I love coffee shops, so I always get excited when I can try a new to me spot, like The Borough. I…read moredon't get to Allendale very often (maybe twice a year) so when I was heading to Grand Valley's campus for an event recently, I made sure to allow extra time to stop by. The parking lot in front is pretty small, and there is only one access point, so if you go past it, you'll have to turn around near the apartments behind it. Don't drive on the sidewalk... I didn't, mostly because there is a sign that says, "This is a sidewalk" which made me laugh. (Truly that should be an entrance into the parking lot!) The space is very bright and airy with cute decor and space to get some work or studying done. I was greeted right away when I walked in and I had a tough time deciding what to order. I wasn't hungry, but I love that they have a full on food menu - including salads, burgers(!!!), bagels, toasts, paninis, pastries, etc. Plus all the regular coffee items, boba, smoothies, and teas. I went with one of the seasonal specials, the banana bread matcha. It didn't take too long to come out and it was very tasty - not really what I was expecting, but I liked it. It reminded me of a very green banana (which is how I prefer bananas), it wasn't super sweet but also not super matcha-y. They are expanding their space, so I am interested in coming back to see what that looks like and to order more delicious drinks and try the food!

We tried The Borough for the first time with the family. This restaurant/ cafe is off of 48th…read morenestled amongst the GVSU apartments. The vibe is welcoming. We appreciated the kid friendly array of games and etch-a-sketch for entertainment. The menu is fun, but you need to search for prices. We ordered fries, a plain smashburger, a panini, and two sodas for around $31. Tipping is optional and the space is bright, playing dream pop tunes and filled with young 20 somethings. The food was good enough. My panini was well grilled, but the tomatoes would have been next level had they been marinated in balsamic vinegar. Winter is tough to find tasty tomatoes so I don't fault them on it... however the tomatoes were the let down of the Turkey PT 3 panini. The smashburger was sufficient. My husband said it tasted on par with Burger King (not sure if that's a compliment or a diss because we love BK). He was disappointed with the fries because earlier pictures portrayed them as hand cut and these were definitely from frozen. Either way, we cleaned our plates. If we come back, I'd be curious to try their breakfast. The açaí bowls look delicious along with the lox bagel and Seoul sunrise. They also have boba drinks, smoothies, coffees, and teas. Glad to have something with chill vibes in the neighborhood, but I definitely feel like the oldest person in the establishment. perhaps I contributed to the aging hipster vibe. We'll be back someday in the morning

8am visit on a Saturday…read more They have cute sage colored decor. Service was fast and efficient. We had Lucy and she kept the coffee full and hot. 10/10 Partner had corned beef hash. 3/5 He said it seemed thin sliced and not pulled, his preference. I had sweet tooth pancakes, because who doesn't want ice cream for breakfast? 100/10 Perfect portion sizes and fluffy pancakes. We will be back.

We love Nest Egg for traditional breakfast with a healthy twist. The staff are generally local…read moreand/or GVSU students. If you're looking for a bright, delicious and friendly start to your day head to Nest Egg!

This spot is amazing! Its a coffee shop and more that's open late. They have breakfast, lunch and…read moreflatbreads on the menu, plenty of food choices. The lunch options are only served from 11-4. Besides coffee, they have wine, beer, pop, and kambucha. I got the masala chai, which was nice and not overly sweet. For meal I got the hippie ki yay, and I enjoyed that flatbread, it is vegan. The spinach dip is also good but different than what you'd expect. It is not too creamy and has a little tangy taste. But I liked that a lot, so I enjoyed it. The ambiance is lively and energetic. There's a lot of seating available, and different types including a massive couch. It is noisy in there with everyone talking, but I dont think its too bad if you want to study there. They do have a stage where they have bands perform, they also have trivia nights. I hope to check out one of the trivia nights. There is a decent size parking lot in the back. This parking lot was filled on a Tuesday night, so its definitely a spot to go and check out. This is one of the best places I have been to in GR! Highly recommend it!!

This was a great surprise. The unique combination of many different features: variety of artwork,…read morestage of live acts, a booth, high top and low tables, bet on tap, unique menu, great landscaping, really unique decor, cool merch. And the service was great. There is clearly something special going on here. People with heart, authenticity for something they love. I really like this place. It's a new favorite. We were on the SW of town and thought we would try someplace new. We will now find a reason to go here again.

Very nice people who are quite helpful, super cute decor, and pretty easy to find! Lots of street…read moreparking and very easy to get around. The menu covers a lot of food options, and their desserts are pretty delicious Got a brulatte and the slightly chewy sugar topping is quite fun! Classic cold brew is also very solid. Does get busy, so you may have to wait a bit.

Came here right before walking in the Tulip Time parade with my coworkers. I got the berry cupcake…read moreand Nutella latte. It hit the spot at the time in that it kept me warm and indoors but neither was especially memorable. I couldn't really taste any Nutella in the latte, though it was still a decent latte overall. The cupcake seemed a little stale, but considering it was gluten-free, it still wasn't bad. Service was quick, and it was a convenient stop before the parade.

Incredible cafe with an even better mission. A local business I am proud to support…read more We had our wedding shower here and they were an amazing host. Will likely use them again if I have any more shower needs. Pricing is fair and staff are friendly. Great spot to meet with a friend for coffee. They have some food options available along with coffee and tea. They also sell cute merch!

Nobody can ever give Maggie's less than a five star review!!! The smiles you get every time you…read morewalk in will make even the worst service or coffee the best. BUT you're getting smiles along with AMAZING service and even better coffee! Make it a regular stop!

Sometimes you just need a place to escape the hotel room, crack open the laptop, and get some work…read moredone. That's exactly what brought me to Midnight Express Cafe in Grand Rapids. Apparently this is a favorite among the local college crowd, and I can see why. The space is big, bright, and inviting. There were groups of friends playing card games, plenty of people working on laptops, and an atmosphere that somehow felt both fun and relaxing. The vibe check? Passed with flying colors. It wasn't perfect, though. If you're planning on working for a few hours, be prepared to hunt for actual working power outlets because they're surprisingly scarce. My chai latte also left a lot to be desired. It wasn't bad, just forgettable. Then came the açaí bowl. Organic açaí blended with blueberries, mango, blue agave, and coconut milk, then topped with granola, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, honey, strawberries, blueberries, and peanut butter. Oh... my... goodness. I was not prepared for what arrived at the table. Every ingredient tasted incredibly fresh. The fruit was vibrant, the granola had amazing texture, and every bite felt like the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and refreshing. It wasn't just delicious--it was one of those dishes that makes you stop what you're doing because your full attention suddenly belongs to the food. Here's what makes that statement carry some weight: I live in an area of South Florida surrounded by a huge Brazilian community. I have no fewer than six dedicated açaí shops within eight minutes of my house. I've had a lot of açaí bowls over the years. Without question, Midnight Express Cafe serves the best açaí bowl I've ever had. I never expected to find my favorite açaí bowl in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but here we are. Sometimes the biggest surprises happen in the places you least expect them.

We got a drip coffee, iced coffee, and two acai bowls. The acai bowls were delicious! The added…read morepeanut butter was the perfect touch. They overall were very filling, I was surprised how full I was after. Definitely recommend. We sat outside bc we brought our dog but the vibes were clearly nice. Definitely caters to the college crowd.

I love this place!! I have been there to study/work on weekends. I get their coffee. And they have…read moreseating through the doors. They also have board games that you can play. Its a nice cozy spot if you want to do some work. But get there early to get a table. There's not too many tables. I have gone there a few times. I have had the Vietnamese coffee and pandan latte. Both were really good. I definitely had to remind myself to sip on the vietnamese coffee, instead of gulping it down. The food options are limited, they have bagels and croffles. I tasted the croffle from a friend and it is tasty. My friend got their banana coffee and liked that a lot. I normally get the bagel. They also sell some goodies like matcha set. They have those in different colors. I was able to buy a blue one that I do enjoy using at home. The service is slow but worth the wait!

The service wasn't the quickest that day, however the flavor of the drinks made that not matter to…read moreme at all. I got the matcha flight and not only was it served SO cutely on a little board with all the flavors named, they tasted AMAZING. They make the place cute too with some decor, but really the drinks and food are where SAPO shines. I will be back and am actively trying to figure out how to get a drink for my morning commute.​ Also everything is lactose free, and with dairy alternatives can be requested. That is something really special. I always have to triple check ingredients or get the most basic versions of drinks so I don't hurt my stomach. This was the first time in a long time of being able to actually just look at the menu and pick what sounds good :)

Excellent ice cream lots of flavor choices. This is a must stop when I'm in town…read more Large outdoor seating area very clean

Husband got the blueberry sundae with fresh blueberries delicious and I got the unicorn ice cream…read morenachos! The nachos were waffley and crispy and the ice cream was so fun. There was marshmallows and sprinkles and the ice cream was all different colors. I loved it brought the child out in me.

did you know that morning ritual has breakfast sandwiches?…read more all of which are default vegan (option for dairy cheese available) 1. bacon, egg, and cheese 2. sausage, egg, and cheese 3. egg and cheese all sandwiches come on an english muffin with richie sauce which is some sort of spicy mayo. they still sell nantucket goodies too like bagels, vegan croissants, and the vegan pb chocolate rice crispy treats. i personally like the new location, though of course i miss the character of the old building. the photo booth is fun and i enjoy perusing the various local products and art they sell/display.

I wish I had dug down a little deeper in the reviews before committing to visiting. Was looking for…read morea nice afternoon coffee pick-me-up and was met with a Debbie downer of a drink. The coffee itself tasted very flat and almost stale and the cold foam was not creamy or foamy at all. The cashier/barista was not friendly. I tried giving Morning Ritual a chance despite the morbid decor, but sadly I will not be back.

Went on a Wednesday morning. It was busy! I got a seat, but I can definitely see that not always…read morehappening. The drinks were delicious! Vanilla latte is classic and the mint latte was the perfect level of mint. The window bar spot has great dog-watching views!

I haven't been to Lyon Street in awhile and was glad that I stopped by! Though it was super busy…read more(it was July 4th weekend), the baristas were super sweet and extremely helpful when it came to picking drinks. My aunt from Vietnam was visiting and the barista helped us pick a drink for her, which she loved! I got the orange hojicha latte (so good! literally have been thinking about this drink since then) and the strawberry matcha latte! Definitely will be stopping by again the next time I'm in town! :-)