Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Grand Rapids / Western Michigan? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bay Pointe Bar & Grille

4.8

4.8 (942)

$31 to $50

American

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

We have all the ingredients necessary to delight your inner foodie. Chef Todd VanWieren has crafted the perfect seasonal menu brimming with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients-all paired with top wines and a seasonal handcrafted cocktail menu! Beautiful Gun Lake provides an incredible year-round atmosphere experience, thanks to the ever-changing seasons of West Michigan. Simple, really-it's just good food, good drink, with a view you can't beat.

**PLEASE NOTE**: during the warmer months, we do not accept reservations for our outdoor seating area, or for our Waterfront Room. They are seated on a first-come, first served basis. A reservation with us does not guarantee we will have a patio table or Waterfront Room table available for you upon arrival. We ask that you keep your party's visit to 2 hours or less when seated on our Patio. Requests will only be honored on a first come-first served basis.

Top review

Janice

Dined on Dec 20, 2024

Everything was great! The food, drinks and dessert were all wonderful. We brought friends for their first visit and it was just the right place for visiting! It was a little busy - but that’s Friday night! Always a favorite for us.

Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (1230)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Saugatuck

About the restaurant

Every coastline brings with it an air of freshness and wonder, an inspiration in every ebb and flow. Coasts can be recognizable and new … predictably unpredictable in a way that can surprise or delight. But no matter the geography, there is a familiarity and a connection. At Coast 236, the rhythm of familiarity and freshness is our inspiration. Sourcing fresh and sustainable ingredients from water and land, we passionately craft approachable coastal inspired cuisine with unexpected details. Coast 236 takes reservations for tables of 1-6 guests only through open table. Sorry, service animals only.

Top review

Anne

Dined on Dec 27, 2024

We chose Coast for our wedding anniversary dinner and it was perfect. We booked early (5:30 pm) as we hoped for a quiet meal.we were the first guests to arrive and got a table for two in front of the fireplace. We both loved our meals - scallops for me and salmon for my husband - and were grateful for outstanding service!

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Brewster’s New Buffalo

4.7

4.7 (2158)

$30 and under

Italian

New Buffalo

About the restaurant

A beautiful, locally owned restaurant located in downtown New Buffalo, Michigan; Brewster’s New Buffalo puts a modern twist on traditional Italian fare. Our Chef uses a wide variety of fresh, innovative ingredients to create dishes. Our sommelier and bar manager take pride in curating the finest selection of liquor, beer and wine, including wonderful locally and Michigan made specialties.

We are open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day, all year round! (Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)

We look forward to having you as our guests!

Top review

Dale

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding as usual. Our favorite place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our favorite spot to go for our anniversary. You won't be disappointed. Never had a bad meal EVER. Highly recommended.

CBK

4.7

4.7 (643)

$30 and under

American

Wayland

About the restaurant

CBK - Craft Bar Kitchen - is our modern take on traditional pub fare. The menus mix some of the freshest local ingredients while seasonally inspired menus highlight our chef’s culinary expertise. Come join the fun and excitement as we make CBK the ultimate place to meet with friends and family while enjoying your night on the town at Gun Lake Casino.

While here, help yourself to some of the best locally crafted beer at our CBK Beer Wall! Enjoy up to 40 self-serve beers as you sample our vast offerings.

In the summer, enjoy our outdoor patio with fireplace and patio games. In the winter, make your reservations for our heated igloos for you and up to 6 others in our newly added amenity.

For parties larger than 8, please call Guest Relations at (269) 792-7777

Top review

Shirley

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

🌹Dillon was our Server and she was great! She went above and beyond our expectations!😊 The food was delicious! We had a variety of selections for a party of 8. With some minor adjustments we were seated at tables for 8 people. Totally enjoyable after Xmas family Dinner.😊

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Popular dish

BLTA SANDWICH

Smuggler's at North Shore

4.7

4.7 (182)

$30 and under

American

Newaygo

About the restaurant

Smuggler's at North Shore is a modern & casual dockside eatery featuring a broad, classic American-style menu, with home-made favorites ranging from classic steak & seafood dishes, to pasta, wood-fired pizza, and pub grub. Also, we offer a signature cocktail menu spotlighting all-Michigan-based distillers, a range of draught beer options, a casual-to-fine wine selection, and slushie options.

Top review

Jerry

Dined on Dec 26, 2024

It was our first time visiting here. We celebrated our 38 wedding anniversary. It was a fantastic experience, loved the energy in the room, the food was fantastic. Large portions, absolutely delicious firewood pizza, and the pulled pork nachos. Needed the pizza to go since we were full from the appetizer. The Jack Frost Christmas cocktail was perfect. Absolutely worth the money. Loved atmosphere and the holiday decorations well done.

Sandy Point Beach House - West Olive

4.6

4.6 (1095)

$31 to $50

American

West Olive

About the restaurant

Sandy Point Beach House is a casual fine dining restaurant featuring gourmet burgers and a market driven rotating feature menu. These features will showcase Chefs ingredient focused fusion cuisine that the lake shore knows and loves. Located minutes from Lake Michigan, near Kirk Park and West Michigan bike trails, the beach house atmosphere is best described as modern Chicago loft space meets lake-shore cottage. An easy drive from Holland, Grand Haven or Grand Rapids and just down the road from Camp Blodgett.

Top review

Maureen

Dined on Dec 19, 2024

Great experience. Attentive waitress and table by the fireplace. Attractive holiday decorations and live music on a Thursday night which was unexpected and very enjoyable. Food was tasty. Our table ordered chili, Caesar salad with salmon, beef stroganoff and mussels. All were very good but not exceptional. No complaints.

jdek at Margaux

4.6

4.6 (304)

$30 and under

French

Grand Rapids

About the restaurant

Experience cozy winter dining in private and heated domes, offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience with panoramic views of the Grand River and downtown Grand Rapids.

Indulge in the seasonal delights of Margaux’s curated menu, complete with French-inspired flavors and signature cocktails. Each dome is a world of its own, decorated to capture the cozy ambiance of a winter retreat.

Cozy up with friends and family in this enchanting winter oasis, where you’ll stay warm and comfortable in your own bubble of elegance and charm. Whether it’s a special celebration or simply a magical evening out, dining in the domes is sure to make for memories that sparkle all season long.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 4 days ago

We reserved an igloo for our anniversary. They gave us a complimentary champagne toast. Such a fabulous time!

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Experience

Domes at Margaux '24-'25

Farmhouse Kitchen & Market

4.6

4.6 (126)

$31 to $50

American

Shelby

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Zac

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

We love the Farmhouse. We make it a priority to go there every time we’re in town. I wish they didn’t close during the winter season. We would literally drive the 1.5 to eat there, love the food, atmosphere. It always tastes like we are eating fresh food!

Gypsum Grill and Event Center

4.6

4.6 (32)

$30 and under

American

Walker

About the restaurant

Gypsum Grill is located 2 miles from the heart of Grand Rapids. Take in breathtaking views of the surrounding golf course while enjoying elevated American cuisine. Our polished casual environment is perfect for any occasion whether it is date night, game night, or family night!

Top review

Gayle

Dined on Dec 23, 2024

Great new restaurant on the west side. I recommend the Tinga but everone in our group of six enjoyed their meal. Our server Ian was attentive, informative and even brought us a plate of complimentary cookies.

Wild Dog

4.3

4.3 (70)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Douglas

About the restaurant

Experience the brand new version of the Wild Dog in 2024! A downtown fixture is under new ownership with a fresh and exciting look and taste. Expect expertly crafted dishes influenced by Executive Chef Rachael Lickteig's extensive experience with Mediterranean cuisine. A warm and inviting atmosphere makes this a great place to enjoy tastes of Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal right here in Douglas. Great effort is put into the cocktails, wine list and draft beer selection to complement the food.

Top review

Steve

Dined on Nov 23, 2024

Staff are excellent Meatballs could use a touch of salt, beets are beautiful and delicious, steak is fine, fries are excellent (slightly crunch outside, soft inside). Half chicken was very tart - too much lemon. Baileys came with ice but was whisked away and brought back neat (probably my fault for over complicating the request - “no ice” would have sufficed).

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