Grand Rapids Garage Bar and Grill
819 Ottawa Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
A few friends and I were planning on attending a Beatles Tribute show, and before the show we decided to get together for dinner. Somebody suggested a new place they heard about and we ended up in the Grand Rapids Garage Bar and Grill.
This place is nestled in the middle of a factory district so one would have to know about it and seek it out to find it. We all found seats at a table big enough, and enjoyed an atmosphere that we could actually talk in. They feature the usual assortment of domestic, imported, and craft beers.
Someone ordered an appetizer, the "Garage Fries", which were a delightful bunch of fries covered in a barbecue sauce, a sour cream sauce, and jalapeños and other cheeses. These were tremendous. Mostly because the fries were hand cut; meaning they hand cut them every morning and they are never frozen. That is the secret to great fries in my opinion. Just like the fries Mom used to make.
My wife ordered the Olive Burger. (That might be a West Michigan thing, not sure). She loved it. Not just the burger, but also the bun. She said it had a special sweetness to it. And to do an Olive Burger correctly takes the exact blend of mayo, diced olives-NOT SLICED WHICH IS THE GREAT LAZY MISTAKE MADE BY 99% OF EVERYWHERE, cheese, and tomato to make it great. She thought this one was very good.
I ordered the Beef Brisket sandwich. They were very accommodating and gave me their barbecue sauce on the side so I could add it to my liking. Sometimes places scrimp too much. But not here.
It was a very good sandwich and it came with more of their great fries - fries as good as Five Guys fries and that's saying something. The sandwich was so big I couldn't finish it or the fries.
I would recommend this place and am planning to go back next week. Great food and a nice, pleasant atmosphere.
The GOOD: Great fries. With the sandwich or as an appetizer.
The BAD: Half the restaurant bar is trying too hard to appeal to a low life level pool player. Space that should be taken up with tables panders to a crowd that will drive regular people away. This place needs to figure out what it wants to be, and go for it.
The UGLY: The Parking. It's all street parking. Most of it metered. After 6 pm it's free but if you go for lunch.....
Grade: a cautious B+
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
The Red Ball Jet Cafe. The Red Jet Cafe.
The Red Ball Jet Cafe.
1431 Plainfield Avenus. NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505
Phone: 616-719-5500 but reservations not accepted.
In my continuing quest to find new and unique places, today my Publisher, my Wife, and I decided to go to "The Red Ball Jet Cafe." But that's what the sign says. Inside everything was "Red Jet Cafe" undoubtedly from fear of a law suit from the Red Ball Jet Sneakers company.
The menu featured appetizers, salads, entrees, breakfast all day, burgers, some Mexican, Pizza, sandwiches, soups (one of the soups today was a squash bisque that sounded great), and on and on. For some reason we all were in a breakfast mood so we all decided on the skillet stuff on the Breakfast page. My wife and my publisher both got the ribeye skillet and I opted for the Corned Beef Hash skillet.
The service was terrific, and no complaints there. When we got there, we had to sit at a counter waiting for a table. Two others walked in after us and they were 'entitled' kind of guys, and when a table began to clear they wanted it, but the staffer spoke up and said, "no, these people [us] get that." Very nice.
When our entrees arrived, they looked wonderful. Great presentation. Two poached eggs on the side over this exquisite potato and meat feast. Only mine wasn't so meaty. As in practically none.
My wife and my publisher went on an on about how much they enjoyed the ribeye and the bacon in their skillet entree, whereas I, accidentally stumbled on a piece of meat somewhere in the process of eating this.
So, unfortunately all I can report on here is the breakfast menu. My wife's and Publisher's skillet was tasty and wonderful. They loved it. My publisher inquired about the hours, because he wants to bring a date here.
I, however, felt shorted on the promise of corned beef. It never happened. What I got, potatoes and tomatoes, and spinach was good, but I would liked to have it been high-lighted by corned beef. But that's just me. The rest was delicious.
The Good: If you order the right thing, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
The Bad: Metered Parking all around. But a free lot close by, if you're willing to walk a hundred feet or so.....
The Ugly: They totally gypped me on my Corned Beef Hash. I am a firm believer that Corned Beef should actually have Corned Beef somewhere in the equation. So if that makes me a bad guy.....
OVERALL GRADE: B
1431 Plainfield Avenus. NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505
Phone: 616-719-5500 but reservations not accepted.
The menu featured appetizers, salads, entrees, breakfast all day, burgers, some Mexican, Pizza, sandwiches, soups (one of the soups today was a squash bisque that sounded great), and on and on. For some reason we all were in a breakfast mood so we all decided on the skillet stuff on the Breakfast page. My wife and my publisher both got the ribeye skillet and I opted for the Corned Beef Hash skillet.
The service was terrific, and no complaints there. When we got there, we had to sit at a counter waiting for a table. Two others walked in after us and they were 'entitled' kind of guys, and when a table began to clear they wanted it, but the staffer spoke up and said, "no, these people [us] get that." Very nice.
When our entrees arrived, they looked wonderful. Great presentation. Two poached eggs on the side over this exquisite potato and meat feast. Only mine wasn't so meaty. As in practically none.
My wife and my publisher went on an on about how much they enjoyed the ribeye and the bacon in their skillet entree, whereas I, accidentally stumbled on a piece of meat somewhere in the process of eating this.
So, unfortunately all I can report on here is the breakfast menu. My wife's and Publisher's skillet was tasty and wonderful. They loved it. My publisher inquired about the hours, because he wants to bring a date here.
I, however, felt shorted on the promise of corned beef. It never happened. What I got, potatoes and tomatoes, and spinach was good, but I would liked to have it been high-lighted by corned beef. But that's just me. The rest was delicious.
The Good: If you order the right thing, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
The Bad: Metered Parking all around. But a free lot close by, if you're willing to walk a hundred feet or so.....
The Ugly: They totally gypped me on my Corned Beef Hash. I am a firm believer that Corned Beef should actually have Corned Beef somewhere in the equation. So if that makes me a bad guy.....
OVERALL GRADE: B
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Lord of the Fries
I don't report on chain restaurants. When I started this blog I wanted to review the small independent spots that I had the pleasure or displeasure of dining at. But I am going to go outside of that sphere. It is because I once in a while I hear a statement that makes me absolutely cringe. And that is:
"One thing about McDonald's, they have the best fries."
This just makes my skin crawl. How can the one place that has absolutely, without a doubt, the worst fries on the market continually get people to perpetuate this myth? Maybe it all began back in the day when all chain fries were basically the same. And since McDonald's is far and away the industry leader they gained the aid of this myth. Because back in the day, there were no real stand-outs. But things have changed and they've been changed for a long time now. So for all of you brainless dimwits who have it burned into your brain that McDonald's have the best fries, let me give you a few examples of places that have way better fries. I mean, seriously this means everywhere else, but I'll give you dead palate zombies some other fries to check out.
STEAK AND SHAKE: A smaller version of the usual fry, reminiscent of Shoestring potatoes. Anyone remember those? Very Good. I toss them into their Chili.
BURGER KING: A few years ago Burger King made some slight change. It might be as simple as they changed the type of oil they fry in. Whatever they did, their fries are far superior to McDonald's.
WENDY'S: These are whole cut potato fries, meaning you will see part of the potato skin on the end of some. They are cut slightly larger, and have a much more authentic fry taste than McD's.
ARBY's: For years Arby's (you just have to know this place was started by someone whose initials were RB, and thus the name) anyway, Arby's for years have had some of the greatest fries around. Their renown Curley Fries are soft and tasty, and so much better than anything McDonald's could come up with.
LONG JOHN SILVER's: Great fish, great chicken, great hush puppies, and great fries. Much better than Mickey Dee's.
TEXAS ROAD HOUSE: Like any other steak restaurant, TRH offers potato wedges, or sometimes called "cottage fries." These are considerably better than the junk McD's can offer.
And finally, the very best:
FIVE GUYS, burgers and fries: These are truly the best fries in the business. The best, bar none. And I have asked myself why? Why are these fries one million miles above all others in the business? And finally it came to me. These are the only french fries of any chain that are never frozen. They have sacks of potatoes in the restaurant everyday, and every morning they chop them into fries and that is what they use all day. These are never frozen, which makes all the difference in taste. These are the best.
If you really think McDonald's have the best fries, try eating, ummm, let's see, ANYWHERE else sometime. You will be surprised. McDonald's fries are the worst in the business. Period.
I should also mention that in studies, when folks (maybe the guy who did the film "Super-Size Me") sit out all fast food out and film it in time lapse, all the burgers and other items grow mold and eventually fall apart and basically finally turn into granular sand, the McDonald's fries still look like they just came out of the frier. I have a theory. If mold won't eat something, maybe we shouldn't either.
"One thing about McDonald's, they have the best fries."
This just makes my skin crawl. How can the one place that has absolutely, without a doubt, the worst fries on the market continually get people to perpetuate this myth? Maybe it all began back in the day when all chain fries were basically the same. And since McDonald's is far and away the industry leader they gained the aid of this myth. Because back in the day, there were no real stand-outs. But things have changed and they've been changed for a long time now. So for all of you brainless dimwits who have it burned into your brain that McDonald's have the best fries, let me give you a few examples of places that have way better fries. I mean, seriously this means everywhere else, but I'll give you dead palate zombies some other fries to check out.
STEAK AND SHAKE: A smaller version of the usual fry, reminiscent of Shoestring potatoes. Anyone remember those? Very Good. I toss them into their Chili.
BURGER KING: A few years ago Burger King made some slight change. It might be as simple as they changed the type of oil they fry in. Whatever they did, their fries are far superior to McDonald's.
WENDY'S: These are whole cut potato fries, meaning you will see part of the potato skin on the end of some. They are cut slightly larger, and have a much more authentic fry taste than McD's.
ARBY's: For years Arby's (you just have to know this place was started by someone whose initials were RB, and thus the name) anyway, Arby's for years have had some of the greatest fries around. Their renown Curley Fries are soft and tasty, and so much better than anything McDonald's could come up with.
LONG JOHN SILVER's: Great fish, great chicken, great hush puppies, and great fries. Much better than Mickey Dee's.
TEXAS ROAD HOUSE: Like any other steak restaurant, TRH offers potato wedges, or sometimes called "cottage fries." These are considerably better than the junk McD's can offer.
And finally, the very best:
FIVE GUYS, burgers and fries: These are truly the best fries in the business. The best, bar none. And I have asked myself why? Why are these fries one million miles above all others in the business? And finally it came to me. These are the only french fries of any chain that are never frozen. They have sacks of potatoes in the restaurant everyday, and every morning they chop them into fries and that is what they use all day. These are never frozen, which makes all the difference in taste. These are the best.
If you really think McDonald's have the best fries, try eating, ummm, let's see, ANYWHERE else sometime. You will be surprised. McDonald's fries are the worst in the business. Period.
I should also mention that in studies, when folks (maybe the guy who did the film "Super-Size Me") sit out all fast food out and film it in time lapse, all the burgers and other items grow mold and eventually fall apart and basically finally turn into granular sand, the McDonald's fries still look like they just came out of the frier. I have a theory. If mold won't eat something, maybe we shouldn't either.
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