Linear Restaurant
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
2 years ago
Upscale and stylish, Linear delivers a beautiful dining experience with great food. Had the Grilled Poulet Rouge Butter Chicken with a glass of Riesling wine. All food was excellent and the servers were very attentive. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Todd H.
When you dine outside and a bug flies into your food you shouldn’t…
Hip dinner spot with nicer decor and presentation. The first time I went, I noticed an odd layout and felt it was very dark and noisy. It was a bit hard to make and enjoy conversation. The second time I went was on a really nice day, where we got to enjoy the view from the outdoor seating area (despite all the flies). I will say after a 3 shared appetizers, my arctic char entree wasn't enough to fill me up. I ended up ordering and finishing a second entree (Wagyu flank steak). read more
4 years ago
Great vibes along the riverside. Cute patio either right by the restaurant or a road away. Amazed to find such place with this atmosphere. However, the food did take really long. Took almost an hour between the first dish and the rest of the entrees. Had to ask the server if the food was coming or not. Inside the restaurant was pretty packed until 9:30pm, when people did start to finish up and leave. If you're looking for a change of atmosphere, definitely recommend. Charred Octopus was really good! Wagyu can be better. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
First let me start by saying the food is delicious. Great presentation and well seasoned. The service was good and our waitress was very well informed on the dishes and salad pairings. The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars was the fact that I had made a reservation to celebrate a birthday and the table that we were given felt like we were stacked on top of others in the restaurant. It wasn't a busy time of day but it seemed that they pack the patrons in the back corner like sheep and work there way to the front on the house. That was really my only complaint. Still give this cute little place a try if you are in the area. I do recommend it. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Let me start off by saying WOW what a beautiful space! I've gotten takeout a few times but this was my first time actually dining in with a few girlfriends last night. If it weren't so hot outside we would have eaten out on their lovely patio area in the back. There are plenty of tables with umbrellas and a nice view of the river. We started off with beverages - I got the mezcal shrub and it was so good that I ordered a second. The drinks took quite some time to arrive but I get it - shortages in staff everywhere. We put in for an app- the cheese fondue bread and it was good but a little too crispy for my liking - I think it may have been forgotten about in the oven a little too long. I also should have been more aware of just how hot the dish and bread would be - I burned my finger trying to get a piece out. I'm not a huge cheese fan so I left the cheesier pieces to my friends but it was perfectly melty and portioned for their liking. The flavor was good and it was a decent size for sharing. For my entree I ordered the flank steak. Flank steak is a big hit or miss in my book and they got it totally right. I got it cooked medium and it was delicious. The root veggies that came with it were cooked in a way that they were done but still had a little bit of bite. There was just enough balsamic to compliment each and every bite. My only complaint was that I had to ask for a steak knife. Again - I get it. Overall, the drinks, food and ambiance was top notch. Our server was lovely and kind. There were about 3 other groups that got seated around the same time as us so I'm nearly certain that played into the slow service, on top of staffing shortages. We will be back to try the patio seating before the cold gets here! read more
3 years ago
Linear is a beautiful New American restaurant located on the Grand River right off of Monroe. I went on Thursday, gorgeous weather, beautiful outdoor seating that's pet friendly, next time I will be bringing my pups! Service was a little slow for the pace. Food was phenomenal. Beautiful plating. Partially bias because the owners family use to be my neighbors, but didn't run into them nor was the owner there, no special treatment. First picture is a charred octopus bruschetta that consist of "cucumber, roma tomato, olives, red onion, baguette" This dish was an amazing appetizer, they cooked the octopus to perfection, typically I'm not a huge fan of balsamic vinegar but their house made was a perfect drizzle on top. Second picture is their house made focaccia, oh my word I've been searching for the most perfect focaccia & I may have found it here, when it's warm it just melts in your mouth & the one I ordered came with a sweeter butter, but their appetizer order has a sharp Cheddar spread. Third picture is their half lbs mussels, this consist of "red pepper, poblano pepper, chorizo, shallot, garlic, white wine, cream, grilled baguette". My least favorite dish, I'm not a fan of the pepper fragrance & felt that it overpowered the mussels. The fourth picture is braised beef and tomato fettuccine, this dish is "summer tomato sauce, cippolini onions, maitake mushroom, focaccia". I was shocked the fettuccine was made of tomato, but it made the pasta slightly sweet, which paired beautifully with the tender braised beef. The last picture is Grilled Barramundi, which is an Asian sea bass plated with "spaghetti squash, zucchini, asparagus, broccolini, tomato and leek consommé". The fish was perfectly grilled, tender and flaky. When we went they were unfortunately out of their Berkshire pork chop & fish n chips, which I was hoping to try the pork chops. Regardless, Linear had an amazing first impression & I hope to return and try their brunch menu. Atmosphere 5/5 Food 4.8/5 Presentation 5/5 Customer service 4.5/5 Overall 4.8/5 Follow me on instagram or Facebook @lindysfoodadventure #foodie #foodporn #foodiegr #food #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodstagram #instafood #foodlover #foodgasm #foodpics read more
Cool decor, good service and tasty food! The menu is a bit too 'fancy' for my liking. I guess I'm not that refined of an eater! People that like a limited menu, IMHO, may give this place a 5 but it's getting a 4.5 from me. I had the salmon caesar salad, which I really liked but the piece of salmon was really small, could've eaten two pieces. My friends that I was with really liked their meals too, one got the miso glazed back cod, and the other got the red wine ravioli. We shared an appetizer, sun dried tomato tarte, which was excellent but very small. One of my friends ordered the chocolate pecan blood orange mousse cake coconut sorbet which she really enjoyed. read more
3 years ago
We came for my birthday dinner that ended up being a trio of restaurants because of menu circumstances. It's a beautiful restaurant right on the river, expansive drink menu and interesting menu. I came specifically for the mussels, kimchi fritters and octopus bruschetta. I ordered a mezcal paloma and an octopus bruschetta to begin. This was my first time having mezcal and was not a fan. The octopus bruschetta, although beautiful, was unfortunately a let down. It did not have enough toppings to cover all parts of the starch leaving bare portions of bread... but the worst part was the octopus was sparse, cold and tasted old. They were sold out of mussels, so our friendly waitress wished us well and even tried to help us find another spot to satiate our cravings. Based on the food it would be 2 stars, because although the octopus tasted old, I did not get food poisoning. Happy birthday to me, lol. I gave an extra star because of the peaceful location right on the river and the kind server. We may give it another chance, I really want this place to redeem itself. read more
A few of my friends and I were in town visiting two of our friends in Grand Rapids and one of them made dinner reservations here on a Friday night. The ambiance is great for a girls night out, date night, group dinner, etc. Honestly- any occasion! The service was great. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgable of the menu! She helped us by bringing over someone to help us pick some great bottles of wine [and they didn't try to sell their most expensive bottles... they made sure it was reasonable and good - I love when places do this!] The food is where I was left slightly disappointed. Some of the dishes were good, some were meh. My entree was extremely disappointing but my friends enjoyed their entrees. + Beets 3 ways: this was pretty delicious. I loved the beet goat cheese puree and the pickled golden beets were a nice difference in flavor profile! + Vegetable Samosas: Overall, none of us were really impressed. The filling wasn't seasoned well enough and was sort of bland. The crispy fried exterior was probably the best part, but not what we were ordering the plate for. The mint raita was oversalted - but could have been great without the extra salt because the mint flavor was good - we just couldn't eat much of it because of the saltiness. + Focaccia: So good! And the butter that came with it was really good too. This was my fave app we ordered! the bread was perfectly soft with a delicious exterior! + Maitake Mushroom Pave: I was teetering between this, the beet risotto special, and the cacio e Pepe for my entree. Since this was the most unique that I couldn't potentially get anywhere else, I decided on this. I very much regretted my decision. I really have no idea what I ordered but a) it didn't look appetizing and b) it really wasn't at all satisfying. The "meatloaf" part was okay for a few bites but wasn't appealing after that. There was some random opaque sauce on the dish that was flavorless and ruined whatever it was touching. I felt bad because I hardly touched it and didn't take leftovers home, so the waitress knew I wasn't impressed. She did offer ordering something else which I appreciated, but between apps and sharing my friend's beet risotto, I wasn't left hungry so I was fine! + Sticky Toffee Cake: Wasn't what we were expecting. It was okay, but not our favorite dessert. + Chocolate Dome: This was also just okay. + Orange Ice cream: the best dessert, tasted sort of orange dreamsicle-ey My friends ordered the pork belly, beet risotto special, and the Spinach Coconut Salad + chicken. They did enjoy their meals. read more
5 years ago
Great location on the river and great atmosphere. We started of the meal with the Chef's board and there was nothing amazing but it was all very good. The scallops and risotto were absolutely delicious. The pork belly was very good but a bit too fatty. To drink we had a ginger beer and their version of a Mule. The mule basically tasted like lime juice but it was pretty good read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Two entrees and bottle of bubbly for $50, say no more! I tried the Stuffed Strawberry French Toast which was very good and my husband tried the Flat Iron Steak. The steak wasn't too bad, but the eggs were a bit undercooked. My potato cake was a bit salty, but didn't lack flavor. Overall a good value and hands down, one of the best brunch deals in town. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Linear is everything we expected. The quality of the food is seen in every dish and you can tell the ingredients are as fresh as possible. The staff was very friendly and helpful with 2 little kids. The kids menu was great and they brought out the kids Mac & Cheese early to keep the little one occupied. They have a solid beer list as well as a few seasonal special options. It was nice to see an option from Perrin as well as Cigar City. The Brussel Sprouts were some of the best I've ever had. The cheese plate was anything but ordinary. The honey mixed with the different cheese options were fantastic. A few of us had the banh mi and really enjoyed it. The flavors were great with every bite but there was a lot of bread. My wife had the chicken and loved it. Her favorite was the "potato hash" side that tied the dish together. Another popular item was the flank steak with potatoes. A couple desserts were ordered and quickly finished as well. Everything from the atmosphere and entrees to the staff was fantastic. I definitely recommend stopping by! read more
4 years ago
The wife and I happened to stop by Saturday morning for brunch. We were in town for the weekend. Let's just say we loved it and we like to think of ourselves as "foodies". This was by far the best place we eat this weekend. We even came back for brunch the next day. read more
Parking available only at meters. Relaxed ambience with a nice mix of chill music. Friendly staff, but slow food service. Entrees arrived slightly cold. Salmon tartare didn't have much flavor other than the sweet chili sauce that it was served with. Beef stroganoff was decent. The noodles were doughy due to its thickness. Fried quail lacked flavor, but had a nice salty crispy exterior. The blue cheese grits that accompanied the dish was a no for me due to its sharp taste as opposed to blended. Strawberry mojito was tasty. read more
Pros: great vibes, views, music, and food! Lots of street parking available nearby. Cons: Slow and forgetful service during my visit. I don't want to speak for everyone's experience! But when I arrived, I waited at the front to be seated for a good 5 minutes - there were no workers in sight. Not too big of a deal because I wasn't in a hurry, but it was a bit disappointing. Our server didn't try very hard to keep their mask above their nose, complained about wearing a mask twice, and forgot our second bottle of champagne. I had the same server the last time I came and had a pretty similar interaction. Overall, a wonderful place to have brunch with friends or family! Everything we had was tasty. Tip: go for their deal $35 for any two entrees and a bottle of champagne! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Dinner was FANTASTIC at Linear tonight! Get a spot on the patio - loved how you can see the Grand River without the hustle and bustle of a busy area. Loved the natural tree umbrellas! Detailed review of everything we ate below. Follow my foodie adventures @junglejane31 or #junglejanefood. Make reservations online. Not sure if you can reserve outside seating. I had heard the portions were small for the price - I thought the starters $5-8, entrees $14-16, and dessert $5-7 were reasonably priced for the type of food you get, and the portions were perfect for a meal you're not expecting to take leftovers home. If you're getting starters and dessert They have a daily features menu so you can always try new things! The cherry sauce with the bread pudding was AMAZING and add the almond brandy gelato for a dessert I would hands down have again! We split the dessert and next time my husband said we'll get one less starter so we can each have our own bread pudding Beet gnocchi was beautiful and perfectly cooked - fluffy with a nice crust and so good combined with the fresh greens and peas. I put the tuile off to the side bc it tasted like ash, but then realized it is good when you combine a little with a bite of everything else. Waygu flank steak with blue cheese had a great crust and was perfectly seasoned. Golden beets and carrots were the perfect complement. My husband said he would definitely get this again! (Don't expect a steak that takes up your entire plate! Probably 6-8 oz of really tasty steak!) Grilled avocado salad with roasted red pepper sorbet dressing - SO GOOD! First time having a sorbet dressing and loved it! The lentils were perfectly cooked, cubed beets and everything in the salad paired so well together. I loved the salt on the grilled avocado ! Roasted carrot pot de creme was good but the scallops made it taste fishy. Now the BREAD, however, was some of the best I ever had! I hate when you get toasted bread and it's soggy. This one was still soft yet firm, loved it! read more
Business owner information
Todd H.
Jane, thanks so much for trying us out and for writing such a great…
2 years ago
2 years ago
7 years ago
I checked this place out with my book club on Wednesday, and it was pretty good! We were a party of about 10, and had called ahead about two weeks ago to make a reservation. They tucked us in a corner at a long table, which was perfect. I tried the Brussel Sprout salad, which was very good, but not made how I asked. I asked for no praline crumble and oil & vinegar dressing on the side instead of the prosciutto vinaigrette. It came out as listed on the menu, and when I questioned if the dressing was already on the salad, our waitress said, "it should be!". It seemed like she had no recollection of my modifications. I didn't send it back, though, and it was really good. I just would've appreciated my requests being met the first go around. Everyone else really enjoyed their meals, too. The reason I docked Linear a star is because the service was slow. We made a reservation in advance soI would've thought they would staff better knowing there was a big party coming in. However, it seemed like our waitress was serving the entire restaurant, which wasn't terribly busy, but filled a bit around 6:30pm. It also took quite a long time to get drinks - 10 minutes for a glass of wine. I do like the atmosphere of the restaurant - very open and modern. They had a DJ that night, but I'm not sure why. He was tucked back in a corner behind some plants, and it sounded just like the overhead speakers were playing. We actually didn't see him at first and thought he was in a different room because it was so quiet. Seems like a weird thing to have if you aren't going to play the music louder. I also really like the postcards that come with your bill. It was fun to read them! Overall, I'd go back to try something different on the menu! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
We went to Linear for dinner to celebrate with friends and had a really nice time. The ambience was just right. Upon arriving, the sound system seemed to be on the louder side and our host also noticed and quickly went back to turn the volume down so that the vibe was just right! The staff was accommodating and made sure they communicated any menu changes. I had ordered the special black cod but they ended up running out. A chef came out to let me know he could replace with a Spanish mackerel, which was quite a delectable alternative. The potatoes had a great crispy skin and was perfectly seasoned. The octopus was good, was a tad too charred for my taste but still tasty overall. Would love to come back and try their breakfast/brunch menu! read more
3 years ago
Food was phenomenal and I was stoked by the N/A beverage options. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the service and banter with staff. Nice atmosphere. read more
6 years ago
Linear has been around for 2 years now, and we are still just in LOVE with their ambient & industrial style atmosphere. If the look of this place doesn't make you want to reserve a table for tomorrow night, then the food and staff surely will. The food is some of the best and highly rated in GR, and looks as lovely as it tastes. If you've visited before, you know the service in and out of the kitchen is some of the best you'll get. read more
4 years ago
Walked in around 10 on a Sunday with ample tables available. We got a table outside with a beautiful view of the river, but the inside is very chic as well! Food was great with many options for everyone in the group. They offer 2 entrees and a bottle of champagne for $50, which is a great deal. Service was very quick and attentive. Would recommend! read more
5 years ago
If you like small portions, sh*t service, and no parking then this is the place for you. There aren't many good restaurants in Grand Rapids so I had high hopes for this spot. This was a major disappointment. I guess I'll just stick with The Søvengård, Tupelo Honey, Matchbox Diner, and Butcher's Union. read more
5 years ago
The cuisine, cocktails, and service are top notch. Linear Restaurant is a Grand Rapids destination. Situated on the Grand River, the ambiance is a perfect compliment to the many culinary creations, hand crafted cocktails, a great wine list, and surprisingly rare bourbons and single malt whiskies. read more
7 years ago
Two stars at best (I'm being generous). 1. Rookie waitress 2. We ordered salmon special only to find out they are out. 3. Salad came with very little dressing, I had to search for it on my plate. 4. The fettuccine was served luke warm. 5. The fig fondue was also served luke warm. The two stars are for effort and trying to be something they are not. This place would not survive in NYC. read more
Business owner information
Emily H.
Thank you for your review. We strive to meet the highest standards in…
More info about Linear Restaurant
1001 Monroe Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Directions
(616) 200-4343
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https://www.linearrestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - Linear Restaurant
What are the hours on Sunday?
They are open 11am-3pm. I would call to see if these hours changed due to covid, but hopefully this helps!
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
11 reviews that are not currently recommended
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