The view is stunning! You can drink in the beauty of the beach, as well as a breathtaking sunset. At dusk, the fabled Grand Haven lighthouse and pier light up and provide a postcard-like setting for your dining experience. This is a must-see for anyone visiting West Michigan, and a delight most locals rarely take for granted. We chose a Thursday night for dinner on a hot July night and found parking to be accessible, but would guess that, on a busy night, there might be a short walk.
Greeted with a smile, we were promptly seated at a reserved window table. We had opted for indoor dining as the Divas love any reason to get dressed up, including dinner. However, the atmosphere will be accommodating even if you are just coming off the beach in shorts and sandals. Don’t be discouraged if you do not get a seat by the window because every seat has a view.
If you fancy the outdoors, the Bil-Mar also offers the only open beach deck in Grand Haven serving food and drinks. With a Jimmy Buffet style setting, it mimics some rival southern beaches right down to the majestic (albeit plastic) lit-up palm tree standing isolated in the sand. It is perfect for a photo shoot or maybe just a snicker and double take.
Our server, Jessica, a transplant from Naples Florida, was a pleasure. Navigating through our numerous questions with exceptional knowledge and patience, we felt our service was her top priority for the evening. She shared with us everything about the Bil-Mar, including its history and menu.
Upon examining the Liquid Assets menu, the Divas noticed a nice selection of Michigan spirits, beers and wines with the local brewery and winery listed next to the drink. The wines were listed from sweetest to dry on the menu with an average price of about $7.25 per glass.
Our salads arrived, and while they seemed a little on the plain side, Jessica readily retrieved a side of tomatoes and anchovies (for Caesar salads) from the kitchen. The "church style" rolls were served with delicious homemade whipped melon butter, tasty enough to make you grab a second.
Our meals arrived in a timely manner. Jessica mentioned the chef came from Chicago and had been working at the Bil-Mar for three months. We appreciated his culinary skills in making a nice presentation with every entree. Our overall experience with the Bil-Mar was okay. The best part was getting dressed up and sharing a few laughs with each other. However, we were disappointed that this historical landmark is situated on absolute pristine property and wondered if the owners might consider updating! No doubt, if we heard they were remodeling the inside, we would love to come back.
Diva Tips:
If you are a wine enthusiast, you may want to opt for something other than the house wine.
Take advantage of the beautiful beach or boardwalk and schedule time either before or after your meal to take a stroll.
Be sure to bring a camera since you are likely to see a magnificent sunset at dinner time.
If you enjoy a great view with your meal, you won't be disappointed.
If you decide to sit on the deck, the menu is completely different than the inside. And you may be charged for water!
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| House favorite cauliflower ($8.00) "We split this appetizer amongst us. This was Jessica's recommendation so we decided to try it. We were thrilled with how tasty this was, as well as the nicely sized portion. This could easily be a meal for one person." |
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| Maryland Blue Crab Cakes Appetizer ($13.00) Melody: "Even though these were very nicely presented, I have to admit I was disappointed since I had hoped they would have lump crab in them. It seems there was more filler than crab. These don't compare to the crab cakes back on the East Coast where I grew up. My parents owned a seafood market so I know what to expect!" |
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| Nancy & Kelle entree: Parmesean Crumb Crusted Whitefish ($22.00) Nancy: "Whitefish is...well, whitefish! It's generally quite mild (doesn't taste fishy...in fact, even people who say they don't like fish often like whitefish). I also tend to order things in restaurants that I don't generally make at home (like chicken). And it's something that the Bil-Mar is known for, whether as an entree or sandwich. The Bil-Mar puts a distinctive spin on its whitefish by serving it Parmesan-encrusted. I thought it was tasty!" Kelle: "I thought the chef did an excellent job on presentation with this entree and was impressed with the serving size. However, after I took my first bite, I questioned why I ordered whitefish! I love fish and often prepare it at home, but I instantly remembered the few times I cooked whitefish. I let it simmer in raspberry chipotle sauce, and still wasn't crazy about it. In my opinion, whitefish has its own distinct flavor no matter what toppings you put on it. I finished my meal and made a mental note to order Bari's walleye next time since I love remoulade sauce!" |
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| Cornmeal Crusted Walleye with tartar and remoulade sauce ($23.00) Bari: "The walleye was very good and the al dente green beans were done to perfection. The other Divas noticed how much I enjoyed mine, so I asked Jessica for extra remoulade sauce and shared some with them. But, initially, I did have an issue with my food that I'll keep secret with the Divas. I wasn't overly impressed with the way the manager handled this issue, however, Jessica stepped in and made up for it. She offered to give me a complimentary glass of wine or dessert. I opted for a Bananas Foster ($8) to be shared amongst all of us. The dessert arrived at the same time we ran out to the deck to take a few pictures while the sun was setting. We had to take advantage of this opportunity before it disappeared behind Lake Michigan! When we came back in the Bananas Foster was quickly passed around since it was melting!" "When we arrived I had a very good bluebery vodka with soda for a hot day. Once my dinner arrived I had to send my house wine back and replaced it with a very nice cabernet ($9) at the high end of the wine list." |
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| Prime Rib - 8 oz ($19.00) Suzanne: "When I go out to dinner I frequently like to order Prime Rib as it is one of my favorites. I rarely make it at home so when it is not up to par, as it wasn't at the Bil-Mar, it is very disappointing. Au jus and horseradish are good, but they are meant to enchance, not to camouflage!" |
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| The Bil-Mar (albeit plastic) Palm Tree |
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| Lucas started working as a parking lot attendant for the Bil-Mar when he was eleven years old and continues to protect their parking spots nine years later. He brings his six year old goat, Millie, to work to keep him company from May through September. Millie appreciates tips! |
For more information on the Bil-Mar go to: http://www.bil-margrandhaven.com/
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