Review: Center Street Grill offers that all-American diner feeling, complete with good sandwiches

By Kelly Brinkerhoff

October 28, 2008 | On Center Street and Main Street in downtown Logan, there is a small, local, diner-like restaurant on the corner called Center Street Grill. Being human, most of us crave the All-American meal: burgers loaded with all the fixings and sticks of sliced potatoes deep-fried in hot oil, also know as french fries. In Logan, it can be hard to find a restaurant who serves thick, grade A beef burgers without making reservations at a top of the line restaurant.

The menu includes burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, seafood, chicken strips, and a large selection of shakes. There was also a small breakfast menu that included bacon, eggs, burritos, pancakes, donuts, and fruit. If you order a burger, sandwich, or wrap, with fries and a drink, the average cost is about $8 per person. With the variety of food Center Street Grill offers and the reasonable price, this is a place everyone can eat and be completely satisfied.

The special of the night was the Chicken Stacker for $7.25 which included french fries and a drink. I was contemplating ordering the special, but wanted to know more about it. When I asked what was on the sandwich, the gentleman running the cash register wasn't sure so he asked the cook. The cook came out to talk to us and said he didn't like the sandwich and wouldn't recommend it. If it wasn't good, then why would they have it as their Friday night special? Shouldn't the employees try to sell the special rather than steer the customers away from it? Thinking about what the cook said, I decided to order something different.

I ordered the Turkey Bacon Ranch wrap; just add tomatoes and lettuce and the name gives the rest of the ingredients away. This was just what my taste buds were craving, a flour tortilla tightly securing the neatly layered chopped turkey, crunchy bacon bits, chopped lettuce, and tomatoes smothered in creamy ranch dressing. Give me an order of french fries and their perfectly measured mayonnaise and ketchup, otherwise known as fry sauce, to dip them in and my taste buds can sleep.

The service at Center Street Grill was great. The second I walked in the door, a young gentleman greeted us and was very friendly. There was a cashier, a cook, and a girl who brought your food to the table. I arrived at Center Street Grill at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday and it wasn't very busy, so having only three people working was the perfect amount. But by the time I ordered my food and sat down, the line was practically out the door and I'm sure the three employees could have used a helping hand. Being a Friday night, you would think they would have more people working to speed up the ordering process.

Before sitting in the bright red booth in the far back corner of the diner, I had to wipe off someone's leftover crumbs covering the seats. While waiting for my food, I had the opportunity to view the restaurant. The atmosphere of Center Street Grill is 1960's diner hangout. The walls are painted bright red lipstick color with black trim and black and white checker floor. Black and white pictures of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and several vintage pictures covered every single space the walls had to offer. The only things missing in the diner were: a juke box playing the Grease theme song, girls dancing in their poodle skirts with guys wearing tight denim jeans, white t-shirts with slicked back hair. Instead I got a great view of the busboy wiping off tables with his paisley print boxers hanging out of his shorts which were holding on to his butt for dear life.

Overall, the food at Center Street Grill is fast and made fresh upon order. The staff members were very friendly to everyone who came in and always had a smile on their face. It was a very comfortable, clean, and fun environment. Anyone who is in need of the All-American meal satisfaction, Center Street Grill is the place to fulfill your craving.

Center Street Grill is at 18 E. Center Street in Logan. You can also order takeout by calling (435)227-0321.

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