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    Matchbox Diner & Drinks

    4.2 (262 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Matchbox Diner & Drinks Photos

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    MATCHBOX DINER & DRINKS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Matchbox Diner & Drinks

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    Reuben and burger

    Food was decent. Prices were okay. Service was okay. Parking was rough. I got the Reuben, wife got the burger. Wife: 4* Me: 2*. I'll definitely give it a second chance. There were some good looking items on the menu and I might've just picked wrong for me, which isn't their fault. Coleslaw was objectively bad though. MOUNTAIN of fries really saved the day. It'll be nice to try the other sandwiches.

    Monte Christo
    Jeff L.

    Nice little diner that has an upscale feel. The service was friendly and the server was very knowledgeable. The food was average, nothing special here. Likely would not go back, but it was worth a visit.

    Full meat Ruben
    Nichole K.

    A quick Yelp search sent us here and the Reuben is phenomenal!! Quant place with friendly serve and nice brunch drink menu. It was mid day and most of the tables were full in this small place. Friendly service. Excellent food. A little pricey but special. The full meat sandwich ended up being two meals for me (my husband devoured his). Their meat tastes very fresh. We are hooked!

    Ha N.

    Ambiance: cute diner/restaurant in Eastown GR. There are two patio tables as well. Service: our waiter was great and attentive Food: we came for brunch. We had a few breakfast shots which were delicious! I had the smoked salmon beneficts with has browns. They did mess up my order but brought out the correct one and swapped it very quickly. Awesome spot with a lot of charm!

    Smashburger
    Kayla D.

    If you're looking for an elevated diner brunch spot, you've found the place! Nestled in East town, Matchbox has all the traditional breakfast dishes with a twist that will make you want to come back immediately. You'll have to use street parking, but there are plenty of spaces available on the side streets. Their burger was melt in your mouth, served with the biggest pickle! Can't wait to come back.

    Breakfast burrito
    Sam A.

    Not super impressed with Matchbox. A little under seasoned and texturally not consistent. Too brittle for some ingredients and too mushy or soft for others. The poutine was missing the classic cheese curd and gravy staples which made for a bland taste and the breakfast burrito wasn't anything special in my opinion. Ambience is fine and the book stores and shops nearby are cool to check out while you're waiting for a table.

    Bar Area

    Cute little place we went to for dinner in East Grand Rapids about 1.5 miles away (if that) from Blodgette Hospital. A lot of "pros" which will have us coming back, but two cons you need to be aware of. First, the pros... 1. Very friendly service. 2. Affordable. Outside of any booze, I think the most expensive thing on the menu was $19.95. 3. EXCELLENT food. Not a bad meal in the bunch. Here is what we had... 3A: Poutine. Pot roast was yummy, fries crispy, gravy had a nice and pleasant aftertaste, queso blanco good, and they added a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg on top. One of the better poutines we had. 3B: Diner burger. Two smashed patties on a potato bun with cheese, pickles, onions, and a dijon. Very very tasty and cooked perfectly to medium rare. Solid taste. 3C: Vodka pasta with shrimp and broccoli. Wow! Very good! 3D: Cheddar biscuits: LARGE(!) and soft. One of the better biscuits we have had. And the cons: 4. A little understaffed for dinner. You may be waiting just a little longer than average for your food. 5. NO parking. This is meant as a neighborhood diner on a very small square acre lot. You will need to park across the street. Normally that's not a big deal, but in winter and or when traveling with folks who may have a little trouble walking...eh... not convenient. Overall, a solid 4 out 5 and worth visiting. Just be mindful of the parking.

    Área área and a perfectly perfect Aperol Spritz
    Jaila H.

    Quick service! The cheddar biscuits were a little burned on the bottom. But good. The crispy potatoes were seasoned well but I'd go for hash brown next time. Poutine was cool. Fried egg in steak of runny was a great choice. It was not a busy crowded place on a Monday morning but it was hard to find parking. Music playing and TVs on. There are maybe 4 spots behind matchbox but otherwise prepare to walk from somewhere. If I was invited I would go back but I wouldn't reorder anything I had to today I would try something new. Don't pay with credit card if you don't want a fee.

    American fries
    Kelsey H.

    I have been an avid regular here for the past 8 years since I've moved to Grand Rapids. I come here 2-3 times a month, sometimes more. I always rave about this place and say it's my favorite for breakfast but now I cannot say that. I have been SUPER disappointed in the service here for the past year or so. It seems like they have been short staffed for a while now and it shows. But even so, it'd be nice to get a friendly hello or goodbye, or just an incling that they're happy I'm there. I feel ignored and it just seems like none of the staff is happy to be there. I'm appalled, especially since most of them know my face but barely make a friendly effort when I'm there. As far as the food goes, it's been very inconsistent lately. Especially the American fries.. they have been my favorite potato for so long and now I feel like they're just not fresh and they don't cook them the same. Shown in the pic are the two servings I got (got a second because I couldn't even eat the first) and they were the same. No one even asked me if the second batch was okay.

    hangover burrito
    Grace S.

    This place was so awesome! The menu has so many options. I had the hangover as a burrito and it was delicious. Truly a glorious breakfast. I also enjoyed a cup of the delicious matzo ball soup. It had a harty broth that was delicious. I also enjoyed a spicy bloody mary that was perfect as well. My server was Kristan and she was so very lovely and steered me right. Thanks Kristan!

    Matchbox bowl
    Olivia J.

    Stopped into matchbox for a Saturday brunch. It's a bit of a smaller space so we had a bit of a wait as it was pretty busy. Breakfast was good, I had a the matchbox bowl which was a good basic breakfast scramble. My friend got the burger and enjoyed that. Portion sizes are good as well. Overall a solid brunch spot with options for everyone.

    Scrambled eggs

    If you want possibly the most meh biscuits and gravy, go here. Now, if you want "scrambled eggs" that taste like a porta-john on a hot summer day, go here.

    Matthew H.

    Great food! Their eggs benedict is excellent, and the potatoes whether wedges or hash browns always come out perfectly crisp.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    The food was amazing, service was great and the atmosphere was fun. Definitely recommend breakfast!!

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    8 years ago

    I recommend the creme brûlée French toast- it will change your life. Great atmosphere, friendly service, a great go-to for brunch.

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    10 years ago

    The food is great, and the price is reasonable. The only complaint is the name really describes the floor plan. Very tiny.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Gwen B.

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    Gwen B.

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    9 years ago

    Great food! It was fresh and flavorful! The environment was inviting and friendly.A++

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    Gwen B.

    Thanks Kyle! So glad to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience.

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    9 years ago

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    Page 7 of 7

    Ask the Community - Matchbox Diner & Drinks

    How long is the average wait for a weekend brunch around 11 or 12?

    1-1.5hrs. Maybe catch a not busy weekend and it's less. Worth the wait though and you can get inline through the yelp app! Don't be discouraged just plan ahead.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We came in on Saturday night, 7/25/26 around 5:30pm before going to a concert at Acrisure. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but fortunately there was room at the bar - which is our preferred seating spot anyway. I was surprised at how long it took for the 2 hosts to greet us - as we were standing directly in front of them. They were talking to one another, and it was probably work related, but to just stand there staring at them for a couple minutes while they ignored us was awkward. When they finally talked to us they weren't very friendly. Anyway, we made our way to the bar and it was full except for 3 seats. I think the bartender waiting on us was new. He seemed like he was pretty overwhelmed/in the weeds. He greeted us quickly and brought us waters when he did, which I appreciated. I ordered a Blackeberry Bourbon Sour and my Mr had Paloma Nuestra. We both enjoyed our drinks they were refreshing and well crafted. For dinner I had a really hard time deciding! I wanted to try so many things! Our bartender said his favorite thing in the menu is the chicken and rice bowl. That was something I was considering and decided to go with that. Excellent recommendation! The chicken was flavorful and so tender. The hot peppers were a nice touch. There was a lot of food too! I couldn't finish it all. Mr had the hanger steak that was served with mushroom and asparagus risotto. He said the risotto was the best he's ever had, and I agree. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and so was the steak. The space is really nice, felt intimate without being overcrowded. We are looking forward to coming back!

    Loved the ambiance of this newer downtown restaurant. The decor is very calming…read more Our waitress Maddie was extremely attentive and very nice. She gave us great recommendations. I loved the asparagus and blistered tomatoes. However, the meatloaf and mashed potatoes were under seasoned.

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    Terra GR

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    This is a delightful restaurant with great food, great service and great ambiance. Their thoughtful…read morefarm to table menu was outstanding. I'm sad I was only in town for one night because I was forced to pick just one item. I decided on the Short Rib Ragu Gnocchi. It was a good choice, but everybody's meals looked great. We had 8 at a table and our server did an excellent job engaging with everyone, getting our drinks out in a timely manner and serving us all at the same time. I tried someone else's Salmon and it was delicious also. 2 people got the hanger steak and gave it 5 stars. The prices were reasonable given the quality, freshness and presentation of our dinners. We got there just before happy hour ended and our server was nice enough to clue us in and we got a few appetizers and drinks before the prices went up. Definitely go if you get a chance. I'll be back if I find myself in GR's again.

    I had such a great experience here. The staff really knew their stuff, especially when it came to…read moregluten allergies, which honestly made me feel so much more comfortable right away. Our waitress was awesome too--super friendly and helpful without being over the top. The whole place has a clean, modern vibe but still feels really family-friendly, which I liked. It's one of those spots that just feels easy to be in. I ordered the hanger steak, and not even kidding, it was one of the best meals I've had. I never clear my plate, and this time I did. Every bite was that good. You'd never know it was gluten-free--the flavor was incredible and nothing felt like it was missing. Then I somehow made room for cheesecake and finished that too, which says a lot. Same thing there--no way you'd guess it was gluten-free. Overall, they just really know how to do gluten-free right. Nothing felt like a compromise at all. I'd 100% go back.

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    It's my birthday weekend and wanted to treat myself to a luxurious brunch. Of course I chose…read moreLittlebird for the best French omelettes in the area. I adore crab so ordering that was a no brainer. Their coffee is strong. It took a ton of cream to change the color... though it was delicious with free refills for $5. The omelette was heaven. All the flavors melded well and I appreciated the crisp acidic salad to cut the richness of the omelette. My only critique is wishing the crab salad topping was a bit more decadent. For $21 I was hoping for big lumps of crab rather than cool shredded mayo based salad. All in all, I love this place, I love the concept. It was quite busy and was thankful to snag a seat at the bar. The service was friendly and quick. Best hipster establishment I've patronized in a long time. Make a reservation if you have a group or pray there is a seat at the bar. Keep doing your thang Littlebird!!

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    Blue Water

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    Hey guys! We had the waiter Ty (ler) and it was pretty good. He compliments my bsf and his shirt…read more It was just a Beatles shirt... abbey road too- how basic. Our food was good and I liked the rice. He also called my friend dawg... He took forever to get the bill but it's ok cause he was able to split it 3 ways. Overall love this place.

    hidden (to me) vegan gem! blue water has never been on my radar for vegan options but they have…read moreplenty. blue water is actually on the water so the view while dining is lovely. there's an upstairs with all indoor seating and lots of windows. the downstairs area is partially covered and opens up to a patio + water view. there are bars both up and downstairs. our server was quick and attentive. though they were busy we received our food very quickly. they have multiple vegan meat substitutes and vegan cheese that you can swap into meals. they also have entrees that are vegan without adjustments. bread is available upon request with entrees and the bread itself is vegan. just make sure you ask for the oil without the cheese. on our first trip we ordered the wild mushroom polenta and the vegan "buttered" cauliflower. one our second trip we ordered the asparagus pizza and the wild mushroom polenta again. they also have a great kids menu. for our daughter we ordered the cavatappi (marinara sauce on the side) and fresh fruit as her side which was an assortments of berries. the asparagus pizza was delicious - pesto, balsamic, and fresh greens on top. the buttered cauliflower was a little undercooked, both the rice and the cauliflower, but the flavors were delicious. the wild mushroom polenta was the star of the show for me with a cashew cream sauce and umami broth. overall a great dining experience and great food.

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    I think this is a nice little chain restaurant in the food department, At this location in Grand…read moreRapids we didn't have great service. We had a reservation and waited for a table. Got seated and were never welcomed we had to ask a server to please get us drinks. The same thing happened when we needed to order. It seemed no one knew we were in the section. Our table of three took us almost 1.45 to have lunch. Front of the house might not have had it together but the kitchen did! The food was great! We had fried green tomato app- fantastic sauce. One had shrimp and grits she loved her meal- grits were course ground. I had the veggie omelette and subbed Brussels sprouts for potatoes and they were amazing. I would highly recommend trying this combo! All in all food is good but the service was slow and not very efficient- honestly the service was bad enough to rate a three but I loved those dang Brussels sprouts with my omelette!

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    We went here for our 22nd wedding anniversary. Sat out on patio. Even though there is construction…read morecurrently out there it is soo relaxing. We could sit out there for hours The staff were warm and inviting, and very efficient and timely. The food: amazing! We questioned why we hadn't gone here before! I got the mahi mahi with a type of cold pasta salad, so good, great flavor and filling! My husband got the pork chop, literally the best pork chop I have ever had, a type of mushroom sauce was to die for and the little potato cakes hit the spot. Drinks: soo delicious. I would go here just for drinks. I got the pornstar martini with the prosecco side car and my husband got a type of bourbon smash I think.. sorry can't remember the name of it. If you haven't been, drop everything and head over there, it's worth it.

    This was our first visit to Linear Restaurant, and we went for our once every-other-month date…read morenight before a Broadway Grand Rapids show. Revue Magazine had listed it among the best new area restaurants on the water. As of July 2026, the riverfront seating area is very much a work in progress. Chain link fencing runs along the riverside, and construction work is ongoing. While the views weren't great, the service from Avery and the food were both special. She was friendly and helpful, giving great suggestions. We were there for Golden Hour, so got special pricing on drinks paired with appetizers, then shared our entrees and capped off the night with creme brulee. We will definitely return next summer with the hope that the work is completed, maybe sooner to enjoy a meal inside.

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    Matchbox Diner & Drinks - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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