Essence Restaurant + Bar

Review summary

1. A

   Alessandro

   Indiana

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always an amazing experience, best restaurant in the area no doubt.
   

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2. B

   Bill

   Indiana

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   From the minute you walk in there is door service coat service and everyone working is kind and ready to help make your visit as valuable and special as possible. From table service to every person that works here it shows the quality of how much every person cares about your experience. The food was and always is so good that we cleaned every plate that was brought to us, every bit of sauce and every bit of the meal. The filet was cooked perfectly along with the rubicon potatoes. My favorite as always was the Japanese sweet potato starter. The menu is ever changing and always has a new unique flavors to continually used proteins with a vegetable and other sides that delightfully accompany the meal. Followed up but a light and delicious desert that plays all to well with the predecessor. If you haven’t tried this place it is a gem hidden within the Midwest. The experience, atmosphere, people, and over all the food are worth your time.
   

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3. C

   Chris

   VIP

   Indiana

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Second time here and it didn’t disappoint! We ordered the Japanese sweet potatoes (again), onion soup and wedge salad for apps. So good, came out piping hot and went so well with the rolls and whipped butter. Salmon, wild boar and tortellini were our entrees and the plates were scraped clean. For dessert, the chocolate and lemon were both divine. Definitely will go again! Wait staff were all amazing!
   

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4. M

   Mike

   Indiana

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We went for my wife’s birthday dinner and it was a great experience. There was a birthday card waiting for my wife at our table, hand-written from Brad, and every staff member that we saw wished her a happy birthday; she also received a complimentary dessert. The food was superb and the service was spectacular and there may not be a better bartender in town. We couldn’t have asked for more, for a special occasion.
   

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5. S

   Scott

   Grand Rapids

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The owner and staff made our experience and night truly special. When we arrived for my girlfriend’s birthday celebration (we’re a couple who don’t drink alcohol), our table was set with a personalized handwritten birthday card—a lovely touch. Despite our non-alcoholic preferences, they went above and beyond by providing us with sparkling “champagne” for our celebration and a beautiful drink we simply asked about, completely free of charge. Throughout the night, we were greeted with constant smiles, friendly gestures, and warm greetings, making us feel truly valued and welcome. The food was absolutely delicious, the prices were reasonable, the staff was amazing, and the ambiance was stellar. If you haven’t guessed it yet, it’s a 10/10! We’ve already booked our next visit, and we can’t wait to see the chef, owner and his staff in action. We will see you guys on May 10th. Cheers!
   

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6. H

   Heather

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food and service were excellent as always! By far our favorite date night restaurant!
   

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7. K

   Kenan

   Indiana

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 5 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fantastic meal and experience. I couldn’t have been happier. Service was great.
   

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8. M

   Mark

   Indiana

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Lovely location, eager servers, good food, incredible desserts. But service (on a Friday night) was slow. Be careful because the menu does not list all the ingredients for some items (the wedge salad came with banana peppers, to which the person who ordered had a strong aversion).
   

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9. C

   Clare

   Indiana

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The service was exceptional and the food was wonderful, we savored every bite.
   

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10. R

    Rick

    VIP

    Grand Rapids

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 31 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    As usual, Service was outstanding and the food was amazing!
    

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