Bites Nearby: Mediterranean Inspired Flavors at The Grapevine

The hardest part in dining out sometimes is agreeing on where to go. located at 9 W. Hillgrove Ave. in La Grange is a cozy little gem that can satisfy the whole family.

The Grapevine’s system is an efficient one.  You order, seat yourself and your food is brought right to your table. No fuss, no lines, just simple rustic charm.

Two coolers of beverages grace the back of the restaurant, including a nice variety of beers. Looking around, wine is definitely the beverage of choice with many couples enjoy a glass with their meal.

One of my biggest pet peeves at some places is when you’re given a bread basket and the bread isn’t fresh. Not the case here. The bread was fresh and there’s olive oil on the tables for dipping.

Having been raised by a phenomenal Greek cook, I don’t think it would be fair to critique their Greek dishes. However, I can safely say, while dining at the Grapevine, many patrons were enjoying the Mousaka and the Trio Fest, a sampler entrée with dolmades, pastichio and spanakopita.

I did try several spoonfuls of my son’s Lemon Chicken Rice soup (a Greek classic). It was creamy, lemony and delicious.

The Souvlaki was the only big miss for me. They char-broil marinated pork tenderloin and serve it on pita bread. The meat was very dry, however, they topped it with oven roasted vegetables and a side of tzatziki, so the meal wasn’t a total loss.

They have several Mediterranean inspired salads and sandwiches.  The Insalata Del Giorno with Smoked Turkey sandwich is heavenly. An abundance of fresh vegetables are paired with provolone cheese and served on a beautifully toasted pita.

Individual sized brick oven gourmet pizzas are another tasty selection from the menu. Innovative flavors are offered like the Jalapeno Sausage, the Porto-fino Shrimp and the Chicken and Portabella pizza.

A variety of side dishes are offered with all sandwiches and the portions are plentiful.