The potential for an amazing meal was there. A beautiful sunset over the Grand River, two fun couples, and a restaurant with 4 of 5 stars on Yelp. The reality....strong meh. One of our cocktails was served in a dirty glass, when alerted, the bartender made a new drink, but was sure to pass along the message that the large white rings on the side of the glass were not from the dishwasher, but from the orange she rimmed the glass with. Pffffft! She replaced the drink, but why lie? Our first course included the brussels sprouts and charcuterie board. There were four people in our party and two tiny pieces of bread came with the board. We had to ask our server for more. The sprouts were so over cooked and essentially mush. Not good. Our main courses included the Wagyu flank steak- undercooked and cold when served, the quail- cooked well, the pork loin- Great stuffing. Probably will not return unless invited by someone else. read more

I stopped by this new spot on a recent trip to GR. The attention to detail here is prominent. Beautiful plants everywhere, simple/earthy and inviting.... Lots of parking, nice view of river- outside seating will be lovely when it opens! Fun drink options and great selection of beers and wine. Super friendly bartenders and wait staff who were excited about their food and drink.... The spring pea soup was outstanding and unique.... I can't stop thinking about it. We shared a vegan tamale at our table which was super flavorful! I had the grilled avocado for dinner- lots of wonderful textures and tastes- the red pepper sorbet atop was unique and yummy playful. Our table shared the panna cotta and bread pudding for dessert- both were outstanding... the bread pudding may have won but both were delicious. Price point and portions were spot on- nothing over $18- fun to taste and share! We found ourselves sharing and sampling all of our plates. Really creative cuisine that supports the mission stated beautifully on the backside of the menu. Really a fabulous spot oozes inspiration and deliciousness. Will definitely be back.... read more

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

Delicious brunch!!! Food was clean, not oily, perfectly seasoned, eggs not too runny. It was clean inside the restaurant as well which is important to me. Sometimes take out containers can look nasty with finger prints and food residue, not here, first class all the way! Will most definitely come back again soon. read more

The food at Linear is as good as it gets! Absolutely best steak and frits I've ever had, and sampled my co-diners scallops, which were "to die for." Cocktails were perfectly prepared. And the staff - top notch and friendly. read more

This place is special. Creative, delicious and original. Def our go to. Ami, Eric and Chris are killing it. read more

See all

This restaurant is the perfect combination of casual and delicious. Fine dining while wearing sneakers and a t-shirt. All the food is fresh - the veggies are especially good. Cool they have excellent meat and fish but also multiple vegetarian/vegan options. Portions are the perfect size but generally small compared to Cheesecake Factory or some other chain. They also have a beautiful bar if you just want to enjoy a cocktail and nosh. read more

See all

Wow! This place couldn't have been more perfect for us. We needed a chill relaxing environment with a cool urban ambiance and this hit the mark. The owner has an eye for decorating, especially the hanging lights. The food is without exception. Eclectic mixture of unique pairings of flavorful taste within a dish to give your taste-buds an adventure. The drinks are also very eclectic in their flavors and delicious. Definitely going back to this place as it was more than we could have hoped for and a wonderful break from the business of life. Thank you Linear staff for making our evening amazing, relaxing and fulfilling. read more

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

Crushing it! What a fabulous evening we had. Jackie was a kick ass server! Food, spot on. Ambience, perfect. GO eat there and see for yourself! Thanks y'all! read more

First off, the ambiance of this restaurant is amazing. Beautiful river views, ample parking, a modern clean and poetic vibe inside. The service is outstanding, we enjoyed craft cocktails before dinner that were out of this world. I enjoyed the #3, similar to an old fashioned but way better! All the food was mouth watering and amazing! We had the scallop appetizer and the mushroom fondue to start. For the entre my husband had the lamb special and I had the mushroom ravioli with Brussels. Upon the recommendation from the bartender, we shared an an amazing bottle of wine the Tetu. Finally the desert, a carrot cake paired with a port type wine from Spain that paired perfectly. Everything about this restaurant is amazing. We will be back! read more

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

Had great dinner with old friends. Excellent food, drinks and dessert. Only drawback was that they didn't have the on-line reservation I had made through resy more than a week earlier. It was dinner hour on a Saturday and the place was very busy. But the staff was very understanding and managed to find us a nice table for 4 with a view of the river. They said that they have had trouble with resy, so if you are planning on dining at Linear, which I can highly recommend, I suggest you go old school and phone in your reservation. read more

We loved the atmosphere and very friendly staff. My husband flipped over the Miso Salmon but he said the use of salt was a little heavy. I ordered the Roasted Radish and Broccoli Salad with added chicken. Oh my goodness that was salty. It was the first time I had a salad with that level of salt. If it would have been served with half that amount, it would have been perfect. We will return in a month to see if we can update this review. read more

This was an incredible experience start to finish! The atmosphere and service was great. Every dish we ordered had a beautiful presentation and tasted even better. Highly recommend: beet salad, flank steak, risotto, chocolate mousse, and bread pudding! read more

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

We did a progressive dinner date with Linear being our appetizer course. This is a great location outlooking the Grand River with lots of natural light from all the windows. My husband had an Oberon and I got a delicious mocktail (my only requirement was ginger beer). We shared the carrot pot de creme appetizer which had chopped up scallops on top. It wasn't like any spread I've ever had. It was about 5 degrees warmer than room temperature and so creamy. The focaccia served with the spread had just enough flavor to add to the lightness of the carrot. It was hard to only have drinks and apps because we were so enticed by the meatloaf and beef wagyu on the entree section....we'll just have to come back for a full meal! read more

Linear Restaurant - Carrot pot de creme (appetizer spread): perfect for 2-3 diners - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

Really liked the food, the vibe, and the service. We had vegetarian and elimination diet people in our party and they accommodated us well, including a fantastic no dairy, no gluten dark chocolate dessert. read more

I am an ex-picky eater. Naturally, I was nervous coming to Linear. I was skeptical of my flank steak but was so so so happy that I tried it. It was so delicious! I also tried all of my family members' food (because I'm so charming) and my eyes widened! I tried this sort of pot pie and it was great! I will definitely be back!!! read more

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

Ate dinner on a Wednesday with two business colleagues. We were all blown away with the quality of the food. The chef came out and discussed the choices. His passion and knowledge were obvious in the discussion and his skill was obvious in the food. We had the Waygu flank steak , duck roulade and shrimp/scallop sautés were no kiddin haute cuisine. Quick tip: Ask for the steward's wine list. The menu list is fine but it also moderately priced. There are couple of higher end but moderately priced bargains on the steward's list. The food deserves the best wine available. read more

Just excellent. Chef Scott made so many complex dishes with super flavors. Highly recommend you checking this out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Quite good brunch a little hidden gem on the river . Good priced meals that are presented fancier .

Linear is amazing. Their happy hour is an incredible deal because all their wine is so excellent. They also have happy hour ON THE WEEKEND. All their entrees are really delicious, I've been there a few times and a few of their entrees have been under salted but still flavorful. Their brunch deal is unbelievable. If I lived closer I would be there all the time. read more

Nice atmosphere on the river. It was too hot so we went inside but that was just as charming. Food was beautiful and tasted great. Was a pleasure to eat there. read more

This review is after my 2nd time here, both times for Sunday brunch, so I cannot yet comment on dinner/happy hour times. But for brunch we really like it! Their brunch food options are good and their special is a fantastic deal: any 3 brunch menu items AND a bottle of champagne with a carafe of OJ for $35. Depending on what food you get, that's pretty much like getting the mimosa mix and a partial food item for free. And we've found the manager to be friendly and even the chef has come out to see how we liked our food. My only thing knocking down a star is the potatoes that come with some of the brunch plates are very dry and hard. I assume that's on purpose but not to my liking. I'd prefer a choice of hash browns instead or another softer type of potato choice. We will likely be back for brunch and probably check out a lunch or dinner at some point. read more

Food was good however none of the fish/seafood dishes come with a carb. The meat and poultry dishes come with a carb but none of the fish dishes of which there are several. When I asked if I could pay extra to add a carb the chef REFUSED. Nonsensical! Portion of salmon was small and dry. Service was slow! Our server was friendly and helpful but it took 15 minutes to get a box and out check. Setting is lovely but So so over all. read more

Went here for my birthday dinner and sat outside. The vibe outside is 2x better than the interior IMO. The manager brought me a pair of promotional sunglasses for the sunset since it was bright, super thoughtful observation on his part. Our server took 15 minutes to greet us and then said "oh hi, so what can I get you", as if the delay was perfectly fine. She was very scattered all night, otherwise I'd overlook the odd greeting. No ask of what brought us in for the evening, how we were doing, specials, things 86'd from the menu, nada. The new fall menu was just released and a nearby table ordered the scallops entree that in fact consisted of a single scallop. They noted the false advertising and management brought them three additional scallops and apologized for the grammatical error. As a bystander, I thought the restaurant handled that appropriately. Food. The Brie fondue is killer. Killer. I haven't had another dish like it in GR and appreciated a flavorful execution on what had potential for being a belly bomb. The duck, listed under third course, was phenomenal. It felt a little over cooked to me, but my fiancé didn't think so. The flounder was also tasty but heavy on the noodles. Not a big deal, as we took home the extras. Cocktail menu was pretty disappointing. I ordered the banana rum cocktail for its nuttiness and really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't have another option if I returned. Wine prices and offering were super competitive. Strangely, the bar double poured my glass of wine, and when the server brought the second glass I said it was my birthday and it was a welcomed gift. She said "happy birthday" and left the glass. I assumed this meant it was free (because it was a bar error...), but it showed up on the bill. I wish she would've just taken the moment to clarify I'd have to pay for the double glass, in which case I would've sent it back vs having two full glasses of wine. Food came out at a fine pace and I'd be happy to give the restaurant another shot, but not a groupie at this point. read more

Linear has amazing atmosphere, the food is spectacular (try the Miso pork belly with popcorn grits while it's still on the menu!), and the cocktails are the best I've had in Grand Rapids! Eric, the mixologist, is magical! He will craft any drink that you can possibly think of to perfection! Ami is the best server! She really goes out of her way to make your experience special. Go to Linear. It may just be your new favorite restaurant in Grand Rapids. read more

Linear Restaurant - Great atmosphere! Amazing food! Best cocktails in Grand Rapids! - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

We had a party of 11 and every person at dinner loved Linear! Cheese tray, salads, red wine ravioli, flank & ribeye steak were amazing and cooked very well! read more

I want to love this place, but the service just isn't there, and the menu is sparse. Their drinks are great!

5 stars. Best dining experience in Grand Rapids. Atmosphere is warm and inviting. Service is impeccable. Food is creative and delicious.

Grand Rapidians, what are you waiting for? Go straight to Linear for dinner (at the bar is my preference but you can't go wrong anywhere in this beautifully appointed space!). My husband and I do not live in GR but return frequently for family visits so have been to all the usual spots. I must say, this is our new favorite place. There's nothing like it on the scene and it is a much-needed foodie haven in a sea of pub food and beer. On our most recent visit, we split a bottle of one of the best, reasonably-priced Pinot noirs we have ever had on the recommendation of the awesome bartender (Cliff I believe!) - so if you are a fan of pinots, try the Brassfield. We enjoyed it with the crowd-pleasing phyllo Brussels sprouts (savory and sweet and crisp) and the forest mushrooms (light and as texturally delightful as can be) as first courses. We moved onto mains of steelhead salmon and --my order -- a truly spectacular seafood squid ink pasta which was a special for the evening. I'm still thinking about the perfectly-cooked, succulent bites of swordfish and shrimp which stood up beautifully to the complex, well-spiced, and deeply rich tomato sauce. Cliff also made me a perfectly balanced post-dinner cocktail using a house-made strawberry shrub and some other magical ingredients. Very impressed with his creativity because I didn't give him much direction! This is a special place. One you can tell the owners take great pride in, and it really shows in the level of detail of the food and service. It's not at every restaurant that the chef-owner comes to your seat to personally answer a question about the seafood (yes we were that couple with the questions but it was because we were blown away by the quality!) and were pleasantly surprised by the chef's willingness to engage with us personally on it. Not only did he feed us very well, but he taught us some cool stuff about the seafood they served that evening. I can't remember the last time that happened in my home city, and it made a big impression on me. Keep doing you, Linear! Can't wait to come try brunch soon. read more

Dining at Linear was always a 5* treat, pre-Covid. Tonight we got take out for the first time, thanks to a gift certificate from a friend. It was disappointing. 2 mediocre salads (mixed greens plus minimal avocado pieces and a few snap peas and daikon slices) plus 2 canned cocktails (excellent) and 1 shared lemon merengue dessert (the merengue stuck to the plate) were not worth what we paid. We won't be doing take out again but will give dining in another try with fingers crossed. read more

Incredible, personal, and caring staff. Delicious and creative menu. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I suggest going during a sunset, if possible, to catch the beautiful view on the water. read more

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with all our children and grandchildren, a total of 15 people, at Linear last Saturday evening. We ranged in age from adults to teens all the way to a 3 year old and 8 month old. We cannot say enough about the wonderful way Linear helped us with our celebration. Manager Jill was kind and accommodating when we began to plan a few months prior to our event. Our waitress Jeanne headed up an outstanding crew of those who served us. Every person in our party spoke highly of the excellent food they'd ordered, and the unexpected champagne toast was a great surprise. We highly recommend this marvelous restaurant! read more

I really love this place. It has good food, good service, good location and the staff was very friendly and attentive. And oh my gosh the way they plate the food is absolutely gorgeous! read more

See all

Great atmosphere, yummy craft cocktails, amazingly friendly and welcoming service! Loved it!

Though they have a beautiful location sadly it was a very short lived experience. We were seated right away but no one ever came to our table to take our drink order let alone our food order. There were at least 10 employees walking/ standing around - with less than half the tables filled - both inside and outside. The menus looked lovely but after waiting over 15 minutes without any interaction with anyone except for our water we left. read more

Okay, first this place is situated with a nice view of the Grand River (esp. outside) and, second, has 3/4 of its lunch menu dedicated to booze choices rather than food, so it's great if you want to get your drink on, but missing a lot if you wanted food. Lunch menu differs from dinner menu, so you will choose from soups and salads, and sandwiches. There were a few daily specials, too. I had the yellow beet, avocado, and orange sandwich, which was simply amazing. Salty, sweet, and savory. My husband had the sweet and spicy sausage sandwich - again, very good. Our son enjoyed the yellowfin tuna salad with fruit salsa. All of us agreed the food was great, but had to say, compared to the dinner menu, we wanted more choices. read more

Friendly service and amazing food! I had the chicken salad wrap with potato chips for lunch and it was so full of flavor! Cutest little restaurant with an amazing view. Will definitely be coming back soon. read more

See all

Love the river view. The cocktails were great. They were able to modify for gluten-free and dairy-free. Excited for the varied menu. Great server. Execution came with cold scallops at $28. Would go again for cocktails and apps. read more

Linear hits all the right notes on location, ambiance, and curated simple menu. Love that we have a more casual place on the river on the north side of town! Try their custom cocktails for only $8. I also had the quail with roasted veggies, which was delish. Welcome Linear! Will definitely be back. read more

I am visiting from California and my sister whom is a resident in Twin Lake suggested we try Linear during restaurant week. We couldn't have been more satisfied from the time we entered Linear. The decór was beautiful with grey tones and modern light fixtures and a great view of the Grand River. We were hoping to dine alfresco but they did not have umbrellas available. We ordered from the restaurant week menu, choice of two first courses (along with suggested wine/cocktail pairings for each course), two second course choices and a dessert. The first course and second course both had a vegetarian option. The chilled hazelnut soup was rich and flavorful and the melon and peach salad the perfect tastes of summer. The ravioli was an inventive use of ingredients and very rich and flavorful. My beef Kafta course was ThE best restaurant food I have had in 2 years. The food and silverware presentation were eye-appealing and clever. The restrooms were sparkling clean and the paper towels so soft that they almost had a fabric feel to them. All 3 courses cost $25 in total, what a bargain! Our food server paid just the right amount of attention to us without being overbearing. The acoustics at the time of day we visited allowed for easy conversation and the music playing was at just the right level. read more

Excellent service and prices are completely reasonable for the quality and experience. Interesting menu with enough options for all preferences. Brie and fig fondue was delish! My husband had the brussels salad and said it was too salty. I had the caesar with dressing on the side. The dressing was amazing! However, there was no salt/pepper on the table and I would have added that to my salad. They didn't have two menu items (that's a pet peeve of mine). The steak and fettuccine dinners were both cooked perfectly and good portions. I would have liked better lighting where we sat. Also, we were near the door so every time it opened a big gust of cold air blew on you. We'll go back again but maybe in the summer. read more