About Northside Grill

On Northside Grill's website, Jim Koli says he left behind his Fisheries Biology degree when he discovered it meant "counting the rings on the operculum bone of a perch," but he kept his sense of humor. He opened Northside Grill in 1993 to have more "gratifying" work, and he and his friendly, welcoming staff enjoy making the eatery a place people like to visit as often as possible—hence their frequent invitations to let an Elvis cover artist serenade guests.

The interior is classic and homey, with live plants and warm wood paneling on the wall. Outside, Koli and his team have created a garden paradise on the patio, surrounding it with greenery in big metal tubs. The menu items are just as familiar, with breakfast dishes made from cage-free eggs and lunch plates piled with third-pound burgers and chicken sandwiches. Just about every component of each dish is made in-house, from the apple pie to the soup of the day to the ranchero sauce drizzled atop omelets. Fresh-brewed espresso drinks brewed from organic, free-trade RoosRoast beans require less bravery than other pick-me-ups such as purposely sitting on a thumbtack.