Grand Rapids Garage Bar and Grille

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+