Arrows Restaurant — Restaurant in Hudsonville

The onion rings arrive in two almost dainty stacks, like fried and breaded volcanos from a particularly Midwestern hibachi restaurant, on a large white oval plate with a plastic cup of ranch precariously perched between.

The breading is a curious mixture of smooth and gnarled, cascading like a waterfall streaming down the onion mountain peaks. The delicacy suggests a possible issue of structural integrity, evidenced by chips of batter already resting on the plate. Nevertheless, they are quite attractive, a light golden brown color with just a few patches in the lacy batter.

Despite my obvious and stated loyalties to Russ’ Restaurant, I must admit that these onion rings taste delightful. A buttery unctuousness swirls throughout each ring, no doubt the result of an expertly cooked onion, fried just long enough to unleash their juices. The batter is lighter and less prominent, though it is decently greasy and well salted.

Rainbow Grill’s ranch is what truly elevates the taste of these onion rings. Clearly made in-house, it is creamy, seasoned with a zing, and just a little bit watery. The ranch and the onion rings work in tandem to elevate the experience in every bite, much like

That onion itself sits at a comfortable medium between hard and soft, with just enough give to bend and go down easy. But the star, and the hamartia, of these onion rings is the batter.

Batter is a tricky thing. It bears the brunt of the effort to combine flavor, textural cohesion, and an appearance pleasing to the eye into one dish. The delicacy of Rainbow Grill’s batter is its greatest strength, and its Achilles Heel. It is equal parts crunchy and smooth, a fried and greasy ornate lace wrapping around the onion treasure within.

And yet, it cannot stand up to all of the rigors of consumption. The smaller onion rings collapse in on themselves as the ribbons collapse and, in their death throes, fall softly to the plate below, like landslide after landslide slowly eroding the once picturesque peaks.

At the time of my visit, an appetizer sized serving (8 onion rings) cost $6.95, a fair bargain modestly below the typical $1 per ring price for premium rings and roughly on par with the price at Russ’. Despite minor quibbles in batter strength and integrity, the onion rings from Rainbow Grill are tasty, filling, and well...

Rainbow Grill is a trusted and reliable establishment to the people in the Hudsonville, Jenison, Grandville (Michigan) areas, where you will receive top notch service, and be served generous portions at prices that are always fair. I honestly have no complaints about Rainbow Grill at all. So why not 5 stars? Well I guess I am a bit reserved when it comes to rating an establishment as perfect and worthy of 5-stars, because I feel that means the place should "WOW" me. Unfortunately Rainbow Grill just doesn't do that. Again, the food is decent, and the staff are always friendly and efficient, but I don't find myself choosing this restaurant as my "go-to" place very often. The menu is rather simple and somewhat underwhelming. There is just nothing unique about their flavor or selection. And why do we still have to go up front and pay for our meal at a cash register? When I take my wife or a business partner out for breakfast or dinner, it just feels tacky walking up and paying by the exit, like we went back in time to the 70's or 80's. I think they should level up and take payment at the table like most every other sit-down restaurant does. It would help prevent a people jam in the lobby area where people are coming in and more people are lined up at the cash register trying to pay so they can leave and get on with their lives. Again, these are not really complaints, but I do consider them factors that hold my rating to a respectable 4-stars. I do recommend Rainbow Grill to anyone looking for a clean environment, basic atmosphere, wait staff that are smiling and attentive, and a menu that presents a decent variety of standard fare. The prices are normal for what one would expect for this level of dinning in the West Michigan area. It's a solid choice for general dinning, and a great place to bring the...

I LOVE this place!! The "new" one just North of I-96 off the HUDSONVILLE exit. (There is also one in downtown Grandville - the "original" Rainbow Grill). Now before I get started, with the reasonable prices and desserts bigger than your head (literally), I have to say it is usually packed with a slightly "older" crowd. As well as the hard working construction people, families with young children. Most of the waitresses have been there over 15 years and move like they are in their twenties! I like it because it is welcoming. Relaxing. You can go there with shorts and a t-shirt and no makeup and no one cares. People are just kind. Why wouldn't you want to go there? It's priced so reasonably that the fast food places cost the same amount and this way you get a smile welcoming you and your order is correct! The food is so reasonably priced that it draws in people that just want good food, a good price, and good company. Besides that, the salads are WONDERFUL and plenty big for a meal. The desserts will make you mouth water AND make you reconsider your diet plan! The desserts are SO BIG you need three to four people to eat the sundaes, cookies, cream puffs, and the to die for chocolate chip cookies with fudge topping and vanilla ice cream!!! My dad makes me share this with him (he has a terrible time twisting my arm to join in the deliciousness before us!) This is a family place where you have plenty of light to read your menu, everyone is welcome, the food is "down home" cooking, there are specials every time of the day! Breakfast is served until 1pm on weekdays. If you beg just a little and follow it up with a big tip, you can get just about anything regardless of the time of day! (You didn't hear it...