Cottage Bar — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

When in the course of human events, a man moves from a small, rural town in southern Michigan to the bustling metropolis of Grand Rapids in West Michigan, he takes upon a mighty responsibility of pursing truth. One of the ways said man chooses to pursue truth is through reviewing onion rings, according to the onion ring standard. One would expect a mighty urban area to conquer the small, rural city. Does this hold up to reality? Read on, to find out.

Presentation and Appearance: 3.5/5

The appearance of these onion rings is, in a word, delightful. The consistency is consistent, the breading is smooth, and there are little to no irregularities on the plate.

The presentation is not ideal, but it's to be expected. Somewhat typical for onion rings in a restaurant, they're heaped onto a plate, hardly big enough to contain the sheer volume of rings. The presentation is nothing special, but it's certainly not bad either.

Taste: 1.5/5

On my first bite, I was optimistic. There seemed to be a strong onion taste, coupled by a robust flavor in breading. However, repeated bites and rings indicated the horrible truth; the taste simply wasn't there. There's a mild onion flavor in every onion ring, but hardly noticeable if you weren't looking for it.

The flavor in the breading is almost non-existent. Beyond a thin veneer of grease, it's bland, empty, and tired. Overall, these rings left next to no impression on me. Very little taste or flavor permeate these onion rings, and they're little more than a vehicle for grease and breading.

Texture: 2.5/5

For the lack of taste in the breading, it has a fine texture. Thick, crunchy, and crispy, the breading does not disappoint. However, the essential component of an onion ring, the actual onion, fails to deliver. The onion is mushy, weak, and slim. The scourge of onion ring lovers everywhere arrives once again, as the inner onion slips out of the breading. The result is a hollow shell of fried bread, desperately trying to masquerade as some facade of an onion ring.

Value: 2/5

Originally, I was optimistic about these onion rings. I stopped in over lunch, immediately ordered onion rings, and waited. Within five or six minutes, they arrived. I was blown away by the speed of service, but the reason become abundantly clear.

The rings were almost certainly frozen. At the very least, they were mass prepared and ready for frying upon order. The speed was amazing, and that's often one of my main criteria for food.

However, the price was exorbitant. For a small plate of onion rings, I paid nearly six dollars! What's more, the rings were of mediocre quality, if decent quantity. I can genuinely say I've has fast food onion rings substantially better quality (and a better value) than these. Though they were filling, and sufficed as a lunch, it is a lunch I will bitterly regret until the end of my days.

Total:...

Attended the cottage bar on 9/16/17, was immediately greeted by the bartender (named shawn/sean?), I was pleased to be immediate greeted and asked what I would like to start my night with. I ordered 3 drinks for myself and my company, tried to start a tab with the bartender, but was told my server would be with me when I took a seat, which was fine ( bartenders words " I make my money at the end of the night any ways ;)" so I took my seat, with my company and waited for a server. We were immediately greeted by a server that was not working that section, was very polite and asked if we needed anything, we asked how long the kitchen was open and if we could see a food menu. It was obvious from the start that the server was busy, with only 1 server running a section. But that didn't stop the server (Erica) from doing a shot of whip cream from the can ( is this even sanitary?) From the bartenders hands (Shawn). The whole time I am patiently waiting at my table for the server to come by and take my food order. 15 minuets pass, server is running around cashing people out, made eye contact with us, but never greeted us, never said hello, didn't see if we needed more drinks when glasses were empty. So me, being someone who had previously worked in college city bars and pubs, I understand when a place has a busy night. it takes 30 seconds to say hello to a table in your section, it takes 2 minutes to take an order, and 0 time to respect a paying customer. I get it, your busy. I approach the bar, and get told "yeah it's a busy night, I don't know what to tell you" okay cash me out. I left the bar paying my 13$ tab when I was sitting ready to order 3 entrees and I garentee I wouldn't have left that place spending less than $70. So Dan Verhil, how does it feel knowing your employees caused you to lose 50$ in sales? I guarantee you I will never recommend this place of business to anyone that will listen after such a horrible, disrepectful experience as a...

Hear ye, food lovers and connoisseurs of conviviality! Let me regale you with a tale of gastronomic delight and warm camaraderie at the venerable Cottage Bar and Restaurant. This tale features my stalwart brother-in-law, my three spirited lads, and my plucky eight-year-old nephew.

Upon our arrival, my brother-in-law and I found ourselves ensnared in a tussle of indecision, torn between the inviting warmth of the indoor seating and the charm of the cozy outdoor nook. The outdoor space won our favor, a decision we toasted to as we sat beneath the clear Grand Rapids sky.

I embarked on a culinary journey with the Mushroom Burger, a succulent delight that tasted like a sonnet on the tongue, while my brother-in-law, Matt, consumed his burger with a speed that would've made a cheetah blush – it was devoured in a brisk 1.5 minutes!

Our eight-year-old, Ben, in a momentous rite of passage, selected his first 'non-kids' meal, unable to resist the allure of the famous Cottage Burger. His satisfaction was as visible as the juices that trickled down his delighted grin.

Meanwhile, the two-year-old was thoroughly entertained by the procession of fire trucks passing by, his excitement echoing in squeals of delight that could have rivaled the sirens themselves.

The service at the Cottage Bar and Restaurant was nothing short of exemplary, a delightful accompaniment to the splendid food. As for parking, we found solace in one of the four coveted spots nestled in the alley, though street parking was plentiful as well.

I tip my hat to the Cottage Bar and Restaurant, the oldest tavern in Grand Rapids, for offering an experience that is both delectable and wholesome. This venerable establishment has earned my heartiest five-star endorsement for its mouth-watering fare, stellar service, and a charming environment that brings families together. Rest assured, we shall return, drawn back by the memory of that perfect Mushroom Burger and the jovial rhythm of life at...