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    Mertens Prime

    2.8 (90 reviews)

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    MERTENS PRIME ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mertens Prime

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    Escargot
    Emily J.

    We finally made it for dinner at Mertens Prime after visiting just their rooftop bar last summer. This spot feels hidden away from Grand Rapids (even though it's smack dab in the middle), like it's its own little dark and romantic universe. We had escargot (for the first time!) and were blown away! The little serving of pasta that came with was an added bonus (and cured my constant craving for buttery noodles!) For entrees, we had the butternut squash gnocchi with shrimp added, and the duck al orange. The gnocchi was the perfect amalgamation of flavors, with the sweet squash, tangy goat cheese, and salty shrimp. The duck was juicy and delicious, and Derek loved the broccolini that came with it as well! (Honestly, I don't know how they made a vegetable taste like that!) We were so bummed we didn't save room for dessert, because the whole dessert menu looked insane. I'm looking forward to coming back for some french onion soup, a little dessert or two, and maybe a drink on the roof of the weather ever warms up! Shoutout to our server, who was very helpful and communicative even when he was being pulled a million different ways! (Lots of table side service desserts were going out)

    Sarah G.

    Marvelous meal great server Kate. Perfect medium rare on my steak lovely brussels sprouts wonderful old-fashioned love ambience!!!!!!

    Delightful atmosphere, delicious food, and courteous staff. Valentine's Day was busy but service was handled well.

    escargot
    Trina C.

    I tried Merten's Prime for the first time during Restaurant Week and I enjoyed my time here! Street parking for a Saturday night wasn't too bad. Regular seating was a long wait but I was able to be seated at the bar immediately. I ordered the escargot and the petite sirloin from the Restaurant Week menu. I was nervous about the escargot since I wasn't sure how it was going to be but it was delicious! The sirloin was just okay to me but the service made up for it. I'd definitely come back to try other items!

    THE WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER! Please read on.. I was visiting my employees in our Grand Rapids office and invited them out for a nice dinner on a Thursday evening. It was strange when I noticed that were the only ones in the entire place at 7 pm. The waiter was not experienced, but nice enough. The appetizers came, pretty underwhelming, but not horrible. Then it got really bad... Our table of five ordered our meals and 45 minutes later, they came out, everything ice cold and dried out! Did I mention we were the only patrons in the restaurant throughout our entire meal? Of course, the salads came out with our steaks at the same time. We ordered caesar salads and they brought out garden salads with raspberry vinaigrette. The waiter sheepishly asked us if everything is ok and all of us in unison (as politely as possible) said NO! This couldn't be worse! As entrees were being sent back, and apologies from the staff began to mount, out comes the cook/chef and he starts arguing with us about the quality of the meals. "What do you expect for a table of five?". he says. Then he proceeds to pick up my salad, stick his nose into it and then says, "What do you mean? This is a caesar salad!" Remarkable! The manager starts in with offering a discount on the meals, free dessert, etc. In my attempt to be charitable, I insisted that I did not want anything off the bill, but just pleaded with them to be better moving forward or else everyone working there will be out of a job because Mertens is not long for this world if they don't turn things around, fast! (The place was empty so obviously word is out the locals this establishment is done for, it is so bad.) Now here's the kicker, I am reconciling my credit card a few days later and I see that I was charged $100 more than I had on the receipt I had kept for myself. (See the pics below). I called the restaurant and left my contact info for the management to respond to me and below was their response to me. (I inadvertently calculated an additional $100 to the final bill AND THEY REFUSED TO ISSUE A CREDIT TO MY CARD! THEY OFFERED ME A $100 VOUCHER FOR MY NEXT VISIT, HA! WILD! What if I inadvertently wrote down $1,659.78 on the bill? They would argue that would be the amount that I owe them, it appears! Desperate, stupid people, do desperate, stupid things! So sad really...but it does make a great story for those who read restaurant reviews. In summary, if you dine out Mertens Prime & Rooftop, double check your math when calculating the bill, take a long nap before you arrive, and do not order the caesar salad...

    New York strip and potato puree
    Adrianna H.

    We had a great time at Mertens Prime, the service was great and the history behind the restaurant is very cool. The French onion soup was incredible as were the potatoes. We do wish food had a bit more of a wow factor to be honest! But highly recommend checking it out.

    Salad

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mertens Prime

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    I Dont Care

    I Dont Care

    3.7
    (73 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    I Don't Care is a speakeasy tucked inside the Amway that leans hard into the hidden-bar concept…read more There are no signs and you need to put a code on the key pad outside to get in, and the only way to get that code is by signing up for their mailing list. That said, it is pretty painless. You can sign up on the spot and the email with the code comes through within minutes, so it does not slow things down too much. They offer outdoor seating even in the winter, and while it is technically heated, you will still need a coat. It was cold enough that we chose to sit inside instead, but the interior was also chilly. Every time the door to the patio opened, a draft of cold air rushed in, which made the space feel colder than expected. The drinks are on the expensive side, but the quality mostly backs up the price. I ordered the Donna's Kiss and it was absolutely worth it, very well made and delicious. My friend had a Moscato that was sweet and easy to drink. We also ended up getting two free shots of tequila because they liked our vibes , which was a nice and unexpected bonus! Definitely a great move on their behalf because it just goes to show that the staff there were super welcoming and that makes me want to come back (probably when it's warmer!!).

    An adorable little sidestep in the Amway Grand with open air and a nice balcony view. I ordered the…read moreThai Me Up, which I highly recommend if you like a little heat. The bartender even came out and chatted with us for a bit. A great place to go for a spontaneous hang!

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    Allora

    Allora

    4.4
    (39 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Absolutely amazing multi-course dinner and drinks at Allora. Hands down one of the most creative,…read morefreshest and best meal we've had in a long time. Every course was beautifully/ thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious! We can't wait to go back, perfect for an unforgettable date night. The quality was truly superb. Special shoutout to our incredible server Brendon - he made the whole evening feel so special, fun and created an amazing dining experience! Also can't stop dreaming about the desserts!

    Grand Rapids is in need of authentic modern Italian and Allora does it well for western Michigan…read morebut misses mark over preventable execution. I sat at the bar and was met with good but indifferent service. I stated with their take on a dirty martini, L'oro sporco, which was very well executed; the honey really balanced the brine. I order the bread, it was stale on the sides and crust but a day ago this would have been a well made foccacia. The whipped Gorgonzola was great. The octopus came next, it had a nice balance of acid, was well seasoned, but some octopus was very overcooked and rubbery. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy with great brown butter notes, however the guanciale was burnt to a crisp and affected the dish. The sauce and tapenade were great. Here's where they shined, the agnolotti - perfectly cooked pasta, nice acid, goat cheese and pea notes. The fried chips provided a really nice contrast to the pasta. The ramp pesto is delicious. The asparagus's and peas are flavorful and well cooked. I can't believe this came out of the same kitchen as the last pasta fish and bread. If they can fix a few easy cooking mistakes and have a more friendly front of house, Allora could be the top of the GR food scene.

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    Main Dining Room
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    Grilled Prawns
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    TORTA SETTEVELI | seven elements of chocolate cake, sponge, hazelnut praline, chocolate mousse.

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    Less Traveled

    Less Traveled

    4.3
    (41 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    A sister location to the long road distillery- less traveled has ALL the vibes. Nestled in the…read moreheart of cherry street, it offers delicious custom cocktails, as well as just a nice vibe to come and hang out. Staff were friendly- and helpful for helping me pick out a cocktail. Romos pro tip: try the Polish falcon- one of their draft beverages, it's delicious!

    Stopped in here with a friend before an event. I will need to go back to get a full experience, but…read morethe short time we were there was nice. It was a hot day, but after work the patio was out of the sun, so we opted for a table outside. The patio is cute. I like that there are a bunch of 2 person tables rather than large party tables, and the lights are nice. Our server was very pleasant. She definitely knew what she was talking about and was able to tell us if something was going to be super sweet, and which drinks were more popular. Also, after she seated us and gave us the menu she gave us a few minutes and came back with waters and little samples of lavender lemonade, which was really good! I ordered the rosemary gin fizz, and my friend ordered one of the zero proof mocktails. She was warned it would be sweet, and she said it was definitely sweet for her taste. I was told my gin fizz was a little sweet as well, but I didn't find it to be overly sweet. I thought it was really nicely balanced, and wasn't excessive on any of the individual flavors. I was hoping for a little more of a salted rim, but it had more of a decorative salt patch on the side. That's the only thing I would probably change about it. Oh, and it's called a fizz, but is definitely still, not sparkling. While we weren't there to eat, and it is a distillery, not a restaurant, I did expect to see a few more food options. I can't knock them for that though, as we didn't try any. Overall, I would go back here for a quick happy hour or to have a quick drink again before an event. I liked the space, the service was great, and the cocktail was really pleasant.

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    Rosemary Gin Fizz!
    Rosemary Gin Fizz!
    Old fashioned amuse-bouche
    Old fashioned amuse-bouche
    Beautiful setting!

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    Beautiful setting!
    Gin Gin's

    Gin Gin's

    4.6
    (233 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I came to Gin Gin's thinking it was just a bar, but it was absolutely not…read more I got a seat on the patio, and it was absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere was so relaxing and made the whole experience even better. My server was the sweetest and recommended the Limoncello Spritz, which ended up being light, crisp, and super refreshing. For my entrée, I ordered the Mafaldine. The pasta was fresh, the steak was cooked perfectly, and everything was seasoned so well. It was a very satisfying meal. Between the beautiful outdoor seating, incredible service, and amazing food, Gin Gin's is easily one of the restaurants I'll be visiting again whenever I'm in Grand Rapids.

    I went to went to Gin Gins when they first opened and haven't been back until now. And let me tell…read moreyou, they have stayed the best in GR for a reason. Food is fresh, service is excellent and the ambiance is cool too. My waitress was on it with her recs! She helped me find a gin drink to my linking and talked up the scallops. I got them and loved it! Dishes were a bit garlicky, but I like garlic! The bed tartar was wonderful and I enjoyed how they "chunked" the meat instead of making it a mush. My friend got a steak on top of the gnocchi and really enjoyed it! Overall I think this restaurant is worth the hype and canto wait to dine here again! It's important to know that if you want to dine here, plan to reserve a table ahead or plan to wait for a table. They hold 50% of table s for walk ins. Parking DT is always a challenge and once they build the soccer stadium, I imagine it will be craziness. It just takes a bit of planning.

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    Seating
    Seating
    Ribeye with side of mushrooms
    Ribeye with side of mushrooms
    Faroe Island Salmon; roasted asparagus, endive, parsley caper gremolata, citrus beurre blanc, chives

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    Rendezvous

    Rendezvous

    3.7
    (14 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    It's a solid spot to meet up before/after a show or if you're otherwise hanging at the Amway. I've…read morebeen here at least a dozen times. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly--and fast. They know their cocktails and they're remarkably consistent with the mixes. My old fashioneds tasted the same every time I've gone. Very limited menu, but it'll do the trick when you're in a rush (or if the Lumberbaron Bar has already closed its kitchen). I like the pizzas, especially the mushroom. Don't let the name fool you. It also comes covered with savory cubes of bacon and fresh greens. It's good! I also like the wide open layout. You never feel crowded. Great place to spread out for a cocktail and light bite.

    What an amazing experience!!! We came here for one of their monthly events. We found out about it…read morethat day and the tickets were no longer available. But we took our chances and the manager was able to get us in! So glad he did. They have these types of tastings every month. December will be a champagne pairing. I definitely plan to come back for that! They did a beautiful presentation. We got to try three different scotches which were paired with delicious small plates of food. Afterwards, we went to the bar area and had a drink. The service here was impeccable. The food was delicious and the signature cocktails were delightful! The hotel itself is gorgeous and I was happy we got to experience it all decked out for Christmas!

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    Mertens Prime - french - Updated July 2026

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