International Grill (Now Closed)

[goldy21]

I'm not really sure where to start, so I'll provide just the highlights.

First, I have to mention that I didn't have high hopes for this place.  If you call yourself "International Grill" and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there's already a pretty good chance that the restaurant is going to disappoint based on being as generic as possible.

All of the warning signs were there: only one other table of customers, a waitress dressed in dirty tuxedo shirt and bowtie (seriously?), and piles of Sysco boxes in the open kitchen. 

After we sat down, the owner greeted us and asked to get us something to drink.  My fiancee ordered a glass of white wine--she actually ordered pinot grigio, but he said they had "red" and "white".  She ordered the "white".  The owner subsequently asked her four separate times whether she ordered red or white. I actually felt kind of bad for him because he could hear fine, he just couldn't remember the order.  Then he grabbed a bottle of room temperature white wine off the counter and poured a glass.  Because the wine was lukewarm, we asked for some ice.  The waitress brought over ice in cubes in a coffee mug!

We looked over the menu, which is very lengthy and disjointed.  They have everything from Persian food to Italian to wings and hot dogs.  It's pretty much a given that a restaurant that focuses on everything will be good at nothing.  Turns out, we didn't have a lot of choices because they did not have 75% of the menu in stock.  We thought we played it safe and decided to split an order of lamb kabobs over rice.

Meanwhile, the only other people in the restaurant sat patiently as their pre-made, frozen Sysco food hit their table, plate by plate.  Then it got really awkward.  The owner wanted to introduce his wheelchair-bound wife to the people at the table.  That's fine.  But he wheeled her over, introduced her, and then left her at their table!

When we finally got our food, it was, predictably, a fiasco.  The lamb was fatty, greasy, and disgusting.  The rice had clearly sat in a rice cooker for hours and was burned and also greasy somehow. 

It's really unfortunate because I root for neighborhood restaurants, but this place is an unmitigated disaster and will soon be closed.

[copperfiend]

Sounds like the Dream Cafe on Seinfeld.

[ben says]

Sounds like the Dream Cafe on Seinfeld.

Something tells me this place really banked on having a consistent customer base from the nearby hospitals. That being said, common guys, "International Grill"? Oy. I feel for people who open restaurants in these hard times, but at least try a little harder!!

[downtownjag]

I'm not really sure where to start, so I'll provide just the highlights.

First, I have to mention that I didn't have high hopes for this place.  If you call yourself "International Grill" and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there's already a pretty good chance that the restaurant is going to disappoint based on being as generic as possible.

All of the warning signs were there: only one other table of customers, a waitress dressed in dirty tuxedo shirt and bowtie (seriously?), and piles of Sysco boxes in the open kitchen. 

After we sat down, the owner greeted us and asked to get us something to drink.  My fiancee ordered a glass of white wine--she actually ordered pinot grigio, but he said they had "red" and "white".  She ordered the "white".  The owner subsequently asked her four separate times whether she ordered red or white. I actually felt kind of bad for hi because he could hear fine, he just couldn't remember the order.  Then he grabbed a bottle of room temperature white wine off the counter and poured a glass.  Because the wine was lukewarm, we asked for some ice.  The waitress brought over ice in cubes in a coffee mug!

We looked over the menu, which is very lengthy and disjointed.  They have everything from Persian food to Italian to wings and hot dogs.  It's pretty much a given that a restaurant that focuses on everything will be good at nothing.  Turns out, we didn't have a lot of choices because they did not have 75% of the menu in stock.  We thought we played it safe and decided to split an order of lamb kabobs over rice.

Meanwhile, the only other people in the restaurant sat patiently as their pre-made, frozen Sysco food hit their table, plate by plate.  Then it got really awkward.  The owner wanted to introduce his wheelchair-bound wife to the people at the table.  That's fine.  But he wheeled her over, introduced her, and then left her at their table!

When we finally got our food, it was, predictably, a fiasco.  The lamb was fatty, greasy, and disgusting.  The rice had clearly sat in a rice cooker for hours and was burned and also greasy somehow. 

It's really unfortunate because I root for neighborhood restaurants, but this place is an unmitigated disaster and will soon be closed.

Are you referring to the restaurant on Hogan?

[peestandingup]

^ I think its on Riverside Ave & Barrs St. Yeah, has anything good ever came to this little building? It seems like it shouldn't even exist. Kinda like they took a strip mall-like building & plopped it in the middle of a historic neighborhood. But not in an area that sees much foot traffic.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Sounds like the Dream Cafe on Seinfeld.

Ha!  Now I'm picturing the owner slowly shaking his finger at a customer.

[Dog Walker]

They have just opened & not even officially yet.  Takes a little while for a new restaurant to shake down especially if the owner is new to the business.  Give them a chance to get their feet under them.

The menu struck me as being overambitious too.

[thekillingwax]

I've heard from a few coworkers at SV's that the food and service isn't so great, especially at lunch time. I hope they can pull it together- when I leave at 6am, I drive by and can see one or two people in there working and cooking in the kitchen, so it's not that they aren't trying but like everyone else is saying- they're doing too much with too little. I don't like the location either. Gibbs didn't work there, that's because a ton of people at SV's are really loyal to Michael's right behind there. Rightfully so, I say. They've been there for a long time and they've never done wrong by me- I ate there every day for almost 2 years until my hours got later.

[Atari007]

I was just surprised to see them open now.... They had a sign saying coming soon for like the past year or so.    I had given up on them a long time ago.

[BTM]

International Grill

In spite of the bumps new restaurants go through, my evening meal was quite pleasant. Service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean. After some discussion w/ the proprietor, AJ, it does appear he is revamping the menu, paring down items, and focusing on more traditional fare. So in response to earlier negative comments, I suggest they give owner a break & visit again.

My friend and I decided to try dinner @ this new grill.  She chose the eggplant Parmesan (she prefers Vegan)  which was prepared fresh & not on the routine menu.  I selected the house Gyro w/ fresh Greek yogurt. My gyro was HUGE! Freshly prepared w/ large portions of lamb,  and well seasoned lettuce, cucumber & tomatoes to enhance the presentation. + a side of tabbouleh. The tabbouleh, was light, w/ crisp cucumbers & hint of lime. My drink of choice was strongly brewed Turkish coffee.  Coffee was Excellent!

Dessert was ordered to go for spouse ;-). The most chocolate item in the house. Excellent  choice, dark moist chocolate cake. I shall return, next time bringing spouse. Thank you AJ, for your kind hospitality & greetings.

[JRP]

My husband and I have eaten at the International Grill 5 times now and have no complaints about the food; it was delicious and healthy.  A.J., the owner, has been gracious and very accommodating.   The one time we went when he was not there, the wait staff was inattentive, but I notice that person no longer works there.  The atmosphere is very pleasant, and we like watching the news as we eat.  Give this restaurant a chance; it's as good or better than any in Avondale (Town, excluded) and much more reasonably priced.  -JRP

[PeeJayEss]

Wow, two expert reviews from people that have never posted on this forum before! Truly reliable. As good as or better than any restaurant in Avondale? How about Riverside, where the place is located? Is it even as good as or better than the other restaurants on Barrs? If you're going to post fake reviews of a restaurant, at least make it somewhat believable. It might be great, but better than 13 Gypsies, Brick, Biscottis, Pine Grove, Kickbacks, Whiteway, Orsay, etc? Come on now.

I've been trying to get there to test it out. The reviews I've heard from co-workers have been largely negative, however, but I won't let that stop me until I know for sure. And I will update accordingly. But I'd take the two reviews above with a grain of salt.

Gibbs was delicious and seemed to be doing great business. It was always packed at least. The only reason I can think that it shut down (aside from something ridiculous, which I've heard may be the actual case) is "the rent is too damn high."

[ben says]

My husband and I have eaten at the International Grill 5 times now and have no complaints about the food; it was delicious and healthy.  A.J., the owner, has been gracious and very accommodating.   The one time we went when he was not there, the wait staff was inattentive, but I notice that person no longer works there.  The atmosphere is very pleasant, and we like watching the news as we eat.  Give this restaurant a chance; it's as good or better than any in Avondale (Town, excluded) and much more reasonably priced.  -JRP

[JaxDiablo]

Gotta trust those expert 1 post reviewers with nothing but glowing reviews of a questionable establishment...

[mtraininjax]

Is this in the space of former Dr. Acosta-Rua's building? I am amazed that Judson's is still open after so long, but its a SV crowd that will swear by it or curse it.