4. Restaurants

Brewery Vivant

925 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49506
  • (616) 719-1604
  • Store is closed

Brewery Vivant Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Grand Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 4580 28th St )

Visit below restaurant in Grand Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 4580 28th St )

  • Jen C.

    Located in a church-like old building, this brewery makes delicious beer and food. We came during "angry" hour and had the burger with fries, and the charcuterie plate. The burger was to die for - thick and rare, seemingly crusted in pepper, with an amazing bacon and onion relish, and delicious, substantial pretzel bun. The fries were to our liking. The charcuterie plate had an interesting selection of high-quality meats (sopressata, pheasant, boar), but it was very skimpy. I expected 60% more food in that plate. It had maybe 3 ounces of meat total. This place is beautiful and sleek, appropriate to go on a date. I highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Tim H.

    Bar in a church? Yup, eat your little cracker and drink from the cup of crafted beers. This is a cool spot with old stained glass and the bar around the old altar. Bench style seating offers a good group atmosphere. Its a small space and lines will form, but the food is worth the wait. The service is friendly and very dressed down; I expected more religious attire, but either way its a hit. Hit this place up to get out of downtown and explore a little more of the city.

    (4)

  • Jon T.

    I was tempted to give Brewery Vivant a 5 but figured I'd slow my roll a bit since I've only been once and it's only been in existence for a little over a week. Nonetheless, it's pretty great / awesome / rad / insert feel-good comment here. First, the beers are really good. I tried all three they currently have...thanks to a little help from the bartenders. The Belgian IPA was my fav but again, all were tasty. Secondly, the inside really makes you feel like you're in some kind of European beer hall....or simply an old church and in that case, wwjd?...lol. Horse-shoe bar, communal tables, happenin' vibe is pretty much the idea. The inside seems to have had just enough work done to make it feel like a craft brewery and yet, not loose the it's 80 year old charm. And lastly, the help seemed truly excited about being a part of Brewery Vivant. Some were more helpful and excited than others but, overall, contributed to the great vibe. I think Vivant will do extremely well in GR and GR will do extremely well to have a unique establishment continue to push the city out of it's box. I'm looking forward to going back soon! Cheers

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Look, this is a brewery/brewpub that serves pulled duck nachos, with duck cracklins, and a brie cream sauce. Do you REALLY need to know anything else? Ok, well, their beers are amazing. They're mainly farmhouse (Saison) style beers, and a few sours (which are amazing). And one named Big Red Coq, which our server was afraid to say, saying "Big Red" instead. :D I'm sure the rest of the food is similarly excellent, but the duck nachos are basically the best thing ever at a brewpub, and you should just have them. /nod.

    (5)

  • Anyelei A.

    Loved the black Forrest cake, rich and flavor and real chocolate.

    (5)

  • Anna A.

    You must be kidding. not a rewarding dining experience. Way too expensive for the caliber of food. Duck nachos were disappointing- for $16 they should be amazing- but they're not. Did not serve bread w the soup. Steak salad was fine but at $14 much too expensive for what it is. I understand it's 'all local', but prices are not this high in NYC! This menu needs a price adjustment.

    (2)

  • Megan M.

    Baby showers make me thirsty, so this Sunday I persuaded my fellow party-goers (minus the expectant mother, of course) to decamp to a bar. Brewery Vivant is the new game in town and I was excited to try their beers. The owners somehow managed to transform a former funeral home chapel into a high-ceilinged bar reminiscent of a medieval monastery. The long communal tables were ideal for our large group, and the servers were fantastic about taking our orders and splitting checks minutely. Several of us were in from Chicago or Ann Arbor and marveled at the very reasonable drink prices: under $5 for most pours. Food prices were comparable to those other cities, which is to say, more expensive than most GR food. After a few hours of oooo-ing and awwww-ing at tiny things at the baby shower, I was well prepared for the Vivant flight, served in adorable petite snifters. I'll have to jot down baby's first glassware as a gift idea for next time. The beers were pretty good; I didn't care for the banana notes in one of the paler ales, but the brown was fantastic and I would definitely order the Sgt. Peppercorn Rye again. I also ordered the beer cheese. One of my friends noted that it "tastes just like the cheese in cheese-and-cracker packs - in a good way." To that I would add that it's the classy version, because it has caraway seeds. All in all, a great addition to the already well-populated Grand Rapids brewpub scene.

    (4)

  • B R.

    Vivant had only been open for few days, so instead of 2 stars I'll give it 3 because it has so much potential. Visited a couple times and enjoyed the novelty of the place. A bit morbid in a funeral chapel, but fun nonetheless. Huge potential but the place could liven up a bit. Perhaps some art on the walls? Perhaps some more sunlight? Those items might be on the way, so I won't dwell. The beer is great, the bar is fun. The community feel of the shared tables is warm and inviting. Didn't eat anything, but again it's early. I'll have to update this review after I go back. Summer could be nice- if the chapel stays cool or patio seating exists.

    (3)

  • Rob T.

    OK....It's in an old chaple. It does seem a little creapy, but I guess Jesus likes beer too. The beer there is great! I had the IPA and another Ale. I like hoppy brews and these had the bitter hoppy taste, but a smooth taste. I dare say the best IPA in Grand Rapids. We didn't eat but the food looked amazing. Next time we are going for food. The bartenders were a little slow, especially since it was not that busy, but by no means were they "Bad". Probably just busy. A must destination in Grand Rapids for Microbrew Fans.

    (4)

  • Sarah E.

    I don't like beer, but I will try it, so coming here was double edged. Interesting new flavors that my friends liked, even I enjoyed the Farmhand (enough to not hate it). The walnut, cheese plate, and pomme frites were ok. Nothing special. The reason I'd go back: atmosphere. I love that it is in a church, the bench seating, and the root beer. Reason to not automatically hate it: it's still really new. They are trying to get into the groove of service... Lastly to add, they are attempting to be green, so hop on the bike to power the TV, and buy a growler (a glass half gallon) for 6$ plus the cost of your favorite beer (to which you drink, clean, and bring back to buy more).

    (3)

  • Jeremy J.

    As instructed by the website, I called 15 minutes ahead to be put on a waiting list for a table, since Brewery Vivant does not take reservations. Only problem is, no one answers and I end up leaving a lame voicemail. Oh well, I hope we can snag a table! As it turns out, after we park in their spacious lot, our timing is perfect. We secure a booth with no trouble; only 15 minutes after we are seated, though, the place begins to fill up with noisy, thirty patrons. There is so much on the menu, we decide to start by ordering nearly every single offering on the "Bar Snacks & Frites" list. I looked forward most to the Redhead Bacon Peanut Brittle...which, unfortunately, is an imported item from New York City. Quite the anticlimactic moment when the server unzips a pouch and pours the mixture into a small bowl. Tada! Regardless, the brittle is yummy and addictive. The Toasted Truffle Walnuts are too heavy-handed with truffle seasoning. The Whipped Duck Butter is too rich and gamey. The Beer Cheese is smooth, spreadable, golden deliciousness. The Truffle Frites are likewise overwhelmed by truffle seasoning. However, the Garlic Parsley Frites are crisp, oily, and tasty. We also order one item from the "Sharing Plates & Appetizers" section: the Winter Mushrooms. The fungi arrive on a bed of what is supposed to be capsicum (a kind of red pepper) and onion cream, with housemade sweet potato chips. Instead, it's more like goat cheese dip with some roasted mushies sitting on top. Only, there is no mushroom taste at all! You'd think with my past mushroom-hating ways, this would be a good thing. Not so. I don't mind the taste of the little buggers; I just dislike the spongy texture. The dip completely overwhelms the fungus. As I knew I would the first time I saw the menu online, I order Farmhand Cassoulet for my main course. On paper it is white beans, braised beef cheeks, pork sausage, bacon, and crispy shallots. When they deliver my little skillet, everything looks as advertised. My first bite, though, reveals a number of disappointing facts: the beef cheek is too dry; the pork sausage is a strange amalgamation of meat that is not unlike mild breakfast sausage; and (worst of all) the beans are undercooked. I muddle through, but it's clear that this is the worst cassoulet I've ever eaten (and I've eaten quite a few). It really needs some duck or rabbit or something to give it a little oomph. I don't taste bacon at all. In the end, I leave it unfinished. I also get to try a bite of Cremini Mushroom Ravioli with Roquefort cream, caramelized onion, toasted hazelnuts, and lemon zest. The taste profile is phenomenal but, again, there is a problem with the ravioli itself. It is undercooked as well. Something is not going right in the kitchen! The Roasted Hen turns out to be overcooked and rubbery. Cast Iron Pommes Anna contains more veggies than potatoes. But a friend proclaims The Burger the best in Grand Rapids! (It does look damn good.) Luckily, we are able to drown our disappointment in good beer and cider. In fact, they debut a red IPA named "Red Coq" while we are there, and it is one of the best beers I've ever had. In the final analysis, we really love what Brewery Vivant is trying to do but feel there is just something lacking in the kitchen. Maybe it will take some time for them to get comfortable with the relatively new menu, and we're certainly going to give them another try. In meantime, we'll take another round of Belgian brew, please. Don't take my word for it, though; check out video and what my better half has to say about our culinary adventure on our website (linked in my profile)!

    (3)

  • Rhonda P.

    Great interior. Loved the inside. I am not a fan of Belgium yeasts so this wasn't my favorite. My husband enjoyed the beers. We shares some garlic and parsley frites. They have a nice, eclectic menu...from mets to sweet breads (the cow kind).

    (3)

  • Jess h.

    Beer: so-so (Belgian's not my favorite) Service: Depends on the night. Expect a wait. Food: Overpriced, inconsistent, and not near as interesting as the menu description. Ambience: Nice woodwork, loud crowd, frat-boy trying to be hipster vibe.

    (3)

  • Joseph T.

    this just might be the best hamburger of all time. Paired with frites and a glass of solitude and you've got a grand champion. Did I mention the burger is a beef and bacon blend?

    (5)

  • Bob G.

    Thursday nite around 7 pm. No Contemplation Ale again. Barkeep says he has no idea if they'll ever make it again. He obviously doesn't want to hear about it. That's OK, they have other beers that are very good. Drank a few, and feeling peckish, ordered some avocado fries with chipotle ketchup - breaded avocado slices deep fried. I don't know what I was thinking, or what the guy who thought this up was thinking. Not recommended. Then some bouillabaisse. Came out with five mussels, three small pieces of shrimp that had been boiled to a mushy consistency in a decent tomato-fennel broth, but no whitefish in sight. Very disappointing. The food continues to disappoint; next time I'll try to play it safe and order the burger. Food, 2 stars; beer is good enough to make it 3 stars total.

    (3)

  • Kathryn A.

    This place is amazing for the Grand Rapids scene! I am so happy to see that new places, with interesting food and local beers is making such a splash. This little gem is located in a church style building and has stained glass windows. The tables are long and there are communal benches for everyone to sit at. This is both good and bad, as you can make some new friends, but you can't really avoid anyone else's conversations. The staff is really nice and will let you sample the beers before ordering, in case you are on the fence about something. I hope to back the next time I'm in GR.

    (4)

  • julie s.

    I raise my glass to you Vivant!! You have amazing beer, a great room/patio to drink it in and the vittles are yumtastic! I wanted to order and try everything on the menu! The things I did end up eating were all beautiful well-balanced deeeeeelights! I will surely be back soon. PROST!

    (5)

  • Ginny S.

    I come here mostly to drink but have had food a few times. The bavarian soft pretzel and beer cheese appetizer is the perfect thing to start off with. They have a Triomphe Risotto that is savory but not overwhelming. I usually don't finish risottos because they are so rich but this dish walks the line perfectly. If you go on the weekend after 6pm expect a long wait. The interior alone is worth checking out, an old church they renovated that received LEED certification.

    (4)

  • Dan B.

    Great place to have in Grand Rapids. Server (Luke) was very knowledgeable of beers and food. Atmosphere was great for a Monday evening, even saw a few youngsters in there. They loved the communal tables, balcony and stained glass. Heck, I loved the stained glass, the bar looks like it fell out of the wall and landed perfectly. The beer cheese was good with the hard crackers, but a little funky tasting with the soft bread. Both the wife and I got the steak and fries. She got the garlic seasoned and I got the truffle seasoned fries or should I say frites. I liked the taste of mine better. The steak was cooked the way we ordered and had a good flavor to it. We tried Farmhouse Ale, Saison, Big Red Coq, Belgian Wit and my personal fav, no surprise the Solitude Belgian Amber Ale. Sampler was a good bet for us as we got to try 5 different beers for under 20 bucks. All those little babies pack some punch too. We'll be back, you should go to...good variety of specials during the week.

    (4)

  • Duane S.

    This brewery is top-notch. We were there summer 2011 and I still think about their beer, deviled eggs, and the best nachos I've ever eaten - the duck confit nachos. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • James B.

    Great atmosphere and great beer. One of my favorite breweries in Michigan. Highly recommend it if you're in the Grand Rapids area.

    (5)

  • Yunn A.

    The idea of a brewery in an old church immediately peaked my interest, so I made a phone call to reserve, but was told that they didn't take same day reservations, and not for groups under 15 without a $50 deposit - we had a group of 15 but received a lot of pushback on the phone. That was unfortunate to hear. Nevertheless, we charged on, and didn't regret the decision. Long family style tables, a fun decor and ambiance, you knew you were in for a good time. I tried a tasting flight of beer, but unfortunately only half of the tasters I found to be palatable. This was seconded by 5 others with me. My colleague kept saying to me earlier that day "The food isn't what you'd expect for a brewery" and if what he meant was, delicious, then he was right. We had quite a few different appetizers, and the one that stood out for me was the duck confit nachos with brie and duck cracklin' FANTASTIC! I was so full I simply ordered a beet salad which was delicious, and sampled the various entrees around me including the New Zealand Wagyu (didn't expect to see that out here in GR) Steak which was at first, a bit undercooked, but immediately rectified by our cheery staff. For a fun casual atmosphere with more than casual fare, I would definitely recommend this spot to others.

    (4)

  • Tom P.

    This is a great place. The beer selection is great while the food menu can be a little odd you cannot go wrong with the Burger!

    (5)

  • Jacob S.

    The ambiance is good and the food is good and the beer is good, but it is also expensive for what it is. Definitely go there at least once, or as many times as it takes to try all there beer, but a better experience awaits you at other establishments.

    (3)

  • Dan D.

    Very unique menu. We had the beer cheese to start which was served with fantastic homemade baked pretzel sticks. For the entree we split the burger. It was simply the best burger in GR. Bacon marmalade, gruyere cheese and bacon. Also tried the truffle fries, very good. Did a flight on 5 beers and all were good. Major complaint was our waiter disappearing for 30 minutes after leaving our bill, this after we had to ask another server passing by to find him to ask for our bill in the first place.

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    I was only here briefly while stopping in with a friend while on vacation back to GR. I loved the way the place looked, and the picnic tables are great, love that concept. Beer was good. We split the duck nachos which were also good. Wasn't there too long, the rest of the menu looked enticing.

    (4)

  • Juan G.

    Skip this place. Go across the street to The Green Well instead. Over priced food. $13.00 for a burger and fries! The meat was tasteless, as was our server. We also were not big fans of their "Communal Seating". No reason to go back.

    (1)

  • Abby H.

    The cidar beer was good not the best I have ever had but still good. I just got the truffle fries and cheese plate for apps because I was going somewhere else for food. I thought the fries were yummy and so was the cheese plate but the amount you got (the cheese plate) was not worth the price. I will go back but will be trying something else.

    (3)

  • Peter C.

    What an unexpected treasure! Both the food and the beer were truly excellent. Although this is a brewery, the food is not your typical bar food. It is classical French-style food, and although it is pricey, it is well worth the money. We started with appetizers of deviled eggs and a selection of artisanal cheeses. The eggs were good, although a little over-salted, and the cheeses were excellent. These were not hunks of cheese bought at Meijer. These were true artisanal cheeses. The portions were small, but the flavors were BIG. The night we were there, they had just started grinding their own meat for burgers. One of my dinner companions thought it was one of the best burgers he had ever had. They grind bacon right into the burger. My other dinner companion had the Roasted Poussin which was cooked to perfection. She loved the dish so much that she had to resist the urge to pick up the plate and lick the pan sauce. I had the Sea Bass with Ratatouille which was another home run. The bass was cooked to perfection, the ratatouille was seasoned just right and there was a accompanying sauce that encircled the plate that tasted like lemon sherbet that pulled the whole dish together in an amazing way. The beers are pretty good as well. Our table had five different beers, and we would recommend all of them. The beers are brewed in a Belgian style, and these are not your typical brew pub beers. They have a dark ale that drinks like a pale ale and an IPA that is flavored like a Belgian-style ale. Excellent results. The atmosphere was loud. This is not the place to go for a romantic, intimate dinner. But it has a fun, vibrant vibe. Service was ok - not great, but food was served promptly. The server could have been a little more friendly, although the place was so loud that it would have been hard to hear him anyway. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ashley E.

    I've been dying to try Brewery Vivant for almost six months, so we stopped in on a special weekend getaway to GR. My boyfriend had been here once before on a brewery tour and remembered really good things. When you walk in, the place is impressive. It's a renovated funeral home, and the primary seating area is in the old chapel. With the high vaulted ceilings and communal seating it's easy to envision that you're in old France. Probably a good fit for Cherry Street, which seems to be a hipster's wet dream. While the decor impresses, everything else disappoints. The food menu was so unappealing (in both selection and cost), we decided to forego food altogether. (Maybe I'm not a big enough foodie, but seriously, what brewery menu includes sweetbreads?!) Between the two of us we tried four brews; out of the four one was palatable (but a far stretch from tasty). The blueberry-apple cider was just ok. It had a soapy flavor (maybe the yeast) and was closer in flavor to a wine than a cider. The featured Apple Barrel cider was awful. Undrinkable awful. And I'm a huge hard cider fan. Thinking maybe the ciders were just hit or miss, we tried the Sgt. Peppercorn rye ale and the Double Chocolate stout. We couldn't drink either of them. The peppercorn rye ale tasted only of pepper (seriously tasted as if you were snorting lines of black pepper) and even my boyfriend, a devoted beer lover and homebrewer, could not drink more than a few sips. The chocolate stout was even worse. The taste of iron (maybe from bad water used for brewing) was so strong it tasted like blood. (New marketing idea: Brewery Vivant, now serving vampires and Twilight fans everywhere.) So basically, we paid $25 for some of the worst drinks either of us has ever tasted. It's possible that there are other, tasty brews here, but a 0/4 is pretty awful and we definitely won't be back. After we left, my boyfriend commented that maybe his previous assessment was more about BV being the third brewery on the brewery tour than about BV having tasty beer. OVERALL: Why would you go here when you can go to Founders?! But if you do choose to try Brewery Vivant for yourself, be sure to check out the bathroom. They have these granite sinks that are totally unique.

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    LOVE THIS PLACE As a self professed beer nerd, I came here for the beer, which in itself is a reason to head there, it's all Belgian influenced and even if that's not your thing, you can appreciate their beers as you can tell they are all made with the highest ingredients. The atmosphere is awesome, with a really cool bar and community seating tables, it's a very welcoming place. That brings me to the food, ohh the food! The burgers here are the best in town IMO, huge, seasoned and cooked perfectly and the belgian fries are a great pair. Aside from the burgers, we've had a couple other meals and all have been awesome, make sure you come out on a Friday night after they hit the farmers market and have the chef's special on, you cant beat it IMO!

    (5)

  • Terrence I.

    I tried for the second time to see why people would buy a $14 burger. The first time i ordered it medium and got overly welldone, so this time I ordered medium-rare. The burger was very-rare, the accompaning fries were too salted to eat and the onion relish was way too sweet. They do have a couple of beers that I like, but this is not the place to eat.

    (2)

  • Chris S.

    I stopped by while in Grand Rapids because I heard they were having a wood-aged and sour ale festival, and this place turned out to be fantastic. I'm almost at a loss for words. The setting, as others have pointed out, is an old chapel with a big curved bar as the centerpiece. The beer is great, and much of it is unlike anything you can get elsewhere in the area. The people were fun and friendly - the best time I've had in a chapel as far a I can remember. The food looked really good too- because we were hanging outside at the fest, we just grabbed some brats from the grill, and even those were awesome. I'll be back whenever I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Annie K.

    I don't love beer. I can however enjoy a nice beer every once in awhile. And whenever I want beer, I crave Brewery Vivant. I actually like all of their beers, which is not normal for a non-die hard beer drinker. They do have alcohol and they do have their ciders (must try the blueberry-apple!). Their food is also really good! And you know what I love the most about them? They have a very cool idea about being almost completely sustainable. Ask any of their servers and its actually quite interesting. Love them and I respect what they are doing!

    (4)

  • Braden M.

    This place is a very unique and a fun atmosphere. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The waiter I had wasn't very knowledgable about the beer, for those of you who are very into beers, the beer here might be a little bland for you ( not very full bodied). But this place does have a lot of potentiol and I hope to see them succeed. I will go again...

    (3)

  • Steve F.

    Very cool spot the beer was amazing the fries were amazing. The menu was a little strange and it was very loud.

    (3)

  • Zach M.

    First off, the ambiance of this place is great: it feels like a French beer hall hidden away in the foothills of the Alps or something. The waitstaff we interacted with was friendly as well and the prices aren't bad. I had a venison stew which was flavorful and came with tons of sliced baguette: it was a 5/5 meal. I also sampled a co-workers beer-- some specialty brand I'd never heard of and he hadn't either (although he knows his beers)-- and it was one of the most interesting-tasting beers I've ever tried: somewhat bitter, somewhat fruity, with cherry and coffee and a medley of flavors in it. Both of the aforementioned things deserve a 5-star rating. However, I also had some of their truffle fries, which are just drowning in grease; they're basically grease-saturated potato strips. In addition, I tried there Duck Confit Nachos and not only were there way too many tortilla chips for the given duck/cheese mix, but the flavor of that duck/cheese mix is just... odd. It's an experience, to be sure, but I don't know that I'd put it on my menu. Overall, this is a place I'd recommend and will almost certainly be coming back to, but the menu is hit-or-miss.

    (4)

  • Nevada C.

    First, I know that Belgian style beers are "in", but i think that people are going a little overboard. Yes the beers at Vivant are good, however, they are not great. For the most part they are light and enjoyable, I would say these brews are a step up from a good domestic. This brewpub is no Founders. I had the Burger the other night and it was also fine. My wife and I thought that it was slightly overpriced. Its $12-$13 price tag is no doubt a result of its use ground short ribs in the meat. This is an interesting idea, but seemed a little overkill for a burger. The fries were very good though, never discount a good fry. Food and beer alone would earn the pub 2 stars, it is the service and atmosphere that earn it a third. The community tables are great for conversation and the wait staff is very attentive. I go at least once a week and I would recommend anyone to check it out. __________________________________________________­______________ ONE YEAR LATER After a year of being in the Monk Club, and drinking there on a weekly basis, I have decided to add a star to my original review. Their beer has gotten better, the food (despite one bad experience) has improved, and there soups are something I look forward to every week. in addition, I enjoy the communal tables and the lack of televisions. The atmosphere is great for shooting the shit with friends or having a nice evening with a special someone. I don't know what else to say, maybe just avoid their dark beers for now.

    (4)

  • John F.

    So, if you are here just for beer you did ok, but the food kicks ass. The beers are amazing because Jacob is amazing, but the food that Drew makes fits right in with the French countryside-Belgian beer concept. Drink a lot, but eat a lot too. Monk Club #37.

    (5)

  • Beer M.

    Fantastic food. Beers are unique. One of the best places GR has to offer and when it comes to beer, that's a big compliment. Go there!

    (5)

  • T M.

    I have been eating at BV for the last 8 months, whenever I am in town for business. The beers are excellent. They model their beers after French and Belgian style, making them both unique and entirely drinkable. The setting is excellent, right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapid's gentrifying neighborhoods. The long tables, booths and outdoor seating areas were perfect. They have a unique bar built from reclaimed wood and very unique bathrooms. The food was amazing. BV uses as much local food as they can obtain and creates dishes using realfood ingredients. They do some excellent french dishes using traditional preparations. Yes, this isn't typical American bar food, and that's what makes it both so unique and so awesome. You can get food here that is made for real people and isnt full of additives and fake ingredients. I loved it.

    (5)

  • Lenora H.

    What a cool place! Go for the ambiance and beer. The food is only okay. We tried a few things with a group and the burger was the best.

    (5)

  • Holden C.

    Great beer, amazing burger, interesting ambiance. The picnic tables remind me of a few places I've visited in Germany. At these tables you are almost forced to talk to strangers which is fun. We had a very fun night there meeting new people and having great food and beer. The long wait is a sign of a great place but will stop us from visitng for a quick meal. All in all this palce is great!

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    Food: 4/5, Service: 4/5. Beers: 4/5. Not your usual brewery food, recommended.

    (4)

  • Ira S.

    Best Microbrewery in the Midwest, and a fabulous restaurant. Incredible, truly Belgian atmosphere in an old funeral home chapel. Delightful staff. The food is original and creative... and just great eats. And the beer? Well, it is a true treat. These guys do it right.

    (5)

  • Lisa P.

    Will return to sample food. Beer was good, not best, but we will continue to experience it as it grows. LOVE the atmosphere there and enthusiasm of staff. Next review likely will rise.

    (3)

  • Julie Anne L.

    Had such a good time here! The Vivant Brune is tasty, service is quick and friendly even on a busy Friday night. The rabbit rillette was incredible, the cheese plate was above average.

    (4)

  • Ron R.

    Excellent...I met with their assistant brew master the other day and really enjoyed the conversation. The entire staff is very friendly and generous. Can't wait until your IPA comes out in a couple of weeks!

    (5)

  • Aaron R.

    Been here a dozen times in the last few years. I love the building atmosphere, the passion the brewers have for specialty ales, and the delicious (although very expensive) food. The beers are usually very clean, not always standing out as memorable though. A few are masterpieces, and the rest are either so-so, or a couple have been less than tasty for me. I love their sustainability approach. I've had awkward service here more frequently than other breweries or even restaurants. Last night our hostess greeted me with, "What do YOU want?" I think she was trying to be cool / funny... but she didn't let up. I ended up saying, "I just want some beer, may I go to the bar?" After getting a beer with my friend at the bar, and not having chairs to sit in, we told the bartender we're gonna sit at the giant, completely open bench. We wanted to sit on the very end in case some folks came in, which they did soon after. The hostess was seating them and I overheard her saying, loudly enough to be directed to us, "If these guys moved you could fit here." I was on the edge of the bench, and saw some available chairs opening at the bar, so I took it upon myself to get out of her hair and take a seat at the bar. She was nothing but unwelcoming, and rude. Other times were different situations, but resulted in me not really enjoying my stay, despite the beer. Not sure I'm up for a return to Vivant again. There are better brew pubs anyway. I'll keep buying their cans though! Big Red Coq rules.

    (3)

  • Jace B.

    Delicious food, great beer, interesting atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    Brewery Vivant was really great! When we decided to explore Grand Rapids, we first stopped at this brewery. Our waiter was very nice and informative about all the beer and food options. We decided to get a flight, and tried 2 beers and 2 ciders. One of the ciders had a hint of vanilla and cinnamon to it (it wasn't listed on the menu), which was unique and flavorful. All 4 were amazing. We also ordered escargot and beer cheese with pretzels to snack on. The beer cheese was delicious and rich and flavor, and my boyfriend loved the escargot. I could see additional menu options being equally delicious. We also learned how this brewery gives back to the community and strives to be eco-friendly through composting. Again, our waiter was really nice and gave us great tips for exploring the city. Definitely a nice place.

    (5)

  • Rhea B.

    Brewery Vivant is Belgian-style Beer Mecca. This is the phrase that comes to my mind when trying to summarize my thoughts on this brewery. Their combination of well-thought-out taps of outstanding beers influenced by Belgium, an elaborate beer list with many rarities, a food menu that continues to impress, and a year-round slate of exciting special events makes it not just one of the best and most-recognized breweries in Grand Rapids, but in the entire US beer scene. Locals are lucky enough to be able to visit this brewery whenever they'd like. However, visiting beer enthusiasts like me just wish they could. What you should get: Duck Confit nachos!! Purists might turn their noses up hearing this, but the duck nachos at Brewery Vivant have to be eaten to be believed -- Brie cream, tomato concasse (a fancy word for ground tomatoes), duck confit, caramelized onions, and duck cracklin' with citrus all on top of perfectly fried tortilla chips. Try any of the beers on tap, and you'll be in nacho heaven, which is perfect, considering this place is in a converted chapel.

    (4)

  • James S.

    This is one of the best brewery/restaurants that I have been to I all of my travels. I have no reservations at all about rating this a solid 5. First off the building is an old funeral home chapel and is a fantastic setting for a brewery that specializes in Belgian and French style beers. It almost feels like you have been transported to an old Trappist monastery. They also have a nice outdoor seating area. We had a flight of beers. All in the Belgian style and I have to say that they know what they are doing! We had the duck nachos. These are fantastic and not at all like any "nachos" that I have ever had before. They also have many other fascinating items on the menu I would have loved try. Service was great - Jessica took very good care of us. There is a parking lot for patrons as well as street parking. Hey, any chance you guys would consider opening a branch in Houston????

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    Brewery Vivant should definitely not be skipped! I had dinner here with a group on a Thursday night and was told that this was the best burger in town. I haven't had THAT many burgers in GR, but I was certainly pleased with this one. I had mine pretty basic with no cheese or anything. I loved the beef and the roll. I also really liked the bernaise sauce that came with the truffle fries! As far as the beer, I'm not a fan of Belgians, but liked each of the beers here that I tried. I really liked the seasonal (tropical saison)! Food and atmosphere were great, server was hilarious, but not necessarily my favorite beer.

    (4)

  • Mary P.

    When it comes to belgian beers, Brewery Vivant knows what it's doing. The founder was one of the original founders of New Holland Brewing, but it's obvious this place is more about keeping that craft beer feel instead of distributing across the country. The pub is in an old funeral home and chapel, which escalates that monk and belgian feel. Pretty awesome. It is a little dark if you have problems reading. The duck nachos are AMAZING!! I had the monk's salad with steak and sampled the beer. They cook the meat on the rare side (which is great for me) but keep that in mind while ordering. They do not have breakfast food on the brunch menu. Definitely give this place a try. The waitstaff is wonderful and passionate about beer. Our waitress even recommended a few more breweries to try on the West-Michigan beer tour my family was on.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    What an excellent brewery! They are serious about their Belgian beers and only exclusively brew and sell their own stuff. Their food menu is serious too with starters, entrees, and desserts. They have Belgian fare like frites and mussels, the frites are excellent! It also happened to be restaurant week and the food is great! $28 for three courses. We had trio of pate, pork chop over veggies, and flan with raspberry bacon and nuts sauce. Most of their items are locally sourced. The pork chops was so good! Seared and tendered. Our waitress Kate is so informative and explained the beers and flavors to us. Her service kept us happy on top of the beer and food. Highly recommend! Of all the breweries we visited we loved this one the best. And its nice that they scored this location in a chapel, Belgian monks brewed beer in the basement so it is very fitting.

    (4)

  • John H.

    BV was stop one of two with Bob G. The inside was comfortably cool on a hot summer day, just the way I like it, though some may prefer to bring a sweater. The French Olives (Nicoise, Provencal, Picholine) at $5 is the sort of appetizer I prefer, and a good value. Although the Tropical Saison is the glass I remember most, all the beers I sampled were very good. With Bob G. as guide, you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Katy S.

    Such a neat atmosphere! Brewery Vivant is located within an old funeral parlor in a beautiful area of Grand Rapids, MI. The inside was very neat to look at, but a little dark for our taste so we sat outside on a bright and sunny afternoon. The service was very prompt and they have a great beer selection. I went for a sampler of their most popular beers and they were all absolutely delicious. We also ordered a beer cheese sampler and the bone marrow. I had never had bone marrow before and wasn't a fan, but those at the table that like bone marrow said it was good. The beer cheese was a perfect afternoon snack. If you are into craft beer, this is a must try on a trip to Grand Rapids!

    (5)

  • Keegan W.

    Some interesting Belgian beers and food to be found here! I particularly liked Beasts a Burnin', a smokey red beer. The bar, too, is very inviting. I would totally hang out here on a Tuesday night.

    (4)

  • Rosemary T.

    Hands down one of the best places to eat in Grand Rapids area. Let's get straight to the food. Their menu changes, so may not see some of these items on the menu. The best dishes, however, will always be on the menu like the truffle fries and duck nacho. These are the two dishes you MUST GET. You cannot leave this place without trying either one of them. Their poutine is also extremely good... so if you got a large party, you'll need to work this dish in too. We also got their risotto, which is creamy, rich, fatty, cheesy and delicious. You may think to yourself, really? A pub place like this can make good risotto? YES IT CAN. Their risotto is as good as the ones I had in Italy. Mussel was another dish that we got, which fresh and light. It's a 'light' dish that brightens up all the other heavy dishes. Beer is a definite must get here... that's what this whole town is known for right? I got their blueberry cider, which is perfect for ladies who usually don't gravitate towards beer. It a little sweet and a little sour, with alcohol in it. Try it out, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Jamie L.

    This is my favorite brewery I visited in the Grand Rapids area. They have a wonderful atmosphere and the beer selection is top notch. The server we had was fun and very helpful. The menu looked amazing, but we only tried the bone marrow. They looked skimpy and without us saying anything, the server said she would have them cook another for us because they looked lacking. This place is a must try! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Lauren A.

    Words cannot express how much I loved this brewery. It is in an old chapel of a funeral home and the space is absolutely beautiful. It is pretty dark on the inside (which I loved) but they have outdoor space also if it is nice out and you are so inclined. My friends and I tried pretty much every beer on the menu. I thought I hated farmhouse ales, but their farmhouse ale was even delicious. The flights are served in 5.5 oz. samples (perfect) and you get either the 4 standards for $10 or a custom flight for $12. I feel like the mark of a really good brewery is that the beer tastes unique - like nothing you have had before. All of the beers at Vivant were like that for me. There was something special about all of them. The server we had was amazing as well. He took the time to talk to us about the history of the place and about all of the beers. He was super knowledgeable and clearly had a passion for beer. If you are in the area, this brewery is a MUST. I know there are a ton of breweries in Grand Rapids, but this one is top notch.

    (5)

  • Stacie R.

    I can't wait to come back on a non-holiday, random, middle of the day dining experience. Came here not realizing it was St Patty's day, but I was determined & waited an hour for a seat. The Duck Nachos were totally worth it. I would've waited for 2 hours for those bad boys. We decided to eat & run & try other restaurants, but should've stayed & tried more dishes. All the staff was super nice, even on one of the most busy holidays for a bar. Even providing water for those waiting in the lobby area. The atmosphere was fun, but not chaotic. Will definitely be making a trip just for those Nachos & more food & beer to try.

    (4)

  • Dave D.

    Excellent food. Burgers are fantastic and the Duck Nachos are a great start. I tried the Confit Pork hock and it was delicous. The beer here is great...give this place a try. Really different place

    (5)

  • Allison F.

    Brewery Vivant was our fifth stop on our Beercation. Our visit was just okay. A beautiful location can only get you so far in the brewery business. The beers were mediocre and the service was lackluster. Two bartenders behind the bar but it was impossible to get their attention to order anything. Jacob ordered a flight but only drank two of his four samples; the others were just not good. You've gotta be a Belgian beer fan to enjoy this brewery's offerings. If you're a non-beer drinker, you're out of luck... no liquor. There's no cider here, either. Bummer. That bathroom sink though? Five stars.

    (3)

  • Rhonda D.

    Really like the atmosphere there!! Very cool old church changed into a restaurant. The inside and outside have good seating. Burger was SUPER awesome. The bun was really yummy. 1/2 lb burger was a little bit too big to eat the whole thing but soooo tasty. Our server was amazing. It was our first time there. She made great suggestions to beer and also charred up my steak a bit more to my liking. :). I really loved the beer named Multi Pass named after the old school Bruce Willis movie "The Fifth Element". So awesome. Will definitely be returning!!

    (4)

  • Denny R.

    Food and beer always amazing. Wish (HOPE) they would (WILL) make more Sous Chef! Also highly recommend their beer cheese and pretzels, and the steak and frites.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Best kept secret in Grand Rapids. Staff is always great, beer is the best abs the burger.... Oh the burger it's the best in town. The onion marmalade they give you is to die for. You can't go here without trying the duck nachos , they are addictive!! By the way it's in a church so it's fun to take out of town guests. It will always impress.

    (5)

  • Kori Y.

    A lot of good beers to choose from. Cool old building . Always a crowd. Not had any food here yet.

    (3)

  • Kellie J.

    The duck nachos are probably my favorite food of all time so tasty! The poutine is also very good actually all the food is! The atmosphere is also super cool and unique I love the building its beautiful. They also have great outdoor seating!

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Brewery Vivant continues an interesting trend amongst breweries towards environmental awareness. Brewery Vivant, housed in an old church, is the only LEED certified brewery in the state of Michigan - and they love to tell you all about it too. Which, I enjoyed personally. Brewery Vivant offers great beers typically in the Belgium styles, including their popular farmhouse ale which is one of my favorite light-colored ales in Michigan. I love everything that Brewery Vivant is trying to do: I love green buildings, I wrote my Master's thesis on them; I love craft beer; and the world needs more breweries and less churches.

    (4)

  • Amanda W.

    We stopped in here after dinner on a Saturday night for a couple of beers. The inside area was packed, but luckily there was space for us outside on the patio. There is a separate bar outside as well, so there was no waiting or the feeling of being rushed to make a decision. Everyone we interacted with was really nice, and the beers were tasty. Overall the visit was short, but sweet.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Brewey Vivant was the star of a weekend touring Grand Rapid's many breweries. We had planned on visiting each brewery once but we liked this place so much we spent two nights here. Consequently I tried most of their beers and loved all of them. The beers are all amazing and unique...there are so many microbreweries that make basically the same beer but Vivant does its own thing. The beers are lightly carbonated and have complex flavors. I need to lobby my local Binnys to carry more of them. The brew pub is really cool too, it's a converted church or funeral home (I don't remember which) and really like feel like a monastery as advertised. The food is good too, we had burgers and frites and though they serve meat bloodier than we like it was really quality food. The merchandise is cooler than most breweries, their brand isn't plastered all over everything like most gear at breweries. I'd consider going back to Grand Rapids just for Vivant alone.

    (5)

  • Adam G.

    Every time I go there I love it more and more. Their beer is amazing. The Love Shadow a barrel aged porter is to die for. Rich, boozy and creamy smooth. I love sours and they have those as well. I wish it was a little closer to home. The food I had was great as well. And my only complaint is that the food is a tad on the expensive side and the seating is kinda awkward. They have tables where you might be seating across from another party of diners. The beer however is great. I take home a 4 pack or two every time I go.

    (4)

  • Jon N.

    I was in Grand Rapids for a conference and one of the conference attendees sent me to Vivant for what he claimed was the best burger in GR. He wasn't kidding! It's an old church that now looks like a Belgian abbey. So wouldn't you know it... they serve belgian ales. The key to the burger is the fact that they grind it in-house and don't overcook it. The meat was juicy and flavorful. And the bacon marmalade is incredible! What's even better is they are big on sustainability so much of what they serve comes from a radius around the city so you know it's fresh. I did have a new beer, the Fly2Coq, which was a bit hoppier than the others I tasted. I found it more complex than some of the other belgians I tried. There's almost a slight citrusy sour taste to the belgians which makes it interesting. I have to bring my wife here when we take a drive up to GR. She doesn't like beer but I think she will love the church feel. I"ll get to try another belgian ale then!

    (5)

  • Maureen M.

    I love Brewery Vivant. I love it a lot. Visiting the brewery was the highlight of my trip. I love that it is a former chapel. Very fitting and great atmosphere. We didn't order any food, just beer. Beer was the priority. I am a fan of all of their beers except Farmhouse Ale (just too light for me). We ordered a flight of 4, plus ordered 2 pints. Of course, I had to order my favorite BV beer, Big Red Coq. Despite the fact that the name is funny and a great conversation piece, I really like it. It's even better on tap. In our flight, we ordered the BlackHand, Sgt. Peppercorn, Perdition and Trebuchet. We enjoyed all of them very much! Our server was very nice and helpful. We didn't require much help, but he was always available. I purchased a stein and hat. The young lady at the register/hostess stand was also very helpful. They didn't have the t-shirt in my size. She let me know what they were ordering and when. She also wrote down 3 cab companies for us. It was sort of a long walk from downtown Grand Rapids. After finishing our beer, we weren't sure we'd be able to make that walk back. We really enjoyed our experience at Brewery Vivant. I love their beer and love the brewery. I can't wait to go back! Hopefully next time we'll try the food!

    (5)

  • Mark V.

    Love it. Food and beers are superb. Staff is always ready and very knowledgeable of the beers and menu. I wish this place was bigger! We return often.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    I went to Vivant for the first time recently as part of a group of 3 couples and had a good time. Photos make it appear larger inside than it really is, but if you get a good table, you can really get lost in the place. Former church with stained glass windows and an old world feel, almost medieval! The server, TJ, was a lot of fun-full of energy and very attentive. He actually gave his opinion on beers and food as to what he preferred and why. We were all over the place ordering-I had the Vivant flight-their 4 brews in 5 oz. samples-and enjoyed them all. Big Red Coq was probably the best beer I tasted all weekend, while Solitude was right up there. We ordered many plates and shared-the goat meatballs were good-only 3 small ones in an order, so go ahead and get a second order. Cheese plate was tasty, with a good selection, and the escargot was right on also. The best part of those was being able to sop up the buttery garlic goodness in the plate. So the hit of the night was the Duck Nachos. Quite possibly the best combination of queso (melted Brie, which could not have been more creamy or spot on texture-wise), pulled and lightly smoky meat (the duck was crispy greatness) with a cold tomato not really salsa atop the plate. Maybe the best part were the carmelized onions, which found their way onto almost each chip. The one issue was that the tortilla chips, while homemade, were very undercooked. Another 20 seconds or so, and this would have been ridiculous! Even so, we had a great time and really enjoyed Brewery Vivant and this is the main must stop at place in town.

    (4)

  • John K.

    I love the beers at brewery vivant, and the food os amazing, I was initially hooked by their duck confit nachos, they were amazing. The last two times I have been there they came out with a full plate of nachos with a miniscule amount of actual duck and sauce. I believe it is a cost cutting measure but it's pointless to order with the small amount of sauce. Hoping management changes this.

    (2)

  • Sally C.

    A much belated vote of gratitude & amazement for the beer dinner we experienced here during NHC June, 2014. We are 'beer tourists' & have been to literally hundreds of beer dinners over the years & I have to say I had low expectations for this one. We were sort of packed in, outdoors on a rainy day, the food was self-serve at stations. Not a recipe for awesome in my book. But it WAS awesome. The pairings weren't just 'food-that tastes-good-with-this-beer-cuz-geez-most-food-­does'... it was so thoughtfully paired, as in WOW, this food actually tastes better WITH this beer than it does on its own. The staff is just so proud of this brewery/restaurant that it shows, they were all so gracious. We were given tours of their clean, tidy little brewhouse, which was such a nice touch. Their excellent, often subtle, delicate beers poured freely, they were so generous & the food was just truly out of this world. What a gem this place is, makes one pine to be a local.

    (5)

  • Garth S.

    I took a chance and tried Brewery Vivant with my fam and my cousin visiting from CA. We had a great time and had great food. Our waitress was amazing and was very attentive despite a busy night. I had the lamb shank, my wife had the daily risotto, and my cousin had soup and the charcuterie. All were excellent. The beer was top notch, try the red coq. I can now recommend as a fun place to eat and drink. Can be a bit busy and loud due to popularity. The new chef and manager make a huge difference. Well done.

    (4)

  • Anthony J.

    The beers are all good. The wife and I had a couple of flights so we could try a bit of everything. Our favorite was the barrel-aged North French. As for the food, it's as good, if not better. The duck nachos will knock your socks off, and the poutine was also superb. Not healthy, but tasty. The fresh-baked pretzels were also delightful. Nice and cracker-crisp crust and a warm, soft pillow inside. The beer cheese dipping sauce was great, very lively. The dining room is a converted chapel, which was unique and adorable. How fitting for an homage to the homeland of trappist beers!

    (5)

  • Ryan And Sophie S.

    My wife and I are not from GP and this area and this was the third brewery we hit while staying in GP. We saw that they have outdoor seating looking at yelp so we decided to go. When we came to the place, we saw the patio with tons of people seated. We asked the hostess to be seated outside. Now mind you that this was 7 pm; we were told that the patio would be closed to people wanted to be seated there. OK. So asked the host to seat us inside. She seemed or acted that she did not enjoy her job. We sat down ordered a beer and some food. After we finished everything, I grab the attention of the manager to let him know that the duck nachos and mussels were good. He asked us if we would like to order the food specials. What food specials? The waitress never said anything about food specials. She was mediocre at best (typical of today's generation). I give this place a C.

    (3)

  • David M.

    Went there to grab a couple burgers Monday night. What a letdown. Ordered two burgers, one medium well and one well done. Both came medium rare. Come on, what's easier than cooking a burger to temp. And the ketchup.....gross. They only have their "housemade" version that just tastes like they mixed bbq and heinz 57. I only got a half of a pickle spear and it tasted like straight red wine vinegar and if you are going to be so pretentious that you don't even have salt and pepper shakers on the table your food has to be perfect. This is obviously not the case. The chef needs to realize he just works at a hipster bar not a real restaurant. If he wants it to be a real restaurant he needs to step up his game.

    (1)

  • John M.

    Great birra - food is hit or miss. They are pretty out of touch with euro dining and serving styles - but the beer is top flight for the area.

    (4)

  • Stacey F.

    This place is a hidden gem. Seriously. Find it and go there. You eat inside of a small beautiful old church. Makes you feel like you are in Europe...just for dinner Several of the hard ciders were amazing. The food was delicious. We had some sort of flaky tart for an appetizer, and a pork belly burger. Both were amazing. The fries were just so so. It took a long time to get seated on a Friday night, but it was worth the wait. Just snag a beer from the bar while you wait. I definitely can't wait to go back again.

    (4)

  • Brittany F.

    So yeah, this place is so cool. I love the old church building although, it says Chapel on the front door so if you aren't perceptive enough to read the sign above it, you may think you're going to church and not a brew pub. Anyway, I had the Triomphe. It's a semi-sweet Belgian with a healthy dash of hops. It was good but not overpowering. Truffle frites. Very good but not the best I've had. My friend had the garlic parsley frites, also very good. Goat meatballs. Very good but I needed a bit more. They were small, I only got 3 but they were inexpensive so I wasn't too torn up about it. All in all, it was a great experience. The staff was nice and didn't rush us and it was great.

    (4)

  • James N.

    So I'm from the Ann Arbor area. this place puts everything we have to shame. If your a sour series drinker grab 'farmhand'. Bitter/IPA, grab the Zaison. Looking for something strong or sweet? Grab the 14% Cheetah. This place is amazing and any beer snob will love this place.

    (5)

  • Chelsea C.

    We had an OK experience here. Didn't really start out on the right foot because our waitress made us feel like we had broken some important rule for "seating ourselves" after deciding not to sit at the bar- the place was virtually empty- and I get it, I was a waitress once too, but she could have been a little nicer about it I guess. She was fine after that though. Anyway, we tried the Black Rabbit IPA which was like a hopped up porter that my husband really enjoyed. I had the Helter Spelter which was a fruity pilsner with some earthiness and a sour finish. I liked it pretty well- tried the Zaison too which was a cider-like sour beer that I wasn't too keen on but it was OK as well. The atmosphere is pretty cool just based on the fact that it is inside an old chapel- but it is very dimly lit and definitely not what I would call a "jovial" or even welcoming atmosphere. There are a lot of wooden community tables and benches, a few regular tables in the middle and it appears to have an outdoor beer garden as well but we didn't venture out there to see what it was like. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for what BV has to offer that day but I just felt "Meh" about the whole experience. Unfortunately we did not eat here, which based on the reviews might be enough to take me back , but our experience was just so-so, so I'm not dying to return on our next visit to GR.

    (3)

  • Eric D.

    I would have never thought I would be drinking inside an old church in GR. This place was super cool.

    (5)

  • Caleb Y.

    There beer is unique. The building is great! The food is a great companion for the food. Overall, a fine experience and another wonderful brewery to add to Grand Rapids' thriving microbrew beer scene!

    (4)

  • Earl P.

    I liked this place. Its in an old funeral home, theres stained glass. A really interesting place to eat. Excellent wait staff. Great food great beer. I had a burger. Grand Rapids is really doing up some incredible burgers. Reserve, Winchester, this place, there are great burgers all over this city.

    (5)

  • Sean M.

    After a year of drinking many of Brewery Vivant's unique beers, I have come to the conclusion that they brew some of my most favorite beers in GR. I find myself feeling lucky if I find some of their beers in other bars about town. If you've never tried their beers I suggest you get your ass over to this brewery and get your drink on.

    (4)

  • Hope C.

    Probably the best Belgian brewery I've been to in the United States (although have not yet been to Ommegang). The interior of this gem is fashioned similar to Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, although on a smaller and more cozy scale. Drinking crisp brews that pay homage to monastic traditions amongst the splendor of church pews and stained glass is a sweet way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Flights are either $10 or $12, and for this price are honestly very generous helpings of well-balanced saisons, red ales and tripels. I most enjoyed the farmhouse ale - crisp, tart and light without too much of a sweet or wheaty kick. The tripel was also lovely, carrying strong notes of banana and orange peel without being overpowering. We didn't try any food but we did gander a peek at the menu. Not inexpensive by any means, the poutine ($14) absolutely caught my eye because of the massive portions in front of fellow beer-lovers, most of whom were shoveling forkfuls of gravy-doused frites into their mouths. I was jealous. I also noticed the impressive cheese selection, sold individually and by flight. The atmosphere at Brewery Vivant is convivial and friendly, with large wooden beer hall-style tables and benches filling the main room, forcing patrons to sit with strangers and imbibe. There's also ample outdoor seating in true beer garden style. You'd almost forget you're right smack in the center of commercial row Grand Rapids!

    (4)

  • Kyle M.

    The atmosphere is great. There beer is definitely on par with the rest of beer scene in Grand Rapids. The food is very good, but don't look to comer here for anything healthy. The duck nachos were out of this world!

    (4)

  • Meredith E.

    After a refreshing walk from Founders, we arrived at Brewery Vivant at 3:07pm. The kitchen closes in between 3-4pm. We were disappointed until we found out there was a brewery tour at 330pm. For $10, we got 4 samples of brew and tons of beer knowledge from our tour guide Chris. The old funeral chapel gives Brewery Vivant the coolest vibe. The beers aren't my favorite, but I would come here again in a heartbeat. Expert tip: Go wash your hands! Best bathroom sink ever!

    (4)

  • Ralph K.

    I loved everything about Vivant. The entrance is perfect, little gift store is awesome and the keg growler, amazing. Decor is great and the outdoor patio looks amazing. Food was casual with great ingredients! Beer, loved them all.

    (5)

  • Agnes L.

    It feels a bit sacrilegious to have missed mass during Lent but instead made it to this "church service" on a Sunday. I guess I could make the argument that, at least to some Yelpers, their Duck Confit Nachos are "life-changing" ... Eclectic environment- Set within a refurbished chapel, this brewpub is a contrasting yet complementary mix of modern and old. Peaked ceilings with stain glass and communal wood tables are reminiscent of an older, European countryside church. Local paintings adorn the walls to add some color and personality. One blank wall projected the MSU-Ohio State basketball game. (Go Green!) Meanwhile, the bathrooms offered hooks for purses and coats next to the flat, table-like sink. Beers to cheer- My husband and I couldn't help but share two flights during our visit. Overall, the beer is memorable for its unique and varying flavors. *Flight #1: Farmhouse (light and acidic from the "funky yeast" - hubby's fav), Triomphe (a bit hoppy, not my fav but wasn't overwhelmingly bitter), Solitude (my fav of the four with its combo of tart and sweet from the pear/raisin/caramel), Quad (even sweeter than the Solitude because of the addition of brown sugar despite its 11.55 percent ABV!) *Flight #2: Arctic Sunrise (suggested by our server, more citrusy and summery), Helter Spelter (again, a bit funky from the house yeast but not in a bad way), Menage A Trois (darker beer with hints of chocolate), Wood-aged Beer of the Day (a bit sweet with the cherry making it similar to a wine or after-dinner liqueur) Filling up on the food- We weren't starving but we were in it for the long haul because we wanted to watch the game as well as sample as much beer as possible during the break in our 6-hour commute from Boyne Mountain to Chicagoland. Overall, the food was just as unexpected as the beer. I loved the boldness (but would have appreciated a little less salt). *Apps: We shared the escargot (at our server's suggestion) and garlic parsley frites (based on other Yelp reviews). After having snails in Paris, we were curious to compare ... and we honestly enjoyed these more. They were already conveniently shelled, yet super tender and meaty with each sitting individually in little pools of buttery, herby sauce that I couldn't help dipping the bread into afterward. As for the french fries, my husband and I do not normally opt to eat these at any restaurant as we see them mostly as fillers on the plate, but these ones were delectably different for how garlic-y and crisp they were. *Entrees: Of course, we ordered those aforementioned "life-changing" (according to other Yelp reviews) Duck Confit Nachos along with the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese En Croute. The nachos were nothing like I have had before. Hearty, shredded duck with melted, rich brie and juicy tomato chunks all on top of freshly made tortilla chips. OMG. To. die. for. The mushroom dish added more to our cheesy goodness as a piping hot pot of ooey gooey, melted goat cheese mixed with meaty, woodsy mushrooms, potato chunks and pieces of leek underneath a light puff pastry and fried chard. These were picture perfect examples of comfort dishes fit for a Midwestern winter. Best beer-food pairings out of a bunch- My husband and I seek out places like this, especially when tooling around Michigan. Ultimately, this is one of those meals I will remember for the fact that both food and beer were equally high quality. Not to mention, the service was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was absolutely not cliche. I would come back here and I recommend the restaurant to anyone who drives through the area.

    (5)

  • Br. Francis B.

    I brew my own beer so I am always looking for a nice microbrewery to try something different. This pub did not disappoint. The beer was outstanding. If you love rich Belgian style beers with complex taste profiles, search no further. The food was also wonderful. We had the Camembert prosciutto app which was very tasty. I would have given this place a 5 star rating but the server was a bit squirrelly at the beginning of the meal. Highly recommend this place for anyone who appreciates a good Kruger of beer.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is my favorite place to bring out of town guest to get the full GR Food and Drink Experience. The ambiance is very cozy and social, they have amazing beer, and the food is phenomenal! Just get "The Burger" it will change your life. By far the Best Burger in Grand Rapids.

    (5)

  • Arvie M.

    Beer was really good, but overpriced. The food was okay, but somehow our order of duck nachos and weisswurst took almost an hour. Really? For 2 small sausages and some chips with home made dip? The server was nice and smart about the menu, but the hostess seemed lost and bothered. Great beer but not so great everything else. I won't go back.

    (2)

  • David C.

    Good Belgian Beers and obviously a GR and tourist favorite. Inside has a real heavy-handed medieval feel. Lovely old brick church, with ivory painted plaster walls, but not much light enters, and it was raining outside so we did not experience the outdoor patio. This did not help in setting a great mood. I regard Vivant as a must-see on any GR beer tour but definitely can't say it's a must-return. We also had a bit of a snarky waitress until we calmed her ass down with Cincy kindness (how dare we sit at the mostly EMPTY community benches inside the brewery church without being seated, when we first told the hostess we would go to the bar...). PS Bar was too full, beyotch. Decor: Original, old concrete floors; sparsely decorated; very, very church-like still. Gotta tell it like it is: I give this place major kudos for their creative beers (Big Alcohol Content with many). I also give them 4 stars for sticking with the Belgian style of brewing; they are indeed resurrecting Belgian beers on US soil, much like Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown NY). These are not my favorite US craft beers, but nonetheless inspired Belgian brewing tradition. Salut. However: I give a big thumbs down for the somewhat dark, dank, original, and (current) uninspired design work. Would I go back? Maybe --but-- only to see if I was wrong the first time and to hit the patio for a sunny vibe. Their beers are good, but I've drank equally good Belgians. The physical environ (inside) detracts from a sense of lightness and fun. I can't justify the other 4 & 5-star reviews on this basis alone. I would not want to while away my afternoon here; it's just too oppressive inside and I'd keep looking for my King James hardbound or Sarah Mclachlan in the next pew. (Am I experiencing guilt for drinking in church?) (We did not eat here; no comment other than reading it's very good but expensive).

    (2)

  • M K.

    The atmosphere was the best part of this experience. It is in an old church. There is a beautiful stained glass window behind the bar. I only tried one beer, I thought it was just ok. After reading the reviews on here we decided to get the duck nachos. I wasn't impressed. I wanted to like them, but there was really something lacking. I thought they were pretty bland. We also ordered a meat and cracker assortment. It had some odd mustards and meat we had never heard of. It was just okay. I was really looking forward to this place on our beer tour, but I was just really let down. Service was good though!

    (3)

  • Lukus T.

    Belgian centric gastro pub. beer list is all Belgian influenced. I realize this is a destination pub but I'd personally like to see a bit more variety. they do have vandermill ciders which is a nice addition. duck nachos were predictably good, they seem to be the stand out item. poutine was very nice. burger however wasn't anything I couldn't get for half the price elsewhere. service was somewhat slow, though. decor probably appeals to some but to me feels dated. overall it could have been a four star, but the price and general "snootiness" (ie salt on request in a ramekin) was off putting. would come back, but wouldn't necessarily recommend.

    (3)

  • Rochelle A.

    Nice place. It was my first time here but it's a place my husband wanted to try. I happened to pick this one because of the rating & reviews. It was a wait to get in. About 30 minutes before we were seated. I got a blueberry cider from the bar which was great gluten free drink. My husband got the Triple & at dinner the Undertaker beer. He liked that one more. The waiter was great and attentive. The seating in this old church was different, we were placed at a long bar table with bar stools. You get seated at the same table with other customers but it doesn't feel that way. For an appetizer we had the duck nachos which were yummy. For dinner I got the Putsin. I has those in Maine but these were different. A bacon gravy in top of fries and cheese curds. My husband got the pastrami sandwich with fries. He liked it. I would go again when I'm back in Grand Rapids.

    (4)

  • Glenn V.

    How did I not eat here with a menu that is about the most attractive and mouth watering I have read in a long while? I'll tell ya-my friends have the culinary palate of 3rd graders. But I made up for it in the consumption of some of the best beers I have had in Michigan. Ancho: Chili peppers with a Belgian Yeast-dark and full bodied. Cambier Flight: Sure I'll have another Ancho-Spicy Wit Knight-Very Spicy Escoffier-My personal favorite and Peppercorn with as you can guess a peppery kick. Old world brewing traditions are clearly top priority in Vivant's brewing process and the atmosphere is just unbeatable.

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    The pretzels and beer cheese are fantastic. The beer is pretty great, too. And the building itself (an old church) tops it all off

    (5)

  • NeEddra J.

    Apparently Grand Rapids is the Midwest's Microbrewery mecca, and this place is like it's crown jewel. Incredible food, delicious Belgian brews and an awesome ambiance. Try the burger, gnocchi or duck nachos. If it's still in season, get the Love Shadow which is aged in Jack Daniels barrels and tastes amazing for those of us who prefer maltier beers. Oh, ambiance: this brewery is in an old chapel so the stained glass windows, arches and long community table gives it an old world feeling that goes so well with the old world beer and good eats.

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    My favorite brewery. My favorite burger. I could stop there, but I'll share more. I love the beer. Reason, well it's drastically different then Founders (also good, but I like the Belgian style more). I enjoy Solitude and Big Red Coq, a very nice amber style ale, but their seasonals are where they excel at from the late spring contemplation honey beer, summer zaison, the fall's Sgt Peppercorn (I've found people love or hate due to its peppery tastes) and winters plowhorse stout. But, I love the frites with the bournaise and I love the burger even more. The bacon marmalade is awesome and I enjoy a place that cooks a burger to order and if order a medium burger, it's nice and red in the middle and succulent on the outside. For me, best burger in GR (Stellla's is second) My wife will go meatless and is a fan of their risotto, for me it's a side dish type of item versus a meal, but she really enjoys it. The soft pretzels with the beer and cheese dip is our appetizer of choice.

    (5)

  • Cliff M.

    I've been here twice and have really enjoyed it. Most people come here for the beer and it's quite good but the food might actually be better than the beer! As another reviewer points out, the beer here is definitely Belgian. It's not my favorite style but I've still enjoyed some of the brews here. The Farm Hand is smooth and drinkable if you want something that's a little more subdued and light on the spices. The food here really surprised me, it's really good. Everyone raves about the duck nachos: I thought they were okay but they didn't blow me away. To me the main attraction here is the burgers: they actually blend bacon in with the burger meat and it's just sinfully delicious. Melts in your mouth. The frites are awesome too. I've had the steak and it was cooked nicely and tasted great. The atmosphere is really cool: a converted church chapel with the bar right in front of some beautiful stained-glass windows. There are some big tables with bench seating and some other regular tables and chairs throughout. Service has been a little hit or miss. One time the waitress just wasn't as attentive as she needed to be. The other time our waiter was on top of things and made some good beer recommendations as well.

    (4)

  • Amber J.

    Amazing!! My only complaint is that we didn't have dinner. We sampled all of the beer and had the bone marrow appetizer and it was all amazing. Such an eclectic thought out menu, great beer and staff we will definitely be back the next time we are in the mitten.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    I went here for the first time on my latest trip to GR and was delighted to see the final product of the renovations I'd seen for so long. It's a church that's been converted into a rad little brewery and eatery. There is plenty of seating and the ambiance is really fun. My date and I split the flight and had the arctic sunrise as our fourth "choose your own" the other three were the farmhand, solitude, and triumph. the arctic sunrise was our favorite and the farmhand was good as well, but the solitude and triumph were just alright. There were no belgian unicorns, and by that I mean that stellar make the world stop flavor that's always present in belgian beer. The food was expensive, but you get what you pay for. We split an order of mussels that was adequate for two in portion and came with fries and some stellar fried bread for dipping. The flavors exploded in our mouths and made us want more. We practically licked the plate clean! I would definitely recommend this place and will be going back with the hopes of finding another beer that I like even better.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    I don't really like beer very much, so this review is for the food. I appreciated that they served Vandermill cider as an alternative to their brewery options. Food was a little bit overpriced. $6 for fries? $19 for cornish hen and waffles? High, even for Chicago prices. The quality of the food was wonderful however. None of us were particularly hungry so we ordered snacks for the table - parsley fries, truffled fries, duck nachos and the cornish hen and waffles. There wasn't much duck served on the nachos, but the nachos were quite loaded nonetheless. The fries were a smidgen over salted but were quite addictive. Oh the waffles. Simply wonderful! That dish was executed perfectly. If it wasn't so expensive I could have ordered two just for myself. If my husband and I visited the brewery again, I might just do so! Service was quite slow, even taking into account how busy it was. Not a fan of the communal seating on the patio, but we were given more than the average amount of room between the other parties. The brewery itself was rather pretty - enjoyed looking around at the re-purposed church.

    (3)

  • Gary M.

    My family & I visited Grands Rapids this last week and stopped atBrewery Vivant in the early afternoon. The brerwey was closed, it was 1:30, but after walking in I met Brooks who not only provided a tour of the brewery but indulged me in providing a sample of two "sour ales" after I expressed a interest in this realitive new type of beer, at least for me. We returned for dinner, great meal & suburb service with a beer flight to win over any non-Belgium beer consumer. I purchased a case, different styles, to take back to Kansas and enjoy for much too short a time. Beautiful facility, great staff and wonderful beer.

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Best burgers, frites and beer in GR! Great food, excellent service, fun and unique atmosphere. It is understandably busy on weekend evenings, so either prepare to wait at the bar or fill your growler and enjoy some Red Coq at home.

    (5)

  • Christian B.

    Good -- not quite great -- but you'll probably still be glad you came. First, take its Belgian posture at face value: The beer is indeed Belgian style, unapologetically. In that way, Vivant is unique among its other Michigan brewery peers, who typically specialize in ales and stouts. The downside is that if you don't love the Belgian style, this place is three stars at best. I have yet to find a must-have beer at Vivant, despite numerous visits. Farm Hand is the most middle-of-the-road option, and their chocolate stout is getting better as they tweak the recipe. Overall, the beer isn't bad, but I forget it once I've left. Clearly there's a variety of opinion on this topic: Some people swear by Vivant's style, and good for them. The taproom is built in the shell of an old chapel. It's gorgeous, though noisy, and not big enough to hold the crowds this place draws. Expect to wait for a table nearly any night of the week. The food is great, but overpriced. Their $12 burger is delicious -- I've had it -- but it's not $2-$4 better than the burger at any other East Hills restaurant. Bring a group of your friends, and if you don't mind the wait, you'll probably have a fine time. That said, if you only have time to visit one West Michigan microbrew, you might enjoy Founders or New Holland more.

    (3)

  • Nicole V.

    This is an absolute must see and experience brewery! I was told about Brewery Vivant by a coworker and made sure to stop off just to see it for myself. The space is an old chapel that is absolutely charming in a very nostalgic and romantic way. The last thing you expect from a micro brewery. We were there for Sunday brunch, I ordered the biscuits & gravy and they were seriously in the top 3 I have ever tasted...delicious! I also had a sampler consisting of my choice of their special brew. They had a seasonal sour at the time that was on point. This place is really something special and they couldn't get it more right! I'll definitely be back any time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    So happy we decided to check out Brewery Vivant! Husband and I shared a flight, and found each beer to be absolute perfection! Also shared the poutine, which was amazing! Will definitely stop here again before we leave town. Only issue is the wait, but that is to be expected with a place this awesome!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Good food but nothing special. Heavy Belgian cuisine. Very pricey. $130 for four of us. Fun atmosphere. Excellent service. Full selection of nice ales. Good place to go. Doubt that I would go again. Overpriced.

    (3)

  • Sarah D.

    I'm not a huge beer drinker so I don't know how well my review will be for the knowledgeable beer folk. But I have never had a bad time here ! Their food is creative and delicious. Quite daring but not for a high cost. They use local which always wins my heart over and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable not only about their beers but also their food. I'm a whiskey girl. So I was directed to a couple different beers they had available aged in whiskey barrels. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was also surprised bc some of the beers were light and some darker. (Which I never thought I was a huge fan of dark beer). Def. my fav brewery in town, you don't get the cold shoulder if you look out of place, extremely helpful. My only complaint that it is occasionally hard to find a spot to sit. But then again that can't be a bad sign right ?

    (4)

  • Mathew S.

    I came here with my grandma and we both found reasons to love the wonderful beers, food, and service!! The atmosphere was great and the menu was varied and delicious! I started with the soup of the day and a beer flight which were both great. For my meal I enjoyed the delicious sausage and clam bowl. It was a perfect cold weather meal to lead into the holidays!

    (5)

  • george r.

    This place is clearly outstanding in both beer offered and the old chapel itself. I'm not a beer drinker normally, so the waitress gave me several small samples; all were great. If you go with the idea that it could be in europe you'll be ready for all the beers and the strong flavors in the "bar food" Go early and/or during the week as it can get very busy (which they don't do well). The hamburger is outstanding. Bottom line- great place to enjoy food, fun , and beer.

    (5)

  • Karol C.

    Visited yesterday for the first time. There were empty tables but I'm guessing short staffed as service lacked. Sat for 5 minutes before anyone even addressed us. Then was told by the waitress she couldn't get to us for another 10 min. Really? So we got up and moved to the bar for better service. Ordered beer... No issue. Ordered duck nachos and told they "we are out of that". Viewed the menu again and decided on the PBLT... And told again.. "we are out of that too". Pathetic. Got some fries, finished our beer and left to have lunch at the GR Brewery instead. Not impressed.

    (2)

  • Alissa R.

    Brewery Vivant has such an eerie church feeling that it's actually a pretty awesome atmosphere. Our server was a little slow. We tried a variety if beers- the farm hand beers tasted like lemony water but we loved the Red Coq. The Duck Nachos were to die for! Cool place!

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    If you have loads of disposable income and want to blow it on $12 dollar sausages, hamburgers, $16 dollar pasta dishes and high end designer beer .... then this is the place for you. One star added because the whole former chapel look is pretty cool.

    (2)

  • Laura C.

    In a quaint part of Grand Rapids, Cherry Street hosts a handful of restaurants, galleries and shops that provide a small town vacation getaway feel. Brewery Vivant sits in a converted church that has an open interior with some communal tables and an outdoor patio complete with a bag toss area. The brews are tasty, and the duck nachos were recommended to us. With all the ranting and raving, I was a bit disappointed. Some of the nachos were chewy, and the brie cream a bit overpowering. For the price, there could have been more duck, but it was a nice change from the standard nacho app. Brew tours are held on Saturdays and would definitely make for a fun afternoon.

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    Very unique food and awesome Belgium beer. On a hot day, the patio just rocks. As a local, this spot is perfect for an evening drink and the servers are really good at getting to know you. The burger is to die for. I don't normally eat a lot of meat but this grass fed burger will keep you going! Oh, and don't forget the frittes!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    OK. Wow. I met-up with two great friends and an absolutely perfectly cooked, high-quality burger. I added Gruyere and garlic parsley pomme frites on the side. I licked my fingers...and damn near licked my plate! Simple, and properly done. Great atmosphere; outstanding beers. I could spend A LOT of time here. Can't wait until my next trip to GR!

    (5)

  • Tracy M.

    Local. Artisan. Sustainable. Fresh. Natural. Green. Seasonal. -- Delicious, local sourced, quality gourmet food. SO, SO GOOD! -- Fabulous, knowledgeable, no-pressure, friendly service: THANKS SHAWN! -- Yummy, one-of-a-kind, expertly handcrafted Belgian beer. LOVE FARM HAND! -- Amazing Historically Preserved 80+ year old building, (current Pub location was once a Chapel to a funeral home, and still has the beautifully crafted stained glass) THEY RARELY MAKE ARCHITECTURE LIKE THIS ANYMORE You don't get all this for free. The prices reflect the quality of the local food and Brewery Vivant's dedication to pay their staff wages they can live on. If you want cheap,low quality food, go to Taco Bell with the rest of the teenagers. Brewery Vivant is for grown ups/foodies that like gourmet, sustainable, quality food. I appreciate that Brewery Vivant has thought of the business as a whole, not just as a place to of profit. Truly a great model for all food establishments. This place is a gem! I saw the Brewery Vivant presented by Chef Amy Sherman on "The Great American Brew Trail" on WOTV4. I knew immediately that I would like the place, but I never thought it would be as great as it was! LOVE IT!

    (5)

  • P J.

    I went there twice since last week and both times they amazed me . One thing you always find in vivant is the loyal fans who almost check in every day . I have a lot of respect for breweries who try to give their customers a great experience . Arguably vivant is the best brewery in Grand Rapids who does that . It all starts with their spectacular renovated old church . Once you are inside the beer pour from all the sides of alter. They have great food menu which include duck nachos . Hehe that is a heAping peace of pure awesome . I haven't tried any other items . But the loyal fans always insist the greatness of food there . The best thing that you might like there would be company of normAl great people . Yes, founders do have great beers but vivant will give you a feeling unlike any other brewery in great beer city

    (5)

  • M F.

    Beer tour is amazing; veggie oyster mushroom burger and meat burgers out of this world. And then the beer... Stock up! Wood aged beers are phenomenal. Plus the church location is great. Please open a second site in Lansing!

    (5)

  • Rob E.

    Poutine and Duck Nachos made for one fattening experience at my new favorite place on the west side of the state. Spouse had a pork dish with gnocchi (weird combo right?) , friends had the chef's market to table creation (goat meatballs.....um hell yes please) and also some risotto dish. This place made me want to cry out in appreciation. Sampled a lot of the beers - Blackhand is an amazing black ale created with biere de garde yeast....and I want more. I have been wanting to come to this place for a long time now, and I am so happy it did not disappoint. Oh, plus it is in an old church. I would totally come here for church regularly.

    (5)

  • Josh Y.

    Duck. Confit. Nachos. #heavenly. As one of our many stops on a Michigan / Indiana brewery tour, my buddy and I stopped in here not knowing what to expect. The medieval church was pretty awesome in itself. The bar although a little oddly shaped kept to the theme. The stained glass behind the bar, the pews, everything was pretty cool looking. I love the logo. We took a seat at the bar, which was packed, but it seemed as though a majority of the crowd was there waiting to be seated at a place across the street, so that gave us the idea that this place didn't have good food. Most of the people in there you could tell were not beer drinkers as they were ordering wine. We ordered the duck confit nachos as we drank our sampler. The beer is so-so. A couple of beers were a little better than meh, others, not so much. When we got our nachos they looked like a mess, but tasted like heaven. We wanted more. Since this is a brewery and the beers were ok I don't want to rate this so high. The nachos are what will make me go back for more.

    (3)

  • levramosis H.

    This was my third visit to Vivant. The first two were just after they opened. The menu is ever evolving, which I appreciate, even if I miss a few dishes from my first visit. I'm not a belgian beer fan, because I don't like the taste of belgian yeast. I'm not going to review the beer because that would not be fair. They do offer Vander Mill ciders, which I love. The burger here is stellar, especially if you like bacon. It is a flavor bomb in a great way. It is savory and sweet, acidic and salty, soft and crispy. Simply great. The bun does a great job adding flavor, keeping the whole thing together and collecting the juices without being tough. The fries were freshly made and an excellent example of a proper belgian style french fry. We also had the mussels. They were quite average. The broth was uninspiring. The mussels were well cooked and the toast nicely done but the whole dish was generally unsatisfying. Service was prompt, helpful and attentive. The environment is very cool, if a bit loud.

    (4)

  • Kiki T.

    We sat inside in the middle of the afternoon. The atmosphere is very cool, with it being obvious that you are sitting inside an old church. Our first severe was in attentive and informed us, after we tried to order, that they were out of several things (beer and some food). Soon his shift ended and we got a better server. Than things looked up. We had an incredible cheese plate and beer cheese with pretzel appetizers. Super!!! Between our party of 5 we had most of the available beer- all very good and they have a good selection of styles. The burgers were delicious! If you are in Grand Rapids, this place is certainly worth a stop, possibly even a second stop. Excellent!

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    Earlier this week my husband & I went to BV for the first time. We had heard about it and knew it was time to give it a try. We truly appreciated the great server we had that was extremely knowledgeable with not only BV beers/ciders, but other brands not served at BV. He guided us in selecting beers that we would like (or LOVE!). I would suggest buying a beer/cider flight, so you can get a sampling of what they have to offer. The food was very unique and good, but not incredible. We felt it was a little pricey for what it was. We do look forward to going again though and trying something different.

    (4)

  • Joey J.

    Michael Jordan in game 6 versus the Utah Jazz. Kirby Puckett in games 6 and 7 versus the Atlanta Braves. Dinner at Brewery Vivant pretty much any night. Sometimes, you just can do no wrong. Grand Rapids has spent the last couple of years either holding or co-holding the title of Beer City USA, and Brewery Vivant is its Hall-of-Fame player. So far, I've been there four times, and I've never walked away without my mind blown. From the perfectly cooked hamburger with truffle fries to the creamy and savory duck confit nachos to the freshness of their farmer's market meal, this place never seems to disappoint. Then, there's the beer component, which is pretty special on its own. The owners have redesigned an old funeral home into a Belgian Abbey. As such, every beer they make has a Belgian twist to it. You'll find the usual reds and wits here, but my favorite is their Belgian take on the IPA. Also really, really good (albeit really, really seasonal) is the pumpkin, which is about as close to a glass of pumpkin pie as you can get. There's a reason why I always push to go here when the wife makes a push to go to GR.

    (5)

  • Randall D.

    Love the beer, love the space, and love the french fries!!! Menu has some Vegetarian and Vegan options at times. The beer menu has a lot of great information on it for craft beer nerds. Certainly a place worth visiting even if you aren't into beer as the interior of the building is gorgeous.

    (4)

  • Barbra J.

    So, I'm visiting family on a trip back to Michigan. My aunt suggests, let's go to this great little brewery in near downtown and have some homemade brew. We get there, and first of all it's this great little old church that they've converted into a brewery. The service was awesome Our waiter recommended a few different flights of beer and also some great food. We Had a great time with my family here for drinks. Highly recommend great beer and did i mention the oysters!!! Mmmmm

    (5)

  • Craig G.

    a most unique environment, really very cool. Friendly & Knowledgeable bar staff. a great place to hang out with a group, bench style seating is perfect for that. I like the vibe of the place. Good mussels, tasty beer and root beer. the only negative for me was the coffee is not fresh and held on a hot plate, which is too bad because they buy really good coffee beans. Might as well just get a Keurig type machine.

    (4)

  • Lola J.

    I love the beer (Big Red Coq and Triomphe being my favorite) and the atmosphere is pretty cool...loud and laid back. Unfortunately, I am consistently disappointed in the entrees. I've been here several times for dinner (not always by choice) and I have never had an entree that I thought was better than "okay." I will say that they have an excellent cheese plate, fries, and my husband says their burger is very good. I also feel like the food is expensive for the quality. I don't mind paying a higher price for something excellent, but the entrees here aren't excellent. Three stars for great beers, cool atmosphere, but disappointing food.

    (3)

  • Mighty M.

    Thank you Brewery Vivant for having vegan options so that I can enjoy your cool atmosphere and delicious beers! I had the barbecue mushroom sandwich. So flavorful with just the right amount of heat, and who doesn't love a pretzel bun? I can't say enough good things about the truffle fries. Truffle oil is what I imagine to be the food equivalent of crack. You need these in your mouth! The beers are unique and come in a variety of flavors. Love Shadow tasted like thick chocolatey goodness, and I am into that. My friend loved the kick of the Sargeant Peppercorn flavor.

    (4)

  • Vanni T.

    It has a unique atmosphere, and the beer is good, but the food is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. $19 for 1 lb of mussels (it was an extra $5 upcharge for fries). The mussels were also cold, p.s. What you pay for, really, is the atmosphere. BF loved the beers. I'm ambivalent about the place. Like the other person said, if you've got a lot of disposable income, go on ahead and get 20 cents worth of fries for 5 dollars.

    (3)

  • Lindsay C.

    This place is very unique; its in an old church, which is pretty neat. There is a large bar to sit at, plus some booths and big long tables. The benches are hard but it's pretty unique and different. We had the beef with french fries- garlic fries for me, regular ones for my date. Both were yummy and the garlic aoli was awesome. The beef was super tender, cooked just how we ordered it, and had a very yummy sauce. We tried both of the ciders (apple and apple-raspberry)- both were a little dry, fruity but not sickeningly sweet which was nice. They also have fabulous root beer which they brew themselves I believe. The place is not cheap, and I would've given it 5 stars were it not for the fact that the entree was a little skimpy; just the steak on the plate and then some fries on a separate plate. Some veggies would've been nice, or a salad to start or something. We also had a dessert- creme de pots- which was delicious. Brown sugar, caramel with an apple cider gelee on top. Super yum.

    (4)

  • Dan H.

    Brewery Vivant is just what Grand Rapids needed! Belgian style beer, most people either love it or hate it. I happen to be in the first category. I have spent some time traveling through Bruges and Brussels. Vivant has managed to capture that European feel. Every beer that Brew Masters Jacob & Brian have released are wonderful, and each uniquely different from one another. Chef Drew puts out amazing dishes that will make you salivate the next day just thinking about them. The staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. They've always made it a point that when they introduce themselves, they remember your name. Vivant is my home away from home.

    (5)

  • Eric G.

    What a great place! went here with some friends while in town.. The IPA was well balanced and delicious.. That is the only beer i tried but everyone seemed to enjoy what they were drinking.. The food was incredible. Seriously, the duck confit nachos are amazing! the chips are homeade, and the entire dish is incredible. I can't wait to go back and try more of the food. The burgers were pretty damn good as well. Someone said they have bacon ground into the patties. Make sure you go here while in the area.. or make a drive to g.r and check this place out.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    I went to Brewery Vivant for lunch (and a beer, of course). I will be back! I had the crispy pork belly BLT ("fried green tomato, aioli, butter bibb lettuce; pommes frites). Let's break down the elements of this sandwich. - Bread: Slightly buttery, perfectly grilled ciabatta. Soft and pillowy, with just the right amount of crunch/crispiness to it. Heaven! - Pork belly: Very thickly sliced, more than 1/2" thick. Very flavorful and browned/slightly crispy on the outside. Mmm! I did get sick of this as I kept eating, though. I can only eat so much pork belly in one sitting. - Fried green tomato: Fried perfectly. The tomato was still kind of cool in the center. The contrast between hot breaded outside and cool tomato center was wonderful. - Butter bibb lettuce: Kept its cool temperature for a very long time, which I loved. A lot of times, when you get a burger or sandwich, the lettuce and tomato have been sitting on the plate for a while and get all warm. Not this lettuce! - Aioli: Garlicky and good. I recommend getting this on the side. Overall, it was delicious. A little too much pork belly for me. (Note: It was also 95+ degrees out that day, and I was covered in sunblock and sweat. I probably should've gotten the watermelon feta salad instead.) You could get truffle pommes frites or parsley and garlic. Sadly, my frites were overdone and tasted burnt. To drink, I had the Contemplation. Besides having an awesome name, this beer was delicious and refreshing. The boyfriend had the Farm Hand: French Style Farmhouse Ale. This was easy to drink and also tasty, but not as complex. The rest of the menu looks great (hello, duck confit nachos, burger, and poutine!). Looking forward to going back the next time I am in Grand Rapids.

    (4)

  • Brian P.

    This was a cool place in one of my favorite areas of GR. I was here for an early dinner with my fiance and her family. My experience had a few hits and misses. The beer was good. I had the IPA which I enjoyed. We also ordered a sampler, and I enjoyed the other beers as well. Our table ordered the duck nachos. They were decent, if anything slightly underwhelming. I thought they skimped on the duck. The flavors were there, though. I had a burger for my meal. I ordered it medium, like I normally do. It definitely came out on the rarer side of things. I know I could have sent it back, but I didn't feel like causing a ruckus. The prices also seemed a little on the high side. Maybe it was just me. I'd go back again, as this place had a good feel to it. Everyone else I was with enjoyed their meals. I just feel that this place has potential to be better.

    (3)

  • Vanessa B.

    Nothing special going on here. The building is cool, the beer is okay. The food is pretty mediocre. Maybe I went in expecting too much, or maybe I shouldn't have come straight from Founders, which is ultimately my favorite brewery in the country, but either way I wouldn't go back to Vivant.

    (2)

  • Angela R.

    Had a great lunch, creative menu with interesting combinations. Loved the brew selection and the building is awesome!

    (4)

  • Justin F.

    My GF and I came here for the first time with her brother from out of town. We arrived at around 7:30 or 8 on a Saturday night. The place was hopping. We were told the wait would be around an hour so we decided to grab a drink from the bar. Although there was no where to sit at the bar, we were served promptly. After about a 45 minute wait (under promise, over deliver!), we were seated. We all ordered the burger, which we all agreed was great. It came with fries (I had the garlic and parsley) which were the highlight of the meal for me. We sampled a variety of the beers. I cannot remember the names, but all went down smoothly. The service was great as well. We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    The best burger I've had in Michigan to date. This is a big deal, folks. Brewery Vivant is like the kind of dream I don't want to wake up from that happens to include Belgian-style beer, bangin' burgers, charcuterie galore, a damn good indie playlist, and bicycles hanging from ceilings. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to find out. This burger, an enormous patty of freshly-ground-on-site-daily beef and marrow, sits atop a soft but dense pretzel bun, and is accompanied by a hydroponic tomato slice, bibb lettuce leaf, onion & bacon marmelade, and bearnaise mayo. Crisped and salted to perfection, a heaping portion of fries is the perfect complement. Is your mouth watering yet? I've been to Vivant four times now, and each time, I can't resist ordering this thing. I mean, it's so good, it's practically sinful. I suppose it's convenient (or just plain ironic) that while consuming this feast, I'm also sitting in church. Yeah, the space was converted from one place of worship to another--and beer is my religion. This is the kind of place I want to bring everyone I know to--it's incredibly unique, but there's something for everyone. If could eat here all the time (without burning a serious hole in my wallet), I would. Until then, Vivant, I will savor you in reality and in dreams.

    (5)

  • Cortney B.

    My favorite watering hole in GR. traditionally I don't care for most Belgium beers however I have really liked most of the beers Vivant offers. Escoffier which was brewed with New Belgium is awesome if you get a chance to try it. The food is not cheap and you get what you pay for. Seasonal menu with items you won't find anywhere else. If you don't know what to get the default to the burger, it's amazing. The ambiance is great but if you are looking for a quiet night this isn't your place. I really like the communal tables, nice touch. I've been to the top 50 restaurants in GR and this is in my top five without a doubt.

    (5)

  • Donato C.

    An excellent menu, fun atmosphere, and great beer!

    (4)

  • Gretchen D.

    Excellent fresh beers in a lovely setting (the old chapel of a mortuary). The food was excellent. Son loved the duck confit nachos. The garlic and parsley frittes were good but we preferred the plain frittes that came with the burgers. The pork, the chicken and tattagilari entrees were all very good--well presented and tasteful. On days Fulton (farmer's market) is open they have a chef's special prix fixe for $20 ($25 with beer tastings)--sounds like a good deal. Service was adequate but not really very good. Sound can be a bit loud. The are a part of the shop/eat local movement. An great addition to Grand Rapids!

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Went there for my birthday and we were pretty pleased. The food was outstanding. My burger was perfect and it was on a cool looking pretzel like bun. My girlfriend ordered the house made sausage and she loved it. The only bummer, I had planned on trying out their Big Red Cock but they were out. That is why there is a star missing. We certainly are going back to this place.

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    I went to Brewery Vivant about a week ago. We had the watermelon salad (which was outstanding!). I tried the Zaison ale. It was also awesome. The only thing I have in the realm of criticism is that the server was a little aloof. Good at the start, but then at the end, someone else cashed me out b/c they couldn't find him either. The atmosphere is a little loud, but overall, it is one of Grand Rapids coolest gastro pubs.

    (4)

  • Abby M.

    I love this place. I like the open atmosphere. I also like that the energy has become positive since being converted into a brewery from a funeral home. The darker Belgian ales were wonderful and the sour ales were terrible. The food menu was pretty small, but I was happy with my grilled vegetable soup and duck confetti nachos. I highly recommend coming here. Make sure to get "the flight" (the sampler) to properly enjoy a variety of beers.

    (5)

  • Zach M.

    Best burger i've had in Grand Rapids. It is that good. I love the atmosphere of the place as well. The unique setting in the old church has a cool vibe to it. Only downside is that you will be waiting for a table for quite awhile on busy nights - it's not the biggest place.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    Such a good experience at Brewery Vivant! My girlfriend and I stopped in for dinner. The place was packed, but we avoided the wait by sitting at the bar. The bar staff was friendly and efficient. Beer was impressively complex, diverse, and flavorful. Great Abbey Ale, Saison, and the aged IPA was unlike any I've had. So good. The menu isn't real big, a rather small selection. Bit you can tell that they're not neglecting the food here either. They do a few items, and do them very well. Great atmosphere, cool bar, very good staff, and lively crowd. And that's not to mention the very exceptional food and beer... Brewery Vivant is a must visit.

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    I struggled with how to rate this place as my anticipation and expectations were off the charts, as the few Brewery Vivant beers that have made their way to Chicago were really great. All of which may have been further skewed by the following: 1) It was our fourth brewery of the day 2) We walked 1.4 miles, some of which was slightly up hill, to get here from Grand Rapids Brewing Co 3) The heat index was 100+ By the time I got here I may have been hallucinating or even thought I was actually in Belgium for all I know. But from what I can piece together: 1) Reallllly cool setup inside the brew pub 2) Duck nachos smothered in Brie! Seriously! I would walk another 1.4 miles just for those! 3) The sausage plate was dyn-O-mite, with perfectly cooked sausage, nice tangy sauerkraut, and a spicy but not too hot mustard. 4) The beers were still pretty damn good, even though my hallucinations may have caused me to remember something better, though I have no idea what. My notes tell me that the Maple, Zaison, and Solitude were all great, though the Monks wood aged ale was my favorite. 5) My hallucinations have mostly stopped. Regardless Brewery Vivant is a winner.

    (4)

  • Jamie M.

    My husband and I had lunch here today and split the hamburger that was a mixture of beef and bacon grilled and served on a pretzel roll, it was excellent. We each had different beer that went down so smoothly. We highly recommend this place if you are looking for a change or something different.

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    This place is a brew pub that distributes in liquor stores and grocery stores in the immediate area. The build-out is fantastic: the building is an old funeral home and the bar area is the old chapel and they have retained all of the architectural details from the original building. THE BREWS Their beers are very hit or miss. Their Farmhouse Ale is very light but tasted like the yeast produced a lot of alternative products giving it an unintentional and misplaced sour flavor. The Hubris is a really great beer and tastes like caramelized bananas. It is a complex and high alcohol beer. The Triomphe IPA is decent but hardly an out of this world IPA. THE TOUR The guys who were hosting the tour were very informed and the tour was very casual and quick. There was more beer tasting then actual tour. The beers they gave out on the tour were bad, ok and good (I can't remember the names). It was asked what size test batches they do and they said they brew everything on their 20 barrel system. No wonder they have a beer name Hubris! (This also explains the hit or miss nature of their beers. THE FOOD We didn't have any food while their but the prices are definitely on the high side for the area. OVERALL It's a fun place to check out and take the tour but if you're looking for more consistently better beer Founders isn't far.

    (3)

  • Debbie C.

    Brewery Vivant belongs in a top 5 list breweries in the U.S., and I'd argue the world. Not just because of the beer, which is spot on, but for the ambiance, and the food. They've got it going on, on all fronts. Go now, before everyone else finds out about this place.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    Two words: beer church! Yes, the bar is where the altar once was and the whole place has an awesome "Medieval Times" (but better) feel to it. The beers are great, but the food is way pricey. During the summer, there's lots of outside seating, but the inside part is pretty small so you might not get in during the winter. I liked the "Maize and Blueberry" ale.

    (4)

  • Keith C.

    I've never had so much fun in a church. Aside from their amazing craft beer (some of the best in the GR area), they have a really unique food menu. We ordered the escargot, the braised short rib sandwich, the burger, and multiple pitchers of heavenly beer. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    This is a MUST if you're in Grand Rapids. My husband is a brewer in Chicago, so we made the trip to GR and Brewery Vivant for business purposes. The owner and brewers are extremely nice and very passionate about what they do. They have the customer in mind, always. The food is creative, unique, but still gives you that comfort food feeling. The beers are perfection. Do not pass this place up!

    (5)

  • Allan M.

    Vivant's hand crafted Belgium style beers are decent, I like their Belgium IPA and the Farmhand ale most, not a fan of the stout. I have not tried their food....yet. Both Community and personal seating available. Vivant is a re-purposed old church perfect for a Belgium style brewery, but they need to do a little bit more with the monotone and somewhat boring interior. They have a great base to start with, they just need to get a little more creative. Also, the place has the faint smell of grade school cafeteria, maybe it's just me. Definitely a place worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Lizz C.

    I'm not sure what to say here: 1. I love beers, especially sour beers. They have sour beers! 2. I love food - we had the duck confit nachos with brie and duck cracklin's. I don't know how to beam to you the luscious taste of these nachos, but I currently have a little shrine in my house to them, I burn a candle to them weekly. The service was excellent. The only quibble I had is that they have a beer named Big Red Coq. The server refused to say the full name and actually worked around the full name with various permutations whenever he could. Seating is either at the bar, a few private tables or some big community tables in the center. The atmosphere was very pleasant and welcoming, with a medium amount of friendly chatter between friends and family members. I was extremely happy with my and my husband's experience here. When we are next in Grand Rapids, we will be back.

    (5)

  • Zach S.

    Coolest place ever. Got the trout and a Big Red. Rhubarb waffle for desert.

    (5)

  • Addie S.

    Great atmosphere, very unique. Farmhand ale is gross but whatever fruity cider beer they had was good. Food was over priced and mediocre but the chef was very polite and you can tell he cares a lot about his kitchen and cleanliness.

    (3)

  • Jenny K.

    Even though I've heard many mixed reviews, I had high expectations for Brewery Vivant, and I have to say, they have been met. I liked just about everything about this place, except for the fact that it was so damn packed. I'm sure in time it will die down a bit. I ordered a sampler of 4 different beers, all of which I loved. Especially the farm hand and amber. It came with cheese, which was sweet, and they don't skimp on serving size. For dinner, I ordered the pate, which came with bread, tiny pickles and Dijon mustard. Very, very nice. The menu prices are expensive, but in this case I'd say it's worth it. If you don't want to spend over 10 dollars for a meal, get the frites. They might just put HopCat crack fries to shame. I'm a big fan of the decor, mostly because I've been to Belgium, and it really does match the architecture of the buildings in that country. The owners have most certainly been to Belgium, because this place is super authentic--the atmosphere, food, beer. 5 stars all around. .

    (5)

  • Bigboss A.

    Love the beer. Very strong brewery smells, so be prepared for that. Haven't tried the food, but it looks great.

    (4)

  • Steven C.

    I'm a beer geek who lives in Chicago and recently spent a weekend traveling Western Michigan to visit the sources of the many delicious Michigan brews that we Chicagoans are privileged to have distributed to our area. Our stop in Grand Rapids was intended for Founder's, but we were pointed to Brewery Vivant, which we had never heard of (makes sense knowing it just opened) but having been there now, I would've been devastated to miss it. Foremost, Brewery Vivant has an unparalleled ambiance. Built into the side of a mortuary and decked out to look like a Belgian monastery, you are getting an experience. The dimly lit pub was packed on a Friday night as you'd expect with a new brewery, but we found some space on the long wooden tables in the center. I'd normally shudder at the lack of privacy, but it created the lively and social environment that the founders were clearly going for and we had a fun time even in our short stay. The beers here are incredible experiments with Belgian-style brewing. The Farm Hand was the most popular choice looking around the bar, so there is definitely something for those who aren't the connoisseur type, but we had to experiment. I had the Triomphe Belgian IPA which was your typical coriander-heavy Belgian ale but swimming in the hoppiness of an IPA, two great styles rolled perfectly into one. The bartender let us sample the most complex beer on the menu, the Kludde Strong Ale in addition to an off-menu version of the same beer aged in Jack Daniel's barrels. These were some of the most complex flavor profiles we encountered on our trip and I cannot wait for Vivant to begin distribution to the Chicago area. We only tried one appetizer, the Rabbit Rillete, your traditional French spread well-executed with excellent butter and mustard to help complement the gamey flavor of the rabbit. You will mostly not find a ton of traditional bar fare, but you could certainly tell that an effort was made to provide food (pomme frites for example) and beer choices that would appeal to those who feel most comfortable in a traditional brew pub setting.

    (4)

  • Lindsay D.

    Wow, really great place. In a town that's really making a name for itself with beer, GREAT addition. My brother had been wanting to check this place out, so 6 of us went on a Saturday night. We called ahead and said we were on our way and they saved a table for us, total bonus! I tried a beer sampler and enjoyed most everything I had. Then settled on the Solitude which is a really great beer. We all shared the Duck Confit nachos which are not to be missed and I had the burger which was EXCELLENT. Yeah, it was an over indulgent weekend - but so worth it!! Only tiny issue is our server seemed a tad annoyed with us, maybe because we were a bit indecisive on what beers to get - but to be fair, we'd never been there. We were sure to tip him well for his patience. Can't wait to come back in the summer and play bags outside in the Bier Garten! **Side note, we were able to find Solitude at a local grocery store and took some back to Chicago!

    (5)

  • Sabrina C.

    This place is just so cool! It is unlike any place I've ever been too. And I hear they have a cornhole tournament?! Freakin' awesome! But back to the review... I love that they really take the time to consider the taste of each beer, enough so that they have a million different types of glasses so that each beer poured tastes as the brewer had intended it to. I kinda really dug the whole decor of the place. It is in an old church. There are booths, there is a large bar to sit at, and then there are the "cafeteria style" benches.. which we sat at, and I really liked it. I want one of those tables for my house. You step into this place and its like you go back in time, like to a time when vikings would have dinner together. So cool.. And the food.. they have some interesting picks, but sooo good. It is french cuisine, which is so different than the usual Grand Rapids eatery, but so amazing. I encourage you to be open-minded and try it. And btw.. the french toast!!!! Left me speechless!!!!!! Seriously, each and EVERY bite melted in my mouth! I didn't even know that french toast could do that!?!!! And the bacon on the side was REAL bacon. So impressed. I am just SO IMPRESSED!!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    The place opened two days ago and I've already been twice. It is an 80 year old building found in East Hills. It had been used for many different things before it became a brewery (including being an old monastery). My brother in law is helping to make the building LEED certified and sustainable so I learned how the toilets and lights are efficient, how the tables were the sides of old farm buildings, and the booths are also recycled wood from one tree, etc. The acoustic make it hard to hear. They currently have about 3 Belgium beers and a few food options. The beers are good and it draws a lot of people who've packed the place every night. The staff are so nice and friendly. Grand Rapidians must've been hankering for a new watering hole and this place has plenty of character to boot.

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    Excellent beer and ale in the Belgian tradition. In a town with a vigorous foodie and restaurant culture, Brewery Vivant stands at the top. Interesting and varied menu. Charming and comfortable atmosphere. Helpful and knowledgeable staff.

    (5)

  • Kensey W.

    i love brewery vivant!! before i came here to eat, i knew that made one of my favorite beers to have in the summer, their farmhand ale. i had no idea they were in grand rapids, so when a friend mentioned they had a whole pub of foods, we had to come here. i had the pretzel and the duck nachos, both of which were great. the pretzel was huge and soft as it should be, and the beer cheese it came with to dip was perfectly hot and gooey too. the nachos sounded so good i couldn't resist and got those for my meal. it was the right thing to do. the nachos were light and crispy, the cheese delicious and creamy, a light tasting brie perfectly complimented the saltiness of the duck confit. it was a huge huge portion and i only wish i could have eaten it all. one of my friends had the monk salad, which was also really big and very fresh. she did say that the fennel in the vinaigrette (the biggest draw for her since she loves fennel), wasn't as strong as she'd hoped. i also got a beer flight, which included the farmhand, but also introduced me to a new favorite, the big red coq. service was really great and the setting is super nice too, in an old church. we had to wait about 45 minutes, which we found out was pretty typical, but it's on a nice street, so walking around would be a good option! overall a great experience and i'd love to come back for one of their weird poutines.

    (4)

  • Brooke K.

    I can't believe it has taken me this long to review this place. I LOVE LOVE LOVE'D their Belgian style ales, the old chapel vibe, and the funky cool sink in the bathroom (check it out). I first discovered Brewery Vivant while reading an article about the 14 weirdest brewery locations in America. I read that this brewery was set in a former funeral home...pret-ty cool! We were heading to Michigan in a few weeks and I was "dying" to check out Brewery Vivant. No pun intended. Everything about this place screams cool from the wooden beams, to the high ceilings, to the kick ass doors, the stained glass, the flights of beer served in tulip glasses, the duck nachos, the servers...I felt like I needed to work on my coolness to stay here. Apparently their brewer used to be a New Holland Brewing founder so yes indeed their beers were good. We only ordered the Duck Nacho's. I must say they completely lived up to their hype. There were so many other things on the menu that looked great like the roasted bone marrow and the cheese boards however, the Duck Nacho's at $16 and flights of beers quickly added up, we had to part ways. Please note, I would pay whatever price to dine on those Nacho's again - best nachos I have ever had! Bold statement but true! One final note, you can find Brewery Vivant beers in cans. Cool place! Can't wait to come again!

    (5)

  • Griff G.

    This is great spot with a cool interior/exterior plus a very extensive beer list for being a micro-brewery. I can't imagine anyone who enjoys a well crafted beer wouldn't be able to find something they thoroughly enjoy at Vivant. Staff was knowledgeable and very friendly, and the burger + Garlic Parmesan frites were terrific. Local spot everyone should check out.

    (4)

  • Scott S.

    When I rolled into town and pulled up my Yelp app, I was astonished to see how many brew pubs were the highest rated restaurants in Grand Rapids. I ultimately settled in the one that mentioned "Belgian" in the title, Brewery Vivant. Now, I am doing a low-carb thing, so beer doesn't draw me anywhere. I can't help you if you want to know more about the quality of the brewery. I will say that their beverage menu is extensive. First off, the place looks great. It is either built into or styled after an abbey, with stained glass and long tables that evoke pews. You enter and exit through the gift shop, which I find to be a bit tacky, but they have to get their branding out there somehow. I started with the Confit of Pork Hock. Incredible! The meat was tender and moist, and the vegetables were a perfect accompaniment. If you have the scratch and you love some meat, make this your pick. My second visit (!!!), I got the mussels, which were served in a delicious tomato broth. I don't think mussels are as satisfying as clams, but that has nothing to do with Vivant. The wait staff were incredible. I will come back and name names when I get hold of my receipts back at the hotel.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    The atmosphere is dimly lit though not too dark. Placed inside an old Abbey. There is a community table inside to add to the feel of the place. I ordered a burger with white cheddar served with frites (fries). I ordered a draft root beer. Lastly salted chocolate ice cream. The burger was very good on a very sturdy tasty pretzel bun. No BBQ sauce though. Good bacon onion jam on top, good call on their part. The frites were the best part, so very good indeed. The draft root beer is definitely the 2nd best thing, even at $3.50 per glass. The ice cream was ok. Sadly the service was subpar, it takes more than friendliness. The service after ordering was slow to almost non existent. Took 10 min after my drink ran dry to order another. At one point another server grabbed my empty without asking if I'd like another. Minus 1/2 star for no bbq sauce, minus 1 star for sub par service, minus 1/2 star because this burger falls into my GR burger list at #7 vs the $15 cost. Plus a 1/2 star for excellence of root beer. Plus a 1/2 star for excellence of the frites. Equals a solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    In my opinion Vivant gets it all right. The beer is top notch. The food is amazing. The atmosphere and people are great. They are environmentally and socially conscious. Farmhand is a solid standard beer. However, I usually opt for a firkin, or another special brew. Food is great. The truffle fries are wonderful. But so is everything else.

    (5)

  • Stephanie E.

    Love the community seating. Sat with some cool people. The duck nachos are just as awesome as everyone says!!! However I am sad that it was really the only Gluten Free option. Come on this is East Town. They really don't like you waiting here at all.y husband and I wanted to sit outside and we were willing to wait. The staff was not... lol they added a table for us outside. Very nice of them. The beer was good,my husband got a burger and said that it was ok, but really it was just a burger. Not the best burger but not the worst either. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Phil M.

    Amazing Belgian style beers served in cool glasses (everything is great!). And yes, the setting is very fitting. Beer is 6 stars.....food is 4.5. Get the poutine......it changes all the time......when we were there it was a chicken curry poutine. Now normally I wouldn't get curry anything outside of an Indian place, but this was very good. I wish I could go here every week......but unfortunately, I live 12 hours away in VA.

    (5)

  • Elle N.

    If there was an Olympics in hospitality, Brewery Vivant would take Gold. Awesome beers, especially loved Pothole stout, Big Red Coq, and Sgt. Baker. Plus they have awesome poutine! Brewery Vivant, you win!

    (5)

  • Jim R.

    I have eaten there and had beers there maybe 6 times. Great each time. The building is just superb, if you do not mind drinking in an old church. Don't worry, I don't think that will make or break your entry into heaven--bring St. Pete a farm hand ale and you're in like Flynn. The beer is good (it's beer) but I have to say that the food is really the star. Check the menu before you go, it will be inspired. Simple, primarily rustic food that is really freaking well made. Bravo. Traditional booth seating plus several family-style, large tables so you can be social or have your own space. You can wait a bit longer than normal for a table and/or service, and the place is so loud it is hard for me to have a conversation. Oh, and parking can be a crap shoot. Otherwise, this is a 5-star, destination-worthy watering hole/restaurant. A real gem of a place.

    (4)

  • Suzanne S.

    Brewery Vivant is a place that knows itself well. The beer has a distinct style and taste. I always find the beer to be well-balanced and thoughtfully crafted. Better yet, the food at Brewery Vivant rivals its beer. Best food of any Grand Rapids brewery. Order the burger--best burger in Grand Rapids. It might be good enough to turn a vegetarian into a carnivore. Also upgrade to the garlic frites. My only criticism is that the duck nachos seem inconsistent. The first time I ordered the dish, it changed my life. But about a year late, the dish seemed to have less duck and consequently less flavor. The duck nachos range from devastatingly delicious to just tasty. Bottom line: This is the brewery that we always keep coming back to over and over again.

    (5)

  • Ashley M.

    I live in East Hills and I seriously cannot believe I hadn't been to Brewery Vivant until this past weekend. I'm SO glad I decided to wise up- because this place is really, really wonderful. Beautiful ambiance, I mean a really gorgeous place to sit down for a few drinks or dinner. Beer: The Sous Chef amber (which I honestly typically hate amber ale) was freaking DELICIOUS. So bright and clean and flavorful. Food: Order the truffle frites. Just... trust me. I feel like truffle-anything can be over rated and it has become quite a cliche but these are heavenly. Amazingly fresh potatoes made with truffle oil. I'll dream of these. Oh, and the soft pretzels with bar cheese? I don't even want to get into it because it'll come off way too intense here, but- perfectly soft freshly baked pretzels and bowl-licking incredible cheese (that lacks any horseradish which you may expect.) This is really another must-visit for any tourist and must-frequent for any resident!

    (5)

  • Jeremiah D.

    I have been here several times, but somehow have yet to leave a review. Brewery Vivant is a local Grand Rapids brewery that resides inside of an old remodeled church. I absolutely love their layout, because they are able to take advantage of every square foot. I'm not a huge beer drinker. I do like their cider that they have on tap from Vander Mill. One of my favorite dishes, not only here but in the entire Grand Rapids, is the Duck Confit Nachos. The gathering of fresh tortilla chips, duck breast, tomatoes, and the metallic cheesy sauce is awesome. The order is huge, and should be for the $18 cost. This is more than I usually like to spend for a meal, but they are damn good. Another choice I've had is The Burger. This is one of the better burgers I've had. It's always cooked just how I like it, super moist and awesome flavor. I recommend the frites to go with it. Brewery Vivant also breaks out the projector, which they play many important sports games involving teams in Michigan. Overall this is a hopping place and should be on the list of any beer enthusiast.

    (4)

  • Andy S.

    I've been to plenty of breweries' pubs/restaurants where the food is merely an afterthought. Brewery Vivant is not one of those restaurants. The food and service were so good that I would recommend to anyone -- not just beer drinkers -- looking for a great French/Belgian food experience. The converted chapel just makes for an awesome ambiance for a brewery that specializes in brewing Belgian style beers. The interior is beautiful and the stained glass window behind the bar is a perfect centerpiece for the entire dining area. Your eyes can't help but be drawn to it. Our server greeted us promptly and reviewed all of the food specials and was very helpful with my beer flight selections. He was extremely knowledgeable about both the menu and the beer, of which there were quite a few selections. I went with two of their special cask-aged beers and some of their high gravity selections. The food was tremendous. If I were rating on food alone Brewery Vivant would get 5 stars. I ordered the pastrami sandwich which has homemade pastrami topped with bacon saurkraut which was the star of the sandwich. It was seriously the tastiest pastrami I had ever had. It was served with the pommes frittes which were clearly hand cut and delicious. When we heard that their dessert special was a paczki flight we knew we had to order it, and am I glad we did. Three mini-pazckis were served with a healthy portion of different custards and cremes in the middle and topped with fruit glazes. It was incredible! Brewery Vivant is now my favorite brewery to visit. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Tim W.

    I thought the beer was good. The service was prompt. I guess the food ok, it just wasn't the type of food or prepared the way I'm accustomed to having at a brewery. I guess they were trying to make the food in a European style. I'm glad I checked the place out, but I probably won't go back. Isn't my style.

    (3)

  • Lex N.

    The beer was delicious! However slightly disappointed by the food... The gravy on the poutine was full of cartilage so made for a not so pleasant texture in an already sloppy dish. The pickled vegetables they put in a lot of their dishes were good. The atmosphere is good especially if you like craft beers and hipsters. I'd go back for the beer.

    (4)

  • Tammy H.

    Ok food, good beer, nice place.

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    Great place. Lively atmosphere, great beers. The poor waitress spilled an entire tray of beers next to us and 2 of the gentlemen in our party tried to assist. She graciously brought us all a round. Didn't try the food but I would make a point to come back. Very cool!

    (5)

  • Tamela P.

    The food and service were great during our visit. Love the vibe. We took our 2 yr old and she was very much welcomed there.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Snapshot: Unique Belgian-style beers in an incredibly unique restored monastery, knowledgable staff and a fantastic menu for quick bites or meals. We stopped in here on July 4th during our trip to Grand Rapids. We both had a couple different beers, and found them to all be satisfactory. Their Dunkel was by far the best for me, but I'm not an overly ecstastic belgian style beer fan. My wife had the Big Red Coq, and loved it. Very malty IPA-esque beer with tons of flavor. In addition, we both had the pretzels and pomme frittes. Frittes were standard fare, with a tasty bearnaise aioli. The pretzels were quite good, but a little different than your standard soft pretzel. They tasted like they may have been fried. At any rate, still a tasty option. We will be coming back here again to try their seasonal beers next time we are in town.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    The building is an old church, which is awesome. Super cool environment. I've had Vivant brews and other bars and restaurants and have enjoyed everything so I couldn't wait to see what they had to offer at the source. There were a bunch of seasonal beers on the menu that I hadn't had elsewhere. Rye porter was great. We had lunch as well. I split the burger and duck confit nachos with a friend. The food here is heavy, but it hit the spot. Everything on the menu sounded good. They're going for a French/Belgian thing. Our service was ok. We weren't in a hurry so it didn't matter too much.

    (5)

  • Ron R.

    This place was very nice, it had a very good theme. The server was very nice and polite and the beer was amazing, it's all Belgian beers which is quite hard to come by in Michigan. I had the Undertaker, the Psycho Pomp, Dubbelicious, and the Farmhouse. Each beer had a unique taste but not a single beer was bad they all had great flavors, it is definitely worth the stop to c it is a place that you can sit, have a drink and enjoy the environment around you. They do sell growlers as well as having an amazing gift shop.

    (4)

  • Natalie C.

    I REALLY l like this brewery - the atmosphere is cute and the building is actually quite pretty. We opted to sit outside in their back patio area since the weather was really nice. Service was friendly and efficient - and we ordered a few rounds of their beers (my favorites were the Psychopomp and the Zaison) and shared a plate of charcuterie between a few friends. Will definitely come back the next time I'm in the Grand Rapids area.

    (4)

  • Jim M.

    I'm dubious of places with French names, I worry they'll take it too seriously. Brewery Vivant trends to upscale, and seems more of a restaurant that makes its own beer than a brewery that serves food. The former church makes for an impressive setting, and seemingly every available space is utilized for restaurant seating, and oh yeah, there's an alcove tucked between the dining areas where they serve beer, and a couple of vats are wedged in next to that as well. There's an expansive courtyard full of outdoor seating, and a surprising amount of bike parking, but I ended up having to chain mine to a lamp post nonetheless. I occupied a high-top in the bar alcove, and then went to the bar myself to order my own beer. I tried the Farm Hand Farmhouse Ale, and it was light and refreshing: well crafted. I don't recommend skipping Brewery Vivant, but if you're just looking for a beer, don't expect a warm welcome. And do expect to wait or get it yourself. That being said the Bar Back was very friendly, and courteous, and the only reason why they got 3 stars instead of 2!

    (3)

  • Aly O.

    Impressed with this incredibly gorgeous brewery. Our bartender was very friendly, the beer is phenomenal, and the place is cheerfully packed.

    (5)

  • Katy C.

    I agree that the duck nachos have become less wonderful over the past few years. They used to be perfectly covered with sauce with tons of duck. Now they're mostly a pile of dry chips. It's a bummer, especially since they are still the same price.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth F.

    We ended up going during smoked week so I had ribs. They were considerate of my gluten and dairy allergies. My co-worker had the burger and he really enjoyed it. I had ribs and they were good but I could not have the BBQ sauce since it was made with beer. :(

    (4)

  • Allison F.

    Thank the Lord that HopCat in Indianapolis made Brewery Vivant a guest brew this fall. It's holding me over until I can make it up to GR again. Do me a favor and bottle your beer? UPDATE: the Yelpers have spoken: you DO bottle your stuff. Further, I remember drinking a bottle at Frontera Grill in Chicago. DUH Moment! Perhaps my question should be : Can you bring the old funeral home here?

    (4)

  • Rocio R.

    The best burger I've ever had, bacon marmalade is all I have to say. Hands down their food is amazing, we came here on a recommendation and it was the best food and great beer selection. You can't go wrong. Try the duck Nachos and have a burger. The multi-pass beer is great too.

    (5)

  • Cassandra N.

    I know, I know...everyone raves about the duck nachos. If you haven't tried them then you wouldn't understand why. You Must Try The Duck Nachos. They are outstanding! I dream about them. Seriously. Nice atmosphere, great servers and always have some fantastic ciders available. They get serious kudos for having Tandem's Greenman on tap. Love me some Tandem! Thank you for being fantastic, Brewery Vivant!

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    On a number of occasions I have let the words, "heaven on earth" slip out of my mouth when describing this place. The menu is regularly changing and the food has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for the burger. Yes, you want the pecan smoked bacon. Yes, you want some cheese on it, I'd recommend gruyere. It'll come with a little pickle slice that is a little different than your typical pickle. I think it's the perfect level of brining to balance the natural flavors of the cucumber and the brine. Also has an onion jam that I typically slather onto my burger. It's a beautiful medley of flavors. For those that are a little adventurous, I'm always impressed by the entrées. When you get your plate, remember that each ingredient was chosen and out there for a reason. It's not just about dealing with hunger, but also playing with your palate. Cut small slices of each ingredient and try different pieces together with other pieces. If you got a flight of beers, it's fun to see how the flavors compliment and enhance one another. The staff are friendly and can speak very well about every item on the menu. One of my strategies when I can't choose a dish is to narrow it down to two and ask the server for his or her opinion. They are competent guides through a carnival of flavors! Unfortunately, I am leaving Michigan soon, but I hope that I can find my way back here again. Brewery Vivant, well done. Very well done!

    (5)

  • Claire V.

    If you're new to the area, go on the brewery tour for samples galore and for a little history on this great brewery. You get a free mini glass too! I highly suggest Paris for a sour beer and Undertaker for a dark. Guaranteed you'll love it! Went here for the first time memorial weekend and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. Great beers, staff and atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    I was underwhelmed, decent brews, but the atmosphere was a little "odd" feeling, for lack of a better term.

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    Love the beers and the atmosphere. We did find it a bit pricey, but you're paying for quality food and drink and excellent service. This is a must stop for beer enthusiasts in the area!

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    Review/rating is based on the beers and App that I enjoyed so much! My buddy and I took a road trip to Grand Rapids from Chicago and this was our first stop in the city. The building and ambiance was unique. I loved the stained glass window being the first thing you see when you walk in. We both got a beer at the bar while waiting for our table. The two that we ordered was absolutely delicious! We decided to not eat entrees and just got our own flights at the table. Usually there is one out of the four beers in my flights that I would dread drinking, but not the four I choose for this flight. They were all really good. We also ordered the bone marrow appetizer :thumbsup: and a goat cheese to split. Our server was absolutely great as well! 5 stars!!

    (5)

  • Mike O.

    This place right here. The world needs more places like this. An old funeral chapel converted into a stunning brewery with awesome food. And the food is as great as the concept. There's a cool bar at the center alter area, and wooden tables all around. The food is just crazy good. I had pastrami that caused me to rethink my whole life. I've had awesome pastrami in my day - look, I've been to Los Angeles. I know good pastrami. But this stuff? This stuff right here? Whew. Made me break a sweat. My coworkers tried a number of different things, and we tended to pass bits around to sample, so I tried a few bites of other dishes, now all lost to my blurry memory but all of it insanely good. The service was super spot-on. Very cool and friendly folk working there - they took care of our large group like we were VIPs. Very cool. There was a fun crowd there - people were in a good humor and in good spirits. There's a little gift shop in the entry-way - we all bought t-shirts to take home with us, and they had hats and books and other cool things. All in all, a great time was had by all and if I'm ever back in Grand Rapids, I'll make a point to come back to the Vivant. It was full of Bon Vivants!

    (5)

  • Lori D.

    We started with amazing pretzel and cheese hot out of oven. Then had amazing pastrami sandwich was to die for!!! Amazing place and would come back again!!! The kitchen food amazing!!! Our server TJ answered all our questions and had great recommendations!!! TJ was great!!! And kitchen staff amazing!!! Thanks!!!!

    (5)

  • John K.

    First time here and I like it! Inside a former church and still has stained glass windows and high ceilings for a neat look. Music is ok and I like the vibe. Food menu not expansive but you can easily make a dinner of it here and the beer selection is quite good; should be something for all beer tastes.

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Great Bartenders Good Beer

    (4)

  • Sarine J.

    This place is one of the most unique breweries you'll ever visit. The venue is an old funeral chapel built I think in the forties or fifties. With the original high ceilings, stained glass, and wood beams, this place has a character that is unparalleled. Beers are constantly changing with an old works Belgian emphasis that purists will love. Food is ultra high gastropub quality. Come here.

    (5)

  • Anna P.

    I love brewery vivant. their beers are awesome, i think they get a hard time being overshadowed by founders. the food is too expensive and there is ALWAYS a wait, but the beers are so incredible. they close early because of a town ordinance. the bathroom sink is so cool! and the building is very very lovely. they fill steins on mondays for the same price as a pint. so awesome!

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    My associate and I are having an affair. It's a joint love affair, and our shared paramour is Brewery Vivant. Over the course of two years, our romance has only flourished. My love for Brewery Vivant began with their truffle fries. A newcomer to the Belgian style of brewing at the start of our relationship, I was not yet accustomed to their characteristically sweet flavor. But I was immediately taken by these delectable strips of fried potato soaked in truffle oil. And they paired perfectly with the sweet Belgian brews, making my palate ready to graciously accept this style of beer. As my palate has developed, it is now not uncommon for me to become utterly transfixed by many of the frequently rotated brews on their menu. Among the mainstays, Triomphe is my favorite. This year's Tree Bucket (formerly Trebuchet) and Wizard Burial Ground floored me, seducing me back to the restaurant multiple times throughout their respective periods of availability. I also enjoyed the WIPA, as a brew with a slightly lower ABV that felt as rich and delicious as the high ABV varieties I always come back to. Head brewer Jacob Derylo is an artist, and there is something to satisfy every palate at Brewery Vivant. But if you are unsure of just what selection might please your taste buds, you can present your tastes to your server and they will undoubtedly be able to pinpoint the beer on their menu best suited to you. The service at Brewery Vivant is top tier. My associate and I always have enthusiastic servers who are knowledgeable and attentive. I feel I need to disclose that my glowing review of the service may be somewhat influenced by having been served the last three times by Raeann, whose vibrant personality, seemingly endless supply of energy, and encyclopedic knowledge of every menu item is awe inspiring and a pleasure to experience. But the expertise doesn't stop with the servers--the bartenders and bus-workers are as proficient as the rest. Our table was bussed by someone referred to as "Rambo." It is unclear if this is his real name or an affectionate nickname. He politely and timely took our dishes from us mere moments after they were clean. He was friendly and even wished us a good night on our way out. I don't know why this is surprising to me. I suppose it's because in my experience, most bus-workers usually try to say as little as possible. Rambo's warm personality and skill were welcome, and they perfectly punctuated an already delightful evening. There's a sentence that's probably never been written before. I have lived within walking distance of Brewery Vivant for two years and will happily continue to throw my money at them. As an expert in most things Brewery Vivant, I recommend readers of this review to consider moving in close proximity to Brewery Vivant and spending the money and calories you save by walking there on their beer and food. I haven't done the math, but you can bet it will be worth it.

    (5)

  • Becky C.

    I love the character and story of this place (it's in an old funerary chapel), and they make fine and interesting beers. Though it is inspired by French and Belgian breweries, the atmosphere also reminds me of a Norse beer hall / Valhalla, or at least what I imagine it might be ;). It's a smaller, more intimate experience than Founders and bigger than nearby Harmony. I have not tried the food here yet or gone for dinner but I have heard that the quality is very good. Founded by a former owner of New Holland Brewery. Parking can be difficult at dinner due to the number of good restaurants in this area. It's worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Luke H.

    Honestly, this is the place for beer in Michigan. Perhaps all of the Midwest The space itself is beautiful and convenient, with long wooden tables invite a communal aspect. The stained glass window in the rear of the main room frames perfectly the bar shelves, which are stylized into an arch themselves. The whole effect upon entering is a modern-feeling abbey; tall arched ceilings with bare wood tresses criss-crossing overhead, dim but not dark ambiance, and a simple elegance that is inviting and comfortable. The Beer. Outstanding. Old-world inspired offerings with a mid-west twist. Big Red Coq is an easy sipper that has layers of flavor, easy to throw back one after another. The Saisons are incredible, from the tropical, imperial, french farm house, to the cherry-basil I enjoyed every single one. Again with complexity and layers, but not so much that you can't outright enjoy it on a hot summer's day. The Undertaker and the Mad Undertaker were phenomenal. Lastly, my mother-in-law (life-long miller/coors/bud lite drinker who is reluctant to change) remarked that the Multi Pass from Vivant was "The BEST beer I have ever had". I about fell off my bench. That is high praise indeed. The Food. Started with Charcuterie and the triple cheese. Home run. Summer salad with mid-rare duck breast was executed perfectly, crispy on the outside and gorgeously bloody in the middle. Others at our table got the poutine (gravy and cheese curds on fries) and the fries were perfectly crispy to complement the bacon-mushroom gravy, soooooo delicious.The beer cheese dip was smokey yet sharp, great texture and the pretzel rolls were perfect. Burgers were big and juicy. The dessert, a chocolate board with choc bark, truffles and a mousse was a great ending. Honestly, the BOH rocks. Care and pride go into everything they do. Hats off to the crew The Service. 5-star. Outstanding. There are not enough superlatives in rogets to express myself. 18 of us came in for a birthday. Right away the host stand greeted us with a huge smile and welcoming attitude, made some brief calculations, and had us seated in minutes. Then the real MVP took over. Allyson (sorry if I spelled it wrong). She was incredible. We were a large group, and we had that 'too-many-people-over-stimulated-ADD' thing going on. No one had their shit together, she would ask if anyone needed anything, and one person would answer. She would wait patiently for another answer, receive none, begin to walk away, then be hailed by another of our party who would ask a dumb question (which she had just answered). All with a smile and the most humble hospitality I have ever seen. She was gracious and patient. When I had gotten the wrong item, eaten half of it before I remembered, she replaced it with no questions asked. Splitting the bill was a pain in the butt, but she actually apologized to us for taking too long!! Can you believe it? She is a great server and a wonderful host, made us feel at home, and was everything our experience could have been! Thank you Allyson! You Rocked!

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    This is one my husband and I's favorite spots. We don't make it downtown as often as we should and we desperately need to try some of the new places but somehow we always end up at Vivant. Jeff the waiter is the best, I love when we get him. You can tell he likes what he does and is knowledgeable. I always have him recommend a beer or two for me and he never let's me down!

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Good, unique beers. Building is super cool. Staff is always friendly. Food menu is a bit pricey but food is always delicious.

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    Update: the indoor decor has evolved since they first opened and I wrote my first review. They have a adorable "country store" type entrance now with Vivant gifts and beer for sale. The main seating area has been painted welcoming, warming colors. They also created a lovely, relaxing patio space outdoors as well. And check out the Duck nachos. yes, I said Duck. Who would've thought to put those things together, right?! And it works- they're actually good! Thanks to Vivant's presence (and other wonderful area businesses ) the neighborhood has done a complete 180. If you are a long time resident and remember the area before, stop in and if nothing else, support the hard work they and other shops have done to turn this area around. In short, I continue to recommend a trip here for beer snobs and average Joe's alike- great beer, good people, and now with an improved atmosphere!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Not sure what I'm missing with this place but I just don't think it's that great. It's a dark, noisy tavern with no windows serving just mediocre food and OK beer. The French Carbonnade sandwich was not good ... a big white flour bun hollowed out to hold a small amount of beef and smothered in an unappetizing gravy and then buried in French Fries... the tasteless wild mushroom soup was very under-seasoned and the Chocolate Board for dessert was a huge disappointment ... extremely small portions meant for midgets. This is a microbrewery trying very hard to be a restaurant too. Maybe if it focused just on beer, everything would improve.

    (2)

  • Dave R.

    Stopped in for a night cap after enjoying sushi next door. Knowledgeable and friendly waitress guided us toward a couple of choices each. My wife chose a flight of beers while I settled down with a wonderful session IPA. As it was late and they were nearly closing, we bought a growler and headed home to continue tasting their wonderful brew.

    (5)

  • Bonnie M.

    Absolutely fantastic! Super helpful waitress and staff. The food was amazing, the pretzels and beer cheese was delicious. The drink selection and beer is all amazing, Try the cheetah! it will knock you out. Definitely will be coming back here.

    (5)

  • Lylian D.

    For my birthday, the beau took me to GR for a day/night of visiting, drinking, and eating at breweries. We love craft beers and Vivant was at the top of our list and oh my god this place is ridiculously great. The food is prepared so well and our entrees (the venison sausage and the rabbit) were amazing. The rabbit did not taste gamey at all and was so flavorful. Beers were great as expected. I absolutely LOVE the wood and stained glass. The building is just beautiful! I can't wait to make a trip out there again to eat/drink at Vivant.

    (5)

  • Kelly C.

    I have nothing bad to say about this place. Beautiful locale to drink good brews and share food with friends and family.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    My friend took me here the other night for a belated birthday dinner. I love the atmosphere inside the restaurant. Relaxing and comfortable. The place was about ~80% full, but we were still able to have a nice conversation. Our server was great, he was attentive and came to check on us at just the right times. We did not have to wait long for the food either, even though there was a good amount of customers. Everything on the menu looked great (but pricy) My friend had the bone marrow appetizer and the it was delicious. I don't know what they put on it, but its slightly sweet, just to the right amount. My only qualm about this place is that our dinners were a bit salty. We both had the risotto of the day, which included 2 pieces of a rack of lamb and some beets. The beets were a good accompaniment to the dish to help balance out the salt, but with just 5 pieces, it wasn't enough. I ended up taking most of it home to eat later with someone less salty. My friend also thought the dish was a bit on the salty side. She also expected the lamb to be more tender, which I agree, at least it wasn't overcooked. This is a good place to come if you want a relaxing dinner, but be prepare eat some salt if you order the same risotto. =) -1 star for the parking... there were no spots in the lot and we checked twice before finding some street parking -1 for the salt. That being said, I do want to come back and try the truffle fries and duck nachos, (with a side of hypertension) Oh... and apparently they are out of rabbit... something about them not being able to get vendors....

    (3)

  • Tori V.

    The duck nachos are some of the best food I've had in west MI. However over the past few years the amount of duck continues to decrease. Recently several of us placed orders and each had about 4-5 bites of duck and the rest was dry chips. We felt bad asking the waitress but seriously, raise the price or something, don't just cheap out on the quantity!

    (2)

  • Jen K.

    Pretty unique place, I gotta say. Church-gone-brewery, in a unique setup that pays homage to what it used to be. I mean, the freaking bar is in the altar, c'mon! It rocks! And I love the German beer hall vibe, with the long wood tables and flags and such. It promotes community, which is great while drinking beer! Get the duck nachos. Tortilla chips with duck confit, brie, and tomatoes. Share with a couple friends over some of their Belgian brews. you can't go wrong. I've been here the last two Good Fridays and plan on going back again this year. It's always very happening during this weekend (last year it was during KBS Day over at Founders), so once you get there, settle in and enjoy for awhile.

    (5)

  • Ken M.

    Lot and street parking Good for groups Great beer selection Fantastic food Now, the quick/fun bit. This place is a great restaurant/brewery. Everything I've eaten has been terrific, especially the duck nachos. Eat, drink, be merry, enjoy this place for all that it has to offer.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    This place has a great vibe & decor. Duck nachos really are amazing. We tried 6 different beers and they were all good. The mussels were not very good though. Service was very prompt and friendly. I would definitely go back again.

    (5)

  • Jen I.

    We shared the Pork Shank, duck nachos and Poutine. All were presented very nicely! Although for me it was a little to out of the ordinary. We also had the waffle and farmers fruit dessert - elegant and nicely presented! Atmosphere and staff were superior!

    (1)

  • James A.

    Ate here for the first time yesterday, and my wife and I had a wonderful time. Had a bit of a wait to get our table (at 2pm in the afternoon), but that's to be expected on St. Patrick's day weekend... We had the escargot as an app, and it was fantastic! I had the half chicken, and my wife got the Steak and Fritas (fries)... The skin was crunchy on the chicken, and it was perfectly cooked. My wife loved her steak, but the star of the show was the fries! Now let's talk beer... GR is known for its hard hitting breweries with strong bold flavors, but this brewery stays true to the Belgian tradition. Delicate beers with complex flavors... I had a flight of beers the were fantastic, and paired so well with the hearty food they have on the menu... This place is fantastic!

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    The closest thing to heaven in GR. I often test my relationships with people by taking them here. If they like it were clearly meant to be friends. Can't stand it???... Our relationship is over before it's started.

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    Service was very good. Sat at long table with other patrons (Hoffbrau House Style). Beers are big (flavor & alcohol). Desserts were awesome and the ladies loved the presentation. Drinks came out super fast. Lotsa room but still packed. Parking is street side and limited. If in GR and you like microbrews this stop is a given. Excited to do dinner if return

    (4)

  • Pack C.

    Brewery with the best vibe & ambience I've ever been to. They try to have it look & feel of a European (Belgian) church. Lots of good & interesting beer. Their food menu was interesting but I was a little underwhelmed after tasting it Pork Belly Corn dog (genius idea): it is exactly what its name entails but not so good. I felt like having deep fry 'fat' in a bland flavor batter (disappointed) Duck confit nachos (again genius idea): super heavy with their cheese. i wish the whole dish was more seasoned and flavored mussel: the best dish we had. big & fresh mussels awesome pastrami sandwich: good but i guess you can't really screw up a sandwich well, for food the idea is there. they just need to nail down their execution a little more. All in all, I love the idea. We go there for beer anyway!

    (4)

  • Trent M.

    If you're checking out breweries in Beer City, Vivant MUST be on your list. Haven't had food here yet (reviewers rave about it), but the beer is outstanding. Big Red Coq and North French Ale are my favorites, but definitely try a flight. Sitting inside, you can imagine yourself on a trip to Belgium, as the old church ambiance really sets the tone of the experience. Beer: A Service: A- Atmosphere: A+

    (5)

  • James S.

    Our son introduced us to Vivant. We passed it up so many times because Maru Sushi is our go to eatery. We had surely been missing out. My wife loves the different beers and they are always helpful to help you choose what you will like. I personally am allergic to beer and wish they had a few specialty cocktails to offer as an alternative, I'm not a big fan of hard cider. I can't mark them down for that since it is a brewery, just my wishes. The FOOD is amazing. You have to try the duck nachos, those are worth the trip all by themselves. I have tried the burgers, beef dishes and pork dishes, all amazing. The atmosphere is authentic and well laid out. Love the long wooden tables. Service has always been excellent.

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    The space is awesome--it's in an old church and had a projector on the wall when we stopped by, showing a football game. The drinks weren't half bad either, which you would hope for with a brewery. A must-drink when in Grand Rapids.

    (5)

  • Zeid S.

    This review is averaged based on the beer and the food. Beer gets 5 stars and food 3. The place is in a chapel which gives a unique ambience and feel to it. Mouth favorite was the North French brew. Food gets 3 stars. The duck nachos were good, but I didn't taste anything special. Truffle fries and steak were ok. Definitely not a steak house but then again it's not meant to be. Overall a very good experience. But the beer is definitely the winner over food here as expected in a brewery.

    (4)

  • Dennis P.

    This place is what you want. I'm not the hugest fan of old belgian-style beer, but they do a great job. As far as food goes, the duck nachos are the cat's pajamas. Get the duck nachos. The burger - its among the top 3 burgers in the GR area. The onion marmalade that comes with it is tantalizing. Atmosphere is top notch as well.

    (5)

  • Holly G.

    This brewery's atmosphere is definitely a nod to the Belgian monk brewing culture. An old church turned into a brewery? How cool is that? The hubs and I decided to split a taster tray (which we had a choice of 2 different ones) and very much enjoyed the beer. Hooray for Belgian beers! Since it was a weird mid-day time when we stopped in (too late for lunch and too early for dinner) we also just ate a snack of the pretzel with beer cheese but no other food was sampled. The menu did sound quite tasty otherwise though! Service was so-so but the beer, the pretzel, and the atmosphere were definitely memorable.

    (4)

  • Rick E.

    What a great fun place. Nice beer selection. Good food. Grest service. The decor was rustic and had a open air feel to it. The bathroom sink was a talking point. Overall really fun place with good beer and good food.

    (5)

  • Nichole C.

    Brewery Vivant: Belgian style beer in a church style brew pub. It's an interesting theme that makes you feel a little rebellious. My kind of place. We came here to get some snacks and drink some beers, and that's exactly what we did. The "snacks" were high quality, home-made (and some home-grown), farm-fresh, delicious, culinary goodness. I mean, daaaaaaamn those snacks were fancy. We had house smoked beef jerky that was amazing and a huge bowl of fantastic poutine with squeaky cheese curds and an ale gravy. (Insert Homer Simpson Mmmmmmm here.) The sampled beer too! I'm not usually drawn to Belgian or French style beers typically, but these were well made. The sampler included 4 beers for $10-$12 (I think each beer was 5 oz.) and you choose from different tiers (year-round vs. specialty). All the ones I tried were good, but I didn't grab anything to-go because I'm a super hoppy IPA or super dark stout girl and there's not a lot of Belgian beers that fit those categories...to no fault of Vivant. Overall: Cool place, knowledgeable staff, great food, good beer. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. Give them a try.

    (4)

  • Aaron M.

    Even the most ardent craft beer lover can not truly appreciate or judge Brewery Vivant without a trip to the source. Their selections that are distributed are certainly good, but they save the best of the best for in-house enjoyment at their historic facility. The in-house beer selection is out of this world and will please many palettes -- even those that don't appreciate the sours and Belgians that BV is known for from a distribution perspective. My last time in I was fortunate enough to enjoy a bourbon barrel aged Undertaker and it blew me away (maybe I should say it buried me?!). Delicious. Oh, by the way, in a foodie town they have some of the best food offerings around. The sausages are amazing, as is the cheese plate -- curated to provide a unique experience every time. Really quite delicious food all around. And service is great too. Bartenders are not only knowledgeable, but go out of their way to make sure your experience is top notch.

    (5)

  • Orson B.

    A solid brewery with a Belgian theme, although having had Chimay, Westvleteren, Duvalle, and St. Bernardus back in 2004 and many times since, they don't brew on that level of quality or authenticity to the best belgian styles. It's good, but if you're a serious student of Belgian beers, you should be able to pass a blindfolded taste test every time. That's being picky because I enjoy this place quite a bit, but if you really want the best of the Belgian beers, buy one of the ones I listed above. I love the building and atmosphere. My biggest criticism is the price of the food. Pretty sure the burger is $12. With the Green Well directly across the street, I don't know why anyone would eat here because they have far better food for similar cost.

    (4)

  • Emily B.

    The brewery tour was the worst I've ever been on. Save your money. The guide took the group to the back room, poured us some samples, and talked for an hour and a half. He never showed us any of the machines, bottles, products or any of the process. He just talked while we stood in a circle. It was not a tour. It was a sampling, at best. It really felt like he only wanted to hear his own voice. The beer and food in the pub are very tasty, but skip the tour to save your time and money.

    (1)

  • Rod G.

    Great Belgian brewpub in a former large church-like funeral home. The beer is handcrafted and for serious beer drinkers. The menu was more on the euro-side, poutine, etc. Very quiet and serene place, and it could've stood to be louder. Great place to end your evening.

    (4)

  • Katherine P.

    Went here on a Saturday night with a group of 8. Not a single person enjoyed their beers. We went to 5 breweries on this night, this was the only one that not a single person enjoyed their beer. The atmosphere was really cool. I really liked the stained glass and the sink in the bathroom. Also, we were told there would be an hour wait but we got a table within 15 minutes. So that was nice.

    (2)

  • Laura P.

    Finding this place was hard-ish? Maybe because Fulton was closed and we didn't go the way we would have liked, but the sign and parking is in back (on a different street) and there's no back entrance. Once we entered, the service averages out to good. The people at the host stand weren't great, but our server was. She gave us time without it feeling like we were forgotten about, was helpful when some of us were having trouble deciding, and clearly knew what she was doing. I generally enjoyed the food. I ended up getting the soup of the day (a corn chowder) and the beer cheese with soft pretzels. I also sampled the lamb nachos, poutine, and garlic fries. All were good, but some of it just seemed really pricy for what it was or were "off" in some way. Like, the beer cheese had a tanginess to it that was okay at first, but I kinda disliked it by the end. I didn't get beer, but my friends who did enjoyed them. I'd definitely want to go back and try some since they seemed interesting. Overall, an okay experience, but not something is rave about.

    (3)

  • Ian P.

    3 Words: Duck Confit Nachos OMG! Seriously, Brewery Vivant was quite the discovery on my Great Michigan Beer Tour. As a seriously deprived beer drinker in Toronto, I was in heaven here. The BEER: I loved a number of their beer styles. What a pleasure to taste with a reasonably priced flight of beers. Standouts among the regulars were the Triomphe Belgian IPA and the Farmhand, Farmhouse Ales, both excellent true-to-style, but creative examples. They also had some pretty cool one-offs on the menu with some barrel-aged options and brett. The FOOD: We didn't try too much, which is my mistake, but the Duck Confit Nachos were seriously the best nachos I've ever had hands down. I wish I could have eaten more...I'll be bakc. The VIBE: It's like an old church...great open space. Good noise level. Lively feeling. The SERVICE: Top-notch service. The staff know their beer, and they're friendly. Prices are reasonable, the value is good. Definitely my hands-down favorite for Grand Rapids. Also to-go beer is available in front.

    (5)

  • B C.

    Our visit here had some extreme highs and lows. Unfortunately, it started off with the latter. It was a busy Saturday night, 7:00, and the hostesses working the front waiting room were poorly managing all the incoming customers. Mainly, there was no sense of order to who was allowed into the bar area and who was held back in the building entryway. There's a simple fix: have two lists, one for the bar and one for the dining room. After about an hour we got to the bar and ordered our beer, but the bartender was clearly having a bad evening. Admittedly, it was busy and probably a stressful night with all the customers and waitstaff demanding drinks. Still, when you're in a bad mood, don't wear it so obviously and try not to scowl or yell at customers. That type of mood can dent the impression of an otherwise beautiful restaurant. Eventually after going through the gauntlet of incompetent hostesses and oddly hostile bartenders, we got some delicious beer in hand. There were enough of us to grab full glasses of everything on the menu, and from there we just starting passing it around for tasting. The funky yeast aspects of the Flaneur (nice name too) and Farm Hand were my favorite flavors of the night. They paired up nicely with some cheese that we ordered later on. Soon after we got our drinks, we were seated and met our waiter. He was the best waiter any of us had met in at least a few years: friendly, quick-witted and knowledgeable about everything on the food and drink menus. This guy was the saving grace of the night. After we ordered our food and broke out some playing cards, he enthusiastically noted that he'd never seen euchre played on our odd-shaped, bar-side table and proceeded to provide color commentary on our game during each of his visits. I got the pastrami sandwich and we all shared the cheese plate, which as I mentioned before, goes really well with their beer. Everybody at our table was satisfied with their food - lots of bold flavors and rich ingredients that go well with the French vibe of the place. Of course that brings up one more big point - Brewery Vivant is a gorgeous set-up. Even though you have to wait a while to get inside, I like the size of the place, the vaulted ceilings, and the old church feel. So let's recap - bad first impression D-grades for the unorganized wait-room management and grumpy bartenders, but excellent, A-grade second impressions from the beer, waitstaff, food, and restaurant space. I definitely recommend it due to all the above with the hope that they tweak those aforementioned issues. If you're in Grand Rapids, go here and not Founders if you're looking for a great sit-down dinner at a brewery.

    (3)

  • Phil S.

    The food here is pretty good. Pretty fairly priced. I recommend the kobe steak. The beer selection isn't bad if you like darker ales.

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Good food, good beer. I had a burger there and it was delicious. I was forewarned that the burgers there run more rare aka they are in conformity with the standards the rest of the world outside the US has with regards to how "done" the meat is. I like medium burgers (some pink) and I ordered medium well. The burger came out and was what Americans would likely call medium/medium rare. It was DELICIOUS. I liked that they let you substitute a side salad for fries; but the salad while extremely delicious was a bit on the tiny side. Good beer good food, I will be back. I would only suggest they increase the side salad portion.

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    Excellent beer and ale in the Belgian tradition. In a town with a vigorous foodie and restaurant culture, Brewery Vivant stands at the top. Interesting and varied menu. Charming and comfortable atmosphere. Helpful and knowledgeable staff.

    (5)

  • Griff G.

    This is great spot with a cool interior/exterior plus a very extensive beer list for being a micro-brewery. I can't imagine anyone who enjoys a well crafted beer wouldn't be able to find something they thoroughly enjoy at Vivant. Staff was knowledgeable and very friendly, and the burger + Garlic Parmesan frites were terrific. Local spot everyone should check out.

    (4)

  • Kensey W.

    i love brewery vivant!! before i came here to eat, i knew that made one of my favorite beers to have in the summer, their farmhand ale. i had no idea they were in grand rapids, so when a friend mentioned they had a whole pub of foods, we had to come here. i had the pretzel and the duck nachos, both of which were great. the pretzel was huge and soft as it should be, and the beer cheese it came with to dip was perfectly hot and gooey too. the nachos sounded so good i couldn't resist and got those for my meal. it was the right thing to do. the nachos were light and crispy, the cheese delicious and creamy, a light tasting brie perfectly complimented the saltiness of the duck confit. it was a huge huge portion and i only wish i could have eaten it all. one of my friends had the monk salad, which was also really big and very fresh. she did say that the fennel in the vinaigrette (the biggest draw for her since she loves fennel), wasn't as strong as she'd hoped. i also got a beer flight, which included the farmhand, but also introduced me to a new favorite, the big red coq. service was really great and the setting is super nice too, in an old church. we had to wait about 45 minutes, which we found out was pretty typical, but it's on a nice street, so walking around would be a good option! overall a great experience and i'd love to come back for one of their weird poutines.

    (4)

  • Brooke K.

    I can't believe it has taken me this long to review this place. I LOVE LOVE LOVE'D their Belgian style ales, the old chapel vibe, and the funky cool sink in the bathroom (check it out). I first discovered Brewery Vivant while reading an article about the 14 weirdest brewery locations in America. I read that this brewery was set in a former funeral home...pret-ty cool! We were heading to Michigan in a few weeks and I was "dying" to check out Brewery Vivant. No pun intended. Everything about this place screams cool from the wooden beams, to the high ceilings, to the kick ass doors, the stained glass, the flights of beer served in tulip glasses, the duck nachos, the servers...I felt like I needed to work on my coolness to stay here. Apparently their brewer used to be a New Holland Brewing founder so yes indeed their beers were good. We only ordered the Duck Nacho's. I must say they completely lived up to their hype. There were so many other things on the menu that looked great like the roasted bone marrow and the cheese boards however, the Duck Nacho's at $16 and flights of beers quickly added up, we had to part ways. Please note, I would pay whatever price to dine on those Nacho's again - best nachos I have ever had! Bold statement but true! One final note, you can find Brewery Vivant beers in cans. Cool place! Can't wait to come again!

    (5)

  • Phil M.

    Amazing Belgian style beers served in cool glasses (everything is great!). And yes, the setting is very fitting. Beer is 6 stars.....food is 4.5. Get the poutine......it changes all the time......when we were there it was a chicken curry poutine. Now normally I wouldn't get curry anything outside of an Indian place, but this was very good. I wish I could go here every week......but unfortunately, I live 12 hours away in VA.

    (5)

  • Elle N.

    If there was an Olympics in hospitality, Brewery Vivant would take Gold. Awesome beers, especially loved Pothole stout, Big Red Coq, and Sgt. Baker. Plus they have awesome poutine! Brewery Vivant, you win!

    (5)

  • Scott S.

    When I rolled into town and pulled up my Yelp app, I was astonished to see how many brew pubs were the highest rated restaurants in Grand Rapids. I ultimately settled in the one that mentioned "Belgian" in the title, Brewery Vivant. Now, I am doing a low-carb thing, so beer doesn't draw me anywhere. I can't help you if you want to know more about the quality of the brewery. I will say that their beverage menu is extensive. First off, the place looks great. It is either built into or styled after an abbey, with stained glass and long tables that evoke pews. You enter and exit through the gift shop, which I find to be a bit tacky, but they have to get their branding out there somehow. I started with the Confit of Pork Hock. Incredible! The meat was tender and moist, and the vegetables were a perfect accompaniment. If you have the scratch and you love some meat, make this your pick. My second visit (!!!), I got the mussels, which were served in a delicious tomato broth. I don't think mussels are as satisfying as clams, but that has nothing to do with Vivant. The wait staff were incredible. I will come back and name names when I get hold of my receipts back at the hotel.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    The atmosphere is dimly lit though not too dark. Placed inside an old Abbey. There is a community table inside to add to the feel of the place. I ordered a burger with white cheddar served with frites (fries). I ordered a draft root beer. Lastly salted chocolate ice cream. The burger was very good on a very sturdy tasty pretzel bun. No BBQ sauce though. Good bacon onion jam on top, good call on their part. The frites were the best part, so very good indeed. The draft root beer is definitely the 2nd best thing, even at $3.50 per glass. The ice cream was ok. Sadly the service was subpar, it takes more than friendliness. The service after ordering was slow to almost non existent. Took 10 min after my drink ran dry to order another. At one point another server grabbed my empty without asking if I'd like another. Minus 1/2 star for no bbq sauce, minus 1 star for sub par service, minus 1/2 star because this burger falls into my GR burger list at #7 vs the $15 cost. Plus a 1/2 star for excellence of root beer. Plus a 1/2 star for excellence of the frites. Equals a solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    In my opinion Vivant gets it all right. The beer is top notch. The food is amazing. The atmosphere and people are great. They are environmentally and socially conscious. Farmhand is a solid standard beer. However, I usually opt for a firkin, or another special brew. Food is great. The truffle fries are wonderful. But so is everything else.

    (5)

  • Stephanie E.

    Love the community seating. Sat with some cool people. The duck nachos are just as awesome as everyone says!!! However I am sad that it was really the only Gluten Free option. Come on this is East Town. They really don't like you waiting here at all.y husband and I wanted to sit outside and we were willing to wait. The staff was not... lol they added a table for us outside. Very nice of them. The beer was good,my husband got a burger and said that it was ok, but really it was just a burger. Not the best burger but not the worst either. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Jim R.

    I have eaten there and had beers there maybe 6 times. Great each time. The building is just superb, if you do not mind drinking in an old church. Don't worry, I don't think that will make or break your entry into heaven--bring St. Pete a farm hand ale and you're in like Flynn. The beer is good (it's beer) but I have to say that the food is really the star. Check the menu before you go, it will be inspired. Simple, primarily rustic food that is really freaking well made. Bravo. Traditional booth seating plus several family-style, large tables so you can be social or have your own space. You can wait a bit longer than normal for a table and/or service, and the place is so loud it is hard for me to have a conversation. Oh, and parking can be a crap shoot. Otherwise, this is a 5-star, destination-worthy watering hole/restaurant. A real gem of a place.

    (4)

  • Suzanne S.

    Brewery Vivant is a place that knows itself well. The beer has a distinct style and taste. I always find the beer to be well-balanced and thoughtfully crafted. Better yet, the food at Brewery Vivant rivals its beer. Best food of any Grand Rapids brewery. Order the burger--best burger in Grand Rapids. It might be good enough to turn a vegetarian into a carnivore. Also upgrade to the garlic frites. My only criticism is that the duck nachos seem inconsistent. The first time I ordered the dish, it changed my life. But about a year late, the dish seemed to have less duck and consequently less flavor. The duck nachos range from devastatingly delicious to just tasty. Bottom line: This is the brewery that we always keep coming back to over and over again.

    (5)

  • Ashley M.

    I live in East Hills and I seriously cannot believe I hadn't been to Brewery Vivant until this past weekend. I'm SO glad I decided to wise up- because this place is really, really wonderful. Beautiful ambiance, I mean a really gorgeous place to sit down for a few drinks or dinner. Beer: The Sous Chef amber (which I honestly typically hate amber ale) was freaking DELICIOUS. So bright and clean and flavorful. Food: Order the truffle frites. Just... trust me. I feel like truffle-anything can be over rated and it has become quite a cliche but these are heavenly. Amazingly fresh potatoes made with truffle oil. I'll dream of these. Oh, and the soft pretzels with bar cheese? I don't even want to get into it because it'll come off way too intense here, but- perfectly soft freshly baked pretzels and bowl-licking incredible cheese (that lacks any horseradish which you may expect.) This is really another must-visit for any tourist and must-frequent for any resident!

    (5)

  • Dave D.

    Excellent food. Burgers are fantastic and the Duck Nachos are a great start. I tried the Confit Pork hock and it was delicous. The beer here is great...give this place a try. Really different place

    (5)

  • Jeremiah D.

    I have been here several times, but somehow have yet to leave a review. Brewery Vivant is a local Grand Rapids brewery that resides inside of an old remodeled church. I absolutely love their layout, because they are able to take advantage of every square foot. I'm not a huge beer drinker. I do like their cider that they have on tap from Vander Mill. One of my favorite dishes, not only here but in the entire Grand Rapids, is the Duck Confit Nachos. The gathering of fresh tortilla chips, duck breast, tomatoes, and the metallic cheesy sauce is awesome. The order is huge, and should be for the $18 cost. This is more than I usually like to spend for a meal, but they are damn good. Another choice I've had is The Burger. This is one of the better burgers I've had. It's always cooked just how I like it, super moist and awesome flavor. I recommend the frites to go with it. Brewery Vivant also breaks out the projector, which they play many important sports games involving teams in Michigan. Overall this is a hopping place and should be on the list of any beer enthusiast.

    (4)

  • Andy S.

    I've been to plenty of breweries' pubs/restaurants where the food is merely an afterthought. Brewery Vivant is not one of those restaurants. The food and service were so good that I would recommend to anyone -- not just beer drinkers -- looking for a great French/Belgian food experience. The converted chapel just makes for an awesome ambiance for a brewery that specializes in brewing Belgian style beers. The interior is beautiful and the stained glass window behind the bar is a perfect centerpiece for the entire dining area. Your eyes can't help but be drawn to it. Our server greeted us promptly and reviewed all of the food specials and was very helpful with my beer flight selections. He was extremely knowledgeable about both the menu and the beer, of which there were quite a few selections. I went with two of their special cask-aged beers and some of their high gravity selections. The food was tremendous. If I were rating on food alone Brewery Vivant would get 5 stars. I ordered the pastrami sandwich which has homemade pastrami topped with bacon saurkraut which was the star of the sandwich. It was seriously the tastiest pastrami I had ever had. It was served with the pommes frittes which were clearly hand cut and delicious. When we heard that their dessert special was a paczki flight we knew we had to order it, and am I glad we did. Three mini-pazckis were served with a healthy portion of different custards and cremes in the middle and topped with fruit glazes. It was incredible! Brewery Vivant is now my favorite brewery to visit. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Tim W.

    I thought the beer was good. The service was prompt. I guess the food ok, it just wasn't the type of food or prepared the way I'm accustomed to having at a brewery. I guess they were trying to make the food in a European style. I'm glad I checked the place out, but I probably won't go back. Isn't my style.

    (3)

  • Lex N.

    The beer was delicious! However slightly disappointed by the food... The gravy on the poutine was full of cartilage so made for a not so pleasant texture in an already sloppy dish. The pickled vegetables they put in a lot of their dishes were good. The atmosphere is good especially if you like craft beers and hipsters. I'd go back for the beer.

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    Brewery Vivant was really great! When we decided to explore Grand Rapids, we first stopped at this brewery. Our waiter was very nice and informative about all the beer and food options. We decided to get a flight, and tried 2 beers and 2 ciders. One of the ciders had a hint of vanilla and cinnamon to it (it wasn't listed on the menu), which was unique and flavorful. All 4 were amazing. We also ordered escargot and beer cheese with pretzels to snack on. The beer cheese was delicious and rich and flavor, and my boyfriend loved the escargot. I could see additional menu options being equally delicious. We also learned how this brewery gives back to the community and strives to be eco-friendly through composting. Again, our waiter was really nice and gave us great tips for exploring the city. Definitely a nice place.

    (5)

  • Rhea B.

    Brewery Vivant is Belgian-style Beer Mecca. This is the phrase that comes to my mind when trying to summarize my thoughts on this brewery. Their combination of well-thought-out taps of outstanding beers influenced by Belgium, an elaborate beer list with many rarities, a food menu that continues to impress, and a year-round slate of exciting special events makes it not just one of the best and most-recognized breweries in Grand Rapids, but in the entire US beer scene. Locals are lucky enough to be able to visit this brewery whenever they'd like. However, visiting beer enthusiasts like me just wish they could. What you should get: Duck Confit nachos!! Purists might turn their noses up hearing this, but the duck nachos at Brewery Vivant have to be eaten to be believed -- Brie cream, tomato concasse (a fancy word for ground tomatoes), duck confit, caramelized onions, and duck cracklin' with citrus all on top of perfectly fried tortilla chips. Try any of the beers on tap, and you'll be in nacho heaven, which is perfect, considering this place is in a converted chapel.

    (4)

  • James S.

    This is one of the best brewery/restaurants that I have been to I all of my travels. I have no reservations at all about rating this a solid 5. First off the building is an old funeral home chapel and is a fantastic setting for a brewery that specializes in Belgian and French style beers. It almost feels like you have been transported to an old Trappist monastery. They also have a nice outdoor seating area. We had a flight of beers. All in the Belgian style and I have to say that they know what they are doing! We had the duck nachos. These are fantastic and not at all like any "nachos" that I have ever had before. They also have many other fascinating items on the menu I would have loved try. Service was great - Jessica took very good care of us. There is a parking lot for patrons as well as street parking. Hey, any chance you guys would consider opening a branch in Houston????

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    Brewery Vivant should definitely not be skipped! I had dinner here with a group on a Thursday night and was told that this was the best burger in town. I haven't had THAT many burgers in GR, but I was certainly pleased with this one. I had mine pretty basic with no cheese or anything. I loved the beef and the roll. I also really liked the bernaise sauce that came with the truffle fries! As far as the beer, I'm not a fan of Belgians, but liked each of the beers here that I tried. I really liked the seasonal (tropical saison)! Food and atmosphere were great, server was hilarious, but not necessarily my favorite beer.

    (4)

  • Mary P.

    When it comes to belgian beers, Brewery Vivant knows what it's doing. The founder was one of the original founders of New Holland Brewing, but it's obvious this place is more about keeping that craft beer feel instead of distributing across the country. The pub is in an old funeral home and chapel, which escalates that monk and belgian feel. Pretty awesome. It is a little dark if you have problems reading. The duck nachos are AMAZING!! I had the monk's salad with steak and sampled the beer. They cook the meat on the rare side (which is great for me) but keep that in mind while ordering. They do not have breakfast food on the brunch menu. Definitely give this place a try. The waitstaff is wonderful and passionate about beer. Our waitress even recommended a few more breweries to try on the West-Michigan beer tour my family was on.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    What an excellent brewery! They are serious about their Belgian beers and only exclusively brew and sell their own stuff. Their food menu is serious too with starters, entrees, and desserts. They have Belgian fare like frites and mussels, the frites are excellent! It also happened to be restaurant week and the food is great! $28 for three courses. We had trio of pate, pork chop over veggies, and flan with raspberry bacon and nuts sauce. Most of their items are locally sourced. The pork chops was so good! Seared and tendered. Our waitress Kate is so informative and explained the beers and flavors to us. Her service kept us happy on top of the beer and food. Highly recommend! Of all the breweries we visited we loved this one the best. And its nice that they scored this location in a chapel, Belgian monks brewed beer in the basement so it is very fitting.

    (4)

  • John H.

    BV was stop one of two with Bob G. The inside was comfortably cool on a hot summer day, just the way I like it, though some may prefer to bring a sweater. The French Olives (Nicoise, Provencal, Picholine) at $5 is the sort of appetizer I prefer, and a good value. Although the Tropical Saison is the glass I remember most, all the beers I sampled were very good. With Bob G. as guide, you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Katy S.

    Such a neat atmosphere! Brewery Vivant is located within an old funeral parlor in a beautiful area of Grand Rapids, MI. The inside was very neat to look at, but a little dark for our taste so we sat outside on a bright and sunny afternoon. The service was very prompt and they have a great beer selection. I went for a sampler of their most popular beers and they were all absolutely delicious. We also ordered a beer cheese sampler and the bone marrow. I had never had bone marrow before and wasn't a fan, but those at the table that like bone marrow said it was good. The beer cheese was a perfect afternoon snack. If you are into craft beer, this is a must try on a trip to Grand Rapids!

    (5)

  • Keegan W.

    Some interesting Belgian beers and food to be found here! I particularly liked Beasts a Burnin', a smokey red beer. The bar, too, is very inviting. I would totally hang out here on a Tuesday night.

    (4)

  • Rosemary T.

    Hands down one of the best places to eat in Grand Rapids area. Let's get straight to the food. Their menu changes, so may not see some of these items on the menu. The best dishes, however, will always be on the menu like the truffle fries and duck nacho. These are the two dishes you MUST GET. You cannot leave this place without trying either one of them. Their poutine is also extremely good... so if you got a large party, you'll need to work this dish in too. We also got their risotto, which is creamy, rich, fatty, cheesy and delicious. You may think to yourself, really? A pub place like this can make good risotto? YES IT CAN. Their risotto is as good as the ones I had in Italy. Mussel was another dish that we got, which fresh and light. It's a 'light' dish that brightens up all the other heavy dishes. Beer is a definite must get here... that's what this whole town is known for right? I got their blueberry cider, which is perfect for ladies who usually don't gravitate towards beer. It a little sweet and a little sour, with alcohol in it. Try it out, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Jamie L.

    This is my favorite brewery I visited in the Grand Rapids area. They have a wonderful atmosphere and the beer selection is top notch. The server we had was fun and very helpful. The menu looked amazing, but we only tried the bone marrow. They looked skimpy and without us saying anything, the server said she would have them cook another for us because they looked lacking. This place is a must try! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Lauren A.

    Words cannot express how much I loved this brewery. It is in an old chapel of a funeral home and the space is absolutely beautiful. It is pretty dark on the inside (which I loved) but they have outdoor space also if it is nice out and you are so inclined. My friends and I tried pretty much every beer on the menu. I thought I hated farmhouse ales, but their farmhouse ale was even delicious. The flights are served in 5.5 oz. samples (perfect) and you get either the 4 standards for $10 or a custom flight for $12. I feel like the mark of a really good brewery is that the beer tastes unique - like nothing you have had before. All of the beers at Vivant were like that for me. There was something special about all of them. The server we had was amazing as well. He took the time to talk to us about the history of the place and about all of the beers. He was super knowledgeable and clearly had a passion for beer. If you are in the area, this brewery is a MUST. I know there are a ton of breweries in Grand Rapids, but this one is top notch.

    (5)

  • Stacie R.

    I can't wait to come back on a non-holiday, random, middle of the day dining experience. Came here not realizing it was St Patty's day, but I was determined & waited an hour for a seat. The Duck Nachos were totally worth it. I would've waited for 2 hours for those bad boys. We decided to eat & run & try other restaurants, but should've stayed & tried more dishes. All the staff was super nice, even on one of the most busy holidays for a bar. Even providing water for those waiting in the lobby area. The atmosphere was fun, but not chaotic. Will definitely be making a trip just for those Nachos & more food & beer to try.

    (4)

  • Allison F.

    Brewery Vivant was our fifth stop on our Beercation. Our visit was just okay. A beautiful location can only get you so far in the brewery business. The beers were mediocre and the service was lackluster. Two bartenders behind the bar but it was impossible to get their attention to order anything. Jacob ordered a flight but only drank two of his four samples; the others were just not good. You've gotta be a Belgian beer fan to enjoy this brewery's offerings. If you're a non-beer drinker, you're out of luck... no liquor. There's no cider here, either. Bummer. That bathroom sink though? Five stars.

    (3)

  • Rhonda D.

    Really like the atmosphere there!! Very cool old church changed into a restaurant. The inside and outside have good seating. Burger was SUPER awesome. The bun was really yummy. 1/2 lb burger was a little bit too big to eat the whole thing but soooo tasty. Our server was amazing. It was our first time there. She made great suggestions to beer and also charred up my steak a bit more to my liking. :). I really loved the beer named Multi Pass named after the old school Bruce Willis movie "The Fifth Element". So awesome. Will definitely be returning!!

    (4)

  • Denny R.

    Food and beer always amazing. Wish (HOPE) they would (WILL) make more Sous Chef! Also highly recommend their beer cheese and pretzels, and the steak and frites.

    (5)

  • Tammy H.

    Ok food, good beer, nice place.

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    Great place. Lively atmosphere, great beers. The poor waitress spilled an entire tray of beers next to us and 2 of the gentlemen in our party tried to assist. She graciously brought us all a round. Didn't try the food but I would make a point to come back. Very cool!

    (5)

  • Tamela P.

    The food and service were great during our visit. Love the vibe. We took our 2 yr old and she was very much welcomed there.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Snapshot: Unique Belgian-style beers in an incredibly unique restored monastery, knowledgable staff and a fantastic menu for quick bites or meals. We stopped in here on July 4th during our trip to Grand Rapids. We both had a couple different beers, and found them to all be satisfactory. Their Dunkel was by far the best for me, but I'm not an overly ecstastic belgian style beer fan. My wife had the Big Red Coq, and loved it. Very malty IPA-esque beer with tons of flavor. In addition, we both had the pretzels and pomme frittes. Frittes were standard fare, with a tasty bearnaise aioli. The pretzels were quite good, but a little different than your standard soft pretzel. They tasted like they may have been fried. At any rate, still a tasty option. We will be coming back here again to try their seasonal beers next time we are in town.

    (4)

  • Pack C.

    Brewery with the best vibe & ambience I've ever been to. They try to have it look & feel of a European (Belgian) church. Lots of good & interesting beer. Their food menu was interesting but I was a little underwhelmed after tasting it Pork Belly Corn dog (genius idea): it is exactly what its name entails but not so good. I felt like having deep fry 'fat' in a bland flavor batter (disappointed) Duck confit nachos (again genius idea): super heavy with their cheese. i wish the whole dish was more seasoned and flavored mussel: the best dish we had. big & fresh mussels awesome pastrami sandwich: good but i guess you can't really screw up a sandwich well, for food the idea is there. they just need to nail down their execution a little more. All in all, I love the idea. We go there for beer anyway!

    (4)

  • Trent M.

    If you're checking out breweries in Beer City, Vivant MUST be on your list. Haven't had food here yet (reviewers rave about it), but the beer is outstanding. Big Red Coq and North French Ale are my favorites, but definitely try a flight. Sitting inside, you can imagine yourself on a trip to Belgium, as the old church ambiance really sets the tone of the experience. Beer: A Service: A- Atmosphere: A+

    (5)

  • James S.

    Our son introduced us to Vivant. We passed it up so many times because Maru Sushi is our go to eatery. We had surely been missing out. My wife loves the different beers and they are always helpful to help you choose what you will like. I personally am allergic to beer and wish they had a few specialty cocktails to offer as an alternative, I'm not a big fan of hard cider. I can't mark them down for that since it is a brewery, just my wishes. The FOOD is amazing. You have to try the duck nachos, those are worth the trip all by themselves. I have tried the burgers, beef dishes and pork dishes, all amazing. The atmosphere is authentic and well laid out. Love the long wooden tables. Service has always been excellent.

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    The space is awesome--it's in an old church and had a projector on the wall when we stopped by, showing a football game. The drinks weren't half bad either, which you would hope for with a brewery. A must-drink when in Grand Rapids.

    (5)

  • Zeid S.

    This review is averaged based on the beer and the food. Beer gets 5 stars and food 3. The place is in a chapel which gives a unique ambience and feel to it. Mouth favorite was the North French brew. Food gets 3 stars. The duck nachos were good, but I didn't taste anything special. Truffle fries and steak were ok. Definitely not a steak house but then again it's not meant to be. Overall a very good experience. But the beer is definitely the winner over food here as expected in a brewery.

    (4)

  • Dennis P.

    This place is what you want. I'm not the hugest fan of old belgian-style beer, but they do a great job. As far as food goes, the duck nachos are the cat's pajamas. Get the duck nachos. The burger - its among the top 3 burgers in the GR area. The onion marmalade that comes with it is tantalizing. Atmosphere is top notch as well.

    (5)

  • Holly G.

    This brewery's atmosphere is definitely a nod to the Belgian monk brewing culture. An old church turned into a brewery? How cool is that? The hubs and I decided to split a taster tray (which we had a choice of 2 different ones) and very much enjoyed the beer. Hooray for Belgian beers! Since it was a weird mid-day time when we stopped in (too late for lunch and too early for dinner) we also just ate a snack of the pretzel with beer cheese but no other food was sampled. The menu did sound quite tasty otherwise though! Service was so-so but the beer, the pretzel, and the atmosphere were definitely memorable.

    (4)

  • Rick E.

    What a great fun place. Nice beer selection. Good food. Grest service. The decor was rustic and had a open air feel to it. The bathroom sink was a talking point. Overall really fun place with good beer and good food.

    (5)

  • Nichole C.

    Brewery Vivant: Belgian style beer in a church style brew pub. It's an interesting theme that makes you feel a little rebellious. My kind of place. We came here to get some snacks and drink some beers, and that's exactly what we did. The "snacks" were high quality, home-made (and some home-grown), farm-fresh, delicious, culinary goodness. I mean, daaaaaaamn those snacks were fancy. We had house smoked beef jerky that was amazing and a huge bowl of fantastic poutine with squeaky cheese curds and an ale gravy. (Insert Homer Simpson Mmmmmmm here.) The sampled beer too! I'm not usually drawn to Belgian or French style beers typically, but these were well made. The sampler included 4 beers for $10-$12 (I think each beer was 5 oz.) and you choose from different tiers (year-round vs. specialty). All the ones I tried were good, but I didn't grab anything to-go because I'm a super hoppy IPA or super dark stout girl and there's not a lot of Belgian beers that fit those categories...to no fault of Vivant. Overall: Cool place, knowledgeable staff, great food, good beer. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. Give them a try.

    (4)

  • Aaron M.

    Even the most ardent craft beer lover can not truly appreciate or judge Brewery Vivant without a trip to the source. Their selections that are distributed are certainly good, but they save the best of the best for in-house enjoyment at their historic facility. The in-house beer selection is out of this world and will please many palettes -- even those that don't appreciate the sours and Belgians that BV is known for from a distribution perspective. My last time in I was fortunate enough to enjoy a bourbon barrel aged Undertaker and it blew me away (maybe I should say it buried me?!). Delicious. Oh, by the way, in a foodie town they have some of the best food offerings around. The sausages are amazing, as is the cheese plate -- curated to provide a unique experience every time. Really quite delicious food all around. And service is great too. Bartenders are not only knowledgeable, but go out of their way to make sure your experience is top notch.

    (5)

  • Orson B.

    A solid brewery with a Belgian theme, although having had Chimay, Westvleteren, Duvalle, and St. Bernardus back in 2004 and many times since, they don't brew on that level of quality or authenticity to the best belgian styles. It's good, but if you're a serious student of Belgian beers, you should be able to pass a blindfolded taste test every time. That's being picky because I enjoy this place quite a bit, but if you really want the best of the Belgian beers, buy one of the ones I listed above. I love the building and atmosphere. My biggest criticism is the price of the food. Pretty sure the burger is $12. With the Green Well directly across the street, I don't know why anyone would eat here because they have far better food for similar cost.

    (4)

  • Emily B.

    The brewery tour was the worst I've ever been on. Save your money. The guide took the group to the back room, poured us some samples, and talked for an hour and a half. He never showed us any of the machines, bottles, products or any of the process. He just talked while we stood in a circle. It was not a tour. It was a sampling, at best. It really felt like he only wanted to hear his own voice. The beer and food in the pub are very tasty, but skip the tour to save your time and money.

    (1)

  • Rod G.

    Great Belgian brewpub in a former large church-like funeral home. The beer is handcrafted and for serious beer drinkers. The menu was more on the euro-side, poutine, etc. Very quiet and serene place, and it could've stood to be louder. Great place to end your evening.

    (4)

  • Katherine P.

    Went here on a Saturday night with a group of 8. Not a single person enjoyed their beers. We went to 5 breweries on this night, this was the only one that not a single person enjoyed their beer. The atmosphere was really cool. I really liked the stained glass and the sink in the bathroom. Also, we were told there would be an hour wait but we got a table within 15 minutes. So that was nice.

    (2)

  • Laura P.

    Finding this place was hard-ish? Maybe because Fulton was closed and we didn't go the way we would have liked, but the sign and parking is in back (on a different street) and there's no back entrance. Once we entered, the service averages out to good. The people at the host stand weren't great, but our server was. She gave us time without it feeling like we were forgotten about, was helpful when some of us were having trouble deciding, and clearly knew what she was doing. I generally enjoyed the food. I ended up getting the soup of the day (a corn chowder) and the beer cheese with soft pretzels. I also sampled the lamb nachos, poutine, and garlic fries. All were good, but some of it just seemed really pricy for what it was or were "off" in some way. Like, the beer cheese had a tanginess to it that was okay at first, but I kinda disliked it by the end. I didn't get beer, but my friends who did enjoyed them. I'd definitely want to go back and try some since they seemed interesting. Overall, an okay experience, but not something is rave about.

    (3)

  • Ian P.

    3 Words: Duck Confit Nachos OMG! Seriously, Brewery Vivant was quite the discovery on my Great Michigan Beer Tour. As a seriously deprived beer drinker in Toronto, I was in heaven here. The BEER: I loved a number of their beer styles. What a pleasure to taste with a reasonably priced flight of beers. Standouts among the regulars were the Triomphe Belgian IPA and the Farmhand, Farmhouse Ales, both excellent true-to-style, but creative examples. They also had some pretty cool one-offs on the menu with some barrel-aged options and brett. The FOOD: We didn't try too much, which is my mistake, but the Duck Confit Nachos were seriously the best nachos I've ever had hands down. I wish I could have eaten more...I'll be bakc. The VIBE: It's like an old church...great open space. Good noise level. Lively feeling. The SERVICE: Top-notch service. The staff know their beer, and they're friendly. Prices are reasonable, the value is good. Definitely my hands-down favorite for Grand Rapids. Also to-go beer is available in front.

    (5)

  • B C.

    Our visit here had some extreme highs and lows. Unfortunately, it started off with the latter. It was a busy Saturday night, 7:00, and the hostesses working the front waiting room were poorly managing all the incoming customers. Mainly, there was no sense of order to who was allowed into the bar area and who was held back in the building entryway. There's a simple fix: have two lists, one for the bar and one for the dining room. After about an hour we got to the bar and ordered our beer, but the bartender was clearly having a bad evening. Admittedly, it was busy and probably a stressful night with all the customers and waitstaff demanding drinks. Still, when you're in a bad mood, don't wear it so obviously and try not to scowl or yell at customers. That type of mood can dent the impression of an otherwise beautiful restaurant. Eventually after going through the gauntlet of incompetent hostesses and oddly hostile bartenders, we got some delicious beer in hand. There were enough of us to grab full glasses of everything on the menu, and from there we just starting passing it around for tasting. The funky yeast aspects of the Flaneur (nice name too) and Farm Hand were my favorite flavors of the night. They paired up nicely with some cheese that we ordered later on. Soon after we got our drinks, we were seated and met our waiter. He was the best waiter any of us had met in at least a few years: friendly, quick-witted and knowledgeable about everything on the food and drink menus. This guy was the saving grace of the night. After we ordered our food and broke out some playing cards, he enthusiastically noted that he'd never seen euchre played on our odd-shaped, bar-side table and proceeded to provide color commentary on our game during each of his visits. I got the pastrami sandwich and we all shared the cheese plate, which as I mentioned before, goes really well with their beer. Everybody at our table was satisfied with their food - lots of bold flavors and rich ingredients that go well with the French vibe of the place. Of course that brings up one more big point - Brewery Vivant is a gorgeous set-up. Even though you have to wait a while to get inside, I like the size of the place, the vaulted ceilings, and the old church feel. So let's recap - bad first impression D-grades for the unorganized wait-room management and grumpy bartenders, but excellent, A-grade second impressions from the beer, waitstaff, food, and restaurant space. I definitely recommend it due to all the above with the hope that they tweak those aforementioned issues. If you're in Grand Rapids, go here and not Founders if you're looking for a great sit-down dinner at a brewery.

    (3)

  • Phil S.

    The food here is pretty good. Pretty fairly priced. I recommend the kobe steak. The beer selection isn't bad if you like darker ales.

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Good food, good beer. I had a burger there and it was delicious. I was forewarned that the burgers there run more rare aka they are in conformity with the standards the rest of the world outside the US has with regards to how "done" the meat is. I like medium burgers (some pink) and I ordered medium well. The burger came out and was what Americans would likely call medium/medium rare. It was DELICIOUS. I liked that they let you substitute a side salad for fries; but the salad while extremely delicious was a bit on the tiny side. Good beer good food, I will be back. I would only suggest they increase the side salad portion.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    Best kept secret in Grand Rapids. Staff is always great, beer is the best abs the burger.... Oh the burger it's the best in town. The onion marmalade they give you is to die for. You can't go here without trying the duck nachos , they are addictive!! By the way it's in a church so it's fun to take out of town guests. It will always impress.

    (5)

  • Kori Y.

    A lot of good beers to choose from. Cool old building . Always a crowd. Not had any food here yet.

    (3)

  • Kellie J.

    The duck nachos are probably my favorite food of all time so tasty! The poutine is also very good actually all the food is! The atmosphere is also super cool and unique I love the building its beautiful. They also have great outdoor seating!

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Brewery Vivant continues an interesting trend amongst breweries towards environmental awareness. Brewery Vivant, housed in an old church, is the only LEED certified brewery in the state of Michigan - and they love to tell you all about it too. Which, I enjoyed personally. Brewery Vivant offers great beers typically in the Belgium styles, including their popular farmhouse ale which is one of my favorite light-colored ales in Michigan. I love everything that Brewery Vivant is trying to do: I love green buildings, I wrote my Master's thesis on them; I love craft beer; and the world needs more breweries and less churches.

    (4)

  • Amanda W.

    We stopped in here after dinner on a Saturday night for a couple of beers. The inside area was packed, but luckily there was space for us outside on the patio. There is a separate bar outside as well, so there was no waiting or the feeling of being rushed to make a decision. Everyone we interacted with was really nice, and the beers were tasty. Overall the visit was short, but sweet.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Brewey Vivant was the star of a weekend touring Grand Rapid's many breweries. We had planned on visiting each brewery once but we liked this place so much we spent two nights here. Consequently I tried most of their beers and loved all of them. The beers are all amazing and unique...there are so many microbreweries that make basically the same beer but Vivant does its own thing. The beers are lightly carbonated and have complex flavors. I need to lobby my local Binnys to carry more of them. The brew pub is really cool too, it's a converted church or funeral home (I don't remember which) and really like feel like a monastery as advertised. The food is good too, we had burgers and frites and though they serve meat bloodier than we like it was really quality food. The merchandise is cooler than most breweries, their brand isn't plastered all over everything like most gear at breweries. I'd consider going back to Grand Rapids just for Vivant alone.

    (5)

  • Adam G.

    Every time I go there I love it more and more. Their beer is amazing. The Love Shadow a barrel aged porter is to die for. Rich, boozy and creamy smooth. I love sours and they have those as well. I wish it was a little closer to home. The food I had was great as well. And my only complaint is that the food is a tad on the expensive side and the seating is kinda awkward. They have tables where you might be seating across from another party of diners. The beer however is great. I take home a 4 pack or two every time I go.

    (4)

  • Jon N.

    I was in Grand Rapids for a conference and one of the conference attendees sent me to Vivant for what he claimed was the best burger in GR. He wasn't kidding! It's an old church that now looks like a Belgian abbey. So wouldn't you know it... they serve belgian ales. The key to the burger is the fact that they grind it in-house and don't overcook it. The meat was juicy and flavorful. And the bacon marmalade is incredible! What's even better is they are big on sustainability so much of what they serve comes from a radius around the city so you know it's fresh. I did have a new beer, the Fly2Coq, which was a bit hoppier than the others I tasted. I found it more complex than some of the other belgians I tried. There's almost a slight citrusy sour taste to the belgians which makes it interesting. I have to bring my wife here when we take a drive up to GR. She doesn't like beer but I think she will love the church feel. I"ll get to try another belgian ale then!

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is my favorite place to bring out of town guest to get the full GR Food and Drink Experience. The ambiance is very cozy and social, they have amazing beer, and the food is phenomenal! Just get "The Burger" it will change your life. By far the Best Burger in Grand Rapids.

    (5)

  • Arvie M.

    Beer was really good, but overpriced. The food was okay, but somehow our order of duck nachos and weisswurst took almost an hour. Really? For 2 small sausages and some chips with home made dip? The server was nice and smart about the menu, but the hostess seemed lost and bothered. Great beer but not so great everything else. I won't go back.

    (2)

  • Maureen M.

    I love Brewery Vivant. I love it a lot. Visiting the brewery was the highlight of my trip. I love that it is a former chapel. Very fitting and great atmosphere. We didn't order any food, just beer. Beer was the priority. I am a fan of all of their beers except Farmhouse Ale (just too light for me). We ordered a flight of 4, plus ordered 2 pints. Of course, I had to order my favorite BV beer, Big Red Coq. Despite the fact that the name is funny and a great conversation piece, I really like it. It's even better on tap. In our flight, we ordered the BlackHand, Sgt. Peppercorn, Perdition and Trebuchet. We enjoyed all of them very much! Our server was very nice and helpful. We didn't require much help, but he was always available. I purchased a stein and hat. The young lady at the register/hostess stand was also very helpful. They didn't have the t-shirt in my size. She let me know what they were ordering and when. She also wrote down 3 cab companies for us. It was sort of a long walk from downtown Grand Rapids. After finishing our beer, we weren't sure we'd be able to make that walk back. We really enjoyed our experience at Brewery Vivant. I love their beer and love the brewery. I can't wait to go back! Hopefully next time we'll try the food!

    (5)

  • Mark V.

    Love it. Food and beers are superb. Staff is always ready and very knowledgeable of the beers and menu. I wish this place was bigger! We return often.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    I went to Vivant for the first time recently as part of a group of 3 couples and had a good time. Photos make it appear larger inside than it really is, but if you get a good table, you can really get lost in the place. Former church with stained glass windows and an old world feel, almost medieval! The server, TJ, was a lot of fun-full of energy and very attentive. He actually gave his opinion on beers and food as to what he preferred and why. We were all over the place ordering-I had the Vivant flight-their 4 brews in 5 oz. samples-and enjoyed them all. Big Red Coq was probably the best beer I tasted all weekend, while Solitude was right up there. We ordered many plates and shared-the goat meatballs were good-only 3 small ones in an order, so go ahead and get a second order. Cheese plate was tasty, with a good selection, and the escargot was right on also. The best part of those was being able to sop up the buttery garlic goodness in the plate. So the hit of the night was the Duck Nachos. Quite possibly the best combination of queso (melted Brie, which could not have been more creamy or spot on texture-wise), pulled and lightly smoky meat (the duck was crispy greatness) with a cold tomato not really salsa atop the plate. Maybe the best part were the carmelized onions, which found their way onto almost each chip. The one issue was that the tortilla chips, while homemade, were very undercooked. Another 20 seconds or so, and this would have been ridiculous! Even so, we had a great time and really enjoyed Brewery Vivant and this is the main must stop at place in town.

    (4)

  • John K.

    I love the beers at brewery vivant, and the food os amazing, I was initially hooked by their duck confit nachos, they were amazing. The last two times I have been there they came out with a full plate of nachos with a miniscule amount of actual duck and sauce. I believe it is a cost cutting measure but it's pointless to order with the small amount of sauce. Hoping management changes this.

    (2)

  • Sally C.

    A much belated vote of gratitude & amazement for the beer dinner we experienced here during NHC June, 2014. We are 'beer tourists' & have been to literally hundreds of beer dinners over the years & I have to say I had low expectations for this one. We were sort of packed in, outdoors on a rainy day, the food was self-serve at stations. Not a recipe for awesome in my book. But it WAS awesome. The pairings weren't just 'food-that tastes-good-with-this-beer-cuz-geez-most-food-­does'... it was so thoughtfully paired, as in WOW, this food actually tastes better WITH this beer than it does on its own. The staff is just so proud of this brewery/restaurant that it shows, they were all so gracious. We were given tours of their clean, tidy little brewhouse, which was such a nice touch. Their excellent, often subtle, delicate beers poured freely, they were so generous & the food was just truly out of this world. What a gem this place is, makes one pine to be a local.

    (5)

  • Garth S.

    I took a chance and tried Brewery Vivant with my fam and my cousin visiting from CA. We had a great time and had great food. Our waitress was amazing and was very attentive despite a busy night. I had the lamb shank, my wife had the daily risotto, and my cousin had soup and the charcuterie. All were excellent. The beer was top notch, try the red coq. I can now recommend as a fun place to eat and drink. Can be a bit busy and loud due to popularity. The new chef and manager make a huge difference. Well done.

    (4)

  • Anthony J.

    The beers are all good. The wife and I had a couple of flights so we could try a bit of everything. Our favorite was the barrel-aged North French. As for the food, it's as good, if not better. The duck nachos will knock your socks off, and the poutine was also superb. Not healthy, but tasty. The fresh-baked pretzels were also delightful. Nice and cracker-crisp crust and a warm, soft pillow inside. The beer cheese dipping sauce was great, very lively. The dining room is a converted chapel, which was unique and adorable. How fitting for an homage to the homeland of trappist beers!

    (5)

  • Ryan And Sophie S.

    My wife and I are not from GP and this area and this was the third brewery we hit while staying in GP. We saw that they have outdoor seating looking at yelp so we decided to go. When we came to the place, we saw the patio with tons of people seated. We asked the hostess to be seated outside. Now mind you that this was 7 pm; we were told that the patio would be closed to people wanted to be seated there. OK. So asked the host to seat us inside. She seemed or acted that she did not enjoy her job. We sat down ordered a beer and some food. After we finished everything, I grab the attention of the manager to let him know that the duck nachos and mussels were good. He asked us if we would like to order the food specials. What food specials? The waitress never said anything about food specials. She was mediocre at best (typical of today's generation). I give this place a C.

    (3)

  • David M.

    Went there to grab a couple burgers Monday night. What a letdown. Ordered two burgers, one medium well and one well done. Both came medium rare. Come on, what's easier than cooking a burger to temp. And the ketchup.....gross. They only have their "housemade" version that just tastes like they mixed bbq and heinz 57. I only got a half of a pickle spear and it tasted like straight red wine vinegar and if you are going to be so pretentious that you don't even have salt and pepper shakers on the table your food has to be perfect. This is obviously not the case. The chef needs to realize he just works at a hipster bar not a real restaurant. If he wants it to be a real restaurant he needs to step up his game.

    (1)

  • John M.

    Great birra - food is hit or miss. They are pretty out of touch with euro dining and serving styles - but the beer is top flight for the area.

    (4)

  • Stacey F.

    This place is a hidden gem. Seriously. Find it and go there. You eat inside of a small beautiful old church. Makes you feel like you are in Europe...just for dinner Several of the hard ciders were amazing. The food was delicious. We had some sort of flaky tart for an appetizer, and a pork belly burger. Both were amazing. The fries were just so so. It took a long time to get seated on a Friday night, but it was worth the wait. Just snag a beer from the bar while you wait. I definitely can't wait to go back again.

    (4)

  • Brittany F.

    So yeah, this place is so cool. I love the old church building although, it says Chapel on the front door so if you aren't perceptive enough to read the sign above it, you may think you're going to church and not a brew pub. Anyway, I had the Triomphe. It's a semi-sweet Belgian with a healthy dash of hops. It was good but not overpowering. Truffle frites. Very good but not the best I've had. My friend had the garlic parsley frites, also very good. Goat meatballs. Very good but I needed a bit more. They were small, I only got 3 but they were inexpensive so I wasn't too torn up about it. All in all, it was a great experience. The staff was nice and didn't rush us and it was great.

    (4)

  • James N.

    So I'm from the Ann Arbor area. this place puts everything we have to shame. If your a sour series drinker grab 'farmhand'. Bitter/IPA, grab the Zaison. Looking for something strong or sweet? Grab the 14% Cheetah. This place is amazing and any beer snob will love this place.

    (5)

  • Gary M.

    My family & I visited Grands Rapids this last week and stopped atBrewery Vivant in the early afternoon. The brerwey was closed, it was 1:30, but after walking in I met Brooks who not only provided a tour of the brewery but indulged me in providing a sample of two "sour ales" after I expressed a interest in this realitive new type of beer, at least for me. We returned for dinner, great meal & suburb service with a beer flight to win over any non-Belgium beer consumer. I purchased a case, different styles, to take back to Kansas and enjoy for much too short a time. Beautiful facility, great staff and wonderful beer.

    (5)

  • Chelsea C.

    We had an OK experience here. Didn't really start out on the right foot because our waitress made us feel like we had broken some important rule for "seating ourselves" after deciding not to sit at the bar- the place was virtually empty- and I get it, I was a waitress once too, but she could have been a little nicer about it I guess. She was fine after that though. Anyway, we tried the Black Rabbit IPA which was like a hopped up porter that my husband really enjoyed. I had the Helter Spelter which was a fruity pilsner with some earthiness and a sour finish. I liked it pretty well- tried the Zaison too which was a cider-like sour beer that I wasn't too keen on but it was OK as well. The atmosphere is pretty cool just based on the fact that it is inside an old chapel- but it is very dimly lit and definitely not what I would call a "jovial" or even welcoming atmosphere. There are a lot of wooden community tables and benches, a few regular tables in the middle and it appears to have an outdoor beer garden as well but we didn't venture out there to see what it was like. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for what BV has to offer that day but I just felt "Meh" about the whole experience. Unfortunately we did not eat here, which based on the reviews might be enough to take me back , but our experience was just so-so, so I'm not dying to return on our next visit to GR.

    (3)

  • Eric D.

    I would have never thought I would be drinking inside an old church in GR. This place was super cool.

    (5)

  • Caleb Y.

    There beer is unique. The building is great! The food is a great companion for the food. Overall, a fine experience and another wonderful brewery to add to Grand Rapids' thriving microbrew beer scene!

    (4)

  • Earl P.

    I liked this place. Its in an old funeral home, theres stained glass. A really interesting place to eat. Excellent wait staff. Great food great beer. I had a burger. Grand Rapids is really doing up some incredible burgers. Reserve, Winchester, this place, there are great burgers all over this city.

    (5)

  • Sean M.

    After a year of drinking many of Brewery Vivant's unique beers, I have come to the conclusion that they brew some of my most favorite beers in GR. I find myself feeling lucky if I find some of their beers in other bars about town. If you've never tried their beers I suggest you get your ass over to this brewery and get your drink on.

    (4)

  • Br. Francis B.

    I brew my own beer so I am always looking for a nice microbrewery to try something different. This pub did not disappoint. The beer was outstanding. If you love rich Belgian style beers with complex taste profiles, search no further. The food was also wonderful. We had the Camembert prosciutto app which was very tasty. I would have given this place a 5 star rating but the server was a bit squirrelly at the beginning of the meal. Highly recommend this place for anyone who appreciates a good Kruger of beer.

    (4)

  • Hope C.

    Probably the best Belgian brewery I've been to in the United States (although have not yet been to Ommegang). The interior of this gem is fashioned similar to Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, although on a smaller and more cozy scale. Drinking crisp brews that pay homage to monastic traditions amongst the splendor of church pews and stained glass is a sweet way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Flights are either $10 or $12, and for this price are honestly very generous helpings of well-balanced saisons, red ales and tripels. I most enjoyed the farmhouse ale - crisp, tart and light without too much of a sweet or wheaty kick. The tripel was also lovely, carrying strong notes of banana and orange peel without being overpowering. We didn't try any food but we did gander a peek at the menu. Not inexpensive by any means, the poutine ($14) absolutely caught my eye because of the massive portions in front of fellow beer-lovers, most of whom were shoveling forkfuls of gravy-doused frites into their mouths. I was jealous. I also noticed the impressive cheese selection, sold individually and by flight. The atmosphere at Brewery Vivant is convivial and friendly, with large wooden beer hall-style tables and benches filling the main room, forcing patrons to sit with strangers and imbibe. There's also ample outdoor seating in true beer garden style. You'd almost forget you're right smack in the center of commercial row Grand Rapids!

    (4)

  • Kyle M.

    The atmosphere is great. There beer is definitely on par with the rest of beer scene in Grand Rapids. The food is very good, but don't look to comer here for anything healthy. The duck nachos were out of this world!

    (4)

  • Meredith E.

    After a refreshing walk from Founders, we arrived at Brewery Vivant at 3:07pm. The kitchen closes in between 3-4pm. We were disappointed until we found out there was a brewery tour at 330pm. For $10, we got 4 samples of brew and tons of beer knowledge from our tour guide Chris. The old funeral chapel gives Brewery Vivant the coolest vibe. The beers aren't my favorite, but I would come here again in a heartbeat. Expert tip: Go wash your hands! Best bathroom sink ever!

    (4)

  • Ralph K.

    I loved everything about Vivant. The entrance is perfect, little gift store is awesome and the keg growler, amazing. Decor is great and the outdoor patio looks amazing. Food was casual with great ingredients! Beer, loved them all.

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Best burgers, frites and beer in GR! Great food, excellent service, fun and unique atmosphere. It is understandably busy on weekend evenings, so either prepare to wait at the bar or fill your growler and enjoy some Red Coq at home.

    (5)

  • Agnes L.

    It feels a bit sacrilegious to have missed mass during Lent but instead made it to this "church service" on a Sunday. I guess I could make the argument that, at least to some Yelpers, their Duck Confit Nachos are "life-changing" ... Eclectic environment- Set within a refurbished chapel, this brewpub is a contrasting yet complementary mix of modern and old. Peaked ceilings with stain glass and communal wood tables are reminiscent of an older, European countryside church. Local paintings adorn the walls to add some color and personality. One blank wall projected the MSU-Ohio State basketball game. (Go Green!) Meanwhile, the bathrooms offered hooks for purses and coats next to the flat, table-like sink. Beers to cheer- My husband and I couldn't help but share two flights during our visit. Overall, the beer is memorable for its unique and varying flavors. *Flight #1: Farmhouse (light and acidic from the "funky yeast" - hubby's fav), Triomphe (a bit hoppy, not my fav but wasn't overwhelmingly bitter), Solitude (my fav of the four with its combo of tart and sweet from the pear/raisin/caramel), Quad (even sweeter than the Solitude because of the addition of brown sugar despite its 11.55 percent ABV!) *Flight #2: Arctic Sunrise (suggested by our server, more citrusy and summery), Helter Spelter (again, a bit funky from the house yeast but not in a bad way), Menage A Trois (darker beer with hints of chocolate), Wood-aged Beer of the Day (a bit sweet with the cherry making it similar to a wine or after-dinner liqueur) Filling up on the food- We weren't starving but we were in it for the long haul because we wanted to watch the game as well as sample as much beer as possible during the break in our 6-hour commute from Boyne Mountain to Chicagoland. Overall, the food was just as unexpected as the beer. I loved the boldness (but would have appreciated a little less salt). *Apps: We shared the escargot (at our server's suggestion) and garlic parsley frites (based on other Yelp reviews). After having snails in Paris, we were curious to compare ... and we honestly enjoyed these more. They were already conveniently shelled, yet super tender and meaty with each sitting individually in little pools of buttery, herby sauce that I couldn't help dipping the bread into afterward. As for the french fries, my husband and I do not normally opt to eat these at any restaurant as we see them mostly as fillers on the plate, but these ones were delectably different for how garlic-y and crisp they were. *Entrees: Of course, we ordered those aforementioned "life-changing" (according to other Yelp reviews) Duck Confit Nachos along with the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese En Croute. The nachos were nothing like I have had before. Hearty, shredded duck with melted, rich brie and juicy tomato chunks all on top of freshly made tortilla chips. OMG. To. die. for. The mushroom dish added more to our cheesy goodness as a piping hot pot of ooey gooey, melted goat cheese mixed with meaty, woodsy mushrooms, potato chunks and pieces of leek underneath a light puff pastry and fried chard. These were picture perfect examples of comfort dishes fit for a Midwestern winter. Best beer-food pairings out of a bunch- My husband and I seek out places like this, especially when tooling around Michigan. Ultimately, this is one of those meals I will remember for the fact that both food and beer were equally high quality. Not to mention, the service was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was absolutely not cliche. I would come back here and I recommend the restaurant to anyone who drives through the area.

    (5)

  • David C.

    Good Belgian Beers and obviously a GR and tourist favorite. Inside has a real heavy-handed medieval feel. Lovely old brick church, with ivory painted plaster walls, but not much light enters, and it was raining outside so we did not experience the outdoor patio. This did not help in setting a great mood. I regard Vivant as a must-see on any GR beer tour but definitely can't say it's a must-return. We also had a bit of a snarky waitress until we calmed her ass down with Cincy kindness (how dare we sit at the mostly EMPTY community benches inside the brewery church without being seated, when we first told the hostess we would go to the bar...). PS Bar was too full, beyotch. Decor: Original, old concrete floors; sparsely decorated; very, very church-like still. Gotta tell it like it is: I give this place major kudos for their creative beers (Big Alcohol Content with many). I also give them 4 stars for sticking with the Belgian style of brewing; they are indeed resurrecting Belgian beers on US soil, much like Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown NY). These are not my favorite US craft beers, but nonetheless inspired Belgian brewing tradition. Salut. However: I give a big thumbs down for the somewhat dark, dank, original, and (current) uninspired design work. Would I go back? Maybe --but-- only to see if I was wrong the first time and to hit the patio for a sunny vibe. Their beers are good, but I've drank equally good Belgians. The physical environ (inside) detracts from a sense of lightness and fun. I can't justify the other 4 & 5-star reviews on this basis alone. I would not want to while away my afternoon here; it's just too oppressive inside and I'd keep looking for my King James hardbound or Sarah Mclachlan in the next pew. (Am I experiencing guilt for drinking in church?) (We did not eat here; no comment other than reading it's very good but expensive).

    (2)

  • M K.

    The atmosphere was the best part of this experience. It is in an old church. There is a beautiful stained glass window behind the bar. I only tried one beer, I thought it was just ok. After reading the reviews on here we decided to get the duck nachos. I wasn't impressed. I wanted to like them, but there was really something lacking. I thought they were pretty bland. We also ordered a meat and cracker assortment. It had some odd mustards and meat we had never heard of. It was just okay. I was really looking forward to this place on our beer tour, but I was just really let down. Service was good though!

    (3)

  • Lukus T.

    Belgian centric gastro pub. beer list is all Belgian influenced. I realize this is a destination pub but I'd personally like to see a bit more variety. they do have vandermill ciders which is a nice addition. duck nachos were predictably good, they seem to be the stand out item. poutine was very nice. burger however wasn't anything I couldn't get for half the price elsewhere. service was somewhat slow, though. decor probably appeals to some but to me feels dated. overall it could have been a four star, but the price and general "snootiness" (ie salt on request in a ramekin) was off putting. would come back, but wouldn't necessarily recommend.

    (3)

  • Rochelle A.

    Nice place. It was my first time here but it's a place my husband wanted to try. I happened to pick this one because of the rating & reviews. It was a wait to get in. About 30 minutes before we were seated. I got a blueberry cider from the bar which was great gluten free drink. My husband got the Triple & at dinner the Undertaker beer. He liked that one more. The waiter was great and attentive. The seating in this old church was different, we were placed at a long bar table with bar stools. You get seated at the same table with other customers but it doesn't feel that way. For an appetizer we had the duck nachos which were yummy. For dinner I got the Putsin. I has those in Maine but these were different. A bacon gravy in top of fries and cheese curds. My husband got the pastrami sandwich with fries. He liked it. I would go again when I'm back in Grand Rapids.

    (4)

  • Glenn V.

    How did I not eat here with a menu that is about the most attractive and mouth watering I have read in a long while? I'll tell ya-my friends have the culinary palate of 3rd graders. But I made up for it in the consumption of some of the best beers I have had in Michigan. Ancho: Chili peppers with a Belgian Yeast-dark and full bodied. Cambier Flight: Sure I'll have another Ancho-Spicy Wit Knight-Very Spicy Escoffier-My personal favorite and Peppercorn with as you can guess a peppery kick. Old world brewing traditions are clearly top priority in Vivant's brewing process and the atmosphere is just unbeatable.

    (4)

  • Lindsay H.

    The pretzels and beer cheese are fantastic. The beer is pretty great, too. And the building itself (an old church) tops it all off

    (5)

  • NeEddra J.

    Apparently Grand Rapids is the Midwest's Microbrewery mecca, and this place is like it's crown jewel. Incredible food, delicious Belgian brews and an awesome ambiance. Try the burger, gnocchi or duck nachos. If it's still in season, get the Love Shadow which is aged in Jack Daniels barrels and tastes amazing for those of us who prefer maltier beers. Oh, ambiance: this brewery is in an old chapel so the stained glass windows, arches and long community table gives it an old world feeling that goes so well with the old world beer and good eats.

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    My favorite brewery. My favorite burger. I could stop there, but I'll share more. I love the beer. Reason, well it's drastically different then Founders (also good, but I like the Belgian style more). I enjoy Solitude and Big Red Coq, a very nice amber style ale, but their seasonals are where they excel at from the late spring contemplation honey beer, summer zaison, the fall's Sgt Peppercorn (I've found people love or hate due to its peppery tastes) and winters plowhorse stout. But, I love the frites with the bournaise and I love the burger even more. The bacon marmalade is awesome and I enjoy a place that cooks a burger to order and if order a medium burger, it's nice and red in the middle and succulent on the outside. For me, best burger in GR (Stellla's is second) My wife will go meatless and is a fan of their risotto, for me it's a side dish type of item versus a meal, but she really enjoys it. The soft pretzels with the beer and cheese dip is our appetizer of choice.

    (5)

  • Cliff M.

    I've been here twice and have really enjoyed it. Most people come here for the beer and it's quite good but the food might actually be better than the beer! As another reviewer points out, the beer here is definitely Belgian. It's not my favorite style but I've still enjoyed some of the brews here. The Farm Hand is smooth and drinkable if you want something that's a little more subdued and light on the spices. The food here really surprised me, it's really good. Everyone raves about the duck nachos: I thought they were okay but they didn't blow me away. To me the main attraction here is the burgers: they actually blend bacon in with the burger meat and it's just sinfully delicious. Melts in your mouth. The frites are awesome too. I've had the steak and it was cooked nicely and tasted great. The atmosphere is really cool: a converted church chapel with the bar right in front of some beautiful stained-glass windows. There are some big tables with bench seating and some other regular tables and chairs throughout. Service has been a little hit or miss. One time the waitress just wasn't as attentive as she needed to be. The other time our waiter was on top of things and made some good beer recommendations as well.

    (4)

  • Sara B.

    I went here for the first time on my latest trip to GR and was delighted to see the final product of the renovations I'd seen for so long. It's a church that's been converted into a rad little brewery and eatery. There is plenty of seating and the ambiance is really fun. My date and I split the flight and had the arctic sunrise as our fourth "choose your own" the other three were the farmhand, solitude, and triumph. the arctic sunrise was our favorite and the farmhand was good as well, but the solitude and triumph were just alright. There were no belgian unicorns, and by that I mean that stellar make the world stop flavor that's always present in belgian beer. The food was expensive, but you get what you pay for. We split an order of mussels that was adequate for two in portion and came with fries and some stellar fried bread for dipping. The flavors exploded in our mouths and made us want more. We practically licked the plate clean! I would definitely recommend this place and will be going back with the hopes of finding another beer that I like even better.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    I don't really like beer very much, so this review is for the food. I appreciated that they served Vandermill cider as an alternative to their brewery options. Food was a little bit overpriced. $6 for fries? $19 for cornish hen and waffles? High, even for Chicago prices. The quality of the food was wonderful however. None of us were particularly hungry so we ordered snacks for the table - parsley fries, truffled fries, duck nachos and the cornish hen and waffles. There wasn't much duck served on the nachos, but the nachos were quite loaded nonetheless. The fries were a smidgen over salted but were quite addictive. Oh the waffles. Simply wonderful! That dish was executed perfectly. If it wasn't so expensive I could have ordered two just for myself. If my husband and I visited the brewery again, I might just do so! Service was quite slow, even taking into account how busy it was. Not a fan of the communal seating on the patio, but we were given more than the average amount of room between the other parties. The brewery itself was rather pretty - enjoyed looking around at the re-purposed church.

    (3)

  • Christian B.

    Good -- not quite great -- but you'll probably still be glad you came. First, take its Belgian posture at face value: The beer is indeed Belgian style, unapologetically. In that way, Vivant is unique among its other Michigan brewery peers, who typically specialize in ales and stouts. The downside is that if you don't love the Belgian style, this place is three stars at best. I have yet to find a must-have beer at Vivant, despite numerous visits. Farm Hand is the most middle-of-the-road option, and their chocolate stout is getting better as they tweak the recipe. Overall, the beer isn't bad, but I forget it once I've left. Clearly there's a variety of opinion on this topic: Some people swear by Vivant's style, and good for them. The taproom is built in the shell of an old chapel. It's gorgeous, though noisy, and not big enough to hold the crowds this place draws. Expect to wait for a table nearly any night of the week. The food is great, but overpriced. Their $12 burger is delicious -- I've had it -- but it's not $2-$4 better than the burger at any other East Hills restaurant. Bring a group of your friends, and if you don't mind the wait, you'll probably have a fine time. That said, if you only have time to visit one West Michigan microbrew, you might enjoy Founders or New Holland more.

    (3)

  • Nicole V.

    This is an absolute must see and experience brewery! I was told about Brewery Vivant by a coworker and made sure to stop off just to see it for myself. The space is an old chapel that is absolutely charming in a very nostalgic and romantic way. The last thing you expect from a micro brewery. We were there for Sunday brunch, I ordered the biscuits & gravy and they were seriously in the top 3 I have ever tasted...delicious! I also had a sampler consisting of my choice of their special brew. They had a seasonal sour at the time that was on point. This place is really something special and they couldn't get it more right! I'll definitely be back any time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    So happy we decided to check out Brewery Vivant! Husband and I shared a flight, and found each beer to be absolute perfection! Also shared the poutine, which was amazing! Will definitely stop here again before we leave town. Only issue is the wait, but that is to be expected with a place this awesome!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Good food but nothing special. Heavy Belgian cuisine. Very pricey. $130 for four of us. Fun atmosphere. Excellent service. Full selection of nice ales. Good place to go. Doubt that I would go again. Overpriced.

    (3)

  • Sarah D.

    I'm not a huge beer drinker so I don't know how well my review will be for the knowledgeable beer folk. But I have never had a bad time here ! Their food is creative and delicious. Quite daring but not for a high cost. They use local which always wins my heart over and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable not only about their beers but also their food. I'm a whiskey girl. So I was directed to a couple different beers they had available aged in whiskey barrels. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was also surprised bc some of the beers were light and some darker. (Which I never thought I was a huge fan of dark beer). Def. my fav brewery in town, you don't get the cold shoulder if you look out of place, extremely helpful. My only complaint that it is occasionally hard to find a spot to sit. But then again that can't be a bad sign right ?

    (4)

  • Amber J.

    Amazing!! My only complaint is that we didn't have dinner. We sampled all of the beer and had the bone marrow appetizer and it was all amazing. Such an eclectic thought out menu, great beer and staff we will definitely be back the next time we are in the mitten.

    (5)

  • Mathew S.

    I came here with my grandma and we both found reasons to love the wonderful beers, food, and service!! The atmosphere was great and the menu was varied and delicious! I started with the soup of the day and a beer flight which were both great. For my meal I enjoyed the delicious sausage and clam bowl. It was a perfect cold weather meal to lead into the holidays!

    (5)

  • george r.

    This place is clearly outstanding in both beer offered and the old chapel itself. I'm not a beer drinker normally, so the waitress gave me several small samples; all were great. If you go with the idea that it could be in europe you'll be ready for all the beers and the strong flavors in the "bar food" Go early and/or during the week as it can get very busy (which they don't do well). The hamburger is outstanding. Bottom line- great place to enjoy food, fun , and beer.

    (5)

  • Karol C.

    Visited yesterday for the first time. There were empty tables but I'm guessing short staffed as service lacked. Sat for 5 minutes before anyone even addressed us. Then was told by the waitress she couldn't get to us for another 10 min. Really? So we got up and moved to the bar for better service. Ordered beer... No issue. Ordered duck nachos and told they "we are out of that". Viewed the menu again and decided on the PBLT... And told again.. "we are out of that too". Pathetic. Got some fries, finished our beer and left to have lunch at the GR Brewery instead. Not impressed.

    (2)

  • Alissa R.

    Brewery Vivant has such an eerie church feeling that it's actually a pretty awesome atmosphere. Our server was a little slow. We tried a variety if beers- the farm hand beers tasted like lemony water but we loved the Red Coq. The Duck Nachos were to die for! Cool place!

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    If you have loads of disposable income and want to blow it on $12 dollar sausages, hamburgers, $16 dollar pasta dishes and high end designer beer .... then this is the place for you. One star added because the whole former chapel look is pretty cool.

    (2)

  • Laura C.

    In a quaint part of Grand Rapids, Cherry Street hosts a handful of restaurants, galleries and shops that provide a small town vacation getaway feel. Brewery Vivant sits in a converted church that has an open interior with some communal tables and an outdoor patio complete with a bag toss area. The brews are tasty, and the duck nachos were recommended to us. With all the ranting and raving, I was a bit disappointed. Some of the nachos were chewy, and the brie cream a bit overpowering. For the price, there could have been more duck, but it was a nice change from the standard nacho app. Brew tours are held on Saturdays and would definitely make for a fun afternoon.

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    Very unique food and awesome Belgium beer. On a hot day, the patio just rocks. As a local, this spot is perfect for an evening drink and the servers are really good at getting to know you. The burger is to die for. I don't normally eat a lot of meat but this grass fed burger will keep you going! Oh, and don't forget the frittes!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    OK. Wow. I met-up with two great friends and an absolutely perfectly cooked, high-quality burger. I added Gruyere and garlic parsley pomme frites on the side. I licked my fingers...and damn near licked my plate! Simple, and properly done. Great atmosphere; outstanding beers. I could spend A LOT of time here. Can't wait until my next trip to GR!

    (5)

  • Tracy M.

    Local. Artisan. Sustainable. Fresh. Natural. Green. Seasonal. -- Delicious, local sourced, quality gourmet food. SO, SO GOOD! -- Fabulous, knowledgeable, no-pressure, friendly service: THANKS SHAWN! -- Yummy, one-of-a-kind, expertly handcrafted Belgian beer. LOVE FARM HAND! -- Amazing Historically Preserved 80+ year old building, (current Pub location was once a Chapel to a funeral home, and still has the beautifully crafted stained glass) THEY RARELY MAKE ARCHITECTURE LIKE THIS ANYMORE You don't get all this for free. The prices reflect the quality of the local food and Brewery Vivant's dedication to pay their staff wages they can live on. If you want cheap,low quality food, go to Taco Bell with the rest of the teenagers. Brewery Vivant is for grown ups/foodies that like gourmet, sustainable, quality food. I appreciate that Brewery Vivant has thought of the business as a whole, not just as a place to of profit. Truly a great model for all food establishments. This place is a gem! I saw the Brewery Vivant presented by Chef Amy Sherman on "The Great American Brew Trail" on WOTV4. I knew immediately that I would like the place, but I never thought it would be as great as it was! LOVE IT!

    (5)

  • P J.

    I went there twice since last week and both times they amazed me . One thing you always find in vivant is the loyal fans who almost check in every day . I have a lot of respect for breweries who try to give their customers a great experience . Arguably vivant is the best brewery in Grand Rapids who does that . It all starts with their spectacular renovated old church . Once you are inside the beer pour from all the sides of alter. They have great food menu which include duck nachos . Hehe that is a heAping peace of pure awesome . I haven't tried any other items . But the loyal fans always insist the greatness of food there . The best thing that you might like there would be company of normAl great people . Yes, founders do have great beers but vivant will give you a feeling unlike any other brewery in great beer city

    (5)

  • M F.

    Beer tour is amazing; veggie oyster mushroom burger and meat burgers out of this world. And then the beer... Stock up! Wood aged beers are phenomenal. Plus the church location is great. Please open a second site in Lansing!

    (5)

  • Rob E.

    Poutine and Duck Nachos made for one fattening experience at my new favorite place on the west side of the state. Spouse had a pork dish with gnocchi (weird combo right?) , friends had the chef's market to table creation (goat meatballs.....um hell yes please) and also some risotto dish. This place made me want to cry out in appreciation. Sampled a lot of the beers - Blackhand is an amazing black ale created with biere de garde yeast....and I want more. I have been wanting to come to this place for a long time now, and I am so happy it did not disappoint. Oh, plus it is in an old church. I would totally come here for church regularly.

    (5)

  • Josh Y.

    Duck. Confit. Nachos. #heavenly. As one of our many stops on a Michigan / Indiana brewery tour, my buddy and I stopped in here not knowing what to expect. The medieval church was pretty awesome in itself. The bar although a little oddly shaped kept to the theme. The stained glass behind the bar, the pews, everything was pretty cool looking. I love the logo. We took a seat at the bar, which was packed, but it seemed as though a majority of the crowd was there waiting to be seated at a place across the street, so that gave us the idea that this place didn't have good food. Most of the people in there you could tell were not beer drinkers as they were ordering wine. We ordered the duck confit nachos as we drank our sampler. The beer is so-so. A couple of beers were a little better than meh, others, not so much. When we got our nachos they looked like a mess, but tasted like heaven. We wanted more. Since this is a brewery and the beers were ok I don't want to rate this so high. The nachos are what will make me go back for more.

    (3)

  • levramosis H.

    This was my third visit to Vivant. The first two were just after they opened. The menu is ever evolving, which I appreciate, even if I miss a few dishes from my first visit. I'm not a belgian beer fan, because I don't like the taste of belgian yeast. I'm not going to review the beer because that would not be fair. They do offer Vander Mill ciders, which I love. The burger here is stellar, especially if you like bacon. It is a flavor bomb in a great way. It is savory and sweet, acidic and salty, soft and crispy. Simply great. The bun does a great job adding flavor, keeping the whole thing together and collecting the juices without being tough. The fries were freshly made and an excellent example of a proper belgian style french fry. We also had the mussels. They were quite average. The broth was uninspiring. The mussels were well cooked and the toast nicely done but the whole dish was generally unsatisfying. Service was prompt, helpful and attentive. The environment is very cool, if a bit loud.

    (4)

  • Kiki T.

    We sat inside in the middle of the afternoon. The atmosphere is very cool, with it being obvious that you are sitting inside an old church. Our first severe was in attentive and informed us, after we tried to order, that they were out of several things (beer and some food). Soon his shift ended and we got a better server. Than things looked up. We had an incredible cheese plate and beer cheese with pretzel appetizers. Super!!! Between our party of 5 we had most of the available beer- all very good and they have a good selection of styles. The burgers were delicious! If you are in Grand Rapids, this place is certainly worth a stop, possibly even a second stop. Excellent!

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    Earlier this week my husband & I went to BV for the first time. We had heard about it and knew it was time to give it a try. We truly appreciated the great server we had that was extremely knowledgeable with not only BV beers/ciders, but other brands not served at BV. He guided us in selecting beers that we would like (or LOVE!). I would suggest buying a beer/cider flight, so you can get a sampling of what they have to offer. The food was very unique and good, but not incredible. We felt it was a little pricey for what it was. We do look forward to going again though and trying something different.

    (4)

  • Joey J.

    Michael Jordan in game 6 versus the Utah Jazz. Kirby Puckett in games 6 and 7 versus the Atlanta Braves. Dinner at Brewery Vivant pretty much any night. Sometimes, you just can do no wrong. Grand Rapids has spent the last couple of years either holding or co-holding the title of Beer City USA, and Brewery Vivant is its Hall-of-Fame player. So far, I've been there four times, and I've never walked away without my mind blown. From the perfectly cooked hamburger with truffle fries to the creamy and savory duck confit nachos to the freshness of their farmer's market meal, this place never seems to disappoint. Then, there's the beer component, which is pretty special on its own. The owners have redesigned an old funeral home into a Belgian Abbey. As such, every beer they make has a Belgian twist to it. You'll find the usual reds and wits here, but my favorite is their Belgian take on the IPA. Also really, really good (albeit really, really seasonal) is the pumpkin, which is about as close to a glass of pumpkin pie as you can get. There's a reason why I always push to go here when the wife makes a push to go to GR.

    (5)

  • Randall D.

    Love the beer, love the space, and love the french fries!!! Menu has some Vegetarian and Vegan options at times. The beer menu has a lot of great information on it for craft beer nerds. Certainly a place worth visiting even if you aren't into beer as the interior of the building is gorgeous.

    (4)

  • Barbra J.

    So, I'm visiting family on a trip back to Michigan. My aunt suggests, let's go to this great little brewery in near downtown and have some homemade brew. We get there, and first of all it's this great little old church that they've converted into a brewery. The service was awesome Our waiter recommended a few different flights of beer and also some great food. We Had a great time with my family here for drinks. Highly recommend great beer and did i mention the oysters!!! Mmmmm

    (5)

  • Craig G.

    a most unique environment, really very cool. Friendly & Knowledgeable bar staff. a great place to hang out with a group, bench style seating is perfect for that. I like the vibe of the place. Good mussels, tasty beer and root beer. the only negative for me was the coffee is not fresh and held on a hot plate, which is too bad because they buy really good coffee beans. Might as well just get a Keurig type machine.

    (4)

  • Lola J.

    I love the beer (Big Red Coq and Triomphe being my favorite) and the atmosphere is pretty cool...loud and laid back. Unfortunately, I am consistently disappointed in the entrees. I've been here several times for dinner (not always by choice) and I have never had an entree that I thought was better than "okay." I will say that they have an excellent cheese plate, fries, and my husband says their burger is very good. I also feel like the food is expensive for the quality. I don't mind paying a higher price for something excellent, but the entrees here aren't excellent. Three stars for great beers, cool atmosphere, but disappointing food.

    (3)

  • Mighty M.

    Thank you Brewery Vivant for having vegan options so that I can enjoy your cool atmosphere and delicious beers! I had the barbecue mushroom sandwich. So flavorful with just the right amount of heat, and who doesn't love a pretzel bun? I can't say enough good things about the truffle fries. Truffle oil is what I imagine to be the food equivalent of crack. You need these in your mouth! The beers are unique and come in a variety of flavors. Love Shadow tasted like thick chocolatey goodness, and I am into that. My friend loved the kick of the Sargeant Peppercorn flavor.

    (4)

  • Vanni T.

    It has a unique atmosphere, and the beer is good, but the food is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. $19 for 1 lb of mussels (it was an extra $5 upcharge for fries). The mussels were also cold, p.s. What you pay for, really, is the atmosphere. BF loved the beers. I'm ambivalent about the place. Like the other person said, if you've got a lot of disposable income, go on ahead and get 20 cents worth of fries for 5 dollars.

    (3)

  • Lindsay C.

    This place is very unique; its in an old church, which is pretty neat. There is a large bar to sit at, plus some booths and big long tables. The benches are hard but it's pretty unique and different. We had the beef with french fries- garlic fries for me, regular ones for my date. Both were yummy and the garlic aoli was awesome. The beef was super tender, cooked just how we ordered it, and had a very yummy sauce. We tried both of the ciders (apple and apple-raspberry)- both were a little dry, fruity but not sickeningly sweet which was nice. They also have fabulous root beer which they brew themselves I believe. The place is not cheap, and I would've given it 5 stars were it not for the fact that the entree was a little skimpy; just the steak on the plate and then some fries on a separate plate. Some veggies would've been nice, or a salad to start or something. We also had a dessert- creme de pots- which was delicious. Brown sugar, caramel with an apple cider gelee on top. Super yum.

    (4)

  • Dan H.

    Brewery Vivant is just what Grand Rapids needed! Belgian style beer, most people either love it or hate it. I happen to be in the first category. I have spent some time traveling through Bruges and Brussels. Vivant has managed to capture that European feel. Every beer that Brew Masters Jacob & Brian have released are wonderful, and each uniquely different from one another. Chef Drew puts out amazing dishes that will make you salivate the next day just thinking about them. The staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. They've always made it a point that when they introduce themselves, they remember your name. Vivant is my home away from home.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    I went to Brewery Vivant for lunch (and a beer, of course). I will be back! I had the crispy pork belly BLT ("fried green tomato, aioli, butter bibb lettuce; pommes frites). Let's break down the elements of this sandwich. - Bread: Slightly buttery, perfectly grilled ciabatta. Soft and pillowy, with just the right amount of crunch/crispiness to it. Heaven! - Pork belly: Very thickly sliced, more than 1/2" thick. Very flavorful and browned/slightly crispy on the outside. Mmm! I did get sick of this as I kept eating, though. I can only eat so much pork belly in one sitting. - Fried green tomato: Fried perfectly. The tomato was still kind of cool in the center. The contrast between hot breaded outside and cool tomato center was wonderful. - Butter bibb lettuce: Kept its cool temperature for a very long time, which I loved. A lot of times, when you get a burger or sandwich, the lettuce and tomato have been sitting on the plate for a while and get all warm. Not this lettuce! - Aioli: Garlicky and good. I recommend getting this on the side. Overall, it was delicious. A little too much pork belly for me. (Note: It was also 95+ degrees out that day, and I was covered in sunblock and sweat. I probably should've gotten the watermelon feta salad instead.) You could get truffle pommes frites or parsley and garlic. Sadly, my frites were overdone and tasted burnt. To drink, I had the Contemplation. Besides having an awesome name, this beer was delicious and refreshing. The boyfriend had the Farm Hand: French Style Farmhouse Ale. This was easy to drink and also tasty, but not as complex. The rest of the menu looks great (hello, duck confit nachos, burger, and poutine!). Looking forward to going back the next time I am in Grand Rapids.

    (4)

  • Brian P.

    This was a cool place in one of my favorite areas of GR. I was here for an early dinner with my fiance and her family. My experience had a few hits and misses. The beer was good. I had the IPA which I enjoyed. We also ordered a sampler, and I enjoyed the other beers as well. Our table ordered the duck nachos. They were decent, if anything slightly underwhelming. I thought they skimped on the duck. The flavors were there, though. I had a burger for my meal. I ordered it medium, like I normally do. It definitely came out on the rarer side of things. I know I could have sent it back, but I didn't feel like causing a ruckus. The prices also seemed a little on the high side. Maybe it was just me. I'd go back again, as this place had a good feel to it. Everyone else I was with enjoyed their meals. I just feel that this place has potential to be better.

    (3)

  • Vanessa B.

    Nothing special going on here. The building is cool, the beer is okay. The food is pretty mediocre. Maybe I went in expecting too much, or maybe I shouldn't have come straight from Founders, which is ultimately my favorite brewery in the country, but either way I wouldn't go back to Vivant.

    (2)

  • Eric G.

    What a great place! went here with some friends while in town.. The IPA was well balanced and delicious.. That is the only beer i tried but everyone seemed to enjoy what they were drinking.. The food was incredible. Seriously, the duck confit nachos are amazing! the chips are homeade, and the entire dish is incredible. I can't wait to go back and try more of the food. The burgers were pretty damn good as well. Someone said they have bacon ground into the patties. Make sure you go here while in the area.. or make a drive to g.r and check this place out.

    (5)

  • Angela R.

    Had a great lunch, creative menu with interesting combinations. Loved the brew selection and the building is awesome!

    (4)

  • Justin F.

    My GF and I came here for the first time with her brother from out of town. We arrived at around 7:30 or 8 on a Saturday night. The place was hopping. We were told the wait would be around an hour so we decided to grab a drink from the bar. Although there was no where to sit at the bar, we were served promptly. After about a 45 minute wait (under promise, over deliver!), we were seated. We all ordered the burger, which we all agreed was great. It came with fries (I had the garlic and parsley) which were the highlight of the meal for me. We sampled a variety of the beers. I cannot remember the names, but all went down smoothly. The service was great as well. We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    The best burger I've had in Michigan to date. This is a big deal, folks. Brewery Vivant is like the kind of dream I don't want to wake up from that happens to include Belgian-style beer, bangin' burgers, charcuterie galore, a damn good indie playlist, and bicycles hanging from ceilings. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to find out. This burger, an enormous patty of freshly-ground-on-site-daily beef and marrow, sits atop a soft but dense pretzel bun, and is accompanied by a hydroponic tomato slice, bibb lettuce leaf, onion & bacon marmelade, and bearnaise mayo. Crisped and salted to perfection, a heaping portion of fries is the perfect complement. Is your mouth watering yet? I've been to Vivant four times now, and each time, I can't resist ordering this thing. I mean, it's so good, it's practically sinful. I suppose it's convenient (or just plain ironic) that while consuming this feast, I'm also sitting in church. Yeah, the space was converted from one place of worship to another--and beer is my religion. This is the kind of place I want to bring everyone I know to--it's incredibly unique, but there's something for everyone. If could eat here all the time (without burning a serious hole in my wallet), I would. Until then, Vivant, I will savor you in reality and in dreams.

    (5)

  • Cortney B.

    My favorite watering hole in GR. traditionally I don't care for most Belgium beers however I have really liked most of the beers Vivant offers. Escoffier which was brewed with New Belgium is awesome if you get a chance to try it. The food is not cheap and you get what you pay for. Seasonal menu with items you won't find anywhere else. If you don't know what to get the default to the burger, it's amazing. The ambiance is great but if you are looking for a quiet night this isn't your place. I really like the communal tables, nice touch. I've been to the top 50 restaurants in GR and this is in my top five without a doubt.

    (5)

  • Gretchen D.

    Excellent fresh beers in a lovely setting (the old chapel of a mortuary). The food was excellent. Son loved the duck confit nachos. The garlic and parsley frittes were good but we preferred the plain frittes that came with the burgers. The pork, the chicken and tattagilari entrees were all very good--well presented and tasteful. On days Fulton (farmer's market) is open they have a chef's special prix fixe for $20 ($25 with beer tastings)--sounds like a good deal. Service was adequate but not really very good. Sound can be a bit loud. The are a part of the shop/eat local movement. An great addition to Grand Rapids!

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Went there for my birthday and we were pretty pleased. The food was outstanding. My burger was perfect and it was on a cool looking pretzel like bun. My girlfriend ordered the house made sausage and she loved it. The only bummer, I had planned on trying out their Big Red Cock but they were out. That is why there is a star missing. We certainly are going back to this place.

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    I went to Brewery Vivant about a week ago. We had the watermelon salad (which was outstanding!). I tried the Zaison ale. It was also awesome. The only thing I have in the realm of criticism is that the server was a little aloof. Good at the start, but then at the end, someone else cashed me out b/c they couldn't find him either. The atmosphere is a little loud, but overall, it is one of Grand Rapids coolest gastro pubs.

    (4)

  • Abby M.

    I love this place. I like the open atmosphere. I also like that the energy has become positive since being converted into a brewery from a funeral home. The darker Belgian ales were wonderful and the sour ales were terrible. The food menu was pretty small, but I was happy with my grilled vegetable soup and duck confetti nachos. I highly recommend coming here. Make sure to get "the flight" (the sampler) to properly enjoy a variety of beers.

    (5)

  • Zach M.

    Best burger i've had in Grand Rapids. It is that good. I love the atmosphere of the place as well. The unique setting in the old church has a cool vibe to it. Only downside is that you will be waiting for a table for quite awhile on busy nights - it's not the biggest place.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    Such a good experience at Brewery Vivant! My girlfriend and I stopped in for dinner. The place was packed, but we avoided the wait by sitting at the bar. The bar staff was friendly and efficient. Beer was impressively complex, diverse, and flavorful. Great Abbey Ale, Saison, and the aged IPA was unlike any I've had. So good. The menu isn't real big, a rather small selection. Bit you can tell that they're not neglecting the food here either. They do a few items, and do them very well. Great atmosphere, cool bar, very good staff, and lively crowd. And that's not to mention the very exceptional food and beer... Brewery Vivant is a must visit.

    (5)

  • Donato C.

    An excellent menu, fun atmosphere, and great beer!

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    The building is an old church, which is awesome. Super cool environment. I've had Vivant brews and other bars and restaurants and have enjoyed everything so I couldn't wait to see what they had to offer at the source. There were a bunch of seasonal beers on the menu that I hadn't had elsewhere. Rye porter was great. We had lunch as well. I split the burger and duck confit nachos with a friend. The food here is heavy, but it hit the spot. Everything on the menu sounded good. They're going for a French/Belgian thing. Our service was ok. We weren't in a hurry so it didn't matter too much.

    (5)

  • Ron R.

    This place was very nice, it had a very good theme. The server was very nice and polite and the beer was amazing, it's all Belgian beers which is quite hard to come by in Michigan. I had the Undertaker, the Psycho Pomp, Dubbelicious, and the Farmhouse. Each beer had a unique taste but not a single beer was bad they all had great flavors, it is definitely worth the stop to c it is a place that you can sit, have a drink and enjoy the environment around you. They do sell growlers as well as having an amazing gift shop.

    (4)

  • Natalie C.

    I REALLY l like this brewery - the atmosphere is cute and the building is actually quite pretty. We opted to sit outside in their back patio area since the weather was really nice. Service was friendly and efficient - and we ordered a few rounds of their beers (my favorites were the Psychopomp and the Zaison) and shared a plate of charcuterie between a few friends. Will definitely come back the next time I'm in the Grand Rapids area.

    (4)

  • Jim M.

    I'm dubious of places with French names, I worry they'll take it too seriously. Brewery Vivant trends to upscale, and seems more of a restaurant that makes its own beer than a brewery that serves food. The former church makes for an impressive setting, and seemingly every available space is utilized for restaurant seating, and oh yeah, there's an alcove tucked between the dining areas where they serve beer, and a couple of vats are wedged in next to that as well. There's an expansive courtyard full of outdoor seating, and a surprising amount of bike parking, but I ended up having to chain mine to a lamp post nonetheless. I occupied a high-top in the bar alcove, and then went to the bar myself to order my own beer. I tried the Farm Hand Farmhouse Ale, and it was light and refreshing: well crafted. I don't recommend skipping Brewery Vivant, but if you're just looking for a beer, don't expect a warm welcome. And do expect to wait or get it yourself. That being said the Bar Back was very friendly, and courteous, and the only reason why they got 3 stars instead of 2!

    (3)

  • Aly O.

    Impressed with this incredibly gorgeous brewery. Our bartender was very friendly, the beer is phenomenal, and the place is cheerfully packed.

    (5)

  • Katy C.

    I agree that the duck nachos have become less wonderful over the past few years. They used to be perfectly covered with sauce with tons of duck. Now they're mostly a pile of dry chips. It's a bummer, especially since they are still the same price.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth F.

    We ended up going during smoked week so I had ribs. They were considerate of my gluten and dairy allergies. My co-worker had the burger and he really enjoyed it. I had ribs and they were good but I could not have the BBQ sauce since it was made with beer. :(

    (4)

  • Allison F.

    Thank the Lord that HopCat in Indianapolis made Brewery Vivant a guest brew this fall. It's holding me over until I can make it up to GR again. Do me a favor and bottle your beer? UPDATE: the Yelpers have spoken: you DO bottle your stuff. Further, I remember drinking a bottle at Frontera Grill in Chicago. DUH Moment! Perhaps my question should be : Can you bring the old funeral home here?

    (4)

  • Rocio R.

    The best burger I've ever had, bacon marmalade is all I have to say. Hands down their food is amazing, we came here on a recommendation and it was the best food and great beer selection. You can't go wrong. Try the duck Nachos and have a burger. The multi-pass beer is great too.

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    On a number of occasions I have let the words, "heaven on earth" slip out of my mouth when describing this place. The menu is regularly changing and the food has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for the burger. Yes, you want the pecan smoked bacon. Yes, you want some cheese on it, I'd recommend gruyere. It'll come with a little pickle slice that is a little different than your typical pickle. I think it's the perfect level of brining to balance the natural flavors of the cucumber and the brine. Also has an onion jam that I typically slather onto my burger. It's a beautiful medley of flavors. For those that are a little adventurous, I'm always impressed by the entrées. When you get your plate, remember that each ingredient was chosen and out there for a reason. It's not just about dealing with hunger, but also playing with your palate. Cut small slices of each ingredient and try different pieces together with other pieces. If you got a flight of beers, it's fun to see how the flavors compliment and enhance one another. The staff are friendly and can speak very well about every item on the menu. One of my strategies when I can't choose a dish is to narrow it down to two and ask the server for his or her opinion. They are competent guides through a carnival of flavors! Unfortunately, I am leaving Michigan soon, but I hope that I can find my way back here again. Brewery Vivant, well done. Very well done!

    (5)

  • Claire V.

    If you're new to the area, go on the brewery tour for samples galore and for a little history on this great brewery. You get a free mini glass too! I highly suggest Paris for a sour beer and Undertaker for a dark. Guaranteed you'll love it! Went here for the first time memorial weekend and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. Great beers, staff and atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    I was underwhelmed, decent brews, but the atmosphere was a little "odd" feeling, for lack of a better term.

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    Love the beers and the atmosphere. We did find it a bit pricey, but you're paying for quality food and drink and excellent service. This is a must stop for beer enthusiasts in the area!

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    Review/rating is based on the beers and App that I enjoyed so much! My buddy and I took a road trip to Grand Rapids from Chicago and this was our first stop in the city. The building and ambiance was unique. I loved the stained glass window being the first thing you see when you walk in. We both got a beer at the bar while waiting for our table. The two that we ordered was absolutely delicious! We decided to not eat entrees and just got our own flights at the table. Usually there is one out of the four beers in my flights that I would dread drinking, but not the four I choose for this flight. They were all really good. We also ordered the bone marrow appetizer :thumbsup: and a goat cheese to split. Our server was absolutely great as well! 5 stars!!

    (5)

  • Cassandra N.

    I know, I know...everyone raves about the duck nachos. If you haven't tried them then you wouldn't understand why. You Must Try The Duck Nachos. They are outstanding! I dream about them. Seriously. Nice atmosphere, great servers and always have some fantastic ciders available. They get serious kudos for having Tandem's Greenman on tap. Love me some Tandem! Thank you for being fantastic, Brewery Vivant!

    (5)

  • Mike O.

    This place right here. The world needs more places like this. An old funeral chapel converted into a stunning brewery with awesome food. And the food is as great as the concept. There's a cool bar at the center alter area, and wooden tables all around. The food is just crazy good. I had pastrami that caused me to rethink my whole life. I've had awesome pastrami in my day - look, I've been to Los Angeles. I know good pastrami. But this stuff? This stuff right here? Whew. Made me break a sweat. My coworkers tried a number of different things, and we tended to pass bits around to sample, so I tried a few bites of other dishes, now all lost to my blurry memory but all of it insanely good. The service was super spot-on. Very cool and friendly folk working there - they took care of our large group like we were VIPs. Very cool. There was a fun crowd there - people were in a good humor and in good spirits. There's a little gift shop in the entry-way - we all bought t-shirts to take home with us, and they had hats and books and other cool things. All in all, a great time was had by all and if I'm ever back in Grand Rapids, I'll make a point to come back to the Vivant. It was full of Bon Vivants!

    (5)

  • Lori D.

    We started with amazing pretzel and cheese hot out of oven. Then had amazing pastrami sandwich was to die for!!! Amazing place and would come back again!!! The kitchen food amazing!!! Our server TJ answered all our questions and had great recommendations!!! TJ was great!!! And kitchen staff amazing!!! Thanks!!!!

    (5)

  • John K.

    First time here and I like it! Inside a former church and still has stained glass windows and high ceilings for a neat look. Music is ok and I like the vibe. Food menu not expansive but you can easily make a dinner of it here and the beer selection is quite good; should be something for all beer tastes.

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Great Bartenders Good Beer

    (4)

  • Sarine J.

    This place is one of the most unique breweries you'll ever visit. The venue is an old funeral chapel built I think in the forties or fifties. With the original high ceilings, stained glass, and wood beams, this place has a character that is unparalleled. Beers are constantly changing with an old works Belgian emphasis that purists will love. Food is ultra high gastropub quality. Come here.

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    My associate and I are having an affair. It's a joint love affair, and our shared paramour is Brewery Vivant. Over the course of two years, our romance has only flourished. My love for Brewery Vivant began with their truffle fries. A newcomer to the Belgian style of brewing at the start of our relationship, I was not yet accustomed to their characteristically sweet flavor. But I was immediately taken by these delectable strips of fried potato soaked in truffle oil. And they paired perfectly with the sweet Belgian brews, making my palate ready to graciously accept this style of beer. As my palate has developed, it is now not uncommon for me to become utterly transfixed by many of the frequently rotated brews on their menu. Among the mainstays, Triomphe is my favorite. This year's Tree Bucket (formerly Trebuchet) and Wizard Burial Ground floored me, seducing me back to the restaurant multiple times throughout their respective periods of availability. I also enjoyed the WIPA, as a brew with a slightly lower ABV that felt as rich and delicious as the high ABV varieties I always come back to. Head brewer Jacob Derylo is an artist, and there is something to satisfy every palate at Brewery Vivant. But if you are unsure of just what selection might please your taste buds, you can present your tastes to your server and they will undoubtedly be able to pinpoint the beer on their menu best suited to you. The service at Brewery Vivant is top tier. My associate and I always have enthusiastic servers who are knowledgeable and attentive. I feel I need to disclose that my glowing review of the service may be somewhat influenced by having been served the last three times by Raeann, whose vibrant personality, seemingly endless supply of energy, and encyclopedic knowledge of every menu item is awe inspiring and a pleasure to experience. But the expertise doesn't stop with the servers--the bartenders and bus-workers are as proficient as the rest. Our table was bussed by someone referred to as "Rambo." It is unclear if this is his real name or an affectionate nickname. He politely and timely took our dishes from us mere moments after they were clean. He was friendly and even wished us a good night on our way out. I don't know why this is surprising to me. I suppose it's because in my experience, most bus-workers usually try to say as little as possible. Rambo's warm personality and skill were welcome, and they perfectly punctuated an already delightful evening. There's a sentence that's probably never been written before. I have lived within walking distance of Brewery Vivant for two years and will happily continue to throw my money at them. As an expert in most things Brewery Vivant, I recommend readers of this review to consider moving in close proximity to Brewery Vivant and spending the money and calories you save by walking there on their beer and food. I haven't done the math, but you can bet it will be worth it.

    (5)

  • Luke H.

    Honestly, this is the place for beer in Michigan. Perhaps all of the Midwest The space itself is beautiful and convenient, with long wooden tables invite a communal aspect. The stained glass window in the rear of the main room frames perfectly the bar shelves, which are stylized into an arch themselves. The whole effect upon entering is a modern-feeling abbey; tall arched ceilings with bare wood tresses criss-crossing overhead, dim but not dark ambiance, and a simple elegance that is inviting and comfortable. The Beer. Outstanding. Old-world inspired offerings with a mid-west twist. Big Red Coq is an easy sipper that has layers of flavor, easy to throw back one after another. The Saisons are incredible, from the tropical, imperial, french farm house, to the cherry-basil I enjoyed every single one. Again with complexity and layers, but not so much that you can't outright enjoy it on a hot summer's day. The Undertaker and the Mad Undertaker were phenomenal. Lastly, my mother-in-law (life-long miller/coors/bud lite drinker who is reluctant to change) remarked that the Multi Pass from Vivant was "The BEST beer I have ever had". I about fell off my bench. That is high praise indeed. The Food. Started with Charcuterie and the triple cheese. Home run. Summer salad with mid-rare duck breast was executed perfectly, crispy on the outside and gorgeously bloody in the middle. Others at our table got the poutine (gravy and cheese curds on fries) and the fries were perfectly crispy to complement the bacon-mushroom gravy, soooooo delicious.The beer cheese dip was smokey yet sharp, great texture and the pretzel rolls were perfect. Burgers were big and juicy. The dessert, a chocolate board with choc bark, truffles and a mousse was a great ending. Honestly, the BOH rocks. Care and pride go into everything they do. Hats off to the crew The Service. 5-star. Outstanding. There are not enough superlatives in rogets to express myself. 18 of us came in for a birthday. Right away the host stand greeted us with a huge smile and welcoming attitude, made some brief calculations, and had us seated in minutes. Then the real MVP took over. Allyson (sorry if I spelled it wrong). She was incredible. We were a large group, and we had that 'too-many-people-over-stimulated-ADD' thing going on. No one had their shit together, she would ask if anyone needed anything, and one person would answer. She would wait patiently for another answer, receive none, begin to walk away, then be hailed by another of our party who would ask a dumb question (which she had just answered). All with a smile and the most humble hospitality I have ever seen. She was gracious and patient. When I had gotten the wrong item, eaten half of it before I remembered, she replaced it with no questions asked. Splitting the bill was a pain in the butt, but she actually apologized to us for taking too long!! Can you believe it? She is a great server and a wonderful host, made us feel at home, and was everything our experience could have been! Thank you Allyson! You Rocked!

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    This is one my husband and I's favorite spots. We don't make it downtown as often as we should and we desperately need to try some of the new places but somehow we always end up at Vivant. Jeff the waiter is the best, I love when we get him. You can tell he likes what he does and is knowledgeable. I always have him recommend a beer or two for me and he never let's me down!

    (5)

  • Anna P.

    I love brewery vivant. their beers are awesome, i think they get a hard time being overshadowed by founders. the food is too expensive and there is ALWAYS a wait, but the beers are so incredible. they close early because of a town ordinance. the bathroom sink is so cool! and the building is very very lovely. they fill steins on mondays for the same price as a pint. so awesome!

    (5)

  • Becky C.

    I love the character and story of this place (it's in an old funerary chapel), and they make fine and interesting beers. Though it is inspired by French and Belgian breweries, the atmosphere also reminds me of a Norse beer hall / Valhalla, or at least what I imagine it might be ;). It's a smaller, more intimate experience than Founders and bigger than nearby Harmony. I have not tried the food here yet or gone for dinner but I have heard that the quality is very good. Founded by a former owner of New Holland Brewery. Parking can be difficult at dinner due to the number of good restaurants in this area. It's worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Good, unique beers. Building is super cool. Staff is always friendly. Food menu is a bit pricey but food is always delicious.

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    Update: the indoor decor has evolved since they first opened and I wrote my first review. They have a adorable "country store" type entrance now with Vivant gifts and beer for sale. The main seating area has been painted welcoming, warming colors. They also created a lovely, relaxing patio space outdoors as well. And check out the Duck nachos. yes, I said Duck. Who would've thought to put those things together, right?! And it works- they're actually good! Thanks to Vivant's presence (and other wonderful area businesses ) the neighborhood has done a complete 180. If you are a long time resident and remember the area before, stop in and if nothing else, support the hard work they and other shops have done to turn this area around. In short, I continue to recommend a trip here for beer snobs and average Joe's alike- great beer, good people, and now with an improved atmosphere!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Not sure what I'm missing with this place but I just don't think it's that great. It's a dark, noisy tavern with no windows serving just mediocre food and OK beer. The French Carbonnade sandwich was not good ... a big white flour bun hollowed out to hold a small amount of beef and smothered in an unappetizing gravy and then buried in French Fries... the tasteless wild mushroom soup was very under-seasoned and the Chocolate Board for dessert was a huge disappointment ... extremely small portions meant for midgets. This is a microbrewery trying very hard to be a restaurant too. Maybe if it focused just on beer, everything would improve.

    (2)

  • Dave R.

    Stopped in for a night cap after enjoying sushi next door. Knowledgeable and friendly waitress guided us toward a couple of choices each. My wife chose a flight of beers while I settled down with a wonderful session IPA. As it was late and they were nearly closing, we bought a growler and headed home to continue tasting their wonderful brew.

    (5)

  • Bonnie M.

    Absolutely fantastic! Super helpful waitress and staff. The food was amazing, the pretzels and beer cheese was delicious. The drink selection and beer is all amazing, Try the cheetah! it will knock you out. Definitely will be coming back here.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    My friend took me here the other night for a belated birthday dinner. I love the atmosphere inside the restaurant. Relaxing and comfortable. The place was about ~80% full, but we were still able to have a nice conversation. Our server was great, he was attentive and came to check on us at just the right times. We did not have to wait long for the food either, even though there was a good amount of customers. Everything on the menu looked great (but pricy) My friend had the bone marrow appetizer and the it was delicious. I don't know what they put on it, but its slightly sweet, just to the right amount. My only qualm about this place is that our dinners were a bit salty. We both had the risotto of the day, which included 2 pieces of a rack of lamb and some beets. The beets were a good accompaniment to the dish to help balance out the salt, but with just 5 pieces, it wasn't enough. I ended up taking most of it home to eat later with someone less salty. My friend also thought the dish was a bit on the salty side. She also expected the lamb to be more tender, which I agree, at least it wasn't overcooked. This is a good place to come if you want a relaxing dinner, but be prepare eat some salt if you order the same risotto. =) -1 star for the parking... there were no spots in the lot and we checked twice before finding some street parking -1 for the salt. That being said, I do want to come back and try the truffle fries and duck nachos, (with a side of hypertension) Oh... and apparently they are out of rabbit... something about them not being able to get vendors....

    (3)

  • Tori V.

    The duck nachos are some of the best food I've had in west MI. However over the past few years the amount of duck continues to decrease. Recently several of us placed orders and each had about 4-5 bites of duck and the rest was dry chips. We felt bad asking the waitress but seriously, raise the price or something, don't just cheap out on the quantity!

    (2)

  • Jen K.

    Pretty unique place, I gotta say. Church-gone-brewery, in a unique setup that pays homage to what it used to be. I mean, the freaking bar is in the altar, c'mon! It rocks! And I love the German beer hall vibe, with the long wood tables and flags and such. It promotes community, which is great while drinking beer! Get the duck nachos. Tortilla chips with duck confit, brie, and tomatoes. Share with a couple friends over some of their Belgian brews. you can't go wrong. I've been here the last two Good Fridays and plan on going back again this year. It's always very happening during this weekend (last year it was during KBS Day over at Founders), so once you get there, settle in and enjoy for awhile.

    (5)

  • Ken M.

    Lot and street parking Good for groups Great beer selection Fantastic food Now, the quick/fun bit. This place is a great restaurant/brewery. Everything I've eaten has been terrific, especially the duck nachos. Eat, drink, be merry, enjoy this place for all that it has to offer.

    (5)

  • Lylian D.

    For my birthday, the beau took me to GR for a day/night of visiting, drinking, and eating at breweries. We love craft beers and Vivant was at the top of our list and oh my god this place is ridiculously great. The food is prepared so well and our entrees (the venison sausage and the rabbit) were amazing. The rabbit did not taste gamey at all and was so flavorful. Beers were great as expected. I absolutely LOVE the wood and stained glass. The building is just beautiful! I can't wait to make a trip out there again to eat/drink at Vivant.

    (5)

  • Kelly C.

    I have nothing bad to say about this place. Beautiful locale to drink good brews and share food with friends and family.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    This place has a great vibe & decor. Duck nachos really are amazing. We tried 6 different beers and they were all good. The mussels were not very good though. Service was very prompt and friendly. I would definitely go back again.

    (5)

  • Jen I.

    We shared the Pork Shank, duck nachos and Poutine. All were presented very nicely! Although for me it was a little to out of the ordinary. We also had the waffle and farmers fruit dessert - elegant and nicely presented! Atmosphere and staff were superior!

    (1)

  • James A.

    Ate here for the first time yesterday, and my wife and I had a wonderful time. Had a bit of a wait to get our table (at 2pm in the afternoon), but that's to be expected on St. Patrick's day weekend... We had the escargot as an app, and it was fantastic! I had the half chicken, and my wife got the Steak and Fritas (fries)... The skin was crunchy on the chicken, and it was perfectly cooked. My wife loved her steak, but the star of the show was the fries! Now let's talk beer... GR is known for its hard hitting breweries with strong bold flavors, but this brewery stays true to the Belgian tradition. Delicate beers with complex flavors... I had a flight of beers the were fantastic, and paired so well with the hearty food they have on the menu... This place is fantastic!

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    The closest thing to heaven in GR. I often test my relationships with people by taking them here. If they like it were clearly meant to be friends. Can't stand it???... Our relationship is over before it's started.

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    Service was very good. Sat at long table with other patrons (Hoffbrau House Style). Beers are big (flavor & alcohol). Desserts were awesome and the ladies loved the presentation. Drinks came out super fast. Lotsa room but still packed. Parking is street side and limited. If in GR and you like microbrews this stop is a given. Excited to do dinner if return

    (4)

  • Dan D.

    Very unique menu. We had the beer cheese to start which was served with fantastic homemade baked pretzel sticks. For the entree we split the burger. It was simply the best burger in GR. Bacon marmalade, gruyere cheese and bacon. Also tried the truffle fries, very good. Did a flight on 5 beers and all were good. Major complaint was our waiter disappearing for 30 minutes after leaving our bill, this after we had to ask another server passing by to find him to ask for our bill in the first place.

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    I was only here briefly while stopping in with a friend while on vacation back to GR. I loved the way the place looked, and the picnic tables are great, love that concept. Beer was good. We split the duck nachos which were also good. Wasn't there too long, the rest of the menu looked enticing.

    (4)

  • Juan G.

    Skip this place. Go across the street to The Green Well instead. Over priced food. $13.00 for a burger and fries! The meat was tasteless, as was our server. We also were not big fans of their "Communal Seating". No reason to go back.

    (1)

  • Abby H.

    The cidar beer was good not the best I have ever had but still good. I just got the truffle fries and cheese plate for apps because I was going somewhere else for food. I thought the fries were yummy and so was the cheese plate but the amount you got (the cheese plate) was not worth the price. I will go back but will be trying something else.

    (3)

  • Peter C.

    What an unexpected treasure! Both the food and the beer were truly excellent. Although this is a brewery, the food is not your typical bar food. It is classical French-style food, and although it is pricey, it is well worth the money. We started with appetizers of deviled eggs and a selection of artisanal cheeses. The eggs were good, although a little over-salted, and the cheeses were excellent. These were not hunks of cheese bought at Meijer. These were true artisanal cheeses. The portions were small, but the flavors were BIG. The night we were there, they had just started grinding their own meat for burgers. One of my dinner companions thought it was one of the best burgers he had ever had. They grind bacon right into the burger. My other dinner companion had the Roasted Poussin which was cooked to perfection. She loved the dish so much that she had to resist the urge to pick up the plate and lick the pan sauce. I had the Sea Bass with Ratatouille which was another home run. The bass was cooked to perfection, the ratatouille was seasoned just right and there was a accompanying sauce that encircled the plate that tasted like lemon sherbet that pulled the whole dish together in an amazing way. The beers are pretty good as well. Our table had five different beers, and we would recommend all of them. The beers are brewed in a Belgian style, and these are not your typical brew pub beers. They have a dark ale that drinks like a pale ale and an IPA that is flavored like a Belgian-style ale. Excellent results. The atmosphere was loud. This is not the place to go for a romantic, intimate dinner. But it has a fun, vibrant vibe. Service was ok - not great, but food was served promptly. The server could have been a little more friendly, although the place was so loud that it would have been hard to hear him anyway. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ashley E.

    I've been dying to try Brewery Vivant for almost six months, so we stopped in on a special weekend getaway to GR. My boyfriend had been here once before on a brewery tour and remembered really good things. When you walk in, the place is impressive. It's a renovated funeral home, and the primary seating area is in the old chapel. With the high vaulted ceilings and communal seating it's easy to envision that you're in old France. Probably a good fit for Cherry Street, which seems to be a hipster's wet dream. While the decor impresses, everything else disappoints. The food menu was so unappealing (in both selection and cost), we decided to forego food altogether. (Maybe I'm not a big enough foodie, but seriously, what brewery menu includes sweetbreads?!) Between the two of us we tried four brews; out of the four one was palatable (but a far stretch from tasty). The blueberry-apple cider was just ok. It had a soapy flavor (maybe the yeast) and was closer in flavor to a wine than a cider. The featured Apple Barrel cider was awful. Undrinkable awful. And I'm a huge hard cider fan. Thinking maybe the ciders were just hit or miss, we tried the Sgt. Peppercorn rye ale and the Double Chocolate stout. We couldn't drink either of them. The peppercorn rye ale tasted only of pepper (seriously tasted as if you were snorting lines of black pepper) and even my boyfriend, a devoted beer lover and homebrewer, could not drink more than a few sips. The chocolate stout was even worse. The taste of iron (maybe from bad water used for brewing) was so strong it tasted like blood. (New marketing idea: Brewery Vivant, now serving vampires and Twilight fans everywhere.) So basically, we paid $25 for some of the worst drinks either of us has ever tasted. It's possible that there are other, tasty brews here, but a 0/4 is pretty awful and we definitely won't be back. After we left, my boyfriend commented that maybe his previous assessment was more about BV being the third brewery on the brewery tour than about BV having tasty beer. OVERALL: Why would you go here when you can go to Founders?! But if you do choose to try Brewery Vivant for yourself, be sure to check out the bathroom. They have these granite sinks that are totally unique.

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    LOVE THIS PLACE As a self professed beer nerd, I came here for the beer, which in itself is a reason to head there, it's all Belgian influenced and even if that's not your thing, you can appreciate their beers as you can tell they are all made with the highest ingredients. The atmosphere is awesome, with a really cool bar and community seating tables, it's a very welcoming place. That brings me to the food, ohh the food! The burgers here are the best in town IMO, huge, seasoned and cooked perfectly and the belgian fries are a great pair. Aside from the burgers, we've had a couple other meals and all have been awesome, make sure you come out on a Friday night after they hit the farmers market and have the chef's special on, you cant beat it IMO!

    (5)

  • Terrence I.

    I tried for the second time to see why people would buy a $14 burger. The first time i ordered it medium and got overly welldone, so this time I ordered medium-rare. The burger was very-rare, the accompaning fries were too salted to eat and the onion relish was way too sweet. They do have a couple of beers that I like, but this is not the place to eat.

    (2)

  • Jason T.

    I struggled with how to rate this place as my anticipation and expectations were off the charts, as the few Brewery Vivant beers that have made their way to Chicago were really great. All of which may have been further skewed by the following: 1) It was our fourth brewery of the day 2) We walked 1.4 miles, some of which was slightly up hill, to get here from Grand Rapids Brewing Co 3) The heat index was 100+ By the time I got here I may have been hallucinating or even thought I was actually in Belgium for all I know. But from what I can piece together: 1) Reallllly cool setup inside the brew pub 2) Duck nachos smothered in Brie! Seriously! I would walk another 1.4 miles just for those! 3) The sausage plate was dyn-O-mite, with perfectly cooked sausage, nice tangy sauerkraut, and a spicy but not too hot mustard. 4) The beers were still pretty damn good, even though my hallucinations may have caused me to remember something better, though I have no idea what. My notes tell me that the Maple, Zaison, and Solitude were all great, though the Monks wood aged ale was my favorite. 5) My hallucinations have mostly stopped. Regardless Brewery Vivant is a winner.

    (4)

  • Jamie M.

    My husband and I had lunch here today and split the hamburger that was a mixture of beef and bacon grilled and served on a pretzel roll, it was excellent. We each had different beer that went down so smoothly. We highly recommend this place if you are looking for a change or something different.

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    This place is a brew pub that distributes in liquor stores and grocery stores in the immediate area. The build-out is fantastic: the building is an old funeral home and the bar area is the old chapel and they have retained all of the architectural details from the original building. THE BREWS Their beers are very hit or miss. Their Farmhouse Ale is very light but tasted like the yeast produced a lot of alternative products giving it an unintentional and misplaced sour flavor. The Hubris is a really great beer and tastes like caramelized bananas. It is a complex and high alcohol beer. The Triomphe IPA is decent but hardly an out of this world IPA. THE TOUR The guys who were hosting the tour were very informed and the tour was very casual and quick. There was more beer tasting then actual tour. The beers they gave out on the tour were bad, ok and good (I can't remember the names). It was asked what size test batches they do and they said they brew everything on their 20 barrel system. No wonder they have a beer name Hubris! (This also explains the hit or miss nature of their beers. THE FOOD We didn't have any food while their but the prices are definitely on the high side for the area. OVERALL It's a fun place to check out and take the tour but if you're looking for more consistently better beer Founders isn't far.

    (3)

  • Debbie C.

    Brewery Vivant belongs in a top 5 list breweries in the U.S., and I'd argue the world. Not just because of the beer, which is spot on, but for the ambiance, and the food. They've got it going on, on all fronts. Go now, before everyone else finds out about this place.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    Two words: beer church! Yes, the bar is where the altar once was and the whole place has an awesome "Medieval Times" (but better) feel to it. The beers are great, but the food is way pricey. During the summer, there's lots of outside seating, but the inside part is pretty small so you might not get in during the winter. I liked the "Maize and Blueberry" ale.

    (4)

  • Keith C.

    I've never had so much fun in a church. Aside from their amazing craft beer (some of the best in the GR area), they have a really unique food menu. We ordered the escargot, the braised short rib sandwich, the burger, and multiple pitchers of heavenly beer. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    This is a MUST if you're in Grand Rapids. My husband is a brewer in Chicago, so we made the trip to GR and Brewery Vivant for business purposes. The owner and brewers are extremely nice and very passionate about what they do. They have the customer in mind, always. The food is creative, unique, but still gives you that comfort food feeling. The beers are perfection. Do not pass this place up!

    (5)

  • Allan M.

    Vivant's hand crafted Belgium style beers are decent, I like their Belgium IPA and the Farmhand ale most, not a fan of the stout. I have not tried their food....yet. Both Community and personal seating available. Vivant is a re-purposed old church perfect for a Belgium style brewery, but they need to do a little bit more with the monotone and somewhat boring interior. They have a great base to start with, they just need to get a little more creative. Also, the place has the faint smell of grade school cafeteria, maybe it's just me. Definitely a place worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Lizz C.

    I'm not sure what to say here: 1. I love beers, especially sour beers. They have sour beers! 2. I love food - we had the duck confit nachos with brie and duck cracklin's. I don't know how to beam to you the luscious taste of these nachos, but I currently have a little shrine in my house to them, I burn a candle to them weekly. The service was excellent. The only quibble I had is that they have a beer named Big Red Coq. The server refused to say the full name and actually worked around the full name with various permutations whenever he could. Seating is either at the bar, a few private tables or some big community tables in the center. The atmosphere was very pleasant and welcoming, with a medium amount of friendly chatter between friends and family members. I was extremely happy with my and my husband's experience here. When we are next in Grand Rapids, we will be back.

    (5)

  • Zach S.

    Coolest place ever. Got the trout and a Big Red. Rhubarb waffle for desert.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    I stopped by while in Grand Rapids because I heard they were having a wood-aged and sour ale festival, and this place turned out to be fantastic. I'm almost at a loss for words. The setting, as others have pointed out, is an old chapel with a big curved bar as the centerpiece. The beer is great, and much of it is unlike anything you can get elsewhere in the area. The people were fun and friendly - the best time I've had in a chapel as far a I can remember. The food looked really good too- because we were hanging outside at the fest, we just grabbed some brats from the grill, and even those were awesome. I'll be back whenever I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Annie K.

    I don't love beer. I can however enjoy a nice beer every once in awhile. And whenever I want beer, I crave Brewery Vivant. I actually like all of their beers, which is not normal for a non-die hard beer drinker. They do have alcohol and they do have their ciders (must try the blueberry-apple!). Their food is also really good! And you know what I love the most about them? They have a very cool idea about being almost completely sustainable. Ask any of their servers and its actually quite interesting. Love them and I respect what they are doing!

    (4)

  • Braden M.

    This place is a very unique and a fun atmosphere. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The waiter I had wasn't very knowledgable about the beer, for those of you who are very into beers, the beer here might be a little bland for you ( not very full bodied). But this place does have a lot of potentiol and I hope to see them succeed. I will go again...

    (3)

  • Steve F.

    Very cool spot the beer was amazing the fries were amazing. The menu was a little strange and it was very loud.

    (3)

  • Zach M.

    First off, the ambiance of this place is great: it feels like a French beer hall hidden away in the foothills of the Alps or something. The waitstaff we interacted with was friendly as well and the prices aren't bad. I had a venison stew which was flavorful and came with tons of sliced baguette: it was a 5/5 meal. I also sampled a co-workers beer-- some specialty brand I'd never heard of and he hadn't either (although he knows his beers)-- and it was one of the most interesting-tasting beers I've ever tried: somewhat bitter, somewhat fruity, with cherry and coffee and a medley of flavors in it. Both of the aforementioned things deserve a 5-star rating. However, I also had some of their truffle fries, which are just drowning in grease; they're basically grease-saturated potato strips. In addition, I tried there Duck Confit Nachos and not only were there way too many tortilla chips for the given duck/cheese mix, but the flavor of that duck/cheese mix is just... odd. It's an experience, to be sure, but I don't know that I'd put it on my menu. Overall, this is a place I'd recommend and will almost certainly be coming back to, but the menu is hit-or-miss.

    (4)

  • Nevada C.

    First, I know that Belgian style beers are "in", but i think that people are going a little overboard. Yes the beers at Vivant are good, however, they are not great. For the most part they are light and enjoyable, I would say these brews are a step up from a good domestic. This brewpub is no Founders. I had the Burger the other night and it was also fine. My wife and I thought that it was slightly overpriced. Its $12-$13 price tag is no doubt a result of its use ground short ribs in the meat. This is an interesting idea, but seemed a little overkill for a burger. The fries were very good though, never discount a good fry. Food and beer alone would earn the pub 2 stars, it is the service and atmosphere that earn it a third. The community tables are great for conversation and the wait staff is very attentive. I go at least once a week and I would recommend anyone to check it out. __________________________________________________­______________ ONE YEAR LATER After a year of being in the Monk Club, and drinking there on a weekly basis, I have decided to add a star to my original review. Their beer has gotten better, the food (despite one bad experience) has improved, and there soups are something I look forward to every week. in addition, I enjoy the communal tables and the lack of televisions. The atmosphere is great for shooting the shit with friends or having a nice evening with a special someone. I don't know what else to say, maybe just avoid their dark beers for now.

    (4)

  • John F.

    So, if you are here just for beer you did ok, but the food kicks ass. The beers are amazing because Jacob is amazing, but the food that Drew makes fits right in with the French countryside-Belgian beer concept. Drink a lot, but eat a lot too. Monk Club #37.

    (5)

  • Beer M.

    Fantastic food. Beers are unique. One of the best places GR has to offer and when it comes to beer, that's a big compliment. Go there!

    (5)

  • T M.

    I have been eating at BV for the last 8 months, whenever I am in town for business. The beers are excellent. They model their beers after French and Belgian style, making them both unique and entirely drinkable. The setting is excellent, right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapid's gentrifying neighborhoods. The long tables, booths and outdoor seating areas were perfect. They have a unique bar built from reclaimed wood and very unique bathrooms. The food was amazing. BV uses as much local food as they can obtain and creates dishes using realfood ingredients. They do some excellent french dishes using traditional preparations. Yes, this isn't typical American bar food, and that's what makes it both so unique and so awesome. You can get food here that is made for real people and isnt full of additives and fake ingredients. I loved it.

    (5)

  • Lenora H.

    What a cool place! Go for the ambiance and beer. The food is only okay. We tried a few things with a group and the burger was the best.

    (5)

  • Holden C.

    Great beer, amazing burger, interesting ambiance. The picnic tables remind me of a few places I've visited in Germany. At these tables you are almost forced to talk to strangers which is fun. We had a very fun night there meeting new people and having great food and beer. The long wait is a sign of a great place but will stop us from visitng for a quick meal. All in all this palce is great!

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    Food: 4/5, Service: 4/5. Beers: 4/5. Not your usual brewery food, recommended.

    (4)

  • Ira S.

    Best Microbrewery in the Midwest, and a fabulous restaurant. Incredible, truly Belgian atmosphere in an old funeral home chapel. Delightful staff. The food is original and creative... and just great eats. And the beer? Well, it is a true treat. These guys do it right.

    (5)

  • Lisa P.

    Will return to sample food. Beer was good, not best, but we will continue to experience it as it grows. LOVE the atmosphere there and enthusiasm of staff. Next review likely will rise.

    (3)

  • Julie Anne L.

    Had such a good time here! The Vivant Brune is tasty, service is quick and friendly even on a busy Friday night. The rabbit rillette was incredible, the cheese plate was above average.

    (4)

  • Ron R.

    Excellent...I met with their assistant brew master the other day and really enjoyed the conversation. The entire staff is very friendly and generous. Can't wait until your IPA comes out in a couple of weeks!

    (5)

  • Aaron R.

    Been here a dozen times in the last few years. I love the building atmosphere, the passion the brewers have for specialty ales, and the delicious (although very expensive) food. The beers are usually very clean, not always standing out as memorable though. A few are masterpieces, and the rest are either so-so, or a couple have been less than tasty for me. I love their sustainability approach. I've had awkward service here more frequently than other breweries or even restaurants. Last night our hostess greeted me with, "What do YOU want?" I think she was trying to be cool / funny... but she didn't let up. I ended up saying, "I just want some beer, may I go to the bar?" After getting a beer with my friend at the bar, and not having chairs to sit in, we told the bartender we're gonna sit at the giant, completely open bench. We wanted to sit on the very end in case some folks came in, which they did soon after. The hostess was seating them and I overheard her saying, loudly enough to be directed to us, "If these guys moved you could fit here." I was on the edge of the bench, and saw some available chairs opening at the bar, so I took it upon myself to get out of her hair and take a seat at the bar. She was nothing but unwelcoming, and rude. Other times were different situations, but resulted in me not really enjoying my stay, despite the beer. Not sure I'm up for a return to Vivant again. There are better brew pubs anyway. I'll keep buying their cans though! Big Red Coq rules.

    (3)

  • Jace B.

    Delicious food, great beer, interesting atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Addie S.

    Great atmosphere, very unique. Farmhand ale is gross but whatever fruity cider beer they had was good. Food was over priced and mediocre but the chef was very polite and you can tell he cares a lot about his kitchen and cleanliness.

    (3)

  • Jenny K.

    Even though I've heard many mixed reviews, I had high expectations for Brewery Vivant, and I have to say, they have been met. I liked just about everything about this place, except for the fact that it was so damn packed. I'm sure in time it will die down a bit. I ordered a sampler of 4 different beers, all of which I loved. Especially the farm hand and amber. It came with cheese, which was sweet, and they don't skimp on serving size. For dinner, I ordered the pate, which came with bread, tiny pickles and Dijon mustard. Very, very nice. The menu prices are expensive, but in this case I'd say it's worth it. If you don't want to spend over 10 dollars for a meal, get the frites. They might just put HopCat crack fries to shame. I'm a big fan of the decor, mostly because I've been to Belgium, and it really does match the architecture of the buildings in that country. The owners have most certainly been to Belgium, because this place is super authentic--the atmosphere, food, beer. 5 stars all around. .

    (5)

  • Bigboss A.

    Love the beer. Very strong brewery smells, so be prepared for that. Haven't tried the food, but it looks great.

    (4)

  • Steven C.

    I'm a beer geek who lives in Chicago and recently spent a weekend traveling Western Michigan to visit the sources of the many delicious Michigan brews that we Chicagoans are privileged to have distributed to our area. Our stop in Grand Rapids was intended for Founder's, but we were pointed to Brewery Vivant, which we had never heard of (makes sense knowing it just opened) but having been there now, I would've been devastated to miss it. Foremost, Brewery Vivant has an unparalleled ambiance. Built into the side of a mortuary and decked out to look like a Belgian monastery, you are getting an experience. The dimly lit pub was packed on a Friday night as you'd expect with a new brewery, but we found some space on the long wooden tables in the center. I'd normally shudder at the lack of privacy, but it created the lively and social environment that the founders were clearly going for and we had a fun time even in our short stay. The beers here are incredible experiments with Belgian-style brewing. The Farm Hand was the most popular choice looking around the bar, so there is definitely something for those who aren't the connoisseur type, but we had to experiment. I had the Triomphe Belgian IPA which was your typical coriander-heavy Belgian ale but swimming in the hoppiness of an IPA, two great styles rolled perfectly into one. The bartender let us sample the most complex beer on the menu, the Kludde Strong Ale in addition to an off-menu version of the same beer aged in Jack Daniel's barrels. These were some of the most complex flavor profiles we encountered on our trip and I cannot wait for Vivant to begin distribution to the Chicago area. We only tried one appetizer, the Rabbit Rillete, your traditional French spread well-executed with excellent butter and mustard to help complement the gamey flavor of the rabbit. You will mostly not find a ton of traditional bar fare, but you could certainly tell that an effort was made to provide food (pomme frites for example) and beer choices that would appeal to those who feel most comfortable in a traditional brew pub setting.

    (4)

  • Lindsay D.

    Wow, really great place. In a town that's really making a name for itself with beer, GREAT addition. My brother had been wanting to check this place out, so 6 of us went on a Saturday night. We called ahead and said we were on our way and they saved a table for us, total bonus! I tried a beer sampler and enjoyed most everything I had. Then settled on the Solitude which is a really great beer. We all shared the Duck Confit nachos which are not to be missed and I had the burger which was EXCELLENT. Yeah, it was an over indulgent weekend - but so worth it!! Only tiny issue is our server seemed a tad annoyed with us, maybe because we were a bit indecisive on what beers to get - but to be fair, we'd never been there. We were sure to tip him well for his patience. Can't wait to come back in the summer and play bags outside in the Bier Garten! **Side note, we were able to find Solitude at a local grocery store and took some back to Chicago!

    (5)

  • Sabrina C.

    This place is just so cool! It is unlike any place I've ever been too. And I hear they have a cornhole tournament?! Freakin' awesome! But back to the review... I love that they really take the time to consider the taste of each beer, enough so that they have a million different types of glasses so that each beer poured tastes as the brewer had intended it to. I kinda really dug the whole decor of the place. It is in an old church. There are booths, there is a large bar to sit at, and then there are the "cafeteria style" benches.. which we sat at, and I really liked it. I want one of those tables for my house. You step into this place and its like you go back in time, like to a time when vikings would have dinner together. So cool.. And the food.. they have some interesting picks, but sooo good. It is french cuisine, which is so different than the usual Grand Rapids eatery, but so amazing. I encourage you to be open-minded and try it. And btw.. the french toast!!!! Left me speechless!!!!!! Seriously, each and EVERY bite melted in my mouth! I didn't even know that french toast could do that!?!!! And the bacon on the side was REAL bacon. So impressed. I am just SO IMPRESSED!!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    The place opened two days ago and I've already been twice. It is an 80 year old building found in East Hills. It had been used for many different things before it became a brewery (including being an old monastery). My brother in law is helping to make the building LEED certified and sustainable so I learned how the toilets and lights are efficient, how the tables were the sides of old farm buildings, and the booths are also recycled wood from one tree, etc. The acoustic make it hard to hear. They currently have about 3 Belgium beers and a few food options. The beers are good and it draws a lot of people who've packed the place every night. The staff are so nice and friendly. Grand Rapidians must've been hankering for a new watering hole and this place has plenty of character to boot.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    Located in a church-like old building, this brewery makes delicious beer and food. We came during "angry" hour and had the burger with fries, and the charcuterie plate. The burger was to die for - thick and rare, seemingly crusted in pepper, with an amazing bacon and onion relish, and delicious, substantial pretzel bun. The fries were to our liking. The charcuterie plate had an interesting selection of high-quality meats (sopressata, pheasant, boar), but it was very skimpy. I expected 60% more food in that plate. It had maybe 3 ounces of meat total. This place is beautiful and sleek, appropriate to go on a date. I highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Tim H.

    Bar in a church? Yup, eat your little cracker and drink from the cup of crafted beers. This is a cool spot with old stained glass and the bar around the old altar. Bench style seating offers a good group atmosphere. Its a small space and lines will form, but the food is worth the wait. The service is friendly and very dressed down; I expected more religious attire, but either way its a hit. Hit this place up to get out of downtown and explore a little more of the city.

    (4)

  • Jon T.

    I was tempted to give Brewery Vivant a 5 but figured I'd slow my roll a bit since I've only been once and it's only been in existence for a little over a week. Nonetheless, it's pretty great / awesome / rad / insert feel-good comment here. First, the beers are really good. I tried all three they currently have...thanks to a little help from the bartenders. The Belgian IPA was my fav but again, all were tasty. Secondly, the inside really makes you feel like you're in some kind of European beer hall....or simply an old church and in that case, wwjd?...lol. Horse-shoe bar, communal tables, happenin' vibe is pretty much the idea. The inside seems to have had just enough work done to make it feel like a craft brewery and yet, not loose the it's 80 year old charm. And lastly, the help seemed truly excited about being a part of Brewery Vivant. Some were more helpful and excited than others but, overall, contributed to the great vibe. I think Vivant will do extremely well in GR and GR will do extremely well to have a unique establishment continue to push the city out of it's box. I'm looking forward to going back soon! Cheers

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Look, this is a brewery/brewpub that serves pulled duck nachos, with duck cracklins, and a brie cream sauce. Do you REALLY need to know anything else? Ok, well, their beers are amazing. They're mainly farmhouse (Saison) style beers, and a few sours (which are amazing). And one named Big Red Coq, which our server was afraid to say, saying "Big Red" instead. :D I'm sure the rest of the food is similarly excellent, but the duck nachos are basically the best thing ever at a brewpub, and you should just have them. /nod.

    (5)

  • Anyelei A.

    Loved the black Forrest cake, rich and flavor and real chocolate.

    (5)

  • Anna A.

    You must be kidding. not a rewarding dining experience. Way too expensive for the caliber of food. Duck nachos were disappointing- for $16 they should be amazing- but they're not. Did not serve bread w the soup. Steak salad was fine but at $14 much too expensive for what it is. I understand it's 'all local', but prices are not this high in NYC! This menu needs a price adjustment.

    (2)

  • Megan M.

    Baby showers make me thirsty, so this Sunday I persuaded my fellow party-goers (minus the expectant mother, of course) to decamp to a bar. Brewery Vivant is the new game in town and I was excited to try their beers. The owners somehow managed to transform a former funeral home chapel into a high-ceilinged bar reminiscent of a medieval monastery. The long communal tables were ideal for our large group, and the servers were fantastic about taking our orders and splitting checks minutely. Several of us were in from Chicago or Ann Arbor and marveled at the very reasonable drink prices: under $5 for most pours. Food prices were comparable to those other cities, which is to say, more expensive than most GR food. After a few hours of oooo-ing and awwww-ing at tiny things at the baby shower, I was well prepared for the Vivant flight, served in adorable petite snifters. I'll have to jot down baby's first glassware as a gift idea for next time. The beers were pretty good; I didn't care for the banana notes in one of the paler ales, but the brown was fantastic and I would definitely order the Sgt. Peppercorn Rye again. I also ordered the beer cheese. One of my friends noted that it "tastes just like the cheese in cheese-and-cracker packs - in a good way." To that I would add that it's the classy version, because it has caraway seeds. All in all, a great addition to the already well-populated Grand Rapids brewpub scene.

    (4)

  • B R.

    Vivant had only been open for few days, so instead of 2 stars I'll give it 3 because it has so much potential. Visited a couple times and enjoyed the novelty of the place. A bit morbid in a funeral chapel, but fun nonetheless. Huge potential but the place could liven up a bit. Perhaps some art on the walls? Perhaps some more sunlight? Those items might be on the way, so I won't dwell. The beer is great, the bar is fun. The community feel of the shared tables is warm and inviting. Didn't eat anything, but again it's early. I'll have to update this review after I go back. Summer could be nice- if the chapel stays cool or patio seating exists.

    (3)

  • Rob T.

    OK....It's in an old chaple. It does seem a little creapy, but I guess Jesus likes beer too. The beer there is great! I had the IPA and another Ale. I like hoppy brews and these had the bitter hoppy taste, but a smooth taste. I dare say the best IPA in Grand Rapids. We didn't eat but the food looked amazing. Next time we are going for food. The bartenders were a little slow, especially since it was not that busy, but by no means were they "Bad". Probably just busy. A must destination in Grand Rapids for Microbrew Fans.

    (4)

  • Sarah E.

    I don't like beer, but I will try it, so coming here was double edged. Interesting new flavors that my friends liked, even I enjoyed the Farmhand (enough to not hate it). The walnut, cheese plate, and pomme frites were ok. Nothing special. The reason I'd go back: atmosphere. I love that it is in a church, the bench seating, and the root beer. Reason to not automatically hate it: it's still really new. They are trying to get into the groove of service... Lastly to add, they are attempting to be green, so hop on the bike to power the TV, and buy a growler (a glass half gallon) for 6$ plus the cost of your favorite beer (to which you drink, clean, and bring back to buy more).

    (3)

  • Jeremy J.

    As instructed by the website, I called 15 minutes ahead to be put on a waiting list for a table, since Brewery Vivant does not take reservations. Only problem is, no one answers and I end up leaving a lame voicemail. Oh well, I hope we can snag a table! As it turns out, after we park in their spacious lot, our timing is perfect. We secure a booth with no trouble; only 15 minutes after we are seated, though, the place begins to fill up with noisy, thirty patrons. There is so much on the menu, we decide to start by ordering nearly every single offering on the "Bar Snacks & Frites" list. I looked forward most to the Redhead Bacon Peanut Brittle...which, unfortunately, is an imported item from New York City. Quite the anticlimactic moment when the server unzips a pouch and pours the mixture into a small bowl. Tada! Regardless, the brittle is yummy and addictive. The Toasted Truffle Walnuts are too heavy-handed with truffle seasoning. The Whipped Duck Butter is too rich and gamey. The Beer Cheese is smooth, spreadable, golden deliciousness. The Truffle Frites are likewise overwhelmed by truffle seasoning. However, the Garlic Parsley Frites are crisp, oily, and tasty. We also order one item from the "Sharing Plates & Appetizers" section: the Winter Mushrooms. The fungi arrive on a bed of what is supposed to be capsicum (a kind of red pepper) and onion cream, with housemade sweet potato chips. Instead, it's more like goat cheese dip with some roasted mushies sitting on top. Only, there is no mushroom taste at all! You'd think with my past mushroom-hating ways, this would be a good thing. Not so. I don't mind the taste of the little buggers; I just dislike the spongy texture. The dip completely overwhelms the fungus. As I knew I would the first time I saw the menu online, I order Farmhand Cassoulet for my main course. On paper it is white beans, braised beef cheeks, pork sausage, bacon, and crispy shallots. When they deliver my little skillet, everything looks as advertised. My first bite, though, reveals a number of disappointing facts: the beef cheek is too dry; the pork sausage is a strange amalgamation of meat that is not unlike mild breakfast sausage; and (worst of all) the beans are undercooked. I muddle through, but it's clear that this is the worst cassoulet I've ever eaten (and I've eaten quite a few). It really needs some duck or rabbit or something to give it a little oomph. I don't taste bacon at all. In the end, I leave it unfinished. I also get to try a bite of Cremini Mushroom Ravioli with Roquefort cream, caramelized onion, toasted hazelnuts, and lemon zest. The taste profile is phenomenal but, again, there is a problem with the ravioli itself. It is undercooked as well. Something is not going right in the kitchen! The Roasted Hen turns out to be overcooked and rubbery. Cast Iron Pommes Anna contains more veggies than potatoes. But a friend proclaims The Burger the best in Grand Rapids! (It does look damn good.) Luckily, we are able to drown our disappointment in good beer and cider. In fact, they debut a red IPA named "Red Coq" while we are there, and it is one of the best beers I've ever had. In the final analysis, we really love what Brewery Vivant is trying to do but feel there is just something lacking in the kitchen. Maybe it will take some time for them to get comfortable with the relatively new menu, and we're certainly going to give them another try. In meantime, we'll take another round of Belgian brew, please. Don't take my word for it, though; check out video and what my better half has to say about our culinary adventure on our website (linked in my profile)!

    (3)

  • Rhonda P.

    Great interior. Loved the inside. I am not a fan of Belgium yeasts so this wasn't my favorite. My husband enjoyed the beers. We shares some garlic and parsley frites. They have a nice, eclectic menu...from mets to sweet breads (the cow kind).

    (3)

  • Jess h.

    Beer: so-so (Belgian's not my favorite) Service: Depends on the night. Expect a wait. Food: Overpriced, inconsistent, and not near as interesting as the menu description. Ambience: Nice woodwork, loud crowd, frat-boy trying to be hipster vibe.

    (3)

  • Joseph T.

    this just might be the best hamburger of all time. Paired with frites and a glass of solitude and you've got a grand champion. Did I mention the burger is a beef and bacon blend?

    (5)

  • Bob G.

    Thursday nite around 7 pm. No Contemplation Ale again. Barkeep says he has no idea if they'll ever make it again. He obviously doesn't want to hear about it. That's OK, they have other beers that are very good. Drank a few, and feeling peckish, ordered some avocado fries with chipotle ketchup - breaded avocado slices deep fried. I don't know what I was thinking, or what the guy who thought this up was thinking. Not recommended. Then some bouillabaisse. Came out with five mussels, three small pieces of shrimp that had been boiled to a mushy consistency in a decent tomato-fennel broth, but no whitefish in sight. Very disappointing. The food continues to disappoint; next time I'll try to play it safe and order the burger. Food, 2 stars; beer is good enough to make it 3 stars total.

    (3)

  • Kathryn A.

    This place is amazing for the Grand Rapids scene! I am so happy to see that new places, with interesting food and local beers is making such a splash. This little gem is located in a church style building and has stained glass windows. The tables are long and there are communal benches for everyone to sit at. This is both good and bad, as you can make some new friends, but you can't really avoid anyone else's conversations. The staff is really nice and will let you sample the beers before ordering, in case you are on the fence about something. I hope to back the next time I'm in GR.

    (4)

  • julie s.

    I raise my glass to you Vivant!! You have amazing beer, a great room/patio to drink it in and the vittles are yumtastic! I wanted to order and try everything on the menu! The things I did end up eating were all beautiful well-balanced deeeeeelights! I will surely be back soon. PROST!

    (5)

  • Ginny S.

    I come here mostly to drink but have had food a few times. The bavarian soft pretzel and beer cheese appetizer is the perfect thing to start off with. They have a Triomphe Risotto that is savory but not overwhelming. I usually don't finish risottos because they are so rich but this dish walks the line perfectly. If you go on the weekend after 6pm expect a long wait. The interior alone is worth checking out, an old church they renovated that received LEED certification.

    (4)

  • Dan B.

    Great place to have in Grand Rapids. Server (Luke) was very knowledgeable of beers and food. Atmosphere was great for a Monday evening, even saw a few youngsters in there. They loved the communal tables, balcony and stained glass. Heck, I loved the stained glass, the bar looks like it fell out of the wall and landed perfectly. The beer cheese was good with the hard crackers, but a little funky tasting with the soft bread. Both the wife and I got the steak and fries. She got the garlic seasoned and I got the truffle seasoned fries or should I say frites. I liked the taste of mine better. The steak was cooked the way we ordered and had a good flavor to it. We tried Farmhouse Ale, Saison, Big Red Coq, Belgian Wit and my personal fav, no surprise the Solitude Belgian Amber Ale. Sampler was a good bet for us as we got to try 5 different beers for under 20 bucks. All those little babies pack some punch too. We'll be back, you should go to...good variety of specials during the week.

    (4)

  • Duane S.

    This brewery is top-notch. We were there summer 2011 and I still think about their beer, deviled eggs, and the best nachos I've ever eaten - the duck confit nachos. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • James B.

    Great atmosphere and great beer. One of my favorite breweries in Michigan. Highly recommend it if you're in the Grand Rapids area.

    (5)

  • Yunn A.

    The idea of a brewery in an old church immediately peaked my interest, so I made a phone call to reserve, but was told that they didn't take same day reservations, and not for groups under 15 without a $50 deposit - we had a group of 15 but received a lot of pushback on the phone. That was unfortunate to hear. Nevertheless, we charged on, and didn't regret the decision. Long family style tables, a fun decor and ambiance, you knew you were in for a good time. I tried a tasting flight of beer, but unfortunately only half of the tasters I found to be palatable. This was seconded by 5 others with me. My colleague kept saying to me earlier that day "The food isn't what you'd expect for a brewery" and if what he meant was, delicious, then he was right. We had quite a few different appetizers, and the one that stood out for me was the duck confit nachos with brie and duck cracklin' FANTASTIC! I was so full I simply ordered a beet salad which was delicious, and sampled the various entrees around me including the New Zealand Wagyu (didn't expect to see that out here in GR) Steak which was at first, a bit undercooked, but immediately rectified by our cheery staff. For a fun casual atmosphere with more than casual fare, I would definitely recommend this spot to others.

    (4)

  • Tom P.

    This is a great place. The beer selection is great while the food menu can be a little odd you cannot go wrong with the Burger!

    (5)

  • Jacob S.

    The ambiance is good and the food is good and the beer is good, but it is also expensive for what it is. Definitely go there at least once, or as many times as it takes to try all there beer, but a better experience awaits you at other establishments.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :3:00 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Brewery Vivant

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