I’ve never liked fancy restaurants.

And I’m disheartened to admit that I went to Rose’s with the preconceived notion that it would be like every other nice restaurant I’ve been too.

Stiff. Cold. And overall unenjoyable.

But, instead, Rose’s has forever changed the way I view nice restaurants.

Not only was the restaurant exceedingly homey and comfortable, but the wait staff couldn’t have been more welcoming. We were greeted the minute we walked in the door and were instantly seated at a booth with a park view. In typical East Grand Rapids style, Rose’s is a smaller building. However, they use the space they have very wisely, creating an open, yet still private, feel. The windows facing out across Reeds Lake make the room feel spacious while giving you a beautiful view of the gorgeous blue waters. I would have been content to sit and watch the boats go by for hours.

It may have taken a little while for our food to arrive, but it was definitely worth the wait. The waiter set a calzone the size of my face down in front of me and I was powerless to keep from digging in right away. Each bite was filled with mouthwatering flavor. With the calzone came with chips like I had never had before; they weren’t crunchy, but they weren’t soggy either, and they had just the right amount of salt on them.

As high quality as the food from Rose’s is, the price is slightly extravagant. I wasn’t shocked to see the higher prices of food, however, it still put me off from wanting to return to Rose’s.

But it was the restaurant’s history that I found truly captivating, and enjoyed even more than the irresistibly good food and splendid service. Rose’s has such a deep and rich history which I found thoroughly fascinating. The moment you walk in the door you’re greeted with old-fashioned black and white pictures. Snapshots of East Grand Rapids bountiful history. And it was their tasteful insertion of their intriguing history that really made Rose’s a restaurant I plan on frequenting.