Text: R. Collins
For many people, New Year’s Eve might feel extra special this year, and since 2021 begins on a Friday, there’s an entire weekend to celebrate the occasion. While the holiday may not be spent surrounded by family and friends this time around, it can certainly include generous portions of favorite libations, treats, and savory tastes that are being offered by the many culinary destinations that dot the neighborhoods of Grand Rapids.
SOLACE Magazine has gathered a list of places where you can get the fixings for both midnight and midday toasts on New Year’s Eve and the day 2021 hits our calendars. From late-night party packs to mimosa supplies for the sunrise and locally, sustainably curated breakfast bites, these restaurants, pubs, and cafes are sure to hit the spot.
Downtown
Tupelo Honey Cafe | 140 Ottawa Ave NW Suite 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
This new addition to the Grand Rapids food scene has southern roots that drive the responsibly sourced makings of dishes like Honey Dusted Fried Chicken and Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken. The North Carolina-based chain uses humanely raised meats free of hormones and sustainably raised farm ingredients with a bent for seasonal fare.
At its Grand Rapids location, Tupelo Honey customers can take ToGo Family Meals that feed two, four, or six on New Year’s Eve, and stock up the day after on brunch items like Fried Chicken & Biscuits or the easy “Old Skool Breakfast Bowl,” which comes packed with fried eggs, seasoned potato cracklins, bacon, salsa, and more laid over heirloom grits with goat cheese. Fortunately, at Tupelo Honey brunch lasts all day, as do its to-go cocktails that serve one, two, or four people.
Kick back with a Southern Hospitality Peach & Pineapple Mimosa or ease into the night with a Debutante Hard Lavender Lemonade. Mix-and-match with Tupelo’s ToGo Family Meals; the four bundles they offer comprise a Sandwich bundle, Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken Family Meal and Honey Dusted Fried Chicken Family Meal—both 18-hour brined and fried chicken dishes—and slow roasted Bourbon Peppercorn Meatloaf, all served with farm fresh sides and biscuits.
Downtown Call Out – Margaux for French brunch classics served a la carte.
West Side
New Holland Brewing Company
The Knickerbocker | 417 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids,
MI 49504 | Holland Brewpub | 66
E 8th Street,
Holland,
MI 49423
For New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, one of Michigan’s most popular brewing companies is serving its knack for celebration-throwing through party packs that serve four to eight people. Customers can partake in New Holland Brewing Company’s fan-favorite soft pretzels and beer cheese at home, as well as cocktail fixings made in-house, from the brewpub’s Beer Barrel Bourbon and Knickerbocker Gin to the Dragon’s Milk Beer Syrup, and even house-made bitters and a classic simple syrup. These packages even include two six-packs of champagne, ice, and garnishes to finish the job.
On New Year’s Day, New Holland has curated the best of its own Bloody Mary bar into a special Bloody Mary pack that includes the brewery’s Lake Life Vodka, Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix, a six pack, and a Bloody Mary Woodsman platter including cured meats, cheeses, garlic-stuffed olives, sweet hottie pickles, candied bacon, celery, and dragon fire spice. The brunch-and-mimosa pack takes a turn to the sweet, with two bottles of champagne, a bottle of pineapple juice and a bottle of orange juice, two 6-packs, and fresh berries and Dragon’s Milk maple syrup to top New Holland’s Take and Bake Brioche French Toast, made from cinnamon-custard, brioche French toast.
The party packs are available for pick up or free local delivery within a 15-mile radius of the Holland or Grand Rapids brewpubs, daily from December 28th through the 31st. The order window closes at noon on the 28th.
West Side Call Out – Westsider Café for a beloved neighborhood cafe serving an immense menu of classic breakfast dishes with a favor for Polish staples.
Eastown
Terra GR Restaurant and Terra Bagels
Terra GR | 1429 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 | Terra Bagels | 1413 Lake Dr. SE Grand Rapids
This holiday season, Terra GR’s Prime Rib Dinner is being offered in time for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with pre-orders currently rolling for same-day pick up on both holidays. The dinner includes à la carte sides like a large Kale Caesar Salad and charcuterie board, and the main dinner is a bouquet of sweet and savory, with prime rib, dinner rolls, shrimp cocktail, green bean casserole, and cheesy au gratin potatoes topped off by Terra’s sweet Turtle Pie.
Those who love brunch in bagel-form also have something to celebrate in Terra Bagels, located nearby. This bagel menu can be dressed up or down and can feed dozens, depending on the order. Order individually or go for the baker’s dozen, or upgrade to a sandwich like Pastrami, Lox, or Butternut Squash.
To make things simple, you can also cater bagels back home and feed 8-to-12 people, with catered offerings like Bagel Chips & Schmears, the Lox Tray, or the Breakfast #Bag Secured, which includes 10 bacon, egg, and cheddar bagel sandwiches. Top it off with a fresh coffee or Nitro Hibiscus Tea supplied by Ferris Coffee Co. and schmears like Chive, Huckleberry, Cashew butter, or Mushroom & Goat Cheese. Whichever Terra iteration you choose, you’ll receive seasonal, sustainable ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors.
Eastown Call Out – Royals for a contemporary American diner serving the classics and an amazing Chicken Pot Pie Soup.
Creston
Lucy’s Café | 1747 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
At Lucy’s Café, brunch has appetizers. Starters like gluten-free donuts, deviled eggs, and house-made cinnamon rolls with bacon whet the palate for hearty classics like the three-egg Crab omelet, Biscuit & Gravy, and Avocado Toast. The brunch menu also delves into smoothie bowl territory and serves up a hot, Corned Beef Pasty for the discerning Michigander.
For another take on Huevos Rancheros, try Lucy’s; it comes with two fried corn tortillas, refried lentils, crispy pork, avocado mash, Franks Vin, pickled red onion, and two eggs. In all, Lucy’s is ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and bakery dining, with a range of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as daily specials featuring fresh, local ingredients.
Creston Call Out – Graydon’s Crossing for a global pub featuring a solid line up of brunch classics.
Belknap
SpeakEZ Lounge | 600 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
This place might be a speakeasy, but it also offers a well-stocked brunch menu in the Belknap area, which includes wraps, benedicts, breakfast platters, sandwiches and a scrumptious plate of crème brûlée French toast. Walk along the river to this brunch destination and take away cocktails to-go like the Suffering Bastard, a SpeakEZ classic offering gin by American Fifth Spirits and orange juice shaken with mint, lime, vanilla, Angostura, and egg white topped with soda. Or drink your brunch with SpeakEZ’s spice-adjustable Bloody Mary blend: a smoked dry spice blend with a healthy dose of Sriracha.
Call Out – Field & Fire Café for a next-door all-day breakfast destination with a passion for the craft of breadmaking and milling organic grain in-house.
