Grand Finale Bistro & Cafe — Restaurant in Spring Lake Township

If doing the same thing over and over is the definition of insanity, then save yourself from going crazy and skip this place. I've tried to go and have a good experience there more than a half-dozen times, and every time it continues to disappoint me.

Took my wife and parents there for breakfast once, they served my wife and I uncooked breakfast burritos. They seemed assembled with pre-made scrambled eggs and grated cheese, etc. but that the kitchen literally forgot to put them in the oven or microwave. The eggs were cold and the cheese was still grated and unmelted. My parents hate it when I complain about stuff at restaurants, so my wife and I had to pretend it was too much and took them home to heat up and eat later. But seriously, how does the kitchen and the server miss that?

Well, it's because they have high school students working there who would be more suited working in a summertime ice cream stand. They don't know how to do service for a place that is trying to sell fancy $25-$46 main plates for dinner. It's probably why I've never seen more than one or two tables with customers there at the same time ever. Their service and their servers are awkward like a first high school formal. They barely remember to say hello when you come in - THEY NEVER SAY GOODBYE AND THEY NEVER THANK YOU FOR COMING / COME AGAIN.

Fast forward to today - tried AGAIN with a friend - we just wanted a drink and a dessert, but the kids were fixated on whether we were going to have dinner. Place was completely empty as usual - as is every dining room photo that appears in even 5-star reviews here. We had to repeat multiple times that we were only having a drink and dessert. They insisted on "seating" us (in the empty room where we could have just seated ourselves). Asked us one more time if we were going to order dinner, and then proceeded to come to the table and interrupt us less than 5 minutes later to pay the bill (which we could have just pre-paid for at the register when we ordered our matcha, aviation martini, and 2 tiramisu) * as we were still just starting the tiramisu and drinks. *

Why? So the kids could all retire to the kitchen and giggle and chit chat and talk loud enough for us to hear who had just broken up with their boyfriend.

Then, more high school students showed up. I got a box for my tiramisu and we left. This place looks like it's a grown-up restaurant but it's not. It's for high school kids. Seems like someone's rich Mom's hobby where it doesn't matter whether they earn revenue or not.

There are so many other great places to go in Spring Lake and Grand Haven - don't waste your time being disappointed by Grand Finale Bistro, Cafe, and...

5 stars – A culinary gem in Spring Lake!

I finally had the chance to dine at Grand Finale, and let me just say—this place is truly something special.

We started with the escargot, served sizzling in garlic butter with the perfect crusty bread for dipping. It set the tone for the whole evening—decadent, flavorful, and executed with precision. We also shared a charcuterie board that was beautifully arranged with a mix of house-made accompaniments and artisan cheeses. Every bite felt thoughtful and balanced.

But the Beef Wellington—wow. Hands down the best I’ve had. The pastry was golden and crisp, the beef tender and medium rare throughout, and the mushroom duxelles added a rich, earthy depth. You can tell the chef isn’t just cooking; he’s crafting an experience. We asked for a wine pairing and were blown away. Their wine list is curated by the chef himself, and his recommendation was spot-on—elevating the dish rather than overpowering it.

For dessert, I couldn’t resist the gluten-free key lime pie, and honestly, if they hadn’t told me it was gluten-free, I never would’ve known. Creamy, tart, and smooth with a nutty crust that I’m still dreaming about. We also took home a box of macaroons—pistachio and raspberry were our favorites. Light, chewy, and delicately sweet.

The space is cozy and elegant, the staff are warm and knowledgeable, and you can feel the passion in everything from the plating to the playlist. Grand Finale isn’t just a dinner—it’s a destination. We’re already planning...

Overall the food is fantastic. This review is of the dinner we had but the breakfast quiche and other breakfast options are delicious. We all shared plates, started with a mushroom crostini which was so delicious. The scallops, a bit expensive, but were perfectly cooked. The parsnip puree and grilled cauliflower complimented the scallops very well. The crab cakes had a delicious remoulade. I personally prefer bigger crab pieces but it was delicious! I’ve never had fish dumpling and glad we tried this as it was very savory. I liked that it had a little crisp on the outside, the Gruyère added a nice rich flavor too. I would’ve have liked a little more of the lobster sauce but it may have been my favorite dish of the night.

I think it’s reasonably priced, the night we went they were short staffed but Justin filled in with service and also explained several of the dishes which made the experience even better. I love to have this option in Spring Lake, I’d put this against any other fine dining in experience in Chicago or definitely GR....