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    Scholar

    4.1 (115 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Scholar Photos

    Business Info

    SCHOLAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Scholar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hecate (front)
    Kassey T.

    This whole restaurant is a vibe! Since moving from Phoenix, I've had a hard time finding restaurants that have amazing food, friendly service, AND a beautiful ambiance to go with it, but Scholar has it all!! Walking in the door already gives off a cozy, moody feeling, but going down the stairs and enjoying cocktails & delicious food in a speakeasy type setting was next level. My Hecate cocktail (yay mezcal!) and risotto were incredible. There were several other items on the menu I'm looking forward to trying next time as well. My girlfriends ordered the salmon and specialty flatbread, and both finished their meals and agreed they were delicious! I can't wait to bring my husband back for a date night soon!

    Porn Star martini

    Such a beautiful environment! I ate in the basement with my family and everyone was impressed with the vibe. I enjoyed the bison short rib, crab cakes, deviled eggs, and a porn star martini! The eggs are a must. That relish is delicious. My bison was so tender and delicious, but I wish it came out hotter. Our waiter was attentive and kind, and I would go back tonight if I didn't just move across the country!

    The bar
    Harry B.

    So far so good!! To the head of the class! Scholar was great! Zach, the bartender took care of me... good drinks, menu selection recommendation.. The atmosphere was cool. Speak easy meats 20s upscale bar.. lots of wood and dim light but not dingy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Food was great!! Wedge salad, bison short ribs, old fashioned! Bam!! all were very tasty, well prepared and presented expertly. Should have taken more pics!!

    Cocktail
    Kayla F.

    A perfect place for a birthday celebration! Such a beautiful restaurant with great service and delicious food. The salmon was to die for and the steak was cooked perfectly. The cocktails were also very tasty. With a romantic feel, this is a perfect spot for a date night or a girls night out!

    Karley M.

    I get the hype about this restaurant. The ambience is really great and we enjoyed sitting in the study (the basement area) with candles, a fireplace and beautiful bar. Service was friendly and prompt. My husband loved his old fashioned and glass of wine. The NA beverage menu left room to be desired, but no big deal. We absolutely loved the horseradish dip appetizer, it was actually our favorite part of the meal. I may have ordered wrong, but the harvest salad and mushroom soup were just okay, not my favorite. My husband liked his braised short rib but said it was pretty fatty. The potato pancake was amazing. Overall great spot downtown GR with vibes that go a very long way, we would just order differently next time.

    Calamari Appetizer
    Enrique E.

    Great restaurant and bar spot in downtown Grand Rapids. Always enjoy the food and drinks here. Highly recommend if visiting the area.

    Death in the afternoon
    Olivia A.

    The way this place has been transformed from what was Gardellas to Scholar is amazing! I'm blown away by this interior. It's just so beautiful and exquisite. We had the most perfect date night here recently and were seated upstairs. I was very happy with the fact that they had Non Alcoholic options and I went with the Lady Lavender. Which was nice with a floral but citrusy vibe. Went down so smooth and looked so pretty. For an appetizer we agreed on Deviled eggs because we both love a good deviled egg and these were fantastic. Loved the lardon pieces on top which was a nice salty element to the soft creamy bite. My boyfriend loved his entree which was the Cedar Plank Salmon and he let me try a piece of the salmon and it was cooked to perfection! I ordered the Char Grilled Steak. You have the choice to pick what cut of meat you'd like and that was either 6oz filet mignon or 14oz ribeye. I went with the ribeye and enjoyed it so much! The flavor was fantastic! Really loved the white cheddar fondue that was drizzled over the potatoes and asparagus that came with it For dessert we ordered the cheesecake which was lemon poppyseed with a fruit compote on top. I loved it! Hit the spot! Highly recommend this place for a nice night on the town or a date night! Try to make a reservation to ensure a table:)

    Old Fashion w/o Demerara lol
    Spencer C.

    I really enjoyed the ambiance and environment! My wife and I had dinner at the bar and service was quick! Food was delicious, the Salisbury steak was amazing and nostalgic! One minor issue was my old fashion was served without demerara but I believed the person was in training because they kept asking for the "cheat-sheet" so good thing I enjoy bourbon!

    Pear Salad, no goat cheese
    Nichole K.

    Snagged a reservation on a Friday night. This place is swanky and romantic. We sat in the lower level at a table with a brown leather couch - very comfortable! Large assortment of hand mixed cocktails - opted for the Aviator, delicious! Kinda like a sour candy, slightly sweet gin with a unique cherry lavender flavor. Started with the Pear & Wedge Salads. Delicious! Wedge was a little small for a half portion, next time we'll order a full. The Braised Rib is special - tender. My husband could have ordered two, liked it so much! I had the salmon and enjoyed the maple Dijon sauce, opted for crispy potatoes - great allergy substitutes. Our server, Claire, was attentive and charming. Spectacular experience!

    Mango tango
    Leslie A.

    Came here on a Friday night after dinner as we were walking around downtown Grand Rapids and stumbled upon this place that looked pretty posh and chic. Walked in, immediately took a table because there was no one to greet you and no one to seat you Our group of six came really just for after dinner drinks and everybody ordered something whether a glass of wine or a cocktail. Our waiter informed us that the are generally locally sourced from either Grand Rapids or from Michigan overall. This is a little concerning because they have drinks that have tequila in them and tequila truly is from Mexico not Michigan. I feel the same way about Champaign being from France versus sparkling wine. Anyhow, the drinks were fantastic. The ambience was really cool and laid-back and very mature, which is great considering that this is a heavy college town. Would come back here as I did peruse the food menu a lot more grown up than our dinner earlier.

    Crab Cakes
    Kyle V.

    It pains me to only give 3 stars, since we were so excited to try Scholar. The ambience and atmosphere is incredible and you truly can't tell what used to be here. We made a reservation on our way downtown before a nearby comedy show but the place was practically empty on a Sunday. They seated us downstairs which is such a cool space and one bartender was taking care of everything. We started with the Buffalo Chicken Flatbread which wasn't anything special. The texture was soft/soggy/mushy which wasn't desirable. The flavors weren't horrible but we didn't taste much buffalo chicken. I ordered the filet which came with asparagus and potatoes. I thought it was delicious and perfectly cooked. The potatoes had the perfect amount of crisp to them and the asparagus was great. My wife on the other hand felt disappointed. She started with a soup and it was lukewarm on the verge of cold. She also had the crab cakes which she enjoyed. For dessert, we split the banana split. It was huge and delicious but we kept getting chunks of ice in our bites. We thought that maybe they wash the bowls and then put them in a freezer which causes the water droplets to freeze, but we aren't sure. Overall, the place is beautifully redone and you are truly transported to an old classic bar/fine dining restaurant. The staff was very friendly and the space was clean. For the price we paid, we felt disappointed in the appetizer, soup, and dessert, which is a bummer. I loved the steak though.

    I came for drinks, not food. The drinks were great and good service despite it being a busy Saturday. Below is what a pornstar martini looks like. Very delicious.

    Matthew H.

    Had a fantastic meal at Scholar with excellent service. We dined downstairs in the cozy, romantic study. Highly recommend the dates or crab cakes to start, and the dirty martini was one of the best I've had in a while. Perfect spot for a date night in Grand Rapids!

    Clam chowder

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    Michael W.

    Thanks for the great 5 star review!

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    1 year ago

    Love the vibe and ambience of Scholar! The food is delicious and the wait staff is beyond helpful!

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    7 months ago

    Atmosphere, flavor, unique offerings and the best calamari ever! Lucas was attentive and engaging. Great experience!

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    Page 2 of 3

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    Pursuit Of Happiness Co.

    Pursuit Of Happiness Co.

    4.7(28 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Pursuit of Happiness Co is the girl she says she is!…read more The atmosphere is modern, chic, and makes me want to hang around for hours. I was personally impressed mostly by the Spritz menu. The cherry spritz, mama I dream of it still . My only qualm is that I am a stickler for good glassware ~ I would like to see the beverages with a stem. And based on the aesthetic I know the owner could find some classic glassware. We need more places like this in GR, and I need more POH in my LIFE.

    My friend and I popped in the other night to warm up for snacks and bubbles and had a lovely time!…read moreWe sat at the bar and ordered some burrata while sipping on a glass of the brut. It was fairly quiet but the staff was friendly and the vibes inside were so filled with holiday cheer! I love how they decorate the space and you can purchase little things to go and just enjoy time with your friends, whether it's for a fancy girls night or just having a chill night out. Whatever your vibe is, Pursuit of Happiness is a wonderful woman owned business that I love to support! It's kind of tucked away from the bustle of the street, but you can easily find some off street parking around the corner in a lot or find some street parking pretty easily, which is really nice. I always forget this place is here but I always enjoy it when I come back! I need to keep it in my rotation and come back more often! The vibes are just too good.

    Photos
    Pursuit Of Happiness Co.
    Pursuit Of Happiness Co.
    Pursuit Of Happiness Co.

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    Sav Sav - Inside

    Sav Sav

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I tried this restaurant out with a friend for lunch on a Saturday one weekend and it was great!…read moreThis is the perfect spot for a friend date, real date, etc etc! The service was a tiny bit slow but we were not in a time crunch so it wasn't really a big deal. I had a glass of wine and my friend and I split an appetizer, a charcuterie board, and the Parisian sandwich. Their menu is seasonal but I think the sandwiches stay pretty consistently. Everything was really good and high quality. I especially loved the sandwich. Truly similar to the same sandwiches you can get everywhere in Paris. The charcuterie board was yummy with unique choices! Everything paired pretty well. I would definitely come back here to try more menu options and wine :)

    I've been so excited for Sav Sav by Squibb to open in the former Aperitivo space in the Downtown…read moreMarket. I'm a big Squibb fan and it's great to see them utilizing this space to serve drinks, coffee, and small plates, as well as cheese to go and other fun items for sale in their market. It's a one stop shop for a perfect picnic! Nate and I stopped by on their first day open and ordered the Parisian, heirloom tomato and burrata, and the mini charcuterie board. If you liked Aperitivo, you'll love Sav Sav. Everything we ate was delicious, but we both loved the tomato and burrata small plate the most. It was bursting with flavor and was nicely balanced between savory and sweet. I also really loved the Parisian and want to try the other sandwich options. I'm excited to see how their concept evolves! The little market area is super cute and they have lots of tinned fish, cookbooks, wine, snacks, and more. This will be a go-to spot for me in the Downtown Market.

    Photos
    Sav Sav - Corn & bean hummus

    Corn & bean hummus

    Sav Sav - Charcuterie

    Charcuterie

    Sav Sav

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    MDRD - Pan con Tomate

    MDRD

    4.3(200 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    Having a good time together on the 27th floor at the Amway Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. Caroline…read moreand her husband came from Arizona for the Board Meeting in Michigan. Meeting new people is always fun! Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Madrid Tapas Bar had beautiful views and great ambiance. We had ceviche, octopus, pork belly and sangria together!

    I had one of the best meals I can remember at MDRD. First, the restaurant has a beautiful view of…read morethe river. I was with a large group, so I got to sample a number of tapas, which were ordered for the table. I loved the Iberico Pork Belly, and the Wild Boar Empanadas. I thought the Croquetas and the Patatas Bravos were good, though there are other things I'd order in the future. I thought the Ceviche Mixta was ok, though I'm not usually a fan of ceviche, and this was better than most. My least favorite was the Pulpo a la Gallega. While the octopus was tender, it had an unpleasant fishy flavor. I got the Chuletas de Cordero for a main course, and was so happy with the dish. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly and seasoned well. I really liked the chickpea topping. My only quibble was the dried apple slices added nothing to the dish. They had an unpleasant chewy texture, little flavor, and didn't add to the aesthetics. I would order this again in a heartbeat. I ordered the Árbol de Frambuesa, and it was an amazing dessert. The chocolate souffle was thicker and creamier than I expected, but it was so delicious! I don't want to ruin the surpise of this dish by describing how it looked. I would also order this again.

    Photos
    MDRD - Ambiance

    Ambiance

    MDRD - Iberico Pork Belly

    Iberico Pork Belly

    MDRD - Smoked Salmón con Trufa

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    Smoked Salmón con Trufa

    Littlebird - Bread Pudding French Toast (plain Jane)

    Littlebird

    4.6(530 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I absolutely love Little Bird's smashburger and I will die on this hill. It's probably one of the…read morebest burgers (if not the best) dine-in burger in GR and I will constantly come back for this over and over. My boyfriend and I stumbled in during happy hour and were happy to grab some cheap drinks, but the main event was the burger! We typically like sitting at the bar as well and chat with the bartender who was absolutely lovely! The dirty martini was okay but I will definitely order something else next time as the olives just didn't hit for me. It's a quaint and quiet spot - you can read that as intimate - since it's not loud or rowdy, so if you want a really sweet date spot, feel free to check this one out! Otherwise, you can just go and have a casual, delicious dinner. Parking is limited with the street parking and it being so close to Monroe Center but you shouldn't have a terrible time finding something, even if requires a parking ramp vs street parking. I'd just recommend a reservation if you are going on a weekend or don't want to wait/sit at the bar!

    I am plant based vegan and anytime I plan to go to a restaurant that is not solely 100% vegan, I…read morelook to see what vegan options are offered. This was my first time at at Little Bird and it definitely did not disappoint. However, I now see why it's called Little Bird because the inside is definitely small but that just adds to the ambiance. My husband and I came here for brunch on a Saturday because it's a place we both can eat at (he's not vegan). When we walked in the restaurant was bustling and packed, but we got seated right away by the door which was cool because we could people watch. Our server greeted us immediately and filled our glasses with water. She was nice and answered all of our questions. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with my brunch choices which were the soup of the day, a lentil curry, pumpkin seed combo with tons of good seasoning and cilantro on top...it was soooo good and vegan friendly! For my entree I got the tofu sandwich with the most amazing side salad that had this lemon dressing that set it off right! I could have just had a plate of the salad! Although the tofu sandwich was good, it was a bit on the salty side for my taste, but I still enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this place for vegan options and I'd come back. Just be aware they don't take reservations for brunch and it's pretty loud, but it's a really cute establishment and I was pleased with the food and service. Give it a try!!!

    Photos
    Littlebird
    Littlebird - Beet salad

    Beet salad

    Littlebird - Outside

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    Outside

    Scholar - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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