Chez Olga LLC — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

This place is fantastic and the food is incredible and not too pricey for the quality. I mean really incredible food. I LOVE the curry goat. However, you do need to have adequate expectations when dining here. First off, if it's busy, it's HOT. You will probably perspire a little, especially in the hot summer. I would assume winter would be much better but I haven't been in that season yet, just during the summer. Second, the building has been split into two businesses where it used to be one dining location from what I understand, so it is not particularly large for a drop-in with a large group. However, the first time I visited the dining room was reserved for a large event so they absolutely can accommodate large groups with advance notice (please don't call the day of, give them at least a couple of days notice if not a couple of weeks 🙏) I don't think they were even accepting dine-ins at that time so they really do prioritize the event when reserved. I was still able to get takeout but it took a while for the staff to notice me. Honestly it wasn't the individual's fault, the kitchen area where most of the staff spend most of their time does not have a great view of the dining room, and you are expected to walk up to the door/counter thing and flag them down. That wasn't super clear when I first came here so it took me a couple of minutes of waiting until I realized I had to make the first move. My only suggestion to the owner is maybe put a sign by the door encouraging customers to approach the kitchen counter if they don't see staff for a while. Most people would probably be annoyed by that but honestly some kitchens have that vibe and they can still deliver a great experience so I don't care at all. But if you're reading this, don't go there and make a fuss if they don't greet you and hold your hand through the experience. Don't be afraid to get a hold of someone. Other than that, this place will make a lot of people very happy. The staff are really friendly and talented and the recipes are excellent and the wait times usually aren't too bad (although I did get a 45 min take-out time estimate today when I visited because I was there at 7pm on a Friday, so obviously any restaurant is going to have a long wait time for takeouts at that time). I can't stress enough how good the food is, and that's what really matters. The building is also really cool, it's hard to miss when passing by, it's very unique and the atmosphere is very pleasant and kind of fancy but also very homey at the same time. It's a very unique vibe I've never encountered anywhere else. But dang man, the food is what really makes this a 5 star spot. Eat here,...

Chez Olga's is a must- try experience. Do not expect white linen, polished silver, or well trained staff. What you get instead is akin to walking into your aunties' kitchen. Bring your own beer and wine to sip upon as you make the long wait seated at plastic covered tables amidst 80s diner style decor....fully grateful that you have a coveted seat amongst the crowd. The hustling of server staff bringing plates here and there without reason. Some appetizers before entrees and others after entrees and maybe you will get the drink you ordered...maybe not. But in the end...when you taste Olga's home cooking....you are grateful for the entire experience. When Olga graces you with her toothy smile ...you forget that you waited...you forget the forgotten orders...because you are in the presence of greatness. If you fear heat...ask for the heat to be completely absent because heat levels appear to be based on the roll of the dice rather than that which you order. Doesn't matter...still simply devine. No processed anything. All broths, sauces, stocks...from scratch...made daily. And the dishes evident this care. There isn't even a freezer in the building because it's made and eaten daily. The coleslaw will be my craving to supercede kimchi (I bought a large order to go) Embarrassed to say....I drank the vinegar sauce from the bowl when the slaw was gone. Don't be appalled...you will do the same. The curries, stews, jerk, gumbo.....each done with great care as evidenced by the layers of spice in rich velvety sauces. Each unique and perfectly highlighting the flavor profile as would be made by your great grandmother. Fresh okra in the gumbo, slow cooked goat curry, well seasoned jerk chicken, and a subtle rich seafood stew that most definitely needs to be enjoyed before the spicy alternatives. Olga is as warm as her spicy food. She is found flitting between the kitchen and the tables assuring that everyone is fed well. Most of her staff is directly from Haiti as is Olga. One of the young staff shared his experience climbing trees for sour sop as we talked about the delicious lemon- pear taste of the sour sop drink. Overall one of the best foodie experiences in a long while...and will be repeated. You can get reservations...and I highly recommend that you do that. They are busy! Bring drinks and good friends....and expect to be there a bit. This is a familial place to relax...there is no expediency or perfection but you will most definitely see any flaws as endearing characteristics once you taste...

Thoroughly disappointed. My bride to be and I have been regular customers for several years, and have recommended this restaurant to countless people over the years. The food is really good. This week we were putting into place the final pieces for our upcoming wedding. One of these included an appointment to meet with the owner to have them cater. After taking the necessary steps to be out of the office for the two hours we budgeted to review and plan everything, the owner never showed. We stood outside of a closed restaurant for over an hour, 30 minutes of which they advertise to be open. We never received a phone call or a call back afterward to explain why she didn't show up for the appointment or why her restaurant didn't open when it should have. It was later that day that we called again and she explained that she had car troubles in the morning.(I get it if you're a college kid just getting by and working part time, you might be late one day cause your car broke down, but this is a business owner, and she had scheduled the appointment). After some discussion, we decided to give them one more chance and came by today to discuss our plans and set up our order. She did not even face us to ask us to come back another time, rather her waiter told us to come back in a few hours or schedule another appointment. We will be taking our three thousand dollar food order elsewhere. These people make good food, but have no good business sense and no respect. We won't be back again and won't be recommending this...