Eat Arkansas

Right on, Kat and Max...

Love me some Grady's...

My cousin was one of the original owners way back when and my grandfather would take us all there about once a week...

I remember the darts tourneys at the old location...lots of draft beer flowin'...

Great sammiches, too...I believe I'll have to get some Grady's this weekend...

Obviously it's been a while since you've eaten there. Which owner is Kat related to? Did they buy some ad space on her blog? Or is she related to someone at the Times?

The pizza is not bad, but the pasta is no better than canned, the sandwiches are small and overpriced. A friend got food poisoning last time they ate a salad there, and it wasn't during a salmonella scare or warm weather.

The spaghetti is awful, greasy, canned sauce taste, overcooked mushy pasta with a heartburn guarantee.

The water has a funny undertaste that the iced tea doesn't mask, but soft drinks do. Yes, some of us still drink tap water and expect it to taste good, or at least not bad. My tap at home tastes great.

So much for trusting the Eat Arkansas blog for recommendations.

You're entitled to your opinion, MrSoul, but I firmly stand by my opinion.

Rather than being overdone, the spaghetti was on the al dente style -- and if there were grease in that there sauce, my lack of a gall bladder sure as heck didn't reveal it. I actually found the sauce to be refreshing and full of tomatoes.

The comment about the water is a bit surprising. I'm an avid iced tea drinker. I don't use the lemon and I don't drink my tea sweet any more. And I noticed no difference between the water quality at Grady's than anywhere else. In fact, I can't imagine why the water would be off -- since I used to live very close to the restaurant and shared the same water supply.

Moreso than that, I do believe you lack the understanding of my reviews. Grady's did not pay for my review, nor did Arkansas Times. In fact, I don't receive any compensation for my work. I also don't bother to review restaurants where I don't have a good eating experience. Most of the places I go are of the locally owned variety. One bad review could sink such a place. Therefore, I never tell a restaurant I'm coming, I never promise a review, and I never use my blog to unfairly beat down an establishment. I am not related to the owners, nor does Grady's advertize with me. In fact, unless someone has pointed out this review to them, they likely don't have a clue a review was conducted.

Setting aside any personal bias you might have against my review, I do enourage you to give this restaurant another shot. Anyone can have a bad experience at a restaurant on any given day, no matter the caliber or the price range. And everyone is entitled to their difference of opinion. Once again, though, I stand by my review.

Logic:
If you where you lived shared the same water supply with the restaurant, you would not be able to tell the difference because there is no difference. Because it's the same water supply. You would be accustomed to it. Unless they've had their plumbing worked on, it has an underground aftertaste, like the incoming line has a break in it.

But it's been several months since I've eaten there, so maybe things have changed. I can eat mediocre food at inflated prices without adding the cost of gas to drive across town to get it.

As for a chili side (chili spaghetti), don't forget The Green Mill on Markham near the Kroger and Red Lobster. It's a small place, but for blue plate goodness it's up there.

I've lived over here for years and never noticed The Green Mill. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Serge!