RESTAURANT REVIEW – For those of us who have lived in the St. George area for awhile, we all witnessed the coming and going of the Sonic Drive-In on Bluff Street. After closing, the purpose-built building sat fallow for quite some time. Both Frick and Frack often wondered what would become of this prime piece of real estate, next to Fabulous Freddy’s, and agreed that it would take a lot of imagination and hard work to turn this into something worthwhile.
Well, it happened, and we now have one of the best eateries in town to show for it. The Patio Grill is a delight, both in ambience and cuisine. The Ol’ Forks and friends find themselves at The Patio several times a week for lunch, and a few times a month for dinner. Whether sitting outside, cooled by a very efficient misting system in the summer or warmed by a fire pit and well placed space heaters in winter, dining in or out is always a treat. The service is top drawer, and the friendly waiters and waitresses add a lot to the dining experience.
For lunch, the menu is varied to suit anyone’s taste. Starters go from tasty chicken wings at $5.95 to feta salsa with grilled pita bread for $6.95 and hand-breaded coconut shrimp for $6.95. These are so filling that often they compromise the whole meal, especially for the ladies.
The Patio serves Coke products and a large selection of domestic, imported and microbrewed beers, and some of the best milk shakes around.
Angus beef patties are the basis for their large, juicy burgers. Guacamole, mushroom, pepper jack, and the “Big Triple ‘B’” burgers are just some of those on the menu. Plus, and this is a big deal to Frack, they will make any burger any way you’d like with any combination of toppings. The Patio also features a great veggie Burger that, to Frick, tastes just like a good ol’ burger – now, this may be because he made sure it had almost every topping possible on board, including lots of freshly cut onions. All the burgers are in the $6 range and worth every dollar, shilling or franc. They also serve delicious hot dogs with any and all the trimmings. Frack has a special way of ordering his red hots, which only the cleverest waitresses can decipher, and they always do.
The grilled or breaded chicken baskets and tasty fish and chips or shrimp baskets have become tried-and-true selections to the group. Frick believes the fish and shrimp are some of the tastiest he’s had since he and Mrs. Frick last visited the crab shacks on the back side of Oahu.
Frack, being a guy from the east coast, is “very” picky about his beloved Pastrami sandwiches. He orders them his way, and they always come out exactly as ordered. They also feature Polish sausage, chicken salad, BLT sandwiches and a delightful shrimp sandwich, each for around $7.
Until recently, The Patio only featured their famous “seafood boil” on Friday and Saturday nights, but because of its popularity, it’s now served every evening. More than enough for two: the seafood boil is a giant pot of fresh shrimp in the shell, king crab legs, smoked sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes, combined with a special blend of spices. Served with a salad, this is fun to eat and a joy to the palate.
The Patio also features daily specials that almost always include Frick’s favorite, all-you-can-eat spaghetti and very hearty meat sauce. Not only is this the best spaghetti you’ll find, but also it’s a deal at around $9 and includes salad and garlic bread. Did he mention that it’s … ALL YOU CAN EAT?
So, if you’re looking for a good lunch or dinner, pop in, sit down, relax and enjoy a wonderful meal. Who knows, you may see the Ol’ Forks there.
Five forks out of five.
The Patio Grill is located at 744 North Bluff Street in St. George. Telephone: 435-673-5135. Map is included at the link provided.
St. George News does not direct or influence reviews in any manner. The opinions stated in the review are those of the reviewer and are not representative of St. George News.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.
Wow! I’ve never tried this place and haven’t heard much about it; if it rated 5 forks out of 5 then I’ll definitely give it a look. Thanks!
Looks like I’ll have to try this place out. One question…if they have food worth dollars, schillings and francs, will they accept pesos?
I went there and was not impressed. I give it a “2” My wifes meal came on a paper bag. I asked for more salsa for my chips and the waitress wanted to charge me.
The food is good, and the prices are not bad, but they still have a few kinks to work out. One night we waited an hour for our food b/c somehow the kitchen never got our order, then another time, no one bothered to tell our waitress that we were her table, so we waited quite a while to even put in a drink order. In both cases, the wait staff was VERY apologetic and acknowledged the errors, so everything was cool as far as we were concerned. But even when everything goes right, the place is not known for its speed. So we tend to go there when we’re not in a rush and can be leisurely. We really enjoy lounging on the patio and we’ll definitely continue to go there!
I do not trust these critics. They should be up front about their identities if they wish to be taken seriously in reviewing restaurants.
We have been to the Patio Grill two times. Both times the service and food were sub-par. We won’t go back again, no matter what Frick and Frack think — or how many undeserved forks they give.
I know these old forks personally, and I believe that they are correct in staying anonymous, as they are quite well know around town. By staying in the background, they are assured of being treated exactly the same as anyone else, and not the “guys who review restaurants,” as so often happens. You may not always agree with their recommendations, but I think you’ll find that they are straight shooters and believe in what the say.
Your good ol’ boy recommendation is not reassuring.