The Friesian Gastro Pub

One of my favorite restaurants. I love that they change up the menu regularly. And as a celiac, they are somewhere I feel super safe eating (and can actually have fries since they have dedicated fryers!). Their GF carrot cake is amazing and it's rare I order a dish that I don't love. Also very much love the rooftop dining in the summer.

My spouse and I went out for dinner on Friday night and were pleasantly surprised with how amazing our meal was. He has a gluten intolerance, and there were so many items on the menu for him to enjoy. I loved the mushroom strogonoff, and our drinks were delicious.

POUTINE WEEK! September 13-28 on Michigan St in Grand Rapids. - Braised Short Rib Poutine (GLUTEN-FREE!!) - $20: It was the only gluten-free option we could find. Poutine has gravy which is typically made with flour, but can be made with corn starch. They have a gluten-free option which is basically without the Mint Gremolata (which we didn’t want anyway). It was the last serving of the night since they ran out. It was VERY good, so I can see why it ran out. The hand-cut fries were medium shoestring cut and were mainly soaked in the gravy. The texture wasn’t too bad for what it sounds, though. The braised short rib was the main player in the dish. It was very tender and you could tell they went all out. The cheese curds were classic poutine. I thought there wasn’t enough when looking at it, but was actually spot on (there were actually a few leftover at the end). The citrus crema was potent by itself to the taste, but once stirred in, a wonderful nuance. I am seriously considering it as first place, but the price tag was $20. It was a good value, though for sure! It was a large plate!! - Diner Style Smash Burger - $18: Also, I have been wanting to try their smash burger. Couldn’t resist. The smash burger patty was high quality and cooked right. The bacon was thick and tasty. The toppings were also higher quality and well balanced. The cheese was slightly on the lighter side, but worked in this case really well. I was really looking forward to the Nantucket bun, but the sesame seeds were a bit over done. The bun was good, though. - Service: We were allowed to choose our own seats. Some of the tables were not yet cleaned up, so it was a little slim pickings. The waitress was very positive, knowledgeable, and helpful. There was a mix-up about the poutine. We wanted gluten-free and it was not understood the first time, but it was noted and corrected BEFORE it was actually made. I wasn’t too excited to use the online menu, though. It worked for us since we already knew what we wanted. - Atmosphere: Darker industrial feel with wood accents. There was softer and quieter music in the background and it was a great quiet place to stop. We dined indoors, but there is outdoor dining out back or on the ROOF! - Conclusion: This place has a lot to offer! The exterior is a bit deceiving. It is amazing on the inside. It is clean and professional. The food is high quality and at a fair price. It is a little more expensive, but it is worth the price you pay. 6:30-7:30pm Thursday September 19, 2024.