The European Grill
1 rating since posting on Friday, January 27, 2006|
in Indiana
(submitted by
Michael David
)
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Overall Rating  based on 1 rating |
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The least expensive of them (Magdy's, Pino's and Bradenelli's are the others...Zamberletti's may replace Pino's on the list soon). Hopefully, since the best one (Pino's Il Sonetto) is about to go out of business (Feb 25), they will be smart enough to pick up some of Pino's kitchen staff so they arent strained for consistency during peak times...and some wait staff for the same reason. Besides if they dont snag them, the competition will. European Grill has a wonderful meditereanean menu, better at dinner than lunch, with a full range of prices...at the lower end you can fill up for less than any of the standard chains (Olive Garden, Applebee's, Red Lobster, Outback, Friday's, Garfields & Ruby Tuesdays are all in town and all boring as crap), so price should not be an excuse to stay away (if you are into spending money they do have a few $30 plates, but those arent their staples, and you can always pump the ticket with some adult beverages and appetizers if you have deep pockets). For spice lovers, two dishes are among the hottest I have tried anywhere (the Blackened Cajun Chicken and the Shrimp Diavolo). I have never bothered to try actually eating anything so hot before, but the food here is just so darn delicious I made myself, between long drinks. Spicy isnt their thing, though, just those two dishes. Thank goodness. I managed them but wont order them again, though I have a feeling that lovers of warmth will order them over and over. My favorites are the Pasta Milano ($10.95) with a delicious garlic cream sauce, portobello mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, chunks of white chicken and more, and the Chesapeake Chicken ($14..95), chicken breast on a delicious bed of rice with a succulent sauce and chunks of crabmeat. Another love of mine from the menu is the Angelina de Mare ($16.95) which is broccoli florets, chunk crabmeat, butterfly shrimp in a creamy red sauce on linguini pasta. Incidentally the butterfly shrimp I have had there have always been the best I have ever had in town. I am pulling these from memory, but there are so many great options, scan the broad, deep menu well. All meals come with freshly made breadsticks (inconsistent in quality but great when they aren't overdone) with a small plate of a cheese and spice blend that you mix with the Extra Virgin Olive Oil kept on the table for dipping. (I recently found that one new bottle of the Olive Oil was far superior to others of the same brand I'd had before...dont know if it was a difference in batches or freshness, so if it doesnt taste right, ask for another.) The tomato basil soup they have every day is fantastic, but they vary one other soup daily if you want something different. The later the day gets, the thicker most of the soups will be. This is usually good. Conversely, the salads become less reliable late, not as crisp, and maybe the grape for color gets left off, or there are no croutons. The house salad is probably the least reliable thing here, though I still get it everytime, and regardless of time of day. What can I say, I dont mind a little variety. The European Steak is the best beef dinner value in town...a sirloin with a few mushrooms steeped in its own au jus and two sides (the baked potato and vegetable medley make good choices) for just $9.99. For a few bucks more you can get the Ribeye. They also have fantastic salmon, tilapia, tuna, trout, veal, lamb chops, pork tuscano, as well as an excellent selection of pastas and sauces. There are four great Vegan options, besides the salads (though one has clams in your choice of a red or white sauce...loved it but one of us must be confused about what Vegan means...could be me). Make sure you ask for Chris or Laura to wait on you (they are super sharp), some of the others (not all) are lacking great wait skills (Edited in...this is improving as the new staff is gaining in confidence and skill). The appetizers are ok but way too pricy for what you get...avoid them as the rest will fill you up anyway, unless you feel gluttonous and dont mind a pump to the tab. The desert menu is too small (tiramisu, cheesecake, ice cream) but its good. The atmosphere is great but I hear older people complain that its too dark a lot, and the public restrooms need a serious makeover and more regular attention. This would be a 4 star in a big city, but it gets 5 by virtue of being in Terre Haute. It could actually earn the fifth star with just a few improvements, as the chef is a 5 star chef (actually I believe they have 2 great chefs, and a subsidiary group of cooks who are growing in competency and consistency)...they just needs to get the rest of his staff and establishment up to par too, but considering the prices, they are doing pretty dang good. Bonus: If you are a local diner, ask for a frequent diners card...20 punches and you get a free meal, full choice of the menu. My wife and I are almost ready to redeem our third and fourth ones...that should give you the idea that we like the place a lot. You'll find them just east of 3rd street on Margaret Avenue. Its very convenient to the interstate, being north of the I-70 overpass, turning East at the first light (thats Margaret). They will be on your left (north) a block or two down. Dont let the outside fool you, all the expense of running this restaraunt has been devoted inside for now. 4/9/2006 Update: The food preparation has been inconsistent here lately, with maybe half the trips just fine, but the other half with anywhere from minor to major complaints. My last trip I ordered the Angelini de Mare and the shrimp were actually not fully cooked...squishy, partly transparent, and almost frozen cold inside...the rest of the meal was lukewarm as well. I sent it back and demanded it be prepared properly, and when the second try came around, the food was piping hot and thoroughly cooked, but I believe they must have taken the pasta straight from the pot to the plate without adequate draining, as the sauce went from thick as paste to thin as water. Not cool. Both their best chefs were there too, but in the dining room smoking, so I dont know if it was poor supervision or what... Also, the 'crab' in all their crab dishes turns out to be 'poor mans crab', faux crab or whatever you want to call it (sweetened pollock), even though the menu doesnt say so. I am taking this down a star to 4...it would be three in a larger market, but sadly Terre Haute is limited to very few potentially good dining experiences. When the Grill is on, its great, but lately thats been a crap shoot. - Michael David , posted 04/09/06 |
The European Grill was recommended for:
- Tribe: Indianapolis Colts
- Tribe: Indiana State University
- Tribe: Indianapolis
- Tribe: Indiana/Illinois/Kentucky
