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Grand Happenings in Cuisine at Granville Casual Gourmet Cafe by Crystal A. Johnson

In the heart of San Fernando Blvd in Downtown, Burbank there is a place called Granville. The outside of the building is an inviting shade of a coffee with cream accented with dark brown trimmings. The restaurant has a chic look from the patio all the way indoors where wood becomes the prominent material. It is a cozy place to consume gourmet comfort food. 

 

For appetizers we order the uptown Mac and cheese, sweet potato fries and the gourmet grilled cheese dipper.  Let’s start with getting to know the uptown Mac and cheese. This was my favorite of the appetizers ordered. The take on Mac & cheese includes aged cheddar and gruyere cheeses with herbed all natural chicken, grilled asparagus, sweet peas and buttered bread crumbs. I am salivating as I write. The chicken perfectly blends with the cheese. The asparagus offers something divinely unexpected. As for the peas, I enjoyed this if not for the fact that I prepare my version of Mac & cheese with peas at home. However, my friend Tara did not find the dish quite as appealing. It did not give her the southern soul food experience. Although, she does appreciate the addition of the roasted asparagus to the recipe. 

 

On to her favorite appetizer, the gourmet grilled cheese dipper wins the appetizer contest for Tara. It is delicious; however, her arguments about the Mac & cheese could be argued for traditionalist comfort food eaters. This is a reason to note that Granville takes the casual and makes it gourmet. The grilled cheese sandwich is on country style bread with petit Basque, gruyere and parmesan cheeses melted together with caramelized onions, deli mustard, and garlic aioli and garlic tomato bisque for dipping.   

 

The sweet potato fries are pretty traditional in the flavor department. The presentation is fun served in a miniature paper bag. 

 

Our main course choices consist of the Thick-Cut Pork chop and the Chicken Marsala. I order the Thick-Cut Pork chop upon recommendation of both the regional manager and our waitress. The Thick-Cut Pork Chop entrée which is rubbed with Cajun spices and topped with cranberry-mango compote could keep a person company on Christmas day.   It defines comfort food.  Granville serves this with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach which compels me to ask the chef what is in it because it is so slam dunk good. Tara was also amazed by the spinach as well. If one loves spinach this is a must have.   As for the Chicken Marsala, it is nothing to rave about. It is good but not extraordinary. Tara found the chicken to be tender and tasty. 

 

As we dine we take notice of a table of yuppies taking photos of their unique drink order. At Granville, one can order a forty of Old English which is brought out in a paper bag. We order my conservative beverages.   My first drink is non-alcoholic berry lemonade. It is sweet and has no shortage of berries. With my dinner, I consume a glass of Sangria. Tara orders the Berry Patch Mojito. 

 

For the grand finale we finish the evening with desserts. I take another cue from the regional manager by having the banana split. I don’t like bananas but this is a very good a sharable dessert for two or three people. The bananas are brulee’d. The dessert also consists of hand crafted Tahitian vanilla, dark chocolate and black  chip ice cream, Port-poached cherries, caramel and Kahlua chocolate sauce with whipped cream and pecan brittle. Is that enough? My favorite of the ice creams were the dark chocolate which is really rich and the black raspberry chip ice cream. My dinner guest orders the berry patch shortcake. Admittedly, she expects lighter short bread. It is dense but I find the short bread to scone-like. The berries are fresh and she mainly consumes the berries and cream. 

 

Granville is a Grand experience in dining because it offers innovative ideas and backs it up with good tasting results. For more info on Granville which also has a location in Glendale visit htttp://granvillecafe.com.  They do have plans to expand nationally.