Few foods are more iconically American than the cheeseburger. At once synonymous with comfort and convenience, the cheeseburger has become a staple representation of American cuisine, and with good reason. Restaurants all over the county make and re-make this simple sandwich, adding everything from avocado to fried eggs to deep-fried pickle slices to top their burger. One of the best things about West Michigan is the wide variety of locally-owned eateries available to locals and tourists. If you were to ask a Grand Rapids native where to get a great burger, chances are pretty good they'll refer you to Stella's Lounge.
There are many things that set Stella's apart from the average burger joint. First of all,in 2012, Stella's was endorsed by GQ's deputy editor Michael Hainey as the best burger in America during a promotional segment for an upcoming issue of the magazine on MSNBC's Morning Joe. The burger also made a list of the best placed to eat in 2012, according to an article in GQ. On a more local level, Stella's burgers have been voted the best burger in Grand Rapids by the readers of both On The Town magazine (2014) and Grand Rapids Magazine (2014 and 2015).
The restaurant features an arcade, in the form of vintage video games and pinball machines. While the offerings vary based on what is currently working, you can definitely expect to find classic games such as Tetris, Q*bert, Mortal Kombat, and Asteroids in the rotation. There is an ATM available, as well as a change machine, meaning that you don't have to lug in a bag full of quarters just to get your game on while waiting for your meal.
As for the meal itself, well, Stella's has rapidly risen in local esteem for good reason; in addition to unfinishable, half-pound stuffed burgers, they also offer vegetarian black bean burgers, chili, salads, and brunch offerings, all of which are original (Kahlua syrup on your pancakes, anyone?), some of which are unusual (deep-fried avocado slices).
Many people visit Stella's for their assortment of whiskeys, not their unbelievable food. Not only do they have a dozen beers on tap, some of which rotate regularly, they also offer dozens and dozens of whiskeys, starting as low as $3 a glass, going up according to rarity and bottle price. Whiskey aficionados would be well served to spend a few evenings at Stella's, checking out the variety of Irish, Scotch, Canadian and American whiskeys.
You can bring the family here, but you'd be best served by coming in earlier in the day if you have minors in tow. Stella's Longue opens at 4 PM, and much later than that the place is generally filled with whiskey-loving adult patrons. After 10 PM, minors won't be allowed in, even if their parents are with them. The later in the day you visit, the longer you'll have to wait, the louder the music will be, and the more packed the business becomes. Hit it up early if you want to share a meal with the kids, or bring the wife for a night out when the kids are otherwise entertained.
If you needed one last push to consider checking out Stella's Longue, perhaps their efforts to offset their environmental impact will sell you on this little burger joint. Not only do they compost their food waste and recycle as much as they can (diverting an estimated 90% of their waste from landfills), they also use compostable takeaway containers, meaning you can throw that box out in your garden compost and help enrich your soil with it, instead of contributing yet another piece of styrofoam to the trash bin.
The next time your burger craving kicks into high gear, consider a trip downtown to Stella's Longue, a restaurant that is quickly becoming an iconic staple of the West Michigan restaurant and bar scene.