Once again Gonzo Green Guide Green Bay will plunge you into the bowels of our experience with two of Green Bay's freshest restaurants. On one hand we have the hippie granolahead team represented by The Urban Frog. On the other hand we have the svelte foodie intellectualism side represented by Black & Tan Grille. Two very different options, two very different reviews.
Saddle up Susie, 'cause here we go.
The Urban Frog is located in the heart of Green Bay's Broadway District; a growing, diverse, and happening place as far as Green Bay is concerned. A dedication to serving fresh, organic food, free of like bad vibes man, is their focus. And how did they do?
They did pretty well as far as most things are concerned. The only gripe lay lay with the staff. Granted when I walked in there, my outfit didn't scream, "Hey, I'm a hippie granolahead too, please share in copious amounts of deep conversation with me." While I may not fit the hippie organic bill on my face, I do respect what they are doing. It just seemed like no one on the staff made any effort to have a positive impact on my day...besides giving me the food I paid for. The mantra on their site discusses SMILES being of great quantity around here. The staff was smiling, but in regards to their own little conversations. And when an attempt was made to smile at what seemed to be the owner/manager whatever (tall short-haired lady), no attempt was returned...and we made eye contact! Snobby hippie granolaheads? That goes together as about as good as insecticide on my tomatoes. C'mon you guys, sell the sunnier, diversity embracing side of the hippie organic community. It is detrimental to your image to pull the elitist stuff, no matter how clean your food is.
And the food was pretty ok. With the Albacore Tuna Wrap special, I got a side of pasta salad. Let's start with the pasta salad. Just short of about 1 million peas, 8 sundried tomatoes, and 6 noodles. No shit. I counted them. More noodles or even tomatoes would be better for me, but overall the dime bag sized container tasted pretty good.
The wrap at Urban Frog was stuffed with solid amounts of Tuna, tomatoes, onions, and maybe a few other things we couldn't remember. They wrap it up in what I can only assume was a highly healthy tortilla, and then they press it in a panini press. You know what? It was good. The interesting thing is I ordered it thinking it was cold. The "hot" was a surprise, an initially unwelcomed one, but it worked out for the better. The wrap was good, and you might want to try one there.
All in, with a hippie drink and the wrap, it cost me about $13. Expensive for lunch? Maybe a little. Anyway, for uber clean food that tastes pretty good, and for a pasta salad with a whole lot of peas, check out The Urban Frog.
Black & Tan Grille is located in the old Bellin Building in downtown. Between these guys and St. Brendan's you should pat yourself on the back. You two are the best options for food on the east side of the river in downtown.
This place seemed like it should be hopping busy. Granted this was a lunchtime on a pretty random weekday, but still. You've got 3 financial businesses in that area, along with a handful of other solid patron sources, why are you not busy? The place was dead, and I felt really bad about it.
I felt bad because it was cool. The ambiance was a little darker, but with a table by the window you get enough sun. The music was tuned into a really cool station playing upbeat classic jazz, to more recent instrumental and digital sounds. Beyond that the service was top notch as well. Not too many interruptions, but enough attention to let us know we were important, even though we aren't.
Now you'd expect to pay for the service through higher prices, and for the most part that wasn't the case, given where we were. For lunch the range was from about $9-$14 per entree. Not bad.
The food was very good, and the menu well thought out. They don't just belch chicken strips out of the fryer and make a kitschy name for them and schlep them on the menu. No, they clearly spent some time putting the offering together. The 1/2 lb Angus burger I ordered was top notch with Gorgonzola and what I believe was a brie on top. Final layer was caramelized onions. Why go to a nice place for a burger? That is what I felt like, and if it is a good restaurant, they better damn well have a good burger...and Black & Tan Grille does. Partnering this selection with their mango, raspberry, schnozberry lemonade is an extra special treat. Try them both. And I sincerely hope Black & Tan Grille sees the traffic for lunch. It is a cool place, and I'd hate to see this restaurant leave the downtown. We need it there.
Once again, like the restaurants we've visited, Gonzo Guide Green Bay is serving it up hot and fresh. As for the places we discussed today: The Urban Frog, and Black & Tan Grille, well, every city needs an elitist hippy granolahead scene with very clean food, and conversely a trendy spot that serves an extensive and creative menu, with great service (Black & Tan Grille).
I'm throwin' down the mic...for now. Gomez out.
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Gomez Gonzo
Gonzo Editor-at-Large
gomez@gonzoguidegreenbay.com
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