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Mertens Prime, Grand Rapids, MI

Mertens Prime

3.7 (1596)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
35 Oakes St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Romantic
  • Charming
Mertens Prime, located in the historic 1914 New Hotel Mertens lobby in Grand Rapids, offers locally sourced, in-house hand-cut steaks, chops, and unique takes on classics. Scratch made kitchen where we make all the pastas and desserts. We have a large selection for vegan & vegetarian.

Prime features a full-service espresso machine and classic pastries like beignets. Guests can enjoy tableside presentations like filet dinner for two, a weekly curated rolling cheese cart, and bananas fosters and creme brulee.

The kitchen is scratch made and we feature many locally sourced products.

The bar top is one of the largest in Grand Rapids and seats 18 guests along with lounge tables. Our bar features a daily happy hour from 4pm-6pm 7 days a week for both food and beverage! Seasonal mocktails available along with many other non-alcoholic offerings.

Mertens Rooftop offers a full bar and a menu of appetizers. To book a reservation at Mertens Rooftop, select "Outdoor Seating", if available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Catering is available for pick up.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer a beautiful private room on our main floor that have all of the turn-of-the-century charm as our main dining room. Mertens Rooftop is also available for private events. See mertensgr.com for details, including complete event guides with menu and pricing options.
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Cross street
    Oakes St SW, between Ionia Ave and Commerce Ave
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available. The closest crossroads are Oakes St. and Commerce Street. The closest parking ramps are Cherry Street Parking Ramp and Weston Parking Ramp. We do not offer parking validation at this time.
  • Public transit
    Oakes & Ionia bust stop
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Bubbles for 2

    $38.00 per party

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Indulge in a beautiful sparkling selection that is just enough for 2 people. This half bottle of wine is great for anniversaries or date nights. Girls night out maybe?
    Bubbles for 2 Photo
  • Rooftop Fireworks!

    $50.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Jul 5, 2025 only
    Take in the fireworks on Mertens Rooftop! Each RESERVATION includes a complimentary welcome drink for each guest and one special dessert *from our select menu* for the table. Guests may arrive at any time after 8:30PM. The venue will close at 11:30PM. This event is non-refundable and is rain-or-shine.
    Rooftop Fireworks! Photo

What 1,596 people are saying

Mertens Prime reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.7
3.7 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 4.0Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 3.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

    Romantic

  • Grand Rapids

    Great for brunch

  • Grand Rapids

    Healthy

  • Grand Rapids

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Grand Rapids

    Romantic

  • Grand Rapids

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Mertens Prime boasts a "stunning ambiance" with its historical charm and breathtaking rooftop views. Guests rave about its "delicious filet mignon" and unique tableside experiences, like the "incredible martini" made just for you. While some guests note slower service, the "friendly staff" and "amazing cocktails" promise a memorable dining outing.
1,596 Reviews
  1. Ginny VIP

    Grand Rapids / Western Michigan11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We left detailed feedback for the restaurant in private. Our food was really good. It took a long time for us to be greeted by a server, and it took a very long time for us to get our food.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Maya

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love the white couches and marble tables. Pretty at sunset!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Myonbe

    Grand Rapids / Western Michigan1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fine dinning! Refreshing spirits! Nice tasteful bread!

    Is this helpful?

  4. tony

    Detroit / Eastern Michigan3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We reserved rooftop but it was only small plates which didn’t say that online. Opted to get full menu by sitting inside. Fantastic staff. Great service. Food was ok. Nothing memorable. Very slow restaurant with a cool bar. Memorial weekend so it wasn’t crazy because everyone was out of town. Probably won’t go back. No glaring issues, but if going to spend $140 for dinner it’s got to be better than that.

    1 person found this helpful

  5. Larry

    Grand Rapids / Western Michigan2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My date and I came in for the rooftop. Wow! What a beautiful view. We had a couple of cocktails and some snacks, but stayed for the sunset. Its so lovely up there. I literally felt free as a bird up above the city!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Joanne VIP

    Pittsburgh / Western PA45 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We went here on Mother's Day evening -- and I think the staff were just tired after having worked the Mother's Day brunch crowd... Our food was excellent, and our waitress was excellent -- and they did give us a discount since they were not at the top of their game. But, it was nearly 45 minutes before we finally got our bottle of wine. Again, the food was excellent & our server did the very best to keep us informed. We might give the rooftop dining a try another time.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jake

    Grand Rapids / Western Michigan5 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Nothing online said the only option would be a buffet. The buffet was worse than what you’d get for free at a cheap hotel. Overcooked steak. Overcooked sausage patties. Best Western-style scrambled eggs. Absolutely mediocre food options, prepared poorly and confusingly laid out. No mention of price ($50/person) or that an 18% gratuity would be included…when we had to get our own food! Just a terrible overall experience.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Nicole VIP

    Grand Rapids / Western Michigan21 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We went to Mertens for Mother’s Day brunch. I was not aware ahead of time that it was buffet only, which would have been ok, except the buffet was not at all close to then quality that we’ve come to expect from Mertens. There really wasn’t anything special about it. For $50 a person, I would expect a carving station or fresh waffles, omelets, specialty desserts or something that would stand out as more than a standard buffet. It was a disappointing and expensive brunch out.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Matt

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Made reservations for Mother's Day brunch. A red flag went off when we walked in and A) It was 10% full and B) No worker seemed to really care that we walked inside. We were seated at the back corner and our waitress came to take our drink order, we asked if it was just the buffet or if we could order off the brunch menu as well, "yes, buffet" was her reply. I love a good mystery. She then came back to let me know that they were out of red sangria. Okay I'll have a bloody Mary, thanks. We then sat at the table for fifteen minutes, just kind of waiting around. My youngest son was starving so he and I went to look at the buffet, maybe they have plates laid out like they do at a buffet....nothing. Our server and another wait staff were opposite us folding napkins, a lot of napkin folding going on. Occasionally the waiter would look at us and then to our waitress next to him. I believe he was trying to do what experts call "nonverbal persuasion" or "subconscious influence". It didn't work but thanks for trying my man. We then got up and walked to our car drove a few blocks over to a bustling San Chez, who were kind enough to squeeze us in a small window of time they had, and proceeded to have a wonderful Mother's Day brunch.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Paul

    Detroit / Eastern Michigan1 review

    2.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Booked a reservation for an anniversary dinner and noted that in the reservation. Took 25-30 minutes for anyone to come to our table to greet us and get us a glass of water. The waitress only came to our table every 30 min. We had to get up and go ask the bartender to get her for us. We had only managed to order apps in an hour and a half. After apps we waited another 30 min and still had not put our main entrees in. We got our bill and left, we went elsewhere. There are much better restaurants in Grand Rapids that are less expensive and a better experience. Over 2 hours of dinning and only managed to get a drink and an appetizer.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Mertens Prime offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (616) 551-1713.

Mertens Prime is rated 3.7 stars by 1596 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Grand Rapids / Western Michigan
  4. Grand Rapids
  5. Grand Rapids

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Mertens Prime

35 Oakes St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Oakes St SW, between Ionia Ave and Commerce Ave
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available. The closest crossroads are Oakes St. and Commerce Street. The closest parking ramps are Cherry Street Parking Ramp and Weston Parking Ramp. We do not offer parking validation at this time.
  • Public transit
    Oakes & Ionia bust stop
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Catering is available for pick up.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer a beautiful private room on our main floor that have all of the turn-of-the-century charm as our main dining room. Mertens Rooftop is also available for private events. See mertensgr.com for details, including complete event guides with menu and pricing options.
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