Review of Middle Grounds Grill

This is the first review I’ve ever written, and this was the first time going to this restaurant- on April 4 2024. I was very disappointed. I did get glutened. The waiter had the vibe that he didn’t want to be there and that he didn’t really care. He lifted every water glass not by the stem but by the mouth of every glass which is just gross. We came there for the early bird specials. There were 4 of us. We each got a $15 early bird special and 1 person in the party asked for the 5oz steak early bird special with a side of crab to make it a surf and turf. Long store short- he forgot about the appetizer that we ordered and the crab leg he brought out was literally 10” long and at least 2 inches around. We weren’t expecting that or the $60 bill for the crab leg alone. The bill should have been under $100 but it came out to be over $150. $100 spent on one person alone. I think the waiter didn’t like that we were only getting the early bird specials so he added on the giant crab leg to get a bigger tip. Also, he questioned if I had celiac or just dietary. I don’t have celiac but I said I’d get sick for a week, that it was an allergy since some people don’t fully understand and it’s just easier to say allergy. He said all he had to do was hit a button the computer for dietary or allergy. He knew nothing about gluten issues other than hitting a button on the screen. The steak was yummy. The mashed potatoes were really watered down so to speak without a whole lot of flavor and the green beans were almost raw inside but looked cooked on the outside. We’ll never go back to that place. There was hardly anyone there when we arrived before 5pm but they still sat us right next to the bathroom. By the time we left, the place was packed without a whole lot of standing room in the front. It was crazy busy. I hope their experiences were better than ours. They have complimentary valet, but the lot is tiny. We did manage to get free valet since we were there so early and they took us right away. I’d recommend making reservations at least a few days ahead and asking for a booth. The tables are a bit uncomfortable and the overhead lighting was glaring down on us. It would have been more comfortable wearing a hat tbh. But if you are sensitive to gluten, I wouldn’t recommend this place unless you call and ask at the time of your reservation to get a server who has knowledge of your allergy, but even that could be iffy if the kitchen doesn’t follow the safety practices.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Reservations recommended