New American Restaurants near East Grand Rapids, MI

“Rose's has a great atmosphere for a meal near the water. The patio is a nice place to sit and relax.I had the turkey cranberry sandwich which was delicious. The root chips are my new favorite chip and I will be dreaming about them.Service was excellent, Tim was our server and he was wonderful.The Key Lime cocktail was spectacular!“

“The calamari was perfect, the mussels were average, the crab cakes were good but all finely shredded no lump crab, some what disappointed with that. Salmon was perfect, tartar sauce just ok,( we like a more tart sauce with fresh dill, capers, and pickles) as was the green beans and rice. Great Caesar salad and dinner rolls. Samantha our waitress was spectacular. We would definitely go back again.“

“Love the environment, our waiter was amazing. He explained all the selections we were Interested in, and the meals we choose were the swordfish and the wagyu sirloin. Each was fabulous! I also explained the wine I like and he made sure he brought me the perfect one. For dessert we had bourbon apple crisp. Which was the best dessert I’ve ever had! We will definitely be back“

“As someone with celiac, this place is a beacon of hope. It's so nice to never have to worry about being contaminated. Even if you aren't a mutant like me and can eat gluten, the food here is delicious despite being gluten free. It's not just "oh that's good for being gluten free", it's just good. Period. On top of all that they have the friendliest staff in the city. 5/5 experience. Don't miss this place.“

“Best dining experience I've ever had in gr. Absolutely 5 stars all around. My wife and I did the Grove tastings experience. Everything was top-notch. The attention to detail in the dishes was evident. When each dish was brought out the staff told you in detail all the ingredients used and how it was cooked. We will definitely be back soon.“

“Brunch service and food was solid. Cute spot in the middle of downtown by the JW Marriott and Amway Grand, Devos and Van Andel. only suggestion with the Sweet potato hash would have been slightly more cooked Brussels sprouts and broccoli. flavors were a tasty mix of deliciousnes, including the Kim chi.“

“We decided to give Big E’s another try! This time, our experience was nothing short of the BEST. Our server Braylin was amazing and made our time here so enjoyable! She had the best suggestions when it came to all apps, drinks AND dessert. We will be asking for her EVERY TIME we come back.If you want good service, ask for Braylin!“

“Updated Review 4/13/24: Still delicious! I got the umami slam Sammy and for dessert I got the blueberry lemon crepe.Came here after the auto show for dinner. I like the interior, with the cool hanging lights and plants. Service is great, our waitress was really cool and checked on us frequently. She was a fun waitress too, not one who just takes the plates and doesn't talk.We started with an appetizer, Okonomiyaki. Beautiful presentation, it reminded me of a beautiful crepe. It wasn't everyone's favorite, but I really liked it. Good texture and packed with flavor.My main course was the Kati Roll. The texture of the bread was lovely, it was crispy and soft at the same time. The lamb was delicious and perfectly seasoned, and had one thing on the roll that I didn't think would work with lamb, but it did: Avocado.My dessert was the mango sticky rice. Oh my goodness that coconut cream is magical! Definitely one of the best desserts I've had in awhile!“

“First time trying this place even though we live in BC. Just a breakfast/lunch place so that's typically tougher for us to go to but glad we were able to stop in. Apparently they've recently been renovated so I don't know what it was like before but everything did seem newer and definitely clean. Service was per quick and friendly, I forget our young servers name but everyone was very nice and welcoming. I got the hot pot roast sandwich, it was tasty with the gravy over everything: maybe too much after awhile but it did remind me of how ma and grandma used to do it! Kids portions were the right amount and they loved it and the wrap my wife got was fresh and tasty as well. Best thing about this place is the prices are home town and home cooking worthy (think the highest thing on menu is $15), so very reasonable price for reasonable and filling portions. We'll be back to try breakfast at some point I know!“

“The choo-choo grill is an endangered species. A throwback to a simpler time where Food wasn't trying to be cutting edge but instead just focused on being delicious. The choo-choo grill is your classic American diner. Serving up both breakfast and lunch the food is not fancy, but it is made with love And is made well. The interior is small two booths and counter seating only. What is probably most remarkable, though is that you're only a stranger there once. Every time we dine in, I am amazed at the number of regulars and repeat customers. What's even more impressive that they are remembered by the staff in return. There's terrific community connection going on within this small brick building. Rick, Kathy and Mary do a fantastic job making you feel welcome while simultaneously keeping your coffee mug filled and your order out to you fast. My personal go to is always the cakes and more there is something about a fluffy pancake hot off the flat top that is just magical and don't you dare leave without trying one of their malts ! The chocolate peanut butter is to die for! Currently the building is for sale, so who knows how much time we'll have left before the last train pulls out of the station, so get in and enjoy it while you can.“

“Did not realize how big the bowls actually are and was very impressed with the speed and friendliness of the staff. Definitely recommend to load up your toppings so you can have max flavor mix with the ?I ate two bowls on my own but 1 is MORE than enough for a single person.“

“We had a small dinner reception in the Elevated Room at Divani on our wedding day in September, and were absolutely blown away! The food, the service, the atmosphere - everything was 5 star. Every single person we encountered was so kind and accommodating. Wendy was also an absolute DREAM to work with. I went back and forth with Wendy for about a year while planning our wedding. Celebrating here was the perfect ending to a perfect day, and we cannot thank you all enough!“

“The food was phenomenal! The atmosphere excellent, however our server was "NOT GREAT", I don't remember his name but his excuse for poor service ( we had to flag him down EVERYTIME we needed something, he never once stopped by to ask how the food was or if we needed anything. I will definitely go again as I'm sure it was just a fluke and I just happen to get one bad server so I will give it another go but the food was Top Shelf and the atmosphere was perfect“

“Fun restaurant with a great atmosphere. Went for a family dinner before an event in gr. Highly recommend.For the owners I would recommend including the kids menu online. We almost didn't come as we were not sure our kids would have an option they would enjoy too. I was pleasantly surprised by the kids menu.Kid-friendliness: My kids had a wonderful time with zero proof umbrella drinks and wonderful kids menu. While this is a little pricier place it is great for a special night out.“

“Get out of your comfort zone with some awesome dishes! We tried the Mojo one and grilled cheese smashburger. They were great! A little excessive on the onions for my preference, but if you enjoy them, eat em all. Also had the monster cookie. It was yummy. Definitely get the ice cream with it.Vegetarian options: Many options and have a wide tastesDietary restrictions: Lots of gluten-free options! The bread was very good!“

“We really enjoyed our time here. Cory was an EXCELLENT server. He offered good suggestions and everyone loved their meals. Curry was good, scampi was rated excellent and our friend loved the lemon, Al pastor was a highlight for sure. Really delicious. The highlight of the night was the bread pudding. Save room as it was everyone's favorite. Street corn app was great too. Will be back!!“

“As the moron Paul La Vigne said in his review, this is NOT a GFS chili dog sauce. Why would you even try to slander this restaurant and say that?!? Kim is an amazing owner and her food is GREAT for a smaller fast food type of place. This is some of the best chili dog sauce I have ever had and it is “

“Charlie's has to be one of my favorite places to eat ever. Super friendly staff, Charlie herself comes by every single time. Wait staff and bartenders are all great. Tracy was our server tonight, possibly the best service we've ever had! The food was also great, especially the mussels and the potato skins. Fried pollack is hand breaded. Smelt battered in house too. Kids Mac and cheese, Charlie brings candy for the kids. What's not to love? If we could, we'd go every week.“

“The quality of the food is always top of the line. The beef melted in your mouth. The shrimp bisque, delicious. The kitchen forgot to put the blue cheese on my salad & there was little if any dressing on it... it was beautifully arranged though (a work of art!) Oh! the fresh mozzarella appetizer left us wanting more! & the smoked risotto was delicious & a cool experience (how did they do that!) The homemade bread, crusty outside & soft inside; perfect. And as always the flavored butters are a treat. This was the first day for these students, so they were a bit nervous. & we waited a bit for our left overs to come out. But all in all, we love coming here, for the food & the students!“

“First time having dinner @ Terra! Excellent all around. Fabulous dinner, service, and attention to detail!! From the custom menu to two wonderful appetizers- roasted carrots & mussels (see the picture of the menu)Three of us had: Rigatoni Bolognese, Braised Cider Short Ribs, and Seared Scallops!! Outstanding. Even the coffee and dessert! This is another gem in Grand Rapids!!“

“I will definitely come back here. The atmosphere was fun, hip, and large. Our server was very sweet and great! I'm GF and I appreciated how much they had for me on the menu. So many options! The food was so good and eclectic. We came on a Saturday later in the day around brunch time and it was busy so be prepared to possibly wait. But it's worth it!“

“Had a wonderful brunch today with family. As a person who is allergic to tree nuts, sesame and gluten this brunch was amazing. So nice to go out and enjoy the menu of healthy choices with great flavor. I had the Mountie on gluten free bread. So delicious. We will definitely be back again!“

“There were 10 of us dining at Olive's tonight. Wonderful service from Alec; the place was hopping but he was cool, calm, and patient. The food and drinks were wonderful and I felt the bill was very reasonable. We love having this great neighborhood spot.“

“Atmosphere: cute and good amount of seating availableFood: delicious and tasted very fresh. Reminded me of an old spot I used to love - Marie Catribs - in relation to the food and tasteDrinks: especially delicious honey nut latte, great combination of syrup and espresso10/10 will be coming back again“

“My friends and I decided to try The Commons and we weren’t disappointed! Upon walking in, I felt I had walked into my uncle’s basement in 1975. The decor is incredible, and details were so fun, right down to the yellow drinking classes. Our server was very attentive and gave us great suggestions. I had the olive burger melt and fries - so good! I appreciated the non-alcoholic drink features. The service was excellent, our food was tasty and came out very quickly. After we ate, the server said we could hang out in their living room-type area; so fun! We’ll be back. I recommend going early as peak dinner was pretty crowded.“

“Behold Evan's Double Dip Pastrami/Corned Beef Reuban. This is how storybook romances with food begin.Schnitz Deli is a sandwich shop within the Schnitz Grill - favorite date night place for my wife & I.The food never disappoints, service is pleasant and friendly with a cozy second story treetop view out the windows.“

“Stopped in for dinner and drinks. Emily is an exceptional server, we absolutely love her friendly and welcoming personality. The spinach and artichoke dip is phenomenal and the pineapple mule drink suggestion is much appreciated, as it was delicious. Highly recommend stopping in!“

“Ate outside on the patio and it was beautiful! There are dumpsters close by though and when the wind blew in just the right direction, we could smell it a bit. Beyond that, food, service, and value was excellent and we will definitely be coming back!“

“I cannot stay away from Winnie! I had brunch last time so I of course had to follow up with their dinner menu. The food was delicious! I got the butter chicken and it was the perfect portion size for me and the chicken was so tasty! The only thing that could've been better was having garlic naan bread instead of the regular one, but that's because I'm obsessed with garlic naan. My friends got shareables of kimchi nachos, crab cheese dip and shrimp bbq. All amazing and I will definitely be back again!“

“Met up with a friend here and it was super tasty. It was not very busy at all for a Friday night, so I appreciated that. Our server was very nice and accommodating. I love that you are able to turn any salad into a wrap, and their drink menu was good too! It was dimly lit inside and very loud, but I think that's what you'd expect when you hear the term "speakeasy". This is not a speakeasy in the sense that it has a funny looking door or anything, it is very easy to find.“

“I was so excited to try this newish restaurant and I'd love to give this place a stellar review...but I just can't. I find that although the service was fine (4), the wine list extensive (5), and the ambiance lovely (4) ... the food was just ok (3). We shared the morel mushroom ravioli appetizer and the morels were so puréed and diluted that there was no mushroom flavor whatsoever...we also ordered two main entrees which we shared. The chicken was delicious but was just brown colored chicken served over a brown mushy bread with a brownish sauce... and nothing else on the plate. The chicken was cooked well and was somewhat flavorful but the appearance was such a monotone that is was really unappealing. The walleye was a fairly large portion ... but again came as a white color with a white sauce served on a white plate with not one single colorful garnish or vegetable/etc. .... And seemed to be prepared by boiling. My opinion is that for the price they could downsize their entree meat portion size and add a colorful side... maybe tonight asparagus would have been available and delightful. Also .... Having garlic listed as the main spice for every dish is a poorly planned menu. Please try harder... we would love to come back!“

“Came here for appetizers. We ordered Brussel sprouts, kale and crab Rangoon flatbread. Everything was perfect. I really enjoyed all of the food we tried. I’d like to come back and try more things on the menu. The table next to us ordered the fish and chips. It looked amazing. Definitely want to try that next!“

“FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I really don't want to criticize our server she was amazing, but we had a party of 11 there plus I realize it's Prom, but it was a little slow for us. We had reservations for a small room, everyone was very pleasant, my first time there I wish it could of been faster.“

“Ganders just hosted us for my husband’s 50th birthday party. We had a group of 30 and the staff were so beyond accommodating and helpful! Sarah and her staff helped us to be ableTo truly enjoy our time with family and friends, and with excellent service, and made payment easy for everyone. Thank you Ganders staff! So grateful for your service today!“

“Super great atmosphere to visit and even amazing food menu. We really love the staff Dylan, Winter and the manager with the blue hair but yall really need to check on the other staff there like Megan. Super rude and totally changes the whole vibe when you arrive. Will come back again and not ask for her“

“Very nice place to get a burger. Everyone was friendly, even the owner who came out and chatted with me. Didn’t have a drink but understand that they are reasonably priced and good. Burger and fries cost a little more than those at the other nearby bars, but they were exceptionally good. I can definitely recommend.“

“We come for the cider, we stay for the great atmosphere and service. My partner and I have always had great experiences here and our Valentines Day dinner was exceptionally delicious. The menu was well thought out and the pairings brought the meal to the next level. Autumn, Rachael and Liz all added nice touches to our night. We always look forward to coming here for a drink and would recommend them to anyone.“

“What a pleasant spot! Great atmosphere for drinks and meeting with friends. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our visit. The brussels sprout appetizer was absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend.We sat at the wooden bench-style booth in the corner. My only complaint is that the bench wasn't very comfortable. It feels like you're sitting at a picnic table. There isn't a good way to sit without getting uncomfortable after a few minutes. I think a few pillows would make that front corner table even cozier! There are all different types of seating, not all seats are this wooden bench type.Overall, I would recommend giving Long Road Distillers a try!!“

“We had a wonderful experience tonight. My kids were hyper and the staff was super patient. Fish, chicken tenders, boneless wings, mini corn dogs, tots, fries, pork rinds, and deep fried Oreos. It was all delicious. A heads up would have been nice about the sweet and spicy seasoning on the pork rinds though. They were yummy, but the kids and I are not fans of spice.Kid-friendliness: The staff was patient and the atmosphere just felt welcoming. It wasn't loud inside, but also not super quiet where I would feel embarrassed when my kids got a little loud.“

“Unique and creative craft food and drink menu, all reasonable priced. Staff is friendly and professional. Best river front restaurat in Grand Rapids. Plenty of FREE parking after 5pm. Highly recommend if you're looking for a new dining experience. They will not disappoint!“

“I dropped someone off at CSL to donate plasma. Decided to stop here to get something to eat while I waited. Took about 15 minutes for someone to come to my table to greet me. It really wasn't busy at all.The speed for my food wasn't too bad. I received one refill, then I didn't see the server again for an hour. I had to go looking for her to get my bill after waiting an hour and a half after finishing eating. I shouldn't have tipped as much as I did because of that. It's not like they were busy, the servers were talking to someone.Food was good though! Food made up for the terrible service. It wasn't too loud since it wasn't busy. There was about 8 tables with people at them when i visited during the lunch hour. I got there at 11:30 am, finally left at 2 pm after getting the bill.“

“Such a very cool and exciting space right in Breton village. Many vegan and dairy free options available for my lactose intolerant stomach to digest, which makes me VERY happy. The walls and decor and overall vibe are so eccentric and inviting.the siracha honey glaze on the pretzel sticks are absolutely delicious as was the southwest chicken bowl and the vegan donut sundae. Definetley worth coming in and checking out if you haven't tried it!“

“First time at this Big E's downtown and we had the best experience ever. Our server was amazing and very nice!! The food was exceptional!! One of the best chilis I've ever had, full of flavor and tasted so good!! The salad also was delicious as well!! My husband had the Big E burger and chips plus chili!! He loved the chips, they were so good!! Very good burger as well and he chili was hearty!! Thank you all for making our lunch date one of the best ever. Also thank you all for what you do every day for all your customers!! We will be back soon!!“

“I thought I couldn't love this restaurant any more than I already do, but my last visit proved me wrong. I tried the veggie brekky burrito and was blown away by the green goddess dressing. Paired with their house sauce, I was so impressed with unique flavors that can't be found at any other breakfast spot in GR. And of course, I can't escape this review without saying the potatoes (American fries) are top notch. Breakfast here is just consistently wow. ?Vegetarian options: There aren't many veg options, but the options available are delicious and actually very exciting!Dietary restrictions: Easy to order a dairy free dish“