Your Guide to Restaurant Week GR 2016

Hello Restaurant Week GR! From August 10-21 you can experience a three course tasting menu at some of your favorite or new restaurants here in Grand Rapids. This is the perfect opportunity to grab your friends or plan a date night to try a restaurant on your go-to list and enjoy a delicious meal. For $28 you can enjoy an appetizer, entree and dessert and get the full experience at some of the hottest restaurants in town. Reservations are strongly encouraged and you can sneak a peek at some of the menus to get a taste of what to expect.

If you need some ideas of where to go here are my picks:

Hot Newcomers:

1.  Brighton Graye’s Bistro

Brighton Graye’s Bistro opened at the end of June and it’s created quite a buzz for modern cuisine that focuses on local growers. For an urban feel in a neighborhood setting this is a great restaurant to try. The Restaurant Week menu looks fabulous with options that everyone will enjoy.

2. Iron Restaurant

If you haven’t been to Iron yet now is the time to go. Iron is the place to be downtown Grand Rapids with a great patio and a menu that focuses on seasonal ingredients from local Michigan farmers. Their menu for restaurant week looks fabulous and I might be going if only to enjoy the s’mores #obsessed.

3. Wheelhouse

Wheelhouse opened earlier this summer and I love meeting friends here for happy hour or dinner. The cocktails are outstanding (see below) and the food offered a contemporary twist on some of your favorite dishes. This is the best spot to grab a drink before a show at Van Andel Arena and an awesome pick for Restaurant Week!

The Classics:

1. Terra GR

If you ask me what my favorite restaurant is in Grand Rapids I’ll tell you it’s Terra. I just love their farm to table approach with a cozy atmosphere and fun patio during the summer. If you’ve never been to Terra this is the perfect excuse to give them a try and eat a delicious meal.

2. The Green Well

You just can’t go wrong with the food and the service and The Green Well. Located in the East Hills neighborhood the patio is an ideal place to grab a drink and enjoy a three course meal for Restaurant Week. I think that oatmeal cookie sandwich with salty turtle ice cream has my name written all over it.

3. Amore Trattoria Italiana

For classic Italian fare your best bet is heading to Amore Trattoria Italiana. Here you can truly experience delicious Italian favorites that make me dream of going back to Italy. Also, during restaurant week they offer a five course tasting menu which is perfect to enjoy on date night.