Near a Landmark

Best Restaurants Near Aquinas College in Grand Rapids

Aquinas College sits at the edge of two of Grand Rapids' most food-dense corridors — Wealthy Street and East Hills — putting a remarkably varied dining scene within easy walking distance. Whether you're a parent visiting for move-in weekend, a prospective student on a campus tour, or an attendee squeezing a meal between sessions at an academic event, the stretch of restaurants just east and south of the 1700 Fulton St campus rewards exploration.

All 19 restaurants

Pizza

Quarantino's

★ 4.9(695)· $$

The Crab Rangoon pizza, a Detroit-style rectangle with creamy crab filling and sweet chili heat, is the kind of thing that gets people talking. Quarantino's runs a tight menu of bold, inventive pies on a properly blistered, thick-edged crust that holds its shape when you pick it up. The pickle sticks and sourdough bread with hot honey are worth ordering alongside.

Breakfast

Wolfgang's Restaurant

★ 4.7(3,031)· $$

The tiramisu pancakes at Wolfgang's are the real deal: fluffy, coffee-soaked, topped with whipped cream. Uncle Ron's Skillet has sent more than one visitor home stuffed and converted. Redskin potatoes and a breakfast bar with front-row views of the kitchen round out a Wealthy Street morning worth the wait.

Other

Chez Olga LLC

★ 4.7(1,016)· $$

The Creole Sampler and jerk chicken (falling off the bone, per multiple visits) are the anchors of Olga's Haitian and Caribbean menu on Wealthy St. The curry runs sweet, the gumbo has heat, and the Creole Cheesecake is worth saving room for. Olga herself routinely comes out to sit with diners, which makes the whole thing feel less like a restaurant and more like someone's house.

Other

Go Jo Ethiopian Cuisine & Deli

★ 4.7(533)· $$

The Super Vegetarian Combo platter feeds two with room for leftovers, all served on injera with extra injera on the side. Go Jo draws vegetarians and vegans in particular, and the menu holds up well for gluten-free eaters too. The owner walks newcomers through the dishes, and the Ethiopian tea is worth ordering.

Chinese

Gaslight Kitchen Asian Cuisine

★ 4.7(426)· $$

The egg drop soup draws serious praise, and the sizzling rice soup has its own following on Wealthy St SE. A family dinner for four runs around $70-100, which splits the crowd: some find the freshness worth it, others leave feeling the portions don't match the price. The crab rangoon comes up in almost every review, for better or worse.

Other

Pera Pizzeria

★ 4.8(171)· $$

Wood-fired New York-style slices on Wealthy St, from a small family-owned spot with almost no seating. The crust folds clean and picks up a solid char, especially if you ask for it well done. Turkish food is on the menu too, including hummus and shish that reviewers call the real deal.

Mexican

Tamales Mary Eastown

★ 4.7(294)· $

The tamales are the main event here, thick and packed with filling, not an afterthought. The Friday special of three tamales is worth planning around, with options like beef, cheese and jalapeño, and spicy chicken. Tostadas and enchiladas have their regulars too, and the horchata is a solid call.

American

Yesterdog

★ 4.6(3,823)· $

The yesterdog and cheddar dog are the regulars' picks at this Wealthy Street institution. Prices have stayed affordable for decades, and the vintage interior lets you scribble your name on the walls alongside the history. There's a working pay phone inside. Kids love it.

American

Rose's

★ 4.6(3,016)· $$

Rose's sits on the water in East Grand Rapids, and the lake view from the enclosed patio is the real draw, winter or not. Happy hour draws crowds for pub-style pizzas and house-made root chips overlooking the water. No reservations, but the turnaround is quick.

American

The Pita House

★ 4.6(1,150)· $

The chicken shawarma platter runs $24 and comes with hummus, Greek salad, and pita. Portions are large enough to split, and the presentation gets noticed. Greek pantry items line the shelves for take-home shopping alongside a self-serve soda machine.

Mexican

Mi Pueblito Mexican Restaurant

★ 4.7(208)

The chicken fajitas at Mi Pueblito draw serious praise, and the Enchiladas Oaxaquenas in house-made mole have converted more than one skeptic. Horchata comes rice-made, not from powder, and the large is genuinely large. A family-run spot on Wealthy St that earns the drive from well outside Grand Rapids.

Breakfast

That Early Bird

★ 4.5(706)· $$

The Astro 2.0 sandwich, with its fluffy omelet square, melty cheddar, avocado smash, and dill aioli on a toasted bun, shows up in nearly every review for good reason. The banana bread latte is the sleeper hit: seasonal, specific, and apparently unlike anything else in the city. Counter-order setup with bus-your-own-table service, so go in knowing that.

Other

Olives

★ 4.5(381)· $$

The truffle fries show up in nearly every order on Wealthy Street's Gaslightt District corner. The Olive burger runs large, with a double patty and a sauce that earns its mess. Lunch crowds from nearby offices keep service moving fast, and the menu leans short and focused.

Pizza

Cottage Inn Pizza Grand Rapids Eastown

★ 4.5(208)· $

The deep dish at this Eastown Cottage Inn runs fluffy and properly cooked, and the antipasto salad with house-made Italian dressing is worth adding to the order. It's a chain, but this location has a loyal following since reopening in Grand Rapids. The staff moves quick on phone orders.

Seafood

Carolina Lowcountry Kitchen

★ 4.4(1,264)· $$

The hush puppies come out complimentary with a Dijon sauce, and that's a good sign of what's ahead. The buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp-scallop-crab pasta, and fresh oysters all show up repeatedly across reviews, and a Monday night jazz trio packs the room. Wood trim, brick walls, and booths round out the room without tipping into stuffy territory.

Breakfast

Brown Butter Crêperie & Cafe

★ 4.4(717)· $$

The Bacon, Egg and Cheese crepe and the Paris Waffle are the headliners on Wealthy St SE, with both sweet and savory options covering the whole menu. Counter service, made-to-order crepes, and brown butter chai lattes round it out. The strawberry, banana, and Nutella crepe has its own fan club.

Pizza

Harmony Brewing Company

★ 4.4(688)

Wood-fired thin crust is the draw at this East Hills brewery, housed in a converted fire station. The Pizza Flight lets you sample six signature pies, and the Friend of the Devil (goat cheese, building heat) is the one to watch. Summer patio is dog-friendly and gets busy.

Pizza

Big Bob's Pizza

★ 4.7(669)· $$

The Mediterranean pizza keeps regulars coming back, and the meat lover's with garlic has its fans too. Breadsticks and complimentary popcorn round out the table. A 4.7-star neighborhood spot on Croswell with a loyal following and a beer list worth noting.

American

Jose Babushka's

★ 4.2(369)· $$

Dill pickle soup and pierogis on the same menu as margaritas and guacamole. Jose Babushka's Polish-Mexican fusion is genuinely its own thing on Wealthy St. The pierogis draw consistent praise, the front and back patio seats are in demand, and the indoor room gets loud when it fills up.

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Best Restaurants Near Aquinas College in Grand Rapids is an editorial roundup of 19 Grand Rapids restaurants. The average diner rating across this list is 4.6 out of 5. Restaurants are ranked by editorial review, not by paid placement.

Frequently asked questions

Best Restaurants Near Aquinas College in Grand Rapids?

Top picks on this list are Quarantino's, Wolfgang's Restaurant, and Chez Olga LLC. The full ranking weighs review quality, popularity, and how actively diners are talking about each restaurant.

How many restaurants are on this list?

19 restaurants meet the criteria for Best Restaurants Near Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

How is this list ranked?

Ranking combines a Bayesian-smoothed review score with an activity multiplier that gives weight to restaurants currently attracting fresh reviews. Paid listings do not affect the order.