Express cafe

200 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids

Recent Reviews

Regina Rapier

Super fresh salad bar, many soups to choose from, healthy options. Charming location to get to, quite, clean and friendly little cafe.

Matt Karamol

Quick and great food. Salad bar is great and they don’t charge by weight

Ken Miller

Vege wrap was delicious. Jeremy was friendly and welcoming. Great value!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Veggie Wrap

Kyle Viana

I work in the building next door and pop in for lunch about once a week. Prices are great for downtown, and the food is always on point!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tacos

Lucas L.

I've been here a couple of times for a quick takeout lunch while working downtown and I've been so impressed with the crew and management. The lead guy (not sure of his name or if he's the owner or just the manager) is incredible at encouraging, motivating, and coaching his team, while keeping a very busy lunch rush moving each day. He's a good example to the whole industry!The food is tasty, and fresh, and the soup bar is a nice touch. You have to know where and how to find this spot, but it's not too hard to learn the foot route, or just hop into the elevator and go down one floor.Definitely a budget-friendly go-to that's a phenomenal alternative to a chain or nasty fast food.

Evan Hebert

Good soup and sandwiches. Owner is a good dude. They get really busy in the afternoon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sarah Stickney

If you have never been, you are missing out! This little gem has everything - good menu, great prices, and amazing customer service. I love the gyro and soup bar.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Teah Lint

I work in the building this cafe is located in and I've always liked everything I've ordered from here. Usually the staff is friendly, however, my coworkers and I have had multiple bad experiences with the owner. He can be very condescending and rude. Most recently, their Diet Coke and Pepsi cans have been expired for some time, I've had 3 bad ones. I tried to let someone know and was shut down and cut off by the owner. "It's a can of pop, there's nothing I can do. I have food to make." Diet soda artificial sweetener breaks down quicker than regular soda, you cannot bulk order for a whole year. The diet soda will be bad in a few months. This specific can is 9 months old. Please rotate your inventory and/or be more patient with friendly customers, I was not rude at all. Other than that, the food is good and it's very convenient and quick.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Brownie

Sara Bruinsma

The staff is friendly, the food is excellent, and the prices are reasonable. I work in the building and have lunch here several times a week. Highly recommend the salad bar, the chicken salad wrap, and the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Wonderful lunch spot!Also, I have never witnessed the staff being rude, but I have noticed several entitled customers. Don't let negative reviews scare you away. This place is a gem.

Eron Cayedito

This place is in a basement location that is hard to get to. Once you're familiar it is a fantastic place for lunch. Their sandwiches are fantastic but their beef brisket is outstanding, Their Cuban sandwich and daily specials are where it's at. This lunch spot is LEGIT.Vegetarian options: Get you some soup! They always have 8 options, including veggie options.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Quesadilla

Katlyn Curnick

Wish I could give this place less than 1 star. The owner is extremely rude and for what?! I'm just trying to eat lunch. And also food is not good. 0 stars - going here ruined my week.

Julia Koprowski

Yes, the food is good. But the hospitality is beyond lacking. I have never been to a place where I, the customer, was treated like I was a problem for being there. The chefs preparing the food were rude to the young woman who was taking orders even though she was the only nice person working. I can make delicious sandwiches at home. I can go to other places to get delicious sandwiches. I don't go out to eat for good food alone, I also like to be treated nicely and know that I am financially supporting a place that treats it's workers nicely. The men who run this shop do not do this, at all. Go get a good sandwich somewhere else and support a business that likes you and the people who work there.

Jessie L.

Hidden lil gem in the basement of the Chase Building. Was run by 2 gents, now there's about 5 working/running this cafe. Offers a variety of sandwiches, daily specials, soups and a small salad bar. The 2 original guys are extremely friendly and if you're in once a week like my coworker and I are; they remember what your favorite is. The service is quick, fresh and friendly.

Kenneth Lau

Best self-serve salad bar in GR

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Barbara G.

Delicious sandwich, delicious soup! Reasonably priced. And super friendly staff! It's perfect for a lunch break from work downtown.

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