My best of GR

So I'm taking a minute to give my favorite places to eat in GR.

HopCat: I love HopCat. If you like good beer this is the place to go. Beer Advocate magazine ranks it as the #3 beer bar on planet Earth and gives it a perfect score of 100. The beer is always rotating with a great selection of craft brews from around the world. Want a Belgian ale from Belgium? They got it. How about a German Marzen for Oktoberfest in the fall? They got it. They also carry beer from most, if not all, of the good local breweries such as Founders, New Holland, and Bells. But they are not just about the beer. They have great food too. The burgers are outstanding, the tacos are amazing, and they make a great basket of fish and chips. Sandwiches are very good as well. And crack fries, as the name implies, are addicting. They don't skimp on the portions either.

Stella's: Stella's is a whiskey bar, and it is owned by the same guy who owns HopCat. They have over 100 different whiskeys. They have the big names, as well as less known brands. They have low rung whiskeys as cheap as $3.50 and super high end whiskey at nearly $60 a glass. It's a whiskey lovers paradise. They also serve cheap well's and have a few beers on tap for non-whiskey drinkers. As far as the food goes let me say this... no other place as burgers as good. Their stuffed burgers were recently named Best Burger in America by GQ Magazine. They are big, stuffed with cheese, and cooked to perfection on house buns with seasoned fries similar to HopCat's crack fries. Also, there are arcade and pinball games everywhere. Its generally pretty dark in there, and it does attract some interesting (and mostly good natured) people, but it is well worth a trip.

Founders: Best brewery in the state of Michigan in my opinion, and one of the best in America. They make some of the best and most sought after beer in America. If you want their Kentucky Breakfast Stout in bottles to bring home with you, you better spend the night in line waiting for opening the next day. Last year there were close to 1000 people lined up around the building just in the hopes of getting a few bottles. And people drove from as far away as New Jersey and Colorado to try and get some. Currently they make 3 of the top 30 beers in the world according to Beer Advocate. They also have their regular stuff on tap all year as well as seasonal releases and one off, experimental or limited edition beers. The food is very good bar food. Sandwiches are huge ( I suggest the Godfather), fries plentiful. They also have other dishes other than sandwiches such as hummus and tapinade, beer cheese dip, and bruschetta.

Sazarac Lounge: No longer called that because of a stupid lawsuit... I like this place because of the food. Its one of the only places in GR that I know of to get Cajun/Creole food. Not all of it I would consider Cajun, as the seafood etouffee is not like you would get in NOLA. But the rest, such as the gator po'boys, red beans and rice, and jambalya are all good. And it serves a decent cup of gumbo. They also have good pizza and pasta dishes if the Cajun/Creole is not your thing. They have a good selection of beer and drinks.

Bistro Bella Vita: As far as an actual restaurant goes, this is probably one of the top three in Grand Rapids. I have yet to visit some of the other top places on my list (such as Chop House, Cygnus, and SixOneSix), but I know that BBV can hold with them. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with the painted duct work exposed. I have yet to be disappointed with the food on any of my visits. The last time I went I got the duck. It was cooked perfectly, which you don't always get in a restaurant. The dishes are well seasoned and flavors balance nicely. The drinks are good but some are a bit pricey. When asked about wine, the waiter was pretty knowledgeable which was nice.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse: If you have ever been to one you can skip over this now because you already know what I am going to say. If not then read on. First of all, this place is about steak. And not just good or ok steak, but the top of the top steak. Last time I went I got the Filet. It was cooked perfectly medium rare as I had asked, was unbelievably tender and flavorful. Mel's ribeye was also perfection of steak on the the plate. The waiter was on top of his game, and offered to let us sample some wine before we made a decision. Not too many places I have been would actually offer that opportunity. It is pretty expensive though. Sides are ordered from the menu, not already included on the plate. But they are large in size so sharing is the best option. The last time I was there with Mel, we had an appetizer, two steaks, two sides (mashed potato and onion rings), and dessert (creme brulee). The total was well over $100.

Some other places that need mention: Best pizza (so far) goes to Brick Road Pizza; Best Breakfast to Wolfgang's, Best homemade pasta to Pietro's; Best sports bar to Uccello's.

I am looking forward to trying some new places in the future and will let you know what I think about them. Next up is San Chez tappas restaraunt. Stay tuned or it.