READERS PICK: Mani/Pedi: There is no indulgence quite like the experience at Design 1 Salon Spa. |
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Best of Grand Rapids
More than 200 reasons to love this city!
By Jocelyn Burkett
Photography by Michael Buck and Johnny Quirin
Some friends meet up at a restaurant in town. As they dine, they talk about everything, with questions flying back and forth.
How’s your salad? Where did you buy that coat? Your lawn looks great! Who do you use? I had a lovely time at your daughter’s wedding. Who catered it? Your husband always looks so put together. Where does he get his clothes? I want a better rate at my bank. What’s your bank offering? I’m still hungry. Where can we go for coffee and dessert?
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See where we’re going with this?
The Best of Grand Rapids Readers Poll is much like a conversation with an old friend. We ask several questions of you, and you willingly respond. The results of this poll reflect your preferences, and in most cases, your exceptional experiences within West Michigan.
We want to know what you like, so that we (and others) might like it, too.
To spice things up, in addition to the 67 Readers Poll categories, we mixed in some staff picks of places we thought you should know about.
Appetizer Menu
The Best: San Chez
Other favorites: Rockwell Republic
25 Kitchen + Bar
Bagel
The Best: Panera Bread
Other favorites: Bagel Beanery
Big Apple Bagel
Bakery
The Best: Wealthy Street Bakery
Other favorites: Arnie’s
Van’s Pastry
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STAFF PICKS
Best 2 a.m. breakfast
The Grand Coney, 809 Michigan St. NW
Sometimes a 24-hour breakfast joint is just what you need, and The Grand Coney, on the corner of Michigan and Eastern, fills that niche. The menu features breakfast diner staples, including monster omelets and skillets and pancakes that bring you back to childhood. The staff is fast, funny, and will refill your coffee cup as many times as you can handle. Don’t get too carried away though, and keep your eye on the clock. |
Breakfast/Brunch
The Best: Real Food Café
Other favorites: Cherie Inn
Omelette Shoppe
Burger
The Best: Cottage Bar
Other favorites: Choo Choo Grill
Cascade Roadhouse
Burrito
The Best: Beltline Bar
Other favorites: El Burrito Loco
Trini’s Downtown
Coney Dog
The Best: Yesterdog
Other favorites: Corner Bar
One Stop Coney Shop
Deli
The Best: Schnitz Deli
Other favorites: Cherry Street Deli
Marie Catrib’s
Ice Cream Parlor
The Best: Jersey Junction
Other favorites: Sundaes at the Cottage
Sundaes in the Heights
New Restaurant
The Best: Amore Trattoria Italiana
Other favorites: Bartertown Diner
Brewery Vivant
Outdoor/Deck Seating
The Best: Rose’s
Other favorites: Reds on the River
Grille at Watermark
Pizza
The Best: Uccello’s
Other favorites: Vitale’s in Ada
Peppino’s
READES PICK BEST RIBS: There’s never been a better time or place to be a carnivore than at Sam’s Joint.
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Ribs
The Best: Sam’s Joint
Other favorites: Sandmann’s
Brann’s
Romantic Dining
The Best: Reds on the River
Other favorites: Tre Cugini
Cygnus 27
Sandwich
The Best: Schnitz Deli
Other favorites: Panera Bread
Marie Catrib’s
Seafood
The Best: Leo’s
Other favorites: Charley’s Crab
Bonefish Grill
Soup
The Best: Panera Bread
Other favorites: Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop
Zoup!
Steak
The Best: Chop House
Other favorites: Louis Benton
Reds on the River
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READERS PICK
Men’s & Women’s Apparel: Having the salesperson at A. K. Rikk’s tie your half-Windsor: priceless |
Beer/Wine Merchant
The Best: Martha’s Vineyard
Other favorites: G.B. Russo & Son
Crushed Grape
Coffeehouse
The Best: Biggby
Other favorites: Kava House
MadCap
Microbrewery
The Best: Founders Brewing Co.
Other favorites: Brewery Vivant
HopCat
Nightclub/Bar
The Best: HopCat
Other favorites: The BOB
Bar Divani
Restaurant Wine List
The Best: Reserve
Other favorites: Bar Divani
Reds on the River
Animal Clinic
The Best: Cascade Hospital for Animals
Other favorites: Family Friends Veterinary Hospital
Weisner Innis & Schoen
Auto Repair
The Best: Veenstra’s Garage
Other favorites: Community Automotive Repair
Spaanstra Brothers Automotive
Bank/Credit Union
The Best: Macatawa Bank
Other favorites: Lake Michigan Credit Union
Fifth Third Bank
Car Wash
The Best: Southland Auto Wash
Other favorites: Breton Village Auto Wash
Waterworks Car Wash
STAFF PICKS
Best place for cooking lessons …
and a wrench
Rylee’s Ace Hardware, 1234 Michigan St. NE
It sells plumbing gizmos and electrical sockets — all the stuff you expect to find at a hardware store. But Rylee’s Ace Hardware on Michigan Street also features a killer housewares department with everything from La Creuset cookware to every color of Fiestaware.
Thank owner Lori Terpstra, whose granddad started the store in the late ’40s. She took over in 2000 and moved 10 years later to the current larger location, where Terpstra has room for all the fun stuff — including a full working kitchen on the sales floor. Once or twice a month, chef Kathleen Schiefler (shown above) offers classes, showing people how to use all the great gourmet gadgets for sale. Definitely not your grandfather’s hardware store.
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Catering Company
The Best: Applause
Other favorites: Above & Beyond
Tommy Fitzgerald
Chef
The Best: Eric Chaitin/Grille at Watermark
Other favorites: Andrea McFarland/Women’s City Club
Tommy Fitzgerald
Dentist
The Best: Michael Crete
Other favorites: Matthew Gietzen
Thomas Lambert
Dermatologist
The Best: Richard Ashack
Other favorites: Evelyn Vanderveen
Robert Lamberts
Dry Cleaning
The Best: Sheldon Cleaners
Other favorites: Afendoulis
One Hour Martinizing
Hair Salon
The Best: Design 1 Salon Spa
Other favorites: Tanaz Hair Boutique & Spa
Panopoulos Salons
Housecleaning Service
The Best: Cascade Fresh Cleaning Co.
Other favorites: Molly Maid
Merry Maids
Interior Design Firm
The Best: Think Design
Other favorites: Via Design
Kathryn Chaplow
Landscaping Company
The Best: Harder & Warner
Other favorites: Kappes Landscapes
Rooks Landscaping
Law Firm
The Best: Kuiper Orlebeke
Other favorites: Warner Norcross & Judd
Varnum
Mani/Pedi
The Best: Design 1 Salon Spa
Other favorites: Panopoulos Salons
Douglas J
Plastic Surgeon
The Best: Brad Bengtson
Other favorites: John Renucci
Scott Brundage
Real Estate Company
The Best: RE/MAX of GR
Other favorites: Five Star
Keller Williams
Retirement Community
The Best: Clark Retirement
Other favorites: Porter Hills
Beacon Hill
Tattoo Parlor
The Best: Mos Eisleys
Other favorites: Screaming Needle
Laughing Gremlin
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Readers PICK BEST Bike shop:
Let’s face it, that Huffy you had as a kid was a gateway bike. Get your fix at Village Bike Shop. |
Antique Shop
The Best: Eastown Antiques
Other favorites: Blue Door
Windsor Cottage
Auto Dealership
The Best: Fox Motors
Other favorites: Betten Imports
Todd Wenzel
Bicycle Shop
The Best: Village Bike Shop
Other favorites: Ada Bike Shop
Freewheeler Bike Shop
Bookstore
The Best: Schuler Books & Music
Other favorites: Barnes & Noble
Literary Life
Children’s Clothing Store
The Best: Snapdragon
Other favorites: Children’s Place
Hop Scotch
Florist
The Best: Eastern Floral
Other favorites: Kennedy’s
Daylily Floral
Furniture Store
The Best: Northwestern Home Furnishings
Other favorites: D2 Design Quest
Stone’s Throw
Garden Center
The Best: Fruit Basket Flowerland
Other favorites: Romence Gardens
Koetsier’s
Grocery Store
The Best: D&W Fresh Market
Other favorites: Meijer
Forest Hills Foods
Home Accessories
The Best: Wealthy at Charles
Other favorites: D2 Design Quest
Northwestern Home Furnishings
Jewelry Store
The Best: DeVries Jewelers
Other favorites: Preussers Jewelers
Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry
Men’s Apparel
The Best: A.K. Rikk’s
Other favorites: Fitzgerald’s
Jurgens & Holtvluwer
STAFF PICKS:
Best vegan dish
Heritage Restaurant, 151 Fountain St. NE
(GRCC Applied Technology Center)
We applaud the menu at Bartertown Diner and truly enjoy the breakfasts at Gaia. But hey, Chef Kevin Dunn (at left) was doing vegan before vegan was cool.
The culinary instructor at Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education started cooking plant-based dishes in the early ’90s to overcome his health issues and has been a vegan fanatic every since. Our fave is his Mock Eel, a sweet-and-sour gourmet specialty made with dried shitake mushrooms, soy sauce, scallions and more. Yum.
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Resale/Consignment
The Best: Georgie’s
Other favorites: Gild the Lily
Windsor Cottage
Shoe Store
The Best: Mieras Family Shoes
Other favorites: DSW
Van Hoecks
Women’s Apparel
The Best: AKA (A.K. Rikk’s)
Other favorites: Leigh’s
Hot Mama
Art Gallery
The Best: LaFontsee Galleries
Other favorites: UICA
Perception Gallery
Golf Course
The Best: Thousand Oaks
Other favorites: Egypt Valley
Cascade Hills Country Club
Health Club
The Best: MVP Sportsplex
Other favorites: YMCA
East Hills Athletic Club
Museum
The Best: GR Public Museum
Other favorites: GR Art Museum
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Outdoor Festival
The Best: ArtPrize
Other favorites: Festival of the Arts
Celebration on the Grand
Performing Arts
The Best: GR Civic Theatre
Other favorites: GR Ballet Company
GR Symphony
Place for a Reception
The Best: Frederik Meijer Gardens
& Sculpture Park
Other favorites: Women’s City Club
Noto’s Old World Italian Dining
Public Park
The Best: Millennium Park
Other favorites: John Collins Park
Rosa Parks Circle
Shopping Mall
The Best: Woodland Mall
Other favorites: RiverTown Crossings
Breton Village
Tourist Attraction
The Best: Frederik Meijer Gardens
& Sculpture Park
Other favorites: ArtPrize
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum |
