GRDine

I’m surprised it took me this long to get over to Bull’s Head since starting this blog.  Bull’s Head truly encompasses an establishment that tries to be everything to everyone, and they do a damn good job of accomplishing this.

The first time I visited, I went primarily for drinks for friends.  The menu seemed limited, but the drinks were plentiful.  I actually went around telling friends that they lacked significantly on the dinner selections, and that the food was primarily upscale bar-fare.  I couldn’t have been more incorrect.  Over the last week I actually made two trips here; once for dinner upstairs and once for lunch downstairs.  The experiences couldn’t have been more different.

Dinner upstairs:  The setting moves beyond the tavern look and the setting is white table cloth with full dinner menu including some of their signature Buffalo and Ostrich burgers, but expanded to include Smoked Gouda Chicken Pasta and Sashimi Tuna Steak.  The service is friendly and alert since this portion of the restaurant can’t seat much more than maybe 40 patrons.  Prices are comparable with restaurants of the same caliber.  Not to mention…once you are done with dinner you can retreat to the lower level for a few libations.

Lunch:  At lunch you are presented a completely different menu that focuses on appetizers, salads and sandwiches.  There are a few lower prices lunch entrees that stuck out as well…a great value.  I opted for their Cuban and was not disappointed.

The bottom line is that this place will suit you well whether it is a quick lunch with a colleague, dinner with a significant other, or happy hour to late night drinks with your friends.  It is not easy to pull off the dining trinity, but Bull’s Head has a great thing going.

-Jon

So after a grueling month and a half of boycotting the Dog Pit for not being served before close one evening, I decided I have too big of a weakness for chili dogs that the boycott could never last.  The Dog Pit on Monroe Center is now in good standings with GRDine.

Last week I was downtown for a meeting and when the meeting got out I just needed something quick and easy for dinner.  I considered the new Pita House next to the Dog Pit, but how could I resist eating unhealthy?  When I entered the Dog Pit, I was greeted by none other than who I had once referred to as Man-boy.  Let’s call him Keith (I don’t know his real name, but he deserves something other than Man-boy).  Keith wasn’t very busy and served me very well.  I went with a Junkyard Dog, and Frito Nachos…Fantastic!  It must have been my pent up guilt over the last little while I left Keith with a nice tip as an offering of my apology…Not like he’s seen this blog, but it made me feel a little better.

I’ve moved on.  I’ve forgotten the poor experience.  The previous experience has been masked by chili cheese Frito nachos.   We can all move on with the weight lifted off of our shoulders.  Go to Dog Pit!

-Jon Dodge

I recently had dinner at Mojo’s…who would have thunk it?

So a good friend of mine is getting married in a couple of weeks, and as tradition states, you have to treat him to a traditional bachelor party.  Since the soon to be married man lives in Chicago and a few of his good friend also reside in Detroit, Grand Rapids was the central destination for this night of debauchery.

The day started off with a little sky diving, but the night begun with booze, dueling pianos and…dinner.  I’ve been to Mojo’s on numerous occasions, but never once did I know they had food…let alone a full dinner menu.  They serve your typical bar fare cuisine such as chicken tenders and waffle fries, but they shocked me when I had the option of Baked Walleye, New York Strip and Chicken Parmigiana.  I was not prepared for a true dinner option.

I was eating light, but opted to share an appetizer with a few of the guys.  We ordered the Buffalo Rolls.  Essentially, this is chicken mixed with hot sauce, sour cream and colby-jack cheese served with a side of chipotle ranch.  This appetizer was so impressive that I failed to branch out for my entrée and went another round with the Buffalo Rolls.  Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, we came to this establishment around 6:30pm and were surrounded by 5 or 6 “tipsy” (I use this word loosely) bachelorette parties.  This doesn’t make for the best surroundings when looking to have a low key dinner before a night out.  I would say more, but will keep this story limited to maintain GRDine’s PG-13 rating.

The service was fantastic, and the food tasted great.  I would be open to making Mojo’s a dinner spot once again. –JD

After a long week at work, I was in no mood for cooking at home and could make the argument that my blog could always use more content.  Melissa and I decided to visit our long time go-to restaurant…Thornapple Daily Grill

The Restaurant

Another in The Gilmore Collection’s ever-expanding listing of restaurants, Thornapple Daily Grill is located at 445 Ada Dr SE and less than 10 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids(http://www.thegilmorecollection.com/ ). Thornapple Daily Grill offers a fairly diverse menu that ranges from casual fare suitable for any occasion, to more inspired specialty dishes (The specialty menu recently changed and continues to impress me). Whether it’s the Citrus-Glazed Short Ribs, Seared Gail Island Salmon, Corned Beef Rueben, or even the Grilled Cheese , Thornapple caters to all appetites and tastes. They even boast a fantastic wine cellar that doubles as a dining room for group reservations. The restaurant has a wonderful backyard and patio for when the weather is nice.

My Experiences

I commonly frequent this restaurant with family and friends.   Because the menu is so diverse it really can serve any occasion.  The most memorable experience I can recall was when a group of our friends decided to get together for later dinner on the weekend.  I called ahead for reservations.  They were not able to find a table for 8 at 7 o’clock on a Friday night, so they went out of their way to make accommodations for us in their wine cellar.   It was an entirely private setting surrounded by the wines provided on the wine list, and also the Gilmore family’s private wine collection (Very impressive wine collection).  We were informed that the family is willing to part with their wine if a particular bottle interested us.  The Gilmore family is not only known for their fantastic local restaurants, but also their incredible dedication to customer satisfaction.   The other visits I have had to the Grill have provided the consistent, enjoyable experience I have grown to love.

Regardless of which Gilmore restaurant you visit, you will be provided a different experience, but all will be exceptional in their own way.  -JD

A couple of months ago I was having a conversation with a friend around the perfect date spot.  She was asking me about some options in Grand Rapids, and without much thought I suggested San Chez.  The rational around this selection:

1. The ambiance is exciting with a ton of local art surrounding the establishment.
2. The fantastic service resulting is a lack of waiting time between drinks and the several courses that are bound to ensue.  Perfect opportunity to avoid those lulls in conversation.
3. The authentic tapas bistro has incredible food and drink that really creates conversation.
4. Tapas are meant to be passed and shared.  Everyone shares a similar meal, but the experiences are really unique.

These factors don’t only make it the perfect first date spot, but the perfect spot for any occasion.  I have experienced several birthday parties, a few dates with the wife, and even New Years Eve.

San Chez (www.sanchezbistro.com ) is an authentic tapas bistro serving a blend of European and Mediterranean cuisine.  Located at 38 West Fulton in downtown Grand Rapids, this landmark destination has been serving up great food for several years!

The selection of food and drink go well beyond your typical restaurant.  When it comes to drinks, it would take at least 10 visits to sample from their offerings…The typical favorite would be the Sangria (which is excellent), but did you know they have Cardenal Mendoza Spanish Brandy??  This is one of the most sought after brandies in the world…Also…you’ve heard the stories of Picasso and his love of Absinthe…Well, San Chez serves up Lucid Absinthe, or as they call it “Death in the Afternoon”.  I can go on and on about the drink menu.

Outside San Chez

The food menu is just a diverse as the drink menu.  Some of my favorites include Gambas al Ajillo (Sautéed shrimp, olive oil, garlic, and pepper) and Fritos de Azul (Blue cheese fritters with red pepper alioli).  Most tapas dishes come with an alioli or olive oil that bread can be dipped in.  I was recently made aware of a new dish they serve, the Gran Paella… This paella costs around $45, but easily serves 6 people.  This dish is stuffed with lobster, shrimp, chorizo and an assortment of other fish.  I had a taste and would gladly go for this again, but only with a big group.  (Menu: http://www.sanchezbistro.com/images/pdf/Main%20Menu%202009.pdf )

San Chez is really one of a kind.  It beats out a lot of the tapas experiences I’ve had in Chicago or anywhere else for that matter.  The combination of ambiance, food and drink continues to make this an attraction restaurant in Grand Rapids.

Let’s call this post San Chez part 1 as I am going to have additional experiences I will want to share.  -JD

Although it was 90 degrees when I got to Reds (www.reds-live.com), I still opted to sit outside…with the patio covered and overhead fans with a great view of the Rogue River, how could I not?  Immediately I realized the outside ambience was easily one of the best in the Grand Rapids area and in fact if anyone can name a better place to sit outside at a restaurant I’d love to hear about it.

View from the deck

The menu at Reds on the River features an ensemble of excellent options using local ingredients whenever possible, and ultimately I settled on the rack of lamb.  Chef Glen made it easy on me when I discovered that they use Colorado lamb, which in my opinion is much better than the standard New Zealand lamb.  It was prepared with a brandy reduction, and upon eating it I became immediately aware that it was not made with the intention of over-powering the meat which I’ve found is common when preparing lamb (that’s always confused me…why mess with something that’s delicious in it’s own right?  So refreshing for a change).  My wife ordered the salmon (which I was told is flown in daily) and while it was good, I thought that I would’ve preferred it grilled.

The Colorado Lamb

The wine menu was very good, and I was surprised at how competitive the prices seemed.  I started off with a glass of Ponzi (pinot noir) and my wife ordered a Babich (Sauv Blanc).  Both were served at the proper temperature, the proper style of glass, and filled to the right amount (approx 1/3 full). 

The Salmon

A big shout out to the server Brian, who not only answered most of my questions thoroughly despite being busy, but didn’t stop by the table every 30 seconds after we got our food to see how we were doing.   Overall, easily one of the best restaurants in the Grand Rapids area.  –TM

Another view from the deck