So we went to The Grill last night. We had been there twice before, once back when it first opened, and once a few months later.
If you haven’t been, it’s something between a diner and a restaurant. There is comfortable seating and sports on TV screens scattered about the place. We went early, arriving about 1730, trying to beat the rain. It almost worked. It wasn’t very crowded, not surprising at that hour. There were maybe a dozen people in the place, mostly seniors, which didn’t surprise us given the hour. The hostess seated us at a booth in the back section emphasizing the view of the lake (across four lanes of traffic on U.S. 27). The server was with us promptly and we ordered lemonade for Irene and unsweetened tea for me. Ever since the cancer diagnosis I’ve been trying to follow at least one of the many doctor’s naggings recommendations of ways to stay alive. The drinks were generous. The (plastic) glasses they bring hold enough liquid to keep a couple goldfish alive for at least a week. They go well with the four squeeze bottles of various sauces and two rolls of paper towels on the table. I’m trying to set the atmosphere here. We ordered a giant pretzel for an appetizer as we remembered liking them on our earlier visits. Giant is a fair description. It’s about nine inches across, as scientifically measured from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinky with my fingers splayed. It comes with two sauces, one cheese and one some sort of spicy mustard; both good. Irene ordered the roasted turkey plate with sides of French fries and green beans. I was having difficulty deciding between the grilled mahimahi (hereinafter referred to as just mahi) and the fried flounder. Our server recommended the mahi so I went with that and onion rings plus a side salad.
The salad and a cup of ranch came first and after picking out the cucumbers, I found the salad very good. I have no issues with those who enjoy cucumbers but personally I think they should only be served in the water at high end spas and on the eyelids of the patrons of those spas.
Our entrees arrived. My mahi was sliced thin, sprinkled with blackened seasoning, and grilled. Grilled a bit too long for my taste but palatable. Mahi is also known as the dolphinfish. I believe mahimahi is a Hawaiian word meaning “you are not eating Flipper”. Actually it means strong but I was going for a smile. Anyway, it was OK; not great, but OK. The onion rings were as good as onion rings can be.
Irene’s turkey on the other hand, and other plate, was dry, and relatively flavorless. There’s a reason white meat turkey is usually served with gravy. This wasn’t. Fortunately, my mahi came with a side sauce made of unknown ingredients that was tasty and made the turkey edible. Her fries on the other hand were very good; well-seasoned, crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. String beans, much like onion rings, were as good as you can expect a string bean to be.
Dinner for two, pretzel appetizer, non alcoholic beverages, and tip came to $60.51. If I had to give an overall rating, it would be “OK”, or, to borrow what may or may not be a word from our Gen Z granddaughter “meh”.
I don’t think we’ll be in a hurry to go back. Irene said she would go back but just to get a pretzel and a drink.
The Grill at Lake Jackson is located at 751 U.S. Highway 27 S, Sebring. They are open Monday – Saturday from 1100 to 2000, and on Sunday from 1100 to 1500.
