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Scholar, Grand Rapids, MI

Scholar

4.5
4.5
373 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 28 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
History, specifically America’s culinary history, is the central focus of our food and cocktail programs here at Scholar. Situated downtown on Grand Rapids’ iconic red brick road at 11 Ionia SW, Scholar honors previous residents of the same address while striving to achieve our goal; to earn the title of the city’s best restaurant.

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Breakfast, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Taylor Boeschenstein
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Cross street
    Our cross streets are Fulton and Weston.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Weekend Brunch, Wine

What 373 people are saying

Scholar 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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Grand Rapids

    Best Ambiance

  • Grand Rapids

    Good for special occasions

  • Grand Rapids

    American

  • Grand Rapids

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Scholar, a gem in Grand Rapids, offers a "unique style" with its cozy, atmospheric setting. The cuisine is "fantastic" with standout dishes like lamb, scallops, and bison short ribs. Service is often praised as "excellent" and attentive. While some experiences vary, the ambiance and innovative menu make it a must-visit.
373 Reviews
  1. Karen VIP

    Grand Rapids4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always excellent food & service. Thank you Trevor!

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  2. Montie

    Grand Rapids8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Third time to scholar and it did not disappoint. Carlos was our server and was excellent.

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  3. Rachel

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First visit to scholar before the symphony. We sat in the study and had a nice cozy corner. The ambiance was perfect; dark, moody and the music selection and volume was just right. Our server Carlos was amazing and had some good recommendations for drinks and dessert. We ordered the lamb and scallops and both dishes were delicious and perfectly cooked. I cannot wait to visit again to see another part of the building and try more of the menus.

    Is this helpful?

  4. SarahD

    Detroit3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Scholar was lovely.

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  5. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience and the food is fantastic.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jeremy

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The experience at Scholar was excellent. The entire staff were friendly, attentive, and perfectly trained. All food and cocktails were excellently prepared. The food was delicious with wonderful combinations of flavors. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from the moment we walked in the door. The ambiance in each section of Scholar is unique and inviting. The attention to detail in the decor is echoed throughout the restaurant and everything they do. We may have found our new favorite restaurant.

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  7. Ginny VIP

    Grand Rapids9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great time celebrating two birthdays! We absolutely loved the private room, and we already have booked it again for the future. The birthday desserts were very good and the teenagers really liked the little cards that were placed on the table for them. 

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Indiana2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great dinner and even better service! Food was fantastic and the cozy atmosphere made for an enjoyable evening with friends!

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Grand Rapids1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice. Good food. Unique cocktails and wine. Had a lovely Sicilian red. Lamb is delish, so is the dates appetizer. Impeccable service! I wish I remembered our server's name. Wonderful date night!

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  10. Krista

    Northern MI2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Really cool environment and vibe. Service was extremely slow for a Monday night. However, there was only one server working the second floor (that I could tell) so that was likely part of it. Steak was AWESOME. Drinks were great.

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FAQs

Scholar is rated 4.5 stars by 373 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 28 times today
Google Map for Scholar

11 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Our cross streets are Fulton and Weston.
  • Neighborhood
    Grand Rapids
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Breakfast, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Executive chef
    Taylor Boeschenstein
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Weekend Brunch, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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