Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants 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!

Bowdies Chophouse - Saugatuck

4.9

4.9 (2840)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Saugatuck

About the restaurant

Welcome to Bowdies Chophouse - Saugatuck, serving 100% U S D A Prime, 28 day dry aged meat! We look forward to serving you soon! We can accommodate parties of 6 or less. Parties of more than 6 will be sat separately, and not all seats are handicap accessible.

Top review

HeidiVIP

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Michael was our server, very friendly, knowledgeable of the menu, gave suggestions, Tomahawk Steak was delicious.

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Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (1282)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Saugatuck

About the restaurant

Every coastline brings with it an air of freshness and wonder, an inspiration in every ebb and flow. Coasts can be recognizable and new … predictably unpredictable in a way that can surprise or delight. But no matter the geography, there is a familiarity and a connection. At Coast 236, the rhythm of familiarity and freshness is our inspiration. Sourcing fresh and sustainable ingredients from water and land, we passionately craft approachable coastal inspired cuisine with unexpected details. Coast 236 takes reservations for tables of 1-6 guests only through open table. Sorry, service animals only.

Top review

BobVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful food and presentation interesting wine list and if you can dine out in their courtyard

Stella's Lounge

4.8

4.8 (30)

$30 and under

Burgers

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

Stella's Is For You (And Us)
Our menu goes way beyond the typical freezer bag to fryer crap you find at a lot of bars. Our famous giant stuffed burgers were named Best in America by GQ in 2012 and Best in Grand Rapids by Grand Rapids Magazine and On the Town. We even make our own vegetarian and vegan burgers, beer-battered avocados and stuffed tots.

We also have over 250 kinds of whiskey for your sipping pleasure. Canadian, Scotch, Irish, American (including some Michigan-made varieties) -- we cover the map.

Top review

Gordon

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Food was great but beware no domestic beers served here.

Brick and Brine

4.8

4.8 (1079)

$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

Jonathan

Dined 4 days ago

Server was great. We liked the musician playing. The food was really good. It was a little tough to find for being out of towners and some construction.

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Popular dish

Espresso Baked Alaska

4.8

4.8 (193)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Park Township

About the restaurant

Welcome to Chop Shop Primehouse—the place for prime steak sophistication. Join us for a culinary journey where fine dining waltzes with street art and prime cuts charm with edgy flavors, perfect for those moments where the ordinary just won't do.

Top review

PeterVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent as usual. Julianna was super and helpful with our daughter’s allergy concerns. Thanks to the entire CHPH team and kitchen.

The Melting Pot - Grand Rapids

4.7

4.7 (1214)

$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

ryan

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Food was all perfect and our server Isaiah was spot on. All the management was very attentive and checked in multiple times to make sure we were taken care of.

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Black Rock - Portage - PRIORITY SEATING

4.6

4.6 (898)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Kalamazoo

About the restaurant

Black Rock Bar & Grill, an award winning steakhouse specializing in certified angus beef steaks served on a sizzling stone.

Due to our high volume and traffic, we cannot hold tables for parties like a reservation system. We have a system called Priority Seating. This system secures a table within our restaurant, however, it does not guarantee an exact seat by time. Priority is placed on your party, and if we are on a wait, your party is placed on top of the wait list as a priority. We will seat you as fast as possible, but cannot guarantee an exact time. If the restaurant is not busy, we will seat the party upon arrival.

Top review

Shelli

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful waiter (James) The food was unbelievable and we were able to relax without being rushed

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Popular dish

Steak & Scampi

Mitchell's Fish Market - Lansing

4.4

4.4 (1779)

$30 and under

Seafood

Lansing

About the restaurant

Mitchell's Fish Market is a premier upscale-casual seafood restaurant concept featuring the absolute freshest seafood. Mitchell’s Lansing has a raw bar, open kitchen, the fish case displaying Today’s catch and customized cutting room and offers a variety of seafood options including grilled or broiled, blackened, cooked Shang Hai style or prepared to your taste. Mitchell’s also offers a Gluten free menu.

Top review

LesVIP

Dined 3 days ago

All good except dining room very cold. Food got cold very quickly.

Capital Prime Steaks and Seafood

4.4

4.4 (870)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Lansing

About the restaurant

Capital Prime, an award-winning steakhouse and seafood restaurant in Lansing, Michigan, features hand-cut USDA Prime and Certified Angus Beef. Aged a minimum of 21 days, all steaks are prepared with our special blend of house seasonings and broiled at 1800°. You will not find a better steak anywhere.

Our seafood is chosen for freshness and flavor and prepared by our certified chefs to be delicious, perfectly prepared and presented.

Capital Prime shops locally. Our dishes are prepared with the finest Michigan ingredients, handpicked daily by our trained chefs. Capital Prime is proud to cater to gluten-free and vegetarian diets with a wide selection of choices.

Capital Prime offers an incredible Happy Hour with discounts on Wine Flights, Beer and Cocktails. Sundays, join us for our delicious Prime Rib feature.

FOR PARTIES OF 5 OR MORE AND FOR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS PLEASE CALL THE RESTAURANT DIRECTLY TO BOOK YOUR RESERVATION.

Top review

Alisha

Dined 5 days ago

Great experience for a birthday dinner. We will definitely be back!

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Gypsum Grill and Event Center

4.4

4.4 (50)

$30 and under

American

Walker

About the restaurant

Gypsum Grill is located 2 miles from the heart of Grand Rapids. Take in breathtaking views of the surrounding golf course while enjoying elevated American cuisine. Our polished casual environment is perfect for any occasion whether it is date night, game night, or family night!

Top review

Anna

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Food and service were spectacular! Sitting on the patio, looking out onto the golf course was perfect.

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