Noco Provisions — Restaurant in Grand Rapids Charter Township

Stopped in with my sister for an early dinner. A few pros and cons. I'll start with the pros first :)

We liked the atmosphere and decor. Our waitress was Ashley and she was top notch utterly awesome! (My highest rating). She truly went above and beyond to make our first visit nice. She was very informative about the menu, checked in with us often, but not to often, and really made an effort to make this first visit a nice one.

My sister and I each had a mojito. It was okay, but not the best one I've had by far. I like mint in mine and this had none. We also split an order of Avacado toast which was AMAZING! I loved every bite.

Our meal took a bit longer than expected so as a courtesy we were brought another toast on the house. They brought Burrata Cheese toast and it was just as delicious the Avacado. YUM! I truly think that I could just eat all the toasts for a meal and be happy...yes, they are that good.

For dinner I ordered Otto's fried chicken and my sister ordered Little Ear Pasta. Ashley kindly had them split our plates so we could each sample both. Even though I ordered the gravy on the side because I was told it's a bit spicy and I'm not a huge spicy eater, it came smothered in gravy. But I just spooned off the green spicy sauce and made due. I thought this was a great dish. They didn't skimp on the portion at all. The chicken was tender and very delicious and the peas and carrots were cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes were delish!

The pasta dish wasn't to my liking, but that's just my opinion. I didn't care for the sauce but my sister seemed to enjoy it. I do have to say that it was nice that the shrimp included in this dish were nice and large, so that was a huge plus.

We were there for part of their happy hour where they offer $10 burgers with a beer. I have to say that all the burgers that passed by our table looked wonderful. So when we come back I plan on trying one...if I don't opt for the toast. lol

They have a nice menu with tons of variety. Generous portion sizes. Very friendly staff.

I plan on going back to try a few more things on the menu.

Okay, now for the cons.

First off, the ladies bathroom needed some attention. I think that when they clean the restrooms they need to visit each stall and close the door...they will notice a TON of dust inside when the door is closed. It was kind of gross for such a nice venue.

Secondly, I thought the parking was lacking and quite tight. I couldn't back my car out when I was leaving without having to jockey back and forth a few times....

Great burger, classy yet modern atmosphere, but plan on spending a lot of time here.

Provisions Cheese Burger - $18: Tasty for sure. It had thicker smash patties and they were very juicy. The secret sauce was the main player and shaped most of the flavor. It is a thousand island like flavor and very good. The cheese was rightly proportioned. The toppings were a little lost in the flavors, but good. The bun was slightly soggy on the bottom, but it didn’t impact the flavor much. The bun was larger, but lighter, with sesame seeds.

Overall, the burger was great, but a tad on the expensive side for what you get unless you get it on special (Monday).

French Fries (comes with the burger): Dark, but very good. I was a bit fearful the dark appearance was old oil, but I think it was what they infuse their fries with. I cannot put my finger on it exactly, but it was fuller bodied and slightly unique flavor. As with many restaurants, there was a lot of salt.

They have a ton of specials and it can be VERY cost effective to visit with intentionality. I did not plan this visit and paid the higher prices.

Homemade Breadstick - $1: Full and soft with a thicker exterior. The parmesan and seasoning on top was light and flavorful.

Water is served in Ball jars (about 8-10 oz) which keeps them colder longer, but needs more constant filling.

Service: The wait was quite long. We were seated immediately, but it took 15 minutes for the waiter’s first visit to get waters and order. It then took 20-25 minutes to get our food. This was out of the ordinary as the dining area was not very busy and there seemed to be plenty of staff. I am sure the waiter was busy with something, but something was off.

That said, he was helpful and kind and didn’t rush. Everything was made right and he worked with us to get an item we asked for that was not on the menu directly (a breadstick). The staff are cleanly dressed and professional.

Atmosphere: Upscale and classy. They have almost all kinds of standard seating you can think of including outdoor and bar seating. They have had celebrities visit and there are pictures of those who have visited with signatures on the wall.

Conclusion: I would recommend their burger, but plan on a lengthy visit.

Visited on a...

See updates below...

Selling you on the atmosphere but not following through on the food... We go to this place about about once a month since it's in the neighborhood. My experience has been the same just about every time. I love the swanky atmosphere, it has the feel of a place where you would expect to get great food. However, I'm giving it two and a half stars because I feel that I'm paying too much for the lack of quality in the food I receive. My hope is this will get better so I can change my review. The fries are always cold and very salty. Other times the chicken sandwich is cold as well. The salads have come out kind of warm like they had been plated before any of the food had been started. The burgers are made from small hamburger patties like you would get from a fast food restaurant. Warm food will usually come on a cold plate. The menu never seems to change and has become somewhat boring. The service is fine. I hate to give such a bad review as I really want to love this place.

Updates... I have noticed some improvements after visiting three times since last post. Plates are now consistently warm and food is not cold. The kitchen is still having problems cooking food. Ordered two Burgers came out medium rare (pink and bloody on inside) and the bottom bun was completely soaked in grease and falling apart. Come on guys, cooking burgers is restaurant 101; I've worked in the business. These are thin pre-made burger patties and should probably not be cooked to anything below medium. I have a feeling the line cooks are inexperienced.

The servers are always great as usual. The menu is still the same and boring. I've talked with other folks in the neighborhood and the feeling is mutual.

The mixed drinks are really good and I highly recommend trying out any cocktail from the menu. I think I've figured this place out... focus on the booze sales first and serve food second second....