Everybody's a restaurant critic
My deskmate Steve Kiehl told me he was going to walk up to the Garden for lunch. This is the outdoor lunch spot at 4 E. Madison. I asked him to take a photo and let me know how it was, and I would post it on my blog.
Naturally when he got back, he wanted to write it up himself, even though he has a perfectly good job as The Sun's pop culture reporter.
Everybody wants to be a restaurant critic.
He wouldn't let me use his photos unless I posted his review, so here goes:...
By Steve Kiehl
I had been waiting for the perfect day to try Lunch in the Garden, the outdoor restaurant at 4 East Madison Inn in Mount Vernon. It’s only open Wednesday through Friday, and it’s been too hot lately to eat outside.
But today, at last, seemed just right. I took a seat on the shaded patio, surrounded by trees, plants and a fountain with large goldfish. They, fortunately, were not on the menu, which was a mix of sandwiches and salads in the $6 to $8 range. The salads came with a choice of crab cake, chicken or tuna, while the sandwiches included roast beef, roast chicken with apple and brie, and smoked turkey with chutney cheese.
In the mood for something light and refreshing, I went with the tomato and mozzarella with basil sandwich ($6), on a French roll. The roll was a little soft, and slightly soggy, for my taste. But the tomato and mozzarella were fresh, and it came with “Sandy’s Vegan Potato Salad” — sliced red potatoes with onions, all covered in a fantastic vinegar sauce.
For dessert, I opted for a brownie ($1). But the alternative, a watermelon slice, was also tempting. The brownie was homemade, soft and delicious.
What couldn’t be beat, though, was the setting. The tables are set far enough back from the street to reduce city noise. The brick patio is tucked between two tall brick buildings and overrun with greenery. It was as pleasant as could be.
When the check came (a reasonable $8), it included a note from the server: “Enjoy the 1st day of summer!”
Indeed, I already had.
Comments
There were several people out enjoying the first day of summer on the patio at Linwoods. It looked so charming- I wish I could have ducked in for lunch. I may do so now that I know they have such a pretty little garden patio.
Posted by: Christine | June 21, 2007 9:02 PM
A charming little resturant with casual dinning called Cousins Cafe in Perry Hall. The cafe has warm colors home made Greek foods, fresh pizza, and a sandwich called a Stuffer which is made from a french bread and totally enclosed. The owners always make you feel at home and I have never been disapointed.
Posted by: Julie V. | September 27, 2007 10:23 PM