This place was okay at best. Â I came here with my other coworkers on a Wednesday. Â They did have a special for everyday of the week so when we went, it was 50% off all drinks and about a handful of food for $4 each.
It was pretty busy and I don't know if it was because of the Kid Rock concert nearby but it was pretty busy. Â Our food took awhile to come out, but we did get appetizers which was chips and either spinach or chicken with cheese dip. Â Those were not bad in my opinion.
I ordered the Pulled Pork with fries from the $4 menu. Â The Pulled Pork was not good to me and they have me gravy instead of BBQ sauce. Â The fries were pretty good and probably the best thing I had out of everything I tried here. Â I think if it weren't for the $4 menu, then it might not be worth it for the Pulled Pork.
Overall, this would be good bar food if you've had a few drinks but that's about it.
I have never eaten here before, nor have drank here other then on Friday nights...
That being said, it is a fun place to be on Friday as they have a special on each floor (3 floors).
Basement- PBR & jager $5
Middle- Jar of Oberon (or some wheat beer) $5
Top floor- Corona & tequlia, this is my favorite as I like to load the corona. Drink a quarter of it then dump in your tequlia shot. $5
This is the best bet for drinking downtown cheap in GR on a Friday (aside from maybe Bdubs after 9pm)
Drink specials on Wednesday night are amazing, but the food SUCKS. I have been there many many times for Half off Weds, and every time I order something different to eat. I have never been excited while eating it.... even drunk. The banana dessert burrito looks like baby poop and a crusty diaper. The 4 dollar appetizers  are just GFS food, poorly put together, with no flavor what-so-ever. They need a revamp bad.
Ill go crazy on the drinks there, they are awesome, but the food makes we want to walk down the street to Ritz Coney to grab a dog.
Food is good and at a fair price. Â Usually has good beer specials if you don't mind drinking out of a jar. Â I enjoy the basement level because it is usually not to busy down there. Â But also enjoy the main level and top floor, each one has their own different vibe. Â The last time I went with a group no one really liked their appatizers (sinich dip, bufflo dip). But the pita and humas was good. Â I tired all of the appatizers ordered and they tasted fine to me. Â I ordered a burger at the bar once and the service was great and quick, the food potion was generous.
Review Source:Props for a great NYE experience downtown! We had to steal chairs from upstairs in order to accommodate a group of 10 (and later 12) in the basement, but that's fine. Our waitress was incredibly attentive given how busy it was there, and cover was a reasonable $10, which came with free tiny champagne bottles. One thing that seemed to surprise other patrons was that if you came in before cover, you couldn't leave to smoke or you had to pay to get back in. Seems reasonable, since it would be impossible for the guy outside to tell who was a smoker and who was sneaking in. I didn't love the pretzel bites, kinda dry, but the waffle fries were good and the drinks were great: strong enough, and arriving speedily.
Review Source:I've always liked Gardella's. Â Great atmosphere, staff, good - they have it all. Â
Their French Dip is wonderful. Â So are the onion rings.
Not the brightest waitstaff at times. Â We've had some real ditzes serve us in the past. Â One time we sat at a table and waited, waited, waited and finally the gal came over to take our order - then realized that she hadn't brought us menus.
Another time a young lady tried to impress by memorizing the order. Â She came back two more times to confirm things. Â I would have rather she just wrote it down - makes it a lot easier.
But regardless - great food and very friendly people. Â Good times will be had.
Ate there with my family and some friends. Most of the food we ordered was made wrong. My Mediterranean wrap was just hummus with none of the vegetables or lamb I asked for. The chicken strips we ordered for the kids came to the table as Quesadillas for some reason. The nacho bean dip also tasted like BBQ sauce, a culinary mystery that's sure to go unanswered.
Our waitress ignored us for most of the night. She didn't give us refills, and I had to go behind the counter to get silverware for everybody.
The final bill was also very expensive, considering we didn't have to pay for the wrap.
Considering the sheer number of taverns I passed on the way both to and from Gardell's, I have no reason to return there.
As a former restaurant owner from the Chicago area, I've been to and dined at some great places. Â I have extremely high standards and expect a lot!
If you read my other reviews, you'll see I'm pretty tough on food establishments. Â Today was the first time I have been to J Gardella's, so I will update after I go another time or two. Â
What brought me in was a sign out front that said "lunch special: $5 Perch and fries". Â Man was it good! Â I don't believe the fish had been frozen (it seemed fresh), but even if it had been frozen, it was prepared perfectly. Â You get 6 or 7 pieces of fish, a huge mound of waffle fries and coleslaw all for $5! Â Unbelievable! Â
I was so impressed, I forgot to look at the rest of the menu. Â But I will be back and will update my review after I've been a couple more times.
UPDATE: I've been back two more times. Â Once for lunch, once for dinner. Â Both times were fantastic. Â For dinner, I tried their homemade potato chips instead of the waffle fries. Â Wow... they were fantastic. Â I had a cajun burger which was fantastic (a little under cooked, but no big deal for me). Â Chili was very good too, extremely thick and chunky. Â Â
This is one of my favorite places now in GR.
I haven't lived in Grand Rapids for nearly 2 years, but I love Gardellas (especially Wed night 1/2 off - if they still do that!!) Â It was my number 1 go to bar downtown. Â 3 different floors, with different crowds and atmospheres. Â Bartenders, though busy at times, were always very friendly to me and my friends.
I always make a point to pop in when I am back in GR!
I really like Gardella's. Â I've had some good times here.
Upstairs: loungey. Â Street level: tavern/bar with good food and drinks. Â Downstairs: the most fun, good jukebox, bathrooms, crazy environment. Â Use the secret stairs to go up to another floor.
Always better to know people who work here, but even if you don't, this place really has something to offer to someone from every crowd.
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