Gypsy Nickel Lounge

•$$$

Amazing place great for br and the downtownhihgly recommend visiting when in br or at ferrisread more

The food was good. It would be nice if they offered more selections. The waitress was ok, not…read moreextremely friendly. She got our food to us in a timely manner. The only thing I was kind of disappointed in was...the restaurant seemed to be a little rundown, especially the restroom. If they updated the decor and design it would have a better ambiance. Overall, I would recommend.

Inside

It's Greek to Me Wrap

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Schuberg's Bar & Grill

4.3(221 reviews)

I was in town and had to try a burger after watching a few reviews that have come up in my feed…read more I ordered the Blue cheese burger and got it with mushrooms and the Frank's hot ranch on the side. Delicious. Like a four napkin burger haha. It isn't overly large, although a 12 ounce option is available. It's just bar grilled goodness with shredded lettuce and packed with flavor. The inside reminds me of The Bird in Mt. Pleasant. The waitress was great, refilled drinks without asking and it was busy but not packed around 3 on a weekday. Also had sweet potato fries and they were perfect darker orange but not burned. Lunch for two was $30 for 2 burgers and soda.

I love Schubergs and each time I go I try a new menu item. My food is always fresh and…read moremade-to-order. I have long loved their sweet potato fries and was devastated when they were removed from the menu. (I hope, at some point, they make a triumphant return!) Try the Mushroom Swiss "Schu" or the cod basket. They're excellent!

Free popcorn

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Paz Pub & Grill

4.2(6 reviews)

Great place, good fast friendly staff . Great place for a party good food egg rolls are so goodread more

We went to Paz Pub & Grill one time prior to Covid and had a great meal. During Covid many of us…read moreworked from home, and we got out of the habit of going places for lunch, on Fridays together. We just started going out again as a group and Paz Pub & Grill was the Earth first venture out. We arrived at 11:30, and they were just opening up. Somebody showed up late, so there was only one person turning on everything for the restaurant. They were very nice and the restaurant was clean. Since they opened a little bit late and understaffed, happening a lot since Covid, it took a bit to get our food. All of us enjoyed our food, and the price was decent for the volume, especially. We work nearby, so driving to, ordering, waiting and eating, paying and driving back took about 1:20 hours. We will return, for sure, but will wait until noon to arrive.

Vegetarian pancit with a side of seasonal vegetables

Lumpia

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Paz Pub

BR Lunch Box

4.2(13 reviews)

0.4 mi

This place is truly something special. The dining space isn't your typical restaurant when you…read morefirst walk in, but don't let that fool you, this is some of the best food in Big Rapids. I'd even put it up against most spots in Mount Pleasant! The menu is smaller and rotates, which I appreciate because it means everything is fresh, intentional, and made with care. You can taste the difference. I'd take a couple of amazing, from-scratch options over a long list of 'reheated' dishes any day (e.g, Antlers in Canadian Lakes has had the same boring menu for years.. ) The service is just as impressive, warm, genuine, and hard to beat. Honestly, this place deserves a line out the door.

Amazing good and service . Healthy options . Daily offered two specials to choose from .read more

Waldorf salad so good, with chicken, roll and bite size brownie

Asian stir fried chicken

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Beef barley soup with house salad

Szots Bar & Grill

4.6(27 reviews)

0.2 mi

Tonight was our first trip to Szots and it won't be our last. Our service was great. The burgers…read morewere excellent-fresh ingredients and cooked just right. Our burgers came with chips (and homemade?) dip. I would have preferred fries, but the burger made up for it. Eat at Szots. You won't be disappointed!

Best Olive Burger in Big Rapids? You Bet! Today, some friends from work and I went out for lunch at…read moreSzot's Bar & Grill on North State Street in Big Rapids. I ordered their Olive Burger and asked them to toast the bun. I added cheese, lettuce, and mayo too. Let me tell you--this burger was amazing. I've eaten burgers in lots of places, even at Szot's before. But today's burger? It was the best one yet. The bun was warm and crispy, the toppings were fresh, and the olives gave it a tasty kick. I liked it so much, I stopped talking just to enjoy it. If this burger was running for mayor of Big Rapids, I'd vote for it twice!

Dynamic Duo!

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Cranker's Brewery

2.6(140 reviews)

0.9 mi

My wife and I stopped here for a weekday late lunch--had the place mostly to ourselves. We…read moreordered a 4-beer sample flight, a couple of IPAs, a winter lager, and a brown ale. All good, but we were most impressed with the brown--very malty with a nice hop tingle, more substantive than most brown ales I've had, though still less than 5% ABV. The server mentioned it was a new addition to their tap menu, and I hope they'll keep it. We both got a pint to go with lunch. Lunch took the form of the house salad: lettuce and typical salad fixings with bacon and chicken topping it off. Lots of bacon! Wouldn't have minded less, not that I didn't eat every bit. The chicken was tender and juicy, and all the greenery was fresh. Very nice midday meal. While I don't pass through BR very often, I'll make a point of returning here when I do.

Bad catering. Don't believe the hype. Owner over sells and under delivers. Don't share concerns or…read morehe will say "Fu$k that " and tell you he doesn't "need your business as I have plenty." Promises he has kitchen to cook your event in Grand Rapids and delivers it from Big Rapids. Party of 150 and the food goes cold in 20 minutes with no prep to keep it warm. Our President chose to go to the back of the line and the food was cold when he was served, They ran out of tortillas at a taco bar. His workers are great, the owner does not care. Way cheaper than the competition and you still will not get your moneys worth. Your team will be disappointed. And don't share concerns, he will cuss at ya. The customer is never right.

Brisket Philly

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Ruby Tuesday

3.1(60 reviews)

2.3 mi

Great birthday parties combined today celebrated at Ruby's ! Nice quiet atmosphere, great service…read more, salad bar , all food came out quick and correct. Amazing attentive waiter !

The First part of the service was Excellent when I walked to the door, and the server brought me to…read moreMY Table. Then, the Service from the wait staff declined slowly, but quickly. The server Totally Embarrassed me when my debit card couldn't connect and Declined 2x. Then the server spoke to me condescending and rudely, in Front of the Other Customers. I got so very upset, That I had left my Snoopy 2026 Graduation Gift, graduating from Baker College in Business Studies with An AAS DEGREE. THE ORIGINAL SERVER HAVE ME SNOOPY BACK TO ME BEFORE I GOT TO MY JEEP. BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE LATTER 2 SERVERS, I SHALL NEVER DARKEN RUBY TUESDAYS RESTAURANT IN BIG RAPIDS MI OR ANY OTHER LOCATION. VERY DISAPPOINTED. LADY GINA

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#52 Sports Bar and Kitchen

2.9(18 reviews)

1.8 mi

The owner is THE BEST!! We only stop by 2-3 times a year when in the area for work, and he always…read moreremembers us. Also, our waitress is always so cool, and her vibe is perfect. We actually loved our lunch so much, we came back for dinner!!

We really appreciated the great service and good food! We popped in to watch the NCAA women's…read morefinal game. Although there were a few TVs going with different sporting events, our server found a way to get the sound on for our game. It was a great place to watch.

Our bar features 13 draft beers featuring many Michigan based micro brews.

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Weekday happy specials!

Applebee's Grill + Bar

3.6(96 reviews)

1.6 mi

We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Applebee's, and a huge part of that was our server,…read moreJacob! From the moment we sat down, he was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made us feel welcome. Our drinks were always full, our food came out hot and exactly as ordered, and he checked in just the right amount without ever feeling rushed. Jacob went above and beyond to make sure our meal was perfect, and his positive attitude truly made the whole visit better. This is the kind of service that keeps us coming back. Great food, great atmosphere, and exceptional service--thank you, Jacob, for an awesome dining experience! We'll definitely be back Try the new O-M-cheeseburger!

Applebee's has a great menu IF you do not have a gluten allergy and are not borderline diabetic…read more Too few options with no gluten and low sugar/carb. I ordered a salad and it was served with a breadstick touching the salad. The textbook definition of cross contamination. I feel they are overpriced for the few options I had. Need more options for people with dietary restrictions.

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Sawmill Saloon

3.1(22 reviews)

Great place to get a beer, food hits and doesn't break the bank. Bartenders and staff are great…read more Live music nights and trivia are total hits

I'm pretty sure they accused me of trying to do it with a whale. The largest of marges.read more

Things to do in Big Rapids

Front of Saloon

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The Sawmill Patio

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16 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Joshua G.

6 years ago

DO NOT! I REPEAT DO NOT! Spend ur money, waste ur time and experiences at this Chum Bucket reminiscent "bar/lounge". Management is poor on all levels. Management lacks discretion and accountability for their poor servers. My last days working for Gypsy Nickel were horrific. First and foremost, the servers are terrible and call themselves "trainers". They will bs the customers they think arent gonna tip them well based on their "appearance". too bad they were white people as well..smh shameful, to discriminate against your own people. I can only imagine how you felt about me being there. One server who trained me was as undesirable as a lukewarm shot of Christian Brothers, minus the joyful intoxication. Poor server as well, and one server's make up scares the hell out of the customers and she wonders why she didnt make tips. Smh, I no longer work for gypsy because im being accused of picking up a $3 tip from a table I served alone. Not to mention I was being sexually harassed the ENTIRE night by a frequent customer in gypsy, but they didn't pull that up on the camera. Luckily enough I know where the lady is employed, gypsy nickel's management did not step in and check her for pinching my butt multiple times, snatching me up and kissing all over my face multiple times. Is this because I am a man? Or was it because they didnt want to lose a 15 top table..and oh yea, they were trying to use me to protect two servers who were being "sexually harassed" by black men but no white woman came to protect me from that atrocious experience. Let's see them pull up those videos or should I have an attorney follow up? Luckily, I was letting them know today anyway that I was no longer gonna work for them especially if I wasn't gonna make my tips and deal with them and their overzealous customers. And to the manager that texted me in today and all the managers in this small hick town, biker boots and a cardigan is not stylish or professional.. I wouldn't tip you at a dog motel. Good luck read more

Derick B.

13 years ago

So i was up north for a week with my family and me my cousin and brother decided to go out for some drinks. Being that Big rapids does not have much in the line for nightlife we started off going to a couple other bars and were not impressed the Gypsy Nickel was the last place on our places to go mainly because the name didn't sound that appealing to a couple of 23 year olds. But we ended up going there and it was actually a really nice place, extremely friendly staff and they also had a good atmosphere with the deck that they had over looking the river. I would definitely go back and I would suggest if you are in Big Rapids and looking to have a fun night out go here. read more

Hayley A.

5 months ago

Gypsy Nicole Lounge is a standout spot in town. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a relaxed yet lively vibe that works for everything from casual meals to drinks with friends. The food is consistently flavorful and well prepared, and the drink selection--especially the cocktails and craft beer options--is excellent. Service is friendly, attentive, and makes you feel genuinely welcome. Add in the great location and overall experience, and this is an easy place to recommend and return to. read more

Tom V.

15 years ago

We've been waiting a long time for this place to be open up. It was worth the wait. We stopped in for some appetizers after a nice walk. The staff was excellent & the food even better. Nice selections, not just standard bar fare, but not too pretentious either. VERY cozy place. We are going back for burgers today. Really looking forward to this place in the summer with the deck overlooking the river. read more

Arien K.

9 years ago

Gypsy has great service with amazing food. I went with my teammates and even though it was busy, we were seated right away. Our server checked on us frequently and kept our waters filled. The place was clean and orderly. My favorite is the spring rolls. I also ordered a caesar salad and it was huge! Our meals came out pretty fast and all at the same time. I will definitely be back! read more

Madison B.

269

9 years ago

Amazing food! I would definitely recommend the mac and cheese to a friend. The atmosphere is great, and you can tell that the employees love their job. If you are in Big Rapids, you must visit. Best food in Big Rapids!!! read more

Jason B.

14 years ago

We go here every week to play team trivia and have dinner. It is so much nicer than the last bar that was here. The food is great and the prices are amazing. Plus the staff is super amazing. read more

Stephen K.

5 years ago

Food is not my favorite and prices can be a bit steep. Wife and I love the atmosphere and attitude of the staff and that's what keeps us coming back! Cool place read more

Taylor N.

11 years ago

Food is homemade and great! The chips and salsa is my favorite as well as the spring rolls!! Service is always great! Great food and drink specials daily!! read more

Alicia W.

9 years ago

Great drinks, good food. Friendly staff. Fun drinking hangout. Karaoke Wednesdays are always a good time! The patio is where to be in the summer time! read more

Henry S.

11 days ago

The food was good kind of slow but worth the drive, servers were polite and they have a great river front view of the flowing Muskegon river

Emily N.

154

8 years ago

The staff is great. I dropped my debit card out on the deck and the manager helped me get it out from under it. Awesome service

Kristin G.

11 months ago

Terrible management and employees . Very dirty place. Food is also not any good either.

Nick C.

14 years ago

Great food. Friendly staff. Great drinks. Reasonably priced, great place to come.

Amy S.

15 years ago

Delicious appetizers and food with very reasonable prices!

Nate G.

13 years ago

Nice place on the inside. Food is good too.

Gypsy Nickel Lounge - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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We came here for my husband's birthday one night. I was happy we were able to get a table right…read moreaway. The place is a decent size. The service was great, the food was pretty good. My husband felt his piece of meat was off but couldn't put his finger on it. The elk medallions my father in law got were really good. My chicken dish was good too. We would for sure come back here.

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A very odd building. I'm sure this is do to the history of the building. There are 2 entrances the…read morefront and back, however the parking lot is in the back. The back entrance starts in a narrow dimly lit hallway that then goes up a dark stairway to another door. Inside is another hallway that leads to the bar area of the restaurant. From here it's confusing because you don't know where to check in. Located here are some high top tables, plus the bar. Halfway into the room in an opening on the right which is another room with booths and regular tables with TV's playing sports. Here the atmosphere is very sports bar. Lastly on the opposite side of the bar area you entered in is another hallway that leads to a video game area and the front entrance. Also on the restaurant side is a door leading to a small outdoor patio area. The menu here is very unique with a great selection of Sandwiches and Hamburgers. I ordered the Pot Belly Pig Sandwich ($15), which is Smoked pork, ham, bacon, american and jack cheese, topped with a bourbon glaze on a pressed ciabatta. I upgraded to Cajun Tater Tots ($2). The sandwich was delicious. It was a great combination of flavors and was very filling. The tots were somewhat spicy and very good. The person I was with ordered The Amish Black & Blue Burger ($14), which is a Blackened burger topped with melted bleu cheese, deep fried onions, fries and homemade bleu dressing. She stated many times how great the burger was. The service was very good with quick and attentive service. Overall an easy 5 star review. Would I return? Yes. It's not close so it'll have to be a special occasion type of thing, but definitely yes. We left through the front entrance and their was a side walk along the side of building leading to the back. A much better way to come and go.

This is a great bar and restaurant. It has two sides; one which is more like bar vibes and the…read moreother, more like a diner. There is plenty of parking out back and street parking. They have a great menu and I've really enjoyed almost everything I've had to eat here. Not a great place to go if you're on a diet, but they do have some yummy salads. People are more likely to go here for things like loaded tots, burgers, and burritos. Smothered with cheesy goodness, of course. They have cheap drinks, friendly service, and overall good vibes.

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I normally don't leave a review anywhere and I honestly have never really needed to . I have…read moreordered from here multiple times and every time there's a issue , my order is missing something or they charge me wrong or hair in food and this last time I was charged $17.00 for a salad that only had a half piece of chicken and wasn't worth 5 bucks let alone 17 and my food was ice cold . The workers are always rude and I will not be coming here again

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