The Apartment Lounge — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

I absolutely love this place. It's my go to bar that I always go to on night out when I am looking to just chill and be myself. The staff are phenomenal and always give you such the best mood ever. I swear they always cheer me up. And you always feel so included. However, there is one thing I must complain about, and that is the owner. I am autistic and cannot help but move around A LOT in my space. I adore this bar because the staff make you feel so included and like ourself, especially for me as a queer individual. But my recent experience has definitely thrown me off. I got told not to sit on my legs/feet because he was concerned about "ruining his expensive booths" that he just paid to have redone. Look, I get it. You want to keep the place looking nice, but the way it was approached to me was not all that nice. I don't want to go into full details about it, but it definitely struck me and hit me somewhere in my feelings. Being autistic, I cannot help how I sit and sometimes feel more comfortable in specific positions. And I hate to say that severely hit me somewhere. It didn't necessarily ruin my night since I and my friends just ended up moving to the bar stools when seats were available, but it sort of told me a lot about where standards were. Again, I understand, but it also came off as wrong to me. I love this place, I really do. I love all the people that work here. They are so amazing and do so much and they deserve all the credit in the world. They are the reason I will keep coming back and why this review isn't lower than four stars. Please my babes, keep doing you. You will have my support all the way. But before you obsess over your expensive furniture wear that is for certain to be degraded over overhaul of business over the comfort of your customers, please approach this in a better way. It made me very saddened when I was told this, like I was doing something terribly wrong, when in fact, it's just who I am as a person. I can't sit "normally", and never in my life would I have assumed it was a problem.

I have sadly reduced my review due to someone else having a similar encounter as me with “legs up on booths”. It appears to now be a universal issue thing and that I am not the only one encountering this. I understand wanting to keep the business looking nice, but running a business means making hefty purchases here and there. I don’t like how the fear of being verbally torn down by the owner is affecting apparently my and others’ experiences. So caution to those out there like me who can’t help themselves. Be aware. You might get an unexpected call out when you’re in the middle of a conversation to put your legs down. Staff are always amazing. But its sad experiences with the owner are bringing this rating...

I've visited this establishment three times over the past five years, hoping to find a safe and inclusive environment to enjoy a drink. Each time, I am left with a harsh reminder of why I choose to avoid this place. The owner’s attitude is incredibly off-putting and unwelcoming.

My first negative experience occurred in 2021 when he abruptly kicked me and my service dog out of the venue. All while a purse dog of one of the bartenders off duty was at the outdoor table next to me. That incident left a lasting impression, and it took me nearly four years to muster the courage to return. Regrettably, my experience today was just as disappointing.

During my visit, the owner harassed me on three separate occasions. He repeatedly commented on the extensive amount of money he spent on recovering the booths, which felt irrelevant to me. As that's an investment needed when previously the seats were duct taped together and the carpet smells of must. At one point, he rudely demanded me to take my feet down. It’s important to clarify that neither my feet nor my shoes ever made contact with his booths, which he claimed cost $16,000. I was sitting with my legs crossed.

After the third instance of his harassment, I felt compelled to explain my situation to him. I told him that while my foot might have been hanging off the booth, I need to keep my leg elevated for medical reasons.

I truly urge others to reconsider spending their money at this establishment. The lack of respect for patrons, especially those with disabilities, is alarming and simply...

This was our first occasion to visit since we recently moved downtown.

The upshot: Great ambiance. Has a very clubby feel with its leather booths; in effect classy, upscale and welcoming.

The downside: We were refused our initial drink orders because the bartender was too lazy and unaccommodating to mix them. After my husband requested a Tom Collins, the bartender claimed he would have to look it up since he never heard of it. I asked for a Margarita on the rocks and the bartender intimated it wasn't worth his trouble.

On a Saturday afternoon, several minutes after opening, we were the only customers present. So, no other excuse to not mix these two simple cocktails.

We tried to make small talk with him but this guy was rude as all out. And when he did proffer anything to say, it was a litany of personal complaints. Some time later, two customers walked in - apparently regulars - and they were lavished with attention by this faux bartender.

We surmise this bartender is also the owner since he resembles some newspaper photos adorning the walls. To think we nearly contributed to their pandemic relief fund because we felt sympathy for this establishment.

Unless the personnel/owner gets an attitude adjustment of his own, we doubt we'll come back...