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| - We like to try out happy hours before having dinner at a restaurant and though we'd been to the lovely Ceres in the past, we were thrilled with Hawthorn Grill in its place. In fact, we were "wowed!" Light shines through to the outside everywhere & the patio looks beautiful next to a water feature. The bar is a perfect one & though I'm not one to sit down at the bar for an evening, I can picture myself watching a game while on one of those comfortable chairs. It's rather where community takes place. In the other part of the bar are comfy sofas, cocktail tables & a long table to seat larger groups. A tour of this restaurant told me I just have to return for brunch or dinner.
A maitre d' greeted us & we chose a high table near the patio doors. A darling server arrived quickly & knew the menu well, incl. the Sunday brunch I asked about. We chose the now "famous" Hawthorn burger w/aged cheddar on a brioche bun which came w/gargantuan fries ($7.50), and the short rib flatbread ($7.00). I had a Stella Artois ($3.50) & my partner (a/k/a designated driver) his usual water. The burger was huge & attractive, with all the trimmings gushing out, & if I wasn't giving up my status as "buffet queen", I'd have had one of these gems. The flatbread was slathered in Gruyere which dominated it & felt like an artery-buster. I'd forego it next time because these are the other H.H. choices: shrimp cocktail $9, mojito fries $4.50, spinach/artichoke dip w/pita chips $6.50, sriracha wings $6.00 & garden flatbread w/broccolini, mushrooms, tomato, pesto & goat cheese. $6.00.
A duo was playing in the corner near the sofas & the music was just right & not too loud. If I could change anything, it'd be bringing those two musicians closer to the bar's patio so even those outside could hear them. And I'd add a few "healthy" options to the H.H. menu. It seems every place in town with a H.H. serves flatbreads & dips. [I have 400 cookbooks with probably 5,000 recipes for appetizers, so...?]
Anyway, Hawthorn Grill has (thus far) made our list of favorites.
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