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Roam by San Chez

4.3 (340 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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ROAM BY SAN CHEZ ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Roam by San Chez

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The Red Desert
Vanetta G.

We mistakenly thought this was a food hall, but we were still pretty happy with our visit here. It's light and airy inside, with lots of color and references to different countries and cultures. The waiter was friendly and quick to check in. He also made suggestions of things he really liked. I went with a delicious non-alcoholic drink. I love anything with desert or prickly pear, and the Red Desert ended up being the perfect bright and refreshing pairing for our lunch. My husband and I shared the jollof rice. It was good and plenty spicy. It was wonderful with buttery and slightly sweet parantha. Overall, I was very happy this wound up on our radar.

Sunil A.

San Chez was my favorite restaurant in GR for years, so when by sheer happenstance I walked into this location and discovered that it's by Sna Chez, my estimations went from curiosity to high expectations. Let me say there was absolutely nothing disappointing about this experience. For some idiotic reason I forgot to write down the name of my dish, probably cause I was shoving it into my mouth super fast but the one thing I can tell you was that it was amazing. The sheer mix of flavors was nothing short of a wild disco on my taste buds. It was so amazingly delicious, the service was impeccable and the setting so stunningly beautiful and I can't wait to come back again.

Mango sticky rice
Stephen L.

If you want a wide range of cuisines in one place, Roam is the place to eat. I've never had west African jollof rice nor even seen it on a menu so I had to try it. While warned it was spicy, I did not find it spicy. Yes, it had a touch of heat especially compared to Midwestern American diet, but it got neither my nose nor eyes running and only mildly hit my tongue. If you cook, you know you have to peel away all layers of an onion to the first fully hydrated layer. Partially dehydrated onion once cooked becomes like cardboard or paper. I found once such piece of onion in my dish. Since it was just one, it didn't ruin the dish but they need to peel more carefully in the future. They have good hummus. They serve it with sliced vegetables and pita. It's a generous amount of hummus and vegetables and pita and hummus didn't outlast the dippables and dippables didn't outlast the hummus. GET THE MANGO RICE! Wonderful, toasted, nutty almonds slivers, warm sautéd mango chunks with hint of cinnamon, warm sticky rice, and a lightly sweet cream to pour all over. Reasonable prices, many menu choices. Ambiance is basic but food is great.

Jian Bing
Vanessa T.

Oh yes! Immediately a yes from me, this is exactly my kinda place! A restaurant that makes dishes from all over the world, yes please! We stopped in here with our food tour ( highly recommend!) we all got a drink and this chinese wrap called Jian Bing, a thin crepe wrapped with egg filled with pork and a sweet like hoisin sauce, it was delicious! Unique, filling, and tasted great! I got a margarita with a mango tajin popsicle in it and super cool you could take it with you and walk around!

Elote Salad (Mexico)
Evanka A.

Service was phenomenal here! Also every bite felt very well crafted and intentional. Where my experience felt missed was with the jollof rice and the paratha- I was confused about the two pieces when the meal didn't necessarily need that. Paratha is usually dipped in a curry or scooped with fried veggies, but not with rice. So just confused about the plating otherwise perfect portion sizes! The smokiness of the corn really elevated the ensalada de elote!! The inside of the restaurant was perfect for both date nights and big group dinners- the lighting and vibes 5/5!

Brent B.

while in town for conference, we decided to give Roam a try and we were so pleased that we did. Their menu is a variety of ethnic cuisines that one would only describe as unique to the area. Servers were very attentive, and the food was very flavorful. A very short walk from our hotel and I'd certainly come back and try it again.

Paratha tacos
Katy C.

This spot is always packed on Broadway GR performance nights due to its proximity to DeVos but it was just never really on my radar. I went in 2018 and that was the last time I'd been, until recently. A friend told me about the paneer poutine and how much she loved it, so I decided to check and see if I could get a reservation before our showing of Hamilton. The only time I could get at first was 4:15 pm (for our 7:30 show)... not ideal, but I took it just to have on the books. I checked the afternoon of the show and was able to update to a 6 pm reservation, which was perfect. The menu is really interesting because they serve dishes from all over the world. Some of the items are fusion/inspired cuisine, and everything sounded really tasty. There are not many options for vegans. We were seated right away when we arrived and the whole restaurant was full. Definitely make a reservation! Even if you think it won't be busy, with the Amway across the street and convention attendees etc. it's a popular spot. It was also VERY loud. Our server was very kind and friendly and pointed out some special features, including their fun Hamilton-themed cocktails. Nate was pretty hungry but I didn't want to eat too much before the show... spoiler alert, we still got way too much food. I ordered the paneer poutine with lamb, and Nate got the paratha tacos (one mojo chicken and one Korean BBQ) and we also ordered a side of veggies, for health. Our food did take longer to come out than I was expecting, considering they were hustling and must be used to the pre-show dinner rush crowd. I was actually getting a little anxious as I saw other dishes coming out for other groups, but we finally got our food and it was delicious! The poutine was so tasty and a massive portion. We definitely could have split just that and still been very full. It would make a good starter for a group of 4. The tacos were a big portion and the paratha bread they're on is super delicious and flaky. I really loved the food we had and would definitely come back before a future show! I'll just remember to order less.

Misgana S.

Roam is a gorgeous melting pot of different cuisines from around the globe at a central location in downtown Grand Rapids. The food was excellent and the drinks were even better!

Bianca N.

Pleasantly surprised! Love the concept it's so fun trying different foods from around the world. The fried were delicious I love the sauces it came with, the hummus was good the raw garlic was a bit sharp, and the fried potato balls were great. Lovely drinks, ambiance, and service as well.

Strawberry Fields
Amy W.

We were looking for a unique experience and found Roam. We absolutely loved the environment! It was beautifully decorated. Lots of windows and sunlight. We enjoyed some delicious cocktails and really enjoyed our meals.

Tracey W.

I could see Roam from my hotel window and had to try it. I am still thinking about the scrumptious Sweet Aloha Skewers: Two sweet & salty glazed pork belly & pineapple skewers, mango guacamole, pepper jelly, charcoal grilled corn in the husk. My friend had the fish and chips and they were a bit too crispy. I also had the Gochugaru Shrimp: Cast Iron skillet shrimp with clarified butter, garlic, gochugaru flakes, cilantro, & lemon. Served with crostini. The shrimp were quite flavorful and I loved dipping the Crostini into the butter sauce! They also have a very nice drink menu. I liked the relaxing casual industrial vibe and the customer service was excellent. I wanted to try to go back before leaving but unfortunately could not make it back over. However I do plan to return when back in Grand Rapids just for the skewers if nothing else!

Popsicle drinks
Mirna I.

Truly an eclectic menu with influences from all over the world. You are sure to find something (if not many things) that spark your interest. Also great options/modifications for vegetarian/vegan. I'm still dreaming about the mango sticky rice and the slam slammy. I will say, the parking situation is not ideal and it's right in front of the theater so be aware if there is a big show, might be more challenging or just be prepared to park in one of many parking lots.

McKenzie K.

Very unique restaurant concept- every menu item is from a distinct country/location. The food was delicious. I did feel like the service was adequate- but our waitress seemed to not be as attentive to us after we decided not to order drinks (compared to the service I saw her give others)- that would be the improvement I would suggest to earn the 5th star. I would return again though.

Bar and dining area with the coolest vibes!

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

Unique, delicious food & drinks, great service & atmosphere, recommend the fish taco & a margarita.

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Thank you for the 5 stars & great recommendations, Dionne! :)

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Ask the Community - Roam by San Chez

Is the menu vegan friendly?

Yes!

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Butcher's Union - 14 Oz Ribeye from Double R Ranch. And dressed it with fried potatoes, black garlic butter, red wine reduction, red onion, chives.

Butcher's Union

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I see why this is always the spot people recommend…read more.. I went to Butcher's Union for my birthday this year and it was nothing short of AMAZING. We were able to make a reservation online easily and were seated almost immediately. The table was near the open door and it was such a lovely lovely fall night. They also decorated a sweet little postcard saying Happy Birthday to me! I thought it was a very cute personal touch. All staff that we interacted with were delightful We started with some cocktails: I got a Daisy Du and my wife got an Amelia. They were both so delicious! Later I also got a strawberry granita and it was YUM. I am not normally someone who orders cocktails because they are too expensive for my taste and I am generally content without any alcohol, but I wanted something special for my birthday. For apps we got a half dozen oysters and crab and artichoke dip. Both was amazing and we ate all of it. The jalapeno mignonette was INCREDIBLE and such a delicious addition to a standard mignonette. The crab in the dip was real crab and the bread it came with was the perfect balance of sturdy and crispy but soft and easy to eat. We ordered the 14oz Ribeye (rare) and 8oz Waygu Sirloin (medium rare) as our apps. The steaks were cooked perfectly and all the sides/sauces were so delicious. Truly cannot speak highly enough of how delicious these steaks were, like so good y'all. I have been to many steakhouses and have had steaks that weren't as good, but cost more than what we had at BU. I had thought I would get a complimentary dessert because it was my birthday (like it was my ACTUAL birthday), but we didn't get one. We were so full I didn't follow up to ask and it wasn't a big deal. I might have been incorrect in my assumption, but saw it in other people's reviews.

If you are looking for a fun restaurant to enjoy a good burger or steak I recommend visiting at…read moreleast once. They have indoor and outdoor seating and the atmosphere is great. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Everyone was kind and welcoming. We ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a wagyu sirloin that had a red wine reduction, crispy onions, potato gratin and garlic green beans. We also ordered two kids trays which were priced very fair at $9 for the options and amount of food received. Our kids had the fried chicken tenders, grilled steak and picked sides of fries, mashed potatoes and fruit. The kids trays also came with drinks. Since this was a birthday celebration or server did make it special by brining a sweet treat and candle and even discounted my meal! Some things to think about when planning a visit: The restaurant is very loud. Make a reservation! It is popular. Plan parking! The area is full of great restaurants so parking is tough. Paid parking areas are available but limited.

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One Twenty Three Tavern

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4.3(352 reviews)
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We came in on Saturday night, 7/25/26 around 5:30pm before going to a concert at Acrisure. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but fortunately there was room at the bar - which is our preferred seating spot anyway. I was surprised at how long it took for the 2 hosts to greet us - as we were standing directly in front of them. They were talking to one another, and it was probably work related, but to just stand there staring at them for a couple minutes while they ignored us was awkward. When they finally talked to us they weren't very friendly. Anyway, we made our way to the bar and it was full except for 3 seats. I think the bartender waiting on us was new. He seemed like he was pretty overwhelmed/in the weeds. He greeted us quickly and brought us waters when he did, which I appreciated. I ordered a Blackeberry Bourbon Sour and my Mr had Paloma Nuestra. We both enjoyed our drinks they were refreshing and well crafted. For dinner I had a really hard time deciding! I wanted to try so many things! Our bartender said his favorite thing in the menu is the chicken and rice bowl. That was something I was considering and decided to go with that. Excellent recommendation! The chicken was flavorful and so tender. The hot peppers were a nice touch. There was a lot of food too! I couldn't finish it all. Mr had the hanger steak that was served with mushroom and asparagus risotto. He said the risotto was the best he's ever had, and I agree. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and so was the steak. The space is really nice, felt intimate without being overcrowded. We are looking forward to coming back!

Ambiance was great and service pretty good. The food was awesome! Chicken sandwich is on point…read more With sweet and spicy slaw/sauce. Smash burger was out of this world! Great spot before a concert at the Intersection.

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Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

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This was our first time dining here, so we decided to call ahead to ask about the waitlist. The…read moregirl who answered the phone told us there was no wait and that we would be seated right away. However, when we arrived, we were told there would be a 30-40 minute wait because they were busy with reservations. We decided to wait, but while we were waiting, we checked the restaurant's website and were able to make a reservation for an earlier time. This was confusing to my husband and me, as we didn't understand why we couldn't be seated sooner when we were told there was no wait over the phone. When we brought this to the hostess's attention, her response was, "I guess I could sit you down," which came across as dismissive and made the situation a little uncomfortable. Aside from this experience, everything else was great! The food was delicious, and our server provided great service. We really enjoyed our meal, but better communication and a more welcoming approach from the hostess would have made our first visit even better.

I never thought in a million years that my dog would ever get to "brunch" yet here we are at…read moreTupelo! Thanks for making Pinto's dreams come true with his very own brunch (grilled chicken!). How delightful. What a world we live in! My husband and I got a chicken and avo sandwich with brussel sprouts and a farmhouse platter. The goat cheese grits was incredible! There is so much more I'd like to try on the menu. We will have to come back!

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Terra GR - Pepperoni Hot Honey

Terra GR

4.3(546 reviews)
2.1 mi
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Had a reservation for 6 PM to celebrate my birthday. This was our first time here. We loved the…read moreatmosphere which is a little bit modern, but also warm and inviting. Our server Nhia provided fantastic service and was so friendly. It was moderately busy. The music level and ambience not overbearing and still allowed for easy conversation. We started with two appetizers, both the focaccia and meatballs. We were glad that happy hour ran to 6pm and provided half off both appetizers and pizzas. We didn't try the pizzas, but a neighbor had the mushroom pizza and seemed delighted with it. The focaccia was melt in your mouth good but better yet the meatballs seasoned just right. The texture good and the quality of the meats noticeable. Locally sourced suppliers for the win! Our hanger steak was top notch. We're picky when it comes to steak and how the demi glaze, potatoes, onions and mushrooms melded were perfect. This entree would make it hard to pick something else on a future visit. Returning Sunday for brunch with friends to share a new favorite restaurant.

TerraGR: Some Great Dishes, But Overall a Major Disappointment…read more We drove about two hours to see a show and had pretty high expectations after seeing all the glowing reviews. Unfortunately, TerraGR didn't come close to living up to them. The Focaccia ($8) was probably the best thing we had all night. It came highly recommended in previous reviews, and I can see why. The pesto, 'nduja butter, and truffle pecorino worked really well together. At $8, it's a great value and an easy recommendation. Definitely a must-have. The Arancini ($15) were probably our second favorite. Very tasty, with a great gooey cheese center. The Calabrian chili oil, fried basil, hot honey, lemon zest, and ricotta salata all worked well together. Definitely recommend. The Pesto Casarecce ($25) was a completely different story. We honestly questioned the concept of this dish. The combination of pesto cream, fennel sausage, peas, garlic breadcrumbs, and Parmesan was just baffling to us. We ate maybe half of the dish and simply didn't want any more. The Scallops ($34) were disappointing as well. I skipped the jalapeño, and while the scallops themselves were cooked very well, the roasted corn, poblano, and chorizo mixture was cold. That was just a strange combination and really took away from the dish. I think it would be significantly better if that component were served warm. I did bite into several pieces of rock-hard chunks of something in the dish. My guess is chorizo which was extremely off-putting. The scallops were also a little too salty. At $34, the price felt excessive for what was served. The Short Rib Gnocchi ($28) was actually very good. The short rib ragu, potato gnocchi, and truffle pecorino worked really well together. Would recommend. The Brix soda was another head-scratcher. Just why? We didn't enjoy it at all. I understand it's local but just no. And then there was the Spiced Cranberry Martini. Unless you like unusual, heavy spice flavors that remind you of Jägermeister, do not order this. It was by far the worst martini I've ever had. I even mentioned to our waitress that I thought it was awful, and there was zero response. Service itself was fine. We were seated immediately, and the food came out promptly and at good temperatures. Our waitress wasn't particularly memorable, though, and I would have expected at least some acknowledgment when I mentioned how bad the cocktail was. The parking situation was also an absolute nightmare, which didn't exactly get the evening off to a great start. Overall, the appetizers were head and shoulders above the mains. The focaccia and arancini were genuinely excellent, and the short rib gnocchi was good. But we would not order the scallops or Pesto Casarecce again. Sadly, we were very disappointed with the overall experience. We came in with high expectations because of the near-perfect reviews, drove two hours for the evening, and ultimately felt that TerraGR was very overrated. There were definitely some good dishes, but the overall experience simply didn't live up to the hype. We did get to sit outside which was great.

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MudPenny - The O.G Sandwich (with sausage)

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This is my favorite brunch spot in Grand Rapids. Vibe is so good and the service is fantastic…read more Yesterday I had the Kevin Malone and it did not disappoint. The eggs were perfectly creamy, spinach gave it a great flavor boost, and the sauce is stellar. Legitimately the best breakfast sandwich I've had in the last 12 months. My wife had the everything toast and it was on point too. Coffee was great with flavors notes of Milk chocolate and a hint of orange zest. Pistachio latte was so good as well.

Had high hopes and left wanting. Stopped for breakfast on a…read moreSaturday around 9:30 and the restaurant only had 6 other people dinning yet despite the lack of crowd the food still took 40 minutes and it was lukewarm at best. The food itself was fine. We ordered a traditional breakfast and an omelette. With both meals the eggs were runny. Both of us had coffee and it was extremely bitter. The saving grace of breakfast were the breakfast potatoes which were delicious and the only thing we cleaned our plates of. There was no music playing when we first got there so the vibes were weird but eventually they put some on, we were sat nearish the bathroom which had a certain smell and was pretty unkempt (trash can overflowing, paper towel bits all on the floor) for so early in the morning. Not a major issue but more annoyance, when asked if they could make chocolate chip pancakes we were told no and then about 10 minutes later (our pancakes hadn't come out yet) a table just sat was told chocolate pancakes we're definitely an option. Hopefully a one off bad experience but will not be taking a risk again here.

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Roam by San Chez - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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