I am sad that I live so far away from Grand Rapids because that means that I don't get to enjoy this delicious restaurant nearly enough! The restaurant itself is bright and inviting, the staff is super attentive and friendly and the food is fresh and innovative. Their Risotto was one of my favorite dishes I have ever had and I am still dreaming about the popovers. There is also a speakeasy in the basement and the drinks are delicious! Upscale workout being stuffy. Loved everything about our visit! read more

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The food was largely amazing in a good way. The service was particularly disappointing. Our meal took over two hours, and it very much seemed that the staff believed "sorry we are busy" and a free desert would make it all better. More details below. The food was excellent, except for the falafel. I've never had falafel before that wasn't crispy on the outside. I'm not sure if the dish sat for a while before being served, or if The Pines simply serves it non-crispy. It was soggy. The great food included: Chicken, Scampi, Sea Bass, Walleye Tempura, Popovers, Potatoes, Beets, Cauliflower. All of these were excellent and everyone at our table was so pleased. The service: I'm not sure if I will return. It is unlikely. Our initial round of food appeared very quickly. Things slowed down after that. The rest of the food took an eternity to arrive. I truly considered asking for the bill and leaving before our mains, but we were treating friends. My tiny water glass kept going empty, and finally someone asked if we would like a carafe of water. Yes, yes indeed. Beverages were in general slow. We were told that we would receive a free desert, and asked for the menu. When she came to see what we might order, we had to ask for the menu a second time. More slow. What fun. I privately let our server know I was quite disappointed prior to the bill arriving. I was crystal clear before we ordered that I was to receive the bill. The bill was left on the table with one of my guests. I provided my credit card, and again the bill was left with my female guest. Did you even look at my name on the card (an obviously male name). read more

You don't come here to eat, you come here to experience fine dining. We compared it to our experience at Gary Danko in San Francisco 20 years ago. The Pines is one of our most memorable dining experiences from the Speakeasy in the basement to the upper level table which was perfect for us. The food and service were exceptional. It perhaps would be nice to see another option or two for entrees, but the seasonal menu is nice. Get the cauliflower, it is fantastic. read more

My wife and I took our adult daughter out for dinner here to celebrate her birthday. It was an excellent choice, as the food was excellent, the service top notch, and the atmosphere relaxing. We felt well taken care of by our server Luke without feeling intruded upon. We feel lucky to have a dining establishment of this caliber in Grand Rapids and look forward to many more outings here with friends and family. read more

So disappointing. The reservation was messed up, the host forgot to check the email for a whole day. It was really noisy. The waiter was condescending. The steaks were over cooked, but the appetizer and salad was good. read more

Perfect spot for a unique meal experience in Grand Rapids. At The Pines you can try a variety of fresh options through their curated menu- share plates, entrees and you cannot forget to have a tapa or two from their 'First' or 'Second'.. especially the popovers that come with a savory & sweet spread on the side. This is a great spot for any occasion and there is always something new on the menu. Make sure to check out their Instagram! Before or after your delectable meal you can head downstairs to the cocktail lounge to try one of their drinks. The Pines offers a separate menu of drinks only available at the lounge. Dessert is also available at the cocktail lounge. read more

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I've eaten dinner here twice, and had cocktails downstairs on three occasions. On every occasion the food was excellent and the drinks outstanding. What really sets the Pines apart, though, is the service. From the minute you walk in to the second you leave you can tell you are someplace where people are passionate about what they do and genuinely thrilled to be there. It feels like coming to a fun dinner party. Plus they're super accommodating, even bringing me warm water to mix up formula for my baby. read more

This was our first time at The Pines and it was great! We didn't have a reservation but got seated right away. The ambience was great (we were on the main floor) and all of the staff were super friendly. We had Christopher as our server and he was awesome!! I loved how unique the menu was and the different sections they had. We had tried the popovers, the twice fried potatoes, the chicken entree, and the apple turnover cake. Everything was phenomenal! We also got brought out a pre-dinner snack which was not expected and it was so good. We checked out the downstairs before we left and it was a super cool space! We definitely want to go back to hang out down there at some point. I highly recommend trying this spot out! Another great addition to the Grand Rapids area. We definitely will be back! read more

The Pines - Apple turnover cake from The Pines (seasonal) - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Enjoyed a date night on the upper floor. Food was delicious and spaced well to allow us to enjoy our time. The off menu peach dessert was a pleasant addition. Was a Friday night and restaurant was full of energy and customers, but we did not notice any noise or our neighbors. We were able to focus on each other. Staff was friendly and engaging, offering suggestions and asking for feedback. We started in the speak easy downstairs with a cocktail and enjoyed the atmosphere and selection. A great way to start our evening. Tab was transferred without issue and combined with our final bill. Love the use of local, fresh ingredients. Our second time in and this will be a regular stop for us every time we are in town! read more

The Pines - Try the cocktails! - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Minnesota

We had our Anniversary dinner here in August. Literally one of the BEST meals I have ever had! From the wine to appetizers to our meal!! We sat just far enough from people we could have a conversation. Our waitress was amazing and helped us make the best decisions. Oh oh and let's not forget the popovers!! I have not had these since the Sawmill served them... AAAAMMMAZING! read more

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Food was great, our server Katie was awesome, and the speak easy downstairs was an added bonus! The building was well done with the restoration utilizing every inch! read more

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You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Our first impression at The Pines was opening the front door into a wall of noise. It was so noisy in there that the hostesses had trouble understanding each other and it was impossible to carry on a normal conversation with the waiter or others at the table. The most common word said at our table was: "What?" We had a 7PM reservation and around 1PM I had left a message on the restaurant web page asking that we not be seated where we had to negotiate stairs. No one read this message and it became a big puzzle when we declined to be seated at the top of 22 stairs. This was finally resolved by seating the three of us at a large roundtable for six. This, of course, made ordinary conversation even less feasible. The food ranged from good to great. The menu, oddly, has numbered sections. Not "antipasto, primo, secondo, ... " like an Italian menu, just numbers. The waiter explained that sections 1-2 were really not menu items but just appetizers. So ... pork belly appetizer $24 (!). Between #2 and #3 was a section "For the Table." These were side dishes served family style. We tried the Wild Rice "Risotto" and the Bryndlewood Tomato plate, each priced like an entrée at $16. The "risotto" in particular was excellent. Section 3, actual entrées, included a no-protein pasta dish at $28 and a NY strip steak AT $45. My son and I opted for steaks, which beyond the price were unremarkable. Around 1/2" thick hence very difficult too cook medium-rare as ordered, and not particularly tender. We can buy meat like that in the local grocery store. The waiter brought the two "For the Table" items fairly quickly but we waited at least a half hour, maybe 45 minutes, for the steaks. We had a nice Argentinian Cabernet ($60) and the waiter did a good job on the wine service. Proper placement of bread plates and silverware was a bit more of a mystery and when he dropped the check ($200+) he was preparing to leave until I asked him to clear the table. This had apparently not occurred to him. So ... overall it was a disappointing evening. Some good food, yes, but overpriced and in less-than-pleasant surroundings. I don't think we'll ever be back. read more

This place is a gem. The food is excellent, ambience just as good. The space is lovely. Service was also very good; everyone we encountered aimed to please. A few observations- the main level is a fun space open to the kitchen. It is therefore a bit loud, but we didn't mind at all. If you want a quieter setting, you could ask to be seated upstairs. Restrooms were up and downstairs, not on the main (walk-in) level. The cocktails were both creative and delicious. Try them. The food will satisfy all your "foodie" friends. Nice selection, fresh ingredients, and delicious preparation. The price point is fair and reasonable for the high quality product. In the Twin Cities you'd pay quite a bit more for the same food. Overall we had an exceptional experience and plan to go back often. read more

The Pines - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Excellent food and service. It is a big city fine dining experience up north. There are so many dishes to choose from and each made with fresh ingredients. Taste is key and the experienced use of herbs and spices elevates each dish to deliciousness. read more

I don't know why this fabulous restaurant does not come up on a "restaurant" search in Grand Rapids. It shows up under "bars and lounges", but not restaurants. The Pines is the best thing in food, signature cocktails, and service quality that Grand Rapids has had in a long, long time. Their bartenders, led by Nathan and Matt, take great pride in their cocktail creations and pleasing their customers. Amanda and Kyle have really done it right! read more

This restaurant lounge is beyond amazing.. you are in the iron range, you walked into a beautiful old building and are greated by joyful people excited to host you for the evening. The lounge downstairs is a treat, definitely a speakeasy vibe with cocktails that took time to prepare so they should be sipped and savored. Then let me tell you about the food. Start with the popovers of course! Now, this is farm to table so the menu will be rotating to match the fresh food that is available. As vegetarians we were blown away by the options. The wild rice frittata, everything bagel cauliflower and pesto pasta were our favorites. We were too full to try the beautiful desserts we saw but the neighboring tables were raving about them. This is an experience I can't wait to try again! read more

The Pines - Lounges Near Me - Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Outstanding service, menu, and presentation. We had a party of seven on a Sunday evening. Our server (Christopher T. ) was gracious, knowledgeable, and made sure we had what we needed without hovering. The food itself it first rate and very reasonably priced for the exceptional quality and presentation. The main dining room is light and energetic (we learned there is a dining area upstairs that is quieter with lower lighting, as well as a dining room downstairs perfect for stopping in for drinks and dessert.) Our table enjoyed the skirt steak and the scallops, along with delicious sides dishes of roasted carrots, cauliflower, and field green salads. read more

extremely nice atmosphere, the understory is a very pleasant place to drink and lounge. Nathan is a wonderful bartender, nice to talk with and makes a damn good old fashioned. read more