This place is terrible! I went around 1:00 am and it was so crowded you literally could not move! Â We were told at the door that there was a 5 dollar cover... And they only take cash, we didn't have cash, so we were directed to an ATM on the 2nd floor. Our Ids were held at this point and we were told if we did not return in a timely fashion they would not be returned (pretty sure THAT'S illegal but...) Upon entering the building, all of the stairs were closed, so EVERYONE in the club was required to use one 18 person elevator. Â The club was not managing the elevator and at least 3 times the weight limit worth of people were packing in every time the doors opened. Â When we decided to leave, the bouncers only let you out one door. Â It took us 30 minutes just to get outside! Â In addition to a very rude staff of bouncers, This place is a fire and safety hazard and should absolutely be shut down!
Review Source:The BOB - 'Big Old Building' - Went here for a wedding reception.. really fun times for the most part. It's in an area with alot of college people, or so I'm told.. and that definitely added to the madness of the place. It was a very fun time though. With something like 4 or 5 levels.. we were on the top level that has been designed to accommodate parties such as wedding parties. Nice open space, room for a bar and a dance floor.
I ventured down to the lower floors to check out the bar scene and the live music playing. There were alot of people dining and even a comedy club going on one of the upper floors. Everyone in the place seemed to be having a great time and that added to a really fun atmosphere.
If and when I am back in Grand rapids, I will stop by the BOB.
I was only here once but it was fun. I like how there are multiple types of bars in one building. There is something for everyone here. They do have a dress code but nothing that is too hard to comply with. Like any other bar you will find some dbags here but that is to be expected. I'll go back next time i'm out in GR.
Review Source:The B.O.B. is pretty standard for a bar if you like to go dancing. There's also a good venue on the middle floor for a live band, but unfortunately, the night I was there, the band wasn't the main attraction so it was pretty slow. Overall, the energy you get is the age group of people right out of college who like to party. If that's what you're looking for, it's perfect! If not, well then, Founders is right down the road.
Review Source:This place has very cool environment, since it's divided into different stories with different stuff you can get. The food was ok, nothing to be impressed. They do have a very diverse fusion-type food selection. Whether or not you will love the food will depend on whether you like fusion or authentic.
Review Source:This is for Gilly's. Â We've been here a few times and the food had aways been great. Â This time wasn't the best. Â Was a little disappointed that they couldn't find a way to keep the butter warm for my lobster. Â Also we sat in the corner and with a fan blowing above I could have kept my coat on. Â
A plus this time was we ordered onion rings. Â I think they came from the steakhouse in the next room over and they were totally awesome! Â Â
We also had good service and that sometimes is hard to come by. Â So we will be back again I'm sure.
Hint ~ call ahead and make a reservation.
I was a little worried reading the reviews, but since this is a mufti-dimensional eatery/entertainment center it is hard to judge. Our family was visiting Grand Rapids on a Saturday afternoon so we were here for lunch.
We were quickly seated, offered drinks and ordered appetizers. Not too long after, our sandwiches and burgers  were delivered.
I found it kind of odd we parked in the (empty) side lot and then were asked to move our car two spots over, but whatever, we could have been in someone's favorite spot ;)
i know this place has several outlets but this is referring to the steakhouse ONLY.
i was really impressed with this place till i got the steaks.
i went as part of a corporate function aka we ordered out the ying yang
appetizers were amazing. locally grown cheese, locally made crackers, the jumbo shrimp were amazing, the crab cakes were great, and a fourth item i can't remember. great top to bottom. oh also the bread was amazing as was the rich butter. i love carbs like a fat kid loves cake
steak was not as impressed to be honest. very flavorful but not very tender. maybe thats how ribeyes are supposed to be??? its been a while since i had ribeyes but not tender. the sweet potato was weird looking. it was shaved of its skin then placed on a small serving dish. presentation needs to be fished. the fingerling potatoes were great.
the food and menu seemed like a four star however the staff was more 3 star - more casual than youd expect by looking at the menu and prices. the menu does not do the food justice. they source a lot of things locally which is impressive.
JEANS: not sure but i would imagine ok by the whole craziness of the building
ORDER: Wait staff.
2.5 Stars
Douche bag magnet, especially in Crush.
Very discriminatory dress code in Crush.
Good brewery.
Comedy club can be a good time.
Service can be good, but can also be f'ing awful.
Bouncers are complete idiot douche bags.
Fun place to people watch.
Douche bag magnet, especially in Crush.(This really needs to be said twice)
The Gilmore Collection is good at a few things, namely ripping off concepts from restaurants in big cities and expanding their small restaurant empire without adequately training their staff. The B.O.B. can be an enjoyable experience, but it can also be a douche bag laden nightmare. Proceed  at your own risk.
I have heard about The BOB for years from my college friends. Â I'd probably really like going there if I lived in Grand Rapids. Â We didn't get to experience the bar scene since my group was only there for the Comedy Club. Â We were part of a Bachelorette party.
The club was dark, lots of people, and had good comedians for a local place. Â The jokes were pretty funny, we laughed a lot. Â The downfall was I ordered a vodka cranberry.....it was $9.50. Â ONE DRINK. Â I was a little annoyed with this especially since I didn't ask for Absolut, and that's what I got apparently. Â Our waitress had too many tables and couldn't locate us easily so I didn't argue. Â Would not drink there the next time due to cost. Â
One loud lady also fell off her bar stool after being too wasted to sit.....caused a ruckus. Â The show was shorter than I thought it was supposed to be too. Â I might go back if I have to pay my own way next time. Â Nothing too special though. Â I might just stick to the 3 floors of bars next time.
Not to be a snotty bitch (Okay, I really don't care) but anyone who gives this place four stars or more, is. A. TOOL (I can't really comment on the food so if you actually went & had a nice dinner, I don't count you.)
Too bad they don't have the 'Tool' option along with ( ) Useful, ( ) Funny, ( ) Cool. Terrible staff, terrible prices, terribly loud, terribly gaudy, terrible homebrews(!), and terrible clientele. Avoid. End of story.
I wasn't super thrilled about this place. Â It is a building with multiple stories and multiple venues inside of it ranging from a comedy club to a top floor hall to use for bigger events. Â This weekend was the second time that I have come here and the second time I just wasn't that impressed. Â Don't get me wrong, we were in Eve, which is the upstairs hall and it was very beautiful. Â I just am not impressed with their food or drinks. Â Although I know it's one of the best places in Grand Rapids to host events.
Nothing really stood out and being bad or good so I would consider this place just okay.
This place is a big building with multiple venues inside. Think of it as an inlet mall (opposite of outlet) and it has stores within that bigger building.
My first time coming here was for a bar-hopping bachelorette party. I'm unsure as to what day it was, but we had purchased wrist bands in advance to guarantee our entrance into all parts of this place. Â We get there and our bracelets just didn't work. We were told that they are too busy and crowded that we have to wait in line like everyone else. Tell me that isn't B.S. Â We ended up leaving as the lines were ridiculous and we weren't there to just scope out the scene, we were there to help a girlfriend celebrate. It was disappointment that night.
A second time I came here, it was only by second choice. Â Initially we were suppose to go to another bar but they were whack as they made people wait outside in winter for 2-3 hours with the line not budging as they were trying to hype up the bar. WHACK. Anyhow, when we were here a second time, the place was just awful. It was so crowded that you were touching the other person's shoulder. Not only that, but there were definitely weirdos there. What is up with people trying to look good for the club and end up ruining their get-up because of the massive amounts of sweats from grinding...
It's not like I have been to man places in Grand Rapids night-life, but I heard the B.O.B. was suppose to be the place to go and have some "fun". Both times for me was unpleasant. Anyone else feel this way or is it just me hating?
Ok, I'm mixed.
I don't like the Crush atmosphere or dance crowd, I love Eve. I like Dr. Grins, depending on who is in town. I love Gilly's and Bobarino's... Monkey Bar not so much.
I love LOVE the ceviche served at Gilly's, along with the steamed pork buns. Their ceviche is light and zesty, while the pork buns are heavy and sweet and horribly/wonderfully tasty. They also had this riotously wonderful seasonal beer from Winter that I never got the name of... and then there is their perfectly dessert PB&K martini.
Gilly's has the best kid's menu in all of GR, in my opinion! They cater to kid's tastebuds and the parent's desires for a healthier option - and conquer both in one fell swoop! Although they have ingenious offerings like PB&J sushi and organic beef mini and pickle pop, they also have such delightfully delish and surprisingly kid pleasing options like Grilled Salmon and an organic mac&cheese with salad.
Bobarino's has a tasty menu as well. My favorite is the spinach and artichoke dip - for when I want something creamy, salty, cheesy, and comforting to go with my pear sangria. The great thing about Bobarino's is that they are open for lunch... and lunch is so reasonably priced - around $6.99 for either their salad, pizza, and pasta bar, or 1/2 a sandwich and cup of soup.
Finally, don't forget their happy hour - where they have a wonderful selection of foods (and drinks), including pizzalettes and steamed pork buns, for only $1.99.
One of the few lone spots in this god forsaken place. I lived only about 13 months in Grand Rapids, and The B.O.B was the only place worth spending money on a weekend.
The Big Old Building used to be an old warehouse, has been converted to a mutliplex housing couples of good restaurants, a live music bar, a nightclub and a comedy club. A lot of good choices and my favourite thing to do on a saturday was to eat at Gills and then go upstairs to Boberinos. They have some good bands on weekends. If you are not into that there are plenty of pool tables and air hockey tables to have a good time.
Not a fan.
We went here after a concert last Saturday to get some food (none of us had eaten). The place has a full menu, and it was 10:30 pm, and our server (who was rude) tells us that they only serve pizza after 10. Sorry, I don't get it. If you have a full kitchen, and a full menu, why do you only serve pizza after 10? So weird.
Not to mention, there was a tent on our table with a "Late night menu" featuring all kinds of different things... So, they should probably take those off the table :)
Anyway, we got pizza, and it was just okay. Overpriced, rude staff, and weird rules. :)
This is for Gilly's - for dinner
I was here a little over a year ago (I remember it being called Gills, but the website shows different now). Â Stayed at the Days Inn just across the river in downtown, and went here for dinner one night, and it was very very good. Â Had a seared Ahi Tuna app, bacon wrapped scallops, oysters (they had Kumamoto's this night), and the Mustard Pretzel Crusted Walleye. Â I was there early on a week night, it wasn't crowded, and the server, bartender, and the manager were all very friendly. Â All the food was great.
This is for Gills Blue Crab
Went for my boyfriend's birthday and it was spectacular! We went for the free birthday lobster dinner and we had a great experience! We ordered some oysters to start, which were fresh and delicious. Then we split the lobster bisque, which was good. He got his lobster dinner, which they don't skimp on at all and I got the pasta dish which was also very good. The service was amazing and I can't say anything bad about this place. The mojitos here are excellente! Enjoy!
If you'll notice, most of the bad reviews mention Crush Nightclub (which is what you'd expect for a loud, dance club). Â If you just avoid that one tumor of the B.O.B. it is an amazing establishment. Â
You can start the night with a drink on the second story outside terrace, head to a comedy show to ease in the night with decent prices given the situation and then finish the night with a wide variety of free range bars on many different floors of the BOB. Â Great amount of lounging area so it's never over crowded and a great place to meet many friends. Â
It's great to go on Thursdays in my experience. Â The B.O.B. is my favorite downtown destination to date.
I've been to The BOB a couple of times, but only to two of their restaurants, so I can honestly only rate it based on those two: Bobarinos and Gills Blue Crab Lounge.
Bobarinos:
Eh. Whatever I got there wasn't memorable. So...not really good or really bad. Just moderate. The garlic and chicken pizza that my girlfriend got was good though. Sort of expensive for just decent-good food.
Food: 1.5 / 5
Price: $$-$$$
Gills:
While I'm not sure what I got as a main course, this time I actually remember it being delicious! I did get Lobster Bisque, which was heavenly. My cousin definitely got the Mustard Pretzel Walleye which was sooooooooo good and a friend got a monthly special that was also wonderfully awesome.
Food: 4.5 / 5
Price: $$$ (especially if you get drinks)
Also, while I haven't been to Crush, I've heard really bad things about it from friends that make me glad I never went there.
I can appreciate that the B.O.B. has a comedy club, restaurants, and a dance club all in one building. It would be nice if they were places I could enjoy. The comedy club is alright at best, and I can't eat at the restaurants being vegan.
As far as the dance club, Crush, Â it is horrendous. The dress code is ridiculous. No flip flops, no holes in the jeans, and I have heard stories from my friends about people who dress more "urban", but yet still meeting the ridiculous dress code being turned away. Way to discriminate, douche bags.
Speaking of douche bags, that's what this club is full of. Think frat boys in pink button down shirts with collars popped. They didn't even offer a free drink on my 21st birthday, which was the only time I made the mistake of going here.
Other gripes:
1. My friend and I were dancing on the stage, and they made him get down solely because men weren't allowed up there. They only want scantily clad women dancing on stage. Right.
2. My other friend from out of town was escorted out a door by a bouncer - ridiculous guys who look like secret service agents running around enforcing these "rules" - which led into a back alley, and they shut the door behind him. Not having a phone and not knowing where he was, he was forced to walk back to our hotel and wait for us.
3. I know someone else who worked at one of the restaurants and asked to be transferred down to the bar. She was told that she didn't have the image they were looking for - i.e., she was maybe 10 pounds overweight. Again, the sad tale of discrimination.
4. They still charge cover ($5!) at 1 AM. You'd think they would just want people to come in at that point in the evening. Even worse, the douche-bag bouncer offered to let us in for free if he "saw some boobs". I kid you not. That really happened.
Crush is basically a cesspool designed to get frat boys laid to the beat of top 40 music. No thanks.
I am visiting Grand Rapids at what is the coldest time of the year and the coldest time anyone can remember. When I heard about The B.O.B., right across from my hotel I had to check it out. Where else can you browse through a few restaurants to decide what you want to eat, chose to see  a comedy show, check out a local band, drink and dance the night away?
At the moment I am making use of the "BOBnet" free WiFi while drinking my lemon drop at B.O.B.'s Brewery while all warm and toasty.
The crowd is young, the vibe is lively, my drink is good, and I don't think the walk across the street will be as bad as the one here.
Way to go Grand Rapids for impressing me with The B.O.B.
This restaurant was way better than I was expecting! The atmosphere was fun and lively. Every time I have been to The B.O.B. I have always had a great time. We were on the second floor at the restaurant called Bobarino's. They offered all kinds of food. I went with my family and we all ordered a dinner, then shared it with everyone. We got the steak pot roast, chicken bacon panini, chicken Parmesan, prime rib panini, and the chicken kabobs. We also got a few desserts, all were delicious. We received great service as well. Overall, it was an excellent experience.
Review Source:This review is specifically about Gill's Blue Crab Lounge at the Bob. Â
I don't think I have ever had a real dinner here, but I've come often enough to try a fair amount of the offerings. Â
I tend to meet friends in the bar area after work for cocktails and appetizers. Â Its easy to rack up quite a tab, but its a great way to unwind after work. Â
One of the best places in GR for oysters, they always have a decent supply of east coast and pacific varieties. Â Actually, I don't think I've ever really had anything bad here. Â The frog legs are fantastic, and so are the sesame honey prawns, but again, its been tough to go wrong.
I gave it four out of five because its very good, but not overwhelmingly impressive. Â Maybe thats just my familiarity though.
Dear Grand Rapids,
I'm glad that you're growing into a bustling metro area but please do something about the tourist traps, namely B.O.B. Right across the way from the Van Andel area, hordes of freshly 21 year-olds, infrequent downtown goers, cougars and manthers (gross old men) alike, Â flock to this place in search of a good time. Â Okay not hordes but enough to dampen a night on the town. The only reason I would go here is to meet up with a friend, an office party , the comedy club or if I'm showing an out of towner around.
I wanted to give you 2/5 stars but I do remember having good times...when I was 21.
All the best,
l
B.O.B. = Big Old Building
There are 4? floors of food goodness and a club. This place is AWESOME on Halloween!
I was just here on Wednesday. The menu had alot of great items but I just ordered a salad and it was great! ...I stole a couple of calamari rings from my friend that were divine.
They have deep booths for parties of eight, which is fun. Overall a nice place to go.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
