Granite City is a bit pricey for lunch

Tag : Wood Boring Bits

I made a stupid choice the other day. It wasn't stupid to tryGranite City Food and Brewery, but it was stupid to go there on alunch hour in the middle of a workday, when I couldn't fully enjoyone of the microbrewery's signature beers. I couldn't afford tospend the rest of the day in a beer-induced torpor.

Although I had to focus on the food, my lunch companion, who didn't have to return to work, had the temerity to order a 20-ounce TwoPull. That's a blend of Granite City's Northern Light and Bockbeers.

I had to have a sample swig, of course. Make that several sampleswigs. I'm not really a connoisseur of beer, but I know I don'tlike it too light and I'm not fond of heavy, dark beers, so thisTwo Pull was the perfect blend for me, darn it.

I had to quit sampling after my lunch companion shot me a dirtylook.

So I returned to my boring iced tea and turned my attention to themenu.

It's clear Granite City pays as much attention to its foodselections as its beers, based on the size and variety of the menu.Fortunately, a lunch menu, available 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Monday-Saturday, made it easier.

I opted for a Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich, which camehighly recommended by our server, who disappeared after taking ourorder. Shortly thereafter, a new server showed up at our tablesaying our original server had to leave for emergency.

OK.

Anyway, back to the sandwich. It arrived with a mound of chips, notwaffle fries as I'd ordered, but I chalked that up to the abruptchange in servers. The huge sandwich was served on ciabatta bread.Thinly sliced, tender roast beef was topped with sautéedonions and peppers and melted cheese.

The sandwich was tasty but messy to eat. With the first bite, allthe fillings started to slide out. It was good, but not worth the$10 price.

My companion ordered a luncheon pasta, which, we noticed after thefact, the menu says is supposed to be served with warm bread.Harrumph. He didn't get any.

The blackened chicken linguini was topped with diced tomatoes,béarnaise sauce and chopped green onions. It was a niceportion size for lunch, and apparently pretty good, as he didn'thave any need for a doggie bag. The pasta with a side salad was$10.50.

Feeling sorry for myself since I couldn't have a beer, I insistedon dessert. I'm glad I did. We ordered a wild berry blast to share,upon the recommendation of our new server.

It was described as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries andcranberries surrounded with a lemon-infused crust, topped with icecream and whipped cream. In other words, pie a la mode.

We decided to try it. Good decision. It turned out to be a verylarge piece of pie with a warm berry mixture oozing out. Our forksclashed repeatedly as we attacked the wonderful dessert.

I guess you can enjoy a meal sans beer at Granite City, but nexttime, I'd rather go when I can try one of their microbrews.However, the prices at Granite City seemed rather steep,particularly for lunch, but then somebody's got to pay for thatwarm wood, granite and stone interior.

Oh, and by the way. Our server told us as we were getting ready to leave that we could sample any of their beers. Wish I would have knownthat at the beginning of the meal, rather than the end.