Still good 11 years later. This is the place to go for arcade games, stuffed burgers and good beer/ whiskey options. Unabashedly a hipster/ alternative vibe that I love. I didn't have time to wait 20-25min for a burger because I had to make a show at the Pyramid Scheme across the street and opted to try the cubano nachos. Delicious and fun authentic flavors with a satisfying crunch. You can share it, but I ate most of it as my dinner and loved it. I guess branching out from the amazing stuffed burgers was well worth it. Everything here goes well with a beer or whiskey. Cheers! read more

Stella's Lounge - Cubano Nachos and Pabst Light - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Such a cool place!!! Had no idea it was here. Definitely will go more! Food was good and drinks even better. Service was amazing! As we were here a homeless woman came in asking the tables for $$ for food. I told the waitress and the manager came shortly to the lady and offered her food and gave her a coat. I think this was such a good thing!! But if word gets around to other homeless ppl I think it will turn into something that's not good. Would go again!!! read more

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I genuinely can't think of a complaint about this place. There's pretty much a vegetarian option to go with each plate. We did the Mr. Fables with an Impossible patty and it was great! I do wish there was more of the dirty martini mayo. That sauce was SO good. The Chronic Fries were a fun surprise and a great pair with the burger. The Vegan Chick(pea) Wings with Sweet Chili sauce were awesome. It was a great shareable portion and were really tasty. The ambiance is the star here. Lots of fun decor and the service was friendly and quick. read more

Stella's Lounge - Mr. Fables burger with Impossible patty $15.00 (not sure if there was an upcharge for the impossible patty). - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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11/10 service and atmosphere. The artwork and decor is super neat. Best burgers in the city- cannot be overstated. When my friends visit from out of town, they beg for Stella's! read more

Stella's Lounge - Stella Blue and Walking Taco - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We came in on Tuesday, 2/18/25 for a 6pm reservation. We've made the mistake of trying to eat in downtown Grand Rapids before a show and couldn't get a table anywhere. So tonight we planned ahead! The last time we were here was probably 8 or 9 years ago. The menu is smaller than we remembered and they don't have bacon popcorn anymore! But there are some solid options and some great vegan entrees too! We were sat immediately and our server Bailey was fantastic, she came right over with waters. She answered a couple whiskey questions and came back a shortly to take our order. We both ordered the Government Cheese burger and it was delicious! The burger is stuffed with American cheese and had American on it as well. The onion ring was a nice touch! Of course we had chronic fries and my lips are still burning, but oh man they tasty! We were seated next to the pinball machines and other arcade games and it got pretty loud a couple times. There were more kids than I expected, and that definitely increased the volume. It wasn't packed and maybe we didn't need reservations, but I'm glad we had them for peace of mind. read more

Stella's Lounge - Government Cheese Burger with Chronic Fries - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Love their vegan chicken sandwich! Food is always delicious. Staff is lovely. Can't wait to go back.

Decided to revisit Stella's today. I love the electric vibe of the restaurant, which is filled with excitement and stimulation. There was a short line, and we were seated by the window to people-watch. Maggie, our server, was full of energy and excelled at managing her time with each of the eight tables in her section. She was the life of the party and helped make the experience a joyful one. My wife ordered the basic hamburger with onion rings, while I had the tater tots with warm cheese. The food was served hot, although it took a little while to arrive. The burger was tasty, and the onion rings were delightful. I enjoyed the tater tots with the warm cheese. They are known for their award-winning burgers, so no choice is wrong. The only drawback was the downtown parking issue. We managed to find a free spot four blocks away. read more

Arrived about 4:30pm and was seated right away. Had two teenage boys with me and so they really enjoyed playing retro arcade games while waiting for food. Service was kind and wonderful. Delicious burgers! read more

Way cool restaurant/bar in downtown Grand Rapids (...parking in the area is AWFUL, but not Stella's fault.) Great vibe, our waitress saw my Pearl Jam shirt and high-fived me... Usually when I'm at a new restaurant and try something new instead of the good ol' burger standby I always regret it - but not THIS time. When I asked my waitress if I should try the fried bologna sandwich or... she answered with an emphatic "yes". So I ordered it and have ZERO regrets... first time ever! Thick sliced bologna, with mustard aioli, pickle and chips on the sandwich. Yassssss! Even their plain fries were fresh and delicious. I tried the Liquid Death Rest in Peach .... Yummm! Great food, great vibe, great staff. This will be my 'go to' when I'm in GR visiting with my daughter. Thank you for everything, don't change a thing! read more

Consistently solid vegetarian/vegan takeout! It has been a while since I've dined in at Stella's, but as a vegetarian who craves a buffalo wing every now and then, their Poor Man's Wings (bomb potato wedges, do not skip these), and "Chickpea Wings" (fka Blessed Black Wings) hit the spot every time. read more

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Very eclectic and interactive establishment . The lighting was very dim and red. We were greeted when we arrived and seated right away. I liked that there were games to play everywhere. Games like pacman and pinball. Old school type of games. I really enjoy that. The menu offered a lot of gluten free and vegan options as well. The Full Montie nachos were super yummy spicy for being gluten free. I also enjoyed the chicken wings. I ordered the dry and dipped them in ranch. I was told the French fries were great here as well but didn't have them so I can not report. We enjoyed lemon drop shots and margaritas. Total bill without tip $103.88. read more

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After hearing so many good things from friends, I finally got to try Stella's! I was planning a nice dinner for my friend's birthday and unfortunately the places we chose got booked or didn't take reservations. I called Stella's and talked to Tony, the manager and he was kind enough to make an exception even though they don't take reservations. I almost cried when he said that because I had been calling a couple different places at this point and his kindness made my night. I'm glad I got his name because when I got there and mentioned my reservation, the staff were confused. They called Tony and confirmed and was able to clear a table for my group though. This place is popular and there's limited seating so I do recommend calling ahead to check the wait time. I heard they were famous for their burgers so I got the mission impossible Hawaii because regardless of what people say, I love my pineapple on things. The burger was amazing, but I found out the real star was the Mac and cheese. My friend had ordered their vegan Mac and cheese but since they were out of the shrimp, she subbed it for vegan chicken and I tried a bite of her food and fell in love. I ended up ordering their Mac and cheese to go. As someone who can't have dairy, this vegan Mac and cheese was better than the one with real cheese! Although I had a pretty great experience, my other friend did let me know that she wasn't a fan of The Mr. Fables burger. She brought leftovers home and when she had it the next day, she said it made her stomach hurt. I'm a little disappointed about that because they're famous for their burgers so I hope it isn't a frequent issue. read more

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An easy, four star choice for Stella's lounge. Can't miss on the stuffed cheeseburgers. Wide selection of brew and plenty of spirits to choose from . Quality friendly superb service on my visit. Ironic that among the retro pinball and video games from decades ago, there is a Bitcoin ATM which i felt was somewhat poetic in this fabulous downtown Grand Rapids establishment. Everything hit on all cylinders, with one exception. Skip the mac & cheese with until they ditch the Cheez-Its toppings. read more

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Tried it and loved it!! My server was astoundingly nice and accommodating with recommendations and she knew the menu so well. The vibe is retro definitely don't come if u don't like it noisy!! read more

Awesome atmosphere and friendly people. Sat at the bar and had great service even through the place was packed. Check it out if you are in the area. Burgers were also fantastic! read more

One of the best burgers I've had in a while. Very cool and retro place, our server was super fun and the drinks were good. Awesome spot.

Love this throwback spot. Came here to meet a good friend of mine and another coworker for dinner. The first thing I saw was the old school video games! Nice. I had a run and coke and I think the bartender is my spirit animal because she made it just so that the drink turned a little bit darker. It jumped on me QUICK! The burger I had was on point and the fries were good. Yes! I'd come back here too. read more

We happened to be staying in Grand Rapids for a night on our way to Detroit and were looking for places that fit our personality and bar/restaurant preferences. We checked out Stella's because I was told it was a little 'divey' but still had good food, ambiance, and activities. I ended up having their Road Runner wrap and our server graciously allowed me to substitute in their Chronic fries for the tortilla chips and pico. The wrap was excellent, the fries were a little spicy for my taste, but I have a sensitive palate. Great beer and bourbon selection suited my tastes. Service was good, but their preference was definitely more focused to their regular local's crowd. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes this type of bar/restaurant. read more

New to GR and went last night. Got the vegan nachos and while it looked a little small, it was soooo filling and delicious. Our waiter was great and I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items. read more

My husband and I were staying downtown for the weekend and stumbled upon this amazing bar. It's got five bar vibes but a very eclectic menu, including lots of vegan options. Bartenders were super laid back and friendly and treated us like regulars. Lots of drink options priced reasonably. This spot is not to miss, especially if you wanna get away from the typical sports bar ambiance. read more

I hadn't been here in a long time, so it was nice to stop by for dinner and drinks! Drinks Stella's Punch is a when-in-Rome kind of deal when visiting Stellas, although I will say it was a little too sweet for me the most recent time I got it! (Am I getting old????) However, it used to be my ~drink~, and I likely would've taken it in an IV if that was an option. Food Everyone knows Stella's burgers slap (and their black bean burger???? THE best) but I decided to try something new! I had the Skrimp Rangoon Mac and Cheese, mostly because everything in the title is one of my favorite things, but also because I was super interested in the vegan cheese sauce! It was soooo delicious, and although it wouldn't pass as "real" cheese IMO, it was certainly a worthy substitute. Derek got the "Call it What You Want" burger (???? I think?? It's been a minute). As I said, their burgers slap ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Case closed, bring in the dancing lobsters. Definitely check Stellas out next time you're around! read more

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Old fashioned with no cherry. Odd. Usually there's a cherry and some orange rind. Anyway, they had something saying GQ voted it the best burger place. I've had waaaaaay better. I got the Government Cheese and the stuffed cheese in the middle was gone. Dry as heck. My coworker said hers was dry too and had much better burgers by far. The service was as good as it could be. We had a large group of people eating. Everything took a long time to come out. The place was cool looking, reminded me of a few places downtown Chicago read more

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Can't believe I've never written a review for Stella's! I consider them to be a Grand Rapids staple and I've been here plenty of times now. Great bar atmosphere and super laid back. Depending on when you go, like before an event downtown, it may be super busy and you'll have to wait but I've typically been pretty lucky about getting a quick table. Their drinks are reasonably priced as is their food. I recently came here for dinner on a Thursday and they do $5 off all dine-in burgers on that day. The last few times I've opted for one of their impossible burgers and I do like this quite a bit. Their regular burgers are good as well. I will say I have had better burgers elsewhere around time but this is a good standby. I am not a huge fan of their fries or their ranch but it's not a dealbreaker. It's cool that they have arcade games around the place that you can play and old cartoons or tv shows playing on the tvs! read more

Stella's Lounge - Krabby Patty (V) - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Long time patron, here! Love the ambiance! The food is always good and the service is always friendly. If you're looking for a fresh place to relax and unwind, I highly recommend! read more

Used to love the stuffed burgers. They are not the same. They taste like a double priced burger I could get at Wendy's or any other smash burger quicky burger place. Also - stop calling melted white cheese white green onions "spicy" queso. The chips have more flavor than the cheese. Bring back the old Stella's. It was unique and actually good. read more

So delicious and so many vegetarian options!! Highly recommend :) we tried the potato wedge wings (amazing oh my god) and the walking taco, which my wife enjoyed. The ambience is nice, and we sat outside with is cute! The service was great, and everyone was super nice. read more

Stella's Lounge - Poor man's Poor Man's Wings (V) - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We made a reservation on the website for 9:00 PM and we arrived at the restaurant for our reservation and they turned us away because we weren't 21 because they don't serve people under 21 after 9 PM without a "parent". Nowhere on the website did it say we had to be 21 to eat there after 9 PM. why would two 20-year-olds need a parent to eat out? read more

Stella's was recommended to me by a vegan friend, and specifically for the vegan wings. I was completely shocked at how incredible the food was, and the vast amount of vegan options available! The vegan options are some of the most creative that I've seen at a restaurant offering both vegan and non-vegan options! The staff was friendly, helpful, and attentive. The service was incredibly fast! The ambiance was second yo none! A very incredible atmosphere! I'll definitely be back! read more

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Stopped in recently when I was on a trip to Grand Rapids to meet some colleagues. I was running late, so when I arrived they'd already placed orders and had just received their food. I went to the bar to place mine and stood there for nearly 45 minutes without anyone so much as acknowledging me. My colleagues finished eating/drinking, and I still hadn't gotten an order in, so we left. Had to stop at a different establishment to actually get something to eat. It's one thing to have a sort of dive bar feel going, but this was a whole new level of bad. read more

DO NOT RECOMMEND! Horrible Service and Rude Staff! If I could give zero stars, I would. Our experience at Stella's was absolutely terrible from the moment we walked in. It was open seating, so we picked a table, and instead of being greeted, this blonde bartender wearing a "MILF" hat approached us with a nasty attitude. Her first words were, "If you want to order anything, go to the bar," said in such a rude tone, and then she just walked away. No welcome, no courtesy. We followed her instructions and went to the bar, which had barely any room to stand, and she body shoved my friend, snapping, "This is not a smart place to stand. You need to move." When my friend politely confronted her about how rude she was being, she just brushed her off. Then, just as we were about to order, she singled out my friend again and rudely announced, "I will not be serving you any alcohol." My friend, frustrated but still calm, asked, "Why do you have such an issue with me?" Not once was this bartender pleasant or welcoming. She was rude from the second we walked in, and when we confronted her about it, she outright refused to serve some of us. At that point, we canceled all our food and drink orders, which would have totaled over $400, and walked out. We refused to spend a dime in a place that treats its customers with such blatant disrespect. We ended up at The Apartment Lounge, where we told them about our awful experience at Stella's. They completely turned our night around with amazing service and far better drinks. Do better, Stella's. Fire that blonde bartender--she's ruining your establishment with her awful attitude. read more

It's been a minute since I've been here or gotten downtown in general. But I remembered the deliciousness of old and desired a tasty burger so met a buddy visiting from out of town to try this spot again. We had a friendly and engaging server (go green) and it was very quiet for our 1pm later lunch: plenty of spots to choose from inside or outside. Maybe not as great as I remember but still one of the better burgers in town as it was definitely a mouthful and juicy. I went with the queso jalapeño burger and the jalapeño kick was there but the queso seemed a little bit lacking, still delicious but desiring just a bit more. Fries on the side were flavorful though. This is still a must try. Wondering where the big ballah burger went though? Another one I remember from a few years back read more

Stella's Lounge - The Queso Jalapeño Burger - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I love stella's. Now that brick road pizza is gone this is one of the only places left with multiple yummy vegan junk food items. when my bvf (best vegan friend) comes to visit me, we HAVE to go to Stella's for some poor man's potato wings...a must try if you've never had them. the best way to describe them is the most crispy and flavorful potato wedge you've ever had in your life. on our most recent trip we started off with the poor man's potato wings (half mild and half sweet chili sauce) and we were feeling adventurous so we tired the avocado nuggets as well. the potato wings never disappoint and i found a new favorite sauce (sweet chili). the nuggets weren't great and I would not get again. just a very mushy texture but I expected that. The vegan ranch severed with both though... yum our last visit we split the vegan nachos and they were not earth shattering delicious from what I remember. this time we tried the hippie stuffed burger and YUM. this black bean lentil burger definitely fell apart but I picked up every last bit and ate it. so good. My boyfriend... only a vegan when i'm cooking... ordered the "call it what you want" burger and said it was the best burger he has ever had. the pineapple butter really did it for him. oh and they have pretzel buns and they're great too. love stella's because vegans like junk food too! read more

Stella's Lounge - Poor Man's Wings (V) - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The food was so so good. Make sure to get fries and the avocado dip and tortilla chips and the spicy queso. You have to love a great dip. The decor is fun and you will find interesting art around every corner as well as 80's game systems. Our waitress was great and made sure we had everything we needed. This place is 100% worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

Alright, the time is now to put this on my list of top burgers I've had. Yes. The traditional one (with blue cheese) didn't blow me away at all. It was the olive burger that had something going on. Great work on this, I was surprised! On top of this, they offer a host of great quality vegetarian options, beer, and a dog friendly patio. read more

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Stella's Lounge ain't fancy but it does have great food, good ambiance, and friendly staff. We came with some friends playing a show in town and had a quick bite. They have a ton of folks in their group that are vegetarian/vegan (or just eat light before shows) and they had a good selection of offerings for those diets. I think everyone in my party but me had some sort of salad! I, on the other hand, went with the vegetarian nachos which were really enjoyable (and yes, the salad people did pick off my plate in jealousy!). Our waitress was lovely and everyone on staff was really nice. The seating is a little rough (our booth's cushions had seen better days) but overall it was comfortable and a fun place to enjoy a meal. Good tunes over the PA, too. By the way, between this spot and The Pyramid Scheme across the street pinball fanatics will be happy! They also have a bunch of arcade games (including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which triggered a bit of PTSD from my days trying to beat it as a kid, tbh) that would make a fun night out if you just want a bite, a drink, and some entertainment. Or stop in before a show across the street and make an experience out of it! read more

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Longtime customers since 2012ish...we've been through the renovations, expansions, and changes over the years. Returned last night for a drink & burger with a small group of 6. The first in over a year, have zero desire to return. Sat at the bar. Female Bartender was rude from the start, demanding ID's from my wife and I. I'm obviously 50, my wife 4 years behind. Rules are rules I understand, but no "hello" only to launch into a pointy finger with "I'm gonna need to see IDs from everyone." Then came the follow on demand for a credit card up front. Again, this is not the only place to have the bar policy, but the candor and messaging could be softer. "I'm gonna need a card to hold the bill." So we have just sat down and we felt like underage thieves. We haven't even looked at a menu. Gone is the best burger in GR. We split the blue and the patty was grey, dense, little to no stuffed cheese as it obviously was cooked right out, and tasted strange. Not worth finishing. The chronic fries were on point. That was enough to increase review to 2 stars. The nostalgic video games are down to maybe a dozen total (admittedly, I didn't count), having been replaced with more tables. Credit for keeping Ms Pac Man and Galaga, but either the upkeep was too much, or the business model has changed. Thank you Stela's, we have so many good memories of the best burger I've ever had, unique and great service, will keep them all dear to us. Sadly we aren't sure if we'll be making any more. Too many changes for us. read more

Had the best vegan nachos of my life here. Super creamy vegan cheese and the vegan meat had a perfect texture. read more

Stella's Lounge - Vegan Full Monte Nachos (V) (gs) - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Stella's Lounge is a time hop back into the 1990's with arcade games, nostalgic tv shows/commercials, and retro decor. This fun and casual hang out is a great spot in the GR area! FOOD: Stella's offers one of the largest vegan friendly menus I have seen. Most items are marked vegan friendly or have an alternative way to make it so. Our group started with the avocado nuggets and poor man's potato wings (half buffalo mild and half buffalo hot) followed by a mix of vegan and regular burger options. Most burger offerings come stuffed which only allows patties to be cooked as medium well for awareness. The chronic fries certainly have a bit of a kick for spice and heat lovers! All items were priced very reasonably and were larger/shareable portions. Pro Tip: their website offers a waitlist option to beat the rush. read more

Always a great time at Stella's. The atmosphere is cool and relaxed. Service is good. They have over 200 whiskeys and make a great old fashioned. Vibe is dark, chill, and a little creepy but in a good way. Vibrant art and unique sculptures with pretty red twinkle lights. They do have small, limited outdoor seating. Being located downtown, it has no dedicated parking lot, so parking is always a chore. Uber is easier, and costs as much as a parking garage and takes about the same amount of time as hunting for a paring spot. read more

Stella's Lounge - Burgers Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Enjoyed everything about our visit! From the fun atmosphere, to the amazing food, and amazing service from Becky. We had a question about our bill (which ended up being fine), but she handled the interaction with such professionalism and grace for our oversight. Will definitely be back! read more