Blue Dog Tavern

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.

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.

Yooo so I had the J Dawg burger I believe it was. I honestly don't eat much red meat anymore and there were no issues, so they're pretty lean as well as super delicious 😋 Also those tots are truly the best I ever had, pretty large amount on all accounts for a nice price!!! Way to go ya'll and my compliments to the cook also ⭐️💜🤑

Great food and service! We stopped here for a quick bite and were not disappointed!

Their tots have always and will always be legendary. I go there once a month. Just to try the tots of the month and I hear in august they're gonna be doing some pineapple based tot bowls and entrees, their new remodel, definitely fits the part for their atmosphere and vibe. If you've never been to grand rapids, go to blue dog, it's an experience in itself

Very good food! Reasonably priced as well. We got burgers and they were cooked perfectly. You also have to get the garlic parm tots too!! Only complaint is that the food came out pretty slow, our waitress did a good job of reassuring us that it would be out soon and making sure the waters kept coming on that very hot day!

Great burgers, a passion for tater tots, and good dogs. - Stocking Street Burger: It is your average burger, but done right. Ordered medium with American Cheese. It was juicy good. The toppings were well balanced. It did not fall apart. The bun complimented well. - J-Dawg Burger: This was my favorite, but it had a minor flaw of falling apart. Ordered medium and it was medium. The burger patty was stuffed with toppings and sauce, a new trend I am liking. I’ve always been concerned if they fell apart and this was an example of one that does. A third of the burger fell out the back about two to three bites in. I put it back, but bummer. But that was the only flaw. They put a lot of thought into this burger and the taste was amazing and balanced just right. The burger patty was SUPER juicy good. The pretzel bun was a great decision on their part and really made it stand out well. - The Cooper: Basic chili cheese dog, but with really good cheese sauce. It was a little better quality beef dog and slightly bigger. The chili was a little above average. The cheese sauce, like with the J-Dawg Burger, is amazing! If you like hot dogs, you’ll like this place. Get two dogs and tater tots or fries are free! - Curry Tots: A monthly special that is only available for this month (August 2024). I believe they mainly added a curry spice to a mayo (don’t quote me on that, it might not be mayo). The grilled chicken was there, but the onion, red peppers, jalapeño, and cilantro were minor nuances, which were disappointing. A lot of the topping was on top only. The lower 80% didn’t have toppings except the left over. It didn’t seem as well thought out as a concept. That said, it was still delicious because I do like a little kick. - Poutine Tots: A regular menu item and it was delicious! The ingredients were well mixed in and well balanced (better than the Curry Tots). The egg was a great addition. The pork was a great addition. The cheese was stringy good. The gravy is the best part (it is made with flour, so gluten-free beware). - Tots (general): The bowl is small compared with the amount you get. It makes the dish look great, but it becomes a little difficult to manage if you want to mix in the toppings. The tots seemed fairly plain. Better than you’d get at the store, but not significantly enough to justify the price. Maybe ours were just a bit overcooked, but the inside should be a little fluffier and lighter. Again, I did enjoy the tots overall, but there’s still a bit of room for improvement. - Chips: Like most pubs. No one seems to make good house made chips. Maybe it’s me. - Fries: An extra $3 and worth it. Delicious. Nothing special. Just done right. Thin cut, warm to the end, fluffy center, good medium crunchy outside, but a bit salty (like many restaurants). - Service: Waitress was all business, but pleasant. We seated ourselves, were met with immediately, and she made sure we were taken care of and anticipated our needs. The food came relatively quickly without delays and was spot on right. I need a lot of water and though I usually ask for two, having only one was not a problem since she always made sure it was full. - Atmosphere: A little more polished for the neighborhood, but not overly. You can walk in with jeans or a suit and fit in. The emphasis on dogs is a little refreshing. I am not a dog person, but I can appreciate it to a degree. I think if you are a dog person, you’d LOVE this place. - Monthly tots special: I think this is what makes Blue Dog Tavern special and what really attracted me to this place. I watched them on Facebook for a few months and saw a couple of fun ones. I mentioned the Curry Tots a friend of mine who shares my appreciation for curry and he insisted we get there to try it. I thought the monthly tots were simpler and less thought out than I saw on Facebook, but I’ve only tried one. The regular tot options look more well thought out and fuller. Visited Wednesday 4:15-5:45 PM. Their menu on the website is current.

I don’t usually go out of my way to leave reviews, but after my experience last night, I felt compelled to share. I walked in, grabbed a seat at the bar, and before I could even say hello to my friend, the bartender had already served me a cold beer. Talk about service! The bartender was fantastic, great personality, quick with the jokes, and just an all-around pro. I’m not a big drinker, but I didn’t mind that he "twisted my arm" into another round or two. Then came the J-Dawg Burger... and wow. Hands down, one of the best burgers I’ve had in Grand Rapids in a long time. I’m already planning to bring my girlfriend back soon. Can’t recommend this place enough, great vibes, great service, and incredible food!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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)

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.

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:)

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

The smash burger was excellent! Beef and cheese were very flavorful. Tots are a must!

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.

Stopped here after visiting the nearby John Ball Zoo. I will say that based on the reviews and the website it seemed like a much more exciting choice than it ended up being. Staff was great outside of feeling slightly rushed to order when there was only one other person inside. The fried Za rolls were just store bought pizza rolls deep fried, the sauce on the was good though, but I'd think for the price they would have been homemade. The fried pickles were tasty but you hardly got any. The burgers were good and same with the drinks. Overall just a rather bland visit with basic bar food.

I went there with a few friends who traveled from out of town for dinner... when we checked in we were told 20 minutes until a table will potentially open up for us... so we went across the street to the monarch's club while we waited.... We were sat 1 hour and 20 minutes after! Once we were sat our drinks came quick and we were able to order an appetizer pretty quickly as well. The nachos came 1 hour after ordering! They were COLD but we ate them anyway because we were starving and didn't know when our meals would come out. Our meals then came about 20 minutes after the nachos and the burgers were cool on the inside along with everyone else's meal. Some of the extra toppings I requested were not included but yet I was charged for them anyway. Overall it was a crappy experience. Ps Veronica (I think that was our waitresses name) was nice but could have done more to assure us food was coming or talk to us more about the delay so we weren't just sitting there for an hour wondering if our order was entered into the system .

Music was good but food was not. I ordered the loaded tots and the very little cheese that came on them wasn't even melted. I would have never run those out to a table as a server. Service was okay.

We came in for a late lunch. The food was so good and the prices are super reasonable. Our server was great and the classic rock music playing was so fun!!