Every time I visit Grand Rapids, I always come to Bar Louie. However, I've always made it in time for happy hour, not really for dinner. They have an excellent happy hour menu and really tasty appetizers. Their beer selection is good and I'm also glad that they have a wide variety of mixed drinks. I had a martini called Dulce de Leche (it was seasonal). I don't care much for sweet alcoholic beverages, but this one actually blew me away. It was delicious. I got standard fare for appetizers, such as buffalo wings and sliders and they were well-executed. All food came out hot and fresh. Again, I can't tell you much about the dinner menu, but lunch/happy hour here is awesome. The servers are prompt and friendly as well. If you're looking for good drinks, good music and a good vibe, this is the perfect place to visit.
(4)
Mike M.
It's so disappointing when you travel, and with high hopes, go to a new restaurant and get so disappointed. I recently went to this Bar Louie in Grand Rapids after I looked at their menu online. Seemed like a great place to satisfy a craving for some unhealthy food and a beer or two. I ordered pretzel sticks, which were quite good! For my entree I ordered the baked mac 'n cheese, with chicken. When it came out, it was horrible...not baked and the ckicken pieces appeared to be frozen then heated up. The "baked" mac 'n cheese was literally cooked pasta with cheese sauce from a jar poured into it. It was more like pasta with a runny cheese soup. I sent it back. I then ordered the voodoo chicken, which is chicken, andouille sausage, rice and veggies. When this came out, the chicken was a small portion of a chicken breast. The andouille sausage, wasn't andouille sausage...it was polish sausage sliced up. The rice was simply a white rice, leavnig the 6-7 strips of veggies as the highlight. All of this was sitting in a platter with some sort of a creamy white soup. It looked so bad I took a picture of it and sent it to my friends and wife. If I can upload pics hee, I will The wrong sausage made it toally salty. I sent that back too. So, I ordered another beer, and left hungry. The manager and staff were accomodating and understanding. They said that they don't order the food the restaurant gets. I recommend to all of you that you don't order the food there either. I know I won't be.
(1)
Danielle H.
Tried to eat here for lunch. I sat for about 10 min before anyone greeted me. After I was greeted from across the room, the server continued to help tables get drinks that were there well after me. I walked out. No one cared. I served for seven years. I'm not fussy. I get the challenges. When it's dead and I can't even get someone to bring me a water, that's pretty bad.
(1)
Sean C.
Normally I have a great experience at Bar Louie in Grand Rapids art Woodland Mall but today they had the "music " so loud that I couldn't even hear people around me, so I asked bartender if she could adjust volume a little .. But NO.. It's "company policy" to have it at that volume... There is a classic case of lack of customer service.. No wonder there was only 6 people in whole bar and it was packed at the bar next door. If you go during the afternoon, then that company policy isn't in effect and the atmosphere is great. Have a beer and watch the people go buy. The potstickers are very good, beer is cold and they have a great selection.
(3)
Steve S.
really good food, very clean place, it doesn't even feel like your in a mall which is pretty cool. I'd say this is the best spot to grab some food and a drink when your at woodland.
(4)
Kate L.
Very great bar tender most nights, friendly service, good food, Great location! Bucket of beers and tator tots!!
(5)
Walker V.
Having a great time here at Bar Louie - Kelly my bartender is taking excellent care of me. Smiles and grins - lets have another.... Glad Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA is on Tap from Bend OR. Music is current and hip too...
(5)
Britta M.
Well... this was my first time at Bar Louie, and honestly I'm already looking forward to going back. Easy parking, the atmosphere was perfect.. it could be somewhere you dress up and bring the girls (or guys) to on the weekends or just grab a casual drink after work. Their outdoor patio is awesome too, it was raining when we went there but I'd love to sit out by the heaters. Their appetizers were... amazing. Calamari, buffalo chicken flatbread, and their chicken quesadillas. All of them awesome, and generous portions. I was thrilled. Watch out for their happy hours too, amazing 1/2 off pricing on most of them! Their Long Island was legit and had a great taste, we had a pitcher of the sangria and will definitely get that again! Reasonable drink pricing as well with specials during happy hours. Love it!
(5)
Marie S.
Ordered the shrimp lettuce wraps and a berry mojito. The lettuce wraps were much soupier than I expected, but that was based on my own expectations, not anything told me by the restaurant. They were delicious -- definitely had a kick to them, but worth every single bite. Hubby drooled when he had a bite with the spicy mustard on them. The berry mojito was out of this world! So much so that I'm perfecting my recipe to make them for our Fourth of July festivities!
(5)
Macland L.
Great Location in the summer to just chill out be by Woodland Mall. Good beer and cocktail selections and awesome specials for happy hour w/ $3 beers and half off appetizers. Then there is $1 burger Tuesday! $1 gets you full size great quality beef/chicken/turkey burger w/ lettuce then you can just add as you go. There are a few great servers but sometimes the service is slow. Overall, a great place to hang out for drinks or dinner.
(4)
Mike L.
The prices for drinks are Ridiculous here. They charged me 10.00 for a mixed drink..Peach Lightning. Will not come here again!!!
(1)
Maurice F.
Grabbed a few $1 burgers and some beer. The beer deals and Tuesday $1 burgers make it a great place for groups. Staff was great and had a great overall experience. Came for the Heat game and the atmosphere was very welcoming. I'll be frequenting the bar more for games.
(4)
Carla C.
Bar Louie isn't the typical chain restaurant. I visit them monthly for happy hour with friends, and have never been disappointed. The summer is great also because they have outside seating (how often can you enter a restaurant from the shopping mall, and have the option to eat/drink outdoors?). One of my favorite things to eat at B.L. is their Hummus Plate (it's very reasonable and honestly is big enough for a meal).
(4)
Zach W.
The rat pack drink I ordered was amazing. The service was exceptional. In addition I was sat at a table under a mural of the rat pack. All in all, awesome experience and I highly recommend the rat pack. Classy stuff.
(5)
Adrianne B.
In the past, other states' Bar Louie locations we've visited have been above-average; on that reputation alone, we decided to try the Woodland Mall site when we were shopping in the area on a Sunday afternoon. First off- the place was *not* busy and the hostess stand's sign indicated that you ought to seat yourself. So as we rounded the corner and went up the stairs to the main dining area, 3/4 of the tables were dirty and covered in dining detritus from previous patrons. Only one other table was occupied! There were 2 booths open and (relatively) clean. Sat down and the first and the table was uneven, wobbly, and couldn't have been fixed with a mere Sweet n Low packet! We relocated to the adjacent booth that had a slightly sticky tabletop and hadn't been set up with place settings. Our waitress was very nice and did greet us in a reasonable amount of time. Drinks took longer than they should have, especially seeing as there were about 3 people at the bar and maybe 3 other tables the entire time we were there. Which, by the way, was also how long those other dirty tables adjacent to us STAYED DIRTY. The only things the waitresses picked up from them were the black receipt books. Libation-wise, I ordered from the seasonal menu and had the Whiskey Smash and the Orange Bubbly Sangria-- solid, well-mixed drinks, but would it kill them to list the prices on the menu? I had a little bit of sticker shock when the bill arrived :0 The waitress did not set up our table so hubs grabbed the clean place settings from another table. Our food, which took longer than it should have, was so-so. Husband's medium burger was well-done. Child had the tortilla soup (a Bar Louie fave) and the presentation was careless with a half, barely-sliced avocado on top. The summer special Brisket Sliders were enjoyable, but thought were overpriced in comparison to the portion size and past Bar Louie fare. All told, this would have been a three-star review, but as we sat and had our meal, we noticed a couple walk in, see the dirty tables, mill around for a few moments, then leave in exasperation. Another party of two arrived and the young woman RAISED HER HAND in an attempt to politely signal to the server and was ignored for over five minutes. As we were tabbing out, our waitress came by to attend to the raised-hand table, then picked up our check, and then LASTLY, ignored a brand new table on her way to the kitchen/posi. Waitressing 101 fail! I stopped by the ladies' restroom before leaving. On the walk there, I encountered a bucket in the middle of the floor with a few inches of dirty water and a couple of rags submerged in it. WHY?! Ugh. The ladies' room itself was not recently cleaned and had paper and grime on the floor. Insult to injury, on the way out the door, I noticed the Bar Louie kids' menus sitting on the hostess stand. We were never offered or brought one, despite have a preschooler in our party. Was it an off day? Were they short-staffed? Were they taken over by body snatchers? We'll never know because we probably won't be back.
(2)
Jake D.
Always a different experience when visiting here. Was there this past weekend for a quick beer. Place was slow but service was lacking. Kayla our bartender was ok. Until she went to throw a dirty napkin away and ended up hitting me (who was sitting on the opposite side Of the bar) and literally just looked at me and went on with what she was doing. She then very obviously had Someone else take care of Use till we left. Clearly Kayla doesn't need the business.
(2)
Jenny Y.
Loved the ambiance, with the comfy booths and dark furniture. The waitress was friendly and the cocktails were decent. Cocktails we tried included: Louie's Sangria: Cruzan Black Cherry, DeKuyper Amaretto, Canyon Road Merlot, fresh lemon, lime and orange juices, Sprite (by the glass or pitcher) - this was light, yummy, and refreshing Orange Mule: Absolut Mandrin, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, lime juice, topped with ginger beer - this was a nice twist to the traditional Moscow Mule Angry Sailor: Sailor Jerry, DeKuyper Amaretto, pure cane syrup, lime juice, topped with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider - this was one of my favorites, as Angry Orchard is my typical drink of choice, and I've never tasted it combined with other ingredients. I was very impressed! As an appetizer, we enjoyed the Chicken Nachos, which consisted of grilled chicken, queso, black beans, fresh jalapeño, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips. These nachos were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening here at Bar Louie, but it unfortunately ended on a sour note. When we received our check from the waitress, we noticed that we were charged for a pitcher of sangria instead of the mere glass that was ordered. Of course, we pointed this out to the waitress, who mentioned three times, that this would be corrected. After the credit card was run, we looked at the receipt and noticed that the pitcher of sangria had still been charged. Annoyed, we asked the waitress about this, and she said that she was in a rush to get out of there in order to get to a friend's party, and must have forgotten. (She didn't apologize or anything). She finally corrected the mischarge and walked away. We were still shocked that this had happened, and were left with a sour taste in our mouths. Be sure to double check your bill when you come here to make sure that you were charged correctly!
(3)
Michael B.
Good food, nice menu. However the service was slooooow! In addition we noticed very dirty lights and railings. I doubt they have done a complete top to bottom cleaning in the dining area in a year or more. The lights had bugs in them. Would probably not go back
(1)
Derrick V.
I went on the night they had $1 burgers. I honestly can say that I loved that burger which was a turkey with guacamole. The simple flavor was delicious and the size of burger was quite bigger compared to what I thought I was going to get. I ended up having two and they were great! It was a nice chill atmosphere and great for a small group or just to go and chat with someone. I went that night because I heard the burger deal was going on and I wanted somewhere to watch the 2nd half of a sports event. Overall I'd say that I will be back to this location in the near future.
(4)
Meg K.
Food is average, calamari was over cooked and nachos were cold and had a pool of cheese wiz and black beans on top a bed of crushed nacho chips. Tap selection is underwhelming, won't be back.
(2)
Kori Y.
Well we had a "trainee" waitress, so I have to cut a little slack, however her "trainer" was hovering right behind her and the service was still very slow. I hate it when I have to ask to have my water refiled. I'm guessing id I had a beer, I'm sure they would have been trying to bring me another one by the time I was halfway through. Food was pretty good and fresh, but the poor service overshadowed it. Try the Chicken Nachos.
(2)
Sheryl R.
Regional VP and on-site managers need to improve training and impose rules AND do some basic upgrading! Have been 5X over 8 wks. Dec 15, 2014 was the worst! Server ignored my empty glass for 15 min while she walked all over bar talking. I had to practically grab her after she delivered 2 beers to adjoining table and prepared to ignore us again! Place was SLOW, few patrons so no excuse!. Then gave server a $100 bill on a $34.60 tab then waited n waited and she never brought change! Asked for it after about 10 minutes thinking she was waiting for change from mngmt. She claimed she'd rung bill from register, had not seen my $100! Then brought change still 40 cents short! The $100 was completely concealed in the billing wallet....no way without looking to know if I'd used credit card or cash! Staff typically rounds up bill and keeps all change. It is not the 40 Cents BUT FACT THAT IT SHOULD BE MY CHOICE ON AMOUNT OF TIP! See other patrons had same trouble with their bill! Many drinks are overpriced at $10....Beware and ASK YOUR SERVER IF YOU DON'T SEE A PRICE ON IT! This is NOT a high end fine dining establishment warranting these prices in Grand Rapids, MI. Upper level dining tables have VERY sticky surfaces, desperately need a surface refinish and leveling which MANAGEMENT IGNORES (for over 2 years? Come on!) EVERY patron complains about them! ON THE GOOD SIDE: the calamari is always well cooked! The loaded tots are hot n tasty. Bravo to the cooks! The specials and happy hour are the best reason to continue going there. The place has old bar retro feel and potential but needs serious attention.
(2)
Stacy E.
3 of us had dinner last night about 5pm it's too bad the service sucked because the food was good. The server didn't really seem interested in her job. She was never visible after leaving our table, she refilled my empty water only after I was done eating, & I never got the drink that I ordered. I could have asked her to refill my water or request my drink but I feel that she knows her job & she doesn't feel like working, it will reflect in her tip. It was dead in there & dirty tables through out. She didn't take advantage of the few tables she had, sometimes it's not the quantity of tables but the quality of service that makes tips.
(2)
Dustin S.
Grabbed a beer with a few co-workers yesterday after work, needless to say I probably will not go back. The service was just OK at best. Beer tasted fine but had to ask for an orange with my blue moon after it was already served.
(2)
Tyler K.
Nice atmosphere. Decent menu. Got the brisket sliders and had to send back they were so tough. Reordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was decent. Waitress was great. I will come back again.
(3)
Elyse A.
I am typically not a fan of chain restaurants, however, Bar Louie is the exception. My cousin and I stopped in on Saturday evening around 5pm after some shopping. We were able to get a seat at the (large) bar and watch the MSU game. The seats we chose did not have a great view of any of the TV's with our game on, the bartender was kind enough to switch on for us so we had a better view. The service was good! Prompt and very accommodating. The food was really good and came out at a decent amount of time. Love the large selection of beers- great selection of local craft brews, too! Always a plus. I would recommend this place for a good meal or a drink after shopping!
(4)
Amanda L.
So most people wouldn't think a chain restaurant in a mall is a good place for a happy hour. That is incorrect. Because when it comes to Bar Louie, happy hour in a mall works out great. There is a separate entrance so you don't actually have to go through the mall to get your table. Granted parking sucks some days because you are fighting the normal shoppers for spots, but typically I can find something relatively close. Atmosphere is important and this place makes it work. Think dark wood, high ceilings, small high top tables in the bar area, and cozy booths around the edges. You can eat dinner here without being distracted by the bar, and vice versa. Given that it's easy to find on 28th Street, I often suggest Bar Louie for happy hours and lunches. Summers are the best because they have a patio area open that almost doubles their resturant capacity. The staff is always fun and upbeat to boot. Can't go wrong with a stop here!
(4)
Kellysue H.
The beer selection is wonderful and the food is good and well priced. I Would feel comfortable to recommend Bar Louie to anyone. Is it the greatest restaurant ever no, but it is a great place to come a grab a bite. The menu has some great salads and flat breads if you want something other then a burger.
(3)
Moon J.
Fish Tacos are the best! Besides that, Tuesday nights are my FAV! $1 Burger Night! It gets busy but it's worth the wait. Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm. $3 Drafts, $4 Wine, and $5 Martinis. And 1/2 off select appetizers. During the summer, sitting on the patio is a great way to enjoy a meal, relax, and people watch! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars...on occasion it takes forever and a day to get your food. They may only have one working stove. Overall, I like the food, menu selection, and atmosphere. The previous reviewers were right about the $$ being a little more than other restaurants. But it's worth it. If you want cheap food, go to Applebee's and get a free tummy ache on the house.
(4)
Jeff T.
This place is pretty good for happy hour, daily specials, and good drinks. Not sure that the food is at a price point where I feel that I am getting my monies worth. I understand the mall prices but they really should offer a late night menu for those who are more into hanging out and making this a local hangout. The burger night is still my favorite night to go. They got rid of their dart board, probably from lack of use. The clientele is 22-40 depending on the night. Great place to mingle, huge main bar, with a second one for a little more privacy. However, if I'm into just drinking late night, I usually stick to Uccello's across the street.
(3)
Charlie S.
Great martinis! Happy hour is quite good and they do have $1 Burger night on Tuesday. I enjoy the twist on food though it is a bit expensive for what you get. I suggest trying the loaded tots if you are looking for a cheesy-spicy carb overload. They are fabulous and disappear before you know it. My other favorite is the bruschetta; it is very fresh!
(4)
Todd S.
Had a flatbread. Good, but a lttle expensive.
(3)
Jen B.
Meh. Food is decent, beer selection is pretty good, specialty drinks are fun and tasty, but service is pretty hit-or-miss. A couple times I've had excellent service, but most of the time it's pretty crappy.
(3)
Brittany G.
Food was pretty good and the beer selection was great. The service was standard, but above average, if that makes sense. I really liked the burger I got (Angry Louie) and the fries were awesome. This is a great place if you want something out of the ordinary.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Tue, Wed, Thu Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Farah R.
Every time I visit Grand Rapids, I always come to Bar Louie. However, I've always made it in time for happy hour, not really for dinner. They have an excellent happy hour menu and really tasty appetizers. Their beer selection is good and I'm also glad that they have a wide variety of mixed drinks. I had a martini called Dulce de Leche (it was seasonal). I don't care much for sweet alcoholic beverages, but this one actually blew me away. It was delicious. I got standard fare for appetizers, such as buffalo wings and sliders and they were well-executed. All food came out hot and fresh. Again, I can't tell you much about the dinner menu, but lunch/happy hour here is awesome. The servers are prompt and friendly as well. If you're looking for good drinks, good music and a good vibe, this is the perfect place to visit.
(4)Mike M.
It's so disappointing when you travel, and with high hopes, go to a new restaurant and get so disappointed. I recently went to this Bar Louie in Grand Rapids after I looked at their menu online. Seemed like a great place to satisfy a craving for some unhealthy food and a beer or two. I ordered pretzel sticks, which were quite good! For my entree I ordered the baked mac 'n cheese, with chicken. When it came out, it was horrible...not baked and the ckicken pieces appeared to be frozen then heated up. The "baked" mac 'n cheese was literally cooked pasta with cheese sauce from a jar poured into it. It was more like pasta with a runny cheese soup. I sent it back. I then ordered the voodoo chicken, which is chicken, andouille sausage, rice and veggies. When this came out, the chicken was a small portion of a chicken breast. The andouille sausage, wasn't andouille sausage...it was polish sausage sliced up. The rice was simply a white rice, leavnig the 6-7 strips of veggies as the highlight. All of this was sitting in a platter with some sort of a creamy white soup. It looked so bad I took a picture of it and sent it to my friends and wife. If I can upload pics hee, I will The wrong sausage made it toally salty. I sent that back too. So, I ordered another beer, and left hungry. The manager and staff were accomodating and understanding. They said that they don't order the food the restaurant gets. I recommend to all of you that you don't order the food there either. I know I won't be.
(1)Danielle H.
Tried to eat here for lunch. I sat for about 10 min before anyone greeted me. After I was greeted from across the room, the server continued to help tables get drinks that were there well after me. I walked out. No one cared. I served for seven years. I'm not fussy. I get the challenges. When it's dead and I can't even get someone to bring me a water, that's pretty bad.
(1)Sean C.
Normally I have a great experience at Bar Louie in Grand Rapids art Woodland Mall but today they had the "music " so loud that I couldn't even hear people around me, so I asked bartender if she could adjust volume a little .. But NO.. It's "company policy" to have it at that volume... There is a classic case of lack of customer service.. No wonder there was only 6 people in whole bar and it was packed at the bar next door. If you go during the afternoon, then that company policy isn't in effect and the atmosphere is great. Have a beer and watch the people go buy. The potstickers are very good, beer is cold and they have a great selection.
(3)Steve S.
really good food, very clean place, it doesn't even feel like your in a mall which is pretty cool. I'd say this is the best spot to grab some food and a drink when your at woodland.
(4)Kate L.
Very great bar tender most nights, friendly service, good food, Great location! Bucket of beers and tator tots!!
(5)Walker V.
Having a great time here at Bar Louie - Kelly my bartender is taking excellent care of me. Smiles and grins - lets have another.... Glad Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA is on Tap from Bend OR. Music is current and hip too...
(5)Britta M.
Well... this was my first time at Bar Louie, and honestly I'm already looking forward to going back. Easy parking, the atmosphere was perfect.. it could be somewhere you dress up and bring the girls (or guys) to on the weekends or just grab a casual drink after work. Their outdoor patio is awesome too, it was raining when we went there but I'd love to sit out by the heaters. Their appetizers were... amazing. Calamari, buffalo chicken flatbread, and their chicken quesadillas. All of them awesome, and generous portions. I was thrilled. Watch out for their happy hours too, amazing 1/2 off pricing on most of them! Their Long Island was legit and had a great taste, we had a pitcher of the sangria and will definitely get that again! Reasonable drink pricing as well with specials during happy hours. Love it!
(5)Marie S.
Ordered the shrimp lettuce wraps and a berry mojito. The lettuce wraps were much soupier than I expected, but that was based on my own expectations, not anything told me by the restaurant. They were delicious -- definitely had a kick to them, but worth every single bite. Hubby drooled when he had a bite with the spicy mustard on them. The berry mojito was out of this world! So much so that I'm perfecting my recipe to make them for our Fourth of July festivities!
(5)Macland L.
Great Location in the summer to just chill out be by Woodland Mall. Good beer and cocktail selections and awesome specials for happy hour w/ $3 beers and half off appetizers. Then there is $1 burger Tuesday! $1 gets you full size great quality beef/chicken/turkey burger w/ lettuce then you can just add as you go. There are a few great servers but sometimes the service is slow. Overall, a great place to hang out for drinks or dinner.
(4)Mike L.
The prices for drinks are Ridiculous here. They charged me 10.00 for a mixed drink..Peach Lightning. Will not come here again!!!
(1)Maurice F.
Grabbed a few $1 burgers and some beer. The beer deals and Tuesday $1 burgers make it a great place for groups. Staff was great and had a great overall experience. Came for the Heat game and the atmosphere was very welcoming. I'll be frequenting the bar more for games.
(4)Carla C.
Bar Louie isn't the typical chain restaurant. I visit them monthly for happy hour with friends, and have never been disappointed. The summer is great also because they have outside seating (how often can you enter a restaurant from the shopping mall, and have the option to eat/drink outdoors?). One of my favorite things to eat at B.L. is their Hummus Plate (it's very reasonable and honestly is big enough for a meal).
(4)Zach W.
The rat pack drink I ordered was amazing. The service was exceptional. In addition I was sat at a table under a mural of the rat pack. All in all, awesome experience and I highly recommend the rat pack. Classy stuff.
(5)Adrianne B.
In the past, other states' Bar Louie locations we've visited have been above-average; on that reputation alone, we decided to try the Woodland Mall site when we were shopping in the area on a Sunday afternoon. First off- the place was *not* busy and the hostess stand's sign indicated that you ought to seat yourself. So as we rounded the corner and went up the stairs to the main dining area, 3/4 of the tables were dirty and covered in dining detritus from previous patrons. Only one other table was occupied! There were 2 booths open and (relatively) clean. Sat down and the first and the table was uneven, wobbly, and couldn't have been fixed with a mere Sweet n Low packet! We relocated to the adjacent booth that had a slightly sticky tabletop and hadn't been set up with place settings. Our waitress was very nice and did greet us in a reasonable amount of time. Drinks took longer than they should have, especially seeing as there were about 3 people at the bar and maybe 3 other tables the entire time we were there. Which, by the way, was also how long those other dirty tables adjacent to us STAYED DIRTY. The only things the waitresses picked up from them were the black receipt books. Libation-wise, I ordered from the seasonal menu and had the Whiskey Smash and the Orange Bubbly Sangria-- solid, well-mixed drinks, but would it kill them to list the prices on the menu? I had a little bit of sticker shock when the bill arrived :0 The waitress did not set up our table so hubs grabbed the clean place settings from another table. Our food, which took longer than it should have, was so-so. Husband's medium burger was well-done. Child had the tortilla soup (a Bar Louie fave) and the presentation was careless with a half, barely-sliced avocado on top. The summer special Brisket Sliders were enjoyable, but thought were overpriced in comparison to the portion size and past Bar Louie fare. All told, this would have been a three-star review, but as we sat and had our meal, we noticed a couple walk in, see the dirty tables, mill around for a few moments, then leave in exasperation. Another party of two arrived and the young woman RAISED HER HAND in an attempt to politely signal to the server and was ignored for over five minutes. As we were tabbing out, our waitress came by to attend to the raised-hand table, then picked up our check, and then LASTLY, ignored a brand new table on her way to the kitchen/posi. Waitressing 101 fail! I stopped by the ladies' restroom before leaving. On the walk there, I encountered a bucket in the middle of the floor with a few inches of dirty water and a couple of rags submerged in it. WHY?! Ugh. The ladies' room itself was not recently cleaned and had paper and grime on the floor. Insult to injury, on the way out the door, I noticed the Bar Louie kids' menus sitting on the hostess stand. We were never offered or brought one, despite have a preschooler in our party. Was it an off day? Were they short-staffed? Were they taken over by body snatchers? We'll never know because we probably won't be back.
(2)Jake D.
Always a different experience when visiting here. Was there this past weekend for a quick beer. Place was slow but service was lacking. Kayla our bartender was ok. Until she went to throw a dirty napkin away and ended up hitting me (who was sitting on the opposite side Of the bar) and literally just looked at me and went on with what she was doing. She then very obviously had Someone else take care of Use till we left. Clearly Kayla doesn't need the business.
(2)Jenny Y.
Loved the ambiance, with the comfy booths and dark furniture. The waitress was friendly and the cocktails were decent. Cocktails we tried included: Louie's Sangria: Cruzan Black Cherry, DeKuyper Amaretto, Canyon Road Merlot, fresh lemon, lime and orange juices, Sprite (by the glass or pitcher) - this was light, yummy, and refreshing Orange Mule: Absolut Mandrin, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, lime juice, topped with ginger beer - this was a nice twist to the traditional Moscow Mule Angry Sailor: Sailor Jerry, DeKuyper Amaretto, pure cane syrup, lime juice, topped with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider - this was one of my favorites, as Angry Orchard is my typical drink of choice, and I've never tasted it combined with other ingredients. I was very impressed! As an appetizer, we enjoyed the Chicken Nachos, which consisted of grilled chicken, queso, black beans, fresh jalapeño, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips. These nachos were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening here at Bar Louie, but it unfortunately ended on a sour note. When we received our check from the waitress, we noticed that we were charged for a pitcher of sangria instead of the mere glass that was ordered. Of course, we pointed this out to the waitress, who mentioned three times, that this would be corrected. After the credit card was run, we looked at the receipt and noticed that the pitcher of sangria had still been charged. Annoyed, we asked the waitress about this, and she said that she was in a rush to get out of there in order to get to a friend's party, and must have forgotten. (She didn't apologize or anything). She finally corrected the mischarge and walked away. We were still shocked that this had happened, and were left with a sour taste in our mouths. Be sure to double check your bill when you come here to make sure that you were charged correctly!
(3)Michael B.
Good food, nice menu. However the service was slooooow! In addition we noticed very dirty lights and railings. I doubt they have done a complete top to bottom cleaning in the dining area in a year or more. The lights had bugs in them. Would probably not go back
(1)Derrick V.
I went on the night they had $1 burgers. I honestly can say that I loved that burger which was a turkey with guacamole. The simple flavor was delicious and the size of burger was quite bigger compared to what I thought I was going to get. I ended up having two and they were great! It was a nice chill atmosphere and great for a small group or just to go and chat with someone. I went that night because I heard the burger deal was going on and I wanted somewhere to watch the 2nd half of a sports event. Overall I'd say that I will be back to this location in the near future.
(4)Meg K.
Food is average, calamari was over cooked and nachos were cold and had a pool of cheese wiz and black beans on top a bed of crushed nacho chips. Tap selection is underwhelming, won't be back.
(2)Kori Y.
Well we had a "trainee" waitress, so I have to cut a little slack, however her "trainer" was hovering right behind her and the service was still very slow. I hate it when I have to ask to have my water refiled. I'm guessing id I had a beer, I'm sure they would have been trying to bring me another one by the time I was halfway through. Food was pretty good and fresh, but the poor service overshadowed it. Try the Chicken Nachos.
(2)Sheryl R.
Regional VP and on-site managers need to improve training and impose rules AND do some basic upgrading! Have been 5X over 8 wks. Dec 15, 2014 was the worst! Server ignored my empty glass for 15 min while she walked all over bar talking. I had to practically grab her after she delivered 2 beers to adjoining table and prepared to ignore us again! Place was SLOW, few patrons so no excuse!. Then gave server a $100 bill on a $34.60 tab then waited n waited and she never brought change! Asked for it after about 10 minutes thinking she was waiting for change from mngmt. She claimed she'd rung bill from register, had not seen my $100! Then brought change still 40 cents short! The $100 was completely concealed in the billing wallet....no way without looking to know if I'd used credit card or cash! Staff typically rounds up bill and keeps all change. It is not the 40 Cents BUT FACT THAT IT SHOULD BE MY CHOICE ON AMOUNT OF TIP! See other patrons had same trouble with their bill! Many drinks are overpriced at $10....Beware and ASK YOUR SERVER IF YOU DON'T SEE A PRICE ON IT! This is NOT a high end fine dining establishment warranting these prices in Grand Rapids, MI. Upper level dining tables have VERY sticky surfaces, desperately need a surface refinish and leveling which MANAGEMENT IGNORES (for over 2 years? Come on!) EVERY patron complains about them! ON THE GOOD SIDE: the calamari is always well cooked! The loaded tots are hot n tasty. Bravo to the cooks! The specials and happy hour are the best reason to continue going there. The place has old bar retro feel and potential but needs serious attention.
(2)Stacy E.
3 of us had dinner last night about 5pm it's too bad the service sucked because the food was good. The server didn't really seem interested in her job. She was never visible after leaving our table, she refilled my empty water only after I was done eating, & I never got the drink that I ordered. I could have asked her to refill my water or request my drink but I feel that she knows her job & she doesn't feel like working, it will reflect in her tip. It was dead in there & dirty tables through out. She didn't take advantage of the few tables she had, sometimes it's not the quantity of tables but the quality of service that makes tips.
(2)Dustin S.
Grabbed a beer with a few co-workers yesterday after work, needless to say I probably will not go back. The service was just OK at best. Beer tasted fine but had to ask for an orange with my blue moon after it was already served.
(2)Tyler K.
Nice atmosphere. Decent menu. Got the brisket sliders and had to send back they were so tough. Reordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was decent. Waitress was great. I will come back again.
(3)Elyse A.
I am typically not a fan of chain restaurants, however, Bar Louie is the exception. My cousin and I stopped in on Saturday evening around 5pm after some shopping. We were able to get a seat at the (large) bar and watch the MSU game. The seats we chose did not have a great view of any of the TV's with our game on, the bartender was kind enough to switch on for us so we had a better view. The service was good! Prompt and very accommodating. The food was really good and came out at a decent amount of time. Love the large selection of beers- great selection of local craft brews, too! Always a plus. I would recommend this place for a good meal or a drink after shopping!
(4)Amanda L.
So most people wouldn't think a chain restaurant in a mall is a good place for a happy hour. That is incorrect. Because when it comes to Bar Louie, happy hour in a mall works out great. There is a separate entrance so you don't actually have to go through the mall to get your table. Granted parking sucks some days because you are fighting the normal shoppers for spots, but typically I can find something relatively close. Atmosphere is important and this place makes it work. Think dark wood, high ceilings, small high top tables in the bar area, and cozy booths around the edges. You can eat dinner here without being distracted by the bar, and vice versa. Given that it's easy to find on 28th Street, I often suggest Bar Louie for happy hours and lunches. Summers are the best because they have a patio area open that almost doubles their resturant capacity. The staff is always fun and upbeat to boot. Can't go wrong with a stop here!
(4)Kellysue H.
The beer selection is wonderful and the food is good and well priced. I Would feel comfortable to recommend Bar Louie to anyone. Is it the greatest restaurant ever no, but it is a great place to come a grab a bite. The menu has some great salads and flat breads if you want something other then a burger.
(3)Moon J.
Fish Tacos are the best! Besides that, Tuesday nights are my FAV! $1 Burger Night! It gets busy but it's worth the wait. Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm. $3 Drafts, $4 Wine, and $5 Martinis. And 1/2 off select appetizers. During the summer, sitting on the patio is a great way to enjoy a meal, relax, and people watch! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars...on occasion it takes forever and a day to get your food. They may only have one working stove. Overall, I like the food, menu selection, and atmosphere. The previous reviewers were right about the $$ being a little more than other restaurants. But it's worth it. If you want cheap food, go to Applebee's and get a free tummy ache on the house.
(4)Jeff T.
This place is pretty good for happy hour, daily specials, and good drinks. Not sure that the food is at a price point where I feel that I am getting my monies worth. I understand the mall prices but they really should offer a late night menu for those who are more into hanging out and making this a local hangout. The burger night is still my favorite night to go. They got rid of their dart board, probably from lack of use. The clientele is 22-40 depending on the night. Great place to mingle, huge main bar, with a second one for a little more privacy. However, if I'm into just drinking late night, I usually stick to Uccello's across the street.
(3)Charlie S.
Great martinis! Happy hour is quite good and they do have $1 Burger night on Tuesday. I enjoy the twist on food though it is a bit expensive for what you get. I suggest trying the loaded tots if you are looking for a cheesy-spicy carb overload. They are fabulous and disappear before you know it. My other favorite is the bruschetta; it is very fresh!
(4)Todd S.
Had a flatbread. Good, but a lttle expensive.
(3)Jen B.
Meh. Food is decent, beer selection is pretty good, specialty drinks are fun and tasty, but service is pretty hit-or-miss. A couple times I've had excellent service, but most of the time it's pretty crappy.
(3)Brittany G.
Food was pretty good and the beer selection was great. The service was standard, but above average, if that makes sense. I really liked the burger I got (Angry Louie) and the fries were awesome. This is a great place if you want something out of the ordinary.
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