The Gathering Place
6886 Cascade Rd. SE (map it!)
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-3188
Open Mon-Fri, 6a-2p (bfast till 11:30a); Sat, 7a-2p (bfast till noon); Sun, 8a-1p (bfast all day)
Accepts cash & debit/credit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? N/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y
Visited: Monday, December 29, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.
The best breakfasts are the ones shared with friends. That’s why so many breakfast places are busy, because people have reason to gather. So the name of The Gathering Place is apt. It’s one of the many breakfast spots where friends, families, and colleagues come together over a good meal.
The Gathering Place is located in Cascade, on the southeast side of Grand Rapids. I’ve been driving by it for years but have never visited, so when Mrs. Breakfast w/Nick and I wanted to meet friends for breakfast over the holidays, it was an easy choice.
I expected in the interior to be fancier, I think from my impressions of the outside. Not to say the decor is bad – it was just more rustic than I expected. It’s still cozy, though: wooden floors, curtained windows, little chandeliers. We sat in the main dining room, and there’s a front room with even more seating. The place was about half full when we visited.
The menu covers all the breakfast basics, like a solid oatmeal and rye toast.
Omelets are a big feature, too. They’re served in huge portions, loaded with fillings, with a side of toast – this is the Farmer’s Omelet.
I can always get behind the catch-all breakfast. The Cascade Breakfast includes it all: eggs, toast, potatoes, and meat. All simple but all easy to love.
Another big omelet. This one is the Western.
The food at Gathering Place isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s still plenty filling. Pair that with some classic diner waitresses, a comfy atmosphere, and good company, and you’re certainly good to go for breakfast.
