ando Sushi, 415 Bridge St. NW, is the ideal spot if you’re looking to enjoy high-quality sushi and specialty made drinks with your Valentine’s Day date. The backroom of Ando has a fireplace to help you warm up, along with a selection of piping hot ramen bowls packed with protein, veggies and more.

From Michigan-made beer to Old Belgium brews, Graydon’s Crossing, 1223 Plainfield Ave. NE,

has it all. Luckily for all love birds, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, meaning the Friday specials at Graydon’s will be in full swing. If you’re looking for a relaxing Valentine’s Day date that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, Graydon’s Crossing is the place to go.

New Hotel Mertens, 35 Oakes St. SW, is a great place to finish off your Valentine’s Day with a glass of wine and desserts that are out of this world. The housemade gelato sundae is sure to be a big topic of conversation, and the chocolate pot de crème will leave you speechless.

DINNER DATE ISTOCK/OPENEYED11 EDITOR RACHEL IDZERDA TIRAMISU COURTESY AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA

CHARLSIE DEWEY MANAGING EDITOR, GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE

GR M AG .CO M

37

A promising future

A juice bar, popcorn shop, cocktail lounge, jazz club and tailor are joining downtown; did we mention they are all Black-owned businesses?

BY CHARLSIE DEWEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERI GENOVESE

38

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Jermale Eddie stands inside Malamiah Juice Bar & Eatery.

The shop recently relocated to Studio Park.

GR M AG .CO M

39

Mosby's Popcorn relocated downtown in hopes of increasing foot traffic.

The scent of popcorn lingers in the air outside of the Blodgett Building, 15 Ionia Ave. SW, the new home of Mosby’s Popcorn.

Inside, salty and sweet smells mingle, flooding your nostrils and enticing your taste buds. The shop’s inviting atmosphere, with its bright colors and clean lines, welcomes visitors, and a row of tables and chairs await guests who might want to enjoy their treats before continuing along Ionia Avenue. Perhaps they’ll head south two blocks to the new Studio Park entertainment complex where they’ll visit Malamiah Juice Bar & Eatery for a juice or smoothie.

At least that’s what Jermale Eddie and Brian Mosby are hoping. Eddie, the owner of Malamiah Juice Bar & Eatery, recently relocated to Studio Park from the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, while Mosby’s shop is the store’s second location (the original is located in Kentwood).

Malamiah had been a market tenant since 2013 when the Downtown Market first opened. After six years, Eddie was ready to move his business to the bustling 40

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

“If everyone is downtown or within the city limits, we need to be closer to our population of people patronizing our business.”

BRIAN MOSBY

corner of Ionia and Oakes and to expand its operations to include a small food menu.

In addition to juices and smoothies, the shop is offering breakfast options, including toasts, chia puddings and oatmeal, and lunch options like salads and grain bowls.

He hopes increased foot traffic will support his business and help him expand his operations further.

“We need to increase our walking traffic.

Being down there will give us that,” Eddie said.

Mosby said increased foot traffic also was a motivation for his move downtown. While his Kentwood shop has grown steadily, it’s mostly thanks to orders, not walk-in customers.

“If everyone is downtown or within the city limits, we need to be closer to our population of people patronizing our business,” he said.

As small business owners, both men have faced typical startup challenges, but they’ve also faced challenges as young Black entrepreneurs.

While Grand Rapids has been heralded as a “best city” to raise a family, to retire and more, in 2015, the city landed on

Brian Mosby stands outside Mosby’s Popcorn, which opened in downtown this past December.

GR M AG .CO M

41

a list it would have preferred to avoid.

On a ranking of “The cities where African-Americans are doing the best economically,” Grand Rapids landed in the 51st spot, making it the second to last, and in effect, one of the worst cities in America for African Americans.

So, Eddie points out that five years later, it is a big deal that his business and Mosby’s are ready to thrive downtown.

And, they aren’t alone. Ambiance GR, GRNoir Wine & Jazz and Mel Styles (a men’s tailor shop) — all Black-owned ventures — also have opened or announced plans to open downtown.

Ambiance GR is a new cocktail lounge offering live entertainment and a food menu focused on American and Creole cuisine.

Jamiel Robinson, one of six men behind the venture, said Ambiance will cater to the lunch, evening and late-night crowds.

42

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

He said the space offers a laid-back atmosphere that promotes conversation.

“It’s going to be a unique place downtown that you can’t find anywhere else in the city,” he said.

While Robinson is reluctant about making too much out of the fact that the business is an African American-backed venture, he does acknowledge that it is important. “We aren’t the first ever, there were other African American-owned or -ran establishments downtown. We’ll be the first one in quite a while to actually own the business and own our liquor license.”

He said the visibility can influence other entrepreneurs to pursue their own ventures.

That sentiment was echoed by both Eddie and Mosby, who talked about being just like any other small business opening downtown and wanting their businesses to succeed

“Historically, downtown Grand Rapids hasn’t seen too many Blackowned businesses or businesses of color.

We’ve been around for six years, so I think we’ve proven that folks want us, not just folks that look like us, but most of Grand Rapids.”

JERMALE EDDIE

Jermal Eddie is excited to see his business grow at Studio Park.

and be judged on their product but also acknowledging that being a minority-owned business in downtown does mean something.

“Historically, downtown Grand Rapids hasn’t seen too many Black-owned businesses or businesses of color,” Eddie said. “We’ve been around for six years, so I think we’ve proven that folks want us, not just folks that look like us, but most of Grand Rapids. Our product is a crossover product; folks want a healthy, great product, customer service, smiling face and the food to taste good, and we are able to bring that.

“Perhaps, too, by seeing Black-owned businesses pop up downtown, it will attract other Black-owned and Latinx businesses, or other ethnicities, so we can be this world-class city that so many people see us as but also so many people don’t see us as.”

Robinson agreed that having more minority-owned businesses downtown is

Don’t miss these great places Local Mocha: Next time you’re in need of a caffeine fix, get your jolt from Local Mocha.

While it’s located next door to GR coffee behemoth Madcap, Local Mocha has actually been in business for two decades longer, and it’s a Black-owned business. It also offers sandwiches, so it’s a great spot for a quick lunch, too. 96 Monroe Center NW Muse GR: Muse GR is an “interactive gallery” where people can host events, take classes, hold workshops or schedule photo shoots. It is owned by Stephen Smith and Taylor Smith, who opened the space on the city’s West Side in 2016. 727 Leonard St. NW Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives: George Bayard III helms the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. The small museum in the heart of downtown offers a glimpse at the past through a collection of items that include political campaign buttons to household items with offensive caricatures that were common in the past. 87 Monroe Center NW

Daddy’s Dough Cookies: While Daddy’s Dough Cookies doesn’t have its own brickand-mortar location (yet), its cookies are offered at a few retailers downtown. Look for these delicious treats at Bridge Street Market and Mosby’s Popcorn.

GR M AG .CO M

43

44

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

“I think it’s more important for the city of Grand Rapids’ future to have racially and ethnically diverse businesses opening downtown because it looks to be a global community and global center, a global area for the region.”

JAMIEL ROBINSON

Jamiel Robinson stands in front of the future home of Ambiance GR, a new restaurant and bar coming to downtown.

important to the future of Grand Rapids.

“I think it’s more important for the city of Grand Rapids’ future to have racially and ethnically diverse businesses opening downtown because it looks to be a global community and global center, a global area for the region,” he said. “You can’t be global if you have homogenous businesses downtown.

It’s more important to the future of Grand Rapids when looking at talent retention, attraction, those types of things.

“Grand Rapids won’t have a future, when you look at demographic and culture shifts, all these things occurring, if the city isn’t growing as the nation and global population is and being representative of those things.

We will get left behind. We’ll be dubbed as a dying city if we don’t embrace a diverse business community.”

City leaders and other decision-makers in Grand Rapids agree with Robinson. Since the 2015 Forbes listing, the city and other funding entities have begun making changes to try and reduce barriers and increase access for minority business owners.

Kyama Kitavi, economic development manager at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., said his role involves trying to “get businesses downtown, with a focus on trying to get more diverse ownership, diverse types of businesses and more vibrant, engaged business owners downtown.”

He helps operate a retail grant program (Retail Business Incubation Program) for small businesses looking to locate in the downtown area. The year-old program already has been used to support a handful of minority-owned businesses, including Ambiance GR, Mosby’s Popcorn, Tamales Mary and others.

Kitavi said the grant program is just one piece of the puzzle, however. Businesses looking to locate downtown already are investing thousands of dollars on renovation work, equipment and more. Often what they need, according to Kitavi, is help navigating the systems and processes — and access to the right people and rooms where the handshakes happen.

“There needs to be a larger infrastructure and ecosystem of support that goes beyond our dollars,” Kitavi said.

Another program that is available to Black entrepreneurs is GRABB 5, a six-month accelerator program for Black businesses.

It is a collaborative effort between Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Start Garden and the city of Grand Rapids. The goal of

the program is to “significantly expand the overall ecosystem and improve access to social, intellectual and financial capital that is essential to entrepreneurship.”

GRABB was started in 2013 by Robinson in response to the revitalization of Wealthy Street and the dwindling of Black ownership along that corridor — which was once a street full of Black-owned businesses.

Initially, GRABB served as a directory of Black-owned businesses in the city but has grown to become a business and economic development organization focused on making systemic changes across the city.

GRABB connected with Start Garden back in 2015 when it hosted its annual GRABB Awards and Black Market at Start Garden’s office. “We had 200-plus African Americans coming into Start Garden at that time, the largest number of African Americans to have ever walked into Start Garden,” Robinson said.

He said that event was the catalyst in creating relationships between African Americans and Start Garden. “We set a pathway toward helping to make Start Garden more accessible to people of color here in Grand Rapids,” Robinson said. “We started doing GRABB dinners, inviting business owners and creating intentional collisions with Start Garden, to bring these two groups together.”

Soon after, in 2017, Darel Ross II and Jorge Gonzalez were hired by Start Garden to serve as part of its leadership team, and Robinson said the emphasis on supporting minority businesses has continued to grow.

But change is slow. “Even though there’s more energy, focus and attention when you look at the quality of life, it still hasn’t … no transformation has occurred. It’s trending in a good direction, but it needs to be accelerated even more,” Robinson said.

So, the addition of Malamiah, Mosby’s, Ambiance, GRNoir and Mel Styles to the downtown landscape is a step in the right direction and a cause for celebration, but it’s also just the result of a level playing field with more work to be done.

“Any time a business is able to grow and expand, it should be cause for celebration, not just because it is African American or Black-owned or Latino-owned. When you create accessibility, these are the types of things that occur. These things should just happen naturally if opportunity is available and accessible,” Robinson said.

GR M AG .CO M

45

Haley Paige Lorelai Gown, $4,200, Bianka Bridal, biankabridal. com; Bel-Aire Hairpiece, $145, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings.com

46

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

PHOTO CONTENT PHOTO CREDIT

WORKS OF ART This wedding season, push the envelope on traditional and don a gown that is unique and fashion forward.

Photography by JOE ALISA Styling by JENNIFER PICKERING Hair and makeup by ERICK GERSON Shot on location at GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM GR M AG .CO M

47

Whispers and Echos Roma Dress, $1,295, BHLDN, bhldn. com; Maison Bedard Star Boots, $550, maisonbedard. com; Angular Earrings, Oxidized Sterling Silver, $275, Emmaelizabethjewelry. com; Kathryn Ann Bridal Veil, $450, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings.com

48

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

AmarĂŠ Bridal Crystal Dress, $4,499, and Badgley Mischka Harris Heel, $235 both from Renee Austin, reneeaustinwedding.com; Gold Dangle Earrings, $36, Lennon & Willow, lennonandwillow.com GR M AG .CO M

49

Haley Paige Gown, $4,600, Bianka Bridal, biankabridal.com; Ti Adoro Flower Earrings, $165, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings.com

50

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

GR M AG .CO M

51

Daalarna Water Colour Dress, $8,250, daalarna. hu; Emerald and Gem Silica Statement Earrings, Oxidized Sterling Silver, $595 and Large Opal Fire Ring, Sterling Silver, $265, both from emmaelizabethjewelry.com

52

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

PHOTO CONTENT PHOTO CREDIT

Winnie Couture Etoile Gown, $4,289, winniecouture.com; Francina Bracelet, $68, VajzĂŤ, vajze.com; Julie Vos Geneva Cuff, $210, and Julie Vos Demi Link Bracelet, $285, both from Mason Jones, masonjonesshops.com

GR M AG .CO M

53

Maggie Sottero Pantsuit, $1,400, Bridal Elegance, bridalelegancegr.com; Gold Luxe Cuff, $128, goldluxe.com; Gold Chain “Emma” Earrins, $68, Vajzë, vajze.com

54

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

GR M AG .CO M

55

Casablanca Bridal Adeline Gown, $1,799, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings. com; Gold Luxe Pearl Earrings, $62, goldluxe.com; Hey Lady Twinkletoes Heels, $282, heylady.co

56

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

Willow West Dress, $2,200, Bridal Elegance, bridalelegancegr.com; Veil, $290, Renee Austin, reneeaustinweddings. com; Dona Ring, $48, Prenda Ring, $38, Lula Necklace, $93, all from VajzĂŤ, vajze.com

GR M AG .CO M

57

LUXURY, EXPANDED

BY A THIRD ROW The 2020 Lexus RX 350L From: $48,325* Discover refined styling, comfort and a generously appointed interior in the seven-passenger Lexus RX 350L.** Additional third-row comforts include powerfolding seats and dedicated climate control.

Experience Amazing at

HARVEY LEXUS OF GRAND RAPIDS 2550 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

HarveyLexusGrandRapids.com Sales Hours: Mon & Wed 9 am - 8 pm Tue, Thu, Fri 9 am - 6 pm & Sat 9 am - 4 pm

*Plus tax, title, lic. & fees - front wheel drive, options extra. Options shown. **Seven-passenger second-row bench seating standard in the RX 350L, and six-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs available in the RX 350L and standard in the RX 450hL.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE

WEDDINGS

West Michigan’s New Premier Lakeshore Wedding Venue

Brian L Coss Photography

Where Dreams Begin...

South Haven, MI www.BRBSouthHaven.com 269.888.3256

CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | EVENTS

616.256.2535 | 111 Division Ave S, Downtown Grand Rapids, MI

IS SERVED. In addition to our award winning wedding reception catering we specialize in corporate catering for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings at your place or one of our venues. We take care of all of the details so you can enjoy the event.

We can cater at your corporate facility or any of our facilities: • • •

The Waddell Center in Downtown Grand Rapids Grandville Banquet Center Distinctive Catering Banquet Center in Wyoming

We simply are the very best in West Michigan.

DISTINCTIVECATERING.COM 866.802.7266 | 616.538.4384

THE ULTIMATE BOOK ABOUT DETROIT’S HISTORY

Explore the latest book from award-winning journalist and DBusiness magazine editor R.J. King. “Detroit: Engine of America” is the real life story of how the city grew, step by step, from a French fort on the riverfront in 1701 to become the world’s largest manufacturing economy in 1900.

To purchase copies of “Detroit: Engine of America” personally signed by the author, email Detroit@MomentumBooks.com.

You’ve been planning your dream wedding for months.

Don’t you think that your honeymoon deserves a little love, too?

I do.

HONEYMOON & DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALISTS

3250 28th St SE, Grand Rapids | 616.942.5112 | vacation@wittetravel.com | wittetravel.com

FROM OUR SMOKER, TO YOUR SPECIAL DAY.

Award winning Bar BQ Located in the Downtown Market. Slows Grand Rapids is a full-service caterer, able to host events on site, or at your location.

From rehearsal dinners to receptions, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call to discuss what’s best for you. We’d love to help you plan your big day.

SLOWS BAR BQ 435 Ionia Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 slowsbarbq.com events@slowsgr.com 616-454-1588

Because in your dreams, every detail matters.

940 W. Savidge St. | Spring Lake 616.846.1000 | higrandhaven.com/events

dine / estau ants

dine

OUR STAFF'S GUIDE TO THE AREA'S BEST EATERIES For any additions or changes: // Please email cdewey@geminipub.com or write to Grand Rapids Magazine, c/o Dining Guide, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Downtown GR ANGEL’S THAI CAFÉ Extensive Thai fare. Menu includes your-choice stir-fry option. Vegetarian friendly. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 136 Monroe Center NW, 454-9801. angelsthaicafe.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BANGKOK TASTE CUISINE Thai fare with lunch buffet and kids menu. No alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 15 Jefferson Ave SE, 356-5550. bangkoktastegr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BEIJING KITCHEN Hunan, Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines. Lunch and dinner specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // 342 State St SE, 458-8383. beijingkitchenmi.com. Lunch (SunFri), Dinner $-$$ BISTRO BELLA VITA Big-city casual; Modern French and Italian cuisine, locally sourced and prepared over a wood fire.

Mammoth martini bar, nice wine selection. Open daily. // 44 Grandville Ave SW, 222-4600. bistrobellavita.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ BOBARINO’S AT THE B.O.B. Grill on second floor of The B.O.B. offers everything from wood-fired pizza to upscale entrées. Lunch menu has deli sandwiches, salads, burgers. Full bar. Outdoor seating.

Closed Sun. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob. com/bobarinospizza. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BRICK & PORTER Appetizers, burgers, salads and sandwiches and a nice selection of entrées; 20 beers on tap (“the darker, the better”). Open daily. // 47 Monroe Center NW, 2266928. brickandportergr.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BRICKYARD TAVERN Located inside the historic Boardwalk Building, BrickYard Tavern offers a varied menu with items including a selection of burgers, sandwiches and entrées such as beer-battered salmon and chips, fish tacos and rib eye. Enjoy cocktails and 24 beers on tap. Open daily. // 940 Monroe Ave NW, 805-3280. brickyardtaverngr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BULL’S HEAD TAVERN Large selection of appetizers, soups and salads. Entrées

include pasta, fish, chicken and steak along with burgers and sandwiches. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 188 Monroe Ave NW, 454-3580. thebullsheadtavern.com.

Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ CHARLEY’S CRAB Fresh seafood in a fine dining atmosphere with views of the Grand River. Gluten-free menu. Beer and extensive wine list. Sun brunch 10-2:30. Open daily. // 63 Market Ave SW, 459-2500.muer.com/charleyscrab. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ THE CHOP HOUSE Aged prime beef, seafood, pork and lamb chops, chicken and more. Downstairs is La Dolce Vita dessert and cigar bar. Closed Sun. // 190 Monroe Ave NW, 451-6131. thechophousegrandrapids.com. Dinner $$$ CITY BUILT BREWING CO. Taproom featuring a variety of craft beer. Plus, Puerto Rican-inspired appetizers, small plates, entrées, soups and salads. Closed Mon. // 820 Monroe Ave NW, 805-5755. citybuiltbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CINCO DE MAYO Offers the usual Mexican fare plus carnitas and steak asada. Full bar. Open daily. // 114 Monroe Center NW, 719-2401. cincodemayogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CITYSEN LOUNGE Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and small-plate creations. Beer and wine; happy hour 4-7 pm. Open daily. // CityFlatsHotel, 83 Monroe Center NW, 6081725. cityflatshotel.com/location/grand-rapids.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ COTTAGE BAR Longtime favorite since 1927. Famous Cottage burgers and fries, signature chilis and more. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 18 LaGrave Ave SE, 454-9088. cottagebar.biz.

Lunch, Dinner $

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER DIVANI European-inspired food includes small plates for sharing and a variety of entrées. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 15 Ionia Ave SW, 774-9463. divanigr.com. Dinner $$-$$$ FLANAGAN’S Downtown Irish pub features imported beers, entrées with Irish influence. Frequent live music. Closed Sun. // 139 Pearl St NW, 454-7852. flanagansgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FORTY PEARL A wine bar serving oysters, cured meats and cheeses, baked goods and sweets, soups and salads, shareables, sandwiches, rice bowls and entrées like

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

salmon, seared scallops and Cornish hen. Open daily. // 40 Pearl St. NW, 608-7741. fortypearl.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ FOUNDERS BREWING CO. Spacious taproom, serpentine bar and live music Thu and Sat. Menu features appetizers, deli sandwiches.

Outdoor beer garden. Open daily. // 235 Grandville Ave SW, 776-1195. foundersbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FRIESIAN GASTRO PUB A cozy neighborhood eatery offering comfort food items with an eclectic twist. Menu items include handhelds like the harissa hot chicken sandwich and vegan Rueben, as well as entrées including ramen bowls and Korean short ribs. Full bar. Patio and rooftop deck. Open daily. // 720 Michigan St NE, 825-3001. friesiangr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GILLY’S SMOKEHOUSE Twelve rotating craft beers from The B.O.B’s Brewery paired with smokehouse fare, including smoked beef brisket, Amish chicken, pork butt and more.

Closed Sun-Mon. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/gillysrestaurant. Dinner $-$$ GINZA SUSHI & RAMEN BAR Wide selection of authentic Japanese cuisine, sushi, ramen, poke bowls, hibachi dinners, appetizers, soups and salad. Open daily. Catering available. // 1015 Michigan St NE, 272-4116. ginzasushiramen.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ GP SPORTS Sports bar and restaurant. Menu features create-yourown pizzas and burgers, salads and sandwiches. Open daily. // Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-6495. amwaygrand.com/dining/gp-sports.

Lunch, Dinner $$ GRAND RAPIDS BREWING CO. Organic brews, hard cider, wine and spirits. Farm-totable menu includes sharable plates, sausages, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrées. Open daily. // 1 Ionia Ave SW, 458-7000. grbrewingcompany.com. Lunch (SatSun), Dinner $-$$ GRAND RAPIDS GARAGE BAR AND GRILL “All-American grub” includes burgers, nachos, sandwiches, soups and salads, full bar. Live entertainment Fri and Sat. Open daily. / 819 Ottawa Ave NW, 4540321. garagebargr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ GRAND WOODS LOUNGE Eclectic menu with upscale comfort foods. Live entertainment, pool tables, spacious full bar.

Year-round alfresco dining with fireplace. Open

GR M AG .CO M

65

dine / estau ants

daily. // 77 Grandville Ave SW, 451-4300. grandwoodslounge.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

bar. Open daily. // 95 Monroe Center NW, 419-4168. thelittlebirdgr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Tue-Sat) $

HERITAGE HILL PIZZA Offers traditional, stuffed and specialty pizzas. No alcohol. Open daily with a few tables for dining in. // 340 State St SE, 742-4773. grandrapidspizza.net.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

LUNA TAQUERIA Y COCINA Upscale Latin American menu pairs with locally sourced meat and produce. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 64 Ionia Ave SW, 288-6340. lunagr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

THE HERITAGE GRCC culinary students prepare gourmet dishes from steaks to vegan. Menu changes weekly. Wine and beer. Open Tue-Fri during school year. // Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, 234-3700. grcc.edu/heritage. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

MARCONA ON LYON “Modern” Mediterranean cuisine, including appetizers, grilled skewers, falafel and more, as well as vegetarianand vegan-friendly options. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 623 Lyon St NE, 828-1228. marconaonlyon.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

HONG KONG EXPRESS Szechuan and Cantonese. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet.

No alcohol. Open daily. // 150 E Fulton St, 235-2888.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

MARGAUX A contemporary French bistro. Fine wines and cocktails.

Alfresco dining overlooking the Grand River. Open daily. // JW Marriott, 235 Louis St NW, 242-1448. ilovethejw.com/dining. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

JAMAICAN DAVE’S Chicken, goat, oxtail, beef, fish and vegetarian fare in Jamaican style. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 530 S Division Ave, 458-7875. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ J. GARDELLA’S TAVERN Massive full bar and gargantuan menu includes hearty appetizers, salads, burgers, entrées. Three floors of seating. Closed Sun. // 11 Ionia Ave SW, 459-8824. jgardellastavern.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $ JUDSON’S AT THE B.O.B. Award-winning steakhouse offers steaks, seafood and chops. Notable wine list. Closed Sun. // 20 Monroe Ave NW, 356-2000. thebob.com/judsonssteakhouse.

Dinner $$$ THE KITCHEN BY WOLFGANG PUCK Comfort fare and global classics in a casual atmosphere overlooking the Grand River. Menu includes appetizers, gourmet pizzas, salads and entrées. Full bar. Open daily. // Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-3230. amwaygrand.com/dining/the-kitchen-bywolfgang-puck. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER LEO’S Fresh seafood, soups, salads and more in elegant yet casual atmosphere. Early dinner menu 4:30-6 pm MonFri. Closed Sun. // 60 Ottawa Ave NW, 454-6700. leosrestaurant.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ LINEAR Riverfront eatery featuring seasonal menu with fresh modern American fare and outdoor-seating options; plus, a display of rotating works by local artists. Full bar.

Closed Mon. // 1001 Monroe Ave NW, 200-4343. linearrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LITTLEBIRD Café-style restaurant featuring made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch, including a full coffee menu, house-made sodas and egg creams, and pastries. Full

66

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

MAX’S SOUTH SEAS HIDEWAY A tiki-themed restaurant that includes a raw bar, hot appetizers, salads, sides, land and sea dishes, and vegan options. Appetizers include ceviche and puhahana rock shrimp, and entrées include a poke bowl, citrus-glazed faroe and an island lobster roll.

Full bar. Open daily. // 58 Ionia Ave SW, 551-0016. maxstiki.com. Dinner $$-$$$ MEXO Features tequila/mezcal bar and a modern touch on classic pre-Hispanic foods of Mexico. Full bar. Open daily. // 118 E Fulton St, 828-4123. mexogr.com.

Breakfast (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $$ MOJO’S DUELING PIANO BAR & RESTAURANT Lively downtown spot opens for dinner at 5 pm Wed-Sat. Appetizers, sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas, full bar. Shows start at 8 pm Wed-Fri, 7 pm Sat. Closed Sun-Tue. // 180 Monroe Ave NW, 776-9000. mojospianobar.com. Dinner (Wed-Sat) $$-$$$ MUDPENNY Coffee bar with all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers and salads. Catering available. Closed Sun. // 570 Grandville Ave SW, 259-5353. mudpenny.com.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ NEW HOTEL MERTENS French-inspired, upscale dining on restored historic site of original, early-20th-century-era New Hotel Mertens.

Seafood, pasta, entrées and small plates. Local wine options. Open daily. // 35 Oakes St SW, 551-1713. newhotelmertens.com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Breakfast (Mon-Fri), Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ ONE TRICK PONY GRILL & TAPROOM Eclectic menu with vegetarian, Mexican and European cuisines. Dine alfresco on street-front, dog- friendly patio. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 136 E Fulton St, 2357669. onetrick.biz. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

ONE TWENTY THREE TAVERN Part of Studio Park, One Twenty Three Tavern offers starters, small plates and handhelds, large plates, and a kids menu. Offering elevated American fare, including a fried chicken sandwich, jackfruit carnitas, meatloaf, veggie meatballs, quinoa bowl and more. Full bar.

Open daily. // 123 Ionia Ave SW. 123tavern.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$$ OSTERIA ROSSA Casual Italian-inspired cuisine with Michigan roots from executive chef/owner Chris Perkey. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta. Full bar. Open daily. // 16 Monroe Center NE, 988-9350. osteriarossa.com. Lunch (MonFri), Dinner $-$$ PALACE OF INDIA Indian cuisine with a sizeable menu including vegetarian selections. Lunch buffet 11-3. Open daily. // 138 E Fulton St, 913-9000. palaceofindiarestaurant.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PARSLEY MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE Appetizers, salads, soups, pitas, combos. Catering available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 80 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-2590. parsleymg.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIND INDIAN CUISINE A fine-dining Indian restaurant offering traditional dishes, such as tandoori, biryani, chicken tikka masala, malai kofta and samosas with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 241 W Fulton St, 805-4767. pindgr.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$$

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER RESERVE Wine bar offers extensive by-the-glass selections and culinary options to match, including charcuterie.

Closed Sun. // 201 Monroe Ave NW, 855-9463. reservegr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ ROAM BY SAN CHEZ BISTRO The San Chez Bistro team introduces global street food, including cuisine from China, Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, U.K., Indonesia and more. Full bar.

Closed Sun. // 250 Monroe Ave NW, 288-9129. roambysanchez.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ ROCKWELL REPUBLIC Diverse menu emphasizes local ingredients from sushi to comfort food. Upper-level outdoor seating. Full bar. Open daily. // 45 S Division Ave, 551-3563. rockwellsrepublic.com. Dinner $$-$$$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE Classic American steakhouse in the Amway Grand Plaza. Serves alcohol. Closed Sun. // 187 Monroe Ave NW, 776-6426. amwaygrand.com/dining/ruthschris-steak-house. Lunch, Dinner $$$ SAN CHEZ BISTRO Spanish fare focusing on tapas-style small plates; sides and entrées. Wine and beer list includes Spanish varieties

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

and sherry. Open daily. // 38 W Fulton St, 774-8272. sanchezbistro.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ SLOWS BAR-B-Q Detroit-based restaurant offers extensive menu, including barbecue, sandwiches and sides.

Michigan and national craft beers on tap. Open daily. // Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, 454-1588. slowsbarbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SOCIAL HOUSE A casual pub serving American-style food. Menu features a variety of offerings: starters such as veggie, meat and cheese shared platters, goat cheese fritters, spicy tuna wontons and avocado toast; soups and salads; burgers and sandwiches; and pizza. Full bar.

Closed Mon. // 25 Ottawa Ave. SW, 551-1412. socialhousegr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$$ SOCIAL KITCHEN & BAR Refined comfort food, sandwiches, pizzas, extensive cocktail menu. Vintage décor, patio. Open daily. // Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, 724-4464. socialkitchenandbar.com/grand-rapids.html. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ SPEAKEZ LOUNGE Casual pub setting with eclectic menu, including vegan and gluten-free. Creative starters, soups, salads, entrées (after 4 pm). Full bar. Open daily. // 600 Monroe Ave NW, 458-3125. speakezlounge.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ STELLA’S LOUNGE Award-winning stuffed burgers, plus vegan and vegetarian items. Full bar, known for its whiskey selection. Open daily. // 53 Commerce Ave SW, 7424444. stellasgr.com. Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner$-$$ TAVERN ON THE SQUARE Tapas-style fare, plus house specialties. Patio seating. Full bar, happy hour 3-7 Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 100 Ionia Ave SW, 456-7673. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ WHEELHOUSE KITCHEN AND COCKTAILS Eclectic American bistro fare with seasonal recipes using Michigan ingredients. Large bar and porch. Open daily. // Arena Place, 67 Ottawa Ave SW, 226-3319. wheelhousegrandrapids.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ Z’S BAR & RESTAURANT Sports-themed eatery known for its BBQ ribs. Soups, salads, sandwiches, entrées. Carry-out available. Open daily. // 168 Louis Campau Promenade NW, 4543141. zsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ZOKO 822 Basque-inspired cuisine, featuring Northern Spanish and Southern French small plates, served family style; plus, “grab-and-go” lunch serviced through the Bodega 822. Full bar boasting over 45 selections of gin. Open daily. // 822 Ottawa Ave NW, 8281118. zoko822.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch (Mon-Sat), Dinner $$-$$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

67

dine / estau ants

West Side ANDO SUSHI + BAR Asian fusion eatery featuring small plates, bentos, rice bowls, raw bar, noodles, soup, salad and more. Wide selection of wine, plus local, domestic and international beer. Full bar. // 415 Bridge St NW, 608-0789. andosushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BLUE DOG TAVERN West Michigan craft brews on tap. Good selection of tots, dogs and burgers. Open daily. // 638 Stocking Ave NW, 608-6050. bluedogtaverngr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ BROADWAY BAR & GRILL Neighborhood bar known for burgers and holiday decorations, especially at Christmas. Outdoor grilling during summer. Hours change seasonally. // 740 Broadway Ave SW, 454-0565. Facebook.

Lunch, Dinner $

// 428 Bridge St NW, 419-4676. jollypumpkin.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ THE KNICKERBOCKER – NEW HOLLAND BREWING Craft brewery featuring a variety of locally sourced shared plates, sandwiches, soups, pizzas, barbecue and more. Open daily. // 417 Bridge St NW, 3455642. newhollandbrew.com/knickerbocker. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LONG ROAD DISTILLERS Craft, small-batch distillery featuring variety of housemade snacks, sandwiches and entrées. Open daily. // 537 Leonard St NW, 228-4924. longroaddistillers. com. Brunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $-$$ MAGGIE’S KITCHEN Mexican fare in café setting, cafeteria-style ordering.

No alcohol. Closed Sun and Mon. // 636 Bridge St NW, 458-8583. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $

2019 RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR BUTCHER’S UNION Meat-and-whiskey-centric gastro pub. Full bar.

Outdoor seating available. // 438 Bridge St NW, 551-1323. butchersuniongr.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $$ EL GRANJERO Mexican fare from steak and shrimp to menudo on weekends. No alcohol but tasty virgin coladas. Open daily. // 950 Bridge St NW, 458-5595. Facebook.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ EL SOMBRERO Offers “the original” wet burrito. Weekly specials.

No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 527 Bridge St NW, 451-4290. elsombrerorestaurantmi.com. Lunch, Dinner $ FRATELLI’S KITCHEN & BAR Italian cuisine based on family recipes from Sicily with a “modern twist.” Full service bar. Open daily. // 443 Bridge St NW, Suite 2. 389-4963. fratellisgr.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ HARMONY HALL West Side brewpub with a German beer hall atmosphere serves pizza, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Open daily. // 401 Stocking Ave NW, 233-9186. harmonybeer.com/harmony-hall. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE HOLIDAY BAR Established in 1905, menu features appetizers and sandwiches. Seating includes 40-foot horseshoe bar, tables and a beer garden in warm months. Open daily. // 801 Fifth St NW, 456-9058. theholidaybargr.com.

Lunch, Dinner $ JOLLY PUMPKIN PIZZERIA & BREWERY Dexter-based brewery offers salads and sandwiches in addition to pizza. Kids menu available. Open daily.

68

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

THE MITTEN BREWING CO. Vintage baseball-themed nanobrewery pairs handcrafted beers with gourmet pizzas. Open daily. // 527 Leonard St NW, 608-5612. mittenbrewing.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MONARCHS’ CLUB Starters, sausages, hot dogs, panini, Italian beef sandwiches and Grand Rapids Stackers. Michigan beer on draft. Open daily. // 646 Stocking Ave NW, 2339799. monarchsclubcornerbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $ ONE BOURBON Trendy, two-level restaurant serving creative shareable plates, burgers, hot sandwiches and entrées. Full bar features more than 120 whiskies. Closed Sun-Mon. // 608 Bridge St NW, 608-5766. onebourbongr.com.

Dinner $-$$ O’TOOLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE Pub grub includes appetizers, sandwiches and burgers served on a mountain of fries. Open daily. // 448 Bridge St NW, 742-6095. otoolesgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PEARL STREET GRILL Bright, contemporary restaurant features diverse menu in downtown Holiday Inn. Full bar. Open daily. // 310 Pearl St NW, 235-1342. higrdt.com/dining/ pearl-street-grill. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ SALVATORE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Sicilian and southern Italian fare. Separate sports bar; patio seating. Food, beer and wine available to go.

Delivery and catering. Open daily. // 654 Stocking Ave NW, 454-4280. salvatoresgr.com. Lunch (MonFri), Dinner $-$$

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER THE SOVENGARD Midwest meets Scandinavian spirit, with a focus on seasonal and local sourcing. Restaurant and outdoor

beer garden in a historic West Side building. Open daily. // 443 Bridge St NW, 214-7207. sovengard.com.

Dinner $$ TWO SCOTTS BARBECUE Authentic barbecue smoked in-house daily with homemade sides and sauces. Features draft root beer and weekly specials. Catering and food truck available.

Closed Sun. // 536 Leonard St NW, 608-6756. twoscottsbbq.com. Lunch $-$$ WESTSIDE SOCIAL “Reimagined” American-style tavern with locally sourced, house-made appetizers, burgers, seafood and other entrées. Full bar. Happy hour specials available Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 2802 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 453-5877. westside.social. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$

Uptown BOMBAY CUISINE Traditional Indian dishes with spices and flavors from northern India. Full bar. Open daily. Takeout available. // 1420 Lake Dr SE, 456-7055. eastownbombaycuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BREWERY VIVANT Beer and food in tradition of French and Belgian country dishes. Housed in a renovated funeral chapel.

Most dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Open daily. // 925 Cherry St SE, 719-1604. breweryvivant.com. Lunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $$-$$$ BRICK ROAD PIZZA Traditional, gourmet and vegan pizzas (glutenfree crusts available); also soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches. Sun Brunch Bar. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 1017 Wealthy St SE, 719-2409. brickroadpizza.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BROWN BUTTER CREPERIE & CAFÉ Locally sourced, made-from-scratch sweet and savory crepes and liege waffles. // 1436 Wealthy St SE, 2885038. brownbuttercrepes.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Wed-Sat) $ CHEZ OLGA Caribbean and Creole fare. Veggie/vegan options.

Takeout available. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1441 Wealthy St SE, 233-4141. chezolga.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE COMMONS 1970s-themed restaurant with “retro comfort food.” Full bar, including craft beer and ’70s-inspired cocktails.

Takeout available. Closed Mon. // 547 Cherry St SE, 458-2704. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ CURRY KITCHEN Authentic Indian cuisine. Daily lunch buffet. Kids menu.

Takeout. Open daily. No alcohol. // 961 E Fulton St, 242-1300. currykitchengr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

DANZÓN CUBANO Authentic Cuban fare, including vegetarian and vegan options, as well as locally made and Cuban sodas.

Full bar; happy hour specials Mon-Thu. Open daily. // 1 Carlton Ave SE, 988-9788. danzoncubano.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$

Ev

s H s e as A St n i s u B y or r e Let us tell yours!

y

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER DONKEY TAQUERIA Authentic Mexican food, including tacos, tostadas, botanas and tortas in a former 1920s service station.

Full bar. Open daily. // 665 Wealthy St SE. donkeygr.com. Breakfast (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$

FOR YOUR CONTENT MARKETING SOLUTIONS CALL JULIE CULLEN 248.691.1800 EXT 163

EAST WEST BREWING CO. Traditional American-style beers. Fresh, made-to-order American-style food and seasonal vegetarian menu items from local vendors. Open daily. // 1400 Lake Dr SE, 288-5250. eastwestbrewingcompany.com. Lunch (Fri-Sat), Dinner $-$$

• Exclusive-use lodge and private lake • 10 spacious guest suites • Indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces • Upscale catering

ELECTRIC CHEETAH Eclectic menu with an emphasis on locally grown fare and creative combinations. Beer and wine available. Open daily. // 1015 Wealthy St SE, 4514779. electriccheetah.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$

(517) 607-4288 rockwelllakelodge@hillsdale.edu rockwelllakelodge.com 3943 N. Skookum Road Luther, MI 49656 Located about 25 minutes south of Cadillac.

ELK BREWING CO. Brewery with rustic industrial interior. Menu includes innovative sandwiches and snacks. Open daily. // 700 Wealthy St SE, 238-5227. elkbrewing.com.

Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner $

Win a Getaway to Muskegon County!

ERB THAI Thai fare; will accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, no MSG. No alcohol. Open daily. // 950 Wealthy St SE, 356-2573. erbthaigr.com. Lunch, Dinner $

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER FORTY ACRES SOUL KITCHEN “Authentically American” southern comfort food, featuring po’boys, grits, gumbo and more. To-go catering available. Closed Mon. // 1059 Wealthy St SE, 481-6971. fortyacresgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Enter at watchmuskegon.com

GOJO ETHIOPIAN CUISINE & DELI Authentic dishes including vegetarian options. Watt (stew) dishes served with injera flatbread. Carry-out available. No alcohol. Closed Sun and Mon. // 421 Norwood Ave SE, 459-3383. gojoethiopian cuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ THE GREEN WELL GASTRO PUB Not your run-of-the-mill New American fare. Full bar with more than 20 rotating draft beers, many from local breweries. Open Tue–Sun. // 924 Cherry St SE, 8083566. thegreenwell.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

NOW OPEN Call 616-805-3989 or visit www.rivertownridge.com

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER GROVE A cuisine focused on “comfort redefined a tribute to your favorite nostalgic meals from childhood.” Full

3555 Copper River Ave SW., Wyoming, MI 49418

Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Support

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

69

dine / estau ants

bar. Open Tue–Sat. // 919 Cherry St SE, 454-1000. groverestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ HANCOCK Nashville hot chicken restaurant with sandwiches, fried chicken, an assortment of Southern picnic sides, salads and desserts. Also serves breakfast. Open daily. // 1157 Wealthy St. SE, 805-4232. hancockgr.com.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ HARMONY BREWING CO. Custom brews with a full bar, wine and wood-fired pizzas. Sandwiches served 11 am-4 pm. Dog-friendly patio. Open daily. // 1551 Lake Dr SE, 233-0063. harmonybeer.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ KINGFISHER RESTAURANT & DELI This “vegetable-forward,” Mediterranean-influenced restaurant offers starters, omelets, bowls and hash, soups and salads, toast and sandwiches, sweets and pastries, and sides. Many of the offerings are available to be made vegetarian-, vegan- or gluten-free. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1001 Lake Dr SE, 734-6833. kingfishergr.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ LITTLE AFRICA ETHIOPIAN CUISINE Hearty vegetable stews; sauces and fixings served on Ethiopian flat bread. No alcohol. Cash or checks only.

Closed Sun and Mon. // 956 E Fulton St, 222-1169.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ MARU SUSHI & GRILL Large menu of Japanese cuisine with a twist, from sushi to hibachi grilled items. Vegetarian options.

Full bar. Open daily. // 927 Cherry St SE, 458-1900. marurestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ MATCHBOX DINER & DRINKS Breakfast all day, deli sandwiches, burgers, appetizers and seasonal entrées. Also, milkshakes and malts.

Carry-out available. Open daily. // 1345 Lake Dr SE, 774-8641. matchboxdiner.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ THE PUB AT PADDOCK “Happy hour all the time” with elevated pub fare. Full bar. Closed Mondays. // 1033 Lake Dr SE, 356-2627. thegilmorecollection.com/pubatpaddock. Dinner $-$$

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER TERRA Eastown eatery features food from local, ethically raised and sustainable sourcing. Specialty cocktails, Michigan craft beers, wines from small wineries. Open daily. // 1429 Lake Dr SE, 301-0998. terragr.com. Brunch (SatSun), Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$ WEALTHY STREET BAKERY Breakfast pastries; sandwiches, salads and soup; pizza available after 4 pm. Beer and wine. Kids menu. Closed Sun. // 610 Wealthy St SE, 301-2950. wealthystreetbakery.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$

70

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

WIKIWIKI POKE SHOP Fast-casual seafood restaurant featuring customizable poke bowls, plus oyster bar and rotating specials. Carryout available. Closed Sun. // 1146 Wealthy St SE, 2885646. wikiwikipokeshop.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE WINCHESTER Locally sourced menu includes sharable plates in centuryold space. Craft brews on draft. Full bar. Open daily. // 648 Wealthy St SE, 451-4969. winchestergr.com.

Breakfast (Sat-Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ YESTERDOG Specializes in the “good old-fashioned hot dog.” Cash or check only. Catering available. Open daily. // 1505 Wealthy St SE, 336-0746. yesterdog.com.

Lunch, Dinner $ ZIVIO Modern European tavern and grill serving Bosnian cuisine melded with Turkish, Greek and other Central European countries cooking traditions. Salads, wraps, gyros, dinner entrées. Full bar. Open daily. Catering available. // 724 Wealthy St SE, 608-3534. ziviogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$

East Grand Rapids BIG BOB’S PIZZA Neighborhood pizza parlor in EGR’s Gaslight Village also offers appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, subs. Full bar. Open daily. // 661 Croswell Ave SE, 233-0123. bigbobspizza.com. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$

NEW LISTING! BOWDIE’S CHOPHOUSE An upscale steakhouse “perfect for date nights, business dinners and late-night cocktails.” The restaurant serves various items: starters; soups and salads; shareables; and entrées, including chicken, salmon and steak. Full bar. Open daily. // 2237 Wealthy St. SE, 805-5044. bowdieschophouse.com. Dinner $$$ CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY KITCHEN Coastal South Carolina-inspired fare, including seafood, chicken, pork, beef and greens. Full bar. Open daily. // 2213 Wealthy St SE, 805-5231. carolinalck.com.

Dinner $$ JOSÉ BABUSHKA’S Starters, salads, burritos, chimichangas, flaming fajitas, tacos and special plates. Full bar. Open daily. // 2232 Wealthy St SE, 272-4472. josebabushkas.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ OLIVE’S Seasonally inspired menu of creative fare and comfort foods featuring local produce and meats. Full bar.

Alfresco balcony. Closed Sun. // 2162 Wealthy St SE, 451-8611. eatatolives.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ OSTA’S LEBANESE CUISINE Large selection of Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine.

Serves beer and wine. Takeout and catering available.

Closed Sun-Mon. // 2228 Wealthy St SE, 456-8999. ostaslebanese.com. Lunch (Tue-Fri), Dinner $-$$ ROSE’S Dockside dining on Reeds Lake with varied menu, including pastas and wood-fired pizzas. Three-season porch. Serves beer and wine. Open daily. // 550 Lakeside Dr SE, 458-1122. thegilmorecollection. com/roses. Lunch, Dinner $$

Northeast GR 7 MONKS TAPHOUSE Beer bar with more than 50 taps and gastropub food, including pretzel bites, burgers, salads. Open daily. // 740 Michigan St NE, 265-5417. 7monkstap.com/ grand-rapids. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BIRCH LODGE Menu includes wet burritos, sandwiches, burgers, gyros, fish baskets. Daily specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 732 Michigan St NE, 458-1918. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ BLUE WATER GRILL Entrées include steaks and fish, wood-fired pizzas. Nice wine selection. Lakeside views, outdoor patio. Beer, wine and cocktails. Open daily. // 5180 Northland Dr NE, 363-5900. thegilmorecollection.com/bluewater.

Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ BUD & STANLEY’S Extensive menu includes Mexican specialties, pasta, burgers and more. Daily specials. Takeout available.

Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 1701 Four Mile Rd NE, 361-9782. budandstanleys.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CHARLIE’S BAR & GRILLE Well-rounded menu features dinners from ribs, steaks and seafood to kielbasa and kraut. Also, Mexican fare and sandwiches. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 3519 Plainfield Ave NE, 364-0567. charliesbarandgrille.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$ CHEER’S GOOD TIME SALOON Menu offers something for everyone in a log-cabin environment. Takeout available. Full bar. Open daily. // 3994 Plainfield Ave NE, 363-1188. cheersgrandrapids.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ CHESHIRE GRILL Sandwiches, soups, salads, creative burgers. Open daily for breakfast (served all day) and lunch. No alcohol. // 2162 Plainfield Ave NE, 635-2713. cheshiregrill.com.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Tue-Sat) $-$$ CRESTON BREWERY More than a dozen house-brewed beers on tap at all times; plus, seasonal menu, featuring chicken, pork and beef entrées; tacos, burritos and quesadillas; soups and salads. // 1504 Plainfield Ave NE, 805-4523. crestonbrewery.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

FLO’S PIZZERIA RISTORANTE & SPORTS BAR Pizzas, sandwiches, salads, Italian and Mexican entrées, full bar. Big screen TVs; takeout available.

Open daily. // 1259 Post Dr NE, Belmont, 785-1001. flossportsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FRED’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Longtime favorite offers Italian fare, including fresh pasta and gourmet pizza. Full-service bar. Closed Sun. // 3619 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-8994. fredsitalian.net.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FUJI YAMA ASIAN BISTRO Hibachi grill tables or eat in dining room with Chinese, Japanese and Thai selections. Full bar.

Open daily. // 1501 East Beltline Ave NE, 719-1859. fujiyamabistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

YOU CAN GO YOUR OWN WAY.

GOLDEN WOK Chinese cuisine with some Hunan-spiced dishes.

Sunday specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 1971 East Beltline Ave NE (Knapp’s Corner), 363-8880. goldenwokgrandrapids.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRAVITY TAPHOUSE GRILLE Menu items pair with craft beer suggestions. 64 craft beers on tap. Open daily. // 3210 Deposit Dr NE (East Beltline at I-96), 719-4944. gravitytaphouse.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRAYDON’S CROSSING Global pub serves traditional English pub food and world-inspired dishes. Full bar with large selection of microbrews and imported beers. Open daily. // 1223 Plainfield Ave NE, 726-8260. graydonscrossing.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ JAKU SUSHI Japanese and Korean fare, including a large selection of sushi; plus, bento, bibimbap, hibachi, katsu, udon and more. Open daily. // 2289 East Beltline Ave NE, 649-0407. jakusushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Travel, culture, education — you’ve seen and done it all. But there are still surprises to come. The Vistas at Beacon Hill is a new way of retirement living in Grand Rapids, with an impressive list of amenities you didn’t expect. And you thought nothing else could surprise you.

KITCHEN 67 Large menu uses Michigan ingredients and includes Brann’s sizzling steaks, sandwiches, salads, small plates, pasta and more. Full bar with craft beers.

Open daily. // 1977 East Beltline Ave NE, 272-3778. kitchen67.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LA HUASTECA Homemade recipes, vegetarian options. No alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 1811 Plainfield Ave NE, 447-7733.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $

EXPECT TO BE SURPRISED.

LAI THAI KITCHEN Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese fare. No alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 1621 Leonard St NE, 456-5730. laithaikitchen.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LICARI’S SICILIAN PIZZA KITCHEN Specialties include thick-crust Sicilian pizza and stuffed

1919 BOSTON STREET SE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506 | BEACONHILLGR.ORG

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

71

dine / estau ants

pizza with a crispy crust. Also pasta, entrées, calzones and desserts. Full bar. Open daily. // 2869 Knapp St NE, 608-6912. licarispizzakitchen.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ LUCY’S CAFÉ Family café offers breakfast, lunch and baked goods.

Crepes, omelets, deli sandwiches and build-your-own breakfast plates. Open daily. // 1747 Plainfield Ave NE, 591-3149. lucyscafegr.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$-$$$ MAI’S THAI Thai fare for counter service only. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 820 Michigan St NE, 451-3441. maisthaigr.com.

(Mon-Fri), Lunch, Dinner $ MILL CREEK TAVERN Comstock Park eatery offers appetizers, soups, sandwiches, full dinner options. Full bar with separate dining room. Closed Sun. // 3874 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 784-3806. millcreektaverngr.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

REZERVOIR LOUNGE Full menu of appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches and entrées, some with Cajun flavor. Serves alcohol.

Open daily. // 1418 Plainfield Ave NE, 451-0010. rezlounge.com. Lunch (Tue-Sun), Dinner $-$$

DEHOP’S BREWING CO. AND CAFÉ Specialty and build-your-own burgers, “authentic Mexican” tacos, salads and sharable appetizers.

Closed Sun-Mon. // 363 Cummings Ave NW, Walker, 805-3363. dehops.com. Dinner $$

RIO GRAND STEAK HOUSE & SALOON Texas-style barbecue ribs, steaks and more. Full bar.

Open daily. // 5501 Northland Dr NE, 364-6266. riograndsteakhouse.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

EMPIRE CHINESE BUFFET II All-you-can-eat buffet. Seafood buffet Sat-Sun. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4255 Alpine Ave NW, 785-8880. empirechinesebuffet2.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

RIVER NORTH PUBLIC HOUSE A “family-friendly” pub serving a variety of shareables, burgers and sandwiches. You’ll also find entrées, including Knapp Mac & Cheese and grilled sirloin tip steak. Full bar. Open daily. // 2115 Plainfield Ave NE, 288-7888. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$$ THE SCORE Restaurant and sports bar with large menu, more than 100 beers on tap. Open daily. // 5301 Northland Dr NE, 3010600. thescore-restaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

MING TEN All-you-can-eat Japanese/Chinese buffet, sushi bar, hibachi grill and American selections. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2090 Celebration Dr NE (2nd floor), 3653989. mingtenrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

SHESHCO GRILL Mediterranean cuisine, including surf, turf and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2121 Celebration Dr NE (Knapp’s Corner), 364-0600. sheshcogrill.net. Lunch, Dinner $$

MORNING BELLE This “garden-themed” brunch spot is part of Meritage Hospitality Group. Its menu features breakfast entrées; lighter options, such as salads and grain bowls; glazed doughnut waffles; specialty beverages, such as freshly squeezed orange juice and breakfast cocktails; and more. Limited bar. Open daily. // 1600 East Beltline Ave NE, 301-8171. morningbellebrunch.com.

Breakfast, Lunch $$

THAI CHEF Knapp’s Corner restaurant has large menu, including duck, seafood and vegetarian options. No alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 1971 East Beltline Ave NE, 570-0032.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$

NICK FINK’S Mexican fare and burgers in historic tavern. Draft beer, wine, sangria and cocktails. Closed Sun and Mon. // 3965 West River Dr NE, 784-9886. thegilmorecollection.com/nickfinks. Dinner $$ POKE TOKI Build-your-own bowls featuring a fusion of Hawaiian, Japanese and Korean cuisine. Catering available.

Closed Sun. // 5150 Northland Dr NE, 729-4414. poketoki.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ PALIO Ann Arbor-based eatery with an expansive menu of Italian fare. Full bar and happy hour. Open daily. // 545 Michigan St NE, 719-0660. paliograndrapids.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ REDS AT THOUSAND OAKS Large menu features sandwiches, salads, artisan pizza and entrées. Extensive wine list, craft beers, full bar. Patio with fire pits and covered deck. Open daily. // 4100 Thousand Oaks Dr NE, 447-7750. eatatreds.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

72

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

FRANCO’S PIZZA Italian entrées, stromboli, pizza and subs. Takeout available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2103 Alpine Ave NW, 361-7307. Dinner $-$$ FRICANO’S PIZZA RESTAURANT Famous for its thin-crust pizza. Pasta dinners with sauce that made its way to the retail market. Full bar.

Closed Sun. // 5808 Alpine Ave NW, 785-5800. fricanospizza.com. Dinner $-$$ HIBACHI GRILL & SUPREME BUFFET Pan-Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian and American. No alcohol. Open daily. // 785 Center Dr NW (Green Orchard Shopping Center), 785-8200. hibachigrillsupremebuffet.letseat.at.

Lunch, Dinner $$ HOME TEAM GRILL Sports-themed eatery with a selection of local, domestic and international beers. Open daily. // 4322 Remembrance Rd, 551-3457. hometeamgrill. wordpress.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

VANDER MILL Seasonal menu with locally sourced ingredients.

Starters, salads, entrées and large plates served family style. Hard ciders on tap. Open daily. // 505 Ball Ave NE, 259-8828. vandermill.com. Lunch, Dinner (Mon-Sat) $$-$$$

HUNAN CHINESE RESTAURANT Full menu of Chinese options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1263 Leonard St NE, 458-0977. hunangrc.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Northwest GR

THE LANDING Casual atmosphere with views of the Grand River. AllAmerican favorites and monthly specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 270 Ann St NW (Riverfront Hotel at U.S. 131), 363-9001. riverfronthotelgr.com/dining/the-landingrestaurant. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$

2019 DINING AWARD WINNER AMORE TRATTORIA ITALIANA Regional Italian dishes using local products and Italian imports. Italian wines and liqueurs. House-made desserts. Banquet facility. Closed Mon. // 5080 Alpine Ave NW, 785-5344. amoretrattoriaitaliana.com.

Dinner (Tue-Sat) $$ CHINA CHEF Family-style restaurant with Szechuan-style entrées and Hunan choices. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4335 Lake Michigan Dr NW, 791-4488. chinachef49534.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CHINA CITY Chinese cuisine; lunch prices all day. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1140 Monroe Ave NW, 451-3688. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

MR. GYROS Family-owned restaurant offers Mediterranean specialties. Drive-thru, takeout, delivery and catering available. Closed Sun. // 2260 Alpine Ave NW, 7916660. mrgyrosdrivethru.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PERRIN BREWING CO. Comstock Park craft brewery/taproom menu includes tacos, salads, burgers, panini and more. Kids menu available. Open daily. // 5910 Comstock Park Dr, 551-1957. perrinbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $ STAN DIEGO BAJA TACO KITCHEN Baja California-inspired menu, featuring a-la-carte taco menu, chorizos, tamales, handcrafted margaritas and kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 355 Wilson

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Ave NW, 591-9806. standiegogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ SWAN INN RESTAURANT Home-cooked meals, huge breakfasts. Cygnet Lounge offers cocktails and nibbles. Open daily. // 5182 Alpine Ave NW, 784-1245. swaninnmotel.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THREE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan fare. Daily specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // Green Ridge Square, 3330 Alpine Ave NW, 785-3888. threehappinessgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ WALKER ROADHOUSE Diverse menu with interesting twists on classic fare.

Full bar. Closed Sun. // 3272 Remembrance Rd NW, 791-9922. thewalkerroadhouse.com. Lunch (MonFri), Dinner $$

Southeast GR 7 MARES Authentic Mexican dishes including breakfast. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 1403 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 301-8555. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ AL-BOS EUROCAFE-BAKERY Authentic southeastern European cuisine. Menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, entrées and kids options. Daily specials. Open daily. // 2930 Shaffer Ave SE, 325-2800. al-bos.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Happily Ever After starts here

ASIAN PALACE Chinese and Vietnamese fare with extensive menus for each. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 141 28th St SE, 5347770. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ BELTLINE BAR Americanized Tex-Mex menu, including wet burritos.

Full bar. Curbside service. Open daily. // 16 28th St SE, 245-0494. beltlinebar.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BRASS RING BREWING Small-batch, style-specific brewery in the Alger Heights neighborhood. // 2404 Eastern Ave SE, 460-1587. brassringbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ BROAD LEAF LOCAL BEER Pub fare including snacks, meat and veggies on a stick and entrées like drunken noodles, burgers, tempeh and more. Closed Mon.-Tue. // 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd.

SE, 803-0602. broadleafbeer.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ CABANA TRES AMIGOS Authentic Mexican fare including vegetarian selections. Full bar. Takeout available. Open daily. // 1409 60th St SE, 281-6891. cabanatresamigos.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

HONEYMOON & DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALISTS

3250 28th St SE, Grand Rapids | 616.942.5112 | vacation@wittetravel.com | wittetravel.com $ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

73

dine / estau ants

CAFÉ DE MIRO A café offering Kurdish, Armenian and Greek foods.

The menu consists of traditional Mediterranean breakfast and side dishes, such as skillets, scrambles and acai bowls; pastries; toasts; soups; sandwiches; salads; Turkish coffee; tea; desserts; and more. No alcohol. // Breton Village Shopping Plaza, 1878 Breton Rd SE, (616) 719-1462. Facebook. Open daily. Lunch $ CANTINA MEXICAN GRILL Menu offers extensive Mexican specialties. Full bar. Drive-thru window. Outdoor patio. Open daily. // 2770 East Paris Ave SE, 949-9120. cantinamexicangrill.biz. Lunch (Sun-Thu), Dinner $$ DADDY PETE’S BBQ Slow-smoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket and other meats. No alcohol. Catering available. Closed Sun and Mon. // 2921 Eastern Ave SE, 818-5522. daddypetesbbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EAST GARDEN BUFFET Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan cuisine. Daily buffet. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6038 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 6988933. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EL ARRIERO MEXICAN GRILL Extensive menu offers specialty dishes, à la carte selections. Mexican and domestic beers, margaritas.

Open daily. // 2948 28th St SE, 977-2674. elarrieromexicangrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EL GLOBO RESTAURANT Authentic Mexican fare; weekly specials. No alcohol.

Closed Mon. // 2019 S Division Ave, 734-6869.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FIREROCK GRILLE Guests can cook signature dishes on 500-degree lava stone. Offers soups, salads, sandwiches and entrées.

Full bar. Brunch on Sundays. Open daily. // 7177 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9898. firerockgrille.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ FLORENTINE PIZZERIA RISTORANTE & SPORTS LOUNGE Italian fare with American and Mexican choices and thin-crust pizzas. Full bar. Open daily. // Towne & Country Shopping Center, 4261 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 455-2230. florentinespizza.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GURSHA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT Authentic Ethiopian dishes, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Buffet lunch and dinner on Sat. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 4301 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 350-0009.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ HALL STREET BAKERY Breakfast pastries; sandwiches, salads and soup served for lunch and dinner. Beer and wine. Kids menu. Closed Sun. // 1200 Hall St SE, 214-7604. hallstreetbakery. com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ INDIA TOWN Indian fare including vegetarian and vegan. Lunch buffet Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3760 S Division Ave, 243-1219. indiatowngrr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LA TAQUERIA SAN JOSE Authentic Mexican fare in a casual, takeout setting.

No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 1338 S Division Ave, 2842297. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$ LAST CHANCE TAVERN AND GRILL Appetizers, soups, burgers and sandwiches and a huge selection of Michigan craft beers. Open daily. // 1132 Burton St SE, 719-4270. thelastchancetavern. com. Lunch, Dinner $ LE KABOB Soups, salads, sandwiches, large choice of entrées and combos. Kids menu. Carry-out available. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 3122 28th St SE, 272-4135. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MI TIERRA Traditional Mexican, eat in or drive-thru. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 2300 S Division Ave, 245-7533.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $ MIKADO SUSHI Sushi and sashimi à la carte. Dinners offer full range of Japanese cuisine. Lunch specials. Serves alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 3971 28th St SE, 285-7666. mikadogr.com/main. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ NU-THAI BISTRO Appetizers, soups, Thai salads, fried rice, seafood, duck, curries. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2055 28th St SE, 452-0065. nuthaibistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GANDERS Features American cuisine with a twist and Michigan products, including craft brews. Open daily. // 4747 28th St SE (inside DoubleTree Hotel), 957-1111.

Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

THE OLD GOAT Creative cuisine from Electric Cheetah owner Cory DeMint includes appetizers, entrées, sandwiches and salads. Kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 2434 Eastern Ave SE, 288-6976. baaaaaaaa.com.

Breakfast (Mon-Fri), Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GOLDEN GATE Chinese fare with all-inclusive lunch combination plates, some hot and spicy choices. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4023 S Division Ave, 534-7087. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $

PAL’S INDIAN CUISINE Authentic Indian food, including lunch buffet 11-3. No alcohol. Open daily. // 2915 28th St SE, 957-2271. palsindiancuisine.com. Lunch, Dinner $

74

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

PHO ANH TRANG Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai cuisine. Daily specials.

Catering. Open daily. No alcohol. // 3633 Eastern Ave SE, 246-9966. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PHO SOC TRANG Wide selection of Vietnamese offerings. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 4242 S Division Ave, 531-0755. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIETRO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Regional and contemporary Italian cuisine. Tuscan wines, desserts and cappuccinos. Kids menu. Takeout available. Open daily. // 2780 Birchcrest Dr SE, 4523228. pietrosgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ SHANGHAI ICHIBAN Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Food prepared tableside by hibachi chefs in Japanese area. Serves alcohol.

Open daily. // 3005 Broadmoor Ave SE, 942-5120. shanghaiichiban.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ SHIRAZ GRILLE Authentic Persian cuisine: fire-grilled kabobs, vegetarian options. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 2739 Breton Rd SE, 949-7447. shirazgrille.com. Lunch (FriSun), Dinner $$-$$$ SUSHI KUNI Japanese and Korean cuisine, Asian fusion fare.

Traditional Japanese tatami room for groups. Serves alcohol. Closed Mon. // 2901 Breton Rd SE, 241-4141. sushikuni.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$ TAQUERÍA EL RINCÓN MEXICANO Wide variety of Mexican breakfast, small plates, dinner dishes and soups, including several vegetarian options. No alcohol. Closed Mon. // 2055 28th St, 246-7000. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ THAI EXPRESS Thai specialties, spiced to customer specification. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // Towne & Country Shopping Center, 4317 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 827-9955. thaiexpressgr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $ THAI FUSION Thai cuisine and fusion specials with good selection of starters and salads. Kids menu. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 3097 Broadmoor Ave SE, 301-8883. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ TOKYO GRILL & SUSHI Tatami rooms, sushi bars. Hibachi, teriyaki, Udon, tempura. Sake, Japanese and American beer and wine. Open daily. // 4478 Breton Rd SE, 455-3433. tokyogrillsushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ VILLAGE INN PIZZA & SPORTS GRILLE Longtime favorite for pizza, pasta, burgers, chicken, Mexican. Daily specials. Mon-Fri pizza lunch buffet.

Full bar. Open daily. // 2215 44th St SE, 281-1444. vipizza.net. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

WEI WEI PALACE Chinese seafood restaurant features Cantonese cuisine, dim sum and barbecue. No alcohol. Open daily. // 4242 S Division Ave, 724-1818. weiweipalace.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$ YUMMY WOK Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan dishes. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 4325 Breton Rd SE, 827-2068.

Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Southwest GR 84TH STREET PUB & GRILLE American fare from pizzas to steaks. Full-service bar. Kids menu. Daily specials. Open daily. // 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr SW, 583-1650. 84thstpub.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ALEBIRD TAPHOUSE AND BREWERY Community-focused brewery offering creative sandwiches along with a variety of burgers and entrées, including summer chicken and pea ravioli. Open daily, lunch on weekends. // 2619 84th St SW, 288-7888. alebird.com. Lunch, Dinner $$$ BLUE GINGER ASIAN KITCHEN Noodle-based Thai dishes, chicken, seafood, beef and pork entrées, curries. Vegetarian options. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 5751 Byron Center Ave SW (Bayberry Market), 261-8186. bluegingerkitchen.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FAR-EAST CHINESE RESTAURANT Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean dishes. Carry-out and catering available. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3639 Clyde Park Ave SW, 531-7176. Facebook.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ FRANKIE V’S PIZZERIA & SPORTS BAR Appetizers, subs, stromboli, pizza, pasta, burgers and Mexican. Outdoor patio. Full bar. Open daily. // 1420 28th St SW, 532-8998. frankievs.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GOLDEN 28 Szechuan, Hunan, Mandarin, Vietnamese cuisine. No alcohol. Open daily. // 627 28th St SW, 531-2800.

Lunch, Dinner $$ KITZINGEN BREWERY German-style appetizers and entrées, plus kids menu and some American classics. Selection of wine and locally made German craft beer. Closed Sun-Mon. // 1760 44th St SW, 805-5077. kitzingen-brewery.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

LINDO MEXICO RESTAURANTE MEXICANO Fresh food with “real Mexican flavor.” Kids menu.

Serves alcohol. Open daily. // 1742 28th St SW, 2612280. lindomexicogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ LITTLE BANGKOK Extensive Thai standbys plus some unique items. Kids meals available. Serves beer and wine. Closed Sun. // 2359 Health Dr SW, Suite 140, 929-2306. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$ MAIN STREET PUB Varied appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and entrées. Full bar. Open daily. // 1730 28th St SW, 5322510. mainstpub.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MI CASA RESTAURANTE Fresh, authentic Dominican appetizers, dishes and seafood, plus weekly specials, in Dominican-themed, family-friendly atmosphere. No alcohol. Closed MonTues. // 334 Burton St SW, 350-9123. micasagr.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ MONELLI’S ITALIAN GRILL & SPORTS BAR Southern Italian cuisine. Sports bar plus family-friendly dining room with fireplace. Open daily. // 5675 Byron Center Ave SW, 530-9700. monellis.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

GR M AG .CO M

75

dine / estau ants

NOBLE Breakfast favorites along with vegan and gluten-free options, handhelds, burgers and small bites. Open daily. // 1851 44th St SW, Wyoming, 530-8750. eatnoble.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ PETE’S GRILL & TAVERN Casual bar and grill with tavern burgers, Detroit style pizza, sandwiches and entrees. Open daily. // 2588 84th St SW, Byron Center, 878-9582. petesgrillandtavern.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ TAMALES MARY Tamale-centered Mexican restaurant featuring 15 types of tamales, plus other Mexican dishes and daily buffet specials. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1253 Burton St SW, 288-5007. tamalesmarygr.com. Lunch, Dinner $ WOODY’S PRESS BOX Complex includes two bars, patio and bowling.

Sandwiches, pizza, Mexican and more. Full bar.

Open daily. // 5656 Clyde Park Ave SW, 530-2400. spectrumlanes.com. Breakfast (Mon-Sat), Lunch, Dinner $$

Ada/Cascade/Lowell Area

available. Closed Mon. // 6246 28th St SE, 6493984. emonaekoreanbbq.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ THE EURO BISTRO European bistro fare includes entrées, small plates, salads, wood-fired pizzas. Takeout available. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 6450 28th St SE, 719-2017. eurobistrogr.com. Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $$-$$$

Sat. Brunch specials available Sat-Sun. // 584 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 920-7028. eatwithnonna.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Tue-Sat) $-$$ NOTO’S OLD WORLD ITALIAN DINING Elegant décor, extensive classic Italian menu. Special wine cellar dinners. Lounge menu features lighter fare. Closed Sun. // 6600 28th St SE, 493-6686. notosoldworld.com. Dinner $$-$$$

FLAT RIVER GRILL Casual atmosphere in turn-of-century building. Comfort food, wood-fired pizzas. Full bar plus The B.O.B.’s House of Brews beers. Alfresco dining on patio. Open daily. // 201 E Main St, Lowell, 897-8523. thegilmorecollection. com/flatriver. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

OSAKA STEAKHOUSE & JAPANESE RESTAURANT Asian fare, including sushi, hibachi, shabu-shabu and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 4977 28th St SE, 4194628. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $$

JU SUSHI & LOUNGE Sushi and sashimi, Japanese hibachi, tempura, soups, salads and entrées in elegant surroundings. Full bar, huge sake selection. Takeout, catering and banquets.

Open daily. // 1144 East Paris Ave SE, 575-5858. jusushi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

SAPPORO RAMEN & NOODLE BAR Fresh, traditional Japanese “soul food” with an innovative twist. GF options available. No alcohol.

Takeout available. Closed Mon. // 5570 28th St SE, Cascade, 608-6657. sappororamenbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

LA LAGUNA Authentic Mexican dishes including shrimp, wraps, salads, kids menu. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6250 28th St SE, 805-8821. Facebook. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

SCHNITZ ADA GRILL Schnitz Deli by day, casual fine dining by night.

Full bar, happy hour 3-6. Closed Sun. // 597 Ada Dr SE, Ada, 682-4660. schnitzadagrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

ARYANA RESTAURANT & BAR Comfortable dining room in Crowne Plaza Hotel offers breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner selections from a seasonal menu and a full bar. Open daily. // 5700 28th St SE, 957-1775. hiaryana.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

LITTLE BANGKOK Extensive Thai standbys, plus some unique items. Kids meals available. Serves beer and wine. Closed Sun. // 850 Forest Hill Ave SE, 808-3153. littlebangkokgr.com.

Lunch (Mon-Fri), Dinner $-$$

SHEPARDS GRILL & TAVERN Bar food with flair, from appetizers to sirloin. Open daily. // 6246 28th St SE, 350-9604. Facebook.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$

BIG BOILER BREWING Brewpub features a wide selection of original beer and cider. Plus, new American cuisine, including burgers, fish, sandwiches and kids menu. Open daily. // 318 E Main St, Lowell, 987-3155. bigboilerbrewing.com.

Dinner $$

MAIN STREET BBQ Wood fire used to smoke ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage and pork. Rubs and sauces are gluten-free. Also serves sandwiches, wings, salads and soups. Catering.

Takeout/delivery at 1539 Plainfield Ave NE. Full bar.

Open daily. // 210 E Main St, Lowell, 987-3352. bbqlowell.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

THORNAPPLE BREWING CO. Brewpub features a wide selection of original beer, cider, wine and spirits brewed in seven-barrel brewing system. Plus, artisan pizza, appetizers and dessert. Brunch on Sun. // 6262 28th St SE, 288-6907. thornapplebrewing.com. Lunch (Sat), Dinner $$

MARCO NEW AMERICAN BISTRO French country casual offers small, medium and large plates for dinner fare; salads, sandwiches and mains for lunch. Full bar. Takeout menu. Closed Sun. // 884 Forest Hill Ave SE, 942-9100. marcobistro.com.

Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$

TRAILHEAD CAFÉ Family-owned and -operated café with specialty breakfast items, plus gourmet burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups and more. // 1200 East Paris Ave SE, 284-3664. trailheadcafegr.com.

Breakfast, Lunch $

MYNT FUSION BISTRO Thai, Korean and Chinese. Renowned for its curries. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 800 W Main St, Lowell, 9879307. myntfusion.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

VINTAGE PRIME & SEAFOOD Intimate setting with upscale menu that includes prime steaks and fresh seafood. International wine list. // 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. vintageatcork.com.

Dinner $$$

CASCADE ROADHOUSE Relaxed atmosphere with a diverse menu of traditional fare. Full bar. Closed Sun. // 6817 Cascade Rd SE, 2597439. cascaderoadhousemi.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CORK WINE & GRILLE Contemporary dining with indoor and outdoor seating. Seafood, steaks, burgers, fish, sandwiches, salads. Extensive wine list, specialty cocktails.

Open daily. // 5500 Cascade Rd SE, 949-0570. corkwineandgrille.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ DAN’S DINER Formerly Pal’s Diner. Retro-style diner with both classic and upscale breakfast and lunch options; breakfast served all day. Full bar. Closed Mon. // 6503 28th St SE, 7190304. dansdinergr.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ EMONAE KOREAN BBQ Korean delicacies and tabletop grills allow patrons to grill meats and veggies to their liking. Soups, chicken, beef, pork, vegetarian, seafood. No alcohol. Delivery

76

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

NOCO PROVISIONS Laid-back, regionally inspired comfort cuisine.

Outdoor seating on the patio. Full bar. Open daily. // 4609 Cascade Rd SE, 747-0300. nocogr.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

ZEYTIN Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Full bar, beer and wine lists. Takeout. Open daily. // 7437 River St, Ada, 682-2222. zeytinturkishrestaurant.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

NONNA’S: THE TRATTORIA Fresh, European-style pastries, salads, soups and entrées made from scratch. Breakfast and lunch served seven days a week. Pizza available during lunch Tues$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Grandville/Hudsonville Area BANGKOK TASTE Thai fare. No alcohol. Closed Sun. // 674 Baldwin St, Jenison, 667-8901. bangkoktaste.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE DUNGEON Mexican food and American favorites. Specialty burgers. Full bar with Michigan craft beers. Kids menu.

Open daily. // 3594 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 5381360. villadungeon.com. Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner $-$$ EL BURRITO LOCO More than 70 Mexican selections, plus a few American options. Daily food and drink specials. Full bar. Open daily. // 4499 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, 530-9470. elburritoloco4.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRANDVILLA Steaks, all-you-can-eat fish, specialty burgers, daily specials, salad bar. Kids menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 3594 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 538-1360. villadungeon.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ HUDSONVILLE GRILLE Varied menu includes Mexican favorites and breakfast.

Full bar, catering and banquet services. Closed Sun. // 4676 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 662-9670. hudsonvillegrille.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ OSGOOD BREWING CO. Craft brewery serves shareables, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and salads. Kids menu. Open daily. // 4051 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 432-3881. osgoodbrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PIKE 51 BREWING CO./ HUDSONVILLE WINERY Craft brewery and winery under one roof. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrées. Open daily. // 3768 Chicago Dr, Hudsonville, 662-4589. hudsonvillewinery.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ RAINBOW GRILL Breakfast, soup and sandwiches, daily lunch specials, chicken, fish and other dinner staples. No alcohol.

Closed Sun. // 4225 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, 8960033; 4158 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville, 534-8645. rainbowgrillmichigan.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $-$$ RUSH CREEK BISTRO Diverse menu in club-like surroundings. Weeknight and happy hour specials at full-service bar. Open daily. // Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port Sheldon Rd, Grandville, 457-1100. rushcreekbistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ SONDER EATERY Focused on fresh foods including greens, sandwiches and shareables. Items include deviled eggs, chicken and waffles, sloppy Joes and more. Full bar. Daily specials and weekend brunch. Closed Mondays. $ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

GR M AG .CO M

77

dine / estau ants

// 3380 Chicago Dr, Hudsonville, 616-202-6379. sondereatery.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ WHITE FLAME BREWING CO. Small production brewery with taproom. Sandwiches, wraps, appetizers and a couple twists on the classic macaroni and cheese. Open daily. // 5234 36th Ave, Hudsonville, 209-5098. whiteflamebrewing.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ THE WIN TAVERN A family-friendly restaurant offering fresh ingredients and cooked-to-order meals, including starters and salads, burgers, sandwiches, and steak and onion meals. It also offers a Sunday breakfast from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. with a build-your-own hash bar and more. Full bar. Open daily. // 7628 Georgetown Center Dr, Jenison, 734-6724. thewintavern33.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$

Rockford Area BOSTWICK LAKE INN Menu includes steaks, pork, fish, chicken, mac and cheese, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and salads. Large deck. Full bar. Open daily. // 8521 Belding Rd, 8747290. thegilmorecollection.com/bostwick. Lunch (Sat-Sun), Dinner $$-$$$

BOULDER CREEK RESTAURANT Golf Club restaurant has varied menu. Golf course views from inside or deck. Serves alcohol. See website for seasonal hours. // 5750 Brewer Ave NE, Belmont, 363-1330, ext 2. bouldercreekgolfclub.com/ restaurant. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ CEDAR SPRINGS BREWING CO. German-style brewery features American pub and traditional Bavarian menu. Open daily. // 95 N Main St, Cedar Springs, 696-2337. csbrew.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ GRILL ONE ELEVEN American-with-a-twist menu, full-service bar and lounge. Open daily. // 111 Courtland St, 863-3111. grilloneeleven.com. Lunch, Dinner $$-$$$ HONEY CREEK INN Pub setting offers beyond pub fare and daily specials. Closed Sun. // 8025 Cannonsburg Rd NE, Cannonsburg, 874-7849. cannonsburgvillage.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ HOT BOX BBQ Smoked brisket, pork, ribs, chicken, brisket and more.

Closed Sun. // 110 Courtland St, 951-7160. Facebook.

Lunch, Dinner $$

Timeless Beauty ...

MARINADES PIZZA BISTRO Wood-fired pizzas, salads, pastas, sandwiches. Michigan craft beer. Catering. Open daily. // 109 Courtland St, 863-3300. marinadespizzabistro.com. Lunch, Dinner $ RAMONA’S TABLE Gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers, small plates, homemade desserts. Farm-to-table specials. Michigan beers, wine. Kids menu. Open daily. // 17 Squires St Square NE, 951-7100. ramonastable.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ ROCKFORD BREWING CO. Located alongside Rogue River. Menu features wings, salads, gyros, burgers, as well as gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Handcrafted brews on tap. Open daily. // 12 E Bridge St, 951-4677. rockfordbrewing.com. Brunch (Sun), Lunch, Dinner $-$$ TIMBERS INN Appetizers to meat ’n’ potatoes fare in lodge-like surroundings. Full bar. Open daily. // 6555 Belding Rd NE, 874-5553. timbersinn.net. Lunch (Wed-Sun), Dinner $-$$ THIRD NATURE BREWING COMPANY Located near the White Pine Trail and the Rogue River, Third Nature Brewing is a rustic brewery and taproom offering “comfort foods” such as pizzas and hot sandwiches, as well as healthier options like power bowls and salads. Open daily. // 7733 Childsdale Ave. NE in Plainfield Township, 616-512-9314. thirdnaturebrewing.com. Lunch, Dinner $$

Multiple Locations ANNA’S HOUSE Breakfast, sandwiches, baked goods and exceptional desserts; dinner menu, too. No alcohol. Open daily. // 3766 Potomac Circle, Grandville; 3874 Plainfield Ave NE; 2409 East Beltline Ave SE, (866) 672-6627. annashouseus.com. Breakfast, Lunch $$ ARNIE’S BAKERY & RESTAURANT Breakfast, burgers and sandwiches. Menu includes extensive gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options. No alcohol. Open daily. // 722 Leonard St NW, 454-3098; 2650 East Beltline Ave SE (Centerpointe Mall), 956-7901; 777 54th St SW, 532-5662; 34 Squires St, Rockford, 866-4306. arniesrestaurant.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $$ BAGEL BEANERY Bagel and coffee cafè offering healthy whole grain and sugary sweet bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Magnum coffee. No alcohol. Open daily. Catering available. // 455 Michigan St NE, 235-7500; 2845 Breton Rd SE, 245-4220; 5316 Clyde Park Ave SW, 249-9500. bagelbeanery.com.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $

Since 1968 ...

4353 Three Mile Road N.E. | Grand Rapids | 616-363-6400 | kappeslandscapes.com 78

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

$ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

JUSTIN ABDELKADER

BRANN’S STEAKHOUSE & SPORTS GRILLE Famous sizzler steaks, small plates, sandwiches, salads, gluten-free and vegetarian choices, bar munchies. Full bar. // 401 Leonard St NW, 454-9368; 3475 Fairlanes Ave SW, Grandville, 531-6210; 4157 S Division Ave, 534-5421; 5510 28th St SE, 285-7800. branns.com.

Lunch, Dinner $-$$ GRAND CONEY Classic diner offering custom hot dogs, traditional breakfast items and comfort foods. No alcohol.

Open daily. Downtown location open 24 hours. // 809 Michigan St NE, 776-5580; 5121 28th St, 9303596; 6101 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale, 895-9999. thegrandconey.com. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ HERB & FIRE PIZZERIA Fast-casual atmosphere with Italian accent. Signature and create-your-own pizza options, flatbread sandwiches and salads. // 3180 44th St SW, Grandville, 773-1443; 2121 Celebration Dr NE, Suite 250, 773-1895. herbandfirepizzeria.com. Lunch, Dinner $$ HOPCAT Crafted brews with some 50 beers on tap and 150 bottled. Full bar and creative fare, including sharables, signature fries, burgers, wraps and more. Open daily. // 25 Ionia Ave SW, 451-4677; 84 W. Eighth St in Holland, 965-9780; 2183 East Beltline Ave NE. hopcatgr.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ PEPPINO’S PIZZERIA AND SPORTS GRILLE Italian/American menu. Full bar. Open daily. // 130 Ionia Ave SW, 456-8444; 1515 Eastport Dr SE, Kentwood, 554-8880. peppinospizza.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$$

SUNDANCE BAR & GRILL Southwestern-infused cuisine, margarita bar. Open daily. // Waters Building, 151 Ottawa Ave NW, 776-1616; 5755 Stthat SE, Cascade, 956-5644.

Justin 28th always knew he wanted to be a professional hockey player. But did he have what itBreakfast, takes? Sometimes he wasn’t sundancegrill.com.

Lunch, Dinner (Monsure. Still, he decided to work really hard — on the ice and in school — to make his Sat) $$ dream come true.

GOA L E

SHOOTS FOR THE GOAL

BIG E’S SPORTS GRILL Sports lounge serving pizza, classic American appetizers and other entrées. Full bar includes a variety of Michigan-made beer and cider. Happy hour specials available Mon-Fri. Open daily. // 2321 East Beltline Ave SE, 608-8825. 710 Monroe Ave NW, 512-5716. bigessportsgrill.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

H FOR T SHOOT

THE JUSTIN ABDELKADER STORY

By Justin Abdelkader Illustrations by Mary Cindrich

TACOS EL CAPORAL Mexican fare, with menudo Sat and Sun. No alcohol.

Open daily. // 1260 Burton St SW, 246-6180; 1717 28th St SW, 261-2711. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner $ CoverMock.indd 1

TACOS EL CUÑADO Fajitas, tacos, burritos and other Mexican fare.

No alcohol. Locations are individually owned and operated. // 1342 Grandville Ave SW, 452-1266; 455 Burton St SW, 248-9099; 1024 Bridge St NW, 475-800. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

9/5/18 12:32 PM

Justin Abdelkader always knew he wanted to be a professional hockey player. But getting into the NHL wasn’t without its obstacles. In his new book, he shares his story as a way to show young people that perseverance and hard work do pay off — that dreams do come true.

Available now at momentumbooks.com

Hardcover | $16.95

THE OMELETTE SHOPPE Fourteen signature omelettes, selection of quiches and baked goods. No alcohol. Open daily. // 545 Michigan St NE, 726-5800; 1880 Breton Rd SE, 7267300. omeletteshoppe.com. Breakfast, Lunch $ UCCELLO’S RISTORANTE, PIZZERIA & SPORTS LOUNGE Italian specialties, including pizza, entrées, burgers, sandwiches. Full bar. Open daily. // 122 Monroe Center NW, 773-1687; 2630 East Beltline Ave SE, 954-2002; 3940 Rivertown Pkwy SW, Grandville, 249-9344; 4787 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Standale, 735-5520; 8256 Broadmoor Ave SE, Caledonia, 891-1100; 19 N Main St, Rockford, 866-0666. uccellos.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$ VITALE’S PIZZERIA Multiple locations serving pizza, pasta and more from family recipes. Full bar. // 6650 E Fulton St, 676-5401, vitalesada.com; 5779 Balsam Dr, Hudsonville, 662-2244, vitaleshudsonville.com; 834 Leonard St NE, 458-8368, theoriginalvitales. com; 3868 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, 7845011. vitalessportsbar.com. Lunch, Dinner $-$$

Order now at momentumbooks.com

The Way It Was...

Again!

PITA HOUSE Sami’s gyros, Middle East specialties. No alcohol. Open daily. // 1510 Wealthy St SE, 454-1171; 3730 28th St SE, 940-3029. thepitahouse.net. Lunch, Dinner $ REAL FOOD CAFÉ Fresh, locally sourced traditional favorites, scrambles and made-from-scratch baked goods; plus, soups, sandwiches and salads for lunch. Cash only. Closed Mon. // 2419 Eastern Ave SE, 241-4080; 3514 Plainfield Ave NE, 361-1808. Facebook. Breakfast, Lunch $ RED GERANIUM Breakfast and lunch favorites, omelettes, pancakes and burgers. No alcohol. Open daily. // 6670 Kalamazoo Ave SE, 656-9800; 5751 Byron Center Ave SW, 532-8888. redgeraniumcafe.com.

Breakfast, Lunch $ $ INEXPENSIVE (UNDER $10) $$ MODERATE (BETWEEN $10 – $20) $$$ EXPENSIVE (OVER $20)

Hardcover 160 pages

Order now at momentumbooks.com

GR M AG .CO M

79

gr gems / ba s

Little has changed inside the Cottage Bar since it opened in 1927.

Burgers & beer Cottage Bar has withstood the test of time.

BY RACHEL MATUSZEWSKI

Cottage Bar 18 La Grave Ave. SE

80

Since the Cottage Bar first opened its doors in 1927, it’s been at the top of customers’ lists for burger joints. Laborers queued up for lunch in its earliest years, and reporters from the Grand Rapids Herald stopped in midday or after work until the paper folded.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2020

It began serving liquor following the end of Prohibition, making it one of the first to do so in the city.

As businesses closed around it in the 1970s and ’80s, the Cottage Bar survived and remains a downtown go-to spot. What gives Cottage Bar its longevity is its customers. Dan Verhil, the current owner, said the people always are friendly. And, of course, its food never disappoints.

Stop in to taste Cottage Bar’s burgers and award-winning chili.

BAR INTERIOR JOHNNY QUIRIN

WHERE SPIRITS ARE CRAFTAND KINDRED

Spend your winter in Traverse City. It’s where friends gather inside and out, and where the landscape is treasured as much as its fruits. And when your spirits are li ed, you’ll know you’re in a pre y great place.

TraverseCity.com

Dr. Thomas J. Lambert D.D.S.

“We recommend you visit these wonderful people to learn about their comprehensive approach to dental health and image!”

- Kathy and Keith Klingenberg

k n a h o T yu

FOR VOTING US GRAND RAPID’S “BEST DENTIST” FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

Best of

Best of

Best of

Best of

Best of

Best of

Best of

2012-13 Readers Poll

2013-14 Readers Poll

2014-15 Readers Poll

2015-16 Readers Poll

2016-17 Readers Poll

2017-18 Readers Poll

2018-19 Readers Poll

Have we met yet? Call us today at 616-364-6490 for a complimentary consultation.

3300 Grand Ridge Dr NE | Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 | Phone 616.364.6490 www.smilegrandrapids.com