How Many Of These Popular Grand Rapids Restaurants Have You Tried

I'm not a "foodie" but I do love a great meal, and Grand Rapids has some amazing places to break bread with friends and family. I've been living in Indiana and Texas over the past seven years, but now that I'm back home I need to check out all of these amazing places.

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lizfelifestyle.com looked at Yelp reviews for American restaurants in Grand Rapids.

These Are The Most Popular American Restaurants In Grand Rapids, Michigan

Number 5 - Leo’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar

Leo’s is the premier dining destination for exquisite seafood, classic cuisine, decadent desserts, and a world-class wine list. Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan since 2004, Leo’s has stayed committed to always sourcing fresh quality ingredients, carefully crafting each menu, and delivering an extraordinary experience to each and every guest.

One Yelp review said: "For as much as I love seafood I'm shocked that I had never been to Leo's before! I met a friend for happy hour on his recommendation, and I can't wait to go back!

The happy hour specials are a really great deal. We sat in the bar area and shared 4 appetizers and a dessert. We shared the calamari, tuna sashimi, seafood cake duet, and seared sea scallops. Every single one of them was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and absolutely delicious! The salads/veggies served with the sashimi and scallops were also really good. They were crisp, refreshing, and a really nice pair with the seafood. I had my eye on the salmon & corn chowder, but by the time we finished the apps I was pretty much stuffed and needed to save room for dessert!

Key lime pie is my favorite, so I had to try theirs when I saw it on the menu. It did not disappoint! Really nice crust, great texture, fresh whipped cream... what's not to like?! Unfortunately, it looks like this might be off the menu right now, so that's sad for the next time I go.

I'm looking forward to going back to try more of their menu, and to sit in the dining area. It seems like a different vibe on that side (and is much larger than I thought, from the outside!). I definitely recommend going if you enjoy seafood."

Number 4 - Butcher’s Union

Some of the most popular items include pimento cheese appetizers, burgers, steak, liquor, French fries, meats, cocktails, mac and cheese, and pork belly.

One Yelp review said: "Out of all the restaurants in Grand Rapids, this is my favorite for any kind of special night out. It is kinda pricey, but I consistently find it worth it.

I've probably been a dozen times, and have never had a bad bite, a bad cocktail, bad service, or a bad time here.

Make sure to check in on the waitlist. It fills up quick and waits can get long. That's a testament to what a kick ass job this place does....consistently.

Love it."

Number 3 - MudPenny

If you like coffee and a good breakfast then Mudpenny is a place you should check out.

A Yelp reviewer from New York said: "Wanting a quick local lunch in Grand Rapids? Look no further than MudPenny. Also slinging some of the best espresso drinks around, MudPenny's sandwiches and pastries aren't to be messed with. The barista and other employees seem to truly care about their work and are super helpful and friendly, too.

We got The Mountie: turkey, white cheddar, bacon, spinach leaves, maple sweet potato mash and mayo on naan bread. And the Chicken Salad Sandwich: honey chicken salad, almonds, cranberries, grapes , greens, and pickled red onions on naan bread.

Wow.
Just wow.

Both sandwiches were delicious - the naan bread a nice touch. The chicken salad itself wasn't too mayo-y, either.

The lattes are solid and on point. Oat milk by Oatly, which is always a plus. Other cookie and pastry options are plenty, like the mini amaretti cookies, or the larger mudslide cookies.

Takeout? Yep.
Dine in with table service? They've got that too.

Their breakfast and other bites also look pretty awesome. If I visit Grand Rapids again, MudPenny would be a must go."

Number 2 - Chicago Style Gyro

Chicago Style Gyro features both Greek and American dishes. I've never been but looking at these pictures I can't stop my mouth from drooling.

A Yelp review said: "I had been looking for a good gyro spot in GR since I moved here. I found this place as I was near the area. I ordered the chicken gyro combo and baklava for pick up. The service was quick and the people working are super friendly! They also had masks on!

The gyro was fantastic, and the fries were seasoned perfectly. The meat wasn't dry at all and it was seasoned perfectly. The lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sauce definitely came together really well. The baklava was also very tasty and not overly sweet. I will definitely be going back to this place and trying something else next time."

Number 1 - Real Food Café

Real Food Cafe is a local, family-owned business in Grand Rapids that uses fresh, quality ingredients brought to you with a smile in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. They serve both breakfast and lunch.

One Yelp review said: "Neighborhood diner with charm, hospitality and home cookin' dishes.

This review is a long time coming as this diner is a popular, long-standing hidden gem in the Alger Heights neighborhood. We stopped in this Sunday at around 10 am and was pleased to see a minimal line; apparently the church crowd hadn't gotten out yet. We added our name to the list to wait but noticed that 3 seats at the first come first serve counter seats, so we grabbed those. Our friendly server appeared quickly and we ordered coffees and breakfasts from the expansive breakfast/brunch menu.

We ordered two plates of biscuits and gravy and the daily special, the Lemon Blueberry Waffle. A Belgium waffle topped with lemon cream cheese, blueberries, and strudel crumble was an indulgent, filling and rich start to my Sunday! The portion size was huge and I took some home, in fact, we took some the biscuits and gravy home as well.
Just remember- it's cash only here and they have an ATM if you need to take some out."