I've come to Grinder's many times over the years. I remember when the lobby hosted a misc. trinket store like Cracker Barrel does. This is where I bought one of my very first CDs. For a time it hosted a Thomas Kinkade gallery in his hayday. Good memories. I wish that space saw better use than it's current state. Like expand it in a more informal seating not-restaurant area like a comfy starbucks wherein you can finish your coffee and wait for a storm to pass without clogging up the gears on the restaurant side. When last I visited I was offered a to go warm-up of my coffee without prompting so reasonably you wouldn't stand to lose out on establishing that space as more informal use. Rent space to local artisans and crafters to sell wares.

If you want an analagous vibe of the food offerings-- think rocknes or samantha's or a less commercial panera but frequented more by the older generation. They have a tasteful level of memerobilia (Aviation theme) that feels like a toned down max and erma's.

My late grandmother's church sewing group would routinely go as a large group for many years and likely still do to this day. They liked how kind and accomodating the servers were about splitting checks +10-15 ways. Food is always good and swiftly prepared. Never had a single disagreeable experience with the service staff. Despite her diabetes, my late grandmother would always ask what sugar free pies happened to be available and usually decided on whatever struck her fancy anyway. Save room for or take some pie home! They have a great selection and it's almost criminally underrated.

My standard order, creature of habit that I am, is a large appetizer order of spudniks half and half with sour cream and extra extra extra Russian dressing. When I say I drench these things in that stuff I mean DRENCH. Looks like sweet and sour chicken I lay it on so thick. Service is always kind and patient with requests for more and more sauce if they dont bring extra extra around the first time. I can only imagine how unhealthy it is to be downing 8oz of salad dressing but it is so satisfying.

(if I'm feeling peckish I'll also get a dinner chicken fingers which I think comes with salad and 1 (2?) Sides) I think everything is decent value for quantity and quality of their food chicken fingers have that nice almost dusty quality to the crisp fried breading. Very satisfying.

Unfamiliar with what a Spudnik is? (think hand cut steak fries, fried relatively soft) smothered in one or both cheddar and provolone cheeses and chopped bacon served with sour cream and Russian dressing. The taste of these guys with THEIR Russian dressing is top 10 bites in my life to date. It's like a North East Ohio answer to Canadian Poutine.