Bistro Bella Vita
The Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids offers a casual atmosphere and Italian dishes made from local ingredients. The dinner menu at Bistro Bella Vita starts with tomato bruschetta, cassoulet and other appetizers. Pasta lovers choose from house specialties like seafood spaghetti and spinach and goat cheese gnocchi. This Italian restaurant also offers rotisserie chicken, Atlantic salmon and other entrees to accommodate different tastes. Each meal at Bistro Bella Vita can end with slices of berry shortcake and chocolate truffle cake from the dessert menu.
Bistro Bella Vita
44 Grandville Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 222-4600
bistrobellavita.com/
Restaurant Bloom
The lunch menu at Restaurant Bloom is anchored by thick-cut bacon sandwiches, grilled goat cheese and strawberry jam focaccias and other entrees. Restaurant Bloom starts dinner guests with salted whitefish cakes, foie gras mousse and twice-baked chicken wings. Main courses on the dinner menu range from Hereford beef ribeyes to seared whitefish. Diners pair their main courses with specialty drinks like the Bloom Signature and New Old Fashion from the bar. The dessert menu at Restaurant Bloom ends meals with sweet treats like sweet corn cheesecake and firm chocolate pudding.
Restaurant Bloom
40 Monroe Center St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-2233
bloomgr.com/
Marie Catrib's
Marie Catrib's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in downtown Grand Rapids. The breakfast menu mixes hearty dishes like baker's omelets with vegan-friendly sweet potato hash. Diners at Marie Catrib's start lunch and dinner with appetizers like hummus and crackers. This restaurant specializes in Greek entrees like gyros and falafel served until late night. The lunch and dinner menu includes sweet potato and quinoa burgers and grilled tuna salad sandwiches for diners in a hurry. Marie Catrib's also offers a Saturday brunch menu with Finnish pancakes, hot oatmeal and omelets.
Marie Catrib's
1001 Lake Drive SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 454-4020
mariecatribs.com/
Leo's Restaurant
Diners start lunch at Leo's Restaurant with oysters Florentine and lobster shrimp cake from the appetizer list. The lunch menu features crab cake melts, blackened salmon burgers and other sandwiches served until mid-afternoon. Leo's Restaurant starts its dinner menu with appetizers like smoked salmon and Prince Edward Island mussels. The kitchen prepares chargrilled sea scallops, king crab legs and other entrees for dinner guests. The dessert menu at Leo's Restaurant includes pumpkin cheesecake, cranapple crepes and sweet wines.
Leo's Restaurant
60 Ottawa Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 454-6700
leosrestaurant.com/home.htm
About The Author
Nicholas Katers has been a freelance writer since 2006. He teaches American history at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. His past works include articles for "CCN Magazine," "The History Teacher" and "The Internationalist" magazine. Katers holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in American history from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, respectively.
