A & W — Restaurant in Big Rapids

AWESOME ROOTBEER STAND!! AWESOME FOOD!! AWESOME PRICES!! There's a reason this place is one of the most popular spots in Big Rapids.

And you might think with how full it looks most days that it'd be hard to find a spot or that the food would take a long time, but that hasn't been my experience at all. Every time I've pulled in, I've managed to find a spot, and even when nearly all the spots are full with cars, I've never had any long delay in getting food because of how busy it always is.

Oh, and the wait-staff that run to the cars-- SALT OF THE EARTH! Totally nice and totally competent every single time!!

Favorite things on the menu for me:

Coney Dog -- foot-long chili dog, the dog and the chili are both amazingly good, like, the BEST, though I recommend telling them to cut it in half when you order it because despite the carton they give you to help you eat it, a foot-long hot dog in a bun full of chili, onions, mustard (what I order on it) gets a tad unwieldy

Onion Rings -- OMG, they might be the best onion rings I've ever had, especially since we all know onion rings can be very hit and miss, because some place's totally suck, slimy, greasy messes, but NOT THESE, crispy, tasty, and the breading is so, so, so good

Root Beer -- Of course, the root beer. It's A&W. Order it in a frosty, glass mug that they bring to your car, not in the take-away, disposable cup with lid. I don't know why, but it makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in flavor and experience

Honorable Mention:

Papa Burger with Cheese in a basket with Fries (EXCELENT and what I get on those occasions when I just can't face having to get down a foot-long coney dog)... still with a large glass-mug of A&W Root Beer of course

And what will either of the above orders cost you??? Still well under $10 and less than what any "value meal" costs down the road at the...

Good Afternoon,

I am writing in regards to the experience I had at your Big Rapids, MI location. While heading back from up north we decided to make a stop for what thought was going to be hot and fresh food. When we got our order the chili cheese fries tasted like a handful of salt, the hot dog lost nearly all its color and was a pale and soggy, the burger patty looked dehydrated and was not juicy or fresh. The food must have been sitting around all day waiting for someone to order. The customer service was quick and prompt. That is the only good thing I would say about...

Best A&W we've had in YEARS... Everything was just like back in the good old day... Food brought out to vehicle and placed on window ... My wife and niece couldn't stop talking about the Rootbeer Floats,and the chili cheese dogs were amazing and you can't forget the onion rings... Our carhop waitress was great as well...My niece is Lucky enough to go to Ferrris State just down the street, unfortunately we live 6hrs away in Louisville Ky... Our A&W is Horrible... So if your looking for some great food don't pass this place up...Two...