Derby Station is one of those restaurants that feels comfortable. It’s a place to settle into a booth and perhaps stay for hours having one of many microbrews with friends. However, we popped for a “pre-theater” evening dinner. We wanted to stay longer, but this was not one of those evenings.

We were immediately struck by the large space, which still feels intimate. Maybe it’s the dark wood or abundance of brick. Soft lighting and a variety of seating choices are other features that promote comfort.

The second thing that struck us was our server Emily. She was “with it.” We were confident asking her anything about the menu or beers and she’d know the answer. It was refreshing to have an experienced server who was either well trained, employed here for awhile or perhaps both.

A nice touch right off the bat was a basket of popcorn, which appeared at our table as soon as we sat down. It was pesto Parmesan popcorn, which was quite different and hard to resist.

After some recommendations and discussions of what we usually like, we were expertly guided toward two beers that turned out to be spot on. My friend chose the MBC Celis, which was the “pint of the day” ($2.50 rather than $4.50), and I went with the Founder’s Ale, ($4.50).

With beverages in hand, it was time for the food choices. I love chevre on greens, so I chose the Flash Fried Goat Cheese Salad, ($9.50). It was served with delightfully delicate rounds of warm goat cheese over spring greens with tomatoes, fresh apples, smoked bacon, radishes, toasted walnuts and a blueberry vinaigrette. It was a good-sized salad and could have been a main course by itself. The sweet and savory flavors and the crunchy and soft textures were perfect.

My friend chose the Caprese salad ($10), and it’s hard to imagine a prettier salad. The red and yellow tomatoes with the basil and greens, adorned with the crostini and cheese looked beautiful on the plate. It was fresh and every bite was consumed.

Because our salads were so filling, we decided to split the Fish Tacos ($9.95), which were a feature for June. The Cajun-style fish was light and flavorful, and there was plenty to share. It was served with a black bean salsa, lime, avocado, pico de gallo and a sour cream sauce. Really enjoyable.

We decided to get a dessert to go, and although tempted, decided against the brownie because Emily told us it came with ice cream. Since we were headed to the theater that wasn’t a good option. We decided to try the Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding ($7). It came packed in a nice box and the fragrance of cinnamon prompted me to take a peak in the car as we drove away. It was a big piece of bread pudding, topped with whipped cream and much to our surprise, ice cream. We had to make a quick stop and drop it off in the fridge at my friend’s workplace. In the end, the ice cream was just the cold, creamy touch needed to balance out the sweet and dense texture of the pudding. Delicious.

The entire menu can be found on their website and is updated with each month’s features, which are based on the best that local farmers and growers have to offer.

There are many reasons to find your way to Derby Station: the beer, the food, the service, the atmosphere, the ever-changing menu, or just because it’s convenient. Whatever the reason, if our visit is any indication, we think you’ll enjoy it!

On a sweltering Saturday night, I ventured out with a friend to find a reprieve from the weather. Enticed by the thought of a cool drink, we ended up at Derby Station in Gaslight Village.

The dining room has a great British pub feel — dark, cozy, lots of wood and high-backed booths. Hot or not, it was far too nice a day to stay inside, so we opted for the patio. Our hostess was very friendly and even lend me a hand in adjusting the umbrella on our table. The patio afforded some great people-watching opportunities, as it seemed half the neighborhood was out walking down Wealthy or playing in the fountain located in front of the parking ramp.

Derby Station has an extensive and interesting beer menu, as well as a full bar. While I was poring over the beer list, our server arrived and recommended the featured draft selection of Raspberry Lemonade ($5), a mix of Leinenkugel Summer Shandy and Timmerman’s Framboise. Seeing that Summer Shandy is a warm weather favorite of mine, I opted to go for it. Despite looking like Kool-Aid, the drink managed to be both sweet and tart, but not overly fruity. A home run, for sure.

We ordered the Crab, Apple and Blue Cheese Dip ($9) as an appetizer. It arrived hot and bubbly, with pita wedges, carrots and celery for dipping. My friend, Laura, and I enjoyed the dip, though we agreed that the apple taste got a bit lost. Maybe it would have worked better if the celery were replaced with apple slices.

Our server was pleasant and checked on us frequently as we tried to narrow down our dinner selections. In the end, Laura chose the Reuben ($9) with a side of Garlic Sautéed Zucchini and Squash ($2). I went with one of the July seasonal entrees of Steamed Mussels ($13). The menu ranges from classic British pub food to edgy twists on comfort classics. I look forward to trying the Lasagna ($8) made with braised beef tongue on another visit.

I’ll admit that I am a shellfish junkie, especially when it comes to mussels. If they’re on a restaurant menu, it’s a pretty safe bet that I will order them. I was eagerly awaiting their arrival, so I was pleased when our entrees came out fairly quickly.

Laura’s Reuben was massive. It also looked fairly messy and I don’t know anyone who could have finished it in one sitting. Her comments were that it was good overall, if not particularly surprising. The zucchini and squash were tasty and well-cooked.

So how were the much anticipated mussels? They were good, but not great. The mussels themselves were perfectly cooked and very flavorful, but the rest of the dish fell a bit short for me. I think there was too much going on. The combination of roasted corn, basil, spinach, garlic, bacon and citrus in the sauce was a bit overpowering. All of those strong flavors ended up competing instead of complimenting one another. Subtracting a couple of ingredients would have simplified the dish and really allowed the flavors to shine.

Overall, the experience was a positive one and I’m sure I’ll go back again. Derby Station is a great place to unwind. A full pint glass and an inventive menu always wins points with me.

Owned by the Winchester, I found What the Truck on a sunny Saturday morning, parked just outside the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market. Bright fold-up chairs line the sidewalk, Spanish music pulses from the speakers, and a chalk sign lets the eater know just what is on special.

This isn’t your reconstituted egg biscuit sort of fast food. This is fast food for the gourmet-inclined, with rustic Corn Griddle Cakes topped with black beans and an avacado coulis ($6), Breakfast Taco stuffed with fluffy eggs, spicy chorizo and salsa verde ($3) or the star of the morning, a decadent Braised Beef Hash ($6).

I ordered the Corn Cakes and Breakfast Taco. Both were tasty, but the Corn Griddle Cakes wiggled its way into my heart, and onto my waistline. Two thin medallions of whole kernel corn mixed in with flour and cornmeal form the cakes — it’s topped with black beans that still have a little crunch to them. I liked the acidity of the coulis, and though the center of my corncake was a little gummy, I’m okay with that.

You’d expect there’d be a lot of spice to these two dishes, but they’re more flavorful than hot-spicy. Perfect brain food for a Sunday morning. (Possibly good post-hangover food too. Just saying.)

My fiancé had the the Braised Beef Hash. I kept stealing it from him — it features a medley of tastes and textures including soft (yet crispy) potatoes, tender beef with that wonderful beefy-ness and caramelized onions and peppers, all topped with a fried egg that when you slice into it flows with a creamy golden ribbon over the dish. The dish is rich, salty, crisp, tender and chewy all at once.

Fair warning — since the dish is made fresh to order, it’s super hot. Take advantage of sitting in a chair. Your lap can hold the dish and keep your hands from burning. Expect to wait about five minutes for your food.

This is how breakfast should be. Out in the sunshine, on the side of a street, hanging out with your friends and family. It’s spontaneous eating at its best, but warrants the research on just where and when you can find the truck. It doesn’t change the fun of the search any — it just makes finding that pot of gold (or in this case a Breakfast Burrito) a little bit easier.

Having gone there several times, I can tell you that Gino’s is one of my favorite pizza places in town. It doesn’t try to do anything fancy — it just sticks to the basics. You won’t find healthy options on the menu — what you will find is pizza loaded with grease, cheese and some pretty good sauce.

And Gino’s doesn’t go shabby on its toppings either — your pizza will be covered with the toppings you desire, and then some. It’s one of the only pizza joints I’ve visited where I’ll actually leave the pepperoni on and not have a problem eating it.

After a long hiatus of visits, I recently returned to Gino’s. It was the exact same atmosphere, the exact same people behind the counter. We even got to see Gino himself this time around (which is a rare treat). We ordered a two liter of pop and large cheese pizza ($9.95, 14-inch) to split, and 15 minutes later it was delivered fresh to our booth.

I could literally see the cheese melting throughout the pizza. It was a gooey delight and the amount was generous (probably not necessary to order extra cheese at Gino’s). The sauce is likely the best part — a clean tomato taste blended with an array of spices and Parmesan cheese. The sauce tastes like a real tomato, and it’s sits right in the middle between sweet and spicy (many other places can’t seem to get it right)

As for the crust, it was just as crispy as I had remembered. It’s pretty much your classic thin hand-tossed — crispy around the edges and a bit fluffy in the middle.  The large pizza was certainly that — huge.

Gino’s has a small dining area of four booths. Most likely the main business is delivery and pickups, but this is a nice option. Still, it’s not designed as a sit down pizzeria, so don’t expect a lot of frills when you walk in (expect some Ms. Pac-Man, pinball and other arcades).

Needless to say, the pizza was a remembrance of old for me. It hadn’t changed whatsoever, and had brought back so many great memories of past visits. The arcade games, the…late night extravaganzas. It was all worth it for this pizza. I remember working at the student newspaper office in college and ordering a huge pizza for our staff. Each time was a treat.

And this time was no different. Gino’s isn’t fancy, and it isn’t a place to go out on a date. But it’s definitely a place that serves some darn good pizza.

The food, in a word, was fantastic, service excellent and owner a joy to meet. Other than a few Cuban dishes I’ve had over the years, I’ve never experienced Caribbean cooking. It is fiery hot and rich in flavors. Chez Olga’s cooking took me to a different place. It was as if I could feel a warm tropical breeze coming off the ocean, a cold Wadadli beer in my hand and the ocean lapping at my feet.

There have been a number of restaurants in Chez Olga’s location and none of them seemed to have caught on. Unfortunately, on the day I visited Chez Olga, it was empty except for one other table. For the world of me, I can’t understand why. The dishes are created with love and care and it shows on the plate.

As a Caribbean novice, I ordered the Creole Chicken ($7.99), touted as the Chez Olga Signature, with incredibly tender chicken, multicolor bell peppers and onions in a juicy red sauce, served with white rice. I also ordered a side of the Spicy Coleslaw (99 cents). It was the best coleslaw I’ve every had, intensely hot with a sweet vinegar kick. I almost ordered another helping, it was that good.

To wash all of this amazing food down, I had a cup of Haitian Hot Coffee, which is a bit like Turkish coffee — muddy, strong and flavorful.

Chez Olga’s menu is one I can’t wait to go back and explore. There is the Gumbo ($8.99 with shrimp, chicken or both), which is mixed with okra, onions and served with white rice. I also want to try the Fried Plantain Sandwich ($6.99), which is stuffed with chicken or beef, cheese, tomato and lettuce. On the appetizer menu, the Aucra ($4.99) looks interesting as well. It is Malanga, a fried Haitian root vegetable served with a side of the spicy coleslaw.

The menu and restaurant was created by Chef Olga Benoit, a native of Haiti. She is definitely part of the restaurant experience, with a broad, beautiful smile that somehow makes the food taste that much better. She is also helpful in explaining the menu if you are new to Caribbean cuisine. She wouldn’t divulge the secret of her spicy coleslaw, but did tell me that the heat comes from habanero peppers. I believe it.

Do not let me dissuade those who are fearful of heat: Chez Olga will make you dish to any spice level you desire.

When I finished my meal, I took another look around the empty restaurant. I couldn’t believe the place was so barren. With the quality of food and service, this is a restaurant that should have a line outside the door. I’m not sure if people are frightened of trying something new, but Chez Olga should be on everyone’s “must eat” list. I’ll be taking another culinary trip to the Caribbean very soon.

When we arrived on a recent Monday at noon for lunch, we were quickly greeted and seated by a personable and friendly server. She asked our preference for seating — inside or outside, booth or table. The restaurant was about three quarters full, not bad for a Monday.

Our waitress accommodated us by quickly getting us drinks and taking our appetizer order. We ordered the Bibb Salad ($7.95) and Lemon Curry Scallops ($12.75) to share. Within seven minutes our order arrived and they had split the salad on two plates. Both dishes were marked as GF (Gluten-Free) on the menu.

The Bibb Salad salad was very fresh, the pears were just right — crisp green pears with that “sweet/tart“ flavor. I am very fussy about my fruit, if there is a bad spot on it, I will not eat it. Not one bad spot to be found.  The blue cheese went very well with the chardonnay dressing. The portion is large enough for a light meal — I was glad we decided to split it.

My dining parter thought the bibb salad was incredible — they just love Boston lettuce; so buttery and fresh. The combination of the blue cheese and pears was divine. The chardonnay dressing was subtle and allowed the main ingredients to be the feature.

I thought the scallop dish was plentiful as well. The flavors were blended to perfection in my opinion, like a chorus, not one stood out more than the other. The scallops were cooked to perfection with a toasty brown outer layer on each side. The lemon curry sauce had just the right amount of “tang” that balanced nicely with the scallops. Micro-greens topped this dish and added a nice splash of color plus a surprisingly intense flavor. Micro-greens are a tiny form of edible greens produced from the seeds of vegetables, herbs or other plants – too cool!

My main dish was the Grilled Salt and Pepper Pork Loin ($14.25) and my first bite melted in my mouth. The pork was medium-rare, tender and had amazing amount of flavor. I loved how they incorporated the fruit — cherry chutney and shaved green apples. As I dug into my second bite, my guest noticed this dish sat on a bed of gnocchi and warned me not to eat anymore. Gnocchi, a potato based pasta, is also made with wheat flour, would not make this dish a gluten free meal.

We immediately called our server over to ask about the gnocchi, was it home made so therefore made gluten free? I was so hoping so, as I wanted to finish my meal. Our sever checked with the kitchen, in fact when they read the ingredients on the bag of gnocchi it did in fact have wheat flour and was not gluten free. I owe many thanks to my friend — it could have been much worse.

When my friend dines out, they generally order something that they cannot make at home, and seeing as their kitchen (and most others) lacks a wood-fired oven, the Portobello Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza ($13.25) was the obvious choice.

They love the crisp crust of a wood fired pizza and this one did not disappoint. Unfortunately the rest of the pizza was not as good. They failed to add the portobello mushrooms, the herb oil base was bland, the cloves of garlic were undercooked and the Italian sausage was cut into huge one inch to two inch pieces that were clumsy to eat. The only toppings that they enjoyed were the goat cheese and the caramelized onions. My friend wished they would have gone with the “build your own” pizza.

I am very disappointed that Rose’s advertised a gluten free meal selection that is not. I expect more from a restaurant who advertises on their menu a dish is gluten free, opposed to the chef who says I will try to make it gluten free.

The food was awesome (as I did get that one bite of my entree), however I will not be returning for fear of being served gluten. For those of you that do not have this worry, I feel you will enjoy your service and food very much. Many can serve a meal perfectly, but it how you handle the mistakes that shows your professionalism and character. The manager and server did not run away from the problems we had at Rose’s — they stood up to them, deducted both meals from our bill and were very apologetic and did it with much concern.

Editor’s Note: As a side note, Rose’s also operates “Rose’s Express,” a take-out restaurant. It features a smaller menu, but still offer things like pizzas, pasta, soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers and family-style meals. Rose’s Express is located at 2224 Wealthy Street SE in East Grand Rapids. They can be contacted by phone at (616) 458-4646.

Videography and interview by Michelle Gordon, editing and commentating by Rob Kirkbride.

If you had the chance to check out the Electric Eel, much of the decor hasn’t changed. There is a little extra seating, but the tiny shop is still catered towards take out. But that’s about all that’s left of the Electric Eel remnants. Instead, the service is fast, and the food is great. You can walk up to the kitchen counter and ask for a sample of their 12 soups of the day, or chat with the chefs about what they recommend as a tasty dessert.

During my visit I had the chance to sample three soups. The first, a Roasted Red Pepper Asiago, had a substantial amount of flavor and a bit of a peppery kick. The second, the Safron Tomato Bisque, was perfectly seasoned and very filling. Finally, I tried the Lobster Bisque, which had just a hint of lobster flavor and plenty of herbs and spices to finish it off. Today, the Safron Tomato Bisque hit the mark for me, but I would’ve been happy with the other two as well (even the Lobster Bisque, and I’m not a fish person). The rustic feel, along with the seasoning and amount of flavor, just blew me away, and I figured it was as good a choice as any for a cold fall day.

I also went ahead and ordered half a grilled cheese. Now, this isn’t the typical grilled cheese that your mom used to make for you to dip in a bowl of Campbell’s. Instead, it’s a rich, cheesy dish that went great with the soup I ordered. You can choose from several bread options, but it was recommended I go with the Three Cheese bread. And what a recommendation it was. I was a bit nervous to have that much cheese in a sandwich, but it was paired perfectly. The cheese was gooey and the bread was thin enough that it didn’t take away from the amazing flavor that it was holding together. They usually have a daily special sandwich option as well.

Finally, I had to try a dessert. While there were plenty of cookies, espresso brownies and even ice cream to choose from, I couldn’t help but immediately be drawn to the pumpkin cupcake. In what could have been one of the best cupcakes I’ve had, the pumpkin and spice was just enough to provide a rich, fall flavor. And the cream cheese frosting, while a little sweet, countered the spices in the cake like I had never experienced before. I would go back again — if not to just get another cupcake.

It seems like the “Cheetah family” has produced another winner. It blows the Electric Eel out of the water, and in my opinion is a little better (and more unique) than its Electric counterpart down the street. The staff is friendly and full of ideas. In our discussions with them, they mentioned that a “soup flight” is being considered down the road, which would allow various samples of soups. And they’re definitely not short on knowledge, and in my experience, know exactly what to recommend.

Like the Electric Cheetah, all of the ingredients come from local farms too, making it all the more worthwhile. My only question is how they’ll attract diners in the summer months, when soup is on less people’s minds than it is during the cold months. If they keep the success up, by possibly introducing cold or iced soups and additional menu options, Uncle Cheetah’s could quickly become a staple of Wealthy Street.

My husband, Dan, and I are regulars at Bombay, both dine-in and carry-out. We enjoy sharing dishes so we can sample as many items as possible. One entree per person is more than enough for the average appetite and may even result in some leftovers for the next day. Entree prices range from $12.95 to $16.95. If we go with a party of four, we typically order an appetizer or two, like the delicious potato and pea Samosas ($6.95) or crispy Onion Bhajis ($6.95), three entrees and an order of onion or garlic naan ($3.50/ four pieces).

I’ve never had anything at Bombay that I didn’t like, but we definitely have some favorites. The Murg Tikka Lucknowi ($14.95) is one of the Tandoori chicken dishes, where the meat is marinated and cooked over charcoal in clay ovens. It might be the most tender, succulent chicken that I’ve ever tasted. The large pieces of boneless white meat are served on a bed of fresh shredded lettuce and vegetable. The Tandoori dishes are a good foil to the mostly sauce-based dishes on the menu. Another favorite of mine is the Saag Chicken ($15.95), boneless slices of chicken in a rich, creamy spinach sauce. Equally as good is the Saag Gosht ($16.95), which includes tender pieces of boneless lamb in place of the chicken.

On the vegetarian side of the menu, we love the Baingan Bhurta ($14.95), which is a truly wonderful dish of grilled mashed eggplant. While this might not sound like something that you’d like, I urge you to give it a try. We also enjoy the Khumb Matter ($14.95), mushrooms and peas cooked in a creamy tomato and onion based sauce, and the Kofta Dilkhush ($13.95), spiced potato patties in a creamy tomato curry.

It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but I’d put the shrimp dishes at the bottom of my list. There’s nothing particularly wrong with them, but I think the flavors and cooking techniques are better suited for chicken, lamb and vegetables.

All of the dishes at Bombay are very flavorful, but not necessarily spicy. Because everyone has a different threshold for spice, I can understand why they might err on the mild side. But if you like your Indian spicy, you just need to ask. By local standards, Dan and I like very spicy food. On a spice scale of one to ten, we ask for a seven or an eight. I’ve had one “nine” dish and I wouldn’t recommend that for most folks. A side order of Raita ($2.50), a creamy yogurt sauce with cucumber and onions, is the perfect way to cool off a spicy dish.

Bombay offers an outstanding selection of beers, which pair beautifully with Indian food. They have 20 beers on tap and over 50 types of bottled beer ranging from local brews to a selection of beers from around the world, including the Indian lagers Kingfisher and Taj Mahal. If you’re not a beer drinker, Bombay has a very respectable wine list. A crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc is a great match with Indian food.

There are two common criticisms that I’ve heard of Bombay — the food is too expensive “for Indian food,” and they don’t serve enough rice with each dish. Both of these criticisms raise the issue of value. Some expect Asian restaurants, i.e., Chinese, Indian and Thai; to serve large quantities of cheap food. Maybe this is the unfortunate result of too many low quality all-you-can-eat Asian buffets. I find Bombay’s menu prices to be in line with other restaurants that offer comparable food quality, atmosphere and portions. We’ve never run out of rice, but if you’d like more, an extra order will only set you back $1.25. For those on a tighter budget or with smaller appetites, Bombay recently added plated chicken ($12) and vegetarian ($11) specials that include rice and naan. The best bargain is the Sunday lunch buffet for $10.95.

As an avid cook of many different ethnic cuisines, I marvel at the rich, complex flavors created by the chefs at Bombay. Speaking from personal experience, this food is not easy to replicate at home. Is Bombay authentic Indian food? I’m not Indian and I’ve never been to India, so it’s difficult for me to answer that question. The food certainly is consistent with Indian food that I’ve had in other parts of the country and Europe. Authentic or not, the food is great!

My first two times dining at the Eastown-based Chinese restaurant was for lunch. Both times I went with the lunch buffet, and both times I didn’t feel too great afterwards. While the food wasn’t horrible, when I get sick, any pleasantries of what I just ate goes down the drain.

This time, though, I enjoyed a cheap Chinese meal for dinner. While it has its drawbacks, Szechuan does quite a few things right. The interior is inviting and not over-done, like so many other Chinese restaurants I’ve tried. It does what it does best, and that is give you a decent meal at a reasonable price.

Two of us started out with crab cheese ($2.95) as an appetizer. Not the best I’ve had, but still very flavorful and not fishy-tasting whatsoever.

For my entree, I went with the orange chicken ($8.25). One of my all-time favorites at Asian restaurants, the dish was paired with white rice. While the menu mentioned that the item was “hot,” I found that not to be the case. While the chicken was fairly tender and flavorful, I would’ve liked to see a bit more spice, and maybe some vegetables to pair it with (other than the massive amount of broccoli).

My two other dining partners went with Chicken Lo Mein ($6.75), which is a type of soft noodle. The dish was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and was a reminder of how simple, Asian cuisine can be absolutely delicious.

The service was prompt and friendly; our waiter checked on us occasionally, but wasn’t over-the-top.

In addition to entrees featuring chicken, beef and pork, Szechuan also offers family-sized dinner meals, offering a wide array of options for small parties. Take-out is also available for the work crowd.

It looks like the third time was the charm for Szechuan Garden. While I’m hesitant to recommend it for a lunch buffet, the dinner was filling and just what we were expecting. Szechuan could possibly be one of the best cheap Chinese restaurants in the area, and it’s a perfect fit for the Eastown landscape.