Isabel's Restaurant

Okay--not terrible-- but one slice of toast with eggs---we wanted more toast so we ordered another side of toast---one slice of toast with side order for another 1.50---I've never before been in a restaurant that served only one slice with eggs

The Grove always seemed to be a dark, dingy, melancholy sort of place. I ate there once and remember that I felt a bit sad after. I don't remember liking the food.

So my buddy and I were really excited when brown paper went up on the windows and a promising-looking awning unfurled. The website -- <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.isabelsrestau&s=aece3ca87d158cb7d55ef4cf34901256091c9c8ae7923bb9ed4f40816656d2d3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.isabelsrestau</a>... -- also appeared promising. Who doesn't love a good local organic diner with a bit of Italian flare?!

But lo. Isabel turns out to be the Grove in a new dress. Despite the tickling promise of 'in-house', 'made from scratch', and 'locally sourced'...Isabel's failed to deliver. The corned beef hash was unpleasantly chewy and tasted weirdly pickled. The potatoes were undercooked and nearly outnumbered by purplish-gray red onion. The salmon plate was more appropriately sized for a passed app.  And the wait staff seemed surprised to discover customers -- as if they had all just woken up from naps and found themselves suddenly working in a restaurant.

Look, you can print new menus, give the place a dusting, and call your food homemade however much you like. It won't matter unless it is GOOD. And this was not. One star for trying, though!

Honestly? I recommend calling in Robert Irvine, because I don't see this 'new' place lasting very long at all.

Isabel's is a huge improvement over the two prior restaurants at this location and a great new option for the neighborhood.  They serve high quality fresh foods put together in interesting and delicious ways.  The staff was pleasant and the owner was in and out of the dining area making sure everything was going well.  We go to brunch as a family almost every weekend and I suspect this will become our go-to place based on the high quality food ingredients - you can feel good about the kids' basics (grilled cheese, burgers, etc.) which is not the case in every restaurant, and the regular menu offers traditional brunch food and also interesting alternatives (ex. veggie, portobello, and turkey and brie sandwiches).  I hope this restaurant does well and is around for awhile.  Reasonably priced, particularly given the quality of ingredients.