Longfellow Grill (May 2008)

After a day of yard work and running around (literally), Kristin and I headed over to the Longfellow Grill for dinner. Located in the Seward Neighborhood, the Longfellow Grill is part of a small chain of restaurants that includes the Groveland Tap (MacGroveland-St. Paul), Edina Grill (50th and France-Minneapolis) and the Highland Grill (Highland-St. Paul). Although each restaurant varies in decor and menu items, they all serve great home cooked food with organic ingredients.



We arrived without reservations and were promptly seated at a window booth. The hostess' cheeriness was a bit eerie, and that feeling continued with our super happy server. The restaurant was busy, with families filling up most of the seats while the younger crowd was seated near the bar. It was too windy for most patrons to enjoy the outdoor patio, but one group braved the cold.

Tim had "The 'Grill' Burger" cooked medium with sweet potato fries. The burger was pretty darn good. Unlike previous burgers, the grease did not soak through the bottom of the bun, and more importantly, the bun was sized well. The bacon and cheese were excellent, and the touch of barbecue sauce gave it a nice "grilled" taste. The fries were good, but a little under cooked. They were not crisp, but I still liked them. The aioli dipping sauce is a great compliment. Tim washed the entire meal down with a PBR Tall Boy. Although PBR hasn't won a blue ribbon since 1893, I stand by its quality. Plus, I enjoy drinking cans of beer in restaurants.

Kristin ordered the egglplant parmesan. She has had it before at the Highland Grill, and it was a favorite. Sadly, it disappointed this time. It was dry and didn't seem as fresh as it should be. That being said, she still ate most of it. The entree also comes with mixed greens and Kristin gobbled down plenty of Tim's sweet potato fries. Her beverage of choice that evening was a Pinot Grigio, which was quite refreshing after a 20 mile run. She will definitely be going back and hopes to sit out on the patio when the weather is a bit nicer.

www.longfellowgrill.com