Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Brick and Brine

4.9

4.9 (1036)

$31 to $50

American

Kalamazoo

About the restaurant

Brick and Brine is located on the 1st floor of the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Downtown Kalamazoo. Our restaurant is right off of the Kalamazoo Mall past Old Burdick's Bar & Grill.

Inspired by a natural propensity for classic duos, Brick and Brine isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a space of masterful craftsmanship that represents a strong foundation of social connectedness. It’s an intentionally forged experience speaking to both local and visiting guests’ desire for warm conversation, savory dishes, and exceptional service.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, winding down from a long workday, or spending quality time with loved ones, Brick and Brine provides an experience and atmosphere that will uniquely add flavor to your evening.

Join us and immerse yourself at Brick and Brine.

Top review

Suzette

Dined 1 day ago

We celebrated our anniversary with dinner at Brick and Brine. The wait staff went above and beyond to make our special occasion memorable. Everything from rose petals sprinkled on our table, to the menu signed by the staff with an anniversary message, to many of the staff greetings us with “Happy Anniversary “. Delightful. The menu consisted of wonderful choices, and the food was delicious. We will certainly visit this restaurant again.

HopCat - Grand Rapids

4.8

4.8 (108)

$30 and under

American

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

The original HopCat location is located in a historical building downtown Grand Rapids. Steps from Van Andel Arena, GLC Live at 20 Monroe, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum, our restaurant features a dog-friendly outdoor patio, oversized wooden bar, and comfortable seating.

HopCat was founded on the principles of bringing local craft beer a bit closer to the communities we love. We’re known for our award-wining Cosmik fries, which are beer battered, sprinkled with our signature cracked black pepper seasoning, and served with a side of warm cheese sauce. From burgers to tacos, our menu offers a range of delicious options.

We live the craft lifestyle - beer, cocktails, and even craft food made from scratch. With a dedication to local breweries sustainability and community engagement, HopCat offers craft beer and great food in a vibrant atmosphere for an inclusive, unforgettable experience.

No matter who you are or where you come from, you're always welcome in our community.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 2 days ago

The noise level was loud and made conversation difficult

Peppino's Pizzeria & Sports Grille - Jenison

4.8

4.8 (87)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Holland

About the restaurant

Peppino's Pizzeria & Sports Grille of Jenison is a locally owned sports bar specializing in pizza, craft beer & cocktails, and elevated bar food. We offer a cozy but modern atmosphere that is ideal for families, couples, or groups. Conveniently located off I-196, Peppino's is the ideal meeting spot for your next brunch, lunch, or dinner. We look forward to seeing you!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 20, 2025

Food was great!! Brooke our server was attentive and very helpful.

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Experience

3rd Annual Mother's Day Brunch

Dabney & Co. - Cocktail Bar and Lounge

4.7

4.7 (22)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Southern

Kalamazoo

About the restaurant

Home of the iconic Mint Julep, Dabney & Co. offers a speakeasy-style, Contemporary Southern dining experience that blends bold flavors with soulful hospitality. Our menu features standout dishes like Black Eyed Pea Hummus, Peach Cobbler Cornbread, and Maple-Drizzled Chicken & Cornbread. Our award-winning cocktails and unique environment have been featured on NPR, TripAdvisor, and in the Michigan Tourism Campaign.

Tucked away in downtown Kalamazoo, Dabney & Co. combines an intimate, speakeasy atmosphere with walls adorned in rich music history. The sounds of Dabney range from Blues to Soul, R&B, and classic Hip Hop, setting the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening. With live music every Friday and regular events, there’s always something exciting happening. Our twice-crowned City Cocktail Competition Champions cocktail program perfectly complements the lively ambiance, making Dabney & Co. a must-visit destination.

Top review

Theresa

Dined 6 days ago

This establishment is one of my favorites. The Respect drink hits the spot but the banana pudding dessert was spectacular! Great place to meet friends and enjoy the evening. Make reservations early to attend all their events!

Plank's Tavern

4.6

4.6 (1172)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Saint Joseph

About the restaurant

Plank's Tavern on the Water is on one of the oldest harbors in the Great lakes.
Its approachable modern menu, home-style seating, and waterfront location takes inspiration from the place it's in, the people who live here, and the past it comes from.

We offer indoor and outdoor seating, outdoor seating is available on a first come, first served basis and cannot be reserved. although every effort will be made to accommodate your seating preferences.

Join us in a place where everyone is welcomed!

Top review

Bennie

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

Good food and service nice outside area when the weather is nice. Prices are average for a nice restaurant

Knoop

4.5

4.5 (439)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

Our upscale rooftop cocktail lounge serves elevated American cuisine. Savor made from scratch sharables and small bites as well as special craft cocktails served tableside with our personalized flair. Delight in a wide variety of local beer and wine while enjoying stunning views of downtown Grand Rapids.

Top review

Margaret

Dined on Mar 28, 2025

Great views. Fun cocktails and interesting food options

HopCat - Kalamazoo

4.4

4.4 (44)

$30 and under

American

Kalamazoo

About the restaurant

Located in a historic train freight depot, this location features a multi-season outdoor patio, private event space, and a special installation of guitars from Kalamazoo's own Heritage Guitars. We're a short walk from Bell's, Arcadia, and other downtown breweries and beer bars in this great beer city.

HopCat was founded on the principles of bringing local craft beer a bit closer to the communities we love. We’re known for our award-wining Cosmik fries, which are beer battered, sprinkled with our signature cracked black pepper seasoning, and served with a side of warm cheese sauce. From burgers to tacos, our menu offers a range of delicious options.

We live the craft lifestyle - beer, cocktails and even craft food made from scratch. With a dedication to local breweries, sustainability and community engagement, HopCat offers craft beer and great food in a vibrant atmosphere for an inclusive, unforgettable experience.

Top review

Paul

Dined on Apr 14, 2025

Good food and menu variety. Friendly and attentive service.

Taco Borracho

4.3

4.3 (25)

$31 to $50

Latin / Spanish

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

We are an authentic Mexican and Latin full service restaurant and bar, offering a unique blend of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban flavors. Our purpose and mission is to focus on the blending of cultures and to bring people together from every background and every walk of life. Everything is made in house, using fresh & local ingredients. We are committed to providing a unique and unforgettable experience, located in the heart of Grand Rapids. Kick back on our one of a kind patio this summer and enjoy a delicious margarita tower! Join us today!

Top review

nastassia

Dined on Mar 22, 2025

we enjoi ( ed ) ourselves , this is a place I would tell people about , little pricey and hard to find a parking , so come early .

P.F. Chang's - Grand Rapids

4.1

4.1 (139)

$30 and under

Chinese

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

Food was delicious and our waiter was outstanding and made the experience perfect

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Grand Rapids Center

3.9

3.9 (83)

$30 and under

American

Coldwater

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we’ve continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ’s a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ’s to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back.

We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we’ve put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better.

So in many ways we haven’t just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it’s because of them we’re continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts.

Welcome to BJ’s, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Sherray

Dined on Mar 7, 2025

This was my 3rd time coming to BJ'S. The atmosphere is always nice, Food is great and I always get the same waitress and she is always friendly, helpful and attentive! I'd definitely keep coming back

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