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| I'm pretty sure that if my 1YO could talk she would have great things to say about the Mac n Cheese. |
Exterior: 5/5
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| (Photo from grindstonecharley's.com) |
Grindstone Charley's has done a lot to make their facade attractive, including a cool font for their sign and a waterwheel (grindstone?) among the shrubbery. The decor has stood the test of time - I don't recall that they've done a ton of remodeling over the years. It's nice to see a place that was founded in 1982 still standing strong in Kokomo. It's also convenient to 931 in an area that I would generally call "the middle of everything," at least from the perspective of where I live in town.
Ambience: 5/5
This place is kitsch central and I love it. You get the standard American Steakhouse vibe from the decor, but there's so much unique stuff hanging on the walls that it feels more special than your big chains. (This is not a chain restaurant, by the way.) I had a great time with my 5YO because he kept finding cool stuff to look at. "There's a boat on the ceiling! There's a bike on the wall!" It'd be neat to play I Spy here, for sure.
Variety: 4/5
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| Chicken 'n' Noodles |
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| Chicken Salad Plate |
This is a restaurant that relies on down-home favorites for its backbone, but it offers other things that keep you on your toes. My parents liked it because they could get chicken and noodles and breaded pork and things like that. It's also possible to get more flavor with dishes like the Voodoo Pasta and the Jalapeno Corn Chowder. There's a few different types of burgers, enough salads to make you feel like you could eat healthy if you wanted to, and a decent variety of sandwiches (including the compulsory Indiana Tenderloin). There's also the Fried Green Tomato appetizer that keeps folks coming back. Honestly I think it's the down-home stuff that makes Grindstone Charley's stand out, because when you're in the mood to eat chicken and noodles but not cook them there's not always a restaurant around with that kind of thing.
Quality: 4/5
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| Hoosier Hot Plate |
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| Bison Burger |
This is not a restaurant that's going to make you jump out of your seat with ecstasy because you just had a five-star gourmet meal. They serve breaded tenderloins. But there's a lot of remarkable stuff going on. I enjoyed the zucchini bread that came with my chicken salad plate because it was nice and cinnamony. My partner's burger wasn't cooked quite how he ordered it, but he still thought it was tasty. I don't think anyone in my group walked away unhappy even if they weren't going to remember the meal for the rest of their lives.
Kid-Friendly: 5/5
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| Crayons: Check |
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| Mini Corn Dogs: Check |
My kids seemed perfectly content here. The picky-picky 5YO gobbled up his teeny corn dogs like there was no tomorrow. The 1YO was super into her mac 'n' cheese and applesauce. Like I said, the stuff on the walls was super entertaining for kids, and even if it wasn't there they provided crayons and an activity sheet. There were some older people at the next table who seemed to get a kick out of the kids' shenanigans, so it felt like an understanding atmosphere.
Would Eat Again?: Green Light
If for no other reason than the Fried Green Tomatoes, I will be going back to Grindstone Charley's. (I didn't have the Tomatoes on this trip but they've been a highlight of meals past.) I also appreciated that this feels like a nicer place to go but it's still a happy spot for the kiddos. We went for my husband's birthday, although we did not tell them it was his birthday for fear of getting the clapping/singing treatment from the waitstaff. It seemed like a great place for the occasion because we had three different generations in our group and everyone could find something they liked.
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