Downtown wine tasting room re-opens as restaurant

Downtown wine tasting room re-opens as restaurant

Courtesy The New Forty Pearl

After a brief closure, a downtown wine tasting room has become a restaurant.

A ribbon cutting and grand opening for The New Forty Pearl in Grand Rapids, at 40 Pearl St. NW, will be held on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. The event will feature happy hour specials all day, including “buck-a-shuck” oysters.

The restaurant opened for lunch last month and is now serving lunch and dinner.

The New Forty Pearl replaces Forty Pearl, which was opened by Ed Brengman and Robert Brengman, owners of Traverse City-based Brengman Brothers Winery, in February 2018.

It is now a partnership between Brengman Brothers Winery, Jackson-based Grand River Brewery & Distillery and Bonobo Winery, also in Traverse City.

The menu pairs Michigan-made wines and spirits with oysters, shellfish, charcuterie, wagyu beef, salads, sandwiches and rice bowls, among other offerings.

“We bring a unique experience to Grand Rapids that focuses on a high level of service and passion for food and wine that is unbound by our team’s endless talents,” said Justin Dalenberg, managing partner of The New Forty Pearl and co-owner of Grand River Brewery & Distillery.

“Our mission is to create a memorable, quality and consistent experience that excites the palate and enriches the soul. It will be our humble pleasure to fill what we think is a gap in the Grand Rapids restaurant scene.”

The restaurant’s hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Happy hour runs from 3:40-5:40 p.m. Monday through Friday and will feature deals on shareable sangria pitchers, “buck-a-shuck” oysters and discounted carry-out bottles of wine and spirits.