Overview:
Restaurant: Wolfgang's Restaurant
Location: 1530
Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Price: Food = Not
terribly priced. $6-12 breakfast dishes.
-
Atmosphere: Very family-centered and welcoming. Fun dcor and
small dining area (so be prepared to wait on those busy mornings). -
Service: Always some of the friendliest servers. You can
tell they actually enjoy what they do. -
Food Options: A good variety of unique breakfast options.
Benedicts, skillets, omelettes, burritos, pancakes, French toast, waffles, etc.
A small selection of lunch items too. -
Taste: Amazing meals made with fresh ingredients. “No
freezer here,” according to their menu. Giant portions and delicious food. -
Vegetarian Options: Decent variety of vegetarian and a
handful of vegan items. “Vegan Forsyth” (a breakfast skillet), veggie quesadilla,
vegetable & cheddar omelette, vegan burrito, etc.
Description:
There are not many breakfast places
that I would wait 1 hour and 45 minutes for a table, but at Wolfgang’s I always
make an exception. Wolfgang’s is a Grand Rapids staple on the corner of Wealthy Street on
the eastside. Every time I go there’s always a line out the
door, but it’s worth it in the end. Trust me.
The restaurant is full of history.
It was the first of its kind to do all day breakfast in Grand Rapids around 1977
and the restaurant is actually part of an old trolley barn from when the Grand
Rapids and Reeds Lake Railroad Company built rail lines down Wealthy Street.
Today the restaurant is still in the Wolfgang family, because you can tell that
family and great service is extremely important to them.
Now, you probably want to know about
the food. First off, to my coffee lovers, start with a bottomless cup of their
hazelnut coffee and you’ll thank me later. The coolest thing about Wolfgang’s
is that they only use fresh fruit, vegetables and other ingredients. “No
freezer here,” their menu says. It also says, “we use canned corned beef hash
because it was mama Wolfgang’s favorite. You do as your mother says.”
The food at this popular breakfast
spot is incredible because the freshness really makes a difference. I tried the
“Vegan Forsyth” (A skillet of seasoned redskin potatoes, broccoli, onions,
green peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes, black beans and spinach. Served with a
side of salsa and guacamole) and it was amazing. I also had a sweet tooth and
split the cinnamon roll French toast with a friend which was practically like a
dessert. So delicious.
The pancake and French toast
varieties they have are awesome. I tried a bite of my friend’s pancakes called “The
Uptown” (Tiramisu pancakes-pancakes layered with mascarpone filling, drenched
in coffee. Topped with whipped cream, dusted with cocoa powder) and they were
so unique and incredible. It’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone and
trying a special option you can’t get anywhere else.
The portions are also massive. I
recommend splitting the griddle options or be prepared to take some home. But
after waiting for a table for so long, believe me, you’ll be hungry. Also get
there early because they aren’t open long. Their hours are generally Mon-Friday
6:30am-2:30pm and Sat-Sun 7:00am-4:00pm. And I cannot stress enough that if you
go during prime breakfast time on the weekend, prepare to wait an hour if not
longer to be sat.
Overall Wolfgang’s is an awesome
family-centered restaurant with good quality food, giant portions, great
service, and even some clever movie-related artwork and menu covers. It’s a
breakfast place worth checking out, and then you’ll be hooked.
