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.

This place is great. I wanted to try a local brewery, but also one that felt local and not too…read moremanicured. So I stopped by Greyline. Parking was easy as they have their own lot. As soon as you walk in, there are games, chips for sale, and a water cooler with reusable cups. The place was busy. Many folks eating and drinking. There were two seats at the bar, both on either side of a young lady; so I asked if I could take one and she said yes! As it turned out, she was an off duty employee just having a beer. We chatted a bit while I ordered a flight. I love that the flight is not limited. You can have as many 2.5 ounce beers as you want! Each are priced separately. I perused the food menu and checked out the merch. Sadly they did not have the tshirt I liked in my size. They also sell beanies, glassware and hoodies. Oh, and beer to go! I enjoyed the two IPAs with Good Good being my fave, followed by IPA#1. The porter was good and so was the Kona brown. The fade was my least fave, and it pretty much tasted like Guinness, but I did drink it all. I have preferences but I also have values! Lol. The off duty employee and I chatted awhile, even looping in the bar tender and my other bar stool neighbor, especially when it came down to naming the artists on the decorative candles (see pic). We were having so much fun that we decided on her having another beer and me getting a couple more samples. The Mosacca IPA was really good. The Economy, gotta love the name, was also good and the most affordable beer! Look at them looking out for the people. Loved this place. The locals are friendly. Did not eat but all the food I saw looked good! Would return to enjoy more beer, fun convos and to buy a size small shirt!

Nice clean interior. Easy to park. Free popcorn. Friendly bartender. But the beer. So I need to…read morestart by saying, I go to a lot of breweries and am a beer snob. I tried 5 beers- solshine(wheat), fade(nitro stout), porter, rambler(red ale), Kona brown(coffee ale). I liked 2 of the 5. The Fade was a decent nitro oat stout. The Kona Brown a solid brown coffee ale. In my opinion, that is a pretty big miss for a brewery. And I didn't love any of them. My husband got the peach mango sangria which was quite good, although a bit sweet. I didn't try any of the IPAs so maybe those are good. Nice outdoor area and the food menu looked good. I wanted to like this place and would probably come back and sit outside and try some food.

Always a fun vibe. Music and videos playing. Great pour on the drinks. Bartenders and always…read moresmiling and popcorn always popping!

My new favorite dive bar in Grand Rapids! I went with a group and we had a blast. Not only was the…read moremusic hopping, there were music videos playing on the TVs. The drinks were very affordable and there was even popcorn. The bartenders were friendly and helpful.

Okay, this was nothing short of FUN! We stopped in because our daughter recommended this place! It…read moreis the local "cheers" bar where everybody knows your name! Let me tell you, Rhonda, the bartender mixes one of the best margaritas I have ever had, and I have had my fair share! it's a local hangout with great music, good drinks, good people, the best prices for drinks and the coolest antique/still working cash register! A must try!

Cozy and friendly. Cheap drinks and Rhonda & Jane are awesome! Love my Sunday's at Vinny's !read more

This is a restaurant and bar with simulator bays. How fun!…read more Most simulators are set up for just golf but I saw other sports equipment in other bays, so they may have some throwing style games as well. You can eat, drink, and play golf - you can do it all or you can do just one. However, if you plan on playing golf / using a simulator bay, you should call or go online and make a reservation. It gets busy there. I love that they have seasonal cocktails. They had some special ones for st Patrick's day. They also have happy hour M-F from 2-6pm. I booked a bay, it charges per 30 min. The hour was $65. I had one cocktail. I got a briefing on the system and I was on my way to playing a very difficult golf course in South Korea. They have club upgrades but I stuck with the standard bag. I had a great time. Next time I will choose an easier golf course! Also, I believe the server calculates their tip not only on what you buy but also your bay time. So I'll review my check a little closer next time. The sell golf gloves if you need one/forgot yours. There is a small parking lot next to the building or you can park on the street or garage nearby. Bathrooms are on all levels. Fun place. I'll be back.

I'm a fan! I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes for Gimme's. In my head, if the business model…read moreis centered around golf simulators, I expected food to be an afterthought. Glad to be proven wrong! It's greasy-ish bar food at the end of the day, but the happy hour specials were really affordable and the food was very good. Fries were seasoned well, chicken tenders were crispy, and the poutine was done well too. Very beige plates all around though. Golf simulator side of things was awesome. They've got ones with extra sports too so you can play t-ball, pitch, throw a football, kick a field goal, play hockey, or kick a soccer ball on a penalty kick. You can bring your own clubs and practice as well. Very cool experience, very spacious, and perfect for birthday parties for kids who like sports or late night group activities that isn't bowling. Super spacious too with two bars both upstairs and downstairs. Very cool and unique spot downtown!

General Wood Shop is such a fun spot on Bridge Street. They are LGBTQ owned and have tons of events…read moreall throughout the week, like drag shows, watch parties, dance parties, etc. I think the vibe is more "party" on weekends and evenings, but the times I've gone earlier in the day have been more my speed. Nate and I recently stopped in to try some of their new food menu and seasonal drinks. The new drink menu is Japanese themed, so we were excited since we went to Japan earlier this year. I got the alpenglow and Nate got the spicy margarita. Both were delicious and beautiful. We also got some happy hour snacks - the dijon sesame salad and the savory cream cheese wontons. Their happy hour is a great deal and I'd love to come back soon for that again. The salad was fresh and a big portion to share. The raw diced onion wasn't my favorite addition to the salad, but I did love the overall flavors. The savory cream cheese wontons were absolutely delicious - definitely very savory and crispy. I'd get these every time! The vibe inside at happy hour was pretty quiet but it can get packed as it's not a huge space. I am so glad that General Wood Shop is here and I'm looking forward to my next visit.

The General Woodshop, you will ALWAYS be famous…read more This bar is near and dear to my heart, when it first opened last year I made an effort to bring anyone with me that would come along. As a queer person, we have to protect our spaces by supporting them. The care that the staff lures into this place truly shows. The rotating menu, the affordable drink options, the ambiance and the way they truly take suggestions from their patrons. They have a new patio addition which has made the smaller spot feel larger aswell. Last fall, I came in on a whim by myself. Callie was my bartender (love), and they were deciding what to do with some Sloe Gin. Thus the "Femme Fatale" was born, there's something magical about watching a craft cocktail come together. Something even more magical about being able to NAME a cocktail at your favorite watering hole. GW is truly a beautiful addition to GR.

A very cozy casual soccer bar/restaurant :) i live close by so it's just an easy place to go to for…read morea drink or a quick bite. They have most sports games up but i know they're known for having the early soccer games playing! I've heard great things about their brunch only on the weekends. They brought back their lunch special and it seems like they have trivia there now!! I feel like food is 4/5 but overall the vibe, lots of seating, and staff just make it a fun nonjudgmental place to be :) All the staff are super friendly. Parking is just metered street parking.

We came to listen to live jazz, which they have on Sunday night. It was fun. The musician sounded…read moreamazing. I had a dirty martini and he had a pilsner. They were both fine. He got the Korean shrimp tacos. He said they were pretty garlicky, but OK. I got the drunken noodles with pork. It had good flavor, but it reminded me a little too much of just instant Ramen. Our server was friendly and attentive.

Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok!…read more The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA.

i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they…read morereally become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends.

Love the Garage Bar, but was disappointed on our last visit. Friday fish fry. My girlfriend got a…read morepiece of fish that was unidentifiable. I have worked in food service my entire life (over50 years) and never encountered this. Fish was breaded, fried and hard as a rock. Couldn't cut it with a fork. We mentioned to server and asked that she show it to the cook. Her attitude was extremely nonchalant and I doubt if anything was said. We will try again, but next time I will by-pass the server if we have any issues. Manager needs to know. Love the Garage Bar, but was disappointed on our last visit. Friday fish fry. My girlfriend got a piece of fish that was unidentifiable. I have worked in food service my entire life (over50 years) and never encountered this. Fish was breaded, fried and hard as a rock. Couldn't cut it with a fork. We mentioned to server and asked that she show it to the cook. Her attitude was extremely nonchalant and I doubt if anything was said. We will try again, but next time I will by-pass the server if we have any issues. Manager needs to know.

AVOID. The food was not good at all. Both my friend and I got our orders with ingredients on them…read morethat we asked to be taken off, and the sides were really gross. The french fries were served soggy and old and the mac was stale, literally zero flavor, not even cheese flavor. The buns on my sandwich were nasty, had to take them off to enjoy the pulled pork. Even though the menu said you can substitute mac for the fries they upcharged me $3, and when I asked about it the manager said "sorry the menu is confusing, I'm trying to tell management to change it" but wouldn't take it off the bill. All in I split a curds app, got an incorrectly made sandwich and mac, and WATER NO SODA OR ALCOHOL, and I paid $31...

My friends and I decided to have a girls night here and was pleasantly surprised at the experience!…read moreThey truly do embody the "casual" environment and is very approachable. They have a smaller dining space, so a reservation is recommended (you have to call, no online option) but when we arrived, they were ready and seated us promptly! We each got some sort of steak, potato and veggie combo and it was all VERY delicious! They offer you complementary homemade bread (this did take a bit of time, but they were warm when they came out) and we easily devoured it! I will say that it was a little slower than anticipated, but still very good. I would hope the bread would come out sooner than our appetizers. I ordered the caesar salad (very large) and included bleu cheese which was not listed on the menu. I would definitely list that on the menu unless it was an accident? We got bleu cheese on the bruschetta which listed another cheese, so again, I do think that they need to disclose this. I like it but most do not! I also ordered the $29 steak deal, which for the size and meal, I am very happy with! I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked properly. More rare than medium, which is how I like it! I think I'd like to come back and try it again, but for a good steak meal, it's approachable without feeling like it's TOO casual with peanuts on the ground. Parking is available across the street, but you do have to cross West River Drive, which can be a lot, but cars were patient while we made our way across. I'll definitely be back!

I've been reading rave reviews of Prime Casual Steakhouse since they opened, so I was really…read moreexcited to visit recently with some friends. We had a reservation, which is highly recommended as it's not a huge space. You do have to call to make a reservation. The space is cozy and not super fancy, which made it comfortable for a long girls' dinner with lots of catching up. Some of us started with salads and an appetizer. They also gave us some complimentary rolls and butter. My Caesar salad was fresh and tasty, and a large portion for a side, but it had a lot of blue cheese crumbles, which wasn't listed on the menu. I personally love blue cheese, so I didn't mind, but it's a pretty polarizing ingredient so it surprised me a bit. The bruschetta was a really big portion and very delicious. I liked the amount of topping and the bread help up nicely. This dish also had blue cheese crumbles on it when we tried it. The steak menu is interesting and varied, and I like that all the cuts come with a potato and vegetable side, which isn't typical at fancier places. I went with the 10 oz barrel cut filet with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and I also ordered a side of the mac and cheese. Our main courses took a little bit of time to come out, but I was pleased with the meal. My medium rare filet was definitely more on the rare side, but I didn't mind. The mac and cheese was tasty but the sauce was a bit broken. It also had peas in it... not listed on the menu and also kind of weird. I liked it though! We were interested in the dessert options, but it sounded like they haven't really rounded that out yet as they just had a couple cupcakes. Our server was very kind and helpful and pretty attentive. I think the value is great and it's a less stuffy, more casual option than Chop House (plus more affordable). I will definitely be back!