First time here. Wow. Great ambiance and service. We loved the music playing and the intimate tables. We love Cajun food! I had the red beans and rice, which is flavorful and the sauces were good. The pork belly was bit more fatty thank I expected but still delicious. My wife had the jambalaya with some amazing spice. Great size and portion of shrimp. Étouffée was warm in the spice level and tasty. Daughter had the salmon salad and son in law enjoyed the creamy creole pasta, which my wife tasted and thought it was the best of all! We can't wait to come back. read more

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I'm so glad I finally got to try this place! Hattie served us at the bar with great drink and food recommendations and a positive attitude. The restaurant was pretty chill for brunch on a Sunday but the soft music fit the vibe. we had the jambalaya but sub for pasta instead of rice and it was sooo flavorful. You cant miss the crawfish beignets. And their remoulade was amazing! Can't wait to go back and try the gumbo! read more

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Such a beautiful evening for Valentine's Day when we scored a parking spot right at the entrance of this cute looking establishment that formally was Monsoon. We were promptly sat for our 5 o'clock reservation. We were happy to see Abita beer on the menu and the Hurricanes were half price! We were surprised when we attempted to order an appetizer and the restaurant was already sold out of 3 of the appetizers on the menu. ‍ It was long waits to get our drinks and take our order. I decided to wait in line for the bathroom (the restaurant has 2 private toilets only). While waiting I could check out the open kitchen. They were working hard, but I immediately noticed that the rice from the rice cooker was too lumpy for my taste. I also observed fish sitting out at room temperature that wasn't even rinsed off before being battered and breaded and stuck in the fryer alongside the fries and beignets. I made a mental note not to order that. Since the beignet appetizer was sold out and they wanted $30 for 6 oysters, we decided to forgo the apps and ordered crawfish etouffe and a roast beef po' boy. My hubby was disappointed with the taste and texture of his po'boy. He said the roast beef had a texture reminiscent of cat food and the fries were seasoned with cayenne pepper and gave him an acid stomach. My etouffe was also a huge disappointment. The crawfish was obviously reheated from frozen and had that off "fishy" flavor. Very disappointing because I usually love crawfish. The shrimp was okay, but the rice wasn't nice and the sauce had a bitter aftertaste, like it had burned during the cooking process. Overall, a poor facsimile of NOLA cuisine. They really should just turn this establishment into a Yatz (Indiana's fast food NOLA franchise). It would be so much better and the shape of the restaurant fits the Yatz concept. Plus, it would've tasted much better and for a cheaper price. We are huge Yatz fans. Just saying... lol. Hopefully we just came on an "off" day. We do realize it's hard to compete with the real thing. No where on earth is like the real NOLA. Guess I'll just have to head south or cook it myself next time a craving hits. read more

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food was fantastic, loved the environment, the server was very nice. would definitely go again ! read more

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Got the yakamein. It was just ok. I think it would have been better if they used egg noodles instead of spaghetti. The egg was not soy sauce marinated and lacked the creamy center. The shrimp was tasty and the beef cubes were tender. The broth was nice with Cajun spices. Using a traditional hot stone bowl was interesting but probably unnecessary. Maybe on a colder night? For $28, this was way overpriced. read more

Garden District - Yakamein - spaghetti, boiled egg, shrimp, beef stew cubes, green onion in a entoufee soup - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Authentic creole food except without okra. Wide miss. More demerits for nasty crawdads, and no oysters. Good drinks. Our server was excellent. Upgrade the ingredients and I'll be a regular. read more

Garden District - Big love! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Tried out the new place and my friends and I enjoyed our time! We were seated at a large table in between the bar and kitchen. Loved my drink - Honey Child! The gin was refreshing! For my appetizer, I ordered the Crawfish Beignets which were paired with a delicious remoulade sauce. My main dish was amazing.. I ordered the Southern Hospitality which comes with a salad, side of mac n cheese and two crispy Cajun honey! The chicken was my favorite! I loved the crispy skin and the sweet heat flavor! Overall enjoyed our time here! read more

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My friends and I got to try this place and we were amazed! It's a fairly new place that serves New Orleans inspired dishes right here in downtown Grand Rapids! First of all call ahead and reserve because it gets booked pretty quick especially on the weekend and since it's a small space, there was only seating room for about 8 tables plus a bar. I loved the artwork they had inside and how it brought out a New Orleans theme. The food was delicious! I got the Yakamein which was a noodle soup with beef, shrimp and boiled egg in a cajun beef broth packed with protein! My friends got jambalaya and the bourbon street steak. I was so jealous of their food and will definitely try what they got next time. The best part though was getting our food delivered to our table from the owner himself who was very kind and personable. He made an effort to deliver food to every table and really gave the place a sense of warmth and comfort. Needless to say I'll be back and bringing more friends! read more

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This is a great addition to the downtown scene. I have really enjoyed the gumbo and jambalaya. The staff is friendly and they have great outdoor seating options. read more

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I'm so excited to have a Cajun/Creole restaurant in Grand Rapids! I've only been to New Orleans once but I loved the city and the food, so it's great to be able to have some of the traditional dishes here in GR. I was able to make a reservation for four through their website, and we were seated right away when we arrived. Located in the former Monsoon restaurant, the vibe hasn't changed too much but they've added some NOLA flair, including an Instagram-worthy sign near the entrance. Our server Ana was the best - she is so sweet and had great recommendations for food and drinks. We started with the garden district dip to share and some cocktails - I liked the blooming fleur de lis, and Nate got the Cafe du Monde Martini. The dip was delicious, packed with shrimp and crawfish and served with perfectly toasted French bread. It could have used a little salt (or Crystal hot sauce!) but I would definitely order this again. We also split a Caesar salad, which was fresh and bright, served with a lemon to squeeze over. It was tough to choose an entree, but I went with the etouffee, and Nate got the muffaletta. Our friends ordered the gumbo and jambalaya. I really liked the etouffee! It had quite a bit of a spicy kick, which I loved. I also had a few bites of the muffaletta, which was delicious. It's not exactly like the ones we had in NOLA but still tasty. We were way too full for dessert, but the options all sounded great. Hopefully they add sweet beignets soon! Really excited for this new addition to downtown, and hope to visit again soon. read more

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Experience a slice of New Orleans right here in GR! Specializing in cajun and southern cuisine, Garden District is packing a punch with flavor. We tried the jambalaya, the Gumbo Yaya, and the Yakamein, and were in paradise! From seafood to sausage, they were on point! The location is perfect downtown, and it's a super fun atmosphere for a dinner out! read more

Garden District - Yakamein - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Okay, let me begin by saying that the atmosphere and the staff were on point. The place was super cool with that inner city brick appearance, and the staff were very helpful and friendly! The only constructive comment I can make about the atmosphere is that the place was very loud. For dinner, I had the pork, beans and rice meal and my wife had the moz sandwich with fries. Honestly 3 out of 10 for both. The sandwich was a cold cut and the bread was dry. My pork and beans with rice meal was dominated with the rice and beans with very little meat. To be transparent, this isn't really our type of food, but we wanted to try something different. Just know that meals are spicy with a Cajun twist. Lastly, we also got the brownie skillet with vanilla ice cream. When it came to our table, the heat of the skillet melted the vanilla ice cream, and it almost turned the dessert into some sort of soupy chocolate/vanilla mix. It was very flavorful, but kind of ran together. In summary, we probably won't return, but to be honest this really wasn't our thing when it comes to type of cuisine we enjoy. So if spicy Cajun food is your thing, you may want to check it out.. read more

Garden District - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I went Saturday the atmosphere is nice I ordered the catfish po boy and it was not good the fish didn't have any seasoning on it and it was sitting on top of the roll the fries were not good either they had no taste I tasted my friends red bean and rice that was tasty and well seasoned so I didn't understand why the fish was bland I don't think I would go back and hate I didn't send my sandwich back read more

Maybe the best restaurant in the GR area. Fantastic food. We ordered the Mussels, Red Beans and Rice, Etouffee and a bowl of Gumbo. Everything blew our expectations out of the water. The waitress had great advice on spice level and suggestions on what to try. The restaurant was very busy, but we didn't experience any delays in service. We had a reservation and would suggestion a reservation for anyone that wishes to be seated right away as the bar was quite busy too. We will definitely be returning to try something new. read more

Great food. Solid service. Cool ambiance. Loved my jambalaya and n/a drink. Would recommend for a night out dinner, especially if you love fish (I'm not a huge fish guy). read more

Garden District - Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

What a great dinner! Stopped in prior to an event and got right in to sit at the bar. The nice bartender took care of me and she did a great job. Started off with a hurricane and the crawfish beignets because what else would you start with in a Cajun restaurant! Both were great the drink was strong and refreshing and the beignets were crispy and spicy with a great remoulade sauce. We had the gumbo for dinner it was delicious! Spicy! I will definitely remember it for the next cold day when you need something to stick to your bones and warm you up! Ended with the Cafe Du Monde Martini which was a perfect twist on an espresso martini and a pecan pound cake to go! I will definitely be going back!! Plus the dancing crawfish in the window were really cute! read more

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My wife and I had dinner on a Sunday night before a concert. She ordered a salad with grilled chicken. It was a large salad with a generous portion of grilled chicken on the side. I ordered one of their house specials, blackened fish. I expected an entree would be the main item on the plate. However, the Cajun corn dish was the main item covering 1/2 the plate along with a smaller ball of white rice. There was one small fillet. Yes, only one fillet. It was delicious, but the corn & rice costs almost nothing, why would a serving include only one fillet? read more

As a downtown Grand Rapids resident, we have plenty of restaurant choices. Garden District is always at the top of our list. Food quality is excellent and if you like New Orleans cuisine, you have plenty of menu choices. We've always had great service and the personal touch of the owner walking around and greeting guests and checking on them. When they are busy, the place is so alive and buzzing with a clientele that represents what downtown Grand Rapids is all about! read more

Food was delicious. We got the jambalaya and crawfish po boy. My son had the Po boy but got it without lettuce, tomato and pickle. I got the jambalaya as it comes and was not disappointed. read more

Garden District - Crawfish Po Boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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If you're craving the soulful spirit of New Orleans this place delivers. From the moment you walk in your hit with lively jazz, warm lighting and that unmistakable creole-Cajun aroma. The menu is packed with southern classics. Every bite tastes like it can from the French Quarter the spices were bold and balanced. We started with crawfish beignets, main courses were the blackened salmon and the crawfish and shrimp étouffée both were delicious. The service was friendly and making us feel like regulars even though it was our first time there. Bonus points for the cocktail menu. We will be going back. read more

Delicious food and great service, what more could you want? Generous portions, got those too. Desserts worth eating, yep. Nice ambience, got that too. We ordered blackened fish and yakamein as our mains, and both were excellent. read more

Absolutely FANTASTIC!! Everything was amazing! The Blackened Grouper, the Fries Chicken, the Mac and Cheese, and the Bananas Foster - fabulous! Our server, Ava, knowledgeable and lovely. Gave us great recommendations. And the owners, Raphael and Jessica, made sure to stop by every table and check in. The ambience was so authentic and wonderful. read more

The pecan pound cake was heavenly and reason enough to visit. The servers were great and I loved the peach daiquiri .

Had the most peaceful and delicious brunch in downtown Grand Rapids this morning. I highly recommend the Garden District on Monroe Center. Best biscuits I've ever had. The owners are delightful and accommodating to dietary restrictions. We had previously had an outstanding dinner and were eager to try their newly added brunch service. Perfect experience. We are going back next weekend to try their expanded brunch menu. Great cocktails too. 10/10 read more

Garden District - Outdoor seating - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Was very excited to try Garden District as we are BIG NOLA fans. They don't disappoint. Ordered a number of items to try amongst our group. Cocktails were great, only disappointment was they did not stock Pimm's. Veronica was our server and was great. Helped with menu, cocktails and overall experience. Will absolutely be back soon! read more

Not the best experience here yesterday. The table we were sat at was right by the cold door and we were freezing the entire time. We were so cold that we actually asked for the check immediately after getting food so we could leave, which was disappointing because we initially were excited to stay awhile and have a dessert and nightcap. The food was fine, we ordered the crawfish beignets (delicious but shouldn't be called beignets, but would recommend). The etoufee and blackened fish were also good. Service was so-so. Overall I wouldn't recommend this place--we were visiting from out of town and would go elsewhere on our next visit to rapids. But the food itself was solid if you are wanting some Cajun vibes. read more

I wish I had taken a picture! We went to The Garden District for the first time last night. We had the blackened fish, red beans and rice, shrimp po boy, gumbo yaya, and the pound cake for dessert. Absolutely everything was fantastic. The portions were generous, waitstaff was knowledgeable, efficient, friendly and fun, and all food being served looked amazing. We will definitely be back. read more

Excellent Cajun food. Exceptional cocktails. Great service. The Red Beans and Rice, Yakamein, and Étouffée are all stellar. Didn't care for the Beignets. Bland. Bananas Foster is to die for. Decor would make Robert Irvine proud. We plan to meander through the menu whenever we are in the area. read more

I really wanted to like Garden District. It has a very comfortable vibe. The cocktails were good. The apps were good. And the entrees were good. And our server was very friendly and polite. However... I absolutely hate being rushed through a meal. We felt rushed from the very beginning. Even before our cocktails arrived we were asked what we wanted to order. Twice. Then we had barely started the cocktails and we were asked again. We were barely halfway through our apps and they delivered our entrees. The last thing I want to do is watch my entree get cold while I finish my app. I hate that. When asked why they brought the entrees so soon, the person who appeared to be the manager responded by saying that this is not fine dining and that when things are ready they bring them out. Seriously? Then why are they charging fine dining prices? Last time I checked a $19 appetizer qualifies as fine dining. Sent the entrees back. Then when they brought out the entrees again, she showed some attitude by slamming the app plates together and walking off. Finally, my wife was barely half way through her entrée when they asked what we wanted for dessert. Wow. And why are you bringing out dessert in plates that are chipped? How do I know the chip is not in the food? I know Garden District gets great reviews, and maybe our experience is not typical. But this was not a very pleasant dining experience at all. read more

I went with a group of 6. We had a reservation and got sat immediately. We were right by the open kitchen and it was cool to see all the dishes being assembled and sent out! The interior is very well decorated! I had the Muffulatta. It is definitely a large portion. It was delicious but could use a sauce! It comes with cajun fries. Delicious! Would return!! read more

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Great food and very nice staff We wanted something we can't normally get back home and they did not disappoint read more

Just tried this last night. Everything was amazing. They were extremely busy so I was expecting slow service but our server was attentive and quick with everything. She had a very large table but was able to take care of everyone. The food was great. It had the right amount of spice and flavor. I had the gumbo and my friend Asha's the red beans and rice. Both were so good. I would go back and will recommend it to everyone. read more

Good food, good service, friendly staff. I got the crawfish Poboy, it was good but I feel like the crawfish flavor gets overpowered by the breading. The sauce is great. Music was a bit too loud inside. read more

Cool place. Good food. We' were there during an actual tornado. So. That's gonna put a damper on any experience. Without the tornado I'm guessing it gets an extra star. read more

My husband and I had another amazing dinner here Friday night. He had a shrimp PoBoy and I had the jambalaya. Both were delicious and beautifully presented. The jambalaya has just the right amount of spice and it has plenty of huge shrimp. The service was excellent, but I didn't catch the young woman's name. We love the music and atmosphere, and feel like we're back in New Orleans every time we go. This is our 4th time coming to the restaurant, and everything we've tried is authentic and as good as any restaurant I've eaten at in New Orleans. Highly recommended! read more

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An absolute gem! Despite being open for just a week, the food, service, and ambiance were already operating at an exceptional level. The quality here easily surpasses many high-priced restaurants in Grand Rapids--at a much more reasonable cost. The drinks? Simply outstanding. Each one is perfectly balanced, crafted by a true mixologist behind the bar. The mussels, Étouffée, and Gumbo were nothing short of spectacular, delivering bold, authentic flavors that left a lasting impression. Garden District is a must-visit, and I can't wait to return! read more

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The food was amazing! Our waitress was very friendly. The restaurant is decorated in a very NOLA fashion! Will definitely go again!

While visiting Grand Rapids this restaurant was recommended a few times. I'm from Chicago where we don't lack good food but this food here was so delicious. I had the Jambalaya with Pasta, a side of red beans and rice and a side of Gumbo. All good! The dessert I took with me but it was delicious as well. Pecan pound cake with a glaze icing. Everything was good. You should try it.... read more

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So good. I went with a friend of mine and we got the crawfish beignets which were crispy and delish. My friend got the blackened grouper and I got the gumbo both were very good with a little kick to it. If you are spice intolerant you'll most likely find the gumbo at the top of your spice tolerance. We finished off with the banana foster which the waitress(shout out Stephanie) got us the last one of the night. All in all great food with good flavors and spice. read more

Cute New Orleans themed Cajun spot. Service was great. We loved the food. Poboys and jambalaya were on point. Loved the Cajun fries as well. Oddly a glass of iced tea is $4 when other soft drinks are $3. Found that strange when the food cost for iced tea is like 8 cents per glass, it's actually the cheapest beverage you can serve besides water... But anyway, the iced tea was good and we loved the meal. read more