447 Bridge Street Northwest
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Kent County
Phone: (616) 774-7177
Fax: unknownWebsite: no website on fileEmail: no email on fileHours: unknown
by Matt L. on I consider myself an avid bruncher. Sabrina's, Honey's, Day by Day, even Gardenia, I know all the places. Friends are in town? Go to brunch. Meeting up with a bunch of people? Brunch. Not sure if you want breakfast or lunch? Brunch (as an aside, I actually prefer the term "blunch"). So when I was looking for a place to grab a quick bite with a friend before our softball game today, I was surprised to see Cafe Lift had such a history of stellar brunching, as I had NEVER heard of it. After finding a parking spot on 13th and a short walk to unassuming doorframe, we walked into a kitschy yet super mod space with amazing smells coming from all over. Coffee and water were served and my friend and I decided on spitting a turkey bacon and egg crepe as well as the cannoli french toast. The crepe was great -- thin, well-filled, yet I didn't really want the syrup it was served with. We asked for some of the spicy red pepper spread which, although a little on the hot side, was just awesome. I loved the pickled taste combined with the heat. As for the french toast. My oh my. That's all I can say. Three nice sized pieces of challah fried and served with a hefty dollop of cannoli cream, some chocolate chips, banana slices, and pistachios. Honestly, i can't think of a better heaven. Yeah, I do like my french toast a little eggier and a little soggier but these are small complaints given this meal. At under 15 a person, this was a great value too. It's a little out of the way for most occasions but, Cafe Lift, you are my new choice for Blunch.
by Carlene Gamble on ** le sigh ** (to the tune of Mickey Mouse) T - R - E N - D - Y B - I - T - C - H Trendy Bitch (Oh my Gawd!) Trendy Bitch (Where's my Porsche?) Walking hand in hand With their Pradas held up high! Jiminy Christmas, this place ... I just don't know. Some of the world's best DJ's come through here. It's settled in the beautiful shell of an old theatre. The lights and the ambiance are sick, sick, sick. It's easy to get your drink up with all those bars scattered through the joint. That lovely smoking lounge upstairs with a nice pool table and couches galore. That sound system with the driving, mad-fuck bass that comes pretty damn close to hurting your ears. I've had some pretty good times here, but ... (yep, there's a "but") ... everything's simply awash with this high-gloss desperation to be cooler than thou. My God, $20 for cover? $6.50 for a bottle of Corona? What's up with all the Gavin gel-clones? (Not that I have anything against the Gav. He's da man.) The clientele is rather rude, as are the employees -- with a couple of exceptions here and there, of course. 3 stars. That's as high as I'm willing to go. Somebody below had written a useful truth (Big B.): "It's a compromise destination." Mighty, DNA Lounge, Mezzanine, End Up -- those places this place will never, ever be. But it's still kind of fun. You just feel bad about having visited the next day, trying to figure out how your wallet seemed to have lost so much weight.
