Email this page
Print this page
del.icio.us
digg
yahoo!
Comments2-Minute Review: Grad School
The Place: A newcomer to downtown has taken the spot of the recently closed Acoustic Café. The thing about this newcomer is that it may be somewhat familiar to some downtown patrons, as it is owned by a former employee of Rasta Grill. Grad School (434 S. Jefferson Ave., 417-866-8163) is a tiny “hole-in-the-wall”, but without any negative connotations that may bring.
The Menu: The Rasta Grill heritage shines through in the dish that I tried, the Rasta Pasta. You get a heaping ton of penne pasta with the signature spicy marinara and your choice of “protein”, which in my case was jerk chicken. As is the case with a lot of the entrées at Grad School, they you get your choice of chicken, steak, tilapia or tofu as protein. Additionally, you can choose your level of spiciness—one to five stars. They also offer completely vegan dishes, if that’s how you roll. The marinara sauce was just the right amount of spicy, and the jerk chicken was perfectly seasoned. Most dishes cost less than or right at $10.
When it comes to drinks they don’t serve alcoholic beverages, but they do have a BYOB policy [via consumption license], as long as you keep it within reason. Owners hope to have a liquor license soon.
The Service: I showed up to eat lunch by myself thinking that it might be kind of awkward, but it wasn’t at all. The setup in Grad School is similar to a bar; only you get to watch your food being made instead of your drinks. The cooks are talking to you at the same time. They are really inviting and seem genuinely happy to be there, which makes it fun. Grad School is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11-10 on Friday and Saturday, and 10-2 on Sunday.
The Verdict: Grad School is the perfect place to stop in and have a comfortable lunch in a laid-back environment. In a town where it feels like you find a new restaurant on every corner, Grad School is one I will definitely revisit.
