Grand Rapids Dinner Guide

January 13, 2023
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Tacos with lime and pickled onions beside a bowl of tomato-topped rice.

Grand Rapids is full of locally owned restaurants that make for such a fun night out on the town! We’ve composed a list of our top 10 places to grab dinner in Grand Rapids and hope you’ll put it to use the next time you’re looking for a place to eat out! We also have a list of our favorite lunch places and brunch places in the city, which you can find on our blog page or down below!

View Our Lunch Guide!

View Our Brunch Guide!

1. Creston Brewery

Potato chips with scallion dip and fried hush puppies with dipping sauce beside a restaurant menu.

Brewery interior with a large colorful floral mural and orange walls.

Mediterranean platter with paprika-dusted hummus, pita, falafel, quinoa salad, pickled onions, and lemon.

We only have good things to say about Creston Brewery! Their menu is constantly changing and rotating based on seasonal foods and features, and their food is some of the best we’ve had in GR! Not to mention, they brew their own beer, which is definitely a crowd favorite! You can find events every week at Creston Brewery as well; from trivia night to bingo night to live music and more! And, as if we couldn’t brag about them any more, they also serve brunch every Sunday–and it is SO good!!

Visit Their Website!

2. One Twenty Three Tavern

Restaurant storefront with a brick facade, arched window, and “burger beer patio” sign.

Grilled burger and thin fries with dipping sauce beside a red iced drink and menu.

one.twenty.three. restaurant entrance with a projecting sign on a tan brick building.

123 Tavern is located in Studio Park, which means that you can plan an entire night on the town all in one place! Grab dinner and drinks at One Twenty Three and then catch a movie at Celebration Cinema at Studio Park. Their menu is full of amazing dishes you won’t want to miss out on!

Visit Their Website!

3. Luna

Three colorful cocktails with salted rims, lime wedges, and a dried red chile garnish.

Luna ADA storefront entrance with a round orange sign on the glass door.

Tacos with sautéed onions, lime wedges, and pickled onions beside rice and sauce.

Luna now has two locations in West Michigan, one Downtown GR and one in Ada Village. They’re known for their margaritas, and we can assure you, they are amazing! Check out their menu on their website to find an array of tacos and more Mexican favorites. (One of our favs on the menu is the Elote!)

Visit Their Website!

4. Electric Cheetah

Breakfast platter with fried eggs, sausage, biscuit, ham, and browned potatoes on a restaurant table.

Creamy milkshake topped with whipped cream and a strawberry on a restaurant table.

Sliced grilled chicken over creamy macaroni and cheese, topped with herbs and white sauce.

Electric Cheetah is definitely an all-out Grand Rapids favorite. It is characterized by its “quirky” menu choices and homemade root beer. With two locations, one on Wealthy St and one in Cascade, you won’t be disappointed by their menu! We would recommend the Mac N Cheese because it is Oh So Good!

Visit Their Website!

5. MDRD

Restaurant dinner spread with grilled fish, shrimp, greens, and other dishes on a marble table.

Hand holding a citrus cocktail beside two drinks and a candle at a lounge table.

Crème brûlée and a lemon dessert on a restaurant table beside wine glasses and a candle.

MDRD is all the hype right now in GR as the city sightseeing, Spanish cuisine sweet spot. The vibe is definitely more elegant and formal, which makes for a special night out on the town. Choose from a menu of Spanish tapas and dishes as well as mouth-watering desserts and a full drink menu and bar. We cannot wait for you to experience this Spanish-inspired spot!

Visit Their Website!

6. Butchers Union

Grilled steak with herbs, grated cheese, and roasted potato wedges on a blue plate.

Butcher's Union restaurant exterior with a blue hanging sign and brick facade.

Van Winkle bourbon beside a crystal tumbler of amber whiskey on a dark tabletop.

Butchers Union is known for their whiskey collection, meat-heavy menu, and their unbeatable vibe. They have created a culture of warmth and belonging, and it truly is the perfect place to enjoy a meal or a creatively crafted cocktail with your favorite people! We absolutely love Butchers Union and know that you will too!

Visit Their Website!

7. Donkey Taqueria

Vegetable flatbread topped with sautéed mushrooms, chopped vegetables, orange sauce, and crisp greens.

Outdoor restaurant patio with glowing dining igloos and string lights at night.

Two frozen drinks, one with a chili-salt rim and jalapeño garnish, beside a sugar-rimmed drink.

Donkey Taqueria is a classic Wealthy St gem! They serve up more than amazing tacos, margaritas of all flavors, and their atmosphere is unbeatable. The place is seriously so cute and is the perfect place for tacos and margs on any night of the week!

Visit Their Website!

8. Bistro Bella Vita

Bartender pours a pink cocktail beside a blue drink and a menu.

Bistro Bella Vita entrance with snow-covered steps and a curved sign.

Restaurant spread with zucchini pizza, pasta, plated dishes, and colorful cocktails.

A fancier Downtown GR dinner is how Bistro Bella Vita is known. (And pssstt, it makes for a great date night!) Their menu consists of unique cocktails as well as a variety of pizzas, pasta, entrees, and more. Bistro Bella Vita is sure to blow you away with all that it has to offer.

Visit Their Website!

9. Stella's Lounge

Cheeseburger with fries and a drink, with other burgers in the background.

Colorful pinball machine with a circular playfield and brightly lit bumpers.

Hand holding an orange frozen drink with a striped straw in front of a colorful mural.

We love Stella’s. The vibe is definitely different from any other restaurant in the city, as you are presented with a more alternative vibe. They’re known for their stuffed burgers, whiskeys, 80’s arcade game collection, and graffitied walls! The food is amazing, and spending your night at Stella’s is sure to be memorable!

Visit Their Website!

10. Grand Rapids Brewing Company

Three beers on a counter, including an amber ale in a branded mug.

Flatbread pizza with cherry tomatoes, greens, balsamic drizzle, and two dipping sauces.

Cheeseburger and crinkle-cut fries beside a foamy Grand Rapids Brewing Co. beer.

If you’re looking for some good beer and pizza, Grand Rapids Brewing Co right Downtown has definitely got ya covered. And guess what?! They have a game room that is free to the public with a pool table, arcade games, and more! Grand Rapids Brewing Company is a monumental brewing company in Grand Rapids, as it was founded in 1893 and was open until the years of prohibition. In 2012, it reopened near its original location and has been blessing GR with good food and rich history ever since!

Visit Their Website!

It was nearly impossible to narrow down the list to just 10 brunch spots in GR, so we also wanted to add in a few honorable mentions below!

You can also check out our neighborhood pages for even more diner spots we love in the city!

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