Just moved to the neighborhood and hopped in to the commons for Heritage Hill happy hour recommended to us by our landlord. This is truly a wonderful neighborhood gem. It was a great experience coming and meeting my new neighbors. The service was great, Richard was right on top of the group. Everyone had compliments about the staff and most people I spoke to were regulars. Now that I live nearby I will certainly return to try the food as our landlord stated was "epic." The ambiance is cozy resembling a retro living room, super cool. All around high Marks and I will return. read more

The commons has such a fun atmosphere! I absolutely loved their spinach and artichoke dip! Our waitress was super friendly. I will say it does get loud in there, but it was nice for grabbing a drink with a friend! read more

The Commons - Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I adore The Commons and it's one of my go-to spots in GR when I want a good burger or chicken tenders! It's definitely hidden back as it feels a little set back from the road and in condos, but definitely a gem that should not be slept on! It's usually pretty busy so you should come knowing there may be a wait, but if you're lucky and interested, you should be able to snag a seat at the bar and get pretty quick service! That's where I usually like to sit and talk with the bartenders who are always so friendly! The ranch is absolutely delicious if that's something that is your jam though - and their Wing Wednesday deal? MY FAVORITE!! You can even get it for take out! The vibes inside remind me of a 70s grandma's basement and I absolutely love it! It's not your typical GR restaurant vibe and it's just so fun. I love the no fuss feel and worth it. Definitely worth the wait if you have time! read more

The Commons - Chicken tenders - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This 70's themed restaurant brings you back to your childhood. The Happy Hour cocktails were yummy. The food was OK, but the ambiance of the place was so fun. read more

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No rush to get in and out! Everything is leisurely paced. Burger was very good , but difficult to control! Unwieldy! . Drink prices are very reasonable, especially at Happy Hour !! read more

The ambiance is unmatched for late night drinks with a 70s lounge vibe. We came for breakfast, which was decent. The menu was pretty limited and didn't allow for many adjustments, which was difficult to accommodate different allergy preferences. read more

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Loved the vibes in this unique spot. Kind of feels like you're hanging out in someone's really cool basement. Menu had some unique options with something for everyone. Beer, wine and cocktail menu was plentiful and the service the quick and nice. My husband had the chicken Sammy and I had the salmon burger, both were amazing with such great combinations of flavors. Fries were just okay. Overall great spot and we'll definitely go back to try more items. The meatloaf looked amazing! read more

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Last Thursday, I was feeling groovy, so I decided to go to The Commons with my wife. We both went to high school and college in the 1970s. While it can be challenging to find and even more difficult to park there, it's worth the hassle. I would suggest parking in the back. As we walked in, the atmosphere was a bit dark, and there was a slight smell of mold. However, we were seated immediately, and the service was consistent throughout our meal. My wife ordered the meatball dinner, which came with mashed potatoes and gravy, along with creamed corn. It reminded her of one of her mother's signature dishes from the 1970s. I opted for the Tropical Vaca Burg with fries. I loved the combination of protein-rich salmon, mango pineapple salsa, and sriracha aioli. The fried onion rings added a nice crunch to the sandwich. I enjoyed it! We will be back! read more

The Commons - The meatball dinner. - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The best service. A great cocktail program! Richard and Drew are the best! We love it here! read more

Chicken tenders weren't very good tbh, and I feel so bad saying that because everything else was good. Fries were thin and crispy just how I like them. The crab dip appetizer was delicious with the won ton chips. Of course our waitress was nice. But maybe pass the chicken tenders when you check out The Commons. Idk if it's the breading mixture or the time amount they are cooked, just too intense of crispy taste that lingers too long on the tongue. They were 3 really nice thick and juicy pieces of chicken though. read more

The Commons - Cami's Tendies - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First visit and everything was perfect! Friendly staff, great drinks, and tasty food. Loved my handheld. Cozy vibe and unique spot definitely a West Michigan gem. read more

The Commons - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Very unique spot with an eclectic menu. Very speakeasy style vibe with great food and friendly staff. Nashville hot chicken Sammy was one of the better ones I have had in GR. read more

The Commons is a go to spot when we need a hit of Disney Magic here in Michigan. The theming is on point, the drinks and food never disappoint. Out of town guests are always impressed when we bring them here due to the space and experience you get. The staff is always attentive and full of suggestions as well! read more

Cool vibe with super nice employees. My meatloaf was delicious. My family had the olive burgers which was super! High quality beef. The twice baked wings were also a hit. read more

The Commons - Meatloaf dinner - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This place reminded me of my grandmother,s house with the decor and glassware. Definitely check it out if you like good food and a 70s vibe. I got the salmon and orzo which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The rest of my party got burgers and they all raved about them. If you like Caesar salad, they have a great one but fair warning it's huge!!! Thy had a varied cocktail menu and a good espresso martini. Being more of a wine person, The only complaint I have is their wine list really was rather lackluster. Definitely check this place out for a burger and cocktail!! read more

The Commons is such a great spot for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks! A group of us stopped in recently around noon looking for lunch, but the wait was too long as we had a schedule to stick to. We went back later that afternoon and got seated right away during an off-peak dining time. Brunch had ended by the time we went back, but everyone seemed pleased with the lunch/dinner options. I got the twice cooked wings, Nate got the cheesesteak sandwich, and others got the olive patty melt, a basket of fries, and the crab cakes. Our server was great and attentive, and the food was awesome. It also came out pretty quickly! The wings are baked and then fried, giving them a super crispy skin and juicy interior. They're some of the best wings I've had in the area. The dry rub was flavorful without being overly salty - I tried some of the sauce which was sort of like a sweet and sour chili sauce. It wasn't my favorite, but the wings were just fine on their own. I had a couple bites of the cheesesteak, which was cheesy and delicious with lots of meat on a soft roll that held up well. Really good and had a little kick from the jalapenos. I'd definitely get that again. The fries at The Commons are amazing - if you like McDonald's fries, these are basically the same except always delicious, hot, and fresh. The vibe inside is a bit dark, super retro, and fun to explore. There are only a handful of parking spots in the circle drive outside of the building - you'll likely have to park on a side street. The restaurant is slightly hidden in the Oakwood Manor apartment building, but it's off the the left with the entrance under a black awning. read more

The Commons - Twice Cooked Chicken Wings - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I have lived 0.2 miles away from the commons for almost 2 years now and surprisingly i've never been. definitely on my list but due to lack of vegan options it just wasn't a priority. The atmosphere was so cool. We were celebrating a yoga teaching cert and the lounge area was perfect for our group. I ended up getting the portobello cheesesteak sub vegan cheese. unfortunately the bread was not vegan though so i had to get it on a pita. the mushrooms were seasoned so well and the cheese was nice and melty. the mushroom mix did end up soaking and ripping through the pita though. i got a side salad instead of fries and the dressing and green cherry tomatoes were so good. our server was also great. very attentive and knowledgeable. read more

The Commons - portobello cheesesteak - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Great place... great food and drinks at reasonable price. My son said the Nashville hot chicken sandwich was "Fire" which means really good. Cocktails and beer were great and 70's vibe was cool too. Can't wait to go back read more

This place has it all, and then some. Truly one of a kind 80's/90's retro basement core decor, $3 Hamms, a killer brunch menu, and to top it off, the best fried chicken sandwich in town. Yup, I said it. That's really all I've gotta say. read more

Everything about this place speaks to a real love of food and community. If you're looking for great drinks, this is a great spot if you're looking for a comfort food with an interesting spin I would also recommend this place. Whenever people visit who are not from around Grand Rapids I always recommend checking it out because it stands out as a great spot to linger to talk and have a good time. read more

Great little bat/restaurant in the ground floor of Oakwood Manor apartment complex. Kitschy decor and a mellow vibe. Good happy hour options and nice staff. read more

A hidden gem for sure! Reminds me of my grandparents basement but wayyyy cooler and with adult beverages. Their happy hour SLAPS. Mozzarella sticks were My friends wanted to drink the homemade ranch. read more

The Commons - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First of all, let's get one thing straight. The interior of this place is "70's" themed!! NOT 80's. If you think it's 80's, you need to take your young butt to Applebees or something. They definitely nailed it on the whole theme. I don't think there's much of anything that they didn't hit with the vintage vibe. It's dark and cozy inside but it just adds to the atmosphere. The place is definitely tricky to find. It's part of a large apartment building, on the left side corner of the circle drive. So why the 3 stars? First of all parking is not convenient. It's a constant competition for parking with the apartment people. Second is the food. It's not bad, but it wasn't great. Typical tasting food with not a lot of flavor. If you're going all out for a themed restaurant, focus on more of the food from that time, and update it with style and flavor. I just didn't see much of that. Third is price. I don't mind paying a bit more for dinner, but I want it to be something better. I don't want a $80+ check just to drink and eat off vintage plates or glasses, and looking at my old childhood furniture. And finally forth, is service. They were not super busy on a Saturday night, and we were seated right away. Then I almost got up to get someone while for staff to even show up with waters. Each step was a wait. Wait for waters, wait to order food, wait for the food, wait for the check. I'm pretty patient, especially if it's busy, but it wasn't. It was actually kinda frustrating. I usually look for hidden jems and enjoy trying new places. Unfortunately this one isn't worth finding. I'm sorry Commons, your place has a cool vibe. But that's it for me. read more

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After a busy afternoon checking out GR museums we were looking for somewhere to grab an early dinner. I stumbled upon the website for the Commons and we decided to give it a whirl. At first we were confused by the location and parking and with all the one way roads, it's easy to drive past it. It's basically located in a side corner on the lower level of an apartment building. Turns out you CAN park on the circular driveway out front also, but we ended up finding street parking. There is no lot. Walking in we were instantly transported to the 70's. The old school vibe and decor was really cool. The lounge area in the back felt like grandma' living room , I liked it. Our server was super nice and gave us some recommendations. We shared a wedge salad, it was huge and delicious. We both ordered the burger, mine on a gluten-free bun. Omg, that burger is definitely in my top 3 burgers if all time. It was sooooo damn juicy and delicious. And those fries! They reminded me of McDonald's fries, so good! Other things that are noteworthy. They have a lot of interesting cocktails, even some mock tails, flavored seltzer and even CBD sparkling water. Pretty cool! read more

A fantastic hidden gem! The atmosphere was unique and authentic, the food was amazing (highly recommend the wings), and the service was top notch. The place is a little hidden but totally worth it - you won't be disappointed. read more

Hard to find this place because it's disguised as an apartment building (Oakwood Manor Apartments). It is on the very left side/corner of the building. There's a circle drive in front with few parking spots (2 hr limit). Look for an awning outside the entrance. Inside, you'll be transported back to the 70's. They really stick to the theme with furniture, decor, and even the dish and glassware. My only complaint was that it was extremely dark inside despite the pictures giving off light. The host was very helpful highlighting menu items and giving suggestions. I went with the burger; it had such a nice smell and the buns had a subtle crisp I enjoyed. It was on the saltier side; I wish it had tomatoes or lettuce to lighten it up. The fries were soft and crispy. I also tried the Philly cheesesteak made with prime rib. Honestly, I never saw the appeal of a Philly cheesesteak and this one didn't change my mind either. Straightforward meat and bell peppers on a bun. The portions were just right. Not too much and not too little, though I could always go for extra fries. Receipts have QR codes to pay by phone. read more

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The vibes here are immaculate. Love the 1970s basement living room aesthetic. Very cozy and cool. Food is really good. Salmon burger, fish n chips, and meatloaf are all excellent. Will be back for sure. read more

espresso martini was terrible don't waste your money. food was ok but probably not returning.

A friend of mine did the decorating here, so while I was in town, I had to stop by and check it out. Imagine being on the set of That 70's Show to a certain degree and that's what you have here. I was in town with some friends and we started to get a little hungry, so we stopped in. This place is in the bottom of an awesome building that used to be a hotel (and is now apartments, I believe) and it absolutely awesome inside (thanks to Tylor). The decor isn't the only outstanding thing here.. so is the food. My group got two orders of the Prime Rib Dirty Tator Tots, an order of the Prime Rib sliders and the chicken sandwich (made with thigh meat) as well as a few drinks, including a black cherry hard seltzer. The tots had quite a bit of heat to them. Next time, the consensus is that they should be ordered without them. The prime rib sliders were also tasty, but instead of a side of au jus, I think I would have preferred a creamy horseradish. Still, there wasn't a crumb left on the plate, so I can't complain (just point out..). I also did the blue cheese fries and was pretty happy with those too. Several kept disappearing as a friend kept going back for one more fry.. then another.. then another. Fortunately the serving was more than enough so it was easy to share. There was a lot of debate about the chicken sandwich being made with the thigh instead of the breast. My friend who ordered it wasn't sure if he would like it because it wasn't he was used to. The lighting inside also gave it a grey look instead of the normal fried chicken brown, but after he bit into it, he was happy. Great atmosphere thanks to the decorator and great food thanks to Beth and her culinary team! read more

The Commons - Super groovy decor! - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Perfectly located, a wonderful basement lounge and bar in a historic Heritage Hill building. The drinks are fantastic (you actually get your money's worth) and the food is standard classic American comfort food. The aesthetic is kitschy 70's and early 80's which I personally love, when so many restaurants around here are cold and uninviting with the usual industrial orange and greyscale color palette and refurbed metal barrels and sheets and metal seats. read more

The food was ok and the service was good. The lighting was dark and hard to see. There was an old diner feel inside.

Another great find from Yelp! Being in a strange city we had no idea where to go to next. Checking Yelp, the Commons popped up. It was a bit hard to find the door but if you look at the left of the horseshoe in the front of the building you will find it. The place was a good noise level for talking and the wait staff friendly and accommodating for a large group. Orders arrived in a reasonable amount of time and raved by all. I hard the sliders: melt in your mouth delicious! We shared pecan pie - the piece plenty big for 3 of us. I'll mark this as a favorite for a time we may return to Grand Rapids. read more

Super eclectic place if you can manage to find the entrance. Decor looks like it was there under dust covers since the 80s and it's awesome. Good and drinks were wonderful. A must visit for any tourist and a place to frequent for locals. read more

Hidden Gem in Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids. This place is a little hard to find. It's on the side of the apartment building. If you park in the back lot, go towards the right side of the building and follow the side walk around to the front. As I entered the door, I was taken back to the 70s! The entire place was mid modern century vintage galore. From the furniture to the dining plates and cups. On top of that, the music was also from that era. It was so much fun to take in all of it. The living room was awesome...remind me of a basement. They even have a faux fireplace. My friend ordered a round of shots and the owner came over to see who it was. She told us about decorating the place with stuff she found at her parents house. Really fun woman and you can see the pride she has for her business. I love meeting business owners like that who takes time out to talk to their patrons. It makes me want their business to succeed even more. Food and drinks: I had the pomegranate margarita. My friends ordered the loaded tots, frittata and chicken wings. I thought the wings were awesome. So crispy and the seasonings were on point. We ordered lemon drip shots and it was so good. Come visit this dive restaurant/bar for a trip back in time. read more

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The food here is delicious! Definitely feels like down home southern cooking to me. I had the avocado toast and fries which were amazing! My friend has the fried chicken sandwich, which she said was spicy but very flavorful. Definitely good enough to come back for! I recommend checking this place out. It has a nice vibe. Be advised that the line can get long though so plan ahead. read more

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In a word: eclectic. The interior of this bar and restaurant is decorated in such a way that leaves you with a lasting impression and nostalgic for the '80s. The atmosphere is one of casualness and comfort, and that is also seen in their delicious food. I highly recommend the Dirty Tots (tater tots served like nachos) and the Street Corn Mac & Cheese, both of which are unique twists on classic dishes. The Commons has my attention, and I'll be coming back for more. read more

Came here with some of my girlfriends for a late lunch! It was difficult to find because it's on the side of a large building, and there weren't many signs indicating how to get to the restaurant. But once inside it was super cool! Great 70's decor, and the glasses are those super popular colored vintage glasses that are all over tik tok right now. We all got the same thing, a drink with elderflower and champagne, and we got the street corn elote Mac and cheese. Soooo delicious! Our waitress was great as well! I'd definitely come back. read more

LOVE the 70's vibe! They commit to the theme from your drinking glasses to the chairs and all of the decor! Love the lounge vibe there, it is a great place for a couple or a group of friends. We went during happy hour and got a couple drinks and the pretzel nuggets for an app. The drinks were very well made and the pretzel nuggets were the best we have ever had, no exaggeration! We opted for basic bar food which was fish and chips and chicken tenders and fries. Although they were basic options, they were very well made and the tartar sauce and ranch were delicious! Such a fun place to visit, we will be back for sure read more

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There is nothing like this wood paneled, wallpapered, gem of a restaurant anywhere in Grand Rapids. With old-school games, delicious & strong classy cocktails, and a living room set straight out of the 70s, you'll feel transported to your grandmother's basement (but in a good way... as if your grandma had better taste than she actually did back then). We ordered the brussel sprouts (made perfectly unhealthy) and the blue cheese fries, and both were delicious. Those fries alone would bring me back. We ordered the elote mac and cheese which was on point, their fish and chips were delicious, and their burgers were pretty decent too. I ordered a manhattan that came in a cute long stemmed glass, and it was very strong and delicious. I ordered a second. They didn't have many beers on tap, but keep in mind that this is NOT a brewery, which is refreshing in my opinion! We enjoyed our time there, the décor, the living room setting, the games, easy parking, and our food. We will definitely be back soon! read more

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do you like this place the first time I was there. I was just there last night, and I still like the place but you've taken the one thing that brought me there, fried meatloaf, off the menu now you're just a funky place with. average menu. I'm not in a hurry to go back. I had the pattie melt with olives. I can get that anywhere. I heard you know for your burgers, so is Red Robin. read more