Celebrating Valentine’s Day or your anniversary? Planning a date night with your sweetheart? Hoping to wow your date on a first rendezvous?
Then I recommend dining at one of the five most romantic restaurants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to set the mood with a fantastic meal in a cozy setting. Dining at these restaurants will have you falling in love — at least with your food and drinks.
Grove | East Hills
Seasonal corn bisque garnished with yellow cherry tomatoes, olive salt and mint leaves at Grove in Grand Rapids | The Epicurean Traveler
Consistently named one of Grand Rapids’ best restaurants, Grove offers unique dishes created with locally sourced ingredients. Try the three-course prix fixe for a culinary adventure, sampling a variety of flavors. Or, order main dishes a la carte, and get cozy with your date, sharing an appetizer of salmon ceviche or chili pork tacos. Be sure to save room for dessert for two!
For my fellow wine lovers, you should consider adding the custom 3-oz. wine pairing for your dish. The impressive drink list also features Michigan craft beers, tantalizing cocktails, and a nice selection of sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines by the glass or bottle.
Grove | 919 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Divani | Heartside
With its dim lighting and beautiful wine wall, this chic restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids is just the place to win a wine lover’s heart. The dinner menu features filet mignon, wild mushroom risotto, and duck prepared two ways. The extensive wine list includes a small selection of Grower Champagnes and a variety of French, Italian, Spanish, South American, Oregon and Napa Valley bottles.
Divani | 15 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Maru Sushi & Grill | East Hills
Blue mango roll at Maru in Grand Rapids | The Epicurean Traveler
I recently had a successful first date at Maru, so I had to include it on this list. What I loved about Maru is it’s a contemporary sushi restaurant with pretty inventive rolls. You’ll even find a selection of vegetarian options, and you can substitute brown rice. The sushi is some of the most complex and interesting I’ve found in Grand Rapids. The rolls are also on the larger side, so you can make a meal out of sharing two rolls and an edamame appetizer. Looking for a drink? I had a delicious mango martini, and the drink menu features a variety of cocktails, sake, wine, craft beer, and cider.
Maru Sushi & Grill | 927 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Bistro Bella Vita | Heartside
This Italian restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids may be my absolute favorite romantic restaurant. Every time I walk into Bistro Bella Vita, the dining room’s warm yellow glow transports me to Tuscany, where I imagine I’m viewing the sunset over rows of grape vines. On date night, share a gourmet pizza or indulge in a rich, heartwarming pasta dish. The wine list has Italian vino to pair with your food, but I recommend trying one of the 20 martinis. Top off your romantic meal splitting the carrot cake topped with vanilla mascarpone cream, walnuts, pistachios, and a cinnamon caramel sauce.
Bistro Bella Vita | 44 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Reserve Wine & Food | Center City
Rose flight at Reserve in Grand Rapids | The Epicurean Traveler
On a warm summer night, sipping a glass of rosé with someone special on Reserve’s upstairs patio would be my ideal date night. The patio looks directly out to the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
In winter, nestle in at the bar inside the contemporary chic dining room to taste a wine flight and share a customized charcuterie and cheese plate.
Reserve Wine & Food | 201 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Most Romantic “Date Night” Restaurants in Grand Rapids, Michigan | EpicureanTravelerBlog.com
All of these look fabulous! I need to come up that way and visit.
We love the Grand Rapids area. In-fact we are considering a move to that part of the state. This is a great list of places to remember. We do love to eat out.
Ahhhh I’m getting hungry, now! GR seriously has some of the best food around. I can’t wait to go back and try some (or all) of these places! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your sweetie. 🙂
I cannot wait to try all of these places (regardless of a love mate) the next time I am in Grand Rapids. The sushi looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing places to try outside of the usual chain market that makes the experience even more rewarding.