Tuesday, April 10, 2012
First Bite First Bite: Mixed Grill Cafe in Woodbine
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 8:00 AM
But should you? That's the question. The restaurant is a very unassuming place with a small parking lot and hardly noticeable signage. Inside you're greeted by an open kitchen with two or three employees working the griddle and answering the phone for carry-out orders. Even with the small staff, service was very attentive and friendly during my visit.
The menu claims to be "All-American Food," but there is a decidedly ethnic spin too, with a few Italian and Greek dishes available. Mainly, it's a sandwich joint with seven different burgers and an array of old standards like Philly Steak and Italian Beef. The burger is exceptional in that they seem to have flavored the beef with gyro spices like paprika and rigani. The peppery patty is flattened thin but huge, overhanging its bun by a good inch or so. The consistency of the meat is coarser than your average burger, more like a kefta kebab. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it.
The kitchen staff are quite talented with their fryer, and onion rings and french fries arrived at the table golden brown, crispy and nicely seasoned. An interesting little eccentricity was revealed when I ordered my usual cheapskate lunchtime beverage of "water with lemon." Taking my request absolutely literally, I was served a glass of water and a ramekin of lemon juice. I was only three sugar packets away from free lemonade. For a traditional diner meal, Mixed Grill Cafe if a welcome diversion, providing you can find it.
Mixed Grill Cafe
2600 Grandview Ave.
(615) 736-5350
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