by Matt Jackson

Grub Burger Bar feels like home. When one walks into the restaurant on Greenville Ave., they are immediately greeted by the tantalizing fragrance of fresh food being dutifully prepared. There’s an abundance of natural light and comfortable seating arrangement. The staff is welcoming and prompt in attending to customers, even when the restaurant is filled with people. However, there’s enough space within the building to get around. Busy doesn’t equal cramped at Grub.

Grub is a burger bar, but it’s also so much more. The wide array of choices one has here is a major pull factor. Want a filling but healthy lunch? Try the Pesto Turkey Cobb Salad or the Salmon Fillet Bowl. Looking for an appetizing sandwich? Look no further than the California Chicken Sandwich or the Back Porch, a tasty combination of grilled chicken breast, mayo, pickles, lettuce and tomato, served on a wheat bun.

For those who simply want a burger, Grub doesn’t disappoint. A striking and inclusive selection of meats is available, making Grub a solid choice for those dining in groups with contrasting preferences — hand-chopped, wild caught salmon, braised pulled pork, pesto-seasoned turkey burgers, Applewood-smoked bacon and even a meatless ground chickpea and eggplant burger. Cheeses range from bleu cheese to cheddar to Swiss to pepper jack. There’s the typical spread of fountain drinks, but also an intriguing shake menu. Hand-spun shake flavors include strawberry, vanilla bean, and chocolate, and Nutella, salted caramel, and a root beer float for those who want something a bit more unusual. In addition, specially crafted shakes like Worms & Dirt Shake or the Mint Chocolate Chip Shake add to the menu’s already impressive variety. If one struggles with choosing an item off Grub’s menu, the problem would stem from the sheer diversity of the items they could choose from; this is a good problem to have.

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There are many undoubtedly delicious dishes to be savored at Grub, but one dish outshines the rest. Eating the Mac ‘n’ Cheeseburger is an absolute delight. The meat is cooked to smoky perfection, the bacon has an uber-satisfying crunch to it, and the Cheeseburger out drips with Grub’s own zesty cheese sauce, which covers the macaroni sitting atop the burger. The burger is so thoroughly packed that I must issue some words of advice: use a fork and knife. It’s filling enough on its own, but adding a side of skinny fries to round the meal out won’t hurt. As for the drink, a fountain drink is the way to go. Eating this burger and trying to wash it down with a shake is ill-advised.

For students considering trying Grub out for the first time, getting there is an easy process. Grub is a quick 10-minute drive from campus and has its own parking lot with plenty of spaces. It’s open for most of the day – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday — so go for brunch, lunch, or dinner.