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Showing posts from September, 2023

Duke's Bar, 700 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids ~ 8/15/23

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  So, we finally walked into Duke's and had a great experience. Before we noticed the menu on the wall, we asked our server (Carlie) for menus. She was a little taken aback and said "this is a dive." Haha. But they did have menus, although with many prices crossed out. Hazy IPA, Oberon, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and vodka started us off along with some nicely prepared fried pickles. Although still listed on the board, neither the Philly Stack nor the French Dip were available this summer. Not a problem 😉 We ordered two bacon cheeseburgers. I asked if my onions could be grilled, and since Carlie was not only our server but also our chef, she said she'd be happy to oblige. The juicy burgers were excellent and came with a fresh tomato slice. The onion rings deserve special mention as the onion did not pull out on first bite but stayed with fried exterior. That may sound like a strange compliment but it's a pet peeve. Well done for a small kitchen and our server/chef! T...

Glass House, 710 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids ~ 7/20/23

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Keith Glass opened this bar in December of 2021. Before it became Glass House, it was Farah's Bar from 2010 until 2018. (Farah's photo from the internet.) The property is still owned by the Farah family but Keith bought and is running the business. He did some interior remodeling and built new tables, all of which are high tops. He was also kind enough to chat with us for a few minutes. The atmosphere is cheery with enough light from the windows and sound panels to keep the noise down. There were about 10 TVs playing and a music soundtrack.  Shot of the Day  Nicole was our server and she was wonderful, both with service and information. And if you're a Wrexham fan, you'll spot the scarf brought back by a customer. Here is the two page menu, and we started with the Chili Cheese Tots, which were crispy and delicious and went well with our Hazy IPAs and Oberon (and vodka 😊). The Philly/French Dip was an excellent sandwich with the added roasted red peppers and mushrooms a...