Had a brunch date with my sister, our first time at Portico. When we first sat down it wasn't very busy, but as time went on it got very full! The waitstaff stayed consistently present throughout our whole stay. I had a dirty chai latte and a monte cristo. Both were fantastic! The monte cristo came with a cup of fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, grapes and melon). The portions were large enough to take half home. I can't wait to go back and try something else! read more

Went here for breakfast while staying at the hotel at the same location. I got the steak and eggs and honestly it was surprisingly excellent. The steak was way tastier than anticipated. The aesthetics in the place are really cool. Service is okay. Prices are a bit high. read more

As an impromptu date night, we opted to try Portico after walking by a few times. We could easily make reservations on OpenTable, but given we went on a Wednesday, it wasn't really necessary - maybe for larger parties. They are not open on Mondays or for lunch, but it's a cool vibe for being inside a hotel. We were promptly welcomed by the host and seated and our server came to provide us some peach and basil infused water. Very subtle but a nice flavor. They also provide amuse-bouche and a sample drink of choice, both were delicious! The salad was light and flavorful and the drink was a tasty grapefruit martini. Probably one of the better martinis I've had recently. The only downside was the sugar rim was a little crystalized but nothing to make or break it. We ended up ordering a few things to share and enjoyed them all. My favorite honestly was the french onion soup. It was super flavorful and well made. The salad was also pretty good and filling, so by the time our "entrees" came, we were already a little full. The flatbread was good but be warned, you must really like goat cheese to enjoy this! I did like the mix of the peach and prosciutto as well, but the goat cheese was a bit overwhelming for me. Last, we tried the BLT - what sold us was the fact it was on a PRETZEL CROISSANT! We had to try it then! It was very heavy, and I could only eat a quarter of it. The croissant was good but definitely denser than your typical croissant and the bacon was more pork belly-esque. All in all, a pretty decent meal. The menu is smaller so if you have picky eaters, maybe take a look before just jumping on in. read more

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The space is beautiful! I love the fixtures and the open feel to it. We were greeted quickly and offered either regular water or lemon infused - I thought that was a nice touch and it didn't cost anything extra. We started off with crab & corn hushpuppies - they tasted great and I loved the sauce but they were not completely done - the very middle was mushy and doughy; I was a bit disappointed there; we didn't finish them. The flatbread was tasty- it was almost like a cracker consistency for the crust and the goat cheese complimented the items on it well. I think it would have been better with a little less of the prosciutto and peaches would do better shaved thin. I think it would make a nice shareable as opposed to a meal. We came for lunch and I'm eager to drop in for dinner for a larger menu. read more

Portico - Crab & corn hushpuppies - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The aesthetic and the service at Portico is excellent. I think all of the hype that was surrounding Portico before they opened may have heightened my expectations, thus I feel like the food was 'okay' and not 'amazing'. My friend made reservations for us for a Saturday night. Upon arriving, we were seated right away by the window, and our server presented us with a cinnamon orange infused water. The flavor was light, but we both liked the fact that Portico stepped it up a notch and gave us the option of having more than just regular water. While we looked over the menu, we were surprised with an amuse-bouche: the offering that night was a Brandy cocktail and Asparagus with berry sauce. Our server was the best! When we informed her that my friend was pregnant, she immediately had a virgin cocktail made for her, even though we had told her that my friend didn't need one. We had the following for dinner: Mushroom Bruschetta ($13): Pebble Creek mushrooms sauteed in butter, garlic, shallots, herbs, then flambeed with white wine. Presented atop freshly baked locally sourced baguette, drizzled with a truffle balsamic emulsion and goat cheese crema, crowned with fresh basil. Early Grey & Wild Rice Soup ($6): Sprouted wild rice, with a colorful barrage of snow peas, carrots, leeks, in an earl grey tea and mirepoix broth, flavored with fresh cardamom and thyme. Cornish Hen & Cornbread ($21): Savory cornbread dressing centered in a white wine and shallot chicken Veloute, cast iron roasted, producing a daring Cornish hen, coupled with bacon lardons, and topped with arugula and granny smith apple salad. Walleye & Swiss Chard ($23): Meyer lemon and chardonnay beurre blanc, garlic sautéed Swiss chard with toasted quinoa and pan fried walleye, finished with scallion oil and rainbow microgreens. -- The mushroom bruschetta was some of the best I've ever had! Most restaurants use only one type of mushroom, but Portico used a variety in theirs, which really enhanced the overall flavor. The bread was a bit soggy from all of the liquid, but the flavors exploded in my mouth. The goat cheese came as a lightly fried, perfectly round ball, which I thought was super fun! I thought the soup was quite bland - the flavors of the cardamom and thyme didn't come through. The Cornish Hen was okay - meat was juicy, but the cornbread and bacon stole the show. The cornbread was dense, and sweet, and the savory bacon balanced the dish out. Those two definitely overshadowed the hen. Walleye tasted clean, but also lacked flavor. The quinoa and microgreens were excellent. Overall, loved our server, presentation of food was pretty, but probably wouldn't go back for dinner. Would definitely go back for apps and drinks! read more

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Grand Rapids locals are sleeping on this place. Yes, it is in a hotel, but anyone can eat here. I have eaten here several times. I food is always great and there is never a wait. read more

Well !! After getting lured by the pictures of the interior of Portico, we went for dinner on a Friday night . Indeed, it was spectacular. The high ceiling , huge windows and open concept was excellent. They gave us complimentary aperitifs which were good. The server mentioned they had two different kinds of water , the regular and sage infused. All of these things at the beginning was very exciting. We started with drinks . I had the Madcap Martini from the menu which I would definitely recommend if you are a coffee lover. My husband ordered Negroni which he liked it. The disappointment begun when we started getting our food . We ordered the crab and corn hushpuppies, latkes, chicken sandwich and kale & artichoke flatbread. Among all of them the only food we liked was the hushpuppies. The latkes were a joke , tiny three patties with squash puree and peppers . The bun for the chicken sandwich was crumbly and the chicken inside was small occupying only the half of the surface of the bun . The flatbread were like cracker thin and for me the taste was bland. Recommend here if you want to enjoy the chic interior and drinks !! read more

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Vibes!!!! If your looking for an amazing meal and laid back, modern vibes you must reserve your next visit to Portico! The entrees, appetizers, and drinks were phenomenal. My hubs had the steak frites which the flavor combination of the chimichurri sauce, and potatoes was wonderful finished with the Malbec perfection. The walleye in the lemon sauce with quinoa was also very tasty with sauvignon blanc. I also ordered a strawberry Basil mule and hubs had the orange bicycle which was a phenomenal drink. The server Sydney was so sweet and kind. She made wonderful recommendations and was very attentive. Now the only reason this place isn't getting a 5 star review is the dessert. And I am a sweets critic. The tiramisu was soggy, the cream was hard, and the flavor was not good. The s'mores dessert was okay but was overpowered by the marshmallow fluff stuff and would have preferred the chocolate cake to have been warmer and more gooey. Despite the disappointing desserts we will for sure be returning to portico for the food, service, and ambiance! read more

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Initially the cavernous interior appears to try too hard for contemporary urban restaurant, but the food and experience are legit. The young, friendly staff (when did everyone in GR get so young?) sat us quickly on a Friday early evening. The waitstaff struck a fine balance of professional affability. I think I'll mangle the names (even cheating from the on line menu), but the meal started with Apertif- I think a doll sized, delicious salad- and Amuse Bouche- a tasty but small boozy drink. The bread board was not mini; fresh locally made breads with infused olive oil, garlic butter that is not nuke level garlic, and a fresh made preserve. I can't recall its name, but wow. I had never seen Cornish Game Hen on a menu, but there it was. The tasty little bugger is brined, juicy and flavorful. If the breadboard is not carby enough, it's served on two cornbread stuffing slices AND chunky bacon. You read that right. My wife said the French Onion soup was best she's had. Portico filled up quickly, but the high ceilings and restrained fixtures mitigated any crowded restaurant vibe. And somehow it was not loud. Well done on the acoustics! It's downtown parking, but you get a voucher for reduced rates and it's quick walk from the parking structure serving the movie theatre. read more

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i was super excited to try Portico and was pretty disappointed... to start, our drinks tasted as if they had zero alcohol. i ordered a gimlet and my boyfriend ordered the cider. for drinks $14 each they were very underwhelming. i will say the corn and crab hush puppies were amazing. we started with those and i absolutely loved them. i didn't really taste the crab part but the hush puppy was amazing anyway. the sauce they are served with was amazing and they had a good texture. The vegan reuben sounded promising but had barely anything on it and barely any flavor. it was some shredded mushroom, like 2 or 3 strands of fried sauerkraut and some thousand island. it was served with chips so nothing special there. I was not impressed one bit. My boyfriend got the Cornish hen and really enjoyed the pork belly type pieces it came with. i don't think i'd ever go back but maybe i'd get a take out order of the hush puppies. read more

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The restaurant is in a hotel, it has very high ceilings, and modern decor. Has a very open feel to it. Nice open kitchen on the side. Bar area has a cool ambience. Service: hosts were very nice and got us to our reserved table immediately. Our server knew all the details of every dish by memory and was attentive to everything we needed. Food: We had the hush puppies, breadboard, hen, and peach flatbread. The hush puppies are the best hush puppies I have had in the Grand Rapids area. Breadboard had a really good pineapple jam. Hen was some good chicken nothing too special. The peach flatbread was incredible, huge chunks of peach and prosciutto on minimal but crispy bread. Have to come back! Great place. read more

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First time having dinner here, and it was one of the best dinners I've had. Recently have been aiming to keep a vegetarian diet, and had been looking for various places in my wishlist, and found this one with great design, lighting, and space. They have a social hour from Tuesday to Friday, from open to 6pm. We missed this by like10 minutes, but definitely worth a trip because you get half off of many cocktails and drafts, and also appetizers and flatbreads. A lot of the other parties seemed to get the Charcuterie Board with wine. The waitress served us with a little cucumber, tomato, crab cheese cream sauce bite-sized appetizer and sweet sangria to start us off. Crab and Sweet Corn Hushpuppies: small dunkin-donut balls that are both sweet and savory. Liked the arugula and the sauce that came with it. Vegan Mushroom Reuben: not the best... The bread was okay, but the seasoned mushroom was a bit too wet and salty for my taste. The chips on the side was good though. Heirloom and Tomato: This flatbread tasted just like any other margherita pizza, couldn't believe it was vegan. Really recommend. (which is why I would come again) Vegan Crab Cake: Came with three crab cakes, very tasty, but didn't know what to think of the texture. The corn fried rice on the side was really good. You can get parking validated at studio park very easily. Our waitress immediately saw the parking ticket on the table and got it done for us. Very sweet. read more

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Newest restaurant scene to hit Grand Rapids and I gotta say I was impressed until...I wasn't. Located conveniently off US-131, situated beside studio park and inside the Canopy hotel. This restaurant is beautifully modern-chic and bustling with life. We were served complimentary mini alcoholic drinks and appetizers. That night, it featured a spicy ginger-esque shot and a micro curry dressing salad. They were both good, but the curry dressing had a familiar taste to that of chicken flavored Maruchan ramen. We placed our appetizer order in for sweet potato latkes which was spectacular, though the portion was small with only 3 thin cakes. The bread board was not noteworthy. The bread selection was rather plain and too soft for my liking; I thought it might have been better toasted. The oil dip lacked flavor, the compound butter had an off taste, and the jam wasn't my jam. The place was busy, but it was rather a long time before our entree orders were taken. The long wait would have been fine, had the food been worth the wait. The incredible menu descriptions did not match what was served. At first look, I was dismayed. The fries were not crispy, the sandwich was bland, I could not taste the jalapeño jam, and the brioche bun was crumbly. Others in my party noted that their dishes (waygu burger and walleye) was also lacking in flavor and the fish was dry. Though the entrees flopped, we decided to give dessert a go. Creme brûlée cream was plain, the crispy top was a tinge too burnt, but the syrup fruit atop was delicious. The nice part of the experience was that the chef stopped by everyone's table to ask about the food. We told him our honest opinion and he was receptive. I sure hope it was constructive. Overall, great ambiance, cool French theme, but the food is a work in progress. read more

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We haven't eaten at the actual restaurant yet but we did have their pairing menu at the international food and wine festival. I was really excited but the innovation on the pairing menu and would love to see more of it on their regular menu. Everything we had was delicious. The salad was good, I wish there was stronger truffle. None of the flavors were strong so it was a bit bland. The tartare was my favorite! It came completely decomposed and what's missing from the picture is the container of smoked beef. I loved the subtle changes with a hard boiled egg and the smoked beef. Would have loved even more smoke flavor but I also mixed in every single one of those toppings because I love my tartare with lots of shallot, etc. I typically do not like fruit flavored desserts but this intermezzo was so good. I would eat the lemon lavender sorbet every day. The blackened scallops were also delicious. I'm told this is more the style of food they do at the restaurant. Everything was delicious in this dish but I didn't feel it was as exciting as the others. Not pictured is dessert which was pear terrine with blue cheese ice cream. Delicious again. Would love to order this. Overall, we had an excellent experience and it was so cool to get to see what this chef is capable of. Would love to see more innovative options on their actual menu. read more

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The space is pretty hip. It made me feel like it was a blend 70's and modern; bringing people here would score you some "I'm a cool guy" points, if you are looking for that. We had the Latke's appetizer which was fancy and yummy but not a lot of quantity for the price. I'm a simple guy who likes his potatoes. The bonus little red tomatoes were divine, it has to be stated. The vegan mushroom reuben was my entré of choice and I have to say the mushrooms were pretty great. However, the four slices of bread were a little much (don't get me wrong I love carbs) BUT the flavor of the bread was delicious BUT the bread overtook the other qualities of the sandwich. I also made the mistake of not upgrading to fries, chips were nice but they are an inferior potato insofar as it comes to their relationship to fries. Altogether a pleasant evening, but when you are spending as much as you do at restaurants you want to get the most bang for your buck. I would recommend this for those who may not have tried it, but won't be gunning to return myself. read more

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portico provides an elegant dining experience with big windows and a minimalistic style! a great place for a romantic or special celebratory dinner. they offer two options for water, including a special flavored water that changes daily. the chicken sandwich was a little bit of a let down, but the cornbread meal was super flavorful (the in bone chicken was a little messer than ideal but still tasty! drink options are just okay, nothing jumped out at me as a vodka lover. they offer a complimentary taste of both an alcoholic drink and bite of food, this was a pleasant surprise!! parking downtown is always difficult in this area but there's street parking free after 5 or 6pm! this new spot is a great addition to downtown! read more

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Came here for a weekend dinner with my husband. Love the atmosphere here...the decor and lighting. Ordered the Negroni which was their take on the classic cocktail. It was good with a large single ice cube which I highly appreciate it. It was a nice touch to get an amuse bouche to start the meal. It was a roasted red pepper with wild rice and small cup with a Paloma (gin instead of tequila). We live a good charcuterie board, and there was an option of a small or large. We ordered the small, and thought there was a mistake when the board came as there was so much on it! Did we get the large? No, but it was the small board with generous amounts of 3 different meats, three cheeses, pickled vegetables, pickles, and a honey comb mustard spread with field and fire bread. Impressive and delicious! For entrees, we ordered the steak and walleye. The steak was cut in medallions which was a slight surprise from my husband as he was expecting a "steak" but the plate was plated beautifully with roasted potatoes, tomatoes, and cut asparagus. I ordered the pan seared walleye. Another beautifully plated dish with buerre blanc sauce (delicious), quinoa, and Swiss chard (delicious). The fish was cut in 3 pieces with the skin on, which wasn't expecting the skin, and one of three pieces was slightly over cooked. All in all a great experience, beautiful setting, beautifully plated food, and great service (our server was attentive and pleasant). A nice option in downtown GR. read more

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Love this place! Great service, delicious food, and gorgeous setting. I've been a couple times now and it's been very consistent. They always go above and beyond and have a lovely variety of dishes and drinks on their menu. Perfect choice for a date night or girls night! Also love that it is in the same building as the rooftop bar Knoop so you can visit both in one trip. read more

Portico - Small charcuterie board - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bri was an AMAZING waitress!! She was so kind and knowledge, very friendly and thorough. We liked the decor and the staff overall was friendly. I opted for the chicken sandwich which was just ok. The chicken breast was much smaller than the bun and a bit dry but the fries were the hit of the table! The ravioli had good flavor but the collard greens in the dish were very salty. The hush puppies were a hit and the salad had a little kick that was enjoyed. Overall, nice addition to the area and we will likely revisit. read more

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Wow. Delicious food. This is a order at the counter and they bring out your food style. The menu is small but the food is fantastic! We got a spinach and feta pastry and the breakfast BLT. They were both incredible. Coffee is free refills so sit and relax on the couches or at a table and get some work done or read a book and sip on your coffee. The space is beautiful and you get service with a smile. We really enjoyed our quick breakfast here. Worth a visit. read more

We had dinner last week for the first time at Portico. The ambiance was great, our server was excellent and the food was good. The complimentary aperitif and amuse-bouche were a pleasant surprise, especially considering the price point is far lower than compared to a Reserve or MDRD. One of the best parts of the experience was the entire staff from hostesses to the server were incredibly warm, helpful and friendly. It seems harder and harder to find this kind of service, so this was refreshing. read more

Sat at bar and bartender Ellee was awesome. Super friendly and helpful. I wanted something healthy and she recommended the Vegan Mushroom Reuben (came with homemade chips) and it was soooo good. My business partner had the flatbread pizza and it was gone in a matter of seconds (it seems). They have a decent selection of beers and I look forward in visiting next time to try a cocktail or two. read more

My wife and I, along with another couple, stayed at the Canopy Hotel this past weekend in GR to see the hockey game, and to celebrate my wife's birthday. While checking in, we wandered into the Portico restaurant just to see what was available (it was early and they were not open for service yet), and were greeted by the chef, Trimell Hawkins. He was very gracious, and spent some time explaining the menu and concepts. We decided to have an early dinner at Portico prior to the game, and couldn't have been happier. We were seated at a table next to the bar, and were waited on by the bartender, Nick Warner. Nick offered suggestions, explained menu items, and made us feel thoroughly comfortable all during the meal! Dinner consisted of a couple of appetizers, the flatbread pizza special, and the large Charcuterie board, all of which were delicious! Nick's cocktails and Espresso Martini were excellent as well! Trimell was present in the dining room, making a point to speak to all the tables. A very nice touch that you don't always see these days. All in all, the visit was delightful, and I would highly recommend Portico to anyone looking for a particularly special experience! read more

Such a cool environment and delicious. I had the chicken sandwich and it was delicious. Also enjoyed the cocktail I ordered. They were extremely busy but got us in as soon as they could and the waitress was very nice and attentive. Would go back! read more

My wife and I went the Portico restaurant for breakfast. We enjoyed the most amazing breakfast burritos and coffee. This atmosphere is very open, updated and plenty of tall windows for daylight. We will definitely return to the Portico the next time we visit Grand Rapids. read more

Portico - Breakfast burrito with grapes. - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Dined at Portico last evening. Very surprised it was not busy as all other restaurants we went to . Setting was lovely, contemporary and bright, lots of windows. We were given a complimentary small cocktail and a vegan tamale bite. If the Tamale was on the menu I would have ordered. Cocktail menu has a nice selection, struggled with the food menu, which we found very limited. Ordered Pear &Goat Cheese salad, very good. My husband ordered a flatbread, which he ate less than half. He described as very doughy and kind of slimy. Service was "spot on"! We had a waitress named Malia. She was there just when we needed her, hustles and very personable. Portico is lacking the last 2 stars due to food. They could be a top contender(& should be) if the menu gets an overhaul. This corporation needs to get their finger on the downtown GR pulse. Needs more selections and a few traditional items. We will return for drinks, atmosphere, & Service.... Food elsewhere unless they spruce it up. read more

Service wasn't great, lots of waiting and plates stacking up. I had the BLT, I got really excited when I saw how thick the bacon was until I bit into it. The croissant it was on was HARD and the bacon tasted like nothing. The charcuterie board was decent. For it being over $100 for my husband and my meal, definitely wouldn't go there again. read more

Came in with a group of 8 during happy hour.... Ended up having dinner as well.. happy hour specials were lights out.. half of cocktails, apps, $4 glasses of wine.. we ordered almost every appetizer they had and all were fantastic... hush puppies, flatbreads, Brussels.. all fresh and really well executed, cocktails were awesome.. craft beer list was respectable.. bright interior with a cool ambiance.. service was great.. chef even came to say hello and give recommendations.. for entrees I got the hot chicken sandwich which was damn near perfect and the best hot chicken sandwich I've had in the city and I've had a lot of them, steak and frites were also great...this place does not get anywhere near the business it should be getting and is an unknown gem in Grand Rapids.. especially if you can capitalize on the happy hour specials the overall experience is 10/10 read more

Really good food- got the homemade Turkey ravioli. French onion soup was also really good. Complimentary aperitifs were a nice touch!

This restaurant puts an emphasis on presentation and does not disappoint. Their staff is well informed on the menu and does a great job at making you feel like a guest... who is also a close friend. The food is to par with food in the area-- hipster American, and the drinks are... let's just say... easily sip-able. Serves for a great night, and they are able to account for a larger party:) read more