Grand Rapids, MI — The weekend of August 18th through the 20th was a very special weekend for me for multiple reasons. My little extended weekend vacation involved paying a visit to West Michigan, specifically, a city I called home for a year after college and where my post-college work in the news industry began: Grand Rapids. This trip also included seeing my best friend from during my time living in the city (and whom I’m still fortunate enough to be best friends with!), as well as the EDM (electronic dance music) festival, Breakaway!

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But no trip to Grand Rapids would be complete without a pitstop at one of my favorite burger joints in the entire country! Yes, I am very much making that bold statement, and for a very good reason. Ever since my first visit to Stella’s Lounge in the fall of 2015, I have craved and dreamed of the burgers at this joint regardless of wherever I’ve lived across the country. Any time I’ve paid a visit to Grand Rapids over the years, it has always included a visit to Stella’s Lounge. This marvelous 80s-themed arcade bar not only delivers on the vibe check front but also has national recognition for its burgers. In 2012, Stella’s deliciously stuffed burgers were named Best in America by GQ Magazine. They’ve also been voted Best Burger in Grand Rapids several times over the years by local magazines. Clearly, their burger formula works!

Walking into Stella’s Lounge off of Commerce Ave downtown always brings an immediate smile to one’s face due to the rad graffiti and art-covered walls, large spacious booths, arcade classics lined along the sides and grouped in the back, and impressive whiskey collection atop the bar. Not to mention, they play some great classic shows from the 90s on their TVs, which always provides a great rush of childhood nostalgia. And while it is indeed very much a bar, kids/minors are welcome until 9 p.m. and are asked to leave by 10 p.m. So families and the youth still get plenty of time to enjoy the Stella’s before things turn into adult swim after 10 p.m.

Stella’s has always been a great welcoming space for all and see to it that they offer a little bit of everything for everyone, young or old. The arcade games are great, and I’ve definitely burned through my fair share of quarters crushing Galaga and Tetris. And certainly not one to miss out on any gorgeous Michigan summer/fall days, Stella’s Lounge also has a pretty charming patio, with even larger and colorful displays of art along the side of the exterior wall. And for all you whiskey enthusiasts (myself included), Stella’s has over 250 different kinds of whiskey to select from, including Canadian, Scotch, Irish, American, and even some Michigan-made varieties. Talk about a vibe, right?!

Following Friday night’s festivities at Breakaway (which was a stellar evening of great music, great friends, and meeting wonderful new people), my buddy Rob and I were determined to swing through Stella’s on Saturday in some capacity. I was also trying to coordinate a meet-up with my Grand Rapids bestie Wes, so everything ended up culminating in a lunch outing at Stella’s for the special occasion! Rob and I met with Wes and his family outside around 1 p.m. It was my first time meeting his new baby girl, Opal, as well. I couldn’t be happier for my friend to see him embarking on the journey of fatherhood, and seeing him with his growing family warmed my heart.

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We all walked inside and got a large booth near some of the arcade games. Rob and I were already set on what we would order, but we all took our time reviewing the menus anyway to enjoy some more time to catch up. Eventually, we all placed our orders, but I still noted some catchy and zesty newer menu items like the Krabby Patty burger, Skrimp Rangoon Mac & Cheese, Angry Pig Tacos, and more! But when the time came to order, I went with my staple order of the Stella Blue burger.

This half-pound Angus beef burger is stuffed with blue cheese AND bacon, only to be further topped with a blue cheese sauce. I have always been a fan of blue cheese, so when a burger is overflowing with blue cheesy goodness, I am a happy camper. And like the rest of the burgers, it comes topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced pickle, and an onion ring. All of Stella’s burgers are also served with Chronic fries, which are the lounge’s house fries covered in a spicy seasoning. Believe me when I say the name is suitable, and when paired with the pub’s spicy avocado ranch, there is usually no fry left standing by the time I get through that basket.

After chatting and catching up for a while, our food orders arrived. The burger was oozing in blue cheese sauce, and I was fully aware of the copious cheese and bacon lurking within the patty. I quickly chomped down several fries, dusted with the secret and spicy seasoning that was indeed addicting. If you do not pay attention, your hand will keep cranking away at grabbing fries to direct toward your mouth. The spicy avocado ranch captures the wonderful essence of the ranch, adds the slight earthy and sweet avo flavors, and is rounded out by the addition of the spice factor. It is top tier for ranch enthusiasts to enjoy and add to their palate collection, for it is a prime sauce sidekick to any dish or side.

After making several fries disappear and taking some time to admire the burger’s appearance, I picked up the Stella Blue with a two-handed approach and bit into memory lane. Within two bites, I hit the interior pool of blue cheese, which erupted into my mouth amid the chunks of beef and bacon. The burger was cooked perfectly throughout, and every bite proved it. The salty and tangy/sharp cheese is front and center, guiding the way for the remaining flavors to come in and add their own elements, while the other toppings all contribute as well, especially the crunch factor from the onion ring. There have been times when I never set the burger down until eventually it’s just gone, but I forced myself to set it down at least once during this meal to help prolong the group discussion and enjoy more of my chronic fries. The burger was properly stuffed, a method truly perfected at Stella’s Lounge. This is one amazing burger, and hands-down one of, if not thee best, burgers I’ve ever had and will continue to have whenever I venture to Grand Rapids!

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As someone who has tried many different burgers across the country, I’ll admit the differences in categorizing a burger between good, great, and amazing can come down to something seemingly small or even just one simple ingredient. Most of the time, a burger is either just good or not good, plain and simple. Rarely are things done or added to make them that unique or stand out from each other, and even when it is, it doesn’t always pan out. There are indeed many instances of genuinely good burgers (can I take your orrrder? Sorry, I had to, iykyk), whether it’s through the creativity of the establishment or just a proven method that has worked for decades. When you find such an establishment that has mastered the art of crafting an exceptionally amazing burger, it deserves every bit of recognition and praise possible. From the bottom of my stomac– I mean, heart, if you’re ever in Grand Rapids, you HAVE to stop into Stella’s Lounge to experience one of the best burgers you’ll ever happen upon. I promise that’s a foodie adventure worth taking!

For more information on Stella’s Lounge, click here.