A quick warning: this newsletter will make you hungry.

After collecting votes and tallying up the results from scores of readers, we’re excited to finally dig in and share with you the second edition of our Grand Rapids Food Guide.

This special edition, compiled by The ’Gander’s Stacy Rounds, highlights the spots that our readers say are the very best in town. From fine dining and late-night bites to local groceries and breweries, this list is a love letter to the flavors that make Grand Rapids such a standout food city.

So grab a coffee (or a beer), and scroll on to see which places rose to the top this year.

And hey, if you’ve got friends or family who love exploring the GR food scene as much as you do, don’t keep this to yourself. Forward this newsletter to them so they can get in on the deliciousness, too!

Amore Trattoria Italiana blends old-world tradition with modern sparkle. (Courtesy/Amore Trattoria Italiana)

By Stacy Rounds

This year, the results for the Best Restaurant in Grand Rapids readers’ poll come back with razor-thin margins. Therefore, we know Grand Rapids diners are serious about our region’s food. In this year’s poll, five restaurants rose to the top of the pack. After hundreds of votes rolled in, the first and second-place restaurants were separated by just one vote, and third place was only one vote behind second. That’s how close this competition was.

Let’s take a closer look at each of our readers’ favorite restaurants. How do the experiences compare? What are the standout dishes? Find out the reasons locals love them and why they earned a spot among Grand Rapids’ very best:

5. Linear

Linear may not yet have the renown of some larger names, but those who voted for it understand the quality it offers. Situated inside a sleek modern space with warm wood tables and a relaxed, home-like greige decor and farmhouse touches, not to mention a fantastic view of the river, Linear feels special and refined without being stuffy.

From big-box supercenters to neighborhood markets, here’s what readers called the best in Grand Rapids. (Pexels)

When it comes to grocery shopping, everyone has their favorites. Some of us insist on the freshest produce, others hunt for money-saving deals. And some folks just like to zip to someplace close, no matter the quality. Whether you’re stocking up for the week, grabbing last-minute dinner ingredients, or shopping mid-snack-attack (which I don’t recommend since the last time I did, I spent $300), the grocery store you choose says a lot about who you are.

However, some stores rose to the top of this reader poll, and we can see why. Each has something special to offer, and each holds a place in the hearts (and carts) of those who shop there regularly:

4. Forest Hills Foods 

It’s easy to see why people love Forest Hills Foods. This homegrown neighborhood grocer, with locations in Ada and Cascade, is the locally-owned alternative to Whole Foods—but better. Since 1959, Forest Hills Foods has been proudly supporting local growers and local workers.

Archival Brewing prides itself on comfort food and comfort drinks. (Courtesy/Archival Brewing)

Grand Rapids is unofficially officially known as “Beer City, USA,” so it’s not a shocker that the city is overflowing with breweries. When you’re wanting a crisp and cool beer on tap, where do you go? Who has the tastiest brews and the coziest of spaces? Well, we tasked you all with voting for your favorites, and you had words. You exercised your right to vote by telling our readers where to head in Grand Rapids for the best brewery. The results are in, and you’ll want to grab what’s on tap from one of these four contenders:

4. The Mitten Brewing Co.

Since 2012, The Mitten Brewing Co. has been hitting home runs. The baseball metaphor is apt because the two friends behind this brewery made it a baseball-themed microbrewery. Today, The Mitten has three locations and a pizza take-away spot. Even more, The Mitten has its own charity, and to this day, they’ve raised over $500,000 for local nonprofits.

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The Best Hot Dogs

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This email is written by Karel Vega, newsletter editor at The ’Gander. Have a question or comment? Reply to this email!