Big Fish Wings & Things — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

big fish, big hit.

my mother took me to Grand Rapids to see some gardens (nice) and some architecture (smaller than it seemed in the pictures). with few expectations, i tagged along, and when we bothered the nice lady at the tourism office about where to get some good fried fish, she sent us here without hesitation, but under her breath so her boss wouldn't hear her sending tourists down MLK Jr Blvd.

the building was maybe a church at some point? fresh coat of paint, plenty of parking wheelchair ramp, who am i to ask questions. it's a takeout joint, for the most part, but moms and i sat at the counter. seems like we're barely there 5 minutes when our huge baskets of walleye, ocean perch and fried okra come out. refined frying, excellent cuts of fish and a minimum of deeply flavorful batter; the fish tasted like it had been on the line that morning, and i can't remember better okra bites.

TJ, the proprietor, treated us like family, and gifted us two slices of incredible lemon pound cake on our way out; it was so good mom and i both held it up to my grandmother's recipe.

enough said, get thee to Big Fish Wings &...

I'll update as I go. But from my initial experience, the staff are wonderful people, customers seem to trust and continue to come back as regulars and have personal experience with the staff. Tried the walleye, they said we would come back for more. Lol 100% was right. Curious what the secret is? Maybe it's genuine care for the people and community (Love?) I had a good time talking with the staff and those mushrooms were my highlight. But I'm a mushrooms kinda guy. The walleye was exilent, if I had any other words, I'd say worth it. Fries were well fries, nothing stood out here. However they did say to add seasoning, which I can appreciate in a food place, as sometimes seasonings can be too strong. In this case I added a dash of lemon pepper to meal, but not much to the frys. So now we know for next time. I love supporting the local communities and this is a treasure among good joints as far as classic mom and pop shops go. Highly recommend at least giving them a try if you are looking for something new. I'll for...

I just LOVE Terry… and his Blue Gil’s!!! Big Wings and Things is a hidden gem on Franklin! The food is fire and the service is even better. Terry Johnson, the owner, runs this place with heart. He treats every customer with respect, makes you feel like family, and ensures everyone leaves full and happy.

The Blue Gil’s? Seasoned to perfection, crispy outside, juicy inside. The sauces are bold and packed with flavor whether you like it sweet, spicy, or somewhere in between, there’s something for you. And don’t sleep on the sides!

This isn’t just a wing stop it’s a community staple where customer service still matters. You can tell Terry takes pride in his business and genuinely cares about the people he serves. Friendly vibes, generous portions, and consistently great food. Support local and taste the difference.

Highly recommend Big Wings and Things one of the best in...