We’ve driven past the Kopper Top a thousand times and often said “we should try that place some time.” Well, Tuesday was that time, and overall, I’d say the Kopper Top represents all that is holy about local business. Its evident they care about the quality of their food and service they provide. You can see it in the homemade sauces, the owner chatting it up with you, and the friendly atmosphere as many patrons said hello or somehow engaged us.
West Side Landmark, The Kopper Top
Food
First off I would like to say I am not a food critic nor do I ever hope to be one. But I am an Average Joe that knows good food when I taste it. Our table had a few appetizers to share, each had an entree, and we finished the night with a chocolate dessert. A particular favorite among our group was the Cuban sandwich, which came with a homemade Cuban-style dipping sauce that is still leaving our mouths watering. We got to chat with Mark, the owner, who told us about his many trips to Cuba. He delivers supplies to medical facilities and schools down there and in return, brings back a bit of Cuban flare that he can add to his menu. Its working well.
The Cuban Sandwich with awesome dipping sauce
Some additional comments from our party include:
“Not a big fish eater, but I loved the walleye.”
“The food was great. Decent beer choices with one local (Founder’s.)”
“The best broccoli cheese soup I have ever had.”
One item that we did not try was Grandma Ski’s Polish Sausage Plate. The name sounded very intriguing… Maybe next time. We were all impressed that their dressings were homemade and I have to add that the parmesan Italian was fantastic. I’d buy it in bulk if I could.
Atmosphere
For a restaurant with no windows they have done a great job bringing character in through the decor. It was very quirky, and from what we were told, changes with the season.
Quirky decor inside the Kopper Top
Overall
The Kopper Top was a great choice for our first week out. The owner came out and talked with us, he even addressed a few patrons by name. The place is pretty small so we got a lot of funny looks while we were taking pictures. In fact, the guy at the table next to us came over and offered to take a photo of our group. Turns out he’s a pretty well known Grand Rapids photographer, and frequent patron of the Kopper Top. We talked to a few customers on our way out, and told them about our search for the best local Grand Rapids’ restaurant and every one of them told us to look no further.
Parting thoughts…
This journey is going to be more difficult than I thought. Will I have a new favorite restaurant each week?
Our group of happy Kopper Top patrons
[...] the owners’ voices as they tell us about their business. You can read more about how meeting Mark, Bernie, Luis, Ursula, and Fouad enhanced our experience at each of their respective [...]