Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots 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!

Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon

4.9

4.9 (586)

$30 and under

Steak

Holland

About the restaurant

Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon in Holland, Michigan has received the "Best of Michigan" award for 18 years in a row now. While it's obviously a steakhouse, there is so much more at Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon to enjoy. For nearly 25 years, the menu here has also featured ribs, sweet marinated chicken and lots of seafood options.

There are some great sandwiches and burgers at Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon, too. The bacon cheddar burger, boot kicken' bleu burger and Zeek's classic burger are just three specialties worth considering. If you like barbecue, try the big pig. You'll get a plate of slow-cooked pork barbecue piled high on a home-style bun.

Top review

Gayle

Dined 5 days ago

Service and food were good. Would come back again if in the area.

The Melting Pot - Grand Rapids

4.8

4.8 (1217)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Melting Pot. We offer a truly unique dining experience created by the art of fondue. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, a long overdue date night, or celebrating with a group, The Melting Pot is perfect for any occasion. Tailor your visit with a four-course dining experience including cheese fondue, salad, entree and chocolate fondue. Or, come by for fondue cheese paired with that perfect glass of wine from our extensive selection. That's not to say we haven't had more than a few stop by to satisfy that chocolate craving after a movie.

Top review

Mar

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Beautiful place to eat. Experience. Nice way to connect with others.

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Smuggler's at North Shore

4.8

4.8 (190)

$30 and under

American

Newaygo

About the restaurant

Smuggler's at North Shore is a modern & casual dockside eatery featuring a broad, classic American-style menu, with home-made favorites ranging from classic steak & seafood dishes, to pasta, wood-fired pizza, and pub grub. Also, we offer a signature cocktail menu spotlighting all-Michigan-based distillers, a range of draught beer options, a casual-to-fine wine selection, and slushie options.

Top review

Sheryl

Dined 5 days ago

Smuggler restaurant is fine dining with a beautiful atmosphere and ambience on the lake. Our waitress was very friendly and courteous. The food was excellent. We would recommend to our friends and family to check out smuggler when they’re in town.

The Post Tavern

4.7

4.7 (123)

$31 to $50

American

Ada

About the restaurant

Now Open in Ada Village—At The Post Tavern in downtown Ada, MI, we're not just a restaurant; we're a welcoming social hub where friends, families, and neighbors come together to create cherished memories over hand-crafted tavern fare and locally brewed craft beers. Our staff exudes warmth and hospitality, ensuring you feel right at home from the moment you walk through our doors. Join us and experience the heart of Ada's social scene, where every visit promises genuine connections and moments of celebration that surpass the ordinary.

Top review

Scott

Dined 1 day ago

Wonderful atmosphere, great food and our server Susie was outstanding.

Dabney & Co. - Cocktail Bar and Lounge

4.7

4.7 (23)

$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 4 days ago

Another EPIC night with good friend delicious drinks and a phenomenal DJ! This is one of the best places to be on a Saturday night!

Knoop

4.5

4.5 (440)

$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

CBK

4.4

4.4 (651)

$30 and under

American

Wayland

About the restaurant

CBK - Craft Bar Kitchen - is our modern take on traditional pub fare. The menus mix some of the freshest local ingredients while seasonally inspired menus highlight our chef’s culinary expertise. Come join the fun and excitement as we make CBK the ultimate place to meet with friends and family while enjoying your night on the town at Gun Lake Casino.

While here, help yourself to some of the best locally crafted beer at our CBK Beer Wall! Enjoy up to 40 self-serve beers as you sample our vast offerings.

In the summer, enjoy our outdoor patio with fireplace and patio games. In the winter, make your reservations for our heated igloos for you and up to 6 others in our newly added amenity.

For parties larger than 8, please call Guest Relations at (269) 792-7777

Top review

Teri

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

We enjoyed our dinner! we were able to talk, not many people dining. Salads are very large portions! On another note: Our coupon we got from the Grand Rapids Griffins (on the back of the ticket) was expired in 2023, even though we had just been to the Griffins game a few days prior to visiting CBK. Please inform the ticketing agent for the Grand Rapids Griffins to not use expired coupons when printing the game tickets. we didn't notice the date because the printing was extremely small.

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.

Kankakee Grille - Four Winds Casino

4.3

4.3 (1243)

$30 and under

American

New Buffalo

About the restaurant

There is no better place in the area to enjoy delicious dining, a large selection of craft beers, specialty, cocktails, and live entertainment. Comfort foods with a modern twist that satisfy every craving: Hearth baked pizzas, soups and salads, hometown favorites, and more. Live entertainment every weekend with the best stage and sound in Michiana.

Top review

Rick

Dined 6 days ago

Food was pretty basic, prices OK, atmosphere OK. Good, Just not exceptional.

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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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