This little gem of a restaurant is our favorite in the city. The ambiance of the place is unassuming and not pretentious. Diners feel welcome and relaxed the minute they step through the door. We have eaten at tables and at the bar and have had excellent service at both. The bartenders are great conversationalists and will recommend wines and beers and other beverages to go along with meals. Table service is just as good. Waiters and waitresses are patient and discuss options when choosing food and drink, and they will offer samples of beverages if they have them available. This is a great way to decide if the wine or beer or whatever is going to pair nicely. And then there are the meals. Wow! I cannot remember having a bad meal there. Ever. We have been many, many times. There have been meals that did not impress my palette, but they were not bad. That said, I'm sure everyone has a bad day, I just have never experienced that at Linear. Our favorite is the Wagyu flank steak. Always cooked to perfection, the flavors are out of this world. My wife and I have tried nearly everything on the menu and can whole heartedly recommend Linear to everyone who asks if there is a good place to eat in Grand Rapids. Our answer is always, "Have you tried Linear? No? You don't know what you are missing." read more

We went here for our 22nd wedding anniversary. Sat out on patio. Even though there is construction currently out there it is soo relaxing. We could sit out there for hours The staff were warm and inviting, and very efficient and timely. The food: amazing! We questioned why we hadn't gone here before! I got the mahi mahi with a type of cold pasta salad, so good, great flavor and filling! My husband got the pork chop, literally the best pork chop I have ever had, a type of mushroom sauce was to die for and the little potato cakes hit the spot. Drinks: soo delicious. I would go here just for drinks. I got the pornstar martini with the prosecco side car and my husband got a type of bourbon smash I think.. sorry can't remember the name of it. If you haven't been, drop everything and head over there, it's worth it. read more

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I ate here with friends one evening in early August. We had a large table in the middle of the dining room. Our server was very nice. There was a page long cocktail menu. I had the Peach Bourbon Smash in honor of the Peach State. It was a sweet drink that I enjoyed. I ordered the fried mozzarella appetizer and an entree from the weekly special menu. The cheese had a light crisp breading and was not oily. The cheese was warm and melty inside. Yum! My entree was one of the daily specials: pork with roasted corn on the cob. There was dessert too, and an aperitif. All fantastic to look at and to eat. read more

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Went to Linear in the last 6 months because my boyfriend and I saw that listed having vegan options on the menu. Unfortunately, they did not during dinner service. The other reviewers stating that there are vegan options posted their reviews 7-8 years ago. So that was a bummer! However, the cocktails are awesome, especially the Pornstar martini, which isn't as common to find. read more

What a pleasant and wonderful dining experience! We arrived for our reservation and were immediately seated. Our waitstaff was pleasant and really enjoyed chatting with us. They also were very good at simply leaving us alone and letting us have a nice evening. The food was delicious! We had the special appetizer of foccia bread and a ragu with goat cheese and pesto. It was so yummy. Two of us had the summer risotto without any added protein. The risotto was so creamy and full of flavor. I had to force myself to slow down because it was just so good I wanted to eat it all. Instead, I chose to savor each bite. The third member of our party ordered the pork chop which was cooked beautifully. We also had the blueberry cobbler with ice cream, which while not anything like the cobbler that I make, was very tasty. There were some minor things like mislabeling a Chiante Classico and a Super Tuscan from Spain (ES) and Italy (IT) on the wine list and the noise level being loud enough it was difficult for myself and another member of our party to hear as we are both hearing impaired, but we managed. All in all a really good evening! I recommend Linear! read more

This was our first visit to Linear Restaurant, and we went for our once every-other-month date night before a Broadway Grand Rapids show. Revue Magazine had listed it among the best new area restaurants on the water. As of July 2026, the riverfront seating area is very much a work in progress. Chain link fencing runs along the riverside, and construction work is ongoing. While the views weren't great, the service from Avery and the food were both special. She was friendly and helpful, giving great suggestions. We were there for Golden Hour, so got special pricing on drinks paired with appetizers, then shared our entrees and capped off the night with creme brulee. We will definitely return next summer with the hope that the work is completed, maybe sooner to enjoy a meal inside. read more

Linear Restaurant - We shared main courses - Wagyu beef, and their specialty pasta (name escapes me). - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I returned to Linear this past weekend to celebrate my birthday after mentioning to my partner that I wanted to give the restaurant another chance. He surprised me by bringing me there for my birthday, hoping it would be a great experience. There were definitely some positives to the evening. Our server was genuinely kind and attentive, and the cocktails were enjoyable. The presentation of the food was also nice. To drink, I got the pornstar martini which came with a side car prosecco and he had the espresso martini. My partner had noted in the reservation that it was my birthday and it wasn't acknowledged during our visit which disappointed him but we understand that these things can sometimes be missed. The food, unfortunately, was mixed and didn't quite meet expectations for the price point. We started with the breaded mozzarella, which looked beautiful and had a nice cheese pull, but the flavor was very mild and needed salt which was an easy enough fix but still a bit disappointing. My partner enjoyed his chicken piccata. I ordered the steak frites, and while I don't mind a little pink, the steak was very uneven in thickness, which led to inconsistent cooking. One portion was noticeably very rare while another was cooked to the well-done level I requested. The steak was also quite tough, which made the dish difficult to enjoy overall. While I truly appreciated the service and drinks, the food quality was inconsistent, and after giving it a sincere second chance, I don't feel inclined to return. read more

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Got the grilled peach salad with grilled chicken. The peach slices weren't grilled. The chicken tasted like it was sitting in the freezer for awhile. The mixed drinks however were good. Place was kind of empty. View was nice. Overall, a weak first impression. read more

Linear Restaurant - Grilled peach salad with grilled chicken - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Great First Visit - Enjoyable with Minor Improvements Needed** This was our first time visiting this town, recommended by a friend, and we had a great experience overall! The atmosphere was fantastic--a perfect spot to hang out and relax. The only downside was the ongoing construction nearby, which slightly affected the vibe, but without it, the place would've been even better. The service was friendly and attentive, and they had a good selection of drinks. The food was delicious, though nothing particularly stood out compared to other similar spots. The main reasons I'm giving a 4-star rating instead of 5 are: 1. **Limited Menu Options** - Many highly recommended dishes we were excited to try weren't available, which was a bit disappointing. 2. **Good but Not Exceptional Food** - While everything tasted great, nothing truly wowed us or felt unique compared to other restaurants in the area. read more

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We had standing reservations here for a nice dinner, but was underwhelmed with the service and food unfortunately. I started the night off with a Pornstar Martini that had a prosecco sidecar that was delicious. We ordered a 1/2lb of mussels for the table and had a good flavor, but nothing that was wow-worthy. As a table, we ordered the grilled salmon and the Pasta Asiago Tortellini. Both dishes were good, but once we received our dinner there were already 4 tables that had ordered gotten their food, eaten, gotten their bill and left before we got our food. Giving this a 3 based on slow service and okay food. read more

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Nice ambiance as it over looks the Grand River. My friend got the Gnocchi special and added the Shrimp protein. She said it was delicious. I ordered the Caprese sandwich and Broccoli Cheddar soup. The sandwich was off the chain delicious. The Broccoli Cheddar soup was disgusting, and seasoned with something spicy, couldn't put my finger on it but it was the nastiest soup I've ever had. My friends Daughter ordered the Sea Bass Special. It took them three times to cook it properly. However, they were very apologetic about it, which was a refreshing pace. The service was great, our waitress constantly was refilling our water, and making sure we had everything we needed. I'd say go for the ambiance, don't eat the soup, and maybe be careful if you order a protein as your main dish. read more

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Came here for my birthday dinner with a couple of girlfriends. Drinks were fantastic. Service by our waiter was awesome, we even got a dessert for free for the occasion. Personal favorites of the group were the crabcake and bread pudding dessert. We sat outside on the patio by the water. Even despite the construction, the vibes were super chill, especially when they turned the patio lights on after sunset over the river. read more

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Fell short of expectations. The ambiance was less upscale than what had been my impression. The food was priced high for the portion size and quality. It took a long time for our meals to come out and when they did they were overcooked and cold. The flavor was lacking on the bolognese and salmon. I would only consider coming back for the appetizers and drinks. read more

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Here for work, young professional, host said they were fully booked meanwhile there were plenty of tables available. Host had some sass :/

First time visiting this restaurant. Excellent customer service and food. Can't wait to make a return trip there.

Service was great, the inside was very cute and I know it is really cute in the summer as well. The food was good!! The Caico de Pepe needed some more salt but I have no complaints read more

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The Wine and food were fantastic, and the staff was super friendly. Definitely one of our favorite places to go.

Maybe after the river construction is completed. Terrible view and approach Food was ok. read more

Food and service was great. I know that this sounds so trivial in this day and age, but I still think that waitstaff needs to look professional . The host was wearing a sleeveless vest with hairy armpits. ... just didn't quite fit the vibe of the restaurant. The DJ was playing what sounded like 80's thumping sounds. Maybe I'm just old fashioned! read more

We had a lovely anniversary dinner here. The atmosphere was romantic, the food was delicious, and the service was attentive. We are both vegetarians and found plenty of options to enjoy. The adult bubble tea cocktail was a fun treat. We started with focaccia as an appetizer, then had cacio e pepe and beetroot risotto for our mains, and finished with monkey bread for dessert. Everything was well presented and very tasty. Setting up and adjusting our reservation was very easy. The music was a little loud, but not so much that we could not have a conversation. Overall I would definitely recommend visiting. read more

Linear Restaurant - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Girls night out! We had reservations but sat at the bar since there was space. The bartenders were super friendly, and the cocktails were great. My flank steak was amazing, but my friend's shrimp and grits were too spicy for her. The bread pudding was delicious, though I wanted more sauce. Definitely coming back to try more items. read more

Linear Restaurant - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This place is always a fan favorite for me! We were able to sit at the bar since the restaurant was packed with prom kids which was fun to see! Despite it being a busy Saturday evening, service was stellar from the front door to the bartender. We got the salmon cakes for an appetizer and they were flavorful and delicious!! Our mains were the pot roast and shrimp and grits. The pot roast and sides were perfection! Although the shrimp and grits were more like a gumbo style, it was still good and exactly as described. The bartender was fun and energetic and we had great side conversations with other people at the bar. It's always such a great vibe here anytime I come! read more

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I've been to Linear several times now for brunch and just went for lunch recently. They have some outdoor seating that is shaded and overlooking the river, but my friend and I opted to sit inside since there was rain in the forecast. The restaurant only had one other party there and there was a lot of road construction which made it difficult to navigate. Luckily they have a lot of paid parking in the lot next to the restaurant, or street parking. The lunch menu has some delicious sounding sandwiches, salads, and entrees. I ordered the Gouda grilled cheese and added bacon. The sandwiches come with fries or you can get soup or a salad for an upcharge. Our food came out pretty quickly and looked great. I think the grilled cheese could have used a bit more cheese, but I liked the sandwich overall. The fries didn't seem like they were super fresh but I liked that they were thinner, shoestring-style. I'm glad I got to experience Linear for lunch and would come back again in the future. Their brunch is still a great option, where you can get 2 entrees and a bottle of bubbles for $50! read more

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From start to finish our experience was great at Linear was great! I reserved a table online and commented that we were celebrating my twins daughter's birthdays and one of them had a dairy allergy. The waitress was welcoming and let us know she knew which items on the menu were safe for my daughter to have. All our dishes were prepared perfectly with balanced flavors and in perfect timing. read more

Amazing service and food! Great for a date night or for dinner with friends and family. Get the cacio e pepe and you won't be disappointed!

Very friendly service. Kitchen can get backed up at "rush hour" but the food was good, including a particular standout in the street corn dip appetizer. Nice bar space, plus some seating outside, which will only skyrocket once the new pathway along the river is completed read more

We had the pleasure of visiting Linear for brunch yesterday! The space was so bright and airy, and I loved all the plants! We made a reservation and got seated right away, but we probably didn't need a reservation, as their were plenty of available tables. Our server offered us drinks almost immediately after sitting down. I had a bloody mary (can't go wrong!) My fiance got a cocktail and then a beer, and our friends got cocktails as well. The drinks were really good! I got my bloody mary spicy, which was definitely the way to go. Our food also came out pretty quickly! I had the Croque Madame, which was ham and mornay sauce on a brioche loaf, with a fried egg on top and potatoes on the side. My fiancé had the braised beef sandwich. Our friends also got the braised beef skillet and chicken and waffles. The food was all delicious! The beef in everything was very tender, and the sauce on mine was super yummy! One of our friends orders got missed, so when our food came out, our server told us they had just started it, but it came out so quickly, we probably wouldn't have even noticed! Overall, this is a great place for brunch or lunch and cocktails! It's a little outside of downtown, which makes parking slightly easier, and was a great experience! read more

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Great food and awesome atmosphere. Came here for the first time on lunch during the week and there was plenty of seating. The restaurant is filled with natural light and plants for a cozy atmosphere. I ordered the Cacio e Pepe and it was rich and delish. One of the better versions of this pasta I have ever ordered. The waitress was friendly and quick. For parking it looks like it's only on street or city lots. I will defiantly be back and it looks like they have great outdoor seating when it warms up. read more

Linear Restaurant - Cacio e Pepe - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

What a cute spot that I have been wanting to try for awhile now! We arrived 30 minutes after opening on a weekday, and we were the only guests there. Our server was very friendly, and we enjoyed chatting & sharing a laugh together. They had several drink options that enticed me- I'd go back just to try another drink! The food was wonderful...I enjoyed the Gouda grilled cheese, the sourdough and tomato dipping sauce were . I ordered it with a side of butternut squash, which was equally delicious and flavorful. My husband thought the kale squash salad was tasty, and especially liked the dried cherries on top. Was the perfect spot for our lunch date! read more

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My wife and I used an old gift certificate for our first experience at the Linear Restaurant. Overall, we had a good experience. The restaurant has views of the Gand River that should be greatly improved when the construction of river front projects that are underway are completed. The wait staff was prompt and attentive and the food was well prepared and nicely presented. We started with a Bruschetta Appetizer. It was served promptly, well-presented and very tasty. I ordered the signature Wagyu Shank Steak, and my wife ordered the Halibut. My steak was ordered medium rare and it was cooked precisely to my expectation. My wife was very pleased with the freshness and flavor of the Halibut. We each ordered a dessert to finish our experience. I would have given a 5-star rating but the menu selections were quite limited. I'm sure that we will return here and recommend that you try it for yourself. read more

First time here. I ordered the grilled shrimp puttanesca. It was very good. Shrimp were cooked well and not over cooked. Pasta was okay. Could have used a little salt and pepper or some capers. Drink menu looked good with some nice specials. I just had a beer. Bar tender Greg was great! Friendly and had some great stories. I will be back! read more

Linear Restaurant - Grilled Shrimp Puttanesca - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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A thoroughly disappointing experience, starting with the drinks. The first was overwhelmingly bitter and completely unbalanced, forcing me to send it back. Unfortunately, the replacement wasn't much better. At that point, I didn't trust them to get it right, so I forced it down and moved on. The food was equally inconsistent. My girlfriend's Wagyu was exceptional, but my own steak--the most expensive on the menu--was a complete disappointment, lacking both flavor and quality. For the price, I expected far more. With overpriced, poorly executed food and subpar drinks, this restaurant simply doesn't live up to its aspirations. I won't be back. read more

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Chicken piccata was a sliced chicken breast on a bed of spaghetti with a watery sauce. Cocktails good, and reasonably priced, so not a total bust. read more

Just a heads up, there's construction on every side of the restaurant right now so the view isn't very good. The food was decent but the portions were small. Overall, I think you could get more and better food for the same amount of money somewhere else. read more

Dined here for lunch with a group of girlfriends for lunch. It was a Tuesday and not at all busy so we definitely didn't need the reservation I made. It was two of the ladies birthdays and when I asked about being able to put candles in a dessert she let me know they were all out of dessert. Which was kind of odd to me because their desserts seem like a focal point of their small, curated menu. Ambiance is lovely. Super cute inside with live plants everywhere and a nice full bar. But again it was empty and that felt kind of like a downer energy wise. It was also very cold but perhaps it was because we were sitting by the window. Parking is easy right outside the entrance but it is a city lot so it's metered. Smaller menu and daintier fare. But over all yummy. I split a wrap and fries and a full salad with another gal. We cleaned our plates but I left still a bit hungry. Things a good spot for a business lunch or a ladies celebration. I've heard it's good for brunch and would love to give it another try. read more

Linear Restaurant - Veggie hummus wrap and fries. Came out cold. - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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My steak frites were still mooing had to send it back unfortunately. They re did it and then made the steak into basically a tire. The frites needed at least 5 more minutes in the fryer, I was basically biting into a raw potato. The wagyu flank was awesome, full of flavor and cooked correctly. Although, the side vegetables were mushy and had no flavor. Service was average, nothing out of the ordinary. Ambience is quite nice here, they create a cool vibe. Overall, I would go back. Cool place just an off experience. read more

Wow! Very impressed with everything about this restaurant tonight. Our waitress was so attentive, thoughtful and helpful. Food was excellent. Everyone in our group loved what they ordered. We loved the space also including the table which was large enough to make it easy to share things. It will be really nice when the park renovations are completed this summer. read more

Great food. Lunch is not as great as their dinner service, so I'd recommend dinner. Right now, parking is not great but possible (it's in the government parking lot further north on Monroe). This is a great restaurant during the summer to sit outside overlooking the river. read more

Lovely place along the river. Especially nice for brunch. Everyone was happy with their dishes. Service was very good.

Me and a coworker left there with major stomach problems either due to the food or drinks. We both nearly went to the hospital. I won't be stepping foot in there again. Meanwhile the people working there were so concerned for him they muttered "he can take the bag with him" which he was vomitting into. Just pathetic. I wish I could Zero stars. read more