Grand Rapids Brewing Company — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

My brief visit to the Grand Rapids Brewing Company was unfortunately quite disappointing. My boyfriend and I stopped in on a slower Thursday evening. The restaurant was about half full and we were so excited to hopefully not have a wait time. We don’t go out very often so this was a very special occasion for us. We walked in and waited to be greeted for multiple minutes. A few servers walked by but they seemed focused on their already seated tables, which was completely understandable. We looked around for a “please wait to be seated” or “please seat yourself” sign but neither were out. So we continued to wait for a host. After about 3 minutes of standing awkwardly in the entryway, we opened the door to leave, and right at that moment the woman who I assume was the host, very rudely stated “You guys can sit wherever you want.” There was obvious agitation in her voice and it caught us off guard. She walked away almost instantly so we just slipped right back out the door. After that rude interaction we didn’t feel it was worth it to stay, as the menu was fairly expensive and we just didn’t feel welcome. We’ll probably give this place another chance someday, but it was unfortunate to be really excited to go, and then have it be ruined before we even took our coats off. I work in the service industry myself, and I completely understand how terrible it feels to have to put on a positive face during a bad day, but unfortunately that just comes with the job. The restaurant industry is too competitive for slip-ups like that. We ended up at another place right down the street and had the time of our lives, so I am thankful for that. But I wish this business the best and I hope the hostess eventually ended up having a...

My partner and I got into town on Sunday afternoon and were staying nearby. We saw the vegan burger option and figured we’d give this place a shot - we were traveling through Michigan visiting breweries across the state afterall. I really wish I would’ve asked the girl at the bar for her name but I’ve honestly never felt more unwelcome. The hostess was lovely, however - recommended some options nearby, unfortunately both closed - and offered a seat in the bar. The bartender however offered zero support in our requests for vegan options. I couldn’t imagine a restaurant offering a vegan burger with no bun options and she insisted none of the breads were vegan - bagels and ciabatta, really? Both not vegan? But I digress. She was frustrated with us, clearly, and it was only after we’d asked her to speak with the kitchen and after she kept blowing us off that we’d finally had enough and left. Again, I’ve never felt more unwelcome in a place and as someone who is vegan with a partner who is severely lactose intolerant, this is not a place I’d recommend. She even suggested the kitchen throws away bags and packages that the food arrives in so the ingredients are a mystery - really? No responsible place would possibly do this. If you have any dietary restrictions or hope for transparency in the food you’re ordering, or even want decent and respectful service, I’d avoid this place. There are so many amazing restaurants nearby that deserve...

I visited the restaurant today with my friend and we had only been there a few times before this. This experience was one of the best because overall service was excellent. From the moment I stepped through the door I was greeted by a host who let us know that it would be a few minutes before we were seated. It was busy because the restaurant was holding a Drag Brunch event in the back room. Once we were seated, we were soon greeted by our wonderful server Kailey. She was prompt, knew the menu items, and was very engaging. She mentioned that they were in the middle of their happy hour, so I asked her for a wine suggestion. I ended up ordering the Grand Traverse Riesling per her recommendation. For food, I ordered the vegan mushroom wrap with dank fries and a side of beer cheese (also per our server's suggestion). I was very satisfied with the number of options for those with dietary restrictions. The meal was delivered within a reasonable amount of time and we didn't have to wait for too long. Our server did a good job at getting us refills on our drinks whether it was another glass of wine or water. The bathrooms were a little untidy, but I blame that on the excessive amount of people there for the event! Great service, clean restaurant, good food! All in all, it ended up being a delightful experience due to the ambience and great employees. I will be returning in the future, hopefully for the...