Glenwillow Grille - Just Good

When I get a Groupon offer (check it out here), a number of things go into whether or not I buy it; how good is the deal, where the place is, what the menu is like, and just a general feeling.  When Glenwillow Grille came up I was intrigued since I had passed it on Pettibone Road (29765 Pettibone Road
Glenwillow, map is here) a number of times and always thought that it look like it was worth checking out.  Glenwillow is a cool little town just south of Solon, with a number of old small company town buildings, with the Grille being the highlight.  Looking at the menu I saw some interesting items so I figured I would give it a chance.

From the outside, the Grille is neat and trim, with a small porch and a patio seating area out front.  Once inside you see that there is a cozy dining room and a welcoming bar.  Both have a nice mix of natural materials set up in a way that is warm, welcoming and just a bit clubby, but with an overall casual feel.  I settled in at the bar and perused the menu (you can download it here).  I had originally planned on getting the calamari and the Shrimp De Johng, but since they were out of squid, I switched my plans around.

First up was the Lobster Bisque, which was an additional $1.50 with the entree and it was well worth it.  The bisque was thick and creamy without going too far with a nice portion of real lobster meat shredded in.  The taste was wonderful with the  sweet lobster balanced with the lightest touch of sherry.  A wonderful start to the meal.

Next up was the Firecracker Shrimp, and while there were some nice things here I think this just was a conceptual failure.  Six good sized shrimp were nicely deep fried, however they were drenched in creamy sauce that actually dulled the shrimps flavors.  The greens were also overdressed in an indistinct dressing, with only the sirancha squiggles adding any real flavor.

The main course was the Eggplant Parmigiana, which ended up being a nice sized portion of pasta topped with three thick slices of fried eggplant with marinara and cheese.  While not a bad rendition, nothing on this plate had any snap or distinctive flavor.  What was needed was some garlic and herbs to really make this plate sing.   Especially at a price of $15, I expect more.

Service was excellent and very friendly.   As someone who has eaten at bars quite often, I did want to commend the Grille for having a smart and unique idea, a wooden board with feet designed to fit over the bar so that the food is closer to you and easier to eat.  This is something that should be copied by more places.

My overall impression of Glenwillow Grille is that this is a nice upscale, but casual place.  While the Lobster Bisque was superb, the rest of the food was just OK.  They are clearly using good, quality ingredients and the presentations are nice, what is lacking is a real culinary viewpoint and a chef who brings some flavor fireworks.  Prices are a bit higher then I prefer, but if the food delivered what the menu promises, it would be worth it.  If you are looking for a nice place by Solon and aren't that worried about flavors, this might be for you.