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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > USA - Great Lakes > Grand Rapids? Anyone there? Any recommendations?



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      12-26-2012, 11:26 PM   #1
dhc905
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Grand Rapids? Anyone there? Any recommendations?

So I sort of screwed up and cut my CA vacation short and now the wife and I have decided to drive over to Grand Rapids from Chicago. We'll be staying at the JW, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations and things we must see before leaving.

Would also be down for grabbing a beer with folks out there if anyone is free tomorrow.

Any ideas definitely appreciated. Also likely driving through Kalamazoo, so anything there/ Bell's brewery?

Thanks,

David
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      12-27-2012, 07:54 AM   #2
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Downtown GR: Brewery Vivant is my favorite, Grand Rapids Brewing just opened, Founder's is very popular

Food: Bar Divani or Chop House

Question: Why would you want to come to GR?
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      12-27-2012, 09:13 AM   #3
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I always go to either San Chez downtown or Maggie's Kitchen on the west side. Both are amazing eats. Founders is always a good choice as well.
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      12-27-2012, 09:44 AM   #4
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^ San Chez is great (downtown).
If you like Sushi, go over to Tokyo Grill. I'll hook you up.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants is Bistro Bella vita. The absolute best all around (downtown).

Founder's is probably one of the most popular brewery. It's 30 down the road from Bistro Bella Vita.
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      12-27-2012, 10:15 AM   #5
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Sweet guys - we definitely want to hit up some of the breweries in town (and we're passing through Kalamazoo, so we're seeing Bell's and Sweetwater donut shop.

In GR, the wife is pumped about Vivant (it's in a church for god's sake! no pun intended), and I think due to the recommendations we'll go to San Chez. We have a reservation for 2 nights, so depending on how cool your town is, we might have another day/night of breweries and sushi!

Thanks for the recommendations guys, I really appreciate it.

We were at a pizza place here in Chicago yesterday at 9:30pm after spending 4 hours at the movies (hobbitt and she watched the 40 year old movie) and we were like, we should go somewhere different. We met this couple in Carmel, CA from GR who told us about Artprize, and I guess our interest is piqued. Hopefully my non-xi E90 will make it all the way there!

David


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Originally Posted by mashimarho View Post
^ San Chez is great (downtown).
If you like Sushi, go over to Tokyo Grill. I'll hook you up.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants is Bistro Bella vita. The absolute best all around (downtown).

Founder's is probably one of the most popular brewery. It's 30 down the road from Bistro Bella Vita.
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      12-27-2012, 03:10 PM   #6
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Anyone going to the GRAM bar tomorrow night? Heard it's fun as well...
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      12-29-2012, 10:19 PM   #7
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I have not been there yet, then again, I don't get to the bar like I used to.

Another really upscale but chill place is Bar Divani, on Ionia, just around the corner from San Chez.
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      12-30-2012, 11:17 AM   #8
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Had a great time in GR. Seriously, it's a really cool city and I really think the DeVos dictatorship is a benign one. Will definitely be back when the weather is better (my little BMW struggled a little when it really started coming down yesterday on the highway...not helped by Semi's passing me at 70mph with snow buildup on the highway).

Will post some pictures once I pull them off my camera. But thanks for the recommendations!























Last edited by dhc905; 01-02-2013 at 11:18 AM..
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      01-02-2013, 11:26 AM   #9
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Posted some pics.
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      01-02-2013, 06:09 PM   #10
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Really like the last picture. There are a bunch of new microbreweries popping up if you have more time. Glad you enjoyed our little city.

I will be heading to Chicago in a few weeks. Will be eating at Moto. Any other bars around that restaurant you'd recommend - no clubs, just need some nice single malts.
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      01-04-2013, 11:20 AM   #11
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I'm in San Chez as we speak...
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      01-04-2013, 02:47 PM   #12
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San Chez was definitely good - we only got 2 items and a beer flight because we were doing a food/booze crawl that ended at Mojo's (which is a ton of fun as well - cover for a place of similar quality in Chicago would easily be $20, and there would certainly be no $5 glasses of wine/beer).
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      01-04-2013, 07:21 PM   #13
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Next time you go, stop in San Chez for a couple glasses of their sangria, I lived off that stuff for a few years.

Also, I lived like a block down from Gay street, on Prospect for 5+ years. It was a great neighborhood.
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      01-05-2013, 08:00 AM   #14
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You guys have a really cool town - I've been telling everyone here in Chicago that they're really missing something by just hanging out in the harbor towns. If anyone ever needs recommendations in Chicago, drop me a line, would be happy to give recs.
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