Grand flavors come out of the Woods Lounge

By on March 13, 2010  |  Dinner, Downtown Grand Rapids, Lunch, Must-Eats

Never in my wildest imagination did I think that I would see myself eating mushrooms at a restaurant. The slimy texture always had turned me off.

But when myself and Rob Kirkbride went into the Grand Woods Lounge last Sunday to enjoy a little Spartan basketball, Rob ordered the Portobello Fries ($7.95) as a starter. “Do you like mushrooms?” he asked. I said no, of course.

“You’ll like these.”

And, surprisingly, with my first bite, he was right. The fried portobello mushrooms were delicious. Drizzled with a heavy balsamic glaze and horseradish sauce, I saw myself enjoying mushrooms for the first time I can think of. The platter probably fits more than two people a bit better, as it was a little big, but we ate every last bite of it. Paired with our beers, it was a great starter that I’ll definitely order again.

But that was just the appetizer — what about our actual meals? Rob went for the Black and White sandwich ($8.95), made up of blackened whitefish filet, citrus tartar sauce, cheese, lettuce and tomato. The fish seemed to be grilled to perfection, and provided a not-so-fishy taste that presented itself with mounds of flavor.

I opted for the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich ($8.50). A long-time favorite of mine, I’ve seen the best (tied between Louis Benton and Ham-Bonz in Traverse City) and the worst (at Fifth-Third Ballpark) of pulled pork. But with the Woods, I might just have a new favorite. Filled with flavor and just the right amount of sauce, the sandwich was packed to capacity. It was a bit more sweet than spicy — just to my likings. Sided with fries and a pickle, the plate made for a great meal. And for those who know me, you’ll be surprised to hear this — I actually left the plate clean.

The service was decent for a bar. Our drinks were refilled when we needed them to be, but we weren’t checked up on as much as I would expect if we had sat at a table. Needless to say, that was alright with me…we were too engrained in the game to care anyways. It was also nice to see that the Woods now has a non-smoking policy, with the only exception being on their outdoor patio. It makes for a more family-friendly environment, and overall adds to the Woods’ reputation.

I will definitely be back. The food was nothing short of phenomenal, and the environment — featuring a pool table, fireplace and lots of televisions — was perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Grand Woods Lounge  ( Rating: out of 5 )

Where: 77 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Hours: Mon-Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday noon to 2 a.m., Sunday noon to midnight.
Ambiance: Higher end sports, family-friendly bar
How much will it cost you: Sandwiches average around $6, with sides around $2.
Credit cards: Yes
Alcohol: Yes
Smoke-free: Yes; smoking allowed on outdoor patio.
Reservations: Yes
Wireless Internet: Yes
Contact: (616) 451-4300
Online: www.woodslounge.com

  • Elise

    Charley’s Crab also has really great portobello fries- Yes, Charley’s is expensive, but their happy hour is great! They have the fries on the happy hour menu. Definitely check it out. I’ll hopefully be checking out these portobello fries as well

  • http://www.hefedshefed.com Jeremy

    I’ve always found Grand Woods to be a bit lacking in almost all departments: service, food, ambiance. They started off pretty strong but over the years just sort of lost their way, as a lot of downtown eateries seem to do. Having said that, their outside patio is a decent backup if everyone else’s is full. And your review of the Portabello Fries has piqued my interest (I, too, despise mushrooms and their slimy, earthy qualities).

  • Anonymous

    Good god how much did they pay you to write this review? Been there many times with friends and it’s always a lacking experience… Food used to be great – sucks now. Service – lackluster at best. Drink prices – overpriced. Make no mistake about it… The Woods is where you go if you want to pick up a herpes-encrusted cougar, nothing more… Nothing less!