Blue Dog Tavern

What a nice find. A fun neighborhood bar with good food and a great bartender! I ended up having the Lenten fish sandwich special which was catfish. I was worried it would be one of those awful patties out of a box but it was not - and it was delicious! I would have it again in a heartbeat. My bartender was Jeremy - what a great customer service oriented guy. I was really impressed, and it was a busy night. I will be back.

We stopped in while visiting from out of town to catch a game. What a cool little neighborhood bar! The decor is old school sports bar. The service was friendly. The food was very good. We had specialty hotdogs, tots, and local beer. We had a great time watching the game and would return!

Very interesting little tavern appetizer was great.Service was amazing.Drinks were phenomenal , highly suggested to be a must try place.

Very nice stop for lunch! We sat out on the patio. All the food was great. I had the Onion Burger (and should have removed the top bun for the picture). Dogs are welcome and encouraged on the patio. Water bowls are available.

This was a fantastic local spot, within walking distance of the place we were staying in while visiting Grand Rapids. From the TV screen that was dedicated to flipping through pictures of dogs, to the fun/interesting drink names that encouraged us to try something different, Blue Dog Tavern has more to offer than the "pub/bar food" you'd normally expect. The Cajun chicken flatbread and poutin tots were absolutely incredible! Definitely a great venue to check out when you're looking for a quick bite or a relaxing place to hang out for a bit!

wanted to get some take out and have eaten here before so i thought i would try it again. paid $17 for a meal and when I asked for a side sauce, the bartender informed me it would be a dollar. I know a dollar isn't much...but when you're already paying for the food? Come on. I confirmed that there was not already a sauce in the container and the bartender confirmed all sides are a dollar and no meal includes them. Management, if you're really desperate for an extra dollar, just tack that onto the cost of the tots. Or perhaps they think their tots are just so damn good they don't need a dipipng sauce? Absolutely ridiculous for a $17 meal at a pub. Spoiler alert, the burger was not even that good. Unseasoned patty with on a plain bun with cheese, bbq sauce, bacon...nothing special here.

The food is so amazing, and this was my second trip back. Although this trip made me not want to return due to the service I received. Two of my girlfriends and I decided to stop in for lunch again because we loved it the first time and when we sat down we were greeted with almost no hospitality, despite it not being very busy (only one server if busy would make sense for a short tone). When we ordered we had said we wanted split checks and she said that was ok. When it came time for my friend to order she ordered a burger and had requested pickles on the side. We were then told that “they don’t have pickles, only spicy pickles.” Which was weird for us to hear because the last time we visited we were served sliced pickles on the side in a cup. We agreed to the spicy pickles because there was no indication that said “spicy pickles” were not simply spicy pickles, but an appetizer size of breaded pickle spears. When they were brought out we said oh no we just wanted a side of pickles and she said “no I wrote it down.” I can understand that there could be miscommunication but i’m confused as to who would think just “spicy pickles” would mean deep fried? Not to mention I ordered a side salad and it proceeded to never come out after my friends had been eating their burgers, and I had asked her to remove it from my check because well I didn’t get it nor did I want it at that point. Honestly this was just really upsetting because when we went the first time our server was absolutely amazing and so sweet and that was definitely not what we were met with today. It was yesterday Monday the 5th around 2/3 pm it was a women who waited on us.

While the food didn’t take very long, most of it was cold, and had the texture of being done for a while. At our table we had 2 fish- both of which were ice cold; two were chicken dishes, in which the chicken was fried and completely dry. The Mac and cheese was not worth the 4$ price- as it was barely half a cup. The kids meals were fine, the tots being the left out texture. We were hungry so we ate- but the area was so loud we could barely hear each other next to each other(not just the boisterous guests- the music was insanely loud). We were not given water refills and the staff only visited tables when folks walked in or needed the check. I had a dirty place setting after waiting 30 minutes for a table, and I used a kids meal to cover because I could not get the attention of staff. Would not recommend for a meal.

One of the coziest places in Grand Rapids. This Tavern has booths that you can just sink into, get some comfort food, and watch the game. I'm still holding strong that this is the best burger in Grand Rapids. The smash is the perfect combination on juicy, with crispy edges. This past time we had their Tots Rangoon, which is their January special. The sweet chili sauce with the crab cream cheese with the saltiness from the tots and green onion. Come back during the summer months for an amazing patio too!

We went to Blue Dog to check out their new patio, and will definitely be back! I loved the little dog-themed details around the patio, and that it's dog friendly!!! We also ate dinner here- I didn't realize Blue Dog had such good burgers!!! I've always been distracted by the dogs and tots, but will certainly be back for a burger now that I know!

Ordered online the loaded tots. Called politely & asked for a redo because as u can see in the photo DRY AS F NO CHEESE. How are these loaded??? Never again. They said take it up w Uber eats. Uber eats did NOT make the food. So sad

Great food and drink selection. I especially like that I can get a good hotdog here. At most places hotdogs are an afterthought, but not here. They have other good food as well. The poutine tots and their take on reuben sandwiches are very tasty.

Love Blue Dog Tavern! We came specifically for the NOLA menu and it did not disappoint. Honestly, I just love the vibe of the NW side. No thrills no frills. Great food and reasonable prices. I loved my po' boy and the hubby loved his jambalaya. Had to have a Hurricane and an Abita to wash it all down. Everything went smoothly and the place filled up fast for a Tuesday. Make sure to come early if you don't want to wait for a seat. We snagged the last one around 5:30pm.

Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday and the place was pretty busy. We grabbed a booth and our server stopped by shortly after. We ordered a couple craft sodas in a can because it was the only non alcoholic stuff we saw on the menu but later realized they also had Coke products, which I would have rather had. We started with the Garlic Parmesan Tots and they were delicious. Pretty hard to screw these up but the bowl was full of oil or butter on the bottom, probably why it was so good. For lunch, I had the 2 dog combo with a loaded dog and the ditka dog. The menu said if you get a 2 dog combo, you get a free upgrade to tots or fries. I ordered fries but she brought tots and still charged me for them. Oh well, not worth the hassle of complaining when it was on a couple bucks. Just would have rather tried their fries since we started with tots. It would have been helpful if she wrote the order down. Overall, the staff were very friendly, the bar was clean, and the menu had tons of options. This is like a dive bar that's nicer than what you'd expect. My daughter was excited to use the TouchTunes app to play music but they had it paused. Our issues were all pretty minimal and we all enjoyed the food. The hot dogs are messy and over the top but fun.

There's truly nothing cozier than sitting at the bar at Blue Dog, watching big snowflakes fall, sipping on a winter sangria, and enjoying a perfectly made hot dog. Say what you want, but hot dogs are delicious--and I'll happily stand by that. Blue Dog's hot dogs rival any spot in town claiming to serve the best. The toppings are always piled high, and the creative flavors never fail to impress. They also have monthly loaded tot specials, amazing ranch, and super affordable prices. My bestie is all about their burgers and has never had a single complaint. This cozy, vintage little spot has always charmed me, and it keeps me coming back. The only thing I would change is that the happy hour specials are a little lackluster!

Blue Dog Tavern is one of our favorite spots for American-style food in downtown Grand Rapids. just a couple of blocks away from the popular Bridge St., Blue Dog Tavern has a cozy bar vibe with lots of photos and art of dogs surrounding the inside. All of their food is delicious, but they are well know for their loaded tater tots. I highly recommend trying the Poutine tots. If you're looking for a great restaurant off the beaten path of Grand Rapids, definitely check it out!

This is a typical bar but the food is delicious and the service is great We had fuzzy navels for my mom It was her favorite drink We ordered loaded tots no sour cream and I had a Ditka dog and my sister had the French dip Both were exceptional

Very understaffed. We were told an hour plus wit for food. Then we waited 20+ minutes for our bill for 2 drinks. We were also told they aren't even allowed to place orders for a minimum of 20 minutes unless it's for a beverage. This all would have been understandable if they would have cashed us out as soon as they knew we weren't staying. Waiting the length of time it takes to even put in our food order to get our bill so we could go get food somewhere unless is unacceptable and rude.

Killer hotdogs and was glad this place was recommended to us while out of town for work. Pay them a visit and you'll be glad you did.

Smash burger was delicious. Philly tots were amazing! Our drinks were delicious. Service was great!

Great bar on the west side of Grand Rapids. The tater tots were incredible, I would highly recommend getting one of their tater tot bowls. Prices were great and the service was timely!

There brand new patio seating outside is very rusty, music is great, the lighting outside is wonderful and that atmosphere inside and outside is great! The food is very delicious!

My husband and I wanted a place to grab a quick bite before checking into our hotel for the night. Blue Dog Tavern had tons of great reviews all over the web, so it won our vote. It was fairly easy to find free street parking. I could see this area getting jammed as the night goes on, though. We entered through the front swinging door and chose seats at the bar. A friendly bartender came over before we could take our coats off. Waters came up quick while we looked over the menu. The menu... they're got a great menu! It's got enough variety to suit all diets but is small enough that you won't get overwhelmed with too many choices. I ordered the loaded tots and Jacob got the Ditka (Chicago) dog with a side of mac n cheese. Food came up quick. Jacob loved his dog, my tots were great but the mac needed a little something. It was a bit mushy, unfortunately, but the flavor was greatly improved with a little sriracha. The floor to get to the (gender-neutral) bathrooms was incredibly, dangerously slick, even though it wasn't wet. Petition for them to sand it down? I almost fell both times going to and from the restroom. Overall, cool little spot with TVs, a jukebox, friendly staff and overall bright atmosphere. I'd definitely stop in again.

Been here a couple of times and my absolute favorite item on the menu is the tots! This place is walking distance to my boyfriends house so we've been a couple of times and it's a small bar with some delicious bar food. My drinks have always been pretty tasty and strong as well! If you come here, order the tots! Whatever you do:)

Last minute work luncheon- friend of a friend recommended. Cool little place- Here's what I liked- *Service- super friendly and easy going. *Beer was cold and delicious *if you like Tots- they have a bunch of selections. * Their loaded version of a Rueben was interestingly good- with onion straws and bacon. *The fish and chips- fish was crisp outside and flaky inside. What I thought could be better : * While they had a lot of Tots selections they were nothing special. Basic tots with condiments. * the jalapeño hush puppies were good- think they could be a little sweeter or have a dipping sauce? Overall we really enjoyed the place. I would go back for sure

A fun hangout, great location, and amazing food. We've done loaded tots, burgers, sandwiches, and they've all been great. The service has always been friendly and quick. It's a great place to go for that local feel.

Very good food, I had the French dip one day and West side Philly the next. I had to take my son to the it. My wife loved the beer selection. I like the Internet pay system

I love this place! A solid drink menu and some absolute killer poutine tots. I actually dream of that dish every once in a while. Staff is chill and a chill environment.

My boyfriend tried to sell me on this place by saying 'they're known for their tatter tots' to which I thought if tatter tots were the best thing on the menu I wasn't interested. Yet we ended up there and I realized he didn't mean JUST tatter tots, but actual tatter tot meals with various toppings. We tried the parmesan garlic ones - sooo good! Our entrees were also good and reasonably priced. They also serve a killer Old Fashioned - probably within the top 10 of GR. Service was quick and nice. Nice atmosphere. Small parking lot across the street. Was a bit loud making it hard to talk/hear. When our food was delivered I could barely understand which meal the waiter was trying to place (food was above my eye level so I couldn't visually help)

Food was excellent and I'm extremely impressed with how crispy my fries were despite me ordering delivery through door dash, and that's a win all in itself

My friend and I were in michigan doing some sight seeing and decided on burgers. I found this place on Yelp and had high hopes. Unfortunately I was a little disappointed with my visit. I ordered the J-Dawg burger which was supposed to come with cheese sauce and be filled with jalapeños, onions, and sauces. However this was not the case. The first time I received my burger it was cold and raw in the center even though I asked for medium rare, none of the aforementioned ingredients where on the burger either. The server was super nice about getting me a new burger. I will say that the Spicy pickles are definitely some of the best fried pickles that I have had. I would've loved to give this place a higher rating but unfortunately consistency seems to be a problem.

French Dip was awesome. Service was great even though they were extremely busy. Old school bar with tv for sports and such.

Staff is legit nasty to customers. Food actually isn't bad. Jeremy is the only nice staff member

Such a great space for date night! My hubby and I live in the area and wanted to try it out and I'm so glad we did! They're known for their loaded tots and they do not disappoint! So good! Our waitress was super friendly and answered any questions we had. Drinks were also delicious!

Service was top teir. The menu fair priced. The food lit my taste buds a blaze and i will be coming back

We came in as a party of 11 people at 7:00 PM on a Sunday with no reservation. Despite this (and it being Father's Day), we were able to be seated fairly quickly and beat the rush! We felt very comfortable-we spent all day at a lake and looked pretty causal. Our waitress was wonderful-she was working hard and made excellent recommendations. We loved the dog inspired artwork and the old art. Did you know this location used to be an old bank? Very cool! I enjoyed an amber ale, the Four 6s. This was very hearty and fulfilling. Chicken crunch wrap - this was very refreshing. The greens were fresh and gave this wrap a nice crunch with the juicy chicken. I ordered mine with fries and this was all in all a solid choice. We shared some Garlic Tots with the table, as well as a Pretzel. The star of the show? For sure the spicy ranch sauce that the pretzel came with, but all of the food that they made was outstanding. We loved our time here, and were sure to take selfies on their mural on the side of their restaurant.

the food was amazing as always! the bartender marisha hardly acknowledged us from start to end and took 20 min to grab our first food & drink order (it was not busy).

Great place for burgers! This place was lively on a Saturday evening; filled with a younger crowd. Good music was playing overhead too. Didn't expect this vibe from a old, historic looking corner building. Street parking only. Tried the j-dawg burger which has a lot going on it. Definitely a savory burger and the pretzel bun was not distracting at all as I thought it might be too pretzel-y. The onion burger is more suitable for those looking to have a sweet tasting sandwich. It was still tasty but I'm partial to salt so the j-dawg took my favor. All burgers are served with homemade chips; you can sub for fries or tots for $2.

In the area visiting a friend and my fellow Yelpers let me to Blue Dog and boy did it not disappoint. My partner and I wanted to indulge in some greasy food and Blue Dog delivered. We sat at the bar and had great service (socially distanced, sanitized, not a single complaint). Apparently, everything I ate during this meal I wanted loaded, so as such I got the loaded dog and the loaded tots. YUM. Hindsight I should have maybe pulled back as I was stuffed after eating with such big portions, but everything was spot on delicious and kept me full for the drive back down to Detroit.

The service was amazing! The food was delicious and the atmosphere is so cozy. I will definitely be going back

BDT combines your favorite hot dog joint with your neighborhood bar and COMFORT is the word. Blue Dog is a GR blueblood of feeling good and eating tasty. There's a full bar replete with whatever you like to imbibe. But the star here is BDT's hot dog menu. And choice paralysis always bugs me, so I actually appreciate that they keep the number of named weenies to a comprehensible handful. Besides, do you really try *all* the 422 specialty-named subs at your local sub joint anyway?--does it really deserve another corny name just because you switched out the cheese? At BDT you choose from an already thought-through array of flavor combos, and if you need to trick it up, then get a pretzel bun or swap chips for tots. I actually appreciate the more focused menu that shows off what they do. I tried BDT's Cooper Dog and Whiskey Dog both on pretzel buns. Weenies had good snap, tasted beefy, and didn't get lost among the toppings. Split some Parmesan and garlic tots with my dinner companion, and we left full. And it was the first day of spring, so we washed it all down with a couple pints of virgin-tapped Oberon--bonus! I love the vibe here. Old town bar feel. Helpful and friendly staff. Happy patrons with mouths full of hot diggity dog goodness. Booths that make banter appear and beer disappear. It's a super comfy place to relax and grab a bite and a pint. Lots to like. I'll be back!

The food is great, the service is always good, and I love the unique ambiance of the building along with its location.

Heard great things about this joint and needed to try it for myself, and I wasn't disappointed. It was a Saturday night so they said about a half hour wait but we were in under 15 minutes. Waitress was super friendly and had great beer recommendations. All our food was outstanding and the homemade chips were a pleasant surprise. I will definitely be coming back here more often as it is tucked away from busy downtown with a laid back casual vibe. Loved this place.

The Reuben is the best one I've ever had. It is AMAZING. Service was great as well. Nice cozy place to go in the winter

My friend and decided to try this place for a late lunch and we're glad we did! It's a neighborhood bar with charming artwork. I ordered the Impossible burger with homemade chips and my friend the West Side Philly Sandwich both of which were delicious. I had a Perrin Black draft and she had a Blood Orange Cider. We will definitely go back

I highly recommend the smash burger and obviously upgrade to the tots! Meat and cheese have great flavor!

The place has good food! Ambiance is good. Server was very nice. They offer free tots if you order two hot dogs. Two of us ordered 2 each and tots. We got charged for the tots. That is $6 extra dollars ($3 ea.). Not a lot but they said they are free with two dog order. Sent email thru website asking for $6 credit when I discovered it on my Toast app receipt for a future visit. Never heard back. They would get more stars if they would have responded. This was March 16 and today is March 20.

Blue Dog Tavern is a great neighborhood bar and their bar-food game is STRONG! I came here for the first time with my partner recently and I'm so glad I did. We had a major case of the munchies and decided on an early-dinner. I've decided Blue Dog makes the best "loaded tots" in town! They were insanely crunchy but still soft inside, and the cheese was perfectly gooey. Soooo good. My bf enjoyed his Canuck dog, and the crispy shrimp were better than they should have been. They look like the typical cheap shrimp basket quality you'd get anywhere, but they were crispy af, still plump and just really tasty. Prompt, friendly service that isn't overly-attentive + bar food heaven = your next favorite Westside joint!

I ordered the Buffalo Grill sandwich and received bread with two tiny scraps of chicken and a slab of cheese. The bacon was nonexistent. This was easily the worst sandwich I've ever gotten from a pub if you can even call it a sandwich. It was basically just dry bread. This was worse than something a college kid would make in their dorm. I suggest they hire cooks who make actual food.

I'm afraid to leave too good of a review and the place will get busier than it already does. One of our favorite late night spots. Food is amazing! Service is some of the best in the area, shout out to bartender Jeremy!!!

As far as hot dogs go in GR this place is my favorite. Also, it's just a fantastic corner bar. Great place to grab a beer. Loaded Dog is the best followed by chili dog in my opinion.

Blue dog is my go to place for burgers and they have great drinks and amazing service! Arguably the best burgers in GR. Great service as well.

Whenever I have a craving for hotdogs, I immediately think of Blue Dog. They cut it in half then grill and it always hits the spot. With a side of tots, the loaded dog is the best meal! Friendly service and quick and so happy to be able to do indoor dining again. There were separating partitions and hand sanitizer everywhere so I felt very comfortable between parties.

Yuuuummmo! Great vibe. Good service. Fantastic menu. One of those off the beaten path finds that make you feel like you won the Yelp game. Go here soon!

There was nothing really special about this place. Everything that I ordered I believe I could've made at home and it would've taken less time and would've tasted much better. I will say their specialty is their tater tots as they have quite the selection. However, it just turned to fried potato mush after a while.

Tots are amazing. Beer is amazing. Environment is amazing. Servers are amazing. Waiters were really nice and food tasted great!

This is a great hole in the wall pub! Wide drink selection and fun menu! We had the Ditka dog and Butch Dog with Buffalo Tots! The hot dogs are all beef and have great flavor. The tots however were very overdone and I could hardly eat them. Staff is very friendly and the environment is welcoming.