Grandma's Saloon and Grill - Duluth, Minnesota
Doniree Walker Monday, October 24, 2011 at 09:00AM Imagine with me for a moment that you are walking out of crisp, cool night air and into a bustling bar and restaurant. The dining rooms and bars are decked out in vintage signs, collectibles, and other interesting (and seemingly random) paraphernalia. Kind of like this:
Now imagine that you see families with young children enjoying burgers and fries, college students chatting over local beers, and couples sharing an appetizer and close conversation.
If this is what you're picturing, then you have found yourself smack dab in the middle of Grandma's Saloon and Grill in Duluth, Minnesota's Canal Park, and all of these things are what makes Grandma's THE destination for Duluth visitors, residents, and college population alike.
Located as close to the Aerial Lift Bridge as physically possible (without being actually being on the bridge), today, Grandma's Saloon and Grill offers food, drinks, and a fun environment for everyone. Yesterday, however - Grandma's wasn't exactly a "family friendly" establishment though the focus on exceptional customer satisfaction remains.
Grandma Rosa Brochi opened her first boarding house (though others might instead call this a "bordello") to sailors coming in and out of the Great Lakes Port of Duluth, Minnesota. Customer satisfaction was always her top priority, and Grandma quickly developed a legendary reputation for her shrewd business sense, humanitarian contributions to society, and for making sure her guests were always happy and comfortable.
Wink, wink.
In 1976, (and two generations later), Rosa's grandson Mickey took over the building where Grandma ran her boarding house and turned it into what we now know as Grandma's Saloon and Grill. (Please note that while Mickey is dedicated to upholding Grandma's commitment to customer satisfaction, the current offerings are quite a bit different than the Grandma's of the late 1800's and early 1900's.)
Today, Grandma's boasts great food, plenty of beers on tap, breathtaking views of Lake Superior and Canal Park, top-notch service, and a lively atmosphere.
Recently, I had the privelege of a tour and conversation with Grandma's General Manager, Eric Robinson over a couple of Lake Superior Special Ales.
Lake Superior Special Ale
Not only did Eric share with us this fascinating history of Grandma's, but we also learned what they're doing today to continue this commitment to serving Duluth's guests and residents in a creative and exciting way.
Grandma's loves seasonal events, and this fall's schedule includes an Oktoberfest with seasonal beers, a polka band and a rousing game of Hammerschlagen (a traditinal German game that involves hammering a nail into a tree trunk). Speaking of seasonal beers, and perhaps the upcoming event on the Grandma's calendar that most piques my interest, Grandma's holds occasional Beer Dinners, where vendors are invited to create a pairing menu with their favorite, seasonal, and latest brews. Up and coming on the Beer Dinner calendar is the "Best of Both Shores," which features beers from Lake Superior's North and South shores (respectively). Eric (Grandma's GM) will send both brewmasters a menu for the event, and they'll plan their pairings accordingly.
According to Eric, "It's great because we give them both the same menu, but the direction they each take is distinctive and interesting every time."
Grandma's menu has a few items that they note are a house specialty, though Eric points out that all menu items are carefully crafted so that each dining experience is a delicious one. A few of the house specialties include:
Our Famous Bicycle Burger ($11)
"Two all-beef patties topped with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, mozzarella, cheddar, and American cheese."
Steak Cheese French ($11)
"Grilled, thick-sliced beef tenderloin and mushrooms smothered with mozzarella, cheddar, and Philadelphia cream cheese on a Tuscan baguette."
Chicken Tetrazzini ($14 large/$9 small)
"...breast of chicken sauteed and served over your choice of fettuccine or wild rice, topped with a rich Mornay sauce with melted Parmesan and mozzarella cheese."
Walleye alla Rosa ($15)
"A generous filet of cold water Canadian walleye lightly coated with our special Cajun-seasoned flour and pan-fried in butter until golden and flaky. Served on a bed of savory saffron rice with a side of seasonal vegetables."
Grandma's is located at 522 S Lake Ave, and you can find more info on their iDine profile page.
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