San Chez owners open new restaurant downtown

San Chez owners open new restaurant downtown

Roam by San Chez Bistro says it is "introducing street food from around the world to downtown Grand Rapids." Photo by Charlsie Dewey

The owners of a tapas bistro have opened a restaurant downtown featuring global street food.

Roam by San Chez Bistro opened yesterday in the Calder Plaza Building in Grand Rapids, at 250 Monroe Ave. NW, across from DeVos Place.

Dan Schneider and Cindy Schneider, who also co-own San Chez Bistro, opened the new restaurant in a 2,000-square-foot space leased from Grand Rapids-based CWD Real Estate Investment.

Nolyn Schneider, the restaurant’s general manager and son of its co-owners, said the lunch crowd exceeded expectations on opening day.

“We got crushed,” he said. “And we expect dinner and the late night to be even busier.”

Cindy Schneider told the Business Journal last year Roam would offer “the most-popular street food from countries all over the globe.”

The menu, which is available online, is divided into several categories: “early dishes,” or breakfast; protein; bowls; veggies; bites; and sweets.

It currently includes dishes from around the world: China, Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, the U.K., Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Mexico, India, Germany, Cuba, Egypt, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, Belgium, the Philippines, Greece, the Netherlands and the U.S.

The restaurant seats 60-70 people and also offers takeout.

Its hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.