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Mertens Prime, Grand Rapids, MI

Mertens Prime

3.7
3.7
1577 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
35 Oakes St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
Mertens Prime, located in the historic 1914 New Hotel Mertens lobby in Grand Rapids, offers locally sourced, in-house hand-cut steaks, chops, and unique takes on classics. Scratch made kitchen where we make all the pastas and desserts. We have a large selection for vegan & vegetarian.

Prime features a full-service espresso machine and classic pastries like beignets. Guests can enjoy tableside presentations like filet dinner for two, a weekly curated rolling cheese cart, and bananas fosters and creme brulee.

The kitchen is scratch made and we feature many locally sourced products.

The bar top is one of the largest in Grand Rapids and seats 18 guests along with lounge tables. Our bar features a daily happy hour from 4pm-6pm 7 days a week for both food and beverage! Seasonal mocktails available along with many other non-alcoholic offerings.

Mertens Rooftop offers a full bar and a menu of appetizers. To book a reservation at Mertens Rooftop, select "Outdoor Seating", if available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Catering is available for pick up.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer a beautiful private room on our main floor that have all of the turn-of-the-century charm as our main dining room. Mertens Rooftop is also available for private events. See mertensgr.com for details, including complete event guides with menu and pricing options.
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Cross street
    Oakes St SW, between Ionia Ave and Commerce Ave
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available. The closest crossroads are Oakes St. and Commerce Street. The closest parking ramps are Cherry Street Parking Ramp and Weston Parking Ramp. We do not offer parking validation at this time.
  • Public transit
    Oakes & Ionia bust stop
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Bubbles for 2

    $38.00 per party

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Indulge in a beautiful sparkling selection that is just enough for 2 people. This half bottle of wine is great for anniversaries or date nights. Girls night out maybe?
    Bubbles for 2 Photo
  • Dessert Sampler

    $20.00 per party

    Prepaid

    Feb 1, 2025 - Apr 30, 2025
    Enjoy our Flourless Chocolate Torte (GF), Lemon Bar with a luxurious seasonal berry sauce and our Creme Brulee
    Dessert Sampler Photo

What 1,577 people are saying

Mertens Prime reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.7
3.7 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 3.9Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 3.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

    Romantic

  • Grand Rapids

    Healthy

  • Grand Rapids

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Mertens Prime offers a "unique historical ambiance" with standout dishes like filet mignon and pork belly. Guests praise the "amazing" service from servers like Vega and Candice, and the "delicious" food. Although some reviews note occasional slow service and inconsistencies, the "great vibes" and "excellent" wine suggestions keep patrons coming back.
1,577 Reviews
  1. David

    Phoenix1 review

    1.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Bad food bad drinks and bad service. Triple crown.

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  2. Lauren

    Indiana1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Mertens was absolutely delicious! That was an incredible steak! (Filet mignon) My fiance for the shrimp and scallop scampi a d he absolutely loved it too. The cheese board was wonderful also. Our server made me and incredible martini too just by asking me a few questions. I was so good all around! Thank you!

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  3. Joel

    Grand Rapids1 review

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Unfortunately pretty lousy experience for Easter brunch. At $300 for 5 people we expected more and we have had dinner there before maybe 3 years ago and it was great. However Costco quiches, scramble, eggs, bacon and ham just missed the mark.

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  4. Nicholas

    Detroit4 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I was certainly expecting much more for $50 per person for a brunch. I would compare this brunch to a continental breakfast at Holiday Inn Express. This was our first time at Mertens and unfortunately will be our last.

    Is this helpful?

  5. SHANE

    Indiana2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    There were definitely some bright spots at Easter brunch — the Brussels sprouts and the chocolate cake were both fantastic — but overall, the experience didn’t quite live up to expectations. A lot of the buffet trays were empty for long stretches, and most of what was available felt pretty underwhelming and cold. I totally get that things don’t always go as planned, especially on a busy holiday, but it was disappointing that several of the items promoted ahead of time weren’t there at all. What was served didn’t really match the quality or presentation I’d seen in the photos on their social media. I really do appreciate the staff being there and working on a holiday — that’s no small thing — but the service felt a bit unpolished and disconnected, which made the overall experience feel a little less special than we’d hoped. That said, this was our first visit, and Easter brunch may not have been the best way to get a true sense of what the restaurant has to offer. I’ve read great things about their steaks and rooftop dining, so while I’d be open to returning, it would take a meaningful shift to change our first impression.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Tiffany

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ambience was quite lovely. Me and my partner had the restaurant to ourselves since it was a slow day, so we got a bit of extra special attention from our amazing server, Vega. Great food and great vibes! Truly had an amazing time because of the excellent service and yummy bites.

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  7. ryan

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was good! The food was a little overcooked, but we would surly try again

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  8. Silas

    Grand Rapids1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food, drinks, and service were all great. The restaurant had a nice style that we appreciated as well. Would definitely come again and recommend to others.

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  9. Brian

    Chicago3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Server was awesome, but we waited forever for our drink order, then food took a long time for no one in the restaurant.

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  10. W

    Grand Rapids2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pork belly doesn't disappoint. Get the calamari and crab rangoon dip as a starter. Start of with drinks at the bar. Staff is super friendly.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Mertens Prime offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (616) 551-1713.

Mertens Prime is rated 3.7 stars by 1577 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Grand Rapids / Western Michigan
  4. Grand Rapids
  5. Grand Rapids

Make a reservation


Experiences are available.
Google Map for Mertens Prime

35 Oakes St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Oakes St SW, between Ionia Ave and Commerce Ave
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking is available. The closest crossroads are Oakes St. and Commerce Street. The closest parking ramps are Cherry Street Parking Ramp and Weston Parking Ramp. We do not offer parking validation at this time.
  • Public transit
    Oakes & Ionia bust stop
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Catering is available for pick up.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer a beautiful private room on our main floor that have all of the turn-of-the-century charm as our main dining room. Mertens Rooftop is also available for private events. See mertensgr.com for details, including complete event guides with menu and pricing options.
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