Papa Chops Eatery — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

Gluten Liberty! The food is good. It is a super bright and cheerful place.

The Cheezy Burg - $16: Only comes cooked to 165ºF. The patty was thick and juicy, medium to high quality. I am guessing one-third or half pound in size (probably half pound). I could tell the burger was very professionally made. It said it was juicy and it was. The cheese was melted just right. I am not usually a fan of cheddar on my burger, but this was pretty good.

The toppings were a good balance. I asked about the Burg sauce and they reported it was a special blend of ketchup, mustard, and mayo. I have not seen it pre-mixed before, but I thought it was a great idea and it kept the toppings less complicated.

The bun was gluten-free. It was probably about one or two notches above what you’d expect from gluten-free. It had the same tastes, but was well thought out to compensate for flavors that are needed. I believe I tasted honey as a sweetener (which is common for gluten-free). Overall, for what it was, it was great!

Fries - (comes with burger): Amazing! A little too much salt, but the flavor combinations were astounding! One thing probably missed by those restricted by gluten-free options is the battered fries. These are a wonderful alternative. The textures are all there and the flavor matches spot on. There are a few other underlying spices that add robust excitement.

The pictures I took did not do it justice. There were more fries than what appears in the picture.

Chili (bowl) - $4 (half off for the week): Won second place in a contest that week and was therefore half off for the week. The deal has expired, though. I agree with the judges, it was fantastic! I would gladly pay full price, though the amount you get is a bit small (though it is comparable to many other restaurants).

It did have some kick, though. I greatly enjoy spicy food, so this was excellent for me. My wife did mention it was a bit much for her. The blend was spot on. It was not just a kick, it had full flavor, very savory, and not deluded in the least. The meat and bean mix was just right. The cheese was objectively right on (though some may disagree due to preferences).

Mozzarella Stix - $10: My wife ordered these, but I stole a taste. There is a lot of breading to these compared to some other mozzarella sticks. The cheese was very gooey and delicious. They are fairly thick. A little on the pricey side.

The menu had a couple of differences than what was on the website. The Mozzarella Stix were $10 and the website had it listed as $9. The Garden Salad has also changed how it is listed. I believe most everything else was the same.

Service: Service was cheerful, kind, and helpful. You order at the counter on the right side of the store and they bring your order in a bag to your table, most of which are on the left side of the store. Kind of odd if you are dining in like we did, but okay. The packaging was environmentally friendly, so I suppose that isn’t all bad.

Atmosphere: Cheerful and bright colors! It is definitely not crammed like some places. The tables are plenty spread out. The floor is concrete, but super clean and smooth (no cracks that I could see). There were children’s colorings on the wall. There were 3-4 booths and a number of tables with chairs. There are 2-3 tables in the ordering area, but most of the seating is in the dining area.

Conclusion: If you are gluten sensitive or celiac, this place is a must visit! Everyone I saw had this posture of freedom from fear and the superhero projection the store portrays is well earned and not just a gimmick. The place is a haven for those who need absolute gluten-free options.

The prices are fairly competitive to what is out there. It is still more than regular food, but that is normal. The burger is actually almost the same price for most regular options out there, though.

Visited on a...

I was in the area on a day trip. One of the things my partner and I look for whenever we go somewhere away from home are gluten free places to eat - especially those that are dedicated gluten free facilities.

In my past experiences, a gluten free place is often geared towards people who are dieting rather than a place for those with dietary restrictions. It feels that so often, foods that are free of gluten are also free of flavor - Papa Chops could not be a more stark contrast to this.

Having read online that this is the place to "scratch that burger itch", we looked forward to heading there after a busy day but kept our expectations in check; anyone who is Celiac knows exactly what I'm talking about. We had gotten two burgers (my girlfriend getting a more classic burger and I got an avocado burger that was on special) and I felt myself salivate just being given my food.

As noted before, this certainly filled that niche that seems surprisingly difficult for places to fill. I don't think many people exactly have difficulty making burgers at home but there's always something wondrous about getting a juicy patty flipped off the griddle that can't be beat. Then I took a bite of the fries and it was like greeting an old friend. Crisp on the outside but fluffy on the inside. Evenly seasoned with (what I'm guessing) the right amount of salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika.

Admittedly, my burger bun did fall apart a bit, but I know this is due to the amount of wet ingredients I had (chipotle aioli, bbq sauce, ketchup) slathered on the bun. I do tend to use a little more than most do so if you are of the same ilk, be aware. However, my partner's on the other hand definitively stood up to a normal amount of condiments on theirs.

Lastly, the staff was friendly in such a sincere and genuine way that you don't always see in places. The owner Aaron and a woman whose name I unfortunately did not catch at the time, had such bright, warm, welcoming smiles. While I was in line, I recall Aaron speaking to a couple of the customers by name and so when I had stepped up to order, I was asked if I was new in town; not in any rude or intrusive manner, but simply positive curiosity.

After I had affirmed that I was from out of town and it was my first time trying this place, three different customers turned around to gush about how much they enjoy going there to eat before Aaron or the other manager could say a word. Even in just those few moments, it really instilled a sense of community there that I can't say I've really seen inside of any food establishment.

All of that is to say, with Celiac's, good food often needs a qualifier; an asterisk. "This is a good _. For a gluten free version". Great food often needs to come from home. Papa Chops, I am thrilled to say, is the exception to...

I'm over-the-moon happy to have a completely gluten free dining option. Went for lunch today with my husband and 3 kids. Everything tasted great, the service was lovely (as it should be for a grand opening), and over all I loved it. So, I have one main complaint with a couple minor irritations that are probably particular to me. My irritations: I got a pepperoni pizza on cauliflower based crust for my kiddos. It tasted great and was one of the better consistency cauliflower crusts I've had. But they didn't spread sauce and cheese to the edges. I don't like pizzas that do that. My kids only eat what has cheese on it, so there was unnecessary waste. The second irritation was my bluegill Sammie had an underwhelming amount of fish on it. What was there tasted amazing. The bun was the best gf bun I've ever had. But the 2 tiny fillets were overwhelmed by the bread. ... and there was nothing else to the sammie except a bit of slaw for $13. My main complaint, let's call it it constructive criticism, is the price per item. Everything is a la carte. $13 for a fish sandwich with no fries, no chips, no drink. $12 for a chicken sandwich (amazing st Louis chicken 4 ways sammie) is pretty dang steep for the casual eatery style they're going for in our area. It wouldn't cost much to throw an order of fries or even a bag of lays in with the sandwich order. Please add price of drinks to the menu as well so I don't pay 1.70 for two $.50 juice boxes next time. So, food is delightful. Price is above average. I guess you're paying for comfort of mind if you have celiac disease. I'll go again and look forward to trying everything, but not as often as i would go if the fries were $3 instead of 5. Or came with the sandwiches. Hopefully these guys don't price themselves out of the market. Go give them a try and see if I'm off base with my review 😉. Edit: I went back a couple weeks later and the owner DID give an order of fries with the chicken sandwich I got. Hopefully this is the new way of doing things. Great food. Great onion rings. Cheese sticks weren't as gooey-amazing second visit, but everything else was 5 stars. Definitely recommend. 2nd Edit: as I sit at kith & kin bakery and restaurant in Lockport NY, I find myself realizing that Papa Chops is very competitively priced for current market values. I fear my review saying they're pricier than average is based on expectations from 5plus years ago. Way to go Papa Chops....