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    Mertens Prime

    2.8 (90 reviews)

    Mertens Prime Photos

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    MERTENS PRIME ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Mertens Prime

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    Escargot
    Emily J.

    We finally made it for dinner at Mertens Prime after visiting just their rooftop bar last summer. This spot feels hidden away from Grand Rapids (even though it's smack dab in the middle), like it's its own little dark and romantic universe. We had escargot (for the first time!) and were blown away! The little serving of pasta that came with was an added bonus (and cured my constant craving for buttery noodles!) For entrees, we had the butternut squash gnocchi with shrimp added, and the duck al orange. The gnocchi was the perfect amalgamation of flavors, with the sweet squash, tangy goat cheese, and salty shrimp. The duck was juicy and delicious, and Derek loved the broccolini that came with it as well! (Honestly, I don't know how they made a vegetable taste like that!) We were so bummed we didn't save room for dessert, because the whole dessert menu looked insane. I'm looking forward to coming back for some french onion soup, a little dessert or two, and maybe a drink on the roof of the weather ever warms up! Shoutout to our server, who was very helpful and communicative even when he was being pulled a million different ways! (Lots of table side service desserts were going out)

    Delightful atmosphere, delicious food, and courteous staff. Valentine's Day was busy but service was handled well.

    Sarah G.

    Marvelous meal great server Kate. Perfect medium rare on my steak lovely brussels sprouts wonderful old-fashioned love ambience!!!!!!

    escargot
    Trina C.

    I tried Merten's Prime for the first time during Restaurant Week and I enjoyed my time here! Street parking for a Saturday night wasn't too bad. Regular seating was a long wait but I was able to be seated at the bar immediately. I ordered the escargot and the petite sirloin from the Restaurant Week menu. I was nervous about the escargot since I wasn't sure how it was going to be but it was delicious! The sirloin was just okay to me but the service made up for it. I'd definitely come back to try other items!

    THE WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER! Please read on.. I was visiting my employees in our Grand Rapids office and invited them out for a nice dinner on a Thursday evening. It was strange when I noticed that were the only ones in the entire place at 7 pm. The waiter was not experienced, but nice enough. The appetizers came, pretty underwhelming, but not horrible. Then it got really bad... Our table of five ordered our meals and 45 minutes later, they came out, everything ice cold and dried out! Did I mention we were the only patrons in the restaurant throughout our entire meal? Of course, the salads came out with our steaks at the same time. We ordered caesar salads and they brought out garden salads with raspberry vinaigrette. The waiter sheepishly asked us if everything is ok and all of us in unison (as politely as possible) said NO! This couldn't be worse! As entrees were being sent back, and apologies from the staff began to mount, out comes the cook/chef and he starts arguing with us about the quality of the meals. "What do you expect for a table of five?". he says. Then he proceeds to pick up my salad, stick his nose into it and then says, "What do you mean? This is a caesar salad!" Remarkable! The manager starts in with offering a discount on the meals, free dessert, etc. In my attempt to be charitable, I insisted that I did not want anything off the bill, but just pleaded with them to be better moving forward or else everyone working there will be out of a job because Mertens is not long for this world if they don't turn things around, fast! (The place was empty so obviously word is out the locals this establishment is done for, it is so bad.) Now here's the kicker, I am reconciling my credit card a few days later and I see that I was charged $100 more than I had on the receipt I had kept for myself. (See the pics below). I called the restaurant and left my contact info for the management to respond to me and below was their response to me. (I inadvertently calculated an additional $100 to the final bill AND THEY REFUSED TO ISSUE A CREDIT TO MY CARD! THEY OFFERED ME A $100 VOUCHER FOR MY NEXT VISIT, HA! WILD! What if I inadvertently wrote down $1,659.78 on the bill? They would argue that would be the amount that I owe them, it appears! Desperate, stupid people, do desperate, stupid things! So sad really...but it does make a great story for those who read restaurant reviews. In summary, if you dine out Mertens Prime & Rooftop, double check your math when calculating the bill, take a long nap before you arrive, and do not order the caesar salad...

    New York strip and potato puree
    Adrianna H.

    We had a great time at Mertens Prime, the service was great and the history behind the restaurant is very cool. The French onion soup was incredible as were the potatoes. We do wish food had a bit more of a wow factor to be honest! But highly recommend checking it out.

    Salad

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    1 year ago

    Menu options and food quality were sub par for the price. Miss the original Mertens. Wait staff were ok.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mertens Prime

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    4.3(111 reviews)
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    Absolutely loved our experience at SidebarGR -- hands down the best speakeasy in Grand Rapids! From…read morethe moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, classy hideaway that feels both exclusive and inviting. What really stood out was the bartending -- not just the skill, but the passion. After hearing the bartender's take on the Old Fashioned, I let him make it his way -- and it might be one of the best I've had. Balanced, bold, and beautifully smooth. Two of my friends described what they were in the mood for, and the bartender crafted custom cocktails for each of them -- both drinks were spot on and had them raving the rest of the night. If you're in Grand Rapids and want a cocktail experience that goes beyond the ordinary, SidebarGR is a must. Expert mixology, great atmosphere, and personalized service that makes you feel like a regular -- even on your first visit.

    I've known about this bar for a while but finally went for the first time recently and it wasn't…read morefull! To find the entrance, go down the stairs towards Big O's Pizza and instead of turning right, take a left and you will see Sidebar's subtle entrance. It's dim lit and quite cozy in there. Limited seating and some spots at the bar were open and we took a seat up there. We did notice to the right of the bar there is a small additional area with more seating but still not a lot. I really enjoyed the espresso martini from here. The drink was so smooth and had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend. We only stayed for one drink but I would definitely come back for another sometime. The bartenders were also really kind and having a good time with everyone in there! Really loved the atmosphere and our experience while we were there.

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    Sidebar - Loved the wallpaper and decor

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    I Dont Care - Exxxpresso Old Fashioned and an Espresso Martini

    I Dont Care

    3.7(72 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    I Don't Care is a speakeasy tucked inside the Amway that leans hard into the hidden-bar concept…read more There are no signs and you need to put a code on the key pad outside to get in, and the only way to get that code is by signing up for their mailing list. That said, it is pretty painless. You can sign up on the spot and the email with the code comes through within minutes, so it does not slow things down too much. They offer outdoor seating even in the winter, and while it is technically heated, you will still need a coat. It was cold enough that we chose to sit inside instead, but the interior was also chilly. Every time the door to the patio opened, a draft of cold air rushed in, which made the space feel colder than expected. The drinks are on the expensive side, but the quality mostly backs up the price. I ordered the Donna's Kiss and it was absolutely worth it, very well made and delicious. My friend had a Moscato that was sweet and easy to drink. We also ended up getting two free shots of tequila because they liked our vibes , which was a nice and unexpected bonus! Definitely a great move on their behalf because it just goes to show that the staff there were super welcoming and that makes me want to come back (probably when it's warmer!!).

    It's okay. Fun place. But we were sitting in the bar already and were told if we didn't leave by 8…read moreour tab would include a cover charge for a DJ. I'm sorry but if we are already there, adding a cover charge to our bill is a bit much.

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    Allora - TORTA SETTEVELI | seven elements of chocolate cake, sponge, hazelnut praline, chocolate mousse.

    Allora

    4.4(37 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Absolutely amazing multi-course dinner and drinks at Allora. Hands down one of the most creative,…read morefreshest and best meal we've had in a long time. Every course was beautifully/ thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious! We can't wait to go back, perfect for an unforgettable date night. The quality was truly superb. Special shoutout to our incredible server Brendon - he made the whole evening feel so special, fun and created an amazing dining experience! Also can't stop dreaming about the desserts!

    The girls needed to get together & we decided for a birthday to finally try Allora after months of…read moreanticipation. We got a reservation for 8:30pm, which was one of only a few available. We got there at 8:15 & were told our table was being cleared and it would be a few minutes. We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink, which was a lovely setting. The bartenders were attentive, drinks were delish! By 8:45, we wondered if we had been forgotten. By 8:55, the host stopped to tell us our table was still getting prepared. At 9:10, we finally had a table! They did bring us complimentary prosecco since our table wait was 40 minutes past the reservation time. Our server, Levi, was phenomenal. He gave great recommendations and walked us through the menu & style wonderfully. Our food was also delicious. Nothing disappointed on the menu! All in all, the food was spectacular, the space is gorgeous, and service once seated was amazing. The only star taken away was for the issue of timeliness, which could easily be due to the rush of a Friday night. We hope to return in the future!

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    Main Dining Room

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    Social Misfits - LITTLE LAD WITH CHANTILLY CREAM, FRESH STRAWBERRIES & BLUEBERRIES, MISFIT HOUSE WAFFLE

    Social Misfits

    4.3(281 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This place has some very unique breakfast dishes mostly waffle based. We stopped in here with a…read moresmall group and were seated promptly. Our server was prompt and we ordered a few of the crazy fun dishes. I had the Love me tender dish which was a waffle with peanut butter, caramelized banana, bacon and a maple bourbon syrup. Oh my this was good. The rest of my group had amazing dishes as well and we had a great time. When in Grand Rapids, stop in here for a fun unique breakfast.

    Any time is a good time for waffles. They're a vehicle for so many sweet and savory ingredients, in…read moremy opinion. So when my family and I were walking around downtown Grand Rapids and needed a place to eat breakfast, we popped into Social Misfits because their menu is basically 90% waffles. My kids love waffles. Every kid loves waffles. Waffles it is! This is a great restaurant for families (because ... waffles), but also a great restaurant for adults because they have a nice selection of creative cocktails in the evening, and coffee in the morning. Social Misfits is basically waffles, alcohol and caffeine, in that order. When we visited in the morning, the adults opted for coffee (really great black coffee!) and the kids both opted for the Little Lad, a waffle topped with strawberries, blueberries and chantilly cream (basically whipped cream, but a little sweeter and whipped a little longer). Both of my children ate most of their waffle, which is a big thing, considering they usually eat like birds. We also got the Son of a Biscuit, which was a garlic parmesan waffle topped with chicken sausage gravy and a fried egg. You could add fried chicken to the mix for an extra $6 (we did not). This one was fine, but the egg was way overcooked! Oh well. Lastly: We got the Ol' Blue Eyes, a waffle topped with blueberry compote, lemon curd, whipped ricotta and graham cracker crumbs. This one tasted amazing, but there was so much blueberry compote and lemon curd that it made the waffle a bit soggy. I think the chef was feeling generous with the toppings, but homie needed to hold back a tad. Sometimes, a little bit goes a long way! Fifty percent less gloppy stuff would have made this waffle dish 100% better. If you ain't really about that waffle life, then not to worry. Social Misfits also has a few "not waffles" items on the menu, like salads, sandwiches and a couple of bar snacks. But I think if you visit this restaurant, you need to just embrace waffles. There are more than a dozen different waffles on the menu. They're all fun and well-thought-out. Pick one and eat waffles for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

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    Social Misfits - Espresso Marini

    Espresso Marini

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    Gin Gin's - Crab Lumache with steak added

    Gin Gin's

    4.6(218 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Great ambiance, delicious food, and really good service. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly as…read morewas the potato gratins. Great overall dining experience

    Finally got a seat at the bar! This place is always packed. They take reservations but not for one…read moreperson. Bar seating is first come first served so I went right after work and got there about 4:45. There were a ton of seats open at the bar. A friend met me at 5pm. We were seated with Fin, the bartender. He was awesome- very attentive but not overbearing. I could tell when he was coming by to peek in on us but he never interrupted our conversation. He would glance over and check our drinks and pause, and then keep moving. I'm sure if I was alone he would've provided me with some banter, he seems nice enough. He recommended a cocktail - The Last Word. I've had one before and this one did not disappoint. The other drinks I had were the espresso martini and the New York sour- both favorites of mine and done very well by Fin. I love that this bar uses frosty glasses for their cocktails. It's a nice touch. I had to have the Wagyu meatballs. They're mentioned in many reviews and people at work agreed they're a must have. My friend wasn't very hungry so I ate 5 out of the 6 haha. The bread that comes w it is a focaccia that is his divine! I thought it was deep fried but it's just soaked in oil and then heated on the griddle. The meatballs are Wagyu 75/25 so kinda fatty but so smooth. They are served with a marinara sauce and ricotta. So good. Would get this again. The menu looks awesome but we were just there for drinks and snacks. Next time I'll make a reservation (Resy) and have dinner. Parking is typically awful. No valet. Bathrooms are multi sex unistalls, clean. The restaurant is noisy- maybe not a great first date spot. Seemed to be a lot of well to do people in the restaurant, based on the outfits and accessories I saw. Might be a place to meet someone new if it wasn't so loud and incredibly busy. It's hard to get a table during dinner hours especially if the weather is perfect. But try your best to get in. They do take walk ins and it's worth an hour wait.

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    Gin Gin's - Seating

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    Gin Gin's - Faroe Island Salmon; roasted asparagus, endive, parsley caper gremolata, citrus beurre blanc, chives

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    Rendezvous - Seasonal Drinks

    Rendezvous

    3.7(14 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    It's a solid spot to meet up before/after a show or if you're otherwise hanging at the Amway. I've…read morebeen here at least a dozen times. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly--and fast. They know their cocktails and they're remarkably consistent with the mixes. My old fashioneds tasted the same every time I've gone. Very limited menu, but it'll do the trick when you're in a rush (or if the Lumberbaron Bar has already closed its kitchen). I like the pizzas, especially the mushroom. Don't let the name fool you. It also comes covered with savory cubes of bacon and fresh greens. It's good! I also like the wide open layout. You never feel crowded. Great place to spread out for a cocktail and light bite.

    What an amazing experience!!! We came here for one of their monthly events. We found out about it…read morethat day and the tickets were no longer available. But we took our chances and the manager was able to get us in! So glad he did. They have these types of tastings every month. December will be a champagne pairing. I definitely plan to come back for that! They did a beautiful presentation. We got to try three different scotches which were paired with delicious small plates of food. Afterwards, we went to the bar area and had a drink. The service here was impeccable. The food was delicious and the signature cocktails were delightful! The hotel itself is gorgeous and I was happy we got to experience it all decked out for Christmas!

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    Rendezvous - Seasonal Drinks

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    Mertens Prime - french - Updated May 2026

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