Scholar,

11 Ionia Avenue Southwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

"The decor is beautiful and classic. The vibes feel like a Gatsby novel. We enjoyed mocktails, the Ora King Salmon, Stuffed Squash, and finished with the cheesecake and chocolate brownie! The plating was very high quality and taste was superb. Nice flavor profile and balance to entrees and well seasoned. Kyle was excellent and attentive as our server. Highly recommend!"

"New place for fine dining in downtown Grand Rapids. Great design with classic style leather chairs. Open space with lots of room between tables. Two bars , one on each floor. Service was friendly and fast. Too fast as a matter of fact. My entree was brought to me while I was only half way through my appetizer. Buffalo meatballs was bland , Buffalo short rib was tasty but was lukewarm when it got to table: reasonable price overall. We will be back to try the rest of the menu soon."

"Had a great experience at Scholar! The ambiance was very pleasant. The food was very good. Corn chowder was exceptional and the bar tender offered up an espresso martini that was not officially on the menu. We ended up sitting at the bar. The front of the house staff told us it would be a 2 hours wait (in reality it would have been much less). The food was right on point but perhaps priced on the high side. However, the quality was such that it was more than worth it. The only disappointment was the apple cobbler. Shared it for dessert and it definitely did not meet the standards of the rest of the meal. Will be back!!"

"This establishment is truly exceptional. Food: Our culinary journey began with Buffalo meatballs, brimming with flavor and complemented by an intriguingly sweet jam. The dish was ideal for two people. The scallops I ordered were impeccably prepared, making the dish stand out. We concluded our meal with a delectable cobbler that left an impression. Drinks: The Old Fashioned stood out distinctly. At many venues, this cocktail can be overly sweet or excessively strong. However, Scholar crafts their drinks with precision, ensuring consistency in every sip. Atmosphere: The establishment boasts a distinctive ambiance across its three levels. The top floor exudes elegance with abundant lighting and an airy design, reminiscent of upscale dining. Descending to the second floor, one finds a slightly dimmer setting accentuated by its expansive bar, embodying a classic fine dining atmosphere. The basement, however, stole my heart. Its speakeasy essence, combined with vintage chairs, bookshelves, and a fireplace, offers a secluded experience. Concluding an evening beside the fire, nursing an Old Fashioned, is pure perfection."

"Had an excellent time tonight trying the new Scholar restaurant, built out of the shell of the old J Gardellas. The space is split between 3 floors, the ground and upper floors are main dining areas while the basement is another bar space with a lounge feel. All 3 floors have an upscale but comfortable vibe that is pretty unique in GR outside of cocktail bars. That's actually a great way to describe the atmosphere at Scholar - a full fledged restaurant that feels like a big cocktail bar. The food is all excellent. Despite being one of their first nights open, everything came out on point. The Vermont Cheddar & Corn soup is a really nice meal starter. The Sockeye salmon was cooked perfectly. I've had salmon served on a wood plank before, but this particular iteration was very good, the taste of the wood was prevalent. The star of the show though was the Bison Short Rib. The meat fell right off the bone and the taste was perfection. Included is also the best potato cake we've ever had. The service was good as well, as fast or slow as you prefer and never pushy. The only thing to note is that the bottom floor, the basement, is not always open."