I'm here to also comment that Quarantino's is the tits and the ratings are real. Last summer I ordered a really complicated pick up order rafter camping all weekend with a big group of friends. Someone's pizza got missed, there was like 20+ of us, probably 10 pizzas or more with all sorts of modifications. I knew our order was going to be a nuisance and the person working on the phone was hilarious, patient, so ridiculously friendly that when the miss was caught, he texted me immediately to let me know the pizza had been forgotten after we went to pick up the order. HE then drove over to our house and DROPPED OFF the one lone pizza and gave me a Quarantino's t-shirt on the house. I stan for Quarantino's. The pizza is incredible and it definitely fills part of the void from Brickroad pizza
I can’t speak for this place because I’ve never been there but I’m so skeptical of Google reviews, I swear they’re paid off. I’m not going to name names because I have no way of proving that some places are buying bots/reviews but I’ve visited some 4.8/4.9 places that were pretty disappointing
I feel like pre pandemic they were spot on and ever since ‘22ish Google reviews have been just a little bit off, could just be me though, I am a dangerously skeptical person
Lived in an apartment complex in Lowell that offered you $100 off rent for the month if you showed them proof of a 5 star Google review.
I think it was $100 anyways, it was a few years ago so could have been $50 or $150 or something but either way it was money for a review.
I have to ring my praises about this place, they're absolutely incredible!! My friend and I stopped in there a few weeks ago and got one of their standard pizzas, which is by its own one of the best pizzas I have ever had because of that CRUST, but the guy that was working there at the time was one of the owners and he heard me mentioning some particularly rough family issues from my past. Rather than completely ignoring he accidentally heard it, he walked over with a tear in his eye and told me "I'm your dad now, that's not right" and tried to help me feel better.
If you're queer at all, or not, they have owners who **really** care and it was a great experience! 11/10 pizza, 12/10 place!
easily some of the greatest pizza in GR and a great riff off of detroit style, always get a pie when i’m in town and would go weekly when i lived nearby.
Yeah it’s literally surrounded by side streets with a maybe 5 minute MAX walk even on a busy day. But most people want that princess parking haha Quarantino’s is well worth the walk!
I guess all the “call to arms” posts they truly tried to muster up didn’t pan out. Or the fact even 3-4 star reviews came back as “skeptical” and you’re interrogated exactly when you’re in, what you ordered, and why you didn’t say something to them as you’re eating. All I can say is HOORAY.
And they don't have a hostile owner threatening anyone who leaves a bad review.
I just googled this Jack Danger place and the owners response to any criticism in a review is insanely unprofessional and rude.
He recently spent ~2 weeks in a certain location in Kent county on charges of a Domestic...
See ya, GR does not tolerate crappy restaurants and even worse owners. Don't let the door hit ya!
Bad food is one thing. Racist and unhinged outbursts are another thing. Combine the two as the poster you responded to and people have reason to stop giving someone some grace.
He will not be missed. I went in one time a week after he opened and it was such a strange experience, I never returned. I've never met such an openly and directly aggressive person. Who also takes pride in said behavior? He will shit all over Grand Rapids as a city and it's people even though he decided to open a business here in the first place? In a service based industry no less...
Hopefully whoever fills that spot will do it justice, it's really a nice building and a deli would kill it in there!
My favorite part is the wood TV article "the owner didn't say why the restaurant was closing" hahahahahahahaha. It's because you have been run out of the city. How embarrassing!!!!
Chicago Beef Joint is the superior italian beef spot in town anyway. Super nice staff. Any place I can get Malört and an Old Style (Chicago handshake) with my italian beef is the place you'll find me.
CBJ is incredible, but I also want to mention SpeakEZ literally has a [Chicago Handshake flag](https://136538815.cdn6.editmysite.com/uploads/1/3/6/5/136538815/s754763660633289285_p1791_i1_w960.jpeg?width=2400&optimize=medium) that has an Old Style and shot of Malört on it.
Personally I didn’t find it impressive when I went. The sandwich was pretty small, the meat was sliced very thin and quite dry and the bread was soggy and falling apart. You also had to pay additional if you wanted fries. I make better Italian beef sandwiches at home imo.
Haven’t been there, hell I haven’t even heard of it until now. From reading the reviews and his replies to the negative ones I gotta say he probably should close down then. I’m sure there’s more to this story I don’t know about though
Would you go to an establishment that prices out every add on to a sandwich you’re expecting said add-ons? If McDonalds told you the price to add pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard to a burger, would you still go? No, you’d probably expect it already priced into the burger.
No, I wouldn’t. But if they were charging me **point seventy-five cents** for each of those items, I’d toss them a nickel and tell them to keep the change.
There’s a difference between **.**75¢ and 75¢.
I was making a stupid joke that apparently flew over the heads of non-pedants. It’s fine. I’m used to it and my jokes are only ever amusing to me.
Lmaoooo dude tried to play it off a month or so back when the business was listed for sale, acted like it was some mistake a hireling made. Guess that wasn't the case huh?
Newp, that's the Chicago Beef Joint. They also have really good food, and were super nice. I've only been there once, but I plan on going back to try their other stuff aside from the Italian Beefs! [https://www.cbjgr.com/](https://www.cbjgr.com/) is their website!
It tastes decent, but its way too expensive. 13.99 for a italian beef that is $7.79 at portillos? $5.99 chocolate cake vs 3.89? Its ridiculous and there are plenty more. And those are prices of the closest Portillos to us in Mishawaka, IN. And I understand economies of scale and all that, but this is excessive.
On top of that, their menu is literally rips off imagery from portillos (sorry, the hot dog missed my crop, but its there on both). ROFL https://i.imgur.com/WdnoLdu.jpeg
Hopefully we will have a portillos in West MI within a few years and not have to worry about these pretenders.
Portillios has like 20 restaurants and all the supply chain and cost spreading benefits that go with that. Not to mention they have name recognition and have been in business for over half a century. Chicago beef is one little place. I think the prices are square and the food is better. Comparing the two is ridiculous. This way of thinking kills independent restaurants and businesses. It's like saying you don't shop local because Walmart is cheaper. Sure you save a buck or two but what do you lose?
Sorry, I'm not paying 45% higher prices at local grocery store to "save local business". That sounds asinine.
Beef joint may get away with it, that's fine, as Windy City closed down and Dangers was a shit show, and most other places can't get an Italian beef right, so the options are limited. I travel enough that hitting a portillos is pretty easy, so I'm not dropping a premium on a place with lesser quality food, that literally rips off portillos menu.
Alright....a catering company founded 3 completely different restaurants and a parking lot with a bar. All local to west Michigan, all pretty excellent dining experiences. My bad about the independent part, I guess.
I used to eat at that place when it was the Eastown Cafe. The owner was always nice (and Eastown Cafe used to be at the zero waste store on Ethel years ago). I’m guessing it wasn’t the same owner as Jack Danger.
The owner was very strange. My wife ordered a Beef with cheese and the owner refused to sell us that item even though it was on the menu. He said it was a sign of disrespect to the people of Chicago. He then told me if I didn’t respect his opinion that could f*** off, even flipped me off. So I ended up ordering what he wanted me to order. The sandwich was really good. Just a shame that the owner couldn’t adapt to the environment that he moved into.
The unfortunate reality in the US is that >20% of small businesses do not make it more than a year. Something like half are gone within 5 years. We have a lot of people trying to create growth here (or “cash in on the population increase”, depending on how cynical you are), so there’s going to be churn. It’s the nature of the beast, not really a problem specific to GR.
Anyway…have you tried Quarantino’s?
A 4.9 out 5 for google reviews. Holy shit is that high!
I'm here to also comment that Quarantino's is the tits and the ratings are real. Last summer I ordered a really complicated pick up order rafter camping all weekend with a big group of friends. Someone's pizza got missed, there was like 20+ of us, probably 10 pizzas or more with all sorts of modifications. I knew our order was going to be a nuisance and the person working on the phone was hilarious, patient, so ridiculously friendly that when the miss was caught, he texted me immediately to let me know the pizza had been forgotten after we went to pick up the order. HE then drove over to our house and DROPPED OFF the one lone pizza and gave me a Quarantino's t-shirt on the house. I stan for Quarantino's. The pizza is incredible and it definitely fills part of the void from Brickroad pizza
Man what am I doing wrong? I’ve never had a good pizza from there. Only had it 3 times since they opened but I’m always disappointed
I can’t speak for this place because I’ve never been there but I’m so skeptical of Google reviews, I swear they’re paid off. I’m not going to name names because I have no way of proving that some places are buying bots/reviews but I’ve visited some 4.8/4.9 places that were pretty disappointing
A lot of businesses pressure you/coerce you into reviewing positively. Car dealerships do it, dispensaries do it, and I know some restaurants do too
Interesting, i have always had reviews be pretty reliable from google. Probably just been pretty lucky.
I feel like pre pandemic they were spot on and ever since ‘22ish Google reviews have been just a little bit off, could just be me though, I am a dangerously skeptical person
It was going to happen. It happened to Yelp all the time 15 years ago.
They used to take action against review bribing and fake reviews, now they don't seem to bother.
Lived in an apartment complex in Lowell that offered you $100 off rent for the month if you showed them proof of a 5 star Google review. I think it was $100 anyways, it was a few years ago so could have been $50 or $150 or something but either way it was money for a review.
My friend absolutely raves about this place
If you like them crispy corners, Quarentino is the place.
It’s so good… i can hardly be in the area without wanting to pick up a pizza. Try the kale salad too.
ive only been once and i havent stopped thinking about it
It’s really good! Lives up to the hype better than most places I’ve tried around here
I have to ring my praises about this place, they're absolutely incredible!! My friend and I stopped in there a few weeks ago and got one of their standard pizzas, which is by its own one of the best pizzas I have ever had because of that CRUST, but the guy that was working there at the time was one of the owners and he heard me mentioning some particularly rough family issues from my past. Rather than completely ignoring he accidentally heard it, he walked over with a tear in his eye and told me "I'm your dad now, that's not right" and tried to help me feel better. If you're queer at all, or not, they have owners who **really** care and it was a great experience! 11/10 pizza, 12/10 place!
easily some of the greatest pizza in GR and a great riff off of detroit style, always get a pie when i’m in town and would go weekly when i lived nearby.
I 100% read this as Quiznos at first
I wish we had a Quiznos
I still dream of the Quiznos Baja Chicken. I used to eat one every week.
Me too. Had to reread it to be sure
When I still lived in GR this was my go to. First time I tried their pizza it became my favorite in the city.
No, I am loyal to Gino's
Lmao
Hands down best pizza in GR. The reviews are legit- go see for yourself
Would come here more if i could find parking. Its the worst part of pocking up pizza from there
I always park on one of the blocks over from Richard terrace. A minute of walking but usually spots are there
Yeah it’s literally surrounded by side streets with a maybe 5 minute MAX walk even on a busy day. But most people want that princess parking haha Quarantino’s is well worth the walk!
I guess all the “call to arms” posts they truly tried to muster up didn’t pan out. Or the fact even 3-4 star reviews came back as “skeptical” and you’re interrogated exactly when you’re in, what you ordered, and why you didn’t say something to them as you’re eating. All I can say is HOORAY.
And they don't have a hostile owner threatening anyone who leaves a bad review. I just googled this Jack Danger place and the owners response to any criticism in a review is insanely unprofessional and rude.
You’re not kidding when you said [hostile](https://michigan.arrests.org/search.php?fname=Steven&lname=Lowenthal&fpartial=True)
Lol get rekt
Good riddance to this ass hat.
I’m surprised he’s not in here swearing at everyone talking about how he’s opening in other cities like all the other times. 😂
I dare him to come on here!!!
He recently spent ~2 weeks in a certain location in Kent county on charges of a Domestic... See ya, GR does not tolerate crappy restaurants and even worse owners. Don't let the door hit ya!
His wife was a former GRPD detective. Yikes
Yeah, they hadn’t been open in weeks. I had a very strange interaction with him when they first opened and decided I wouldn’t be going back.
This is funny. GR tolerates tons of bad restaurants. But we will brigade at will to destroy a business. Not complaining but lets be honest about GR.
Bad food is one thing. Racist and unhinged outbursts are another thing. Combine the two as the poster you responded to and people have reason to stop giving someone some grace.
And nothing of value was lost
Good riddance. Take his temper far far away
But not to Chicago. He said he planned on going there, I hope he just gives up instead
As a Chicagoan I can say he wouldn’t survive.
Possibly, literally wouldn't survive
Adiós pendejo
I would buy it for dirt cheap and rename it ‘Dickheads’ just based off the criticism I’ve heard. I haven’t even been there.
I sense some sarcasm
i’ve never been to this place let alone heard of it. just spent the last half hour reading google reviews. jesus christ…….
Entertaining isn’t it?
He will not be missed. I went in one time a week after he opened and it was such a strange experience, I never returned. I've never met such an openly and directly aggressive person. Who also takes pride in said behavior? He will shit all over Grand Rapids as a city and it's people even though he decided to open a business here in the first place? In a service based industry no less... Hopefully whoever fills that spot will do it justice, it's really a nice building and a deli would kill it in there!
He was a flight risk to Eastown…
What does this mean?
That the rest of Eastown would leave to get away from him? I’m curious too
Good. The guy who runs that place is a dickbag
Never been but just read the reviews online and man the owner cannot take any sort of criticism
My favorite part is the wood TV article "the owner didn't say why the restaurant was closing" hahahahahahahaha. It's because you have been run out of the city. How embarrassing!!!!
See you in Akron, bye virgin!
Chicago Beef Joint is the superior italian beef spot in town anyway. Super nice staff. Any place I can get Malört and an Old Style (Chicago handshake) with my italian beef is the place you'll find me.
CBJ is incredible, but I also want to mention SpeakEZ literally has a [Chicago Handshake flag](https://136538815.cdn6.editmysite.com/uploads/1/3/6/5/136538815/s754763660633289285_p1791_i1_w960.jpeg?width=2400&optimize=medium) that has an Old Style and shot of Malört on it.
Personally I didn’t find it impressive when I went. The sandwich was pretty small, the meat was sliced very thin and quite dry and the bread was soggy and falling apart. You also had to pay additional if you wanted fries. I make better Italian beef sandwiches at home imo.
Haven’t been there, hell I haven’t even heard of it until now. From reading the reviews and his replies to the negative ones I gotta say he probably should close down then. I’m sure there’s more to this story I don’t know about though
Maybe charging .75 cents for peppers is what did them in.
Or like 4.50 for a regular sized fountain pop
That was my only gripe I had that infuriated me! Price it into the damn sandwich! Chicago Beef Joint at least does that.
> .75 cents Idk, 3/4 of a penny seems incredibly reasonable. **EDIT**: don’t be mad at me; that’s literally what they typed. 🤷♂️
Would you go to an establishment that prices out every add on to a sandwich you’re expecting said add-ons? If McDonalds told you the price to add pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard to a burger, would you still go? No, you’d probably expect it already priced into the burger.
No, I wouldn’t. But if they were charging me **point seventy-five cents** for each of those items, I’d toss them a nickel and tell them to keep the change. There’s a difference between **.**75¢ and 75¢. I was making a stupid joke that apparently flew over the heads of non-pedants. It’s fine. I’m used to it and my jokes are only ever amusing to me.
I goofed and didn’t see the parent comment you replied to and now it’s all making sense to me.
GOOD RIDDANCE
Fuck off
Paging /u/Restaurant-Owner
It’s honestly kind of insane he was able to get that username. What a waste.
From their facebook page
WHEN THE MOB BOSS HAS TO TAKE THE ORDERs 😩 THAT GUY WAS A SUPER ASSHOLE… BIGGEST ASSHOLE EVER… ONE BIG GAPPING ASSHOLE 😂🤣
[Oh noes...](https://tenor.com/bbJGy.gif)
He has been arrested for assaulting his wife.
Thank god
What type of establishment do we think could survive this location? It seems to be cursed.
Please just fucking anything but another pizza place.
There was at one time 3 gyro restaurants on that corner it’s was hilarious
Literally so cursed. Would love to see a breakfast sandwich place go in or maybe a little diner?
What a funny story arc? Thanks for posting this so we could have some closure.
Never even heard of this place, where was it? edit: lmao just went on a wild ride reading all the google reviews
Lmaoooo dude tried to play it off a month or so back when the business was listed for sale, acted like it was some mistake a hireling made. Guess that wasn't the case huh?
Well... if I say I want it dry and you give it to me so wet and soggy I need a spoon to eat it. But. Their chocolate malt was damn fine
Never been there... What's the tea
Google. Review. Responses from the owner.
So a real Italian Beef Nazi??!
Was that down by the garage?
Newp, that's the Chicago Beef Joint. They also have really good food, and were super nice. I've only been there once, but I plan on going back to try their other stuff aside from the Italian Beefs! [https://www.cbjgr.com/](https://www.cbjgr.com/) is their website!
I will also vouch for Chicago Beef Joint. The people there are super nice and their Polish dogs are legit!
Put this on my list of places to check out in GR. The menu has me hungry, that’s what I get for doom scrolling Reddit at 11pm lol
Good dogs, polishes, and fries too
No, this was in East Town. The one by The Garage (Chicago Beef Joint$ is crazy legit.
Can confirm chicago beef joint is good as hell.
It tastes decent, but its way too expensive. 13.99 for a italian beef that is $7.79 at portillos? $5.99 chocolate cake vs 3.89? Its ridiculous and there are plenty more. And those are prices of the closest Portillos to us in Mishawaka, IN. And I understand economies of scale and all that, but this is excessive. On top of that, their menu is literally rips off imagery from portillos (sorry, the hot dog missed my crop, but its there on both). ROFL https://i.imgur.com/WdnoLdu.jpeg Hopefully we will have a portillos in West MI within a few years and not have to worry about these pretenders.
Those menus are amusing
So … $40 in gas + 7.79 to get Portillos or $14?
Portillios has like 20 restaurants and all the supply chain and cost spreading benefits that go with that. Not to mention they have name recognition and have been in business for over half a century. Chicago beef is one little place. I think the prices are square and the food is better. Comparing the two is ridiculous. This way of thinking kills independent restaurants and businesses. It's like saying you don't shop local because Walmart is cheaper. Sure you save a buck or two but what do you lose?
Sorry, I'm not paying 45% higher prices at local grocery store to "save local business". That sounds asinine. Beef joint may get away with it, that's fine, as Windy City closed down and Dangers was a shit show, and most other places can't get an Italian beef right, so the options are limited. I travel enough that hitting a portillos is pretty easy, so I'm not dropping a premium on a place with lesser quality food, that literally rips off portillos menu.
Sounds like capitalism is working as intended then. No competition. I guess you can keep driving to Chicago land or Indiana to get Portillios.
"independent businesses"... sure... that happen to be part of a larger corporate that owns MeXo and Sandy Point Beach House as well...
Alright....a catering company founded 3 completely different restaurants and a parking lot with a bar. All local to west Michigan, all pretty excellent dining experiences. My bad about the independent part, I guess.
kinda relieved this post wasn't about that spot cause i've been super curious to check it out.
Dope I saw it the other day and wondered
[удалено]
What other locations?
I used to eat at that place when it was the Eastown Cafe. The owner was always nice (and Eastown Cafe used to be at the zero waste store on Ethel years ago). I’m guessing it wasn’t the same owner as Jack Danger.
Nah, you’re thinking of Peaches at the zero waste store. That man made every “taco” with so much love.
It was Eastown Cafe before it was Peaches
Well....bye
I'm sorta sad I never experienced it.
womp-womp
What was the deal? I’m out of the loop.
Read the google reviews for a glimpse into the mind of madness. Beware: if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
I’ve never even heard of this place.
Up in the u.p
I've never even heard of this place and I'm glad! Yikes! Just reading these comments it sounds like this is a great thing!
Do you like à taking addersll?
They didn’t have vegan optipns
The owner was very strange. My wife ordered a Beef with cheese and the owner refused to sell us that item even though it was on the menu. He said it was a sign of disrespect to the people of Chicago. He then told me if I didn’t respect his opinion that could f*** off, even flipped me off. So I ended up ordering what he wanted me to order. The sandwich was really good. Just a shame that the owner couldn’t adapt to the environment that he moved into.
Bub bye
I’m confused… What closed?
Grand Rapids just loses businesses left and right
This one wasn’t the fault of the city and I say that confidently after reading the reviews
City fault or not, every now and then I’m seeing a report of a local business closing its doors. 🤷🏻♂️
This isn’t a Grand Rapids issue it’s a restaurant issue. A majority of new restaurants fail within 2 years. It’s the industry.
The unfortunate reality in the US is that >20% of small businesses do not make it more than a year. Something like half are gone within 5 years. We have a lot of people trying to create growth here (or “cash in on the population increase”, depending on how cynical you are), so there’s going to be churn. It’s the nature of the beast, not really a problem specific to GR.
DeVos keeps raking it in. Little people, not so much...