Spring Break
In review: Green Mill Restaurant
2703 Craig Road, Eau Claire
Janie Boschma
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Scene
I could smell the food before I even stepped out of the car and into the Green Mill Restaurant and Bar parking lot on 2703 Craig Road. That combined with the flickering neon sign outside had me wondering whether going there had been a good idea.
A Goo Goo Dolls song playing in the lobby was the perfect welcome, though, and it only got better from there.
When I ordered lemonade and the server asked me what kind, I assumed she meant regular or pink. Instead, she pointed me to an entire column of lemonades in the menu: strawberry, raspberry and mango. I couldn't resist the "Ultimate Lemonade," which combines all three of the aforementioned fruit. For a huge lemonade fan, it takes a lot for me to say that was the best lemonade I have ever had, but in this case, I can say that in all honesty. The artsy, curvy glass topped off with a lemon slice and free refills made the $3.99 price more than worth it.
The service was so impressive I could have sworn they knew I planned to write about my experience. The manager even made his rounds to all of the tables to make sure everything was satisfactory. My friend had been at Green Mill before, though, and assured me that was normal. The waitress brought us three baskets of complimentary French bread with garlic butter and stopped regularly to offer us drink refills.
My dinner companions opted for the four cheese bacon burger on ciabatta bread and fettuccini alfredo. I was impressed they offered a fruit side as an alternative to the fries. I ordered the pepperoni pizzani (a pizza and Panini cross), which looked a lot like an inside-out pizza. The pizzani had a 14-inch diameter, which would be enough to feed three average females or one male, which justifying the $11.99 price tag. Our Mozzamia Mozzarella appetizer arrived almost immediately. The wait for our entrees was nearly half an hour, but none of us were disappointed when our actual meals arrived. The alfredo sauce, I'm told, was light in a nice way, without an overpowering cheesy flavor. As expected, the four cheese bacon burger was a classic and a welcome grease fix. My pizzani was delicious, though I couldn't pack away much of it. My only complaint is that the crust was overcooked in some spots.
Our total came to $46.72, including the $7.99 mozzarella appetizer, which isn't bad considering all three of us ended up taking leftovers home in boxes. Overall, the entrees ranged from $8 sandwiches and burgers to a $17 Jim Beam sirloin steak. One person can eat well at Green Mill for about $11, including a drink.
Because of the dark wood, the high ceiling, the classy, vintage wall art and the soft but intimate lighting, the restaurant itself is both comfortable and upscale. We also enjoyed being able to see the cooks in the partially-open kitchen and the coat hooks on the corner of our booth. One of my friends pointed out Green Mill would make a very nice first date destination, especially since the music is loud enough to turn awkward silence into a casual pause, but soft enough to blend and give way to conversation. Whether it's a first date or the ninth, be sure to go easy on the garlic, or at least grab a mint on the way out.
As the sign in the parking lot suggests, Green Mill really did exceed my expectations, and my friend vowed to make it a weekly part of her meal planning.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Goo Goo Dolls song playing in the lobby was the perfect welcome, though, and it only got better from there.
When I ordered lemonade and the server asked me what kind, I assumed she meant regular or pink. Instead, she pointed me to an entire column of lemonades in the menu: strawberry, raspberry and mango. I couldn't resist the "Ultimate Lemonade," which combines all three of the aforementioned fruit. For a huge lemonade fan, it takes a lot for me to say that was the best lemonade I have ever had, but in this case, I can say that in all honesty. The artsy, curvy glass topped off with a lemon slice and free refills made the $3.99 price more than worth it.
The service was so impressive I could have sworn they knew I planned to write about my experience. The manager even made his rounds to all of the tables to make sure everything was satisfactory. My friend had been at Green Mill before, though, and assured me that was normal. The waitress brought us three baskets of complimentary French bread with garlic butter and stopped regularly to offer us drink refills.
My dinner companions opted for the four cheese bacon burger on ciabatta bread and fettuccini alfredo. I was impressed they offered a fruit side as an alternative to the fries. I ordered the pepperoni pizzani (a pizza and Panini cross), which looked a lot like an inside-out pizza. The pizzani had a 14-inch diameter, which would be enough to feed three average females or one male, which justifying the $11.99 price tag. Our Mozzamia Mozzarella appetizer arrived almost immediately. The wait for our entrees was nearly half an hour, but none of us were disappointed when our actual meals arrived. The alfredo sauce, I'm told, was light in a nice way, without an overpowering cheesy flavor. As expected, the four cheese bacon burger was a classic and a welcome grease fix. My pizzani was delicious, though I couldn't pack away much of it. My only complaint is that the crust was overcooked in some spots.
Our total came to $46.72, including the $7.99 mozzarella appetizer, which isn't bad considering all three of us ended up taking leftovers home in boxes. Overall, the entrees ranged from $8 sandwiches and burgers to a $17 Jim Beam sirloin steak. One person can eat well at Green Mill for about $11, including a drink.
Because of the dark wood, the high ceiling, the classy, vintage wall art and the soft but intimate lighting, the restaurant itself is both comfortable and upscale. We also enjoyed being able to see the cooks in the partially-open kitchen and the coat hooks on the corner of our booth. One of my friends pointed out Green Mill would make a very nice first date destination, especially since the music is loud enough to turn awkward silence into a casual pause, but soft enough to blend and give way to conversation. Whether it's a first date or the ninth, be sure to go easy on the garlic, or at least grab a mint on the way out.
As the sign in the parking lot suggests, Green Mill really did exceed my expectations, and my friend vowed to make it a weekly part of her meal planning.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
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