Grand Tavern

It's in a converted house so has a cozy feel to it. There's a covered porch in back and patio seating out front for when the weather is nice. Seat yourself and all the ordering is done at the bar for both drinks and food. They bring it all out to your table. Hand full of beers and a full bar. They'll make any cocktail and have a list of specialty drinks, if you want some ideas.

We went for bunch. Staff was super friendly. No wait for a table. Food was delicious. They had a short rib hash special which was amazing, with two perfectly poached eggs on it. We also ordered the French toast which was also delicious. I highly recommend for a quick bite, or a relaxing drink. Will be coming by again!

Lots of veggie options in this English-style pub (5/5 green stars) This first visit to the Grand Tavern was not planned but worked out pretty well – a 4-star experience. It was a little chilly so we skipped the deck and went upstairs to their main room. The bar area is has a nice local-pub feel to it with wooden beams and all that. It breaks this illusion with two big TV screens over the bar but I guess that’s a bonus for some punters – a chap at the bar was having a flight of mezcals while watching a game and seemed to be in heaven. No TV in the other spaces but they could do with a bit of a feng shui makeover – perhaps some large plants to provide a buffer between groups. Staff members were friendly and treated most of the customers in a very familiar, friendly way – it’s definitely a good spot for families and folk looking for a mellow familiar place (Norm!). Was surprised at how many vegetarian and vegan offerings there were on the menu (and quite a few are gluten-free too). We went with the Organic Quinoa Spinach Mushroom Burger with a side of fries ($13) and a share plate of onion rings and fried pineapple ($10). Kind of a mistake to get so much fried food but it was all pretty tasty. The burger was clearly home-made and served on a nice soft brioche bun with a side of paprika fries. The onion rings and fried pineapple were also tasty and served with nice dipping sauces and their beer selection was small but well-chosen (we had a Fort Point Westfalia and pot of chamomile tea). I think if they worked on their atmosphere a bit more they’d have a winning combination. I’m giving them 5/5 “green stars” for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: • More than half of their menu items are vegetarian or vegan • They use some organic ingredients and mention these on the menu • For meat-eaters, they list some of the their sources, which are more humane (e.g., Niman Ranch burger) • Similarly for fish, they appear to have chosen sustainable seafood (wild salmon and haddock) • Desserts are made from organic ingredients from Bump City • Beer is locally-sourced • A simple cardboard box was provided for food to-go Overall, for pub-fare I thought they did a pretty good job as far as sustainability is concerned. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me! (greenstarsproject)