Gypsy Nickel Lounge — Restaurant in Big Rapids

Went out for what we thought was going to be a nice dinner, sitting outside for my husband's birthday. What we got? Waited almost 20 minutes before our server even came to our table to take our drink order, we placed our food order at that time as well due to the long wait time to have our drink order taken. All the while 3 other tables that were seated after us had drinks and food. Then we got our drinks and continued to wait. Noticing orders taken after ours were being served again. Finally asked a different waitress what was going on because we hadnt seen our waitress in some time. More waiting, then told waiting on the kitchen.. we said we didnt want the food and wanted our bill for the 2 sodas. Magically our appetizers were done and brought out and told our food was done also. We were told since it was done they would give us a discount for inconvenience ($11 off). They wrapped the food and we left. Get home and only had 1 order of fries in the bag, when ALL 3 meals came with fries. The restaurant was not busy at all, they said our waitress had a large table inside (our waitress was friendly enough, not upset with her) but knowing this you would think one of the other girls would help her out as they walked pasted us numerous times with no drinks or menu on our table, knowing she was stuck with a large group. The place was not busy compared to other times I have been there. Gave this place the benefit of the doubt multiple times and have been disappointed more...

My review is rated specifically on service, food is great as we've been there many times for the food itself.

We went there 5/26/25. We ordered a few beers and food, my girlfriend after taking two drinks of her beer, noticed her glass was filthy, dirty smudges, and caked on (whats i assume) ketchup. We pointed it out to the waitress, she apologized, and told us the drink would be comp'd, then brought us a new drink.

After eating, drinking, we received our bill, and after looking over it, they did comp'd the dirty glass beer, but not the replacement. Maybe we're in the wrong. Im guessing they were expecting us to drink from dirty a glass. Pointed it out and explained to the waitress, that her telling us the drink would be comp'd, should mean the dirty glass beer shouldn't even made it on the bill, and the replacement should have been comp'd. She told us, they can't comp the second beer. That's not the second beer, thats a replacement for the first beer. She didn't understand that, went and got the manager... she told us the same thing, we explained it to her also... there was no second beer... we ordered one beer, which was replaced. Any ways, she said they can't comp us, we paid, left, and have no intentions...

Are you a retired or late-middle-aged diner who values predictability and familiarity above all else? Would a buffalo chicken wrap be an "edgy" ordering choice for you? When you see an item on a menu that you don't immediately know how to pronounce, does it make you feel uncomfortable, maybe even a little bit angry? If your answers are yes, the Gypsy Nickel Lounge might just be the place for you.

My personal experience: I enjoyed the river view, found the service friendly and relatively fast, and thought the food was well prepared with fresh-tasting ingredients. My beer was a little flat, but perhaps the keg was almost "kicked," as folks like to say.

On the other hand, the menu is outdated and BORING. And while the name "Gypsy Nickel Lounge" is probably intended by the owners to mean "affordable food and drink for a wandering soul," it's worth noting that "gypsy" is also a racialized, derogatory term for Romani people. By using that word in a restaurant name, one can't help but reference a pretty terrible history of discrimination and ethnic violence. (Look into it and talk to some Roma people if you don't...