Stoke's Grill on McKnight Road is a Delightful Surprise

I've driven by so many times and thought to myself "I really need to stop in there and try their food."

It's usually while we are heading home with a bag of or that I remember that Stoke's Grill is there as we drive by it.  It's tucked in a little strip mall right past North Hills Village Mall next to the store.

Last night was different as I happened to think of it as we were on our way to another chain restaurant and I figured it was a good time to try it out.  I am so glad that we did!

When we first walked in, I was a bit surprised at the inside. There were a few booths on the far wall, a bar type set up with chairs along the front window, and tables scattered throughout the rest. My eyes went to the counter and looked above as I expected to see the menu there, but instead was met with artistic flair. I then noticed the sign right inside the door that was holding the menus. I also noticed a sign on the wall listing their soups for the day.

We grabbed a few and headed for a booth. We perused the menu and I easily decided on their value combo which featured a cup of soup and half of a sandwich. My husband decided to try the "Shorthorn" which was a burger with chili and cheese on top. We ordered the Cheese Quesadillas for my son.

I went up to the counter to place our order. The gentleman taking my order was very friendly and courteous. After I placed the order, he told me to take a seat and he would bring the food out, which was another surprise as I was expecting to just be called up to pick up the food.

We had about a 10 minute wait for our food, so I had a chance to drink in the atmosphere. I found it peaceful and calm with it's greenish walls and black accents. It seemed quiet and I found that you really forgot about the hustle and bustle of McKnight Road passing by right outside.

It seems like a small operation as the only employee that I saw was the gentleman that took our order. He did everything from wait on customers, deliver food to the tables, and clean up. He was also pretty observant to notice that our little guy was getting fussy and fidgety, so the cheese quesadilla was delivered before our meals. 

My son's meal looked delicious. The quesadilla was crisp and golden with perfectly melted cheese. There was a small cup of cantaloupe, a small slice of watermelon, and a small pile of their home made chips. Our dinners arrived shortly thereafter and looked very good as well....well, as good as a chili burger can look!

I had their crab bisque soup and a half of a BLT. They were both delicious! The crab bisque had big chunks of crab meat in the cup. The BLT came with their red pepper aiolli sauce, which I was a bit unsure of so I ordered it on the side. I have to say that it complimented the sandwich very well and my husband even enjoyed dipping his chips into it!

My husband's burger was excellent as well. I'm not sure if it was the chili that made the burger or the burger that made the chili, but I liked the bite I had. Their homemade potato chips were awesome!

We were happily surprised by our dinner last night. Too often, we try a new place only to be let down. This time we weren't. Although Stoke's Grill isn't exactly new...I believe it's been there for 4 years or so.....but it was new to us and exceeded our (my) expectations!

So the next time you are driving down McKnight Road and trying to figure out somewhere to eat, stop in at Stoke's Grill for a pleasant meal!