Cottage Bar in Grand Rapids

Our group goes every Wednesday after choir practice and we love it! Our waitress is Lisa and whether our group is 15 or 30, she makes sure everything is right and our food and drinks get to us quickly! We love this Grand Rapids "institution"!

Never been disappointed with food or adult beverages

I love this place! Consistent great service and quality. Most importantly, it doesnt change! Right down to the booths that have needed to be reupholstered for years.. dont do it!

I was there during the week, had a great time. Reminds me of bar in Europe, just not as nice a collection of glassware. I got the hot meatloaf sandwich, it was huge! And pretty tasty too. It was quiet, beer was cold, and the atmosphere brought back great memories.

Its always good food here! Our daughter and I have been going here,Since 2017. Its one of our favorite places,Thats stayed open. Hurrah!!!!!

Love this place! Good food, good service and a cool breeze outside!!!

Great burger outdoor seating was cool. Nice location

Waitstaff was great, as well as the burger salad.

When our kids are in town, Cottage Bar is our destination. Local beers on tap, cozy seating, and the burgers....fantastic with Cottage fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots. A family memory maker for sure.

We really had great service and great food! I dont remember her name but she will probably remember the corner booth from kinky Boots on Friday the 29th, with the bossy Italian man telling er how to take orders. Shell remember and she was a trooper!

Quaint bar and restaurant near downtown. The burgers were great and so was the service. This a definite do-again place!

Just had their Kentucky Bourbon Burger, and found it to be the best burger I’ve had since moving here two years ago. Service was polite and professional as well.

Fine service. Interesting old bar. Cramped inside or is it cozy? 😉 Food was good. Burgers not as great as I hoped, the tasty pretzel bun overpowered it a tad. Fries were nice and crispy. Will come again and try other menu items.

The server acted like we were inconveniencing her when ordering our drinks and food, which was a disappointment because people dont go out to eat to be treated like dirt. I ordered their iced coffee vodka drink and it tasted like watered down coffee with the worst tasting alcohol. We ordered broccoli cheddar bites as an appetizer and those were the highlight of the entire meal - the only thing in my opinion that was worth eating. My husband ordered a burger well done and it was red in the middle and the hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy was absolutely disgusting. My husband tried some and agreed that it was gross so when the server asked if I wanted a box for it, I said no. She asked if there was something wrong with it and we both said it didnt taste good, so thankfully they took that off our bill. This isnt the same Cottage Bar that it was a few years ago and needless to say, we probably will not be going back. Disappointing.

The French dip is amazing! You will not be disappointed. Beer good. Food good. Service good.

Great local spot that has been a landmark of downtown Grand Rapids! Cheap strong drinks and the hangover to prove it.( X.x)

Decent little hole in the wall for a beer if you dont like big crowds. Dont bring a date here thats for sure. Service with a smile but there will for sure be something wrong with your food. Go for a beer and gtfo outta there.

I really had high hopes due to all the positive reviews but this place was a hole in the wall literally the ceiling was failing apart, the seats were beyond wore down, the kitchen staff walked outside several times with their aprons on, our waiter got all 3 orders wrong and forgot the 4th but he didnt charge me for the last order since he forgot to put it in before bring all the other orders out. In addition to the food being below average there was a abug in my cousins pop.

Went for some after dinner drinks. Staff was friendly, plenty of seating and drinks were made well. Nice going back because I have not been here in a number of years.

I’ve eaten here several times and found it cozy. Had a hamburger and it was very good. I like deep fried potatoes, but these weren’t that great. Service was friendly and fast. Last time there was only one server and it was busy. She did a fantastic job keeping up, checking on me several times. Opening at noon is a problem for me with the current hours as I like to eat an early lunch. Booths aren’t the most comfortable, and the restroom is a bit cramped.

Have been here two times and absolutely loved it! Food is exceptional (definitely get the Cottage Burger, it truly is the best burger in Michiganand staff is always personable and helpful. Went here for a friends 21st birthday party and they were very accommodating, offering a free drink and dessert; only downside was they dont take reservations so we had to wait a bit with our bigger group, and parking can be tricky. Overall though, definitely would recommend!

We were greeted as soon as we walked in the door, waitress was friendly and fast to take our order, food was very reasonably priced, came out quick and tasted delicious! Would highly recommend.

Wow! The cottage burger is def one of the best I ever had. The rye bread had me a little iffy but don’t have any regrets amazing. Will definitely be back

I have been coming here for over 25 years and this visit did not disappoint! The service, food, and atmosphere are above all expectations! Betsy (our servermade sure we were taken care of, even assisting me in ordering an item no longer on the menu. Cottage is a GR landmark that is not to be missed

This place was incredible. Good food, great staff. Our server was Betsey and I hope she is our server every time. Rumor has it that this establishment is the oldest continuous running bar in GR. Dont miss out on the staple of GR and request to sit in Betseys section.

Very good lunch, great service. Indoor or outdoor dining.

Just randomly picked a spot to eat on my trip, and stumbled across it. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, the food was wonderful and the service was very quick! Will definitely be back if Im ever in the area!!

In short... Nice bar and grill place. Good food, overall pleasant surroundings, relaxing atmosphere, and even some outdoor seating for those who want to dine Al Fresco.Parking in the general area around there can prove to be a bit tricky, depending on which time of day, and day of the week you go there.But, I suspect that can be said of many bar and grill, ir restaurants, anyway.Finally had the chance to eat there again today since before 2020. And, was happy to get back there again.And, seeing as how everything went right during our visit, Its just all the more reason that I feel I can confidently give Cottage Bar and Grill 5 stars out of 5.

Unique cleaver door handle! Very interesting mix of decor and indoor/ outdoor eating areas. We had lunch with our baby. Staff was quick to bring high chair, plus a coloring page and crayons to our boys delight. Thank you! 😊

Awesome Burgers and Great Stew!

This is an old school Irish pub. Tried the cottage burger and was pleasantly surprised with the burger. The olives on the burger gave it the proper brineness on the burger. The burger is served ale carte and cost $11.50!!! This burger is not worth that.

The food was mouth watering delicious and the hamburgers are the best in town. Sadly, the current owners are looking to sell the business which usually results in changes - so anyone reading this should high tail it there for the best burgers and cottage fries in town ASAP!

Delicious! We went for a late lunch on the first day of fall. We sat comfortably on their patio and had fabulous service. The burgers we ordered were cooked exactly as requested (medium-rare), the tots and cottage fries were addictive and drinks were nice and strong. The entire experience was perfect and were looking forward to going back!

Was in soon after theyd opened and had place to ourselves. Service was terrific. A+!My Kentucky Bourban Burger didnt quite live up to the Cottage Bars reputation as having the best in town, but the sweet potato fries, otoh, were excellent.With the outstanding, attentive service, all considered..., made for a 5* visit.

Saw the reviews for Cottage bar best burgers in USA Today. I ordered bourbon and wife ordered blue cheese burger. Both came on sourdough buns. As soon as they came out they looked dry, one bite and we were both disappointed. The buns literally fell apart, the waitress told us that happens when the frozen buns thaw out. Rate the burgers 2 out of 10. Cottage fries a 6 and onion rings a 7. Waitress did take $7 off the bill. Decided to give Brick and Porter a try tonight and the burger was way better, I would give it an 8.5. Even the fries were better. Last day in GR but I know where to get a good burger now.

Really really good food. I love their fries and the cranberry juice was good too. The place is cool because its 91 years old. You are looking at the same interior that people before you were looking at too. Next time Ill visit again to try their burgers.

Very friendly, great food, even had green beer for St.patricks day. Close to my apartment.

A Grand Rapids staple! Got the last table available Saturday evening before the Hockey Game. Had cheeseburgers, the Cottage Burgers and Kentucky Bourbon Burgers. They were all good. Bought Cottage Fries and they were terribly overdone. Thats why I took one star off. The atmosphere was darker and cozy.The server was very pleasant and efficient. Great place for families, which there were several with older children.

Very good and prompt service! Food was phenomenal!

Love this place. Theres quite the variety of American food choices and their burgers are fantastic! The Cottage Burger is a favorite of mine and I feel like theyre one of the few places with waffle fries. If you keep walking when entering, and round the corner of the bar, you can sit by a quaint fireplace for a little extra ambiance. Drinks range from $4-6 and burgers are around $7 ea. Highly recommended by me.

During a recent visit a couple of old friends and I visited The Cottage. Believe it or not, this was my first time here. This place is the oldest bar in Grand Rapids. I was quite impressed with the chili. Heard the burgers and wet burritos were great also. There is a nice sized full bar, seating both inside and outside. Service was decent. I would go again and try the wet burrito.

I think my title sums it up. As I walked to this restaurant on a Wednesday evening of no particular importance, I walked passed 3 restaurants that had one or two tables occupied. Then I walk in here and every table was taken. That’s a good sign. And for good reason. The food was simple and delicious. I got the cottage burger and fries, which was probably one if the better restaurant burgers I’ve had in quite a while. My friends all got different sandwiches and they all looked good and they all gave a verdict that matched the looks. I like this place, cozy atmosphere, why don’t I go here more? I haven’t been here in...I don’t know....10 years, what a mistake. I’ll definitely put this back in my rotation, and I’ll definitely back much sooner this time.

The Cottage has been a favorite spot to meet and eat with friends over the years. Whether I order their famous Cottage burger, a wet burrito, or just about anything else, I have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is warm, relaxing, and comfortable. Many of the wait staff have been there for years and provide fast and friendly service while being as accommodating as possible to special requests. The prices are very reasonable for what you get. I am certain that if they keep doing and providing what has worked for them over the years, the Cottage will remain a local favorite for years to come.

Amazing environment. Awesome to see the oldest bar in gr. They have an amazing cottage burger and serves is great. Parking is like it is downtown, always hard to find but well worth a visit when you can. Definitely a spot to stop if you take a Uber or Lyft.

The burgers are super super good! I got a Mac n cheese burger and it was to die for. The cottage fries are like American fries and not special. They were good but not great. They do not have any birthday specials :-( the beer selection is decent.

Awesome place!Great food, service & ambiance!!!!

I love this place but more for nostalgia then anything else. You will always have the same wait staff serving you, if you go often they know your name and they know your order and treat you well. The staff can sometimes get grouchy and the food is decent. They always have good beer and have specials everyday. They have a fire in the winter and outdoor seating in the summer. Overall, the atmosphere is what I love most about this place.

Excellent lunch on the patio. This time we had a cider and tasty BBQ pork sandwich. Comes with side of excellent coleslaw. Other visits, weve also enjoyed other sandwiches and side choices. Portions are generous without being excessive. Food served quickly but not rushed. Service was superb, attentive without hovering over us. Lunch sandwiches/burgers run in the $10 area, including a side. Gluten free buns and a couple of non-meat burger options available such as veggie burger and black bean burger (which my daughter recommends). Restroom in bar (dont know if theres anotherclean but not barrier free. Patio has two steps down and no handrails.

Greasy food and the waitress was not friendly. I guess the burger is good so that is pretty much the only redeeming quality.

When in the course of human events, a man moves from a small, rural town in southern Michigan to the bustling metropolis of Grand Rapids in West Michigan, he takes upon a mighty responsibility of pursing truth. One of the ways said man chooses to pursue truth is through reviewing onion rings, according to the onion ring standard. One would expect a mighty urban area to conquer the small, rural city. Does this hold up to reality? Read on, to find out.Presentation and Appearance: 3.5/5The appearance of these onion rings is, in a word, delightful. The consistency is consistent, the breading is smooth, and there are little to no irregularities on the plate.The presentation is not ideal, but its to be expected. Somewhat typical for onion rings in a restaurant, theyre heaped onto a plate, hardly big enough to contain the sheer volume of rings. The presentation is nothing special, but its certainly not bad either.Taste: 1.5/5On my first bite, I was optimistic. There seemed to be a strong onion taste, coupled by a robust flavor in breading. However, repeated bites and rings indicated the horrible truth; the taste simply wasnt there. Theres a mild onion flavor in every onion ring, but hardly noticeable if you werent looking for it.The flavor in the breading is almost non-existent. Beyond a thin veneer of grease, its bland, empty, and tired. Overall, these rings left next to no impression on me. Very little taste or flavor permeate these onion rings, and theyre little more than a vehicle for grease and breading.Texture: 2.5/5For the lack of taste in the breading, it has a fine texture. Thick, crunchy, and crispy, the breading does not disappoint. However, the essential component of an onion ring, the actual onion, fails to deliver. The onion is mushy, weak, and slim. The scourge of onion ring lovers everywhere arrives once again, as the inner onion slips out of the breading. The result is a hollow shell of fried bread, desperately trying to masquerade as some facade of an onion ring.Value: 2/5Originally, I was optimistic about these onion rings. I stopped in over lunch, immediately ordered onion rings, and waited. Within five or six minutes, they arrived. I was blown away by the speed of service, but the reason become abundantly clear.The rings were almost certainly frozen. At the very least, they were mass prepared and ready for frying upon order. The speed was amazing, and thats often one of my main criteria for food.However, the price was exorbitant. For a small plate of onion rings, I paid nearly six dollars! Whats more, the rings were of mediocre quality, if decent quantity. I can genuinely say Ive has fast food onion rings substantially better quality (and a better valuethan these. Though they were filling, and sufficed as a lunch, it is a lunch I will bitterly regret until the end of my days.Total: 9.5/20Source: Sola Cepa